According to Sister City International, a sister city, county, or state relationship is a broad-based, long-term partnership between two communities in two countries. A relationship is officially recognized after the highest elected or appointed official from both communities sign off on an agreement to become sister cities. Cleveland has 26 sister cities including with Ljubljana, Slovenia.
As part of Welcoming Week 2024, Global Cleveland hosted an event at the Cleveland Public Library that showcased the city's sister city relationships.
Slovenian group with CPL CEO Felton Thomas
Consul General of Slovenia Suzana Cesarek was the final speaker. Watch a video of her speech.
Slovenian Technical Museum Exhibit - Us & Them Without Frontiers
On Friday September 13, 2024 the Slovenian Museum & Archives held the grand opening of a new exhibit, Us & Them: Without Frontiers. Organized by the Technical Museum of Slovenia, Us & Them: Without Frontiers examines the fascinating scientific connections between Slovenia and the United States, and the benefits that have resulted from both cultural migration and shared knowledge. The project—which showcases original memorabilia as well as digital interactive tools—tells the compelling stories of individuals who have a strong, direct connection to the US, including Slovenian American astronaut Sunita Williams, Voyager engineer Anton Mavretic, professor of experimental physics Anton Peterlin, planet hunter Marija Strojnik, professor of electronics Aleš Strojnik, Silicon Valley pioneer France Rode, and inventor Peter Florjancic.
If you can't visit the Museum you can download a free copy of the impressive publication from that page.
Slovenian Cultural Garden on One World Day 2024
Cleveland's Slovenian community took part in the 78th One World Day in the Cleveland Cultural Gardens on August 25, 2024. They marched in the Parade of Flags and they hosted visitors in their beautiful Slovenian Cultural Garden.
Slovenian Cultural Garden in Parade of Flags at One World Day 2024
In the Slovenian Cultural Garden there was music and fun and sharing of culture.
You've probably heard about the two astronauts stranded in space. Initially planned for just 8 days, this mission has been delayed by 8 months due to faulty thrusters of Boeing's spacecraft. NASA Administrator Bill Nelson has revealed that Starliner's propulsion system, plagued by thruster malfunctions and helium leaks, posed a great a risk for a crewed return of the spacecraft.
What you might not now is that one of the astronauts is Sunita Lyn who was born in 1965 in Euclid (but grew up in Massachusetts.) Her father, Deepak Pandya, was an Indian-born neuroanatomist from Mehsana district, Gujarat, while her mother, Ursuline Bonnie Pandya (née Zalokar) was a Slovene-American.
She has taken the Slovenian flag, a samosa and Carniolan sausage to space in celebration of her Indian and Slovenian heritage. Her nicknames are Suni in the United States and Soncka in Slovenia.
Williams practices Hinduism. In December 2006, she took a copy of the Bhagavad Gita to the International Space Station. Williams has also visited Slovenia several times. In 2009, the club Slovenian Astronaut (Slovenski astronavt) arranged a memorial room for her in Leše, Tržic?, northwestern Slovenia. Leše was the birthplace of her great-grandmother Marija Bohinjec, born in 1891, who immigrated to the United States as an 11-year-old in 1900 or 1901.
In May 2013, the former President of Slovenia, Borut Pahor, awarded Williams a medal of merit for her contribution to the popularization of science and technology among the Slovenian youth. During her stay in October 2014 she paid a visit to the Astronomical Society Vega in Ljubljana.
Raj Pillai, a leader in the establishment of the India Cultural Garden among other things, sent some additional information.
Raj said that Sunita Williams came to Cleveland in 2007 and met with some of the Federation of India Community Associations (FICA) people. I recognize several in the photo - Venky Venkatesh, Raj Pillai, Harjit and Mona Alag, Paramjit Singh and Anjan Ghose standing behind Sunita.
Sunita Williams and FICA group
This second picture is Sunita signing a poster of a FICA/ICG program called AHIMSA that Mona Alag and Raj Pillai (watching Sunita sign) were working on. They had invited a dance group from Detroit to perform at Tri-C as a fundraiser. The theme was Ahimsa (non-violence), and incorporated historical events from Gandhi's and MLK's lives. Paramjit Singh framed the poster and gave it to Sunita.
Sunita Williams and Raj Pillai
Sunita Williams is confirmed to return to Earth in February 2025. It has been announced that Williams along with astronaut Butch Wilmore will come back using Elon Musk's SpaceX Dragon capsule and Boeing Starliner will return from the International Space Station without the astronauts.
2nd Annual Zabava Summer Festival
Zabava is a Slavic word for a party with music and dancing. And for the 2nd year, the local Slovenian community hosted the event. There was dancing to polka bands, European and Slovenian vendors, and an exciting balinca (bocce) tournament.
Of course you could enjoy a variety of beverages including pivo, vino, and Slivovitz, along with delicious foods like smoked sausage, grilled cevapi, potica, and strudel. A highlight was the first annual Slovenian Sausage eating contest sponsored by Raddell's Sausage.
Thanks to Julie Krulc Tromba for the pictures.
Slovenian Consul General Alenka Jerak Farewell Surprise Event
There was a surprise celebration to say farewell to Slovenian Consul General Alenka Jerak whose term of service in Cleveland Ohio was coming to an end. It was held on Thursday June 13, 2024 at the Slovenian National Home on St. Clair in Cleveland Ohio.
Consul General Alenka Jerak being surprised
The event featured speeches, musical performances, food, well-wishes, hugs and some tears.
Slovenian Statehood Day and Consul General Alenka Jerak Farewell
The annual Slovenian Statehood Day was celebrated in the Rotunda of Cleveland City Hall on Thursday June 6, 2024. The day commemorates Slovenia's declaration of independence from Yugoslavia on June 25, 1991. This was a bittersweet event as it was the last such event that Slovenian Consul General Alenka Jerak would attend. Her term as Consul General is coming to a close and, sadly for us, she will be moving on.
