Astero

Diaspora Day 2020

In light of the current situation, and with such varied reopening phases in place around the world due to the Coronavirus, the Basque Government’s Department for the Basque Community Abroad has reached out to see if a virtual celebration of this year’s Day of the Basque Diaspora, September 8th, would be a possibility. If your club, or individuals in your club, artists, athletes etc. would be interested in participating, please email Benan Oregi. To read more about the proposal, please see this letter sent by Director for the Basque Community Abroad, Gorka Alvarez.

Mass on Sunday of What Would Have Been Bakersfield Picnic

This weekend would have marked the 48th Annual Basque Picnic in Bakersfield, hosted by the Kern County Basque Club. Unfortunately, like so many others, this weekend’s festivities have been cancelled, another victim of the Coronavirus. However, all is not lost. Aita Antton will be offering mass this Sunday in honor of the picnic, and our Basque community. You can tune into mass live on the St Patrick’s Parish and Our Lady of Mercy’s Facebook page, or you can also watch it later by clicking on their video links. Again, we thank Aita Antton for keeping this part of our Basque tradition alive, as well as keeping us all in his prayers. Eskerrik Asko Aita! This Sunday’s missal can be found here.

Exploring Aspen Carvings During Social Isolation

Our friend, Marie Louise Lekumberry, from the JT Basque Restaurant in Gardnerville, Nevada shared this news with us. Fil Corbitt, creator of the Van Sounds Podcast, has spent part of the quarantine among the tree carvings left by Basque sheepherders motivating him to do the following segment Exploring Basque tree Carvings During Social Isolation, reminding us that we should be thankful that we are not truly isolated, as many of these herders were. Enjoy, eta Mila Esker Marie Louise for brining this to our attention!

Euskal Lagunak of Mountain Home Cancels 60th Anniversary Picnic

We have heard from our friends at the Euskal Lagunak Basque Club in Mountain Home, Idaho that they too have cancelled their picnic this year that would have marked the club’s 60th anniversary. On behalf of everyone at NABO, Zorionak! Here’s to many, many more!

San Francisco Basque Cultural Center in the News

During the barrage of bad news these days, it is great to see reporting on some of the positives that have come out of this virus. One example of this is the San Francisco Basque Cultural Center, which has been featured in two articles highlighting the Center’s commitment to its employees during this difficult time. Biba ziek! The first article was featured in the NBC Bay Area News, and a second in The Daily Journal. What a wonderful example of generosity and caring! Don’t forget that they are still open for contact free take out Wednesday-Sunday. See their website for more information and menu.