Good morning, I know I said a few weeks ago that I was vacating the Sunday morning radio chair, but some recent misinformation making the rounds among the Cleveland Lithuanians has caused me to break my promise, if only for today.
Before I forget, I want to say a big "Thank You" to Marius, Augis Tadas and Regina of Siaurines Krantas, not only for their outstanding work so far, but for inviting me on their show this morning.
So, perhaps you've heard, as I have a number of troubling stories about circumstances surrounding the end of Tevynes Garsai, and the beginnings of Siaurines Krantas. Stories like the one claiming that Aldona Stempuziene didn't bother to inform WJCU General Manager Mark Krieger that she was planning to retire from the radio show in early May. I can tell you for a fact that the first call Aldona made after coming to her decision was to Mark Krieger. I know this to be true because I was one of the first people Mark called after hearing from Aldona.
In the past couple of weeks I've also heard the absurd tale that Siaurines Krantas needs money right away in order to pay its bill for airtime at WJCU. The truth is that WJCU provides airtime to selected community broadcasters free of charge. There is no "pay to play" here at WJCU. The only money that changes hands at WJCU is when listeners like you donate directly to the station every year at Radiothon time.
And speaking of Radiothon, I've also heard of some people quesitioning whether the money donated by Tevynes Garsai listeners during Radiothon 2010 was properly turned in to WJCU. I'm here to tell you that I personally accounted for, handled and submitted all Tevynes Garsai listener donations for the past three Radiothons. Further, John Carroll University sends out thank you letters to all listeners who donate by check or credit card. If WJCU never received your donation, how did they know to send you a thank you letter?
And finally, I've heard that the recording equipment here at WJCU actually belonged to Aldona Stempuziene, who took it with her when Tevynes Garsai left the airwaves. Again, I must inform those who started that rumor that they are quite mistaken. Within twenty feet of where I'm standing right now, there are not one, but two state-of-the-art production studios available for use by any WJCU staff member, including my friends here at Siaurines Krantas.
And how did WJCU pay for the equipment and furniture in those studios? The same way WJCU pays for everything else: with money you donated during past Radiothons.
So there you have it, I apologize if I bored you with too much trivial detail, but I have heard so much rumor and innuendo in the last two weeks, that I felt compelled to set the record straight with first hand facts.
Thanks again for listening, and I hope you continue to listen every week to Siaurines Krantas. Marius, Augis, Regina and Tadas are working very hard to bring you a great radio show every Sunday, and they are only getting better and better at that as time goes on. Iki.
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Saturday, May 15, 2010
Watch this Space…
The proprietors of Šiaurinis Krantas, the new Sunday morning Lithuanian Radio Program in Cleveland have indicated that they want to continue updating this blog with news from and about the Cleveland Lithuanian community.
So check back here starting Sunday, May 23rd for continued updates. And please tune in to WJCU/88.7 FM or wjcu.org between 8:00 and 10:00 am Sunday mornings for a new Lithuanian radio experience in Cleveland.
So check back here starting Sunday, May 23rd for continued updates. And please tune in to WJCU/88.7 FM or wjcu.org between 8:00 and 10:00 am Sunday mornings for a new Lithuanian radio experience in Cleveland.
Sunday, May 9, 2010
Farewell My Friends…
As we bring to a close this final episode of Tevynes Garsai, I want to make just a few personal comments while I have your ear.
First and foremost, I want to thank you for listening. I know I say that nearly every week, and I truly mean it. But today I want to emphasize that without listeners, radio means nothing. You are the reason this show has existed for over 60 years. So, thanks one last time for listening.
I'd also like to thank WJCU, and especially our General Manager, Mark Krieger. John Carroll University Radio has been especially good to the Lithuanian Voice over the years. This has been a great place to broadcast, and the people here are simply the best. I asked Mark to record a short message for you on the occasion of our last show, so let's hear that now.
On behalf of myself, and all of our listeners, I'd like to say a special thank you to Aldona Stempuzis. Aldona has had the unenviable task of not only putting up with me, but also coming up with a plan for a two hour radio show each week for the past 18 years. Neither of those are easy tasks, but I think you'll agree that she's done an outstanding job for far longer than she ever imagined.
