Finland Wins Its First Olympic Gold

Tuuli Petäjä mins silver in windsurfing.   Tuuli Petäjä, 28, became the first Finn to medal in the 2012 London Olympics today as she earned a silver in women's windsurfing in the waters off Weymouth.  Winner was Spain's Marina Alsal Niera and the bronze went  to Sofia Nooeti-Klepcka of Poland. Tuuli has a European championship bronze medal to her credit and finished 16th in the 2008 Beijing Olympics. She is said to be a "cheerful and carefree" person. Interestingly enough her first name Tuuli translates into English as "Wind".  Her last nmae Petäjä would be "Pine." Onnittelut, Tuuli! See 3 jpegs attached from Helsingin Sanomat.  h 

Niilo Koponen

Niilo Koponen's just celebrated his 84th Birthday Party in Fairbanks, AK, where he has been confined to an Alzheimer's Facility for several years. He's an old member of Berkeley UFKB&S Lodge 21. His daughter Heather posted the family website news attached. Koponen is well-known in the National Finnish community and many lodge members, and others, remember visiting him fondly.



Heather keeps a website about recent happenings in the Koponen Family. Check it out!

http://koponenalaska.wordpress.com/