Florida Estos

THIS POST INCLUDES UPDATED INFORMATION ABOUT THIS EVENT: COSTS AND MEAL CHOICES.

Dear Members and Friends of the Estonian Society of Central Florida/Kesk Florida Eesti Selts (KFES)!

Inne and I want to welcome each and everyone to the start of the new KFES season. Many have returned from escaping the Florida heat and humidity. To those that stayed: You are hardy souls.

Monika Orumaa has taken the initiative, which is much appreciated,  to organize our first event at the Hangar Restaurant, 2nd floor at the Albert Whitted Airport, 540 1st St S, St. Petersburg FL 33701, on Sunday, 25th October, 2026, from 1:30 to 4:30 pm.

The Estonian Society of Central Florida/Kesk Florida Eesti Selts pays a charge to rent this space for our event. Lunch is offered at a fixed price to cover the costs of room rental and meals, taxes and gratuities.

Cost per adult and children over the age of 12: $30. Charge for children under the age of 12 is still to be determined.

The Hangar will be offering these menu choices–including a soft drink, iced tea and coffee–for our group:

Grilled Chicken Sandwich
Brioche Bun, Bacon Jam, Brie Cheese, French Fries, Home Made Chips

Hangar Burger
Caramelized Onion-Bacon Jam, Brie Cheese, Homemade Chips

Flying Fish Tacos
Lettuce, Pico De Gallo, Chipotle Aioli, Queso Fresco, Homemade Chips

Hummus & Veggie Wrap
Roasted Seasonal Veggies, House Hummus,
Feta Cheese, Balsamic Glaze, Home Made Chips

Spring Green Salad
Strawberries, Pecans, Feta, Herb Balsamic Vinaigrette, Spring Greens
w/ Choice of Salmon, Chicken, or Shrimp

Mini desserts (key lime panna cotta or chocolate decadence) and full-sized desserts (raspberry cheesecake, key lime pie, or chocolate decadence) are available for purchase at additional costs.

Please send us an email (kfes1918@yahoo.com) to let us know as soon as possible that you will attend so The Hangar may set up the space to accommodate us. You may pay at the door or send the funds via Zelle. Details are provided in email sent to members and friends.

Tervitusi,

Inne and Heikki Joonsar

SAVE THE DATE:

The Estonian Society of Central Florida/Kesk Florida Eesti Selts will not meet in November. We will gather for our traditional Christmas Luncheon on Sunday, December 13, 2026, from 1:00 to 5:00 pm at Heikki and Inne Joonsar’s community clubhouse in Tamarac by the Gulf. KFES will provide pulled pork, mashed potatoes and gravy. We invite members, as in the past, to contribute all their favorite traditional Estonian holiday meal trimmings (appetizers, salads, and side dishes) and desserts. More details will be provided in email closer to the date.

Dear Members and Friends of Kesk Florida Eesti Selts/Estonian Society of Central Florida!

Our very special KFES member, Moonika Mägi, invites us to gather at her home for our last 2025-2026 official event. The address is included in KFES emails sent by our Treasurer and Acting President, Heikki Joonsar. Please respond to Heikki’s email to let him know you will be attending, who will be accompanying you, and what you will be bringing.

The cost per person will be $15 and children under 12 will be free.

You can pay with cash or check at the door or beforehand via ZELLE  (KFES1918@yahoo.com). Checks should be made payable to KFES and mailed to Heikki Joonsar, 14032 89th Ave, Seminole, FL 33776.

Please let us know if you are bringing a side dish or dessert.  Moonika will prepare Estonian kebabs as the main meal. You are welcome to bring your own adult beverages to drink too.

Inne and I—and all of us at KFES— thank Moonika for hosting this event.  According to the colorful and artistic invitation, Moonika has planned a very active afternoon.

So let us all come together. For us older Estonians, let’s bring back memories of Lakewood and Estonian beach  celebrations.

Tervitusi,

Heikki ja Inne Joonsar

KFES Treasurer and Acting President ja Vice President

This is to inform you that Estonia’s Consul from Washington, D.C., will visit Miami, Florida, on May 8^th and 9^th, 2026, and Crystal River, Florida, on May 17^th and 18^th, 2026, to provide consular services. 

During this visit, you will be able to apply for all consular services without having to travel to Washington, D.C.

The Consul will be available:

MIAMI: From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on May 8^th and from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on May 9^th at:  

1384 SW 18^th Street, Miami, Florida  33145

CRYSTAL RIVER: From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on May 17^th and May 18^th at:  

3939 North Eagle Point, Crystal River, Florida 34428

To schedule an appointment, please contact:  consulate.washington@mfa.ee.

