Texas
Flagship of Czech Heritage
E-NEWS January February March 2014
www.czechtexas.org
Texas Czech Heritage & Cultural Center
250 West Fairgrounds Rd., PO Box 6, La Grange, Texas 78945
1-888-785-4500, info@czechtexas.org
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year
Veselé Vánoce a štasťný nový rok
January 16, 2014
TEXAS CZECH HERITAGE & CULTURAL CENTER
A Czech Christmas Open House
Saturday December 14, 2013
10:00 AM—4:00 PM
In the Museum 10:00 AM-4 PM:
A Czech Christmas— Decorations and Customs Displayed
In the Gift Shop 10:00 AM—4:00 PM:
A variety of new Christmas items for 2013
In the Melnar Library 11:00 AM —1:00 PM:
Activities for the Children.
Children can make and decorate Czech Christmas items.
In the Hanslik Hall 11:00 AM —1:00 PM:
Cooking demonstrations on how to make
Pernicky · Christmas Cookies · Strudel · Rosettes
Samples available for sale: A $5.00 coupon booklet
will award you six samples of these homemade goodies.
ALSO! A soup & sandwich lunch will be available.
In the Czech Village 1:00—4:00 PM:
TCHCC will host the Czech Brass Band,“Moravská
Jedenáctka”, at the Fair Pavilion located on the Fayette
County Fairgrounds in La Grange, Texas, on Thursday,
January 16, 2014.
Sponsored by the Czech Educational Foundation of
Texas (CEFT) and North Texas University (NTU). Dr.
Tom Sovik, Music Director at NTU will accompany the
group during their tour in Texas.
Eleven musicians from the Moravian region of the Czech
Republic will play for your dancing and listening pleasure in the historic dance hall from 6 to 9 PM.
Doors will open at 5:00 PM. Admission is $5.00 for
adults. No admission for children and students through
high school.
Beef stew , desserts, and your favorite drinks will be
available for sale. The Fair Pavilion, built in 1925, is
among the wooden dance halls on the Preserve Texas
Dance Halls List.
2014 TCHCC Vintage Calendars for Sale
Theme: Family Portraits
$12.00 each plus handling & postage
Contact TCHCC Gift Shop to order copies
Step into vintage homes displaying an earlier time.
Texas Czech Heritage and Cultural Center
250 West Fairgrounds Road - PO Box 6, La Grange, Texas 78945
For information call: 1-888-785-4500 or 979-968-9399. E-mail: info@czechtexas.org Website: www.czechtexas.org
Send questions to Retta Chandler, President and Chairman of the Board. Published on behalf of Board of Directors, Volunteers
and Supporters of TCHCC
TCHCC 2013 Annual Gala Recognizes Texas Czech Bands of the Past
The TCHCC Annual Gala was held on November 2, 2013. The Fair Pavilion once again was transformed into an elegant
setting to honor Texas Czech Bands of the Past.
The Bands recognized were Jimmy Brosch and His Happy Country Boys, Vernon Drozd and the Texas Brass, and the
Eric Honza Orchestra. Family members and musicians representing the bands were introduced. Each band was honored by playing a couple of selections from their recorded music. Thank you to Brian Svetlik for coordinating the selections and recording them.
During the evening Honorary Czech Consul General Raymond Snokhous for Texas and Clarice Marik Snokous were honored for their continued generosity to the Czech community. HCG Snokhous gave a report on the relief efforts in West
following the explosion on April 17, 2013. He announced the generous support of the Czech Republic. On October 15,
Czech Ambassador to the United States, Petr Gandalovic personally presented over $200,000.00 to the West community.
Together with the American Friends of the Czech Republic and others, these donations will be used for a new building for
the West SOKOL group.
Also, introduced were special guests, Prof. Karel Rýdl, Vice Rector, Prof. Dr. Petr Vorel and Doc. Tomaš Jiránek from the
University of Pardubice, Czech Republic. They were present for the opening of Czech Coin Collection exhibit in the
TCHCC museum.