Aldona, I can't imagine having taken this radio journey with anyone else. Through thick and thin, we both understood that we were a part of something bigger than any one person, and I'm immensely proud of what we were able to accomplish. No matter what comes along after we sign off today, no one will ever do it the way we did.
Aldona, I know you have some personal projects that have been pushed to the side in favor of the radio program. So I hope you will find the next chapter in her life even more rewarding than the previous ones. And finally Aldona, I want to thank you for all the wonderful meals you've cooked me over the years. I re-acquired my bicycling habit in part to offset the calories contained in all the delicious food you've prepared during our work sessions and air shifts.
I would be remiss if I didn't thank my wife Jean for her patience and understanding these last 18 years. Jean is responsible for connecting me to Aldona, not knowing what a couple hours in Aldona's basement would mushroom into. And the time I've invested in Tevynes Garsai has also been Jean's time in a sense, and I'm fortunate to be married to someone who understands why I do this. Thanks Jean, I'll see you right after the show.
As you may have heard by now, there will be a new Lithuanian program on WJCU, starting at 8:00 am on Sunday, May 23rd. It's gratifying to see that there is both a continuing demand and a supply for radio serving Cleveland Lithuanians. I hope you'll tune in with an open mind on May 23rd, and support the next generation of Lithuanian radio in Cleveland. I'll be helping the new people get started on the right foot with some technical assistance and training, but my main job will be to stay out of their way so they can realize their vision of a new Lithuanian radio program based in Cleveland.
My future plans include more sleep, more time to spend with Jean, and more cycling. I'll still have my hand in some projects here at WJCU, including Making the Case, a half-hour public affairs program I edit that airs each Wednesday afternoon at 12:30, plus the Irish Music Marathon with Uncle Fred every St. Patrick's Day. And I hope you'll still be able to find me behind the mixing board, providing sound reinforcement at Lithuanian events in Cleveland for some time to come.
Before I sign off, I want to make a point about service. I'm aware of the amount of time and energy that Aldona and I have invested in this radio program over the years. I also fully appreciate what this radio show has meant to our listeners, because so many of you have told us as much on a regular basis. And what I'm about to say doesn't diminish either of those facts in the least.
Whatever time and talent I've contributed to this program could never compare with what this program has given back to me. From the pride we feel in putting a quality show on the air each week, to the many friends and acquaintances I've made as a result of my involvement here, to the myriad of opportunities I've had come my way in the Lithuanian community and beyond, Tevynes Garsai has enriched my life as I never could have imagined back in 1992. Doing this show was not always easy, but I've always considered it the best use of my time.
My parents taught me and my sister by their example, that it's not enough to just bring home a paycheck, keep the house clean and mow the lawn. Mom and Dad were always and still are, helping some organization or school or family member or friend of a friend with whatever needs to be done. The lesson I learned early on is that the truly important things in this world happen only when people like you and me get involved and give of themselves without expecting to be compensated.
Service to others is the only way we can directly change the world for the better, and service to others is also how we can change ourselves for the better. So I encourage you to be "selfish" like me, and get involved with something you feel passionate about. You have more time and talent than you think you do, and when you give, you'll get back than you think you will.
And with that, I will climb down off my soapbox and thank you for listening one last time. Until we meet again, I wish you safety and happiness and every other good thing that life has to offer. Atsisveikinu iki kito karto; farewell until next time we see each other. Sudiev.
First and foremost, I want to thank you for listening. I know I say that nearly every week, and I truly mean it. But today I want to emphasize that without listeners, radio means nothing. You are the reason this show has existed for over 60 years. So, thanks one last time for listening.
I'd also like to thank WJCU, and especially our General Manager, Mark Krieger. John Carroll University Radio has been especially good to the Lithuanian Voice over the years. This has been a great place to broadcast, and the people here are simply the best. I asked Mark to record a short message for you on the occasion of our last show, so let's hear that now.
On behalf of myself, and all of our listeners, I'd like to say a special thank you to Aldona Stempuzis. Aldona has had the unenviable task of not only putting up with me, but also coming up with a plan for a two hour radio show each week for the past 18 years. Neither of those are easy tasks, but I think you'll agree that she's done an outstanding job for far longer than she ever imagined.
