After prayerful consideration and much thought, my wife Janet and I have decided that I will not seek a third term in the United States Senate. 

As I spent time with my family during the holidays and celebrated Janet’s birthday, I reflected on God’s blessings on our family:  my wife, our three children, our seven grandchildren and our health.

A perfect weekend weatherwise and polkawise brought the usual folks from over 20
states, Canada, the Netherlands and all of greater Cleveland to Tony Petkovsek's
Thanksgiving radio promotion at the Marriott Hotel in downtown Cleveland

Slovenska Šola pri Sv. Vidu vabi na svoje vsakoletno kosilo, ki bo v nedeljo 15.
februarja, 2009 v šolski dvorani. Kuharice bodo postregle z domačo juho, pečenimi
piščanci ali svinjsko pečenko z vsemi prikuhami. Postrežba bo od 11:00 do 1:00
popoldne. Cena za odrasle je $12, za otroke $6. Kakor prejšna leta, boste kosilo tudi
letos lahko vzeli domov.

Drive one block north of St. Vitus Church and you won’t be able to miss the “Community of Rhythm” murals displayed at Sheliga Drug. Jamie Baker at the St. Clair Superior Development Corporation www.stclairsuperior.org provided the following information about the project.

A Slovenian, Klemen Žumer, is coming to Cleveland and would like to speak to young Slovenians about what Slovenia and being a part of the EU can do for you. He is an adviser in the European Parliament (and only 28 years old) and has been living in Brussels for the past 4 years. He will only be here for 3 days, to better know about the Slovenian community in Cleveland, so this is a one time chance to learn more about Slovenia in Europe as a whole and ask any questions you'd like answered. Here is a blurb he wrote to promote this meeting...

View the list of members and donors here.

Richard Tomsick, an attorney in the Cleveland office of Taft Stettinius & Hollister, has been elected to the Board of Directors of the Cleveland International Piano Competition. He had previously served on the Board from 2001-07, headed its committee on individual development and played in a Pro-Am Recital.

The board of Slovenska Pristava would like to cordially invite its members and friends to our New Year’s Eve dinner dance celebration December 31st. Doors will open at 5:30pm. Dinner prepared by Josie Cerer will be served at 6:30. A cash bar will be available.

Dear Parishioners and Friends of St. Vitus,

In a few days we shall be remembering the birthday of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Jesus the Christ, the fulfillment of God's promises to the chosen people, the One who will take away the sins of the world.

The Slovenian American Heritage Foundation along with members and
friends of the Slovenian community enjoyed the Feast of St. Nicholas
with Bishop A. Edward Pevec.

Mass was celebrated in the Resurrection Chapel located in Bishop's
residence at The Center for Pastoral Leadership (Borromeo Seminary)
28700 Euclid Avenue in Wickliffe on Friday, December 5th, at 7:00 P.M.

An Exhibit of The Center for Slovenian Studies at Cleveland State University is on display through the end of November at the CSU Library.

The exhibit, put together by librarian of Slovenian descent, Barbara Florjancic, includes photos and information about The Slovenian Studies Center/Center za slovenske študije, Slovenian language classes, as well as photographs and memorabilia pertaining to Slovenian culture.

The Slovenian-American Heritage Foundation was pleased to host Rose Marie Jisa as the keynote speaker for a discussion on Slovenian Genealogy and the activities of the Slovenian Genealogy Society International, Inc. The program was held on Tuesday, November 11th at 7:00 PM in the Lower Hall of the Slovenian Society Home, 20713 Recher Avenue in Euclid.

Saddened by the loss of its longtime newspaper, Northeast Ohio's Slovenian-American community suddenly has some bright news. Two new publications will compete for the allegiance of the largest Slovenian population outside of Europe.

On October 23, 2008, Cleveland City Councilman and proud Slovenian, Joe Cimperman, received the Ruth Ratner Miller Award at a banquet held in his honor in downtown Cleveland. With this award, the Downtown Cleveland Alliance recognizes Councilman Cimperman for his significant contribution to the development and vibrancy of downtown Cleveland.

Madeleine Albright traveled across Northern Ohio campaigning for Senator Barack Obama on Friday October 24, 2008. One her stops included a meet and greet event at the West Park Slovenian Home. Ohio State Representative Kenny Yuko District 7 coordinated with the Obama camp to make this event possible in our Slovenian Community.

The American Slovenian community has united and is proud to announce the birth of its new publication: SLOVENIAN AMERICAN TIMES, Published in Cleveland, Ohio

The first issue will be released mid-November and will include both the English and Slovenian sections.