Members and friends of the Estonian Society of Central Florida/Kesk Florida Eesti Selts are invited to gather for our annual spring picnic on Sunday, March 22nd, 2026, from 12:00 to 5:00 pm, at one of our favorite parks:

Location:

Shelter 2 in Walsingham Park

 12615 102nd Avenue

Seminole, Florida 

This shelter is right next to the new children’s playground.

Cost:

The cost per person will be $15. Children under 12 will be free.

You may pay in the following ways:

(1) Pay by cash or check payable to KFES at the door

(2) Transmit funds in advance via ZELLE to the KFES account, KFES1918@yahoo.com, or

(3) Mail a check payable to KFES in advance to

Heikki Joonsar, KFES Treasurer

14032 89th Ave

Seminole, FL. 33776

By Wednesday, March 18, 2026:

(1) Please let us know you will be joining us–and include the names of those who will be accompanying you–by sending an email to KFES.

(2) And please let us know which side dishes or desserts you will be contributing to our luncheon offerings.  Thank you in advance! KFES will provide hamburgers, hot dogs, pork and beans, potato chips, water and soft drinks. 

Tervitus,

Heikki ja Inne Joonsar

Kallid Kesk Florida Eesti Seltsi liikmed ja sõbrad/Dear members and friends of the Estonian Society of Central Florida!

Please join us over lunch as we celebrate Eesti Vabariigi 108 Aastapäeva/108th Anniversary of Estonian Independence!

When?

Sunday, February 22, 2026

What time?

12:00-5:00 pm

Where?

Feather Sound Country Club

2201 Feather Sound Drive

Clearwater, FL 33762

Telephone: 727.498.0005

How much will lunch cost?

Feather Sound Country Club is offering a favorable price for a full luncheon meal. A cash bar will be open for our event.

Adults: $50 per adult and children over the age of 12

Children: $10 for children aged 12 and under

What is the lunch menu?

The adult menu includes three choices:

1. Citrus Rosemary Wild Salmon with Vegetables
2. Grilled Chicken Breast on top of Fettucini Alfredo
3. Vegan option

The children’s menu includes a fruit cup, beverage, and two choices:

1. Chicken Fingers, or
2. Macaroni and Cheese

What’s for dessert?

Inne Joonsar and Moonika Mägi will make Kringle and we will have a champagne toast!

In advance, thank you to those who will bring Kringle and the champagne!

Do I need to make reservations and pay in advance?

Yes, please, we need you to make reservations and pay in advance. Feather Sound Country Club cannot accommodate walk-ins.

By latest on Monday, February 16, 2026, please make your reservation by sending an email to Heikki Joonsar and let him know

1. the names of the adults and children over the age of 12 who are coming with you
2. the names and ages of children aged 12 and under who are coming with you
3. each adult’s and child’s meal choice

Please make the payment for your lunch by

1. Zelle to kfes1918@yahoo.com, or
2. Making a check payable to the “Estonian Society of Central Florida” and mailing it to

Heikki Joonsar, Treasurer

Estonian Society of Central Florida

14032 89th Ave

Seminole, FL 33776

Because the Country Club cannot provide refunds, we are sorry we cannot offer refunds after February 16, 2026.

Will there be a program?

Yes, we have planned a special program.  Estonian Honorary Consul Kaie Põhi Latterner has secured our guest speaker, Mikk Raud, Deputy Defense Counsellor at the Estonian Embassy in Washington. His resume will be sent in a separate email. Also, we will have drawings for the gifts that we hope many will volunteer to bring ($10-15 cost range). We also received permission to show scenes from the ballet “Kodumaa” (dances performed to “Mu Isamaa” and “Koit”). The video includes an introduction by Martin Roosaare Flowers, an Estonian by birth, who created this program for the Azara Ballet Company (Sarasota, FL). In the meantime, the KFES Juhatus is rounding out the remainder of the program and we will have more details in the coming weeks!

We look forward to seeing you soon!

Elagu Eesti!

KFES Juhatus/Estonian Society of Central Florida Board

PS You may view KFES information on our private Facebook page, “Kesk Florida Eestlased.” Click on the link to ask to join. https://facebook.com/groups/2497393393890607/ . To join our email list, please send an email to Heikki Joonsar, KFES Treasurer and Acting President, at kfes1918@yahoo.com.

PPS If you have questions about this event, please contact the following: Heikki Joonsar at joonsar@cox.net , Heikki at (703) 593-5365. Inne Joonsar at innelj23@gmail.com and Inne at (703) 593-5364. 