Consul General Alenka Jerak at City Hall
The event featured dignitaries, Slovenian Folk songs and dances from Clari-ton Clarinet Ensemble and Kres Slovenian Folkdance Group, Slovenian wines and food.
At a celebration of Slovenia Statehood Day in the Rotunda of Cleveland City Hall on June 6, 2024 there was a display of original postcards on display. August Pust had a long and distinguished career in the ethnic and international space having served Mayors, Governors, Senators and even Presidents. He told us that his first career was actually as an Art Director and art has always been a passion. He even created drawings that were used on postage stamps. He designed a series of postcards gathered together as the "I Remember Slovenia" collection. He told about his relationship with his friend the late Senator George Voinovich and honored his wife Gloria who passed away earlier in the week. Watch the video.
The annual Cleveland version of the most popular carnival in Slovenia - Kurentovanje - was a week long event featuring cooking demos, language instruction, a dance party, fun run and more. But the highlight was the annual Cleveland Kurentovanje Parade followed by the festival celebration.
Before, during and after the Parade attendees gathered in the neighborhood centered around Slovenian National Home for food, music, fun and resources.
For example, they could visit the new exhibit at the Slovenian Museum and Archives which offers artifacts and memorabilia about Slovenian people and heritage.
Dr. Luka Zibelnik runs the Center for Slovenian Studies at Cleveland State University and he showed off the new visiting exhibit which is from the Museum of Sports in Slovenia. Everyone knows NBA star Luka Doncic of course but the exhibit includes artifacts, jerseys, equipment and so on from various Slovenian sports teams and stars such as basketball, hockey, football (soccer), boxing, swimming, gymnastics and more.
Luka says "Slovenians do all sports and all sports well. Watch the short video.
"The White Costumes" - Slovenian Folk Costumes from the Pannonian Region
Folklore enthusiast and researcher, David Antolin, came back by popular demand as he continues the exploration of Slovenian costumes, building upon last year's introductory presentation (link to last year's presentation).
David Antolin
This year's seminar focused on the costumes classified as Pannonian in their styling and materials, sometimes known a 'bele noše' which translates to 'white costumes.' Pannonian costumes are those that show commonality of our Slovenian ethnic roots with those of other Slavic groups and Eastern European cultures. Even though these variants are considered the simplest in clothing form, they can be considered the most misunderstood examples, having authentic detailing and uniqueness not shared in any other Slovenian region.
In this session, costumes from the following regions were explored: Bela Krajina, Eastern Dolenjska, Kostel, Prekmurje, Porabje and Southern + Eastern Štajerska.
Royal Court of the 12th Annual Cleveland Kurentovanje Festival
Slovenian Cultural Garden Cleanup
That's Phil Hrvatin, President Slovenian Cultural Garden Association, doing some winter cleanup.
2023
Slovenian Independence and Unity Day Celebration
Independence and Unity Day (Slovene: Dan samostojnosti in enotnosti) is a Slovenian national holiday that occurs on every December 26 to commemorate the official proclamation of the Slovenian independence referendum on December 26, 1990. Consul General Alenka Jerak hosted a reception for Slovenian and other friends and colleagues to celebrate the important day.
Cleveland City Councilman Mike Polensek with Consul General Alenka Jerak
The Traditional Slovenian Breakfast project was organized in Slovenia for the first time in 2011 at the initiative of the Beekeeping Association of Slovenia, with the aim of raising awareness among the youngest about the importance of healthy eating, sustainable agriculture, direct connection between honey-bees and other pollinators and the production of food, as well as environmental protection.
In Cleveland, this is the third year of a partnership between the Slovenian Consulate General (our Consul General Alenka Jerak), Collaborative Chamber Alliance (Mrs. Nicky Sulandari), the Ohio State Beekeepers Association (President, Mrs. Peggy Garnes), Euclid Chamber of Commerce (President Mrs. Dana Heil) and the many beekeepers, who volunteer their time and expertise to bring an educational and traditional breakfast to school children across the area.
The Consulate General of the Republic of Slovenia in Cleveland presented “Slovenian Days In Cleveland” as a joyous presentation of Slovenian culture in the city with the largest population of Slovenians abroad. The week of activities included a Slovenian harvest celebration, Slovenian films, the opening of the Slovenians in the USA exhibit at the Slovenian Museum and Archives, Culinary experiences, lectures, dances, Slovenian Mass and more. One of the highlights was the “Tastes of Posavje” Gala charity dinner & concert to benefit victims of flooding, featuring chefs and winemakers from Slovenia & Slovenian Octet from Mendoza, Argentina.
The Slovenian Cultural Garden participated in One World Day on August 27, 2023 in the Cleveland Cultural Gardens. One World Day has been the official event of the Cleveland Cultural Gardens Federation since 1946. Over 50,000 people visited the gardens on One World Day 2023.
The Slovenian Garden participated in the Parade of Flags which had 1500 people from over 53 countries.
The Minister for Slovenes Abroad, Matej Arcon along with the Slovenian Ambassador to the United States Iztok Mirošc and Consul General Alenka Jerak visited the Slovenian Cultural Garden on Saturday September 23, 2023. The visit coincides with Slovenian Days in Cleveland 2023 Slovenski Dnevi.
Phil Hrvatin, Consul General Alenka Jerak, Minister Matej Arcon and Ambassador Iztok Mirosic
Slovenia Statehood Day celebrated in Cleveland
Statehood was celebrated with a gathering at Cleveland City Hall. Consul General Alenka Jerak presented the successes of Slovenia in the 32 years of independence in many areas, as well as special relations with Ohio - especially with Cleveland, Ljubljana's sister city. There were speeches, a cultural program and home-made culinary delights, as well as wine from Goriška Brda , Kukec beer from the Žalec beer fountain, and famous Radenska sparkle water.