Thank you to all who donated Silent Auction items and those who made purchases and all who made donations to this
annual fundraiser. Proceeds will benefit the Endowment Fund and TCHCC programs. Guests enjoyed music by the
Czechaholics, delicious appetizers and a meal catered by Bistro 108 and beautiful decorations and table appointments of
abundant flowers by Last Petal.
Muziky Muziky
TCHCC Sanford Schmid Amphitheater —October 12, 2013
An overflowing crowd listened to the outstanding performance of
talented musicians as they reenacted the music of the famous Joe
Patek Orchestra. With Alfred Vrazel as MC, they were not disappointed and begged for more at the conclusion of the Muziky
Muziky program. Thank you to Bea & Rudy Patek, Mark Hermes
and George Koudelka for their planning and coordination..
(More pictures in next issue of Nas Cesky Zivot)
2014 Sustaining Membership: January 1
through December 31, 2014.
Benefits: 2014 Vintage Calendar, Nas Cesky
Zivot , mailouts, and invitations to special
events.
If you are already a member, consider a gift
membership for a family member or a friend.
Travel Opportunities
2014 Trip to Czech Republic
August 11-24
Included in the tour: Prague, Moravia, winery,
brewery, castle, doll factory, and glass factory.
For more information on deadlines and the
prices, contact Retta Chandler or Janis Hrncir at
info@czechtexas.org.
ABCATS Travel Agency has tours and cruises
scheduled for 2014
L-R: Paul Darilek, Mike Marek, Donald Cernosek, Rudy Patek, Donnie Vavra,
Contact Jim Slovak, Victoria, 361-5780828
Daniel Malek, George Koudelka, John Dujka, and Lawrence Wagner
Preserve and Promote Czech Heritage for future generations
Texas Czech Heritage & Cultural Center
www.czechtexas.org
2014 UPCOMING EVENTS
December 2013-January 15
Village homes decorated in early 1900’s vintage style.
New items for Christmas 2013 in the Gift Shop.
Musuem Exhibit: A Czech Christmas featuring Lada prints and Czech
traditional decorating/cooking.
Feature in 2014
Year of the Child
Featuring exhibits and activities about and for children. TCHCC 2015
Calendar – photographs of children up to 1950.
January 16, 2014
Touring Brass Band From the Czech Republic
Moravská Jedenáctka Band
Pavilion Hall,C TCHCLa Grange
Doors open at 5 pm, Dance starts at 6 pm.
Stew served while it lasts. Admission donation $5.
February – July 16
Spring & Easter Activities
Museum Exhibit: Religious Themes & Items
Children activities: egg decorating, Czech lessons, Easter activities.
Watch website for details.
February 15
Valentines Dinner & Concert
Treat your Sweetheart for Valentines!!
4p Social – 6p Dinner – 7p Concert
Ticket donation - $75 per person by February 10.
Ticket includes appetizers, drinks featuring local wines, pork tenderloin
dinner, dessert, and Grand Piano concert by Prof. John Dujka.
March 9 & April 6
Czech Conversational Language Classes
1:00-4:00 PM
$20 per person for both classes.
Pre-registration requested.
Learn basic conversation Czech and song lyrics.
May 18, 2014
TCHCC ‘Slavnost’ Mayfest
Tribute to the Immigrants of 1906-1910
Contact TCHCC for recognition forms
Food • Music by Kovanda’s Czech Band• Tours • Classic Car Show
August 11-24
Tour to the Czech Republic by Patsy Robertson
Tour Prague, Moravia, a winery, a brewery, a castle, a doll factory, and
the glass factory.
Contact TCHCC to sign up today for a trip of a lifetime!
More events to be announced. Watch the website for updates.
250 W. Fairgrounds Road • PO Box 6 • La Grange, TX 78945 • 1-888-785-4500 • info@czechtexas.org