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December 2007 - News Update

Signs identifying the enduring friendship of the cities of Youngstown and Spišská Nová Ves have been placed in six major entry points into the City of Youngstown.

Representatives of Youngstown
Spišská Nová Ves Sister Cities had met with Youngstown city officials regarding the placement of the signs.

sister city welcome sign

New Sister City Signs Grace the Entrances to Youngstown


Brian Petruska, son of Treasurer Bob Petruska, will be filling the board seat of Dr. John Melnick who recently retired. He will be a great addition to our board because of his interest in Slovakia and our heritage.

Bernie Demechko, Youngstown Sister Cities Secretary, has been voted as third vice president of the First Catholic Slovak Ladies Association. 402 delegates attended the 39th quadrennial convention of the organization held in St. Louis in October 2007. The FCSLA is the largest Slovak Catholic Fraternal Group in the United States with a membership of 87,000 and assests over $500 million dollars. The national board is made up of 13 members, on which Bernie now sits.

At the convention, the body voted to distribute $1,436,000 in donations. Youngstown Sister Cities was awarded $10,000, after a request by Bernie Demechko.

This funding came in handy as Youngstown Sister Citites recently crated and shipped a dental x-ray unit to the city of Lucenic, Slovakia. The dental equipment was donated by a local Youngstown dentist, and the cost of transportation was $918.

Senator George Voinovich Sponsors 
Visa Waiver Roundtable

Senator George Voinovich (R-Ohio) recently hosted a luncheon and roundtable discussion of the Visa Waiver Program, which would extend the ninety-day visa program to all nations that abide by strict guidelines who assist the United States in the fight against terrorism.

The event was held at Saints Cyril and Methodius Slovak Church in Warren, Ohio. Invited guests included two or three representatives of various nationalities that have expressed an interest in extending visits by relatives from European countries. Bernie Demechko, Secretary, and Steve Bacon, President Emeritus, Youngstown Sister Cities, represented regional Slovak Americans. Steve had visited Ambassador Rastislav in Washington the week before and the Embassy emailed the Youngstown Sister Cities a list showing Slovakia’s support of NATO and the United States in world affairs.


The email stated: 100 troops from Slovakia (Engineering Battalion) helped with mine removal and had just returned home to Slovakia from Iraq….ten Slovak military instructors are still in Iraq training their troops…60 Slovak troops are in Afghanistan (Engineering) at Kabul Airport. When they were recently asked to move to the more dangerous site of Kandahar, they readily agreed to do so…4 Slovak soldiers have been killed in Iraq…40 Slovak troops were killed in 2006 when the airplane that was bringing them home to Slovakia from Kosovo crashed near Kosice. The email further elaborated that Slovakia is a non-permanent member of the United Nations and consistently votes with the United States. One military airport in Slovakia is used for training purposes but there are no NATO airbases in Slovakia.

The Visa Waiver Program is an amendment to the Homeland Security Bill and would include stricter measures such as electronic passports with biometric information chips for identification, stricter passenger screening, and the exchange of lists of suspected terrorists between countries.

UPDATE (August 2007) A letter was received from Senator George Voinovich informing Youngstown Sister Cities that on July 26 the full Senate voted for passage of Senate Bill 4 which included the Visa Waiver Legislation.   This will permit citizens of  13 deserving countries to visit the United States without severe restrictions.  Slovakia is included in this group.  A thank you  email has been sent to the Senator from the YSC secretary for his intensive and extensive work on this bill.

bernie and gigi with george

Gigi Bacon and Bernie Demechko with Senator George Voinovich

Congratulations Steve Bacon!
On January 4th 2006, Steve Bacon was honored by the Youngstown City Council for his continued service and leadership through the Sister Cities Program. That same week, Steve celebrated his 90th birthday at a special reception with friends, family, dignitaries, and community leaders.

steve with dignitary

Steve Bacon (on the right) speaking to Peter Zelenak, First Secretary of the Slovak Embassy

steve with family

Outside of Council Chambers of the City of Youngstown, Steve is holding a Proclamation acknowledging his service to the community. Standing next to Steve is his sister Stella Chizmar (starting far left), his wife Gigi Bacon, his sister and Sister Cities Secretary Bernie Demechko, and fellow Sister Cities Trustee Ray Novotny (far right).