The highlight of the 2023 Cleveland Kurentovanje week of celebrations was the Parade. The weather cooperated and crowds lined St. Clair for the Parade which featured dozens of units and lots of Kurents!
Here is a 15 minute video of some highlights from the Parade.
The annual Cleveland version of the most popular carnival in Slovenia - Kurentovanje - was a week long event featuring cooking demos, language instruction, a dance party, fun run and more. But the highlight was the annual Kurentovanje Parade followed by the festival celebration on Saturday February 18, 2023.
Kurentovanje Queen Eva Ozbolt Kisley (born in 1921!) and Prince Blaz Vavpetic
The Cleveland Slovenian community demonstrated their heritage at One World Day in the Cleveland Cultural Gardens. One World Day has been the official event of the Cleveland Cultural Gardens Federation since 1946. Over 40,000 people visited the gardens on One World Day 2022.
The Slovenian community participated in the Parade of Flags and hosted visitors in their Garden.
Joe Valencic inducted into Cleveland International Hall of Fame
Since 2010, the Cleveland International Hall of Fame (CIHF) has inducted people who have made significant and lasting contributions to our multicultural society. Cleveland is home to people representing about 120 different ethnic groups. The CIHF exists not only to honor those special people but also to inspire a new generation of leaders to follow in their footsteps.
Over 150 worthy candidates were nominated for both the 2020 and 2022 Classes of the Cleveland International Hall of Fame. The selection committee was advised by previously inducted members of the Cleveland International Hall of Fame.
Covid-19 forced the always sold out induction ceremonies to be cancelled in 2020 and 2021. We tried to induct the 2020 class virtually but it was not the same. So once we were able to gather together again, we included the 2020 class in the induction ceremony for the 2022 class on June 7, 2022. The event at Windows on the River was a sell out and the 2020 class finally got their moment in the spotlight.
On the evening of June 7, 2022 Joe was finally honored in person and was inducted by Cleveland City Councilman and fellow Slovenian Mike Polensek.
Councilman Mike Polensek gives Joe Valencic his CIHF award
The 10th annual Cleveland version of the most popular carnival in Slovenia - Kurentovanje - was a week long event featuring cooking demos, language instruction, a dance party, fun run and more. But the highlight was the annual Kurentovanje parade followed by the festival celebration. Because of Covid concerns the festival was held outside the Slovenian National Home.
Traditional Slovenian Honey Breakfast celebrated in local schools
Since 2010, every third Friday in November, Slovenia, a tiny Central European country, holds a Traditional Slovenian Honey Breakfast or Day of Slovenian Food, when children in all schools and kindergartens get a free breakfast, consisting of an apple, honey, milk, butter and bread from local farms.
With this project Slovenia educates children and youth about the importance of a morning meal, healthy eating, and the benefits of local or home-grown food, about the impact of bees and other pollinators on agriculture and food production, the environment, as well as about proper waste and package management.
This year Slovenian Consulate General in Cleveland Alenka Jerak shared a Slovenian good praxis for the third time in 4 schools in Cleveland and for the first time in 2 schools in Parma - the project is the result of close collaboration between the Consulate General of the Republic of Slovenia and its partners and sponsors The Parma Area Chamber of Commerce, Collaborative Chambers Alliance, Global Cleveland, The Ohio State Beekeepers Association and the local beekeepers.
In addition to the free breakfast, this year an educational component was added - with the help of the beekeepers from Ohio State Beekeepers Association and Slovenian Beekeepers from Cleveland, who together with the Consul General Jerak and Mrs. Sulandari from Collaborative Chambers Alliance visited schools and educated 300 students about bees, their role in the food supply chain, their connection to the environmental changes, and their importance in the changing landscapes for world crops.
30th anniversary of Slovenia's independence celebrated with Bishop Malesic
Helena Jaklitsch, Slovenian minister for Slovenians abroad, visited the Slovenian community in Cleveland last week. While here, she attended celebrations of the 30th anniversary of Slovenia becoming an independent nation and the presentation of Slovenia as the European Gastronomic Region 2021, as well as other events. The events were coordinated by the Slovenian Consulate General in Cleveland, headed by Alenka Jerak.
Jaklitsch met with Bishop Edward Malesic, who is of Slovene descent, on Sept. 18. Also attending were Tone Kajzer, Slovenian ambassador to the United States; Jerak, the consul general; and Zvone Zigon, the minister’s advisor from the Office for Slovenians Abroad.
Cleveland's Slovenian community took part in the 75th One World Day in the Cleveland Cultural Gardens on August 29, 2021. They marched in the Parade of Flags and they hosted visitors in their beautiful Slovenian Cultural Garden.
Slovenian Cultural Garden in Parade of Flags at One World Day 2021
In the Slovenian Cultural Garden there was music and fun and sharing of culture.
Accordionist Garrett Tatano of Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, was voted Polka Star of Tomorrow at a musical competition hosted by the National Cleveland-Style Polka Hall of Fame on Sunday, July 18, 2021. Three hundred polka music fans cast ballots for four entertainers at SNPJ Farm in Kirtland, Ohio, near Cleveland.
Slovenian Holiday Traditions - St. Nicholas, Santa Claus and Dedek Mraz
The Consul General of the Republic of Slovenia in the United States Alenka Jerak says that "December is the month of anticipation. Expectations of holidays, New Year and gifts. And Slovenia is among the rare countries in the world, where gifts are carried by three good December men: St. Nicholas, Santa Claus and Dedek Mraz."
