Communities

New York folk dance group Saare Vikat: Triin Lawrence, Jaan Kangro, Liisi Vanaselja and Linda Lu.   Photo by Aleks Kask   The Estonian national song and dance celebration took place in Tallinn on 4–6 July, 2014. A whopping 96 per cent of Estonians surveyed in a sociological study led by...

Be involved in your Estonian American community and vote for the new XXI Estonian American National Council!   As a reminder, voting envelopes must be postmarked by July 19, 2014.  If you are going on vacation, vote before you go!   Ballots and election certification statements should be sent to...

Original Incorporation Document.   The 11th of June marks the anniversary of the publication of the very first issue of Vaba Eesti Sõna. We proudly print today's issue as number 3386 in an uninterrupted sequence of weekly Estonian-language newspapers, published in New York and serving readers across all of North...

Photo: Marju Rink-Abel, Arvo Pärt, Carnegie Hall, May 31, 2014   In honor of his "Extra-ordinary Contributions of Artistic and Cultural Significance," Marju Rink-Abel, EANC president, presented Arvo Pärt with a Lifetime Achievement Award at a special post-Carnegie Hall concert reception on May 31, 2014. The reception, which was hosted...

Priit Parming   Russian intelligence officers surreptitiously cross the country’s border conducting area assessment and laying the groundwork for unconventional warfare. Senior Russian officers are preparing a plan to overthrow the country’s government by utilizing local extremists led by veteran Russian officers. The locals are to be clandestinely assembled. At...

May 20, 2014   Estonian President Toomas Hendrik Ilves will visit St. Olaf College May 25 to receive an honorary degree and deliver the charge to the graduating class.     His speech will be streamed live and archived online.   As the leader of the smallest and most successful...

Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir (EPCC) and Tallinn Chamber Orchestra (TCO) conducted by Tõnu Kaljuste will perform the world-famous music of Arvo Pärt in Washington, DC and New York from May 27th until June 2nd. The concerts will take place in the presence of composer Arvo Pärt.   On May 27th...

On March 25, EANC and JBANC representatives met with Brent Hartley, the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for  European and Eurasian Affairs. Karl Altau, JBANC; Marju Rink-Abel, and the JBANC Latvian and Lithuanian representatives.     March 25, 2014   Recent aggression by Russia in Ukraine has precipitated strong and...

Fred confronts judges Norman, Courtney and Alex. "American Monkey" by Mihkel Raud, freeFall Theatre, St. Petersburg, Florida. March 2014. Photo by Mike Wood Lighting.   On Saturday night, March 15, 2014, at the freeFall Theatre, the international premiere of Mihkel Raud’s “American Monkey” opened to a sold-out theatre.   Mihkel...

Andres Simonson’s Greeting At The Estonian Independence Day Celebration in Lakewood, NJ   Tere tulemast and welcome. My job today is to greet you and make you feel welcome at our Estonian Independence Day celebration. But as I set the joyous mood for today’s Lakewood Estonian House festivities, many will...