People travel far and wide annually to experience the Famous Serbian Bake Sale at St. Sava. The tables of cookies, cakes, strudels and other baked goods fill our hall with pure deliciousness. Our Kolo Sisters Society, a group of the most dedicated and talented women you will ever meet, work very hard in the weeks leading up to Serb Fest. They spend countless hours in the kitchens at the hall making nutrolls and strudels of several varieties including the coveted apple, cherry, cheese and spinach with the finest ingredients.

We know you’ll be quite busy at Serb Fest enjoying time with friends, eating delicious sarma or lamb, and dancing kolo at Serb Fest, but there is always room for something special from the bakery tables.

And if you can’t get enough of our Famous Serbian Bake Sale at the fest, there’s a wonderful thing about the strudels and nutrolls – they can be frozen. The Holidays will be here before we know it, so visit our bake sale to stock up and take a couple home.

There are many talented women who spend countless hours baking including Milena Ivanovic, St. Sava Kolo President, along with notable bakers Stana Trikich, Zorka Glumac, Maria Mileusnic, Ann Rudman, Mariola Rajkovic, Smilja Anridric, Donica Beslic, Dragica Trikic Spletzer, Sloba Vasiljevic, Protenica Melanija Zlajic, Radmila Milivojevic, Anna Jovanovic, Beba Rudman, Donna Nikolic, Mimi Orlich, Millie Griggs, Millie Ruzbason, Sandy Shinovich, Mary Kmiec, Kovilka Ivetic, Donna Erceg, and many more.

Among the many Kolo Sisters Society women who make our Serbian Bake Sale so unique are two very special ladies who spend three days in the corner of the kitchen making those amazing krofne.

Dawn Sisk learned the art of making “St. Sava Krofne” from Tamara Galic in 2003, and together with Sonja Mancich has been making over 1,500 krofne for Serb Fest each year! A member of St. Sava, Dawn currently resides in Valparaiso with her daughter, Camille. Both have been active in Folklore for a number of years. She is currently employed as a Regional Account Manager for PrimeSource Health.

Sonja Mancich, is a member of St. Sava Church, currently living in Highland with her husband Vinko and children Tony and Daniella, who also help at Serb Fest every year in some way.  The Mancich Family is always lending a helping hand to support our church!  Sonja is a graduate of Calumet High School and is currently employed at ArcelorMittal.

Thank you, ladies, for your hard work and dedication to St. Sava. Don’t forget to stop by the bake sale during Serb Fest. You will not want to miss out on what will be offered.

Check back at the St. Sava website www.saintsava.net/serb-fest for more Serb Fest Previews leading up to St. Sava Serb Fest 2015 taking place July 31, August 1 & 2 in Merrillville, IN.[/fusion_text][images picture_size=”auto” autoplay=”yes” columns=”1″ column_spacing=”13″ scroll_items=”” show_nav=”yes” mouse_scroll=”no” border=”yes” lightbox=”yes” class=”” id=””][image link=”” linktarget=”_self” image=”https://www.saintsava.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/bake-sale1-200×300.jpg” alt=””][image link=”” linktarget=”_self” image=”https://www.saintsava.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/bake-sale2-200×300.jpg” alt=””][image link=”” linktarget=”_self” image=”https://www.saintsava.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/bake-sale3-300×200.jpg” alt=””][image link=”” linktarget=”_self” image=”https://www.saintsava.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/bake-sale4-300×200.jpg” alt=””][image link=”” linktarget=”_self” image=”https://www.saintsava.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/bake-sale5-300×200.jpg” alt=””][image link=”” linktarget=”_self” image=”https://www.saintsava.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/bake-sale6-300×200.jpg” alt=””][image link=”” linktarget=”_self” image=”https://www.saintsava.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/bake-sale7-200×300.jpg” alt=””][image link=”” linktarget=”_self” image=”https://www.saintsava.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/bake-sale8-200×300.jpg” alt=””][image link=”” linktarget=”_self” image=”https://www.saintsava.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/bake-sale9-300×200.jpg” alt=””][/images]

Members, families, and friends of St. Sava Church will find it easier to lend support and choose specific times to offer volunteer service at Serb Fest 2015 with access to the new online volunteer sign-up process now available at https://www.saintsava.net/volunteer-sign-up-opportunities/ which is part of the new website initiative launched earlier this year.