Dear Mr. Hrvatin,

I'm not really sure how I started receiving your newsletter, but it has been wonderful. I grew up just outside Cleveland in Richmond Heights, but my parents married, lived, had a business and raised my brothers on and around St. Clair back in the 30's and 40's.

HALLOWEEN DANCE - ALPINE STYLE, featuring the Show Band “Klobuk” from Maribor, Slovenia. This event will be held in the parish hall on Friday, October 31st. Admission is $10.

Opera Cleveland is opening Hansel and Gretel on Halloween, and our Gretel, soprano Anya Matanovic, is Slovenian-American. She is really excited to be performing here in Cleveland, which has such a large Slovenian population. So we wanted to get the word out to the community. Thanks!

Author Majda Koren and children from the Cleveland Slovenian community gather for a photo at the Euclid Public Library October 1, 2008. Louisa from Outer Space is the latest in a series of bilingual Slovene English illustrated books penned by Ms Koren. Information regarding additional works by Majda can be found at the Forget Me Not Books website www.forgetmenotbooks.com

As a clear signal of his strong interest and support for the Slovenian culture, Ambassador Ghafari became a founding member of the Slovenian Museum and Archive in Cleveland, Ohio. The Museum will recount the compelling story of Slovenians immigrating to the United States and becoming a vibrant part of the community of Cleveland...

The cool, crisp, colorful days of Autumn which precede the Thanksgiving holiday
serve to remind everyone of the Earth’s beauty and bounty.

The blessings of both “beauty” and “bounty” are top of mind as the Glasbena Matica
Singing Society prepares for its annual concert. It will take place Saturday afternoon,
November 15, 2008 at Slovenian National Home on St. Clair Avenue in Cleveland.

Živio Slovenci!, the theme of this year’s concert, celebrates the beauty and bounty
that fills our lives at this time of the year - especially as evidenced in Slovenia and
here in the United States.

Slovenian Society Home, 20713 Recher Avenue, Euclid, Ohio. The Slovenian-American Heritage Foundation invites all to attend the fourth talk in our 2008 Lecture Series. We are pleased to conduct a special forum and discussion about the newly established Slovenian Museum and Achieves in Cleveland. Representatives of the Slovenian Museum and Archives will present an overview of their goals and objects and discuss how the Cleveland Slovenian community can become involved in this exciting new cultural institution.

When they said goodbye in the Aug. 21 issue of American Home, co-publishers Jim and Madeline Debevec did so with the grace and poignancy their readers have come to treasure.

In a front-page editorial, the couple said na svidenje, "so long," to loyal readers and to an extraordinary press run at 6117 St. Clair Ave. in Cleveland's old Slovenian neighborhood.

To celebrate its 50th Anniversary, the Stajerski-Prekmurski Club of Cleveland is hosting the popular 5-member band KLOBUK from the Maribor area this fall. The Gala celebration will be held at St. Clair Slovenian National Home on Saturday, October 25th in conjunction with the annual St. Martin’s Wine Christening Banquet – Martinovanje.

Greeting to all our readers! Glas Naroda weekly will transcend all divisions within the
Slovenian Community, bridging a gap between the new and old generations. On a
weekly basis, we will announce new events and critique past ones, as well as discuss the stubbornness of the Slovenian community...

Join the Joey Tomsick Orchestra as they bring their Cleveland Slovenian style music to the 2008 Ohio Swiss Festival in Sugarcreek Ohio. Sugarcreek is strongly influenced by the German, Swiss and Amish communities.

The Joey Tomsick Orchestra performed at Perchfest 2008 (Just down the road from the Fairport Slovenian Club). The Perchfest took place on Sunday September 7 and was free. View the pictures here.

Many cities across the country took part in Patriot Day ceremonies. Patriot Day occurs on September 11 of each year, designated in memory of the nearly three thousand who died in the September 11, 2001, attacks. Most Americans refer to the day as "Nine-Eleven (9/11)," "September 11th" or "Nine-one-one."

Celebration of the Cleveland Cultural Garden Federation with Latvian community hosting the event. Free and open to all. 1 PM to 4 PM. Starts at American Legion Peace Garden of the Nations at 9951 Superior with deposition of Latvia and Estonia’s soil in the special crypt for the soils of all nations represented in the Cultural Gardens...

Over 75 members of the Slovenian Community gathered at St. Mary’s Parish Hall to discuss the viability of a successor paper to the American Home. Many subjects including legal, financial, marketing and content were discussed.