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Veterans Exhibit at the Basque Museum
The Basque Museum & Cultural Center in Boise is working on an exhibit on Basques in the Military, in time for Veteran's Day in November. The hope is to include all veterans regardless of when or where they served, including: the US Military, Spanish Military, or French Military, or other service. The hope is to compile as complete of a list as possible so if you, or someone you know, served in the military please share your information with the museum. Desired information would include the individual's name, rank, years served, conflicts, and a photo that can be emailed to: amandab@basquemuseum.com. Also, if you have any artifacts, military stories or other things you think may be of interest, you can contact the museum by phone: 208.343.2671.
Basque Books at Genoa's Candy Dance
This weekend the town of Genoa, Nevada's oldest city, will host its annual Candy Dance. This event attracts thousands of people to town each year, with proceeds raised going to support the town's annual budget. The event originated in 1919, to raise money to buy street lights for the town. At the time, homemade candy was part of what made the evening special, along with a midnight supper that also attracted fair goers. Today, the event attracts some 300 craft and food vendors and is a much anticipated event for locals and visitors alike. This year, one of the booths at the Candy Dance will be manned by Dr. William A. Douglass, founder of the Center for Basque Studies that now bears his name, and Dan Montero, the Center's Publications Editor. Douglass will be on hand autographing his latest book Death after Life: Tales of Nevada, (Black Rock Institute Press, fall 2015), while Dan will have other CBS titles on hand for sale, including other books by Douglass. If you are at the event, stop by and say hello and browse the Center's latest publications. For complete information on the event, including parking and ticket information, visit their website.
University Studies Abroad Consortium's Carmelo Urza
As many may have already heard, Dr. Carmelo Urza is retiring after 35 years as the Director of USAC (University Studies Abroad Consortium). After attending the earlier version of the studies abroad program in Oñati in 1974, Urza was inspired to create a program that currently "sends more than 4,000 students annually to universities in nearly 30 countries around the world." There is no denying the impact that these opportunities, created by Urza and USAC, have had on the US Basque community. USAC programs, on both sides of the Basque Country border, have resulted in many USAC students returning home being more energized and enthusiastic about their Basque roots, or excited to learn Euskera. Some have even taken on leadership roles in their local Basque communities, or dance groups, and have helped to perpetuate the Basque culture in the US. On behalf of everyone at NABO, we would like to congratulate Carmelo on his well-earned retirement and wish him all the best in the future! We would also like to congratulate him, and the entire USAC team, on their beautiful new headquarters inaugurated in August. If you are in the neighborhood, drop by. It's definitely worth a visit. Nevada Today recently featured Carmelo and USAC in an article that is available here. Zorionak Carmelo!
9/21/2017
