Croatian Easter @ Heart of Croatia

Heart of Croatia would like to take this opportunity to publicly thank Mr. John Gornick for inviting us to the Prijatelji Orchestra Concert in Chicago this past Saturday, March 8th, (with special guests the Pennsembles Tamburitza Orchestra of Versailles, PA), where we offered our many Croatian products for sale. This was a wonderful chance to not only showcase our merchandise, but to also be a part of a very beautifully organized event AND meet some great people! Thank you, Mr. Gornick! We appreciate your support!........

CROATIAN EASTER @ "Heart of Croatia" Gifts

CROATIAN EASTER PRODUCTS are now available at www.croatiagifts.com!

*Beautiful, Croatian Hand-Blown, Glass Hand-Painted Easter Eggs (Imported) $9.99

*Charming Real (Blown) Hand-Painted Easter Eggs: Bunny, Chick, Rooster, Village Designs (Imported) $7.99

*Adorable Croatian Easter Bunny $10

*Lovable Easter Bear with Basket of Candy Imported from Croatia $10

*Whimsical Spring Celebration Hanging Plaques Angels: $5.99 and Birdhouses: $3.50

*Indoor-Outdoor Easter Bunny and Easter Chick Welcome Slates $14.99

*Charming Easter Card Assortment 8 cards for $12 or $2 each 

*Jelly Bean Easter Bracelets (only 2 left!) $10

*Kras Chocolates (check out our new flavors!) tied up with Easter Ribbon 3/$6.50

*"Making Povitica" Videotape $15 (sale!)

*"The Best of Croatian Cooking" Cookbook (newly revised and endorsed by Goran Visnjic) $24.95

Other New Items Available at Heart of Croatia: Beba Bear and Booties Set, Croatian Bibs, Croatian Coffee, Ceramic Magnets, Imported Shawls........all this and MORE!!! Visit us today @ www.croatiagifts.com.

Note: Stock is limited and last year's supplies were sold out well in advance of Easter. Shop early to avoid disappointment!

Note: If there are Croatian events that you would like to invite us to sell at in your community, please contact us! Call toll free at 1-877-906-8314.

Melissa Pintar Obenauf
Pam Lacko Kelley
Email: obenaufm@alink.com
Toll Free: 877-906-8314

www.croatiagifts.com    

KostelicFamily on Showtime

Dear Nenad,

Thank you for your kind words--I'm glad you liked the show. And ordering Showtime for the occasion is something Showtime absolutely loves to hear.

Showtime's going to rebroadcast the show on the following dates: 

Showtime East 03/11/03 9:00 PM 
Showtime Too East 03/13/03 7:45 AM 
Showtime Too East 03/13/03 4:00 PM 
Showtime Too East 03/16/03 11:00 AM

Here's one more review that singles out the Kostelic piece. It's from the Sunday's San Francisco Chronicle:

By CW Nevius

Salt Lake 2002: Bud Greenspan's Stories of Olympic Glory: Documentary. Written, produced and directed by Bud Greenspan. Narrated by Will Lyman. 

Everyone has watched the Olympics on television. But you haven't really seen the Games until documentary filmmaker Bud Greenspan explains what to look for. Nobody puts the lump in your throat like Greenspan, who understands that there is more to this athletic celebration than a ticking clock, an American flag and an endorsement deal from a shoe company. 

This effort, six stories from the Salt Lake City Games, is one of Greenspan's best. To be honest, some of the previous efforts -- and he has now done seven, all the way back to Los Angeles in 1984 -- have fallen a little flat. 

This is just a guess, but it may be that network executives have seen Greenspan's greatest strength -- focusing on the less publicized stories about athletes from countries other than the good old U.S.A. -- as a weakness. 

They may have been pressuring him to skip the cross-country skiers and do the big names. That would be a monumental mistake, of course, but you can see a little of that thinking at the start of the Salt Lake show. Greenspan begins with the well-worn story of Jimmy Shea. Shea competes in the skeleton -- a lugelike sled in which competitors roar down the track headfirst. .5 It's a nice tale.

Shea's grandfather, Jack, won two gold medals in speedskating in Lake Placid in 1932, and his father competed in the Nordic events in the 1964 Games. When Jack was killed in a car accident, hit by a drunken driver just 17 days before the Olympics, Jimmy dedicated the competition to him, and prevailed. The only quibble is that this was done to a fare-thee-well by NBC during the Games. 

