Joanna Trzeciak, a native of Poland who lives in Cleveland Heights, is one of seven entrants who made the short list this year for Canada's annual Griffin Poetry Prize.
The contest, which accepts both writing and translation of poetry from other languages, recognizes works in two categories: Canadian and international.
The works of Trzeciak and the six others were selected from 481 books of poetry. Trzeciak was one of four finalists in the international category. Her work was a translation of a book of poems by the 90-year-old Polish poet Tadeusz Rozewicz.
At the final rounds of the contest two weeks ago, Trzeciak read excerpts of her translation to more than 1,000 people in a concert hall in Toronto.
"I was so surprised and so invigorated to see how poetry can draw such crowds," said Trzeciak, an associate professor in the department of modern and classical languages studies at Kent State University. "It was just electrifying to see such an attentive gracious audience."
Unfortunately, she didn't win the top prize -- $65,000. That went to British poet David Harsent.
But Trzeciak received $10,000 for getting into the final four. And, more importantly, she said, Rozewicz's poetry got some international exposure.
"His poetry is very powerful," she said, noting that Irish poet and Nobel Prize winner Seamus Heaney, who attended the Toronto event, described Rozewicz as "one of the greatest European poets of the 20th century."
Rozewicz couldn't make the event, but Trzeciak phoned him afterward with the details.
"He was very happy," she said. "It was so heartening for him to hear that his poetry had reached so many people."
So what will Trzeciak do with the $10,000?
"We need a new roof on our house," she said.
Marking an anniversary: Sokol Greater Cleveland's Czech Cultural Center is marking the 70th anniversary this month of a Nazi attack and massacre in a small Czech town called Lidice during World War II.
In May 1942, two Czechs, trained by England's military, assassinated one of Adolf Hitler's top generals, Reinhard Heydrich, a high-ranking Nazi controller in the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia.
An outraged Hitler called for brutal revenge, unleashing his Gestapo and SS men to go on a killing spree in Czechoslovakia. The Nazis claimed that the two Czech assassins had ties to a small village called Lidice, about 10 miles from Prague.
In June 1942, Hitler's troops converged on Lidice, where they rounded up all males 16 and over, ordered them to stand 10 at a time before firing squads and killed them. The women and children were sent to camps, where many were fatally gassed.
The Nazi marauders then looted and destroyed the whole town, razing houses and barns, destroying farm fields and orchards and plowing the land flat, turning Lidice into a wasteland. They essentially wiped the hamlet off the map.
At 2:30 p.m. next Sunday, June 24, the Czech Cultural Center will show the film "The Assassination of Reinhard Heydrich" at the historic Bohemian National Hall, 4939 Broadway, Cleveland. Admission is free.
Before the film, a dinner of duck, dumplings and sauerkraut will be served, beginning at 1 p.m. The dinner is $16. For reservations, call 216-447-0264.
For more information about the free film, call Patricia Sebesta at 440-725-8678 or visit the website www.sokolgreatercleveland.org and click on "Special Events."
Free admission at Maltz: People visiting the Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage will get in free on Sunday, compliments of the Charter One Foundation, which is underwriting two free admission days -- today and Sept. 19 -- at the museum.
Current exhibits include "A Blessing to One Another: Pope John Paul II and the Jewish People," which runs through Aug. 5.
The museum's permanent collections include exhibits highlighting some famous Clevelanders: Jerry Siegal and Joe Shuster, creators of Superman; Theodor Herzl, considered by some as the father of the modern state of Israel; and Moses Alsbacher, the first Jewish settler in Cleveland.
The museum is at 2929 Richmond Road, Beachwood.
Churches of Slovenia: The ongoing Slovenian-American Heritage Foundation lecture series continues at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Slovenian Society Home, 20713 Recher Ave., Euclid.
Vladimir Rus and Anthony Hiti, both members of the foundation, will talk about the churches of Slovenia, ranging from grand basilicas to modest village chapels.
The talk will focus on the architectural, cultural, historical and religious significance of the worship places.
For more information call, 216-696-3460 x306.
Celebrating Africa: A celebration of the "Faith of Africa" will be held next Sunday at Our Lady of Peace Catholic Church, 12601 Shaker Blvd., Cleveland.
Following 11 a.m. Mass, there will be a reception with traditional African food, dance and music.
For more information, call Vanessa Griffin Campbell at 216-696-6525 ext. 3020.