To sign-up to volunteer, the process is simple:

1. Visit https://www.saintsava.net/volunteer-sign-up-opportunities/
2. Select a volunteer opportunity from the listing by clicking its title
3. Identify a specific date and time from the options available and click the “Sign-up” link
4. Fill in your name, phone number, and e-mail address
5. Click the “Sign-me up!” button

Ideally most volunteers will repeat the above process and sign-up for multiple volunteer options, for as much as their time permits. Volunteers will receive reminder e-mails the week before and a couple of days before they have to volunteer. Phone numbers and e-mails will only be available to the team leaders of the various volunteer opportunities so they may notify volunteers of any updates or changes to schedules.

This new system will be available for all of the auxiliary organizations at St. Sava Church after Serb Fest 2015 is complete. One of the goals of this new system is to help build a culture around making volunteer management easier, both for those wishing to be of service to the greater St. Sava Church community and those who are helping to organize the many special activities which make the St. Sava congregation stronger.

For questions about this new volunteer sign-up process, please e-mail christopher.kosovich@saintsava.net.

One of the many special features of the St. Sava Serb Fest is Lamb – an integral part of our Serbian culture. Sharing food with family and friends is important in building relationships and fellowship.

Have you ever thought about the guys behind the scenes who are waking up at the crack of dawn to prepare that delicious lamb? Who are they and where do they come from?

Nick Knezic has been a member of St. Sava Church his entire life and started cooking lamb when he was a child. He learned the skills from his father, Lazo Knezic, who has recently retired from the group (but not officially). Nick is a graduate of Merrillville High School and works as a Union Electrician for Local 697, specifically MJ Electric. He lives in Valparaiso with his wife, son and dog (Tesla). His son, Lazo, will soon begin his training in hopes that he will carry on the family tradition and serve his church.

Mark Lash lives in Crown Point with his wife Janie and sons Nikola and Joseph. Mark and Nick are Kumovi and have worked together for many years, particularly at Old Mill Pizzeria. Mark works at USS and is always taking his family on fun adventures! Mark’s mother, Marcy, used to be the hall manager on 49th Avenue.

Damian Tomich, former co-owner of Mauer’s Meats in Hobart, has been turning lambs since he was a child. His Father (Milan) and brother (Danny) have also been part of the St. Sava Lamb team for many many years. The Tomich Family has volunteered countless hours to St. Sava Church. Damian lives in Hobart with his wife Laura, and daughters Gabrielle and Jillian. Damian works for Davita Dialysis.

Other notable lamb turners are Steve Kljajich, Stevo Djankovic, Dule Pejnovic, Tony Mancich and Mico Serdar as well as many others.  Stop by during Serb Fest to say hello to all of these hard working men!

Remember that lamb is not only available at Serb Fest. St. Sava will offer lamb (and pig) during the Sunday’s leading up to Serb Fest and following through September.  Pre-order by the Wednesday prior by calling the church office at 219-736-9191.

Check back at the St. Sava website www.saintsava.net/serb-fest for more Serb Fest Previews in the coming weeks leading up to St. Sava Serb Fest 2015.[/fusion_text][images picture_size=”fixed” autoplay=”yes” columns=”1″ column_spacing=”13″ scroll_items=”” show_nav=”yes” mouse_scroll=”no” border=”yes” lightbox=”yes” class=”” id=””][image link=”” linktarget=”_self” image=”https://www.saintsava.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/lamb-fest-2.jpg” alt=””][image link=”” linktarget=”_self” image=”https://www.saintsava.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/lamb-fest-3.jpg” alt=””][image link=”” linktarget=”_self” image=”https://www.saintsava.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/lamb-fest-4.jpg” alt=””][/images]