I just wanted to share some photos from our Volmer family annual blood sausage making...every year all the men in the family get together to create this wonderful tradition.

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Published: December 29 2014

Cook County Illinois Treasurer Maria Pappas hosts a display of Christmas trees each year that represent different ethnic groups in Cook County. Estonian American National Council member Gilda Karu has decorated an Estonian tree for many years.

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Published: December 29 2014

The Marine Detachment at U.S. Embassy Tallinn got to play Santa Claus on December 18.

They delivered gifts to the kids at Haiba Orphanage as part of the Toys for Tots Program.

Marine Isaac said, "The kids were charming and happy, and it was a real joy spreading holiday cheer to them."

Photo and text by U.S. Embassy Tallinn Facebook page

The United States has pledged 25 million dollars  in its 2015 defense budget for upgrading Ämari's infrastructure.

The Estonian Ministry of Defense told Postimees the money will go into infrastructure at Ämari, while Latvian and Lithuanian air bases will also receive a boost of 8 million and 11 million euros, respectively.

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Published: December 29 2014

ERR News - A Pessimist's Guide to the World in 2015, put together by Bloomberg News, suggests that the Baltics may become one of the geopolitical flashpoints.

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Published: December 29 2014

The Christmas Card of the President of Estonia, Toomas Hendrik Ilves. The illustration was created by Eiko Ojala, who regularly features in the world’s top magazines, from New York Times and Le Monde to Wired. Card design by Silver Tibbing at Brand Manual, e-card by Datalab.   president.ee/christmas

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Published: December 24 2014

The Estonian government signed a contract to borrow 200 million euros from the European Investment Bank (EIB) with the money channeled to co-finance EU-funded projects in the nation.

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Published: December 24 2014

Photo by Anu Oinas

Pillerkaar performed eight traditional Estonian dances at the Christmas Village on 12-6-2014 and then invited the audience to dance some genuine Estonian folk dances with people passing through the market. Anu Oinas led Pillerkaar with the dances and the following performers participated:  Age Landra Robinson, Andrus Kiik, Angel Luna, Jyri Erik Kork, Kadri Kallas-Zelek, Kati Kuld, Kelsey Biggs Kiik, Laila Oinas, Mauno Kork, and Priit Vesilind.

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Published: December 24 2014

Steve Jurvetson, US venture capitalist with Estonian roots, and his colleague Tim Draper from prestigious US venture capital firm Draper Fisher Jurvetson (DFJ) became first US citizens who are also Estonian e-residents.

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Published: December 24 2014