A family shelter under development in Latvia will benefit from the online sale of a book devoted to the San Jose Sharks professional hockey team, the Kids First Fund has announced.

The limited edition book, Steve Cameron’s Feeding Frenzy: The Wild New World of the San Jose Sharks, will include an autographed photograph of former Sharks goalie Artūrs Irbe in his current Rīga 2000 jersey.

Irbe, a native of Rīga, is a board member of the Kids First Fund, a U.S.-based not-for-profit organization aimed at helping abused and abandoned children in Latvia. Irbe donated the books and photographs to benefit the fund and its projects.

The book chronicles the birth of the team, detailing the early days of the franchise, the expansion draft, games at the Cow Palace and the subsequent move to the Shark Tank. It gives special attention to the fairy tale 1993-94 season in which Latvia’s dynamic duo of Irbe and Sandis Ozoliņš helped the team become Stanley Cup contenders. The 160-page embossed-cover book includes numerous color photographs and special graphics with a particular emphasis given to goalie Irbe. 

Irbe was drafted by the Minnesota North Stars in 1989 and began playing in the National Hockey League in 1991. He played for the Sharks from 1991 to 1996.  With Irbe in the goal, the newly established Sharks made their first playoff appearance in the 1993-94 season and upset the top-seeded Detroit Red Wings. Irbe, nicknamed “The Wall,” became a cult figure in San Jose, a status he still enjoys. Irbe left the Sharks in 1996 to join the Dallas Stars and currently plays for Rīga 2000, the top hockey club in Latvia.

Only 5,000 copies of Feeding Frenzy were printed. Each book is individually hand-numbered and only a limited number are still available. The book and photo package is available online before Feb. 28 for USD 35 at BalticShop.com. Through a special arrangement with BalticShop.com, 100 percent of book sales will benefit the Kids First Fund. Latvians Online is providing informational support for the fundraiser.

For more information about the fund visit www.kidsfirstfund.org.

The Latvian diplomatic corps in Washington, D.C., soon may be moving into its new embassy, while the ambassador soon may be getting a new residence.

Work on the new Embassy of Latvia, to be located in the Barney Studio House at 2306 Massachusetts Ave., has spanned four years and has involved a number of roadblocks as Latvian officials have sought approval from the city government and local residents.

But now most of the remodeling work is completed and the embassy staff may be able to move into the building in the next few weeks, an embassy spokesperson told Latvians Online.

President Vaira Vīķe-Freiberga, who recently accepted an invitation to be guest of honor at the U.S.-Baltic Foundation gala scheduled March 4 in Washington, may also preside at a ceremony marking the opening of the new embassy.

The Latvian government paid USD 2.5 million for the new embassy building in November 2001, according to District of Columbia property records. The assessed value of the Embassy Row property is now listed at USD 4.1 million.

The new embassy will replace the current facility, a converted single-family house at 4325 17th St. N.W. in the Crestwood neighborhood of the District of Columbia. That property, which has served as the embassy since 1991 and before then for decades was the Latvian Legation, was purchased in 1953 by the Latvian government in exile.

The old embassy, the spokesperson said, is expected to be sold.

Meanwhile, embassy officials are searching for a new residence for the ambassador.

Latvia’s Council of Ministers on Nov. 22 approved a measure allowing the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to spend up to USD 2.6 million to buy the new residence. The Latvian government currently spends USD 69,600 annually to rent the ambassador’s residence. According to the ministry, it will be more cost-effective to buy a home.

Latvia’s new ambassador to Sweden has presented her credentials to King Carl XVI Gustav, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced Nov. 30.

Elita Kuzma was named ambassador to Sweden on Nov. 10 and presented her credentials to the king on Nov. 30, according to the ministry. She previously was Latvia’s ambassador to Austria, Slovenia, Slovakia, Hungary, Lichtenstein and Switzerland.

Kuzma replaces Artis Bērtulis.

Latvia also has five honorary consuls in Sweden: Ingemar Nilsson in Skanör, Robert Rydingstam in Göteborg, Stig Thorsson in Stockholm, Andris Nolendorfs in Nybro, and Egil F. Linge in Visby.

Also on Nov. 30, President Vaira Vīķe-Freiberga presented an accreditation letter to Maija Manika, Latvia’s new ambassador to Macedonia, the president’s press office announced. Manika previously served as a deputy state secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.