Dick Russ family Slovenian Holiday Traditions and Message
Cleveland International Hall of Fame inductee Dick Russ is part Ukrainian and part Slovenian. Dick says, "As for the Slovenian traditions passed down in my family through the generations - the one which first comes to mind is putting out shoes on the eve of the Feast of St. Nicholas (6 December). The venerable saint (Sveti Miklavž ) would then leave small gifts reflecting how good or "bad" you were in the year. If you received an orange, a couple pieces of candy, and maybe a few assorted nuts, that was a big deal.
My grandsons were thrilled to receive exactly those gifts this year. It was nice to see them keep the tradition, through their father (my middle son), and his wife. It really reminded me of how my brother, sister, and I reacted when we found treats, and not a lump of coal (we had a coal furnace then!) in our shoes when we were kids. In addition, no Slovenian Christmas is complete without reverently attending Holy Mass, and at some point enjoying as much potica as possible.
Dick add, ""My wife's mother (Baba) has lived with us for more than 3 years, and thanks be to God her health is pretty much OK, and she is still very sharp. She spent several years in a Nazi forced labor camp like many of the "Ukes" here in Cleveland did - and has been giving us many details of her life under Stalin and then Hitler, and then the DP camps, and finally to the U.S. (where she was first sent to Mississippi to pick cotton on a plantation!)
The Slovenians as you know lived in those camps as well, and tragically so many were murdered by the Communists even after the war. Mass graves such as Kocevski Rog were revealed in the early 90's and I reported on many of these things back then when I was on TV. I did a fairly long piece with the only known 3 survivors of a slaughter that saw more than 10,000 Slovenians killed and dumped in a pit.
Sorry to bring a downer toward the end of the note - but the point is that the resiliency of the people like the Ukrainians and Slovenians is testament first to their Christian faith, which carried them through, along with the strength of their family life and their love of liberty. (God, family, homeland). Those are the characteristics which now allow us, who were born in the U.S., to carry on their traditions, and celebrate great feasts like Christmas, together with our families."
Slovenia holds each year, every third Friday in November, a traditional Slovenian honey breakfast. On this day, all children in Slovenian kindergartens, primary, middle and high schools get a free breakfast, consisting of apple, honey, milk, butter and bread, all from local producers or farms. The main goal of this project is to educate the general public, especially children and youth, about the importance of a morning meal/breakfast, healthy eating and the benefits of local or home-grown food, the importance of agriculture, beekeeping and bees on food production and the environment, as well as proper waste and package management.
This year's 10th anniversary of the project (November 20) was also celebrated in Cleveland, for the second time. Last year, the Consul General Mrs. Alenka Jerak successfully introduced first "honey breakfast" to the students of the Slovene language school at St. Vitus Parish. This year, due to the current circumstances, she decided to spread the idea of a healthy breakfast, importance of local, home-grown food, agriculture and the role of bees in the food chain among the American students and local community in Collinwood, once a "Slovenian" quarter of Cleveland.
Mrs Jerak, in cooperation with Councilman from Ward 8 Mr Mike Polensek and Lectorer for Slovenian studies at CSU Dr. Luka Zibelnik delivered more than 80 free healthy breakfast packages to the students of St. Jerome School, as well as students at Five Pointe Community Centre in Collinwood. They got a bread, juice, apple, baby carrots, honey, jam and butter from local food producers, as well as short description of how children in Slovenia celebrate this day, what they eat and a brief indication of the importance of this project.
Slovenian immigrant Dr. Edward Gobetz honored by President of Slovenia
The Consul General of the Republic of Slovenia in the United States Alenka Jerak bestowed the Order of Merit upon Dr. Edward Gobetz, a Slovenian immigrant to the USA, at a ceremony on Slovenska Pristava in Harpersfield, Ohio.
Consul General Jerak and Dr. Edward Gobetz photo by Phil Hrvatin
Consul General Jerak, acting on behalf of the President of the Republic of Slovenia Borut Pahor, presented the medal in recognition of Dr. Gobetz's life work, of his contribution to the recognizability of Slovenia, as well as for increasing the awareness of the achievements by Slovenians in the USA and the world.
Alenka Jerak, Consul General of the Republic of Slovenia, led an effort to cleanup and beautify the Slovenian Cultural Garden on Saturday May 30, 2020. The Cleveland Cultural Gardens are a collection of ethnic heritage gardens in Rockefeller Park in Cleveland Ohio. The Slovenian Cultural Garden was dedicated in 1932 and features busts of Bishop Baraga, Ivan Cankar and Ivan Zorman.
Consul General Alenka Jerak and others working in the Slovenian Cultural Garden
Slovenia has been at the forefront of protecting bees, which are essential to our food supply and health. Alenka Jerak, Consul General of the Republic of Slovenia, led the celebration of World Bee Day (May 20) in order to point out the importance of the bees and other pollinators, beekeeping and their contribution to sustainable development, environment, healthy food, solving problems related to the global food supply as well as to eliminate hunger.
Slovenian Consul General Alenka Jerak, truly a Busy Bee
The 8th annual Cleveland version of the most popular carnival in Slovenia - Kurentovanje - was a weeklong event featuring dinners, a dance party, fun run and more. But the highlight was the annual Kurentovanje parade followed by the festival celebration in the Slovenian National Home.
Slovenian Consul General and Bee Products and Bee Keeping
The Consul General of the Republic of Slovenia exhibited products from Slovenia related to bees and honey. Alenka Jerak, Consul General of the Republic of Slovenia, told about the importance of bees and the Slovenian products made from the bee's honey.
