SHOP "LITHUANIAN-MADE"
HERE IN THE U.S.

By Regina Narusis

These candle houses are not only sold in gift shops but also through catalogs, such as SIGNALS - a catalog supporting the WGBH Educational Foundation and public television program development. Their toll-free telephone number is 1-800-669-9696.

At last Lithuanian products have reached the United States. Look around many of the major stores, and Lithuania's exports can be bought readily.

Last Christmas, I received a gift from a non-Lithuanian friend of a "Lithuanian Candle House". The candle house was purchased in Barrington, Illinois at a gift shop. These candle houses were imported from Lithuania by Baltic Designs, LLC of Orinda, California. The tag attached to them explains the uniqueness of each house; entirely made by hand, using a straight-edged knife and wooden stylus, local craftspeople create the houses without using machinery of any kind. "Each house is hand-painted and is as unique as a snowflake." The artist's name is stamped on the bottom of each house. This is truly a lovely gift.

If you visit your local liquor store, don't be surprised to find Lithuanian Vodka (which is said to be the finest) and Utena beer. The unique taste is reminiscent of the microbrewery beers popular in the United States.

While shopping at your fine department or clothing stores, look for the label, "Made in Lithuania". My husband was shopping at our local West Dundee, Illinois shopping center at Carson's, when he found wonderfully-made men's suits and sports jackets made in Lithuania.

Similarly, beautiful Lithuanian-made linen dresses, skirts, and blouses can be found in the women's departments. The clothes are stylish and well-made. The owner of this particular boutique told me that she could not keep the store stocked with the Lithuanian products. They were too quickly sold!

Other Lithuanian-based businesses are expanding to the West. Lithuanian Airlines is interested in making regular flights available between Lithuania and the U.S. They are in the process of preparing an Air Transportation Agreement between the two countries. Lithuania is seeking the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration's technical assistance to prepare Lithuanian civil aviation specialists for work in the U.S. air service market.

In the food industry, Lithuania is looking to export its cheese, such as gouda, parmesan, tilsit, and Lithuanian varieties. As soon as the producer is able to work out favorable tariffs, expect to see these Lithuanian-made cheeses in your supermarket.

There are, I am sure, many other products available from Lithuania in your local stores. Look around for that "Made in Lithuania" sticker - we're going to see more of them with time.

These candle houses are not only sold in gift shops but also through catalogs, such as SIGNALS - a catalog supporting the WGBH Educational Foundation and public television program development. Their toll-free telephone number is 1-800-669-9696.

CONFERENCE ON BALTIC ISSUES

translated by Ramune Kubilius from DRAUGAS, 6/24/98

The 16th Conference on Baltic Studies, "Baltic Issues in International Perspectives", was held in Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana on June 19th to the 21st. The conference, sponsored by the Association for the Advancement of Baltic Studies (AABS), was attended by approximately 270 participants and featured about 120 papers and presentations.

Attendees came from the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Iceland, Australia, Germany, Britain, Sweden, France, and the Baltic countries. Presentations were divided into subject sections: History; Linguistics; Business/Economics; Literature; Aesthetics, Culture and Communication; Geography; Political Science; Democratic Reform; and a student session. The papers were presented by a diverse group of academics and students, Balts and non-Balts.

Topics ranged from overviews on the future of business, civil service, ethnographic studies, tourism, theater, to currently published literature in the Baltic countries. Insights and research were shared about the difference between nationality and citizenship; the political power of wayside crosses and the Catholic Church during Soviet occupation; and the continuing residual influence of the KGB after the re-establishment of independence in the Baltic region and other former Communist countries.

After the opening reception, there was a literary evening entitled, "Baltic Voices in North America", featuring published Baltic-American writers who write in English, such as Agate Nesaule, Linda Kivi, Irena Rusé®s, Antanas Щleika, and Karlis Jirgens. The banquet also featured a performance by the newly-formed ethnographic group "Delcia", from Chicago.

The new AABS president is Thomas Palm of Portland State University. Their address is: AABS Business Office, 3465 East Burnside Street, Portland, Oregon 97214-2050. AABS also has a Baltic office in Riga, Latvia, publishes the Baltic Studies Newsletter (edited by Sandra Milevska), and the Journal of Baltic Studies (edited by Saulius Suziedelis).

THE LITHUANIAN WORLD CENTER
CELEBRATES ITS 10TH ANNIVERSARY

from the Lithuanian World Center Administration

During the last ten years the Lithuanian World Center, located in Lemont, Illinois, has developed into a beacon of Lithuanian culture.

