SNPJ Heritage Center visitors spent an afternoon honing their winemaking skills under the direction of Bro. ED TREBETS (604) [standing, center].

BOROUGH OF SNPJ, Pa. — Here’s some exciting news: the Polka Hall of Fame in Euclid, Ohio, has nominated the SNPJ Heritage Center for their annual Cultural Heritage Award. If you are a member of the PHOF, please remember to vote for the Heritage Center for this very deserving award. If you are not a member and would like to join the PHOF, call 1-866-66-POLKA for more information.

žRose Marie Jisa will be hosting a genealogy seminar Sunday, Sept. 20, at 2 p.m. at the Heritage Center. Come with questions about locating your ancestry.

Several Lodges have been merged together and have donated all or part of their treasury to the Heritage Center. Thank you to the former Lodge 333 of Bridgeport, Ohio, and the former Lodge 585 of Slippery Rock, Pa., for remembering the Heritage Center with your generous donations. The donations will help keep the Slovenian culture preserved for generations.

If you would be interested in joining the SNPJ Slovenian Heritage Center Committee, we are in need of two additional members. Besides learning about our heritage, the Heritage Center is a nice way to meet new people and reacquaint with old friends. Visitors stop in the SNPJ Heritage Center every week to browse, seek information or purchase Slovenian items, and it has become an international gathering place for multi-generations. Committee members are elected by the SNPJ National Board. If interested in serving on the committee, contact the SNPJ Home Office at 1-800-843-7675 for additional information.

We have a new item available for purchase at the SNPJ Heritage Center. The book “Finding Slovenia: A Guide to Old Europe’s New Country” by Jacequeline Widmar Stewart is available for $25 in the gift shop; add $3 for shipping and handling if ordered. The book has beautiful color pictures and is very informative about Slovenia.

A winemaking seminar presented by Ed Trebets (604) was held Sunday, Aug. 16, at the Heritage Center. Ed held a seminar last year discussing the basics of winemaking. This year he spoke about clarification and stabilization of wine. Ed brought wine from Chalet Debonne, where he is head winemaker, for attendees to sample. Thank you, Ed, for taking the time to share your knowledge with an appreciative crowd. We look forward to having you speak again next year.

Our cookbooks are flying off the shelves and into kitchens across the United States and Canada. Sales are brisk and keeping Heritage Center Committee members busy packing and shipping! Place your order early for Thanksgiving and Christmas. The cookbook makes a great gift for the holidays or any occasion. SNPJ Region 6 Vice President Tina Rigler has cookbooks and aprons; she is assisting in distributing to the Chicago area only. For any other region, please contact the SNPJ Heritage Center. You can also contact me in the Cleveland area at (440) 944-4229. I will be in Evanstown, Pa., Sept. 20 for the Westmoreland County Federation Grape Festival and will have cookbooks with me in case anyone would like to purchase one. Thank you to everyone who has purchased a cookbook.