Dear Members and Friends of the Estonian Society of Central Florida/Kesk Florida Eesti Selts!

Happy New Year! Head uut aastat!

We will be hosting our always popular January soup and sandwich lunch/supp ja võileiv lõunasöök on Sunday afternoon, January 25, 2026. We are invited to contribute soup, sandwiches, salads and other side dishes, and desserts to our smorgasbord table–all reflecting elements of Estonian cuisine if possible! To defray costs for room rental and supplies, adults are asked to contribute $10 per person and children under the age of 18 are free. Water and coffee will be provided, and you are welcome to bring your own non-alcoholic favorites. We will gather starting at 12:00 and we plan to dine at 13:00. The specific address of our location is shared through email and Facebook.

By Wednesday, January 21, 2026, please send an email to Heikki Joonsar, KFES Treasurer and Acting President, at kfes1918@yahoo.com to let him know (a) you are coming, (b) who is coming with you, and (c) what you plan to contribute to our scrumptious smorgasbord table. We want to be sure to set enough places at the tables and to coordinate what is always a deliciously wonderful lunch experience.

For details about this event and its location–and future events–please see your email or Kesk Florida Eestlased Facebook post. To join our email list and/or Facebook group, please do the following:

1. To have your name and email address included on our email list, please send an email to Heikki Joonsar, KFES Treasurer and Acting President, at kfes1918@yahoo.com and ask to be added to the email list. Thank you, Heikki, for managing our email list!
2. To have access to our Facebook page, Kesk Florida Eestlased, please click on this link: https://facebook.com/groups/2497393393890607/ . To enhance security features for our Facebook account members, Kesk Florida Eestlased is a private account that asks you to click on a link to join. The account is managed by KFES member Birgit DeLaidatti, and she will respond to requests from prospective followers. Thank you, Birgit, for this wonderful service to Estonian Society of Central Florida/Kesk Florida Eesti Selts members! 

We look forward to seeing you soon!

Dear Members and Friends of Kesk Florida Eesti Selts/Estonian Society of Central Florida!

It’s never too early to offer season’s greetings! Season’s greetings to you all!

We will gather for our traditional Christmas luncheon:

Sunday, December 7, 2025

12:00-4:00 pm 

Volunteers are welcome to arrive at 11:00 am to help us set up and decorate and to remain after 4:00 to help us clean up.

We will gather at our familiar location: 

Heikki and Inne Joonsar’s community clubhouse

Tamarac by the Gulf Clubhouse

9099 141st Street North

Seminole, Florida  33776

Parking is available in the parking areas adjacent to the clubhouse. On street parking is ok as long as you don’t block a driveway. Thank you to Inne and Heikki for making this space available to us!

The main course (pulled pork, mashed potatoes and gravy) is catered from Pete and Shorty’s American Cuisine. Verivorst, sauerkraut, and cranberry relish are homemade.

Please plan to bring something for our smorgasbord table too: appetizers, salads, side dishes, and desserts are most welcome! When you make your reservation, please mention what you will be bringing. We bought the insurance so you are welcome to bring your own adult beverages; non-alcoholic options will be provided.

By Sunday, November 30, 2025, please send an email to Heikki and Inne Joonsar at kfes1918@yahoo.com to let them know you are coming so they may place an accurate catering order. Please include (1) the names of your guests and your children and their ages, and (2) what you will be bringing for the smorgasbord table.

As soon as Heikki Joonsar receives the catering quote he will provide the exact per person price. For planning purposes the cost to participate should be in the following range:

$20 per adult and children over the age of 12

$5 for children twelve and under

You may pay:

(1) with cash or check at the door

(2) in advance through ZELLE  (KFES1918@yahoo.com) to the KFES account, or

(3) in advance by mailing a check made out to KFES and addressed to Heikki Joonsar, 14032 89th Ave, Seminole, FL. 33776.

Jõuluvana will be visiting us! The FAA has agreed to clear Jõuluvana for a direct flight from the North Pole to Seminole!

Parents are invited to bring wrapped presents with clearly marked name tags for their children so Jõuluvana may begin Christmas deliveries at our party. Activities for children are welcome too!

We are looking forward to celebrating the holiday season with you!

Heikki and Inne Joonsar

Information about KFES events and photos may be found on this website, floridaestos.blog, in engaging post-event stories graciously written by KFES member Sirje Kiin and published by New York-based Vaba Eesti Sõna and Toronto-based Eesti Elu, and our Facebook page, Kesk Florida Eestlased https://facebook.com/groups/2497393393890607/ . To enhance security features for our Facebook account members, Kesk Florida Eestlased is a private account that asks you to click on a link to join. The account is managed by KFES member Birgit DeLaidatti, and she will respond to requests from prospective followers. Thank you, Birgit, for this wonderful service to Estonian Society of Central Florida/Kesk Florida Eesti Selts members! To join our email list, please send an email to Heikki Joonsar, KFES Treasurer and Acting President, at kfes1918@yahoo.com.