Anyone who doesn't already know this story isn't a fan of the Olympics, and that's the core audience. Hang on, however, and you will be rewarded. The typical Greenspan story is a slow build. He shows us Janica Kostelic, a Croatian skier. OK, you think, kind of interesting that she and her brother, Ivica, are trained by their father, Ante, in Zagreb. And the fact that the war-torn country provided so few facilities that they lifted tree branches for weights and teetered along the top rail of wooden fences to improve balance. 

You're hooked by the time you hear how Ante drove hours to ski areas and Ivica and Janica would sleep in the car once there because they didn't have enough money for lodging. Or, when Janica recalls that when she began to win races, it was so unexpected that she had to provide her own Croatian flag for the ceremony. When she injures a knee just three weeks before the Games but still comes back to ski, and then . . . well, let's just say it is likely to be the most interested you have ever been in a Croatian ski racer. 

Greenspan's advantage is that he can tell a story after the fact and gets in-depth interviews with the participants after they have had a chance to think the moment through. 

In "Salt Lake 2002," he gives a fresh twist to the Canada-USA gold medal men's hockey final, letting us see the tremendous pressure on the Canadians, who had not won "their" sport in the Olympics in 50 years. But Greenspan is best at the little stories the big networks missed. 

An Australian freestyle aerial skier, Alisa Camplin, is thrust into the spotlight when her teammate, Jacqui Cooper, suffers a knee injury on the final practice jump before the competition. Camplin goes for the gold, but what she doesn't know (although we do) is that her mother, whom she had forbidden to make the long trip to the United States because of the expense, is actually in the stands, hiding behind a huge Australian flag. Waterworks ensue. 

There is Stefania Belmondo, a spunky but apparently over-the-hill Italian cross-country skier. Belmondo, as you expect, makes a sensational run to the front, but that's when her ski pole shatters. Can she make it? 

Finally, there is the tale of Brian Shimer, the American bobsledder. Thirty- nine years old and a four-time loser at the Olympics, Shimer was more than just a hard-luck story. Some of his teammates were openly questioning his ability. As he relives his Olympic moment, even months after the Games, he is unable to keep from getting choked up. Greenspan cuts to his wife, and she quickly finds herself overcome with emotion, too. At that point, if you are watching alone, and someone comes into the room, you might want to tell them you've got something in your eye. 

E-mail C.W. Nevius at cwnevius@sfchronicle.com. Š2003 San Francisco Chronicle 

Cheers and thanks again for watching, and for putting it up there.

Eric

Eric Hamilton
Cappy Productions
New York City

Croatian Embassy Media Advisory 

Dear Sir or Madam,

We are pleased to inform you that the Ambassador of Croatia to the United States, Dr. Ivan Grdesic will be attending the James E. Smith Midwest Conference On World Affairs at the University of Nebraska-Kearney, March 9-11.

The Croatian Ambassador will speak on Monday, March 9 at 9:00am and offer his insight and knowledge on globalization. He will have a unique perspective to offer the panel discussion, due to Croatia’s fairly new independence and current success in the rebuilding of their economy. The Ambassador will discuss the Croatian democratic transition and Croatian foreign policy priorities, such as joining the EU and NATO. Even more, he will talk about the importance of economic reform in the era of globalization and economic relations with the U.S. 

Before assuming his ambassadorial duties, Dr. Ivan Grdesic earned his PhD in political science at Zagreb University in Croatia. He later became a Political Science Professor at the same University. He is the author of numerous books and scientific articles and has taught multiple postgraduate courses. He also spent several years researching and lecturing in the US.

Also in attendance for the “World Affairs” conference will be several Ambassadors and Counselors from the Diplomatic arena present in Washington DC.

The annual three-day conference is being sponsored by the College if Business and Technology and is entitled “Global Economy: Promises and Perils of an Uncertain Frontier”.

For more information, please contact: Alan Vojvodic, Embassy of the Republic of Croatia to the United States of America; (202) 986-9476;press@emb.org ; www.croatiaemb.org  

Franciscan Father Jerko (Jerry)Caleta dead

Trogir, Croatia1944 - Victoria, Canada 2003

Week of March 10, 2003
Croation priest, patriot dead at 59

"I will remember him as a good man who did a lot for the Croatian Catholic community."

By RAMON GONZALEZ
WCR Staff Writer
Vancouver
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Franciscan Father Jerko (Jerry) Caleta, the first official pastor of the Edmonton Croatian Catholic community, will be remembered as a true spiritual and community leader. 

"He was the kind of priest who loved his Church, his Franciscan order and the Croatian people," said Franciscan Father Drago Gveric, pastor of Nativity of Mary Croatian Parish for the past five years. "His love was very concrete, more in doing than in preaching." 

