Every week The Slovak Spectator brings you a selection of three short stories from across Slovakia in which pessimism and negativity are absent.
1) Kysuce's acrobatic talents
Ainara Maria Almansa Chovaniaková at the competition. She is Tara Rosalia Almansa Chovaniaková's sister. (source: kysuckenovemesto.sk)
Young talents Šarlota Bugáňová and Tara Rosalia Almansa Chovaniaková from the Kysuce region, in northern Slovakia, achieved a remarkable success at the 2023 POSA National Championship, securing the prestigious gold medal in aerial acrobatics.
It was their first victory in the Aerial Hoop Doubles category.
Bugáňová, also known as Aerial Hoop Šarlota, sees her future as a coach in this sport. Chovaniaková, who was born in Mallorca, also does pole dance.
Read more in Slovak.
2) A Slovak wins gold in Greece
Tomáš Chmúra at the European championship in the Production Junior category. (source: Facebook/Tomáš Chmúra)
Seventeen-year-old Tomáš Chmúra, who comes from Svätý Kríž near Liptovský Mikuláš, in central Slovakia, fulfilled his dream of participating in the European championship in practical shooting.
In Greece, where the tournament took place, he won gold.
Despite the high costs of this sport, he has persevered. Alongside his studies and training sessions, he works as a cashier to earn money for the equipment and bullets that he needs for his hobby. He began his shooting journey in 2019.
Read more in Slovak.
3) A hero from Prešov
Emil Molitoris at work in Prešov. (source: Emil Molitoris)
Prešov's unsung hero, Emil Molitoris, fixes things that do not work in Prešov, and beautifies some of the places in the city that have lost their shine.
"I don't like to use the words, 'no', 'impossible', 'I can't', or 'unsoluble'," he says.
He filed hundreds of complaints and questions to the city hall asking why things were broken or dirty, and when they would be fixed. The replies that he received did not satisfy him.
As result, he decided to take action himself.
With no expectation of recognition or remuneration from the city – which has not, to date, even thanked him for his efforts – Molitoris, who owns a travel agency, has set about making a difference through practical interventions.
Read more in Slovak.
Here's more good news published by The Slovak Spectator:
A silver Prague penny was near Bratislava.
The changing face of the Slovak village.
How to make sauerkraut.
A bistro named after a world-famous writer in Košice.
Viktor Beránek's 46-year career is closely with the Chata pod Rysmi mountain hut in the High Tatras.
FUNNY MEME FOR THIS WEEK
A Slovnaft "concert"
Translation: Me: "Mum, let's buy tickets for Rammstein." / Mum: "We have a Rammstein concert at home" / Our Rammstein concert at home: (source: zomri)
The Slovnaft oil refinery in Bratislava had to shut down several production units on Thursday, October 19, due to a reported power outage. As a result, people observed an increase in gases being burned off, heard an increase in noise, and could even smell the acrid fumes.
The refinery said that all processes taken to fix the problem were controlled and safe.
Electricity distribution company Západoslovenská Distribučná told the TASR news agency that it had not experienced any power outages for the refinery.
In the near future, the Slovak Environmental Inspectorate (SIŽP) will carry out an inspection at the Slovnaft refinery. On Thursday, SIŽP received several complaints from Bratislava citizens in connection with the situation at the refinery.
You can send me your tips on positive news stories about Slovakia or funny memes at: yehor.zhukov@spectator.sk. Thank you