Aldona, I can't imagine having taken this radio journey with anyone else. Through thick and thin, we both understood that we were a part of something bigger than any one person, and I'm immensely proud of what we were able to accomplish. No matter what comes along after we sign off today, no one will ever do it the way we did.
Aldona, I know you have some personal projects that have been pushed to the side in favor of the radio program. So I hope you will find the next chapter in her life even more rewarding than the previous ones. And finally Aldona, I want to thank you for all the wonderful meals you've cooked me over the years. I re-acquired my bicycling habit in part to offset the calories contained in all the delicious food you've prepared during our work sessions and air shifts.
I would be remiss if I didn't thank my wife Jean for her patience and understanding these last 18 years. Jean is responsible for connecting me to Aldona, not knowing what a couple hours in Aldona's basement would mushroom into. And the time I've invested in Tevynes Garsai has also been Jean's time in a sense, and I'm fortunate to be married to someone who understands why I do this. Thanks Jean, I'll see you right after the show.
As you may have heard by now, there will be a new Lithuanian program on WJCU, starting at 8:00 am on Sunday, May 23rd. It's gratifying to see that there is both a continuing demand and a supply for radio serving Cleveland Lithuanians. I hope you'll tune in with an open mind on May 23rd, and support the next generation of Lithuanian radio in Cleveland. I'll be helping the new people get started on the right foot with some technical assistance and training, but my main job will be to stay out of their way so they can realize their vision of a new Lithuanian radio program based in Cleveland.
My future plans include more sleep, more time to spend with Jean, and more cycling. I'll still have my hand in some projects here at WJCU, including Making the Case, a half-hour public affairs program I edit that airs each Wednesday afternoon at 12:30, plus the Irish Music Marathon with Uncle Fred every St. Patrick's Day. And I hope you'll still be able to find me behind the mixing board, providing sound reinforcement at Lithuanian events in Cleveland for some time to come.
Before I sign off, I want to make a point about service. I'm aware of the amount of time and energy that Aldona and I have invested in this radio program over the years. I also fully appreciate what this radio show has meant to our listeners, because so many of you have told us as much on a regular basis. And what I'm about to say doesn't diminish either of those facts in the least.
Whatever time and talent I've contributed to this program could never compare with what this program has given back to me. From the pride we feel in putting a quality show on the air each week, to the many friends and acquaintances I've made as a result of my involvement here, to the myriad of opportunities I've had come my way in the Lithuanian community and beyond, Tevynes Garsai has enriched my life as I never could have imagined back in 1992. Doing this show was not always easy, but I've always considered it the best use of my time.
My parents taught me and my sister by their example, that it's not enough to just bring home a paycheck, keep the house clean and mow the lawn. Mom and Dad were always and still are, helping some organization or school or family member or friend of a friend with whatever needs to be done. The lesson I learned early on is that the truly important things in this world happen only when people like you and me get involved and give of themselves without expecting to be compensated.
Service to others is the only way we can directly change the world for the better, and service to others is also how we can change ourselves for the better. So I encourage you to be "selfish" like me, and get involved with something you feel passionate about. You have more time and talent than you think you do, and when you give, you'll get back than you think you will.
And with that, I will climb down off my soapbox and thank you for listening one last time. Until we meet again, I wish you safety and happiness and every other good thing that life has to offer. Atsisveikinu iki kito karto; farewell until next time we see each other. Sudiev.
Saturday, May 8, 2010
May 9, 2010
The singers of Naujoji Intriga would like to thank all who attended their Mother's Day brunch last weekend. They hope you and your mom enjoyed the morning.
Today the traditional American celebration of Mother's Day will take place with a special buffet from 12 noon to 2:00 pm at Lithuanian Village. Reserve your family table by this Thursday, May 6th.
There is still time to donate to the Lithuanian Franciscans cancer support center project in Lithuania. Now through May 23rd, you can make your check payable to St. Casimir, and place it in an envelope marked "Lithuanian Cancer Center".
