East Coast

On May 19, 2023, the Estonian American National Council (EANC) held a town hall for purposes of gathering input and ideas on the future of the beloved international Estonian festival known as ESTO. The event was held over Zoom, attended by approximately 75 Estonian Americans from across the USA, a...

New York, NY — The 6th Annual New York Baltic Film Festival (NYBFF) presented by Scandinavia House: The Nordic Center in America returns this November continuing its tradition of bringing the best new films from the Baltic region to New York audiences. Early Bird Passes are on sale beginning June...

When did you last visit the state of Illinois and the city of Chicago? When did you last enjoy the beauty of Estonian folk dress and music? June 2023 is just the right time to do this! As a historic first in North America, the Estonian Cultural Society of Chicago...

There are many excellent refugee memoirs. Jaak Treiman’s “Carried by a Magic Fan: Memoir of an Estonian Refugee Family” expands that tradition by offering three perspectives of one family’s refugee journey. He then carries the story forward by chronicling refugee political activities that followed their settlement into new homes. During...

Saturday, May 20, 2023, was a wonderful day. The sun was shining, the temperature was perfect, and the Baltimore-Washington Estonian Singers held their spring concert at the Latvian Lutheran church in Rockville, Maryland. Before the concert began, Ado Valge gave a historical overview of the choir. Soon after, 29 singers...

August 22, 1934 – May 11, 2023 Vello Ederma, 88, of Springfield, Virginia passed away on May 11, 2023, in his home surrounded by family. Vello was born on August 22, 1934, in Rakvere, Estonia to John (Juhan Hillar) and Klara (n. Vorteil) Ederma. He along with his parents and...

Karl Altau, JBANC In his May 12 article for Foreign Policy magazine, “NATO’s Got a New Backbone,” House Armed Services Committee Chair Mike Rogers (R-Alabama) argues that “It’s time for the United States to prioritize members of the alliance that understand the Russian threat and are taking it seriously.” Rogers...

Kultuuripäevad, which offered a weekend of Estonian cultural activities in NYC, culminated this year with the Pööriöö Ball on April 15th. It was an unforgettable night spent celebrating Estonian culture, community, and tradition. The Bohemian National Hall, located on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, was transformed into a beautifully...

"A TALK with the Ambassador: View from Estonia, and an EANC TOWNHALL: What is the Future of ESTO festivals?" The Estonian American National Council (EANC) announced this week that Estonian Ambassador to the United States Kristjan Prikk will be featured as the keynote speaker at its virtual forum on Friday,...

World Bee Day is observed on May 20th each year to highlight the essential role bees and other pollinators play in keeping people and the planet healthy. I was invited by Mare and Richard Olsen to spend a breezy, beautiful Sunday afternoon at their "Gooseberry Farm" – or "Tikerberi talu"...