Presenting the perspectives on Estonian identity in Toronto’s diaspora community. Kristen Dobbin observes Jõekääru’s campers; Toomas Volkmann those born in Estonian between 1918 and 1923.

In celebration of the 100th Anniversary of Lithuania’s Independence, the Balzekas Museum of Lithuanian Culture opened a new historical exhibit “For Freedom: Lithuanian American Support for Lithuania’s Independence and Recognition.”

On March 19, 2018, Jonas Antanas Račkauskas, a long-time director of the Lithuanian Research and Studies Center (Chicago, IL), an honorary doctor of Lithuanian University of Educational Studies and Šiauliai University, educator and active member of Lithuanian diaspora, died.

On March 9, 2018 the prime minister of the Republic of Lithuania, Saulius Skvernelis, the prime minister of Latvian government, Māris Kučinskis and Estonian prime minister, Jüri Ratas opened the international exhibition “To Be Banned: Baltic Books 1918-1940” at the Martynas Mažvydas National Library of Lithuania.

Baltic Heritage Nerwork Newsletter 2018, No.1 is now available. Read more: https://www.balther.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/BHN_1_22_2018.pdf

On January 17, Arvydas Reneckis, the director and producer of the American Lithuanian TV that ran in Chicago for 13 years, visited the National Library of Lithuania. Currently he works on a multi-part full-length documentary about Lithuanians and their history in the US.

On February 7, Paul Lillakas gave an exciting and long-awaited lecture on life as a food editor to a hall full of interested listeners at Tartu College. Paul is an award-winning Canadian-Estonian chef, who won Chopped Canada in 2014 and has since worked in a number of interesting places.

The most recent issue of the Estonian National Museum Yearbook (nr. 60, 2017) focuses on Estonian food heritage. Two out of five articles discuss the food culture of Estonians who have built new homes far from their homeland.