Alenka Jerak, Consul General of the Republic of Slovenia, and assistant
Slovenian artist Brni Lavrisha display at the Slovenian Museum and Archives
Brni Lavrisha will tell you that he is Slovenian on both sides so it is fitting that his work is being exhibited at the Slovenian Museum and Archives (SMA) in Cleveland Ohio.
Artist Brni Lavrisha
The SMA "are the privileged inheritors of a legacy, not only of precious pieces of rich, ethnic, artistic and linguistic works, but also of a compelling story of migrating and thriving in America and in our City of Cleveland."
Brni does both sculptures and paintings using materials that he finds and repurposed from a nearby creek.
As the t-shirt says "The party doesn't start until the sausage comes out!" And what a party it was.
The 16th Annual Slovenian Sausage Festival had enough sausage and polka music to satisfy everyone. More than 1,300 hungry music-lovers enjoyed eight hours of polka music and savory sausages. The event was hosted by the National Cleveland-Style Polka Hall of Fame on Wednesday, September 11, 2019, at the SNPJ Farm in Kirtland, Ohio.
Fifty musicians and accordionists, including Canada's Polka King Walter Ostanek, volunteered their services at the fund-raiser for the Polka Hall of Fame.
Bill Azman; Consul General of Slovenia Alenka Jerak; Marie Azman, Polka Hall of Fame President Joe Valencic; and Trustee Denny Bucar.
The Cleveland Cultural Gardens Federation hosted the 74th annual One World Day on August 25, 2019. Police estimates say that over 30,000 people visited the Gardens and attended One World Day. There was a lot of activity in the beautiful and historic Slovenian Cultural Garden.
Patty C and the Guys Band in the Slovenian Garden on One World Day
Click the white arrow to enjoy a taste of the Slovenian music from Patty C and the Guys band on One World Day.
A highlight of One World Day is the Parade of Flags where people in costumes of their heritage carry the flags. This year was undoubtedly the largest and most colorful in memory.
The 7th annual Cleveland version of the most popular carnival in Slovenia - Kurentovanje - was a weeklong event featuring dinners, a dance party, bocce tournament and more. But the highlight was the annual Kurentovanje parade followed by the festival celebration in the Slovenian National Home.
Scaring away winter at the Cleveland Kurentovanje Parade
Nashville's polka sensation LynnMarie and Cleveland bandleader Don Wojtila were inducted into the National Cleveland-Style Polka Hall of Fame at the 31st annual Polka Music Awards Show, Saturday, November 24, 2018, in the Grand Ballroom of the Downtown Cleveland Marriott Hotel. The event was the highlight of the 55th Thanksgiving Polka Weekend, Thursday - Saturday, November 22 - 24.
About 1,100 polka-lovers danced their calories away at the SNPJ Farm in Kirtland, Ohio, on Wednesday, September 12, at the 15th annual Slovenian Sausage Festival hosted by the National Cleveland-Style Polka Hall of Fame and Museum. Visitors sampled sausages from vendors and voted their favorite, then took to the dance floor for eight hours of music by top polka performers.
Marie and Bill Azman, proprietors of Azman's Quality Meats with Denny Bucar of the Polka Hall of Fame
The Cleveland Cultural Gardens Federation (CCGF) hosted the 73rd annual One World Day on September 16, 2018. A highlight is the Parade of Flags where people in costumes of their heritage carry the flags. The Slovenian Garden was well-represented in the Parade.
Slovenian American Inventors and Innovators: Their Contributions to America and the World by Edward Gobetz, a retired sociology professor from Kent State University, features three dozen individuals and three families whose have made them worthy of mention.
This hardcover, large format bibliophile edition of over 400 pages, presents over one hundred inventors and innovators, including two American Inventors of the Year, several NASA inventors and directors, three astronauts, designer of the Car of the Future exhibited at New York World Fair, Head of General Motors Coach (Bus) Division, designer of Boeing 747 which, according to Dr. Neil Armstrong "forever changed long distance travel" (and includes Air Force One, the plane of American presidents), several medical inventions, and much more
Edward Gobetz, 90, was born in Slovenia and earned his doctorate in sociology from Ohio State University. Professor Emeritus Edward Gobetz, Ph.D. writes "Slovenian American inventors and innovators have contributed to American and international progress much more than anyone would have ever dared to dream. God bless Slovenia, the beautiful Central European land that gave them to us and God bless America, the land of freedom and unequalled opportunities where their talents could be fully developed!"
Slovenian American Inventors and Innovators (406 pages, hardcover) costs $50 from Slovenian Research Center, 29227 Eddy Road, Willoughby Hills 44092.
Virtual Tour of the Slovenian Cultural Garden in Cleveland
The Cleveland Cultural Gardens are a chain of 30 or so gardens in Rockefeller Park in Cleveland each honoring a certain heritage and ethnicity. The Slovenian Cultural Garden was dedicated in 1932. This brief walking tour shows the upper level of the Slovenian Garden on East Blvd. and the busts of Bishop Baraga, Ivan Cankar and Ivan Zorman. There is more in the lower level.
Click on the white arrow to watch.
2018 Kurentovanje Parade in Cleveland
The 6th annual Cleveland version of the most popular carnival in Slovenia - Kurentovanje - was a weeklong event featuring dinners, a dance party, bocce tournament and more. But the highlight was the annual Kurentovanje parade followed by the festival celebration in the Slovenian National Home.
Scaring away winter at the Cleveland Kurentovanje Parade
Luka Zibelnik is a volunteer at the Slovenian Museum and Archives (SMA) in Cleveland. Luka is an instructor from the University of Ljubljana and is teaching Slovenian language courses at both Cleveland State University (The Center for Slovenian Studies) and Lakeland Community College.
He gave us a quick tour of a new exhibit at the SMA featuring Slovenian Women in the US. He was dressed in costume as part of the Kurentovanje celebration.
Click on the white arrow to watch the video.
