Tom Begich (left), Croatian American from Alaska, has been elected to the State Senate there and won in the Anchorage downtown “J” district. Tom ran unopposed in the general election after he won the August 16th Democratic primary with 62% of the vote against Ed Wesley. The Senate seat opened up when long time Democratic State Senator Johnny Ellis retired after 24 years. This popular incumbent endorsed Tom in the competitive primary race which was a key endorsement. Tom ran an energetic and issue-oriented campaign to win a strong majority of votes in this crucial party primary. This was Tom’s first campaign for office and he will be sworn in to the Alaska State Senate on January 17, 2017.
Category: People
Mara Vitols Hrgetic of Venezuela and Don Markusic of Australia describing their bussiness work in Croatia
Mara Vitols Hrgetić of Venezuela (on the photo, of Latvian parents) and Don Markušić from Australia, were guests of Marijan Ožanić in his monthly interview dedicated to entrepreneurship in Croatia. An example of Mara Vitols Hrgetić is quite interesting since she is a Lathuian born in Venezuela, married to a Croatian (also born in Venezuela) Josip Hrgetić, who started the FORUM Centre in Zagreb, aiming, among others, to economically connect Croatians from diaspora to the country of origin of their predecessors.
Miro Gavran's play "All About Men" translated into Estonian and premiered in Tallinn in Nov 2016
Miro Gavran’s play “All About Men” has been premiered in Tallinn, capital of Estonia in Vana Baskini Theatre on November 11th. So far it had 16 premieres in theaters from Rio de Janeiro to Zagreb, Moscow, Prague and Krakow. It was translated into ten languages which helped promote this Croatian writer whose work was translated into 38 languages and whose plays had more than 300 premieres and 3 million viewers all around the world.
Astrid Kuljanic participating A Concert Benefiting the Syrian American Medical Society in NY Nov 29th 2016
Featured performance, of which Astrid Kuljanić will be a part of: “He Will Be Our Brother,” A Concert Benefiting the Syrian American Medical Society (SAMS) Tuesday, November 29th, 2016, Saint Peter’s Church at 619 Lexington Ave, New York, NY. Special performances by renowned New York City musicians, including Edmar Castańeda, Jeff ‘Tain’ Watts, Kevin Hays, Gregoire Maret, John Ellis, Matt Clohesy, Magos Herrera, Vitor Gonçalves, Rogerio Boccato and Asaran Earth Trio. The admission is free and open to public. Hope you can join us in helping this extremely important fundraiser!
Stanko Bilinski's rhombic dodecahedron discovered in Croatia in 1960 and nicely described by Matt Parker
Academician Stanko Bilinski 1909-1998, was distinguished Croatian mathematician, an expert in the field of Geometry. In 1960, he discovered the rhombic dodecahedron. A consequence of results from his PhD dissertation defended in 1944 (published in 1948, both at the University of Zagreb) is that there are precisely 14 semiregular (Archemidian) polyhedra. His results are cited and discussed by distinguished geometers like Coxeter, Grünbaum, Miyazaki, Tekada, and others. In May 2016, Matt Parker from the University of London (Queen Mary) created a very interesting and entertaining video in Dubrovnik, dealing with this nice geometric object.
Katja Markotic Croatian mezzo-soprano interpreting chants by Mexican composer Manuel M. Ponce
Katja Markotić is distinguished Croatian mezzo-soprano singer and since 1996 the artistic director of the Rovinj Summer Festival in her native city of Rovinj. Except in Croatia, she is a frequent guest on concert podiums in Austria, Germany, Italy, France, United Kingdom and Mexico. She has achieved remarkable success during the evening recitals at the International Festival “Cervantino” in Mexico, with a final performance at the Palacio de Bellas Artes (Mexico City), in 1991 and in 2002. She lives and works as a freelance artist in Croatia’s capital Zagreb.
