East Coast

The Estonian American National Council has appointed Leelo Linask from Monroe, CT, as its new Executive Director, effective March 1. She replaces its long-time employee, Linda Rink, who resigned at the end of 2018. Leelo is well-known from her years of volunteer work in scouting and in the Estonian American...

On March 13, during a working visit to the US, President Kersti Kaljulaid met with Speaker of the US House of Representatives Nancy Pelo-si. They discussed security and defence cooperation, the situation in Ukraine, hybrid threats and bilateral Estonian-US cooperation. Vaba Eesti Sõna to Celebrate Its 70th During Culture DaysOn...

New Estonian Honorary Consul in St. Petersburgis (FL) Kaie Põhi Latterner. Kesk-Florida Eesti Selts, EV101, February 23, Clearwater, FL. Photo by Erkki Taada   Far exceeding the attendance guesstimates of the Kesk Florida Eesti Seltsi (KFES) juhatus/ Estonian Society of Central Florida Board, 71 guests attended the asso ciation's celebration of the 101st anniversary of the Republic of Estonia....

Karin Shuey giving keynote address at Connecticut Estonian Society's Independence Day celebration. Photo by Ron Ingraham   EANC was represented over the weekend of February 22nd at three events celebrating the 101st anniversary of Estonia’s independence. Washington, DC Director Karin Shuey attended the Estonian embassy’s commemoration on Friday, held at the Embassy of Finland in Washington.   She...

Reinhold I. Martin, age 95 years, of Flemington, NJ, died peacefully on Sunday, January 27, 2019, at Hunterdon Medical Center. Born in Tallinn, Estonia, September 7, 1923, son of the late Reinhold and Hilda (Paias) Martin, he formerly resided in Seaford, NY, and had lived in the Flemington area for thirty-eight years.   A 1942 graduate of the Tallinna Reaalkool,...

The 116th Congress has been in session since January and EANC has already held meetings with contacts in the House and Senate to discuss the Baltic caucuses in each chamber and legislative plans for the new session.    The House Baltic Caucus (HBC) lost a number of members in last year’s election. Although membership is down to 65 Representatives, it’s still the highest...

There were many in Moscow and throughout what had been the Soviet Union who supported the aspirations of the coup plotters even if they did not take action at the time. Might they have coalesced under some other leader, even Gorbachev himself, to ensure the survival of the empire?   That was a very real risk, as many of...

Irene Ilves, the mother of former President Toomas Hendrik Ilves, died on Tuesday, December 25 aged 91.   Irene Ilves was born on 6 January 1927. She is survived by two sons, Andres Eerik and Toomas Hendrik, and four grandchildren, Juulia Kristiine, Luukas Kristjan, Kadri Keiu and Hans Hendrik, Mr Ilves wrote on social media on Wednesday, adding that she will be...

With generous support from Estonians in the USA, the Estonian Relief Committee, known as Eesti Abistamiskomitee USA-s, achieves its mission to: (1) help Estonians that are less fortunate, and (2) help preserve and promote Estonian culture and heritage in the United States.   In Estonia, grants support the handicapped, needy children, hungry families, and veterans via Estonia’s registered local charities including:...

Photos by Siiri Lind   It would be difficult for any American choir to sing in Estonian, let alone choose Estonian repertoire to celebrate the 100-year anniversary of Estonia’s independence.    As 2018 draws to a close, it was most appropriate and deeply touching to attend the Downtown Voices Concert, “Voices Over Tallinn”, at St. Paul’s Chapel on November 30th....