Caleta, the pastor of Croatian Catholics on Vancouver Island for the past 10 years, died of heart complications in Victoria Feb. 17. He was 59. 

Born in Trogir, Croatia, in 1944 and ordained in 1969, Caleta came to Edmonton in 1977 as the first priest for local Croatians. He had previously spent seven years in Winnipeg where he founded St. Nicholas Tavelich Parish. 

During his stay in Edmonton from 1977 to 1985, Caleta organized the local Catholic community and led it in raising funds to build its own church, Nativity of Mary, in 1982. For the previous five years, the priest had celebrated Mass for Croatians at Sacred Heart Church. 

He loved his culture
A lover of Croatian culture, Caleta planned and organized the first Western Canadian Croatian Folklore Festival in 1978. The festival continues to this day and brings together hundreds of Croatian youth throughout Canada annually to celebrate their heritage and Catholic faith. 

"He was very dedicated to his Church and his community," Gveric said. "He was a good man and a good priest." 

Edmonton parishioner Zvonco Zvonkovic, Caleta's friend since the early 1970s and one of his closest collaborators during the building of the church in the early 1980s, described the priest as "a happy man who made everyone feel happy." 

A voice of power
Caleta enjoyed playing the piano, singing and speaking to his people. "He was a small guy, but he had a very, very heavy voice; the whole church would shake when he started talking," Zvonkovic recalled. "I will remember him as a good man who did a lot for the Croatian Catholic community." 

After eight years in Edmonton, Caleta was transferred to Vancouver, where he led Immaculate Heart of Mary (Croatian) Parish for seven years. 

The last 10 years of his life, Caleta spent as pastor of the Croatian Parish of St. Leopold Mandic in Victoria. Despite his poor health, the priest also travelled all over Vancouver Island serving Croatian Catholics in the communities of Nanaimo, Port Alberni and Campbell River. 

"Even though he suffered greatly through his priestly life, Father Jerry radiated joy and cheerfulness," noted Gveric. "He never complained about his health." 

Gveric celebrated a Mass in memory of Caleta Feb. 28 at the Nativity of Mary Church, 10560-98 St. 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Copyright Š 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002 -- Western Catholic Reporter
------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Mission of the Western Catholic Reporter is . . . . 
"To serve our readers by helping them deepen their faith through accurate information and reflective commentary on events and issues of concern to the church." 

http://www.wcr.ab.ca/news/2003/0310/caleta031003.shtml 

In 2003 Yugoslavia became officially Serbia and Montenegro. Proposed car plates.

Conference on Academic and Student Exchange, 

22-25 May 2003, Zagreb

Conference on Academic and Student Exchange
Conference on Academic and Student Exchange in Europe
May 22-25, 2003, Zagreb, Croatia
Application deadline: April 15, 2003

OBJECTIVES of the conference
§ To enhance cooperation of the SE Europe with the European Union
and with partners internationally;
§ To provide opportunity for the academic staff, university
administrations, professionals internationally in higher
education, and students to meet, exchange information about, and
engage in each others' academic and scientific projects;
§ To consider possibilities and interests for international
student and professor exchange;
§ To consider possibilities for standardization of university
curricula within specific disciplines;
§ To consider existing legislature, and various local, regional,
European and international initiatives devised to promote
international academic exchange and cooperation;
§ To share views and experiences with regard to academic and
scientific development and development strategies, modern trends
in science and higher education, and opportunities and paths to
overcome obstacles in international cooperation and exchange;
§ To build bridges for progress, and continuous and enhanced
academic cooperation in Europe.
ELIGIBILITY
Individuals and organizations in the fields of computer science,
mathematics, sciences (biology, ecology, chemistry, physics,
geology, geophysics), International Relations, International Law,
Sociology, independent administrative representatives and higher
education professionals:
§ Academic staff & Scientists (professors and teaching
assistants);
§ Independent administration representatives;
§ Undergraduate and graduate students;
§ Professionals internationally for higher education issues;
§ Representatives of commercial companies, foundations, and
institutes;
§ National and International Agencies and Organizations involved
with Higher Education (ministries, agencies, institutes,
foundations, etc.);
§ National and international student organizations and student
councils;
§ Other (individuals and organizations).
TABLES / TOPICS
1. Legal Framework and Infrastructure for Academic and Student
Exchange and Cooperation: Analysis, Opportunities, Perspective
2. Inter-University Academic Staff/ Student Cooperation and
Professor/Student Exchange in Europe and with South East Europe
3. Academic and Student Standards, Students' and Professors'
Rights, Students' Participation in Academic Governing, and
Professor-Student Cooperation
4. Cooperation of Economy and Academic Sector in South East and
Central Europe
More information: http://www.mass-intl.org/ 
info@mass-intl.org 
fax: ++ 385 1 - 3077 250