Members and friends of Kesk Florida Eesti Selts/Estonian Society of Central Florida were delighted to attend Azara Ballet’s engaging performance titled “Encore” on November 14 and 15, 2025, in the Riverview Performing Arts Center, Sarasota (FL). 

Martin Flowers (Roosaare), Azara Ballet’s co-founder and resident choreographer, graciously extended complimentary tickets to the Estonian community so we could become acquainted with this exciting professional ballet company. As one might correctly guess from Martin’s name, he is originally from Estonia. In 2022, he co-founded Azara Ballet with his partner Kate Flowers, Azara Ballet’s Executive Director and Associate Artistic Director. Please visit the Azara Ballet website to learn more about this unique professional ballet company and its schedule of upcoming performances.

“Encore” reprised five stories that had been performed by the company prior to this weekend. The highlight for the members of the Estonian community and culminating story danced by the company was “Kodumaa,” choreographed by Martin himself. We cannot give a better description than that written in the program: “Exploring Estonia’s liberation from the Soviet Union in 1991, commonly referred to as the ‘singing revolution,’ Martin weaves a mesmerizing story using the expressive language of dance, set to the evocative backdrop of Estonian music and compositions.” From our perspective—though we admit to having tears in our eyes at the conclusion—all audience members—as visibly moved as we—understood Estonia’s struggles and triumph as our story was told through Martin’s “Kodumaa.”

We hope that word will spread broadly about Azara Ballet and specifically about Martin’s “Kodumaa.” Estonians near and far would be fortunate to have an opportunity to be mesmerized too. If you would like to watch the show at home, please click this link here to purchase a digital ticket.

Martin Flowers (Roosaare) (center) is flanked by Astrid and Heinar Normet and Lisa Mets and Anneliis Kuusik, Matti Rukholm, Birgit DeLaidatti, Rein Allikberg and Ilvi Jõe Cannon, Riverview Performing Arts Center, Sarasota (FL), November 15, 2025. Photo was taken by an Azara Ballet company volunteer.

Season’s greetings!

Heikki Joonsar, KFES Treasurer and Acting President, and Inne Joonsar, KFES Vice President, are delighted to announce the Estonian Society of Central Florida/Kesk Florida Eesti Selts will be hosting our annual Christmas celebration in the Clubhouse in their Tamarac by the Gulf residential community, a location that is familiar to us. Jõuluvana/Santa Claus has been given the GPS coordinates, and the airways will be clear for his flight.

Details so far:

Sunday, December 7, 2025

Time to be announced

Location:

Clubhouse at Tamarac by the Gulf

9099 141st St.

Seminole, FL 33776

More details will follow in email, on our Facebook page, and this website. To join the KFES email list, please send an email to kfes1918@yahoo.com.

Information about KFES events and photos may be found on this website, floridaestos.blog, in engaging post-event stories graciously written by KFES member Sirje Kiin and published by New York-based Vaba Eesti Sõna and Toronto-based Eesti Elu, and our Facebook page, Kesk Florida Eestlased https://facebook.com/groups/2497393393890607/ . To enhance security features for our Facebook account members, Kesk Florida Eestlased is a private account that asks you to click on a link to join. The account is managed by KFES member Birgit DeLaidatti, and she will respond to requests from prospective followers. Thank you, Birgit, for this wonderful service to Estonian Society of Central Florida/Kesk Florida Eesti Selts members! To join our email list, please send an email to Heikki Joonsar, KFES Treasurer and Acting President, at kfes1918@yahoo.com.

Welcome to a new year of activities! Thirty-one members and friends and three children gathered over a delicious German-style lunch at the German-American Society Friendship of Pinellas County on Sunday, November 9, 2025, to kick off our new year of activities. We were delighted to welcome new friends Eda and Sonya Abolfathi and Leann and Jaan Taagepera. Naturally, it was wonderful to catch up with our regular members and wish Peep Rebane a very happy birthday too! Enjoy these photos from our afternoon. Note: Escaping the camera’s eye were Anneliis Kuusik and Rein Allikberg, Vincent DeLaidatti, Heinar Normet, Heikki Pajusalu, and our photographer Erkki Taada. [Click on the images to stroll through the gallery of photos.]