List of author's articles, page 43
Freedom Cycling Bridge beat Chuck Norris in the end
In the end, Slovak regional officials rejected the results of an online poll asking what name locals would prefer for the new pedestrian and cycling bridge near Bratislava. The “Chuck Norris Bridge” received more than 12,000 popular votes but regional representatives finally, on September 21, approved the name “Freedom Cycling Bridge”. The Bratislava region agreed on this name together with their Austrian counterparts, the SITA newswire wrote.
90-year-old Karmažin attacks the current world record in conducting
A long-time leader of the choir Zvon (Bell) in Sereď, Viliam Karmažin, is probably the longest serving conductor in the world. Even aged 90, he stands behind the conducting podium and gives concerts with the choir at various occasions, the TASR newswire wrote.
Hundreds gather for the “Good Market”
On Saturday, September 15, Panenská Street in downtown Bratislava hosted the Good Market / Dobrý trh for the last time this year. From 10:00 to 16:00, hundreds of people came to enjoy the cultural programme, pick up old books from second-hand stalls, taste exotic and artisanal delicacies, or simply bump into friends and acquaintances.
Ninth European Roma Smith Symposium shows ancient craft
The 9th annual European Roma Smith Symposium took place at the beginning of September in the small municipality of Dunajská Lužná close to Bratislava. The event, organised by the Chartikano civic association and supported by the Slovak Government Office, displayed the skills of Slovak and, in particular, Roma blacksmiths.
Dog helps first-graders improve their pronunciation
A German shepherd helped first-graders from a Žilina elementary school learn how to pronounce words correctly and improve their vocabulary more quickly. The project “Aj Aida sa učí písmenká” – “Aida Learns Letters, Too”, organised by dog handlers from the K-7 Psovodi (Dog Handlers) civic association and Slovak rescuers, tried to use “dog therapy” to teach children through experiential learning.
Seven metre tall horse built in downtown Prešov
Between September 13 and 18, inhabitants and visitors of Prešov were able to see a horse made of wood, wire and recycled bottles standing in front of the town hall. Teachers and students from the Elementary Arts’ School in Októbrová Street made the original work of art. The horse weighs more than 700 kilograms. During its construction, spruce wood and about 30 square metres of wire netting were used.
Young Slovak chess player shines at her first Olympics
After the Olympic Games in London finished at the end of August, chess players flocked to the city of Istanbul for the 2012 World Chess Olympiad. Slovakia sent two teams, one male and one female, made up of players with and without physical impairments.
Police detect identity of man who did not know where he came from
POLICE have discovered the identity of the unknown man who was brought to the district police branch in Nitrianske Pravno in early September. The man, who was unshaven and had dreadlocks, said his name was Peetr Kubala and that he did not know when he was born or where he came from. The only thing he remembered was that, as a child, he had lived in the Czech city of Pilsen for some time, and then in Český Krumlov. The man was placed in the mental ward of Bojnice hospital.
Big historical festival turns town Baroque
On August 29, Maria Theresa, Austro-Hungarian Empress, arrived at the municipality of Mojmírovce (or at least her lookalike did). The empress entered the town, in the Nitra district, the hometown of her favourite companion Count Grassalkovich, with an elite entourage made up of a regiment from Karlovac and the feared hussars of Baron František Trenck.
Museum of traditional folk culture opens in Rejdová
A MUSEUM of traditional folk culture has been established in the distinctive village of Rejdová, in south-eastern Slovakia, as part of the project Terra Incognita. The project received a subsidy of €10,870. The museum resides in a renewed Gemer wooden house from the 19th century. Its aim is to preserve material and non-material cultural heritage in order to contribute to the development of tourism in the region. The museum was formally opened on August 24, during the 39th year of the Gemer Folklore Festival.
Library exhibits items people left in books
Every summer, the town library in Kysucké Nové Mesto displays a range of objects found in returned library books. The library believes that the exhibition gives owners a chance to reclaim their belongings, especially photographs, and is a lesson for other readers to take more care over what they put into borrowed books. Apart from the usual bookmarks, librarians have found condoms, cribs, jewellery, wedding announcements, and love declarations in books. Dušana Šinalová, the head of the library, told the SITA newswire that the librarians have often found money too, which they have managed to return to its rightful owners. Since last year, the library has found about 80 forgotten items in books. This year’s Lost-and-Found exhibition took place from mid-July to mid-August.
