Find your Slovak ancestors

Goshen — Practical techniques for finding Slovak ancestors will be presented at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 1, at the 1841 Historic Court House in Goshen, Throughout history, the spoils of wars in eastern Europe have changed the political landscape, borders, boundaries and names, making it difficult to sort out documents when tracing ancestors. From 1891 to 1910, some 12.5 million people — Czechs, Croatians, Slovaks, Poles, Lithuanians, Ukrainians, Russians, Hungarians — left these war-torn lands and settled in the United States, many in Orange County, bringing their culture with them. They've kept alive many of their traditions — the ethnic foods, arts, and crafts — that we respect today. The Orange County Genealogical Society will host a program, "Finding Your Slovak Ancestors," by author, genealogist and lecturer Lisa Alzo. She has developed techniques to help genealogists overcome obstacles in finding their elusive ancestors. She will also make available several books for purchase, including: "Baba's Kitchen," which includes recipes for stuffed cabbage, bobalky and more; "Three Slovak Women," the story of three generations as they navigate social changes, wars, work, and money; and "Finding Your Slovak Ancestors," a helpful tool for finding genealogical answers. If you go When: 10:30-11:15 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 1 (with time for questions) Where: 1841 Historic Court House, 101 Main St., Goshen How much: Free Refreshments: Served following the program