Illinois: Maxwell Street film, Nov. 22
If you can get to Skokie, you'll be able to see a great documentary called "Maxwell Street: A Living Memory," on Sunday, November 22.The Jewish Genealogical Society of Illinois is hosting the film at 2pm, at Temple Beth Israel.I saw the 2001 film when it was shown at Beth Hatefutsoth

DNA and the death of Venice
The population of Venice, Italy is dwindling, and is now below 60,000. A mock funeral for the city was also the impetus for a DNA project on the origins of Venetian families.One reason is the high cost of living in the city, and tourism is also taking the blame as food and housing costs rise and people move to the mainland. The number of residents has dropped by 66% since the 1950s.Some residents say that a house in Venice costs twice as much as a similar one elsewhere.A recent event highlighted the situation with a mock funeral. Activists claim Venice is a ghost town, populated only by tourists, although the city calls the its death premature.

Volunteer mapmakers: Changing our views
Do you use Google Maps? Do you know where they come from? Have you ever had a GPS device problem?In summer 2007, I spoke at the Jewish Genealogical Society of Sacramento (California). The president drove me from the train to his house, cautioning me to watch his GPS device. As we neared his home, the voice repeatedly said "turn left" at the next intersection, but my friend was in the right lane. As I checked our surroundings on the left, I saw a large building (no road through it!). As he made the right-hand turn into his street, he said that he enjoys showing that to visitors and that complaints were made but nothing had been updated. Perhaps by now it has been updated by

'Cool' Chanukah videos
In Israel, Jacob Richman's website offers so many resources in so many categories. He's just created a list of 115 cool Chanukah YouTube videos.Chanukah begins Friday, December 11 at sundown.Laugh a little! It's good for you! And count the different ways the holiday is spelled!The list includes these and many more:Adam Sandler's - The Chanukah SongKenny Ellis sings his hit single Swingin' DreidelI Had a Little Dreidl - Bagel Blvd Chanuka EditionLeft to Right - Michelle CitrinCaptain Smartypants sings DreidelThe Funky Gold Menorah by The Mama Do

APG: Election congrats to familiar faces
Some very familiar faces - from New Hampshire, Florida, Utah, New York and Israel - were among the 17 individuals recently elected to the Association of Professional Genealogists board.Special congratulations from Tracing the Tribe go to the following:Laura G. Prescott of Brookline, New Hampshire was elected president.Andrew M. “Drew” Smith of Odessa, Florida, was elected secretary. Drew is the Florida Genealogical Society of Tampa president, and co-hosts (with George Morgan), the Genealogy Guys Podcast.Among elected regional directors:West Region: Suza