Sandra Paovic of Croatia winning gold medal in table tennis at the 2016 Paraolympic Games in Rio
Paovic’s career in the able-bodied side was cut short on 30 January 2009, by a life threatening car accident en route to the airport in Paris following a match. She suffered a severe cervical spinal injury leaving her with limited use of her legs. “What motivated me to come back to table tennis is the love that I have for table tennis and sport in general,” she said. “Many people were there for me on my way to success, but most important was that I believed in myself and that I never gave up.” Sandra was born in the city of Vukovar.
Kreso Mikulic bigmustache Croatian carpenter, engineer, Olympic gymnast, alpine skier and winemaker
What do devotion to the Blessed Mother, the fuel pump in the B-1 bomber, and a popular Colerain Township winery have in common? The answer is Kreso Mikulic, age 79, native of the Medjugorje region of Bosnia, patent holder of the B-1 fuel pump and owner and master vintner at Vinoklet Winery. Mikulic, an ethnic Croatian, has imported white and red wines made by Podrumi Andrej in Medjugorje and labeled with a portrait of the Blessed Mother, whom local tradition holds appears there annually since 1981.
Sven Maricic a pioneer of 3D printing technology in Croatia
A team of doctors at the Clinical Hospital in the city of Rijeka, Croatia, have recently and successfully attached a 3D printed ear to an elderly patient whose biological ear had to be removed because of skin cancer. The operation was executed as a joint effort between the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Rijeka and the Otorhinolaryngology Clinic at the local hospital and marks yet another successful implantation of a 3D printed prosthetic. The 3D printed ear model was designed by Dr. Sven Maričić and his associates Sanjin Fućak, and Duje Kalajžić and was based off of measurements made of the patient’s original ear.
Yoko Nishii Japanese pianist has six concerts in Croatia in Sep 2016
In September 2016 Yoko Nishii, Japanese pianist and proponent of the music of Dora Pejačević (the first Croatian women composer), arrives to Croatia again with a series of six concerts (Rovinj, Sisak, Vinkovci, Cavtat, Ludbreg, Zaprešić), as well as in Kotor and Budapest. On the photo Yoko Nishii with Vjeko Martinko, her host in Villa Astra in the town of Lovran in which she graduated piano studies in 2000. Yoko is fluent in Croatian language. In the Spring of 2015, Yoko Nishii issued an important double CD in Tokyo, containig complete pianistic works of Dora Pejačević.
Mother Teresa proclaimed a saint in 2016 and her connections with Croatia
Saint Mother Teresa was deeply connected with Croatian people. Croatian Jesuits stand at the beginning of her spiritual path, and her close collaborator in India was Ante Gabric, SJ, Croatian missionary and a good spirit of Bengal. In 1995, in Kolkata, she obtained an official Croatian passpoirt from the then Ambassador of the Republic of Croatia dr. Drago Stambuk, as an authorized representative of the Republic of Croatia for Humanitarian Aid . Saint Mother Teresa had spiritual speaches in Croatian language in the Zagreb Cathedral on several occasions. The photo on the left is from her Croatian passport. We also provide some anthological photos of Mother Teresa by Zvonimir Atletić, distinguished Croatian photographer.
Yoko Nishii Japanese pianist has a series of concerts throughout Croatia in Sep 2016
Yoko Nishii is known as a leading promoter of the music of Dora Pejačević, after having published the complete pianist works of the first Croatian woman composer in Tokyo in the Spring of 2016. Yoko-san is preparing her new concert tour in Croatia for September 2016, starting in the town of Rovinj on the Sep 8th. Having studied piano in Japan, Yoko-san continued her specialisation in Croatian town of Lovran. She is fluent in Croatian language, and in the past years visited as a pianist numerous Croatian towns. This time, by the courtesy of Mr. Vjeko Martinko, she will also be hosted among others by Hotel Villa Astra in Lovran, where she will meet her numerous friends.