CROATIAN WEBSITE FINALIST IN SXSW INTERACTIVE FESTIVAL IN AUSTIN, TX

Croatian Embassy Press Release  07/03

Washington D.C., Austin, TX – The website, Croatian Tales of Long Ago, is a finalist in SXSW Interactive Festival in Austin, Texas. The website is produced by ALT F4 - Bulaja publishing company from Zagreb, Croatia. The book of Croatian fairytales, that the website is based on, were written by Ivana Brlic-Mazuranic, a famous Croatian children’s writer. Mazuranic’s first collection of stories was published in 1916. ALT F4 - Bulaja, created this international multimedia project, which is among five finalists, including the website for Lego, competing in the animation category. 
International multimedia project/CD-ROM, Croatian Tales of Long Ago, consists of eight interactive animated stories, games and movies. The project gathered seven teams of animators, illustrators, musicians, actors, translators and programmers from the USA, Canada, Scotland, Australia, Denmark, Germany, Russia, France, and Croatia. Each team took one of the stories and developed it into the digital world.
In the past, the project won several important awards, two of which were awards in the same category entitled, “Story”, at the San Francisco Festival, “FlashForward2002” and at the “NetFestival” in Rio de Janerio.
ALT F4 - Bulaja Publishing Company, founded in 1998, specializes in electronic publication. Along with recent success, they had already published three CD-ROMs with texts of Croatian classical novels. The 10th annual festival, SXSW Interactive, will be held at the Austin Convention Center in Austin, TX from March 7, until March 11, 2003. The awards ceremony is scheduled for March 9. 
Some parts of the story and additional information about the project can be found atwww.bulaja.com/bajke/ , or www.bulaja.com/fairytales/. 
####

For further information, please contact:
Alan Vojvodic, Embassy of the Republic of Croatia to the United States of America
(202) 986 9476, press@croatiaemb.org 

Filmmaker Brenda Brkusic on CroatianTV

"Freedom from Despair."

On Sunday, March 16 at 5:00 pm and 11:00 pm (CST), 3:00 pm and9:00 pm Pacific time, and 6:00 pm and Midnight Eastern time, aninterview with young Croatian American Filmmaker, Brenda Brkusic, will beaired on Globe Cast, (HIC) Croatian Satellite Television Program for NorthAmerica and Canada.

The hour long program is hosted by Mr. Zvonko Ranogajec.The first segment is an interview with Ms. Brkusic's parents, Kruno and DiannaBrkusic, and the second segment of the program is an interview with Brenda about herinterest in film and television and also about her upcoming filmproject "Freedom from Despair."  Mr. Ranogajec statedthat one of his goals with this program was to recognize that we need morepeople outside of Croatia working in film and media on our behalf, as Brendais trying so feverishly to do.  

Unfortunately, not many people in the worldhave a true understanding of Croatia. But Brenda Brkusic is in the position tochange all that. She feels that we are a nation worth knowing. The youngChicago-born Croatian American is now residing in Southern California and iscompleting her degree in Film and Television Writing and Directing at ChapmanUniversity. Some people may have seen her filming the Croatianrepresentatives at the International Friendship Festival in El Cajon, ordirecting crew members at Zadarska Noc last fall for her documentary “MyCroatia.” Brenda has devoted countless hours to the voice in her heart byactively dedicating her artistic and technical energies towards her currentpurpose: “revealing the truth by creating documentary films that will embraceand empower the Croatian community while displaying messages of humanity andpeace,” she says. Her gratification comes form seeing the way that Croatiansand non-Croatians alike have been affected by viewing her work. She thanks allof you for your support thus far.

Your contributions will be essential insupporting her next non-profit project, a documentary film called “Freedomfrom Despair” which will be shot in California, Chicago and Croatia during thesummer of 2003. “Freedom from Despair” strives to represent the stories ofthe immigrants that have escaped to America’s shores during the 1950’s insearch of freedom. It is based off of her father’s life experiences in Croatiaand his personal struggle as a political activist on Croatian affairs whileliving in America.

Although Ms. Brkusic is applying for grantsand other funding means in order to continue with this work, sponsorship of thefilm is also possible through interested businesses and individuals. If you areinterested in learning more, please contact Brenda to hear how your name can bepart of this film. Thank you in advance for contributing to this importantcause!

Please support out talent. To contact Brenda, write to Crofilm2003@yahoo.com