2017
Fashions from Slovenia at Cleveland multicultural party
A highlight of the 8th Annual ICC-WIN Cleveland Multicultural Holiday Celebration on Wednesday, December 6, 2017 at the Global Center for Health Innovation in Cleveland was the International Fashion Show featuring almost 100 models from about 30 countries.
Natasha Paros-Gaser (president) and David Turk (vice president) of Folklore Ensemble KRES representing Slovenia. These costumes are from the region of Gorenjska which consist of several elaborate pieces of varying fabrics, colors, and designs.
Most dances performed by Folklorna skupina Kres are done in the Folklore Ensemble KRES noša. This costume ensemble is the most intricate and distinguishable out of all regions in Slovenia.
(Click on the white arrow to watch the video)
Natasha Paros-Gaser and David Turk representing Slovenia
Natasha Paros-Gaser and David Turk representing Slovenia
Six polka performers scored their first wins at the 30th annual polka music awards, presented by the National Cleveland-Style Polka Hall of Fame and Museum, including Klancnik & Friends as Band of the Year. Twenty-two awards were presented at a gala stage show on Saturday, November 25, 2017.
Bandleader Frank Stanger was inducted into the National Cleveland-Style Polka Hall of Fame
Republic of Slovenia Prime Minister Miro Cerar in Cleveland
The Consul General of the Republic of Slovenia Mr. Andrej G. Rode hosted a reception in Honor of His Excellency Dr. Miro Cerar Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia on Friday, September 22, 2017 at the Slovenian National Home in Cleveland Ohio. Slovenian Ambassador to the US Stanislav Vidovic also attended.
Smoked sausages and polka music attracted a crowd of more than 1,200 to SNPJ Farm in Kirtland, Ohio, for the 14th Annual Slovenian Sausage Festival hosted by the National Cleveland-Style Polka Hall of Fame and Museum on a warm and sunny Wednesday, September 13, 2017.
Polka music legends Ron Sluga and Walter Ostanek, Canada's Polka King
The 26th anniversary of the creation of the Republic of Slovenia in 1991 was celebrated in the Rotunda of Cleveland City Hall on Friday June 30, 2017. The country declared of independence from Yugoslavia in 1991. Andrej Gregor Rode, Consul General of the Republic of Slovenia, hosted the event which included dignitaries, recognition of Slovenian organizations, the Slovenian Chorus Fantje Na Vasi and Slovenian food and wine.
August Pust inducts the late William (Bill) Miller into Cleveland International Hall of Fame
Former Plain Dealer ethnic reporter Bill Miller was inducted posthumously into the Cleveland International Hall of Fame in front of 500 attendees on April 18, 2017. He was represented by his wife Marianna Miller.
Marianna Miller accepting for her late husband Bill
Click on the white arrow in the image below to watch the video of August and Marianna. Make sure your speakers are on and you can make the video full screen once it begins by clicking the icon in the lower right corner.
The 5th annual Cleveland version of the most popular carnival in Slovenia - Kurentovanje - began with a parade. The units gathered at Sterle's on East 55th and marched up St Clair to the Slovenian National Home.
The Folklorna Skupina Kres was established in 1954 and the current group of Kres Slovenian Folklore Dancers performed at the 5th annual Cleveland Kurentovanje Festival.
The shocking and sad news of the passing of beloved Mayor/Governor/Senator George Voinovich came just a day or so after his appearance at the Republic of Slovenia 25th Independence Day celebration in Cleveland City Hall. We saw Sen. Voinovich at the Slovenian Independence Day event and he looked healthy and sharp. His ad lib speech when called to the podium was classic George Voinovich - humble, smart and caring.
Senator George Voinovich on June 10,2016
Leaders in the Cleveland Cultural Gardens paid tribute to the Senator on Sunday morning - watch the video clips.
Also Senator George Voinovich was inducted into the inaugural class of the Cleveland International Hall of Fame in 2010. See his impressive bio from that event.
The 25th anniversary of the creation of the Republic of Slovenia in 1991 was celebrated in the Rotunda of Cleveland City Hall on Friday June 10, 2016.
Dignitaires included Ambassador of the Republic of Slovenia to the U.S. Božo Cerar, Gorazd Zmauc, Minister of the Republic of Slovenia for Slovenians Abroad, Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson, Slovenian Consul General Andrej Gregor Rode and Senator George Voinovich.
Mike Polensek, Mayor Frank Jackson, Minister Gorazd Žmavc, Ambassador Božo Cerar and Senator George Voinovich
The 4th annual Cleveland version of the most popular carnival in Slovenia - Kurentovanje - began with a parade. The units gathered on February 6, 2016 at Sterle's on East 55th and marched up St Clair to the Slovenian National Home.
New Slovenian Consul General and exhibit at Slovenian Museum and Archives
Slovenian Consul General Andrej Gregor Rode has only been at his new post in Cleveland for 3 weeks. He was on hand for the presentation of an exhibit at the Slovenian Museum and Archives called "Forgive Us, Forgive Us, Oh You, the Dead."
The exhibit is dedicated to Jewish soldiers in the Austro-Hungarian army who fell on the Isonzo Front (Soska Fronta) of World War I in the territory of present day Slovenia.
Luka Zibelnik, Lecturer at the Center for Slovenian Studies at Cleveland State University, was the driving force in getting the exhibition to Cleveland.
As Consul General Jure Zmauc completed his service in the US and preparing to move back to Slovenia, he was honored and bid farewell at a special reception at the Polka Hall of Fame in Euclid
Polka Hall president Joe Valencic and Consul Jure Zmauc
Slovenian Statehood celebration and Farewell to Consul Jure Zmauc
The celebration of 24 years of Slovenian Statehood in the Rotunda of Cleveland City Hall was bittersweet. This was the 6th and final event for Consul General Jure Zmauc who is completing his service in the US and moving back to Slovenia.