Ivan Mrvos of Croatia designed the best smart street bench in the world
Steora is the world’s best street bench, and its designer is Ivan Mrvos from the town of Solin, Croatia. It provides phone charging and internet to users and beautifies the street. All powered by green solar energy. Steora is more than a bench. Steora is the future of cities. The benches are equipped with an independently developed wireless device charger and two smart USB connectors, providing fast charging for mobile devices whilst ensuring battery protection. Internet access is constantly available within a four-meter diameter of the bench, delivered by a superfast 4G mobile router. The product is exported to Australia, and the product is tested in the USA, Switzerland, etc.
Zvonko Vranesic Croatian-Canadian International Chess Master and Professor at the University of Toronto
Professor Zvonko Vranesic was born in Croatia’s capital Zagreb. At the University of Toronto, he served as the Director of the Computer Engineering Program from 1991 to 1995, and as Chair of the Division of Engineering Science from 1995 to 2000. He worked on numerous consulting projects in the area of computer engineering. Presently, he is a Principal Software Engineer at the Altera Toronto Technology Center. He has co-authored five books which have become widely used (worldwide) in undergraduate courses. He represented Canada in numerous chess competitions. He holds the title of International Master and since 2010 is a member of the Canadian Chess Hall of Fame.
Goran Visnjic distinguished Croatian-American actor in a new TV series
Goran Višnjić, an actor best known for his role in TV Series ER, was born in the city of Sibenik, Croatia. He studied at Croatia’s Academy of Dramatic Arts in Zagreb. Goran’s first notable appearance on stage was cast in the role of Hamlet at the Dubrovnik Summer Festival. Visnjic’s new venture will be as a co-star in NBC’s ‘Time’ Travel Pilot from Eric Kripke & Shawn Ryan.
Sibe Mardesic 1927-2016 distinguished Croatian mathematician and Fellow of the AMS
Professor Sibe Mardešić: “I have been very devoted and faithful to Mathematics in Zagreb. I dedicated approximately equal shares of my time and energy to research, teaching and organization. I tried to transfer to Zagreb good things that I saw at other more developed places. I paid particular attention to teaching at the graduate level.” Professor Sibe Mardešić is a member of the Croatian Academy of Sciences and a Fellow of the prestigious American Mathemacial Society. He had over 260 lectures at conferences and universities in 20 countries. Besides his native Croatian, he fluently spoke six languages. We provide an interesting interview with him conducted by Professor James Keesling, USA.
Interview with Giovanna Drpic
Bolivian born Giovanna Drpic is a journalist and the host/producer of the Emmy-nominated business show, Money & Main$treet on Verizon FiOS1. CROWN recently sat down with her and asked her about her life and career and how she came to the U.S. from Bolivia as well as her origins from the island of Brac.
Andrija Colak & Denis Polic founded Surf'n'Fries franchise in Rijeka Croatia awarded in Las Vegas
Andrija Čolak and Denis Polić, two young Croatians from the city of Rijeka, founded Surfnfries franchise company in their native city in 2010. Since then, in only six years, their franchise network has grown to 40 franchise companies. Their attached companies are blossoming not only in Croatia, but also in Germany, Hungary, Austria, Ireland, Norway, Turkey, Iran, Vietnam, Thailand, Romania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, etc. On February 15th 2015 in Las Vegas Andrija Čolak received an award given out by the International Franchise Association for Next Generation Franchising.
Beautiful Croatia founded and directed by Amanda Grbavac organized an event in New York on 26 April 2016
Beautiful Croatia will be hosting stylish and unique events throughout the year. With over 15 years of experience in events, Beutiful Croatia also offers an event management service, to help make your destination dream event a reality. Beautiful Croatia presents all this to you with style, lots of love and happy spirit. On travels around the world, there was always one country that stood out for me like the brightest gem, it stole my heart and never let me go. That country was Beautiful Croatia. On the photo Sylvio Roubertto Kovacic, haute couture fashion designer, Amanda Grbavac founding director of Beautiful Croatia and Robert Grgurev, President of Startas USA.