In The October-December 2001 Issue of the New World Finn

This issue of the New World Finn is loaded with stories about Finnish American musicians: Arthur Kylander, the Finn Hall Band, Kip Peltoniemi, and Merja Soria.

On page 4 Norman Westerberg writes about The Finnish Expatriate Parliament: how it works, and how you and your organization can become involved. Norman has been active in the parliament since it was first organized. He is also very active in Finnish American activities both as past president of FinnFest USA and in the Seattle area Finnish organizations.

On page 5 you will find Kotinurkka which means "a corner of home". It is an appropriate name for the tidbits of Finnish culture that Sargit Warriner presents in her regular column in the NWF. Sargit has a degree in librarianship from Tampere University, Finland, and has been a professional librarian in both Canada and the United States. She and her husband live in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where she is an interior designer. Sargit is co-author with Liisa Krumseig of "A Finnish Christmas Cookbook". Their cookbook is available from NWF.

Also on page 5 read our update on the Iisakka-Johnson story we first wrote about in the July issue of NWF. You will find how volleyball players Kelly, Greta, and Eleena Iisakka (left) got their last name.

On page 6 read how Rudy Autio helped transform ceramics from a craft to an art - Autio was recently the subject of a feature story in the Independent Record of Helena, Mt. Autio, of Missoula, Mt, has been described as one of the most significant ceramic artists in the medium and as being among the 13 "living potters and ceramic artists who have had the greatest impact on contemporary ceramics."

On page 7 Bill Lagerroos of Madison, Wisconsin writes about Finns and nature - or Finns and how they may be losing their contact with nature. He has been corresponding with New World Finn columnist Enrique Tessieri. This correspondence resulted in a talk that Bill gave at FinnFest this past summer. He says it was "written tongue in cheek for oral presentation and hamming upThe audience did some chuckling, and that's what I was going for."

Turn to page 8 for a story about the Finn Hall band of musicians (on the right) from the Twin Cities. One of the bonds that holds the far-flung Finnish-American community together is its love of folk and dance music, and it is groups like Finn Hall which keep that music alive. Richard Impola made a few long distance phone calls that resulted in this article. Go to http://www.kantele.com/FinnHall.html to hear three tunes by the Finn Hall Band.

Oren Tikkanen writes on page 10 about two new recordings by North American Finns whoare mainstays of Finnish and Finnish-American folk music on this side of the Atlantic. One of these is Merja Soria from San Diego, the other is Kip Peltoniemi from St. Paul. Hear Kip's music at http://www.kantele.com/kip/kip.html

There's more about Merja on page 11. She created a group called "Suddenly Finnish" at the University of San Diego. This summer they performed in Finland. Read what the Finnish newspapers had to say about them. Translations furnished by Richard Impola. And you can find out more about Merja at www.merjasoria.com

Gloria Rakes writes about her life in Herman, Michigan on page 12. This is a memoir that will bring back similar memories to many readers about life in Finnish American communities.

Beginning on page 14 you can read about the contribution that Arthur and Julia Kylander made to popular Finnish American music for many decades. Helvi Impola and Miriam Leino Eldridge (on the left) write about the life and songs of Arthur (on the right). Go to http://www.kantele.com/Sauna.html and listen to Kylander's song "The Finn and the Sauna".

Jess Koski provides us with original fiction on page 19. He teaches English at Hibbing Community College where he lives with his wife and two daughters. Jess is also an enrolled member of the Grand Portage Band of Chippewa, on the distaff side. He received first prize in the Lake Superior Writer's non-fiction category in 2000 for his story published in "Shorelines." In 2001 he received 2nd prize in the Great Lakes Aquarium "Tall Tales" competition. That's Jess and his daughter Phoebe in the kicksled on the left.

Reino Hannula was a Finn you ought to know. For many years he wrote and published books and journals about the experience of the Finn in America, as well as in Finland. Read his obituary and also an article on page 20 written about him by a local California newspaper.

On page 21 read how Norwegian television traveled to Carlton County in Minnesota to do a story about the Sami that came to America. Also, Nathan Muus brings more information to our attention about the Sami and Kvens in Alaska.

Read the responses of Albert Lannon (on left) and Duane Westfield to the terrorism and violence of September 11th on page 22 and 23. You will also find a poem by Heikki Kontio.

One of our regular contributors is Sinikka Garcia. On page 23 she writes about savusauna. The picture of her on the left was taken in 1988 when she received an award from the Suomi Society.

On pages 24-27 is the index of past issues of the New World Finn.