Today at 11:15 am, the Cleveland Ateitininkinai will hold their annual meeting in the upper hall at St. Casimir Parish. Lukas Laniauskas, S.J will be the keynote speaker.
Cleveland City Councilman Michael Polensek invites you to the official groundbreaking for the Collinwood Community and Recreation Center, next Saturday, May 15th at 10:00 am. The new rec center will be located at 16500 Lakeshore Boulevard.
On Monday, May 31st, Catholic War Veterans Post 613, now sponsored by St. Casimir Parish, will commemorate Memorial Day with a flag raising at the freedom monument in front of the St. Casimir rectory at 8:30 am. The Memorial Day ceremony will conclude with breakfast in the lower hall. The entire parish is invited.
Don't forget that the Academic Scouts Filisterai will present soprano Virginija Muliolis and pianist Michael Borowitz in the upper hall at St. Casimir on Saturday, June 5th.
St. Casimir Parish will hold a tag sale fund raiser on Saturday, June 12th from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm on the Neff Road parking lot. If you can spare a few hours to help with this event, please contact the coordinator Joan Carpenter at 216-486-5649.
Father Bacevicius sent a lovely greeting this week via email:
Today the traditional American celebration of Mother's Day will take place with a special buffet from 12 noon to 2:00 pm at Lithuanian Village. Reserve your family table by this Thursday, May 6th.
There is still time to donate to the Lithuanian Franciscans cancer support center project in Lithuania. Now through May 23rd, you can make your check payable to St. Casimir, and place it in an envelope marked "Lithuanian Cancer Center".
Today at 11:15 am, the Cleveland Ateitininkinai will hold their annual meeting in the upper hall at St. Casimir Parish. Lukas Laniauskas, S.J will be the keynote speaker.
Cleveland City Councilman Michael Polensek invites you to the official groundbreaking for the Collinwood Community and Recreation Center, next Saturday, May 15th at 10:00 am. The new rec center will be located at 16500 Lakeshore Boulevard.
On Monday, May 31st, Catholic War Veterans Post 613, now sponsored by St. Casimir Parish, will commemorate Memorial Day with a flag raising at the freedom monument in front of the St. Casimir rectory at 8:30 am. The Memorial Day ceremony will conclude with breakfast in the lower hall. The entire parish is invited.
Don't forget that the Academic Scouts Filisterai will present soprano Virginija Muliolis and pianist Michael Borowitz in the upper hall at St. Casimir on Saturday, June 5th.
St. Casimir Parish will hold a tag sale fund raiser on Saturday, June 12th from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm on the Neff Road parking lot. If you can spare a few hours to help with this event, please contact the coordinator Joan Carpenter at 216-486-5649.
Father Bacevicius sent a lovely greeting this week via email:
On behalf of the entire community of St. Casimir Parish, I want to thank Aldona and Greg for their service to the Lithuanian Community. For the last 18 years Aldona was the Lithuanian voice of Tevynes Garsai and Greg was the English voice. Both of their efforts really enhanced the quality of Lithuanian life in Cleveland, keeping the people informed of news and entertained with our beautiful culture. I wish both Greg and Aldona all the best in the future, and as pastor, I can now say: "See you in Church!"And this morning I received a card from the members of Exultate, along with their director Rita Kliorys:
God Bless you,
Fr. Joe Bacevice
Pastor, St. Casimir Parish
It is with sadness that we say "Goodbye" to the Tevynes Garsai Lithuanian radio program, which for 60+ years was a source of information, news and music for the Lithuanians of Cleveland and its vicinity. It's amazing (and tiring) to think of the countless hours and sweat that went into the preparation of each Sunday's radio program by + Juozas, Aldona and Greg, along with the countless number of people who helped along the way in all those years.I also want to thank Genovaite Karsokiene for the lovely card she sent this week. Ponia Karsokiene is one of our many loyal listeners, who always greeted us every year at Christmas.
The EXULTATE choir would like to thank you and Tevynes Garsai for all the help we received from you in the 28 year history of our choir. You have been with us every step of the way, advertising our goings on, playing our songs, recording and miking our concerts. For that we are ever grateful. It has been great working with you.