Homeless people clean illegal waste dumps
HOMELESS people from Bratislava have cleaned up illegal waste dumps located close to their makeshift dwellings. People without homes were helped by field social workers form the Vagus civic association, which organised the activity in cooperation with volunteers from the environmental organisation Green Patrol (Zelená hliadka). Altogether, they collected 38 bags of waste.
Turzovka summer culminates in Beskydy Festivities and records
THE OFFICIAL Turzovské leto / Turzovka Summer culminated on August 18 and 19 with a series of traditional events, including the 41st year of the Beskydské slávnosti / Beskydy Festivities which brought, among other things, the twelfth edition of non-traditional Slovak records.
Pony Express returns to capital
AT THE end of August, the 28th year of the European Pony Express crossed Slovakia and made a stop at Železná Studienka, on the outskirts of Bratislava. Spectators were able to enjoy the 19th century atmosphere, when postal deliveries were made by mounted messengers.
Historical fortification in urgent need of rebuilding
KOMÁRNO’S fortress, a national historical monument, requires extensive reconstruction. The Old and New Fortresses are both in a state of disrepair, with some sections having been condemned. The southern Slovak town of Komárno owns the monument.
A train full of fun
THE KOŠICE Children’s Railway organised a series of events for late summer, running from August through early September. The non-profit organisation Košická dets-ká železnica / Košice Children’s Railway lured visitors with a variety of shows, concerts and film screenings, head of the association Ľubomír Lehotský informed the SITA newswire.
Nearly 150 foreigners completed Summer School of Slovak
Some 150 foreigners from 38 countries, including Israel, China, Japan and Thailand completed the 48th summer school of Slovak culture and language on Friday, August 24. The intensive three week lecture programme consisted mainly of Slovak-language seminars set at beginner, lower-intermediate and intermediate levels. In addition, the students were able to enrol for workshops on folk singing and dancing, theatre performance and creative writing, enabling them to practice their Slovak. The study programme also included a tour of Bratislava and the town of Modra (Bratislava region), as well as a three-day excursion across Slovakia's regions. The students visited a large number of towns and interesting sights across Slovakia, head of the summer school Jana Pekarovičová told the TASR newswire.
Annual charity event lets people meet celebrities
The second year of the charity event Misia / Mission, in which Popular Slovak actors, singers and cultural personalities swap their show business jobs to be postal messengers will occur on September 12.Like last year, the organisers aim to help people who rely on the help of others.In 2011, fifty celebrities took part in the charity initiative, including Laco Lučenič, Marek Majeský, Jaro Bekr, Pyco, Misha, Lucia Hablovičová, Martin Nikodým, Jozef “Jopo” Poláček, and the ambassador of the Slovak mission, Nikita Slovák. The idea behind the Czecho-Slovak charity initiative involves getting people to donate money to charity by selling money certificates, which are to be hand-delivered by a list of celebrities. Someone can purchase a certificate worth €10 and a randomly assigned celebrity (from the list of those participating) will deliver it. Purchasing a €50 certificate allows one to choose the celebrity who delivers it. Director and actor Petr Forman and head of the messenger company David Voverka, came up with the idea. This year, the event begins on September 4 in Prague, continuing on September 12 in Bratislava, and culminating on September 19 in (the Czech city of) Pilsen, Vladimír Kroupa of the Access Promotion company informed the TASR newswire. The celebrities will be delivering certificates on Wednesday, September 12, starting in Primate’s Square. In the evening, they will hand over the amount collected from the certificates. Last year, the event raised nearly €8, 000, which went towards the purchase of a medical device that helps people suffering from locomotive injuries for the centre of Daily Stay in Bratislava.
Man from Munich digs with Slovak archaeologists for the 18th summer
Archaeological excavations in Nižná Myšľa in eastern Slovakia have become the love of Ulrich Fries’ life. As a volunteer, the former clerk of the Bavarian regional government is helping this municipality near Košice uncover its 3,500 year old past for his 18th consecutive season.
British bat protectionists attracted to Slovakia’s bats
Slovakia’s diverse population of bat species lures a small number of visitors each year from Great Britain. A group of natural scientists and bat enthusiasts flocks to Slovakia from all corners of Great Britain, consisting of professionals who engage in environmental protection at home.
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