The Center houses a Lithuanian school Ö whose growth still continues. The Center is also open to Lithuanian organizations, concerts, meetings, balls, and socials. Lithuanian choirs and folk dance groups rehearse nearly every weekday. Other activities on the premises include; the Blessed George Matulaitis Mission, offices of the Lithuanian Foundation, the World Lithuanian magazine, the Lithuanian World Community headquarters, and the Human Services Office of Lemont's Lithuanian-American Community.

From its beginning, the Center became the largest facility outside Lithuania dedicated to Lithuanian culture. Volunteer work and generous donations help sustain the Center. They will be celebrating their anniversary on September 26th this year.

For more information about the Lithuanian World Center, write to the Center at 14911 Ö 127th Street, Lemont, IL 60439, or call 630-257-8787.

CONSECRATION OF CATHEDRAL HIGHLIGHT FOR
PITTSBURGH GROUP

From the Lithuanian Citizens' Society Newsletter, July 1998

The July 11th consecration ceremonies of the Cathedral of The Visitation of Mary in Vilkavið«©s, Lithuania was the highlight for 23 Pittsburgh Lithuanians. They were members of the Lithuanian Citizens' Society who had generously donated their closing parish's pipe organ and the Stations of the Cross.

The Society's parish, St. Casimir's Church, was one of seven Catholic Churches on the South Side of Pittsburgh which were merged into four. The 90 year-old church was officially closed in 1991. Members of the Society were determined to save something from St. Casimir's for posterity and as a reminder of this very active Church.

After months of hard work: paper work for approvals, disassembling, and packing, the set of Stations and pipe organ were delivered to the Cathedral. The Cathedral was built as a replica of the former one destroyed during the war and is on the same grounds. The pipe organ was installed in the Cathedral replacing the one destroyed. The Stations, one of three in the world, were too large for the spaces open in the Cathedral. They were installed in the Cathedral of the Blessed Trinity in Pilvið«©ai.

STASYS LOZORAITIS REMEMBERED

By Viktoras Nakas

June 13, 1998 marked the fourth anniversary of the death of Stasys Lozoraitis, Jr., one of LithuaniaÒ³ central figures in the struggle for independence, and a veteran diplomat who served as its first Ambassador to the United States, following the collapse of the Soviet empire in 1991.

A monument to the popular leader, who was dubbed "The President of Hope" (Vilties Prezidentas) during his unsuccessful candidacy for LithuaniaÒ³ highest office in 1993, stands in Kaunas near Independence Square.

Designed by sculptor Juozas Slivinskas, the monument was dedicated on September 8th, 1996. In the background is the house in which Stasys Lozoraitis and his family lived before the Soviet occupation of Lithuania.

STAY IN A QUAINT LITHUANIAN COUNTRY HOUSE

By Ruta Aidis

Lietuvos Sodzius, the Lithuanian country house, has been the subject of numerous poems and song. Many noble Lithuanians have come from the Lithuanian countryside. It was the countryside that preserved LithuaniaÒ³ national heritage and cultural traditions. Also, it is only in the rural areas that the distinct charm of LithuaniaÒ³ regions -- Dzukija, Zemaitija and Aukð´itija -- becomes visible.

A group of Lithuanians living in the countryside formed a rural tourism association (Lietuvos Kaimo Turizmo Asociacija) which has been recognised by the European rural tourism association. The associationÒ³ main function is to provide its members with up-to-date information, as well as set standards for agrotourist or rural tourist accommodations. The association sets a quality rating system and certification. It also insures and provides roadside markers for more easy access to accommodations in remote areas. In addition, attention is paid to providing good sanitary conditions: modern and clean toilet and shower facilities, saunas, etc.

The Association encourages each rural tourist location to specialize and provide specific services and recreation possibilities, such as: fishing, boating, horseback riding, indoor sports facilities, organic farming, teaching crafts skills, the times of local festivals, and more. Each country house owner is expected to know about its locale's history.

The Association has high requirements for its members. It expects them to be polite and courteous to guests, uphold certification standards, and be communicative and friendly in foreign languages.

In order to promote rural tourism, the Association has created information centers in all the major Lithuanian cities. These centers provide more information, as well as photos and some video materials on different accommodation possibilities.

Although Lithuania is located in EuropeÒ³ center, it boasts 150 times cleaner, less polluted air than can be found in the average European city. The Association helps tourists see the vast forest areas where wild boars and foxes still live. In addition, the unique landscapes, clear rivers and lakes, and the ever-present country side charm entice visitors. For further information about the Lithuanian Rural Tourism Association, please contact:

Regina Sirusiene, president
K. Donelaicio 2
3000 Kaunas Lithuania
Tel./fax +370 7 22 64 72

AUTO INSURANCE LAW STILL NEEDS TO BE IMPROVED

From ELTA News Agency at www.elta.lt

The proposed Compulsory Traffic Insurance Law (similar to our automobile insurance) was approved in principal on July 16th, as long as some improvements and edits are made. The hottest issues discussed during the Seimas meeting were: the Lithuanian motor bureau fund - to be established under the law, transition period, size of insurance contributions, and insurance terms.