The Cleveland Slovenian Choir sang Slovenija V Svetu (Slovenian and the World)
Dick Russ inducted into Cleveland International Hall of Fame
Slovenian-American Dick Russ has been serving the people of Northeast Ohio for some 40 years, both as a professional journalist and as a leader in the community's civic life. He is currently Vice President of North Coast Community Homes, a non-profit organization which develops and maintains housing for people who have disabilities.
Dick also serves as executive producer of Eastern Christian Media, a private not-for-profit multi-media company which he co-founded in Cleveland, and as a board member of St. Peter the Rock Media, a company bringing Catholic Radio to Cleveland.
Dick Russ was inducted into the Cleveland International Hall of Fame by his longtime Channel 8 co-anchor Loree Vick.
The Slo-Ish bowling tournament started 4 years ago April 2012. Colleen Frank was on her way to a Slovenian meeting and thought there should be an event that both Irish and Slovenian groups did together and maybe grow the memberships of both groups. Bowling came to mind.
When she went to the SNPJ meeting they loved the idea. She also met with the board of the Irish Club and they loved the idea. Colleen and her Slovenian friend Gina Volpe have been organizing it ever since.
The groups involved are SNPJ Loyalites Lodge #158, Slovenian Society Home- Euclid, and the Irish American Club Eastside.
Gina Volpe, Joe Evanish, Lou Novak and Colleen Frank
2014
2014 Polka Hall of Fame Music Awards
The Frank Stanger Orchestra repeated as Band of the Year at the 27th annual polka music awards ceremony presented by the National Cleveland-Style Polka Hall of Fame and Museum on Saturday, November 29, 2014.
The musical stage show was the high point of the 51st Thanksgiving Polka Party Weekend, held at the Downtown Cleveland Marriott Hotel.
The Awards Show theme, "Down at the Friendly Tavern," paid tribute to the clubs, halls and lounges that hosted polka dances. Large-scale murals of vintage tavern photos were displayed on the ballroom walls. Forty-three musicians appeared on the main stage in the traditional jam session on Friday evening.
Joe Valencic, Polka Hall of Fame President, and Mark Habat, Vice President, with Bishop Edward Pevec after the Polka Mass
Returning for its second year on Saturday March 1st 2014, The Cleveland Kurentovanje Festival is based on the most popular carnival event in Slovenia and the central figure of the carnival, the Kurent, is believed to chase away winter and usher in spring with its supernatural powers.
The Slovenian National Home, St Clair Superior Development Corp and Sterle's Country House partnered with local businesses and institutions to bring a piece of this cultural event to St. Clair Avenue on Saturday March 1st, 2014
Consul General of Slovenia Jure Žmauc with wife Janja and daughter Nika (and Kurent)
2013
Slovenian Sausage Festival
The 10th annual Slovenian Sausage Festival hosted by the National Cleveland-Style Polka Hall of Fame and Museum was held Wednesday, Sept. 11, at the SNPJ Farm in Kirtland, Ohio. SNPJ is short for Slovenska Narodna Podporna Jednota which translates to Slovene National Benefit Society.
Besides the great Slovenian sausage (kranjska klobasa), eight polka music ensembles volunteered to perform for the Polka Hall of Fame fundraiser. Many visitors brought accordions for impromptu jam sessions.
The Rotunda of Cleveland City Hall was packed on the evening of June 21, 2013 to celebrate 22 years of Slovenian Statehood. The event featured dignitaries such as Slovenian Ambassador Roman Kirn, Slovenian Consul Jure Zmauc, Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson and Cleveland Councilmen Joe Cimperman and Mike Polensek.
Roman Kirn, Ambassador to the Republic of Slovenia
Slovenian Consul Jure Zmauc
Slovenian music was performed by Violinist Joseph Stepec, Music Director of the Euclid Symphony Orchestra and guitarist Johnny Srsen.
The mayor of Ljubljana presented the hand-carved work, The "Lady of Slovenia" to the mayor of Cleveland in 1938, as a token of good will between the two cities.
Ambassador Kirn and others posed with the statue in Cleveland City Hall on Statehood Day in June.
August Pust, Slovenian Ambassador Roman Kirn and Councilman Joe Cimperman
Bishop Anthony Edward Pevec was inducted into the Cleveland International Hall of Fame on Wednesday May 8, 2013. Slovenian Consul Jure Zmauc inducted Bishop Pevec.
Bishop A. Edward Pevec
Consul General of Slovenia Jure Zmauc hands Bishop Edward Pevec his Cleveland International Hall of Fame award
Kurentovanje is a cultural event which connects ethnology, culture, arts, and people from all over Europe. It has been celebrated in Slovenia for the past 50 years. The central figure of the carnival, the Kurent, is believed to chase away winter and usher in spring with its supernatural powers.
After the Parade, the Festival continued at the Slovenian National Home where there was dancing in the streets, food, drink, music, vendors and fun.
Dancing in the streets at Cleveland Kurentovanje festival
2012
Slovenian Community at Opening of Ames Family Atrium Cleveland Museum of Art October 28, 2012
The Cleveland Slovenian community was represented at the grand opening of the Ames Family Atrium in the Cleveland Museum of Art on Sunday October 28, 2012.
His Excellency Roman Kirn, Ambassador to the Republic of Slovenia to the United States of America, visited Cleveland October 10-13, 2012 and took part in events covering education, business, media, government and the Slovene Diaspora. One of his stops was at the National Cleveland-Style Polka Hall of Fame in Euclid.