With this we say a most sincere thank you, THANK YOU for all that has been Tevynes Garsai! We, along with all of the Lithuanians in Cleveland will feel a huge loss in your absence.
So, as the radio program comes to its closing, we'd like to wish you many peaceful Sunday mornings, when you don't have to run to the studio barely having awoken. Well, and if you do have to wake up, it's to go on one of those long bike rides you enjoy! We hope this is not the last we see of you, that you will find many new projects to work on, and we hope that we can rely on your help in the future when organizing concerts. But for now, enjoy the newly acquired free time, freedom and bask in the wealth of memories of the very dear Tevynes Garsai!
Sunday, May 2, 2010
May 2, 2010
We send a special welcome to the athletes and spectators of the LAUNA Games which wrap up today Cleveland. The young and young at heart played hard and then partied even harder Friday and Saturday night with the music of Augis Dicevicius and Romas Dambrauskas, with the Cavs game on in the background. Add copious quantities of Lithuanian beer, and you've got a recipe for a very good time.
Mothers Day is coming up and in Lithuania, it's traditionally celebrated on the first Sunday of May, which is today. So this morning, the singers of Naujoji Intriga invite you to honor mothers, grandmothers, godmothers with a special spring Lithuanian Mothers Day brunch in the hall after 10:00 am Mass. You'll have a chance to feast on special foods prepared by Naujoji Intriga as well as hear them perform beautiful songs dedicated to the honored guests, and will present all moms with a spring blossom.
If you can't make it to the brunch, the singers will be glad to pack you a “brunch in a box” to take to your mom to help you celebrate the day. Proceeds from this event will help the group defray some of the expenses at the Dainu Svente this July.
On Sunday, May 9th, the traditional American celebration of Mother's Day will take place with a special buffet from 12 noon to 2:00 pm at Lithuanian Village. Reserve your family table by this Thursday, May 6th.
You're invited to join the faculty and students of St. Casimir Lithuanistic School next Saturday, May 8th at 11:00 am in the lower hall at St. Casimir Parish, as they celebrate the accomplishments of another academic year.
The Cleveland Pensininkai will hold their monthly lunch meeting at Gintaras in Lithuanian Village this coming Thursday, May 7th at 12 noon. Members and guest are invited to attend.
The Lithuanian Franciscans are building a cancer support center in Lithuania. A delegation of Franciscan fathers was recently in Cleveland to see how we do things here, and to ask for financial support for their project. Now through May 23rd, you're asked to make a donation to this cause via St. Casimir. You can make your check payable to St. Casimir, and place it in an envelope marked "Lithuanian Cancer Center".
The Lithuanian Catholic Organization Ateitis was founded 100 years ago in Europe with the goal of promoting Catholic culture among college students. Today, its membership encompasses all age groups and the group has chapters throughout the U.S., Canada and Europe. On Sunday, May 9th at 11:15 am, the Cleveland Ateitininkinai will hold their yearly meeting in the upper hall at St. Casimir Parish. Members will renew their pledges and listen to keynote speaker Lukas Laniauskas, S.J. The program will be conducted in the Lithuanian language.
Cleveland City Councilman Michael Polensek invites you to the official groundbreaking for the Collinwood Community and Recreation Center, Saturday, May 15th at 10:00 am. The new rec center will be located at 16500 Lakeshore Boulevard.
It's good to see that some traditions continue. On Monday, May 31st, Catholic War Veterans Post 613, now sponsored by St. Casimir Parish, will commemorate Memorial Day with a flag raising at the freedom memorial in front of the St. Casimir rectory at 8:30 am. The Memorial Day commemoration will conclude with breakfast in the lower hall. The entire parish is invited.
Don't forget that the Academic Scouts Filisterai will present soprano Virginija Muliolis and pianist Michael Borowitz in the upper hall at St. Casimir on Saturday, June 5th.