Presently auto insurance in Lithuania is volunteer; although, the growing number of drivers and car owners prefer to take this kind of insurance. The main purposes of the compulsory insurance for car owners and drivers are to regulate insurance order, promote safe driving, state order of compensations of damage caused during car accidents, and secure owner's and victim's rights and interests.

With this law, victims of car accidents would have more guarantees that damage caused during an accident will be compensated. Insurance companies and the to-be-established Lithuanian Motor Bureau fund would assure compensation payments.

According to Lithuanian insurers' association data, the average compensation paid out by Lithuanian insurance companies for one driver or car owner stood at 4,000 litas ($1,000) in 1997. While, the Lithuanian business paper, Verslo Zinios, revealed that damages due to car accidents in Lithuania amounted to 600 million litas ($150 million) or 1.5 percent of the country's GDP.

LITHUANIAÒ“ STATEHOOD DAY SPECIAL HIGHLIGHTS

One of LithuaniaÒ³ Statehood Day events was the presentation of the Second Degree in the Order of Gediminas, Grand Duke of Lithuania (Didziojo Lietuvos Kunigaikð£©o Gedimino Antrojo Laipsnio Ordinas) to Regina Naruð©³, Lithuanian-American Community, Inc. president.

President Valdas Adamkus is pictured presenting this honor to Mrs. Naru𩳠for her work on Lithuaniaҳ behalf as a Lithuanian-American Community member on the July 6th occasion.

ART TREASURE DISCOVERERS RECEIVE HONORS

From the ELTA News Agency at www.elta.lt

Four museum specialists will be decorated with the honor of the Second Degree in the Order of Gediminas, Grand Duke of Lithuania (Didziojo Lietuvos Kunigaikð£©o Gedimino Antrojo Laipsnio Ordinas) for discovering and protecting art treasure found 13 years ago.

The Cabinet decided to present the awards to the Director of Lithuanian Museum, Romualdas Budrys; monument specialist, Juozas Stasiulaitis; museum specialist Stasys Cipkus; and Kazys Napalys Kitkauskas, architecture department head at the Lietuvos Pilys (Lithuanian Castles) research center.

During Statehood Day (The Crowning of King Mindaugas), July 6th, the four men announced the existence of the cache. These men had shared the secret of the location in the Cathedral of Vilnius since March 27th, 1985. Until 1990, the Cathedral had been used as a Soviet art gallery. The sacred objects were recovered and then hidden in the Cathedral fearing Soviet confiscation. The men waited for a more stable government before publicizing their find.

The goldsmith treasure of the Vilnius Cathedral - estimated to be the richest art collection in Lithuania - consists of approximately 270 religious articles made of gold and silver with jewels: monstrances, chalices, reliquaries, archbishop's pastoral staff, and other riches accumulated during the centuries.

A LETTER FROM THE SUBSCRIPTION MANAGER

As of April 1, 1998, the BRIDGES subscription office has moved to 1927 West Blvd., Racine, Wisconsin, 53403.

Because we experienced difficulties in getting the journal edited and published in 1997, we added six free issues to everyoneÒ³ 1998 subscription. Renewal, "we miss you", and final renewal notices are being sent to our current and past subscribers encouraging them to renew or to re-subscribe. If we don't hear from you, we'll understand that you do not choose to receive BRIDGES anymore. Renewal notices had not been sent out for eight to ten months before the change in subscription managers.

If anyone has encountered a problem with their subscription, please let me know, and we will work it out.

I would like to thank Rasa Ardys-Juð«, our new editor, for all her hard work and tremendous efforts in putting BRIDGES back on its feet. She has done and keeps doing an excellent job for us. With her help, we now have 200 more subscribers than we did in April.

I do have one favor to ask of our readers; if anyone is moving, please let me know, so that we may correct the addresses. I also ask that our readers let their friends and relatives know that BRIDGES is back on track and consider subscribing. BRIDGES makes a wonderful gift!

Rasa and I have one goal in mind: we will provide a journal published to the best of our capabilities that will reach out to as many people of Lithuanian descent as possible. Thank you for your support!

Ramas Pliura, Treasurer, LAC, Inc.
BRIDGES Treasurer and Subscription Manager

P.S. Thanks to all the subscribers who have added generous contributions with their renewal. This will help BRIDGES survive and to keep the subscription price low.