Joe Valencic, Consul Jure Zmauc, Ambassador Roman Kirn and Tony Petkovsek
Joe Valencic, Joe Novak, Hank Guzel Jr. and Bob Kravos discussed and played Cleveland Style or Slovenian style of Polka at the Polka Hall of Fame. Why do they prefer Cleveland style? In the words of Frankie Yankovic, "Just Because."
Slovenian Ambassador Roman Kirn with Polka musicians Hank Guzel Jr., Bob Kravos and Joe Novak
Slovenian Consul Jure Zmauc spoke at the annual Diplomatic Seder. He told how he was asked why, after years of being in a union and finally becoming free, Slovenians wanted to join the EU, another union. He said that this was the first time that we wanted to join.
Slovenian Statehood Day at Cleveland City Hall On June 25, 1991 Slovenia declared independence from Yugoslavia. To celebrate the 21 years of Slovenian Statehood, a special event was held in the Rotunda of Cleveland City Hall with dignitaries, music and food. Consul General of the Republic of Slovenia Mr. Jure Žmauc and Mrs. Janja Žmauc hosted the event.
Councilman Mike Polensek, Consul General Jure Zmauc, Nika Zmauc, Slovenian Composer Oto Vrhovnik, Mayor Frank Jackson, Councilman Joe Cimperman and Martina Jakomin
Dr. Vladimir Rus
was inducted into the Cleveland International Hall of Fame on Wednesday May 9, 2012. Dr. Rus was introduced by Cleveland Councilman Joe Cimperman.
The Honorable
Lojze Peterle in Cleveland Lojze Peterle is a Member of the European Parliament and the first democratically elected Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia He spoke in Cleveland February 4, 2011
Organizations and Resources for Slovenians in Cleveland
Slovenian Genealogy Society International (SGSI) The purpose of the Slovenian Genealogy Society International (SGSI), Inc. is to enrich the lives of individuals with Slovenian ancestry by helping them forge a link to the past. This Cleveland non-profit has numerous resources and a database of almost 1 million names to help you find your Slovenian roots and relatives.
Rose Marie (Macek) Jisa, president of SGSI
On August 22, 2009, The Republic of Slovenia, Ministry of Foreign Affairs relieved Consul General Dr. Zvone Žigon from his official duties in Cleveland, OH. Dr. Žigon completed his four-year diplomatic term in the city which claims the largest population of Slovenians outside of Slovenia. The Consulate General of the Republic of Slovenia in Cleveland remains the sole diplomatic office in the State of Ohio.
The Republic of Slovenia, Ministry of Foreign Affairs has appointed Mr. Jure Žmauc as the succeeding Consul General of the Republic of Slovenia in Cleveland, with consular jurisdiction over the states of Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. This is Consul General Žmauc's second post as a Consul General; he previously held the position in Klagenfurt, Austria.
In this short video, Jure Zmauc spoke about the relationship between Cleveland Ohio and the Republic of Slovenia at the first annual Kurentovanje Festival in Cleveland.
Consul General Žmauc has a degree in Construction from the Maribor School of Construction and Architecture, and a Law degree from the University of Ljubljana, School of Law. His legal career has included positions in the Maribor Prosecutor's Office and the Federal Court of Austria.
In 1994, Mr. Žmauc served as Director of the Center for International Cooperation at the University of Maribor. From 1994 to 1995, and again in 1997, Mr. Žmauc was Assistant Instructor in Civil Law and International Business Law at the University of Maribor, School of Law. In 1997, he worked as Counselor at the Republic of Slovenia, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Office for Slovenes Abroad.
In 1998, he began his diplomatic career as a Consul at the Consulate General of the Republic of Slovenia in Klagenfurt, Austria. In 2001, Mr. Žmauc became Consul General there, and completed his four-year term in 2005, serving a total of seven years in Klagenfurt. Prior to his current post, Mr. Žmauc spent four years as Secretary at the Republic of Slovenia, Office for Slovenes Abroad, serving as the Director of the Sector for Cooperation with Slovenes Abroad.
In addition to his native Slovenian, Consul General Žmauc speaks English, German, Croatian and Serbian. His wife, Janja, and their two children join him in Cleveland. Otherwise, the Žmauc family resides permanently in Maribor Slovenia.
The Republic of Slovenia lies at the heart of Europe where the Alps and the Mediterranean meet the Pannonian plains and the mysterious Karst. Slovenia has a population of 2 million and its capital city is Ljubljana. The official language is Slovene, one of the South Slavonic languages.
In Slovenia, the sun shines approximately 2000 hours per year. And yes, there is plenty of snow in winter.
As a small, beautiful and picturesque country, Slovenia makes a great tourist destination. Mountains, lakes, waterfalls, forests, caves, hills, plains, rivers and the sea - you name it, you can find it all within a modest 20.273 km2 (half the size of Switzerland), as well as many natural and landscape parks.
You can ski in the morning and surrender yourself to the luxury of the Adriatic Sea in the afternoon. Slovenia has 46.6 km of sea coast - an inch per inhabitant.
The Slovene lands were part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire until the latter's dissolution at the end of World War I. In 1918, the Slovenes joined the Serbs and Croats in forming a new multinational state, which was named Yugoslavia in 1929.
After World War II, Slovenia became a republic of the renewed Yugoslavia, which though Communist, distanced itself from Moscow's rule. Dissatisfied with the exercise of power by the majority Serbs, the Slovenes succeeded in establishing their independence in 1991 after a short 10-day war.
Historical ties to Western Europe, a strong economy, and a stable democracy have assisted in Slovenia's transformation to a modern state. Slovenia acceded to both NATO and the EU in the spring of 2004.
Read more about the Slovenian and other Ambassadors. If you are interested in being considered to be an official ClevelandPeople.com Ambassador to the Cleveland
Slovenian community, please contact us.