The St. Casimir Parish Council Steering Committee is in the process of drafting the parish mission statement. If you're a member of St. Casimir Parish, your input is greatly valued in this process. To present your ideas, please contact one of the committee members. The Steering Committee is comprised of Fr. Bacevicius, Kestutis Civinskas, Vytas Kliorys, Grazina Kudukis, Egle Laniauskas, Marius Laniauskas, Regina Motiejunas, Hilde Novak, Robert Raddell, Erin Randel Faye Roth, Rudolph Simoncic, and Jackie Taylor. The next meeting of the Steering Committee will be this coming Tuesday, May 4th at 7:30 pm in the rectory conference room.
Don't forget that next Sunday, May 9th will be the final broadcast of Tevynes Garsai. We have a special program planned for next Sunday, and it's one you won't want to miss.
Mothers Day is coming up and in Lithuania, it's traditionally celebrated on the first Sunday of May, which is today. So this morning, the singers of Naujoji Intriga invite you to honor mothers, grandmothers, godmothers with a special spring Lithuanian Mothers Day brunch in the hall after 10:00 am Mass. You'll have a chance to feast on special foods prepared by Naujoji Intriga as well as hear them perform beautiful songs dedicated to the honored guests, and will present all moms with a spring blossom.
If you can't make it to the brunch, the singers will be glad to pack you a “brunch in a box” to take to your mom to help you celebrate the day. Proceeds from this event will help the group defray some of the expenses at the Dainu Svente this July.
On Sunday, May 9th, the traditional American celebration of Mother's Day will take place with a special buffet from 12 noon to 2:00 pm at Lithuanian Village. Reserve your family table by this Thursday, May 6th.
You're invited to join the faculty and students of St. Casimir Lithuanistic School next Saturday, May 8th at 11:00 am in the lower hall at St. Casimir Parish, as they celebrate the accomplishments of another academic year.
The Cleveland Pensininkai will hold their monthly lunch meeting at Gintaras in Lithuanian Village this coming Thursday, May 7th at 12 noon. Members and guest are invited to attend.
The Lithuanian Franciscans are building a cancer support center in Lithuania. A delegation of Franciscan fathers was recently in Cleveland to see how we do things here, and to ask for financial support for their project. Now through May 23rd, you're asked to make a donation to this cause via St. Casimir. You can make your check payable to St. Casimir, and place it in an envelope marked "Lithuanian Cancer Center".
The Lithuanian Catholic Organization Ateitis was founded 100 years ago in Europe with the goal of promoting Catholic culture among college students. Today, its membership encompasses all age groups and the group has chapters throughout the U.S., Canada and Europe. On Sunday, May 9th at 11:15 am, the Cleveland Ateitininkinai will hold their yearly meeting in the upper hall at St. Casimir Parish. Members will renew their pledges and listen to keynote speaker Lukas Laniauskas, S.J. The program will be conducted in the Lithuanian language.
Cleveland City Councilman Michael Polensek invites you to the official groundbreaking for the Collinwood Community and Recreation Center, Saturday, May 15th at 10:00 am. The new rec center will be located at 16500 Lakeshore Boulevard.
It's good to see that some traditions continue. On Monday, May 31st, Catholic War Veterans Post 613, now sponsored by St. Casimir Parish, will commemorate Memorial Day with a flag raising at the freedom memorial in front of the St. Casimir rectory at 8:30 am. The Memorial Day commemoration will conclude with breakfast in the lower hall. The entire parish is invited.
Don't forget that the Academic Scouts Filisterai will present soprano Virginija Muliolis and pianist Michael Borowitz in the upper hall at St. Casimir on Saturday, June 5th.
The St. Casimir Parish Council Steering Committee is in the process of drafting the parish mission statement. If you're a member of St. Casimir Parish, your input is greatly valued in this process. To present your ideas, please contact one of the committee members. The Steering Committee is comprised of Fr. Bacevicius, Kestutis Civinskas, Vytas Kliorys, Grazina Kudukis, Egle Laniauskas, Marius Laniauskas, Regina Motiejunas, Hilde Novak, Robert Raddell, Erin Randel Faye Roth, Rudolph Simoncic, and Jackie Taylor. The next meeting of the Steering Committee will be this coming Tuesday, May 4th at 7:30 pm in the rectory conference room.
Don't forget that next Sunday, May 9th will be the final broadcast of Tevynes Garsai. We have a special program planned for next Sunday, and it's one you won't want to miss.
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