Halyna Kymuk to speak on ‘Euromaidan’

      The Ukrainian American Club of Southwest Florida, headed by Daria Tomashosky of North Port, will meet at 6 tonight at St. Andrew’s Ukrainian Religious and Cultural Center (known as the “Oseredok”) in North Port. The brief business meeting, with reports of Secretary Doris Horbachevsky, Treasurer Nancy Wosny, Corresponding Secretary Halya Lisnyczyj, Scholarship Committee Chair Victor Lisnyczyj and other committee chairs will be followed by an interesting presentation by Halyna Kymuk.

    Mrs. Kymuk, a Southwest Florida resident and community activist, will speak about her personal experience and observation of events, including tragic, while participating in “Euromaidan,” the Ukrainian “Revolution of Dignity,” which began on Nov. 23, 2013, as the peaceful protest of Ukrainians, mostly students, against former president Yanukovych’s refusal to sign an agreement of cooperation with the European Union and turning toward Putin’s Russia. At Yanukovych’s order, the “Berkut” special security units and Russian Special Forces sharpshooters began to shoot the peaceful, unarmed demonstrators, and by the time Yanukovych fled to Russia on Feb. 22, 2014, more than 100 young people had been killed, with many hundreds wounded. The innocent heroes, now known and honored as “The Heavenly Hundred,” included members of Ukrainian ethnic minorities who believed it was their obligation to demonstrate for the democratic and Western-leaning Ukrainian Fatherland.

    Since the end of the demonstrations at the Maidan (“maidan” in Ukrainian is “plaza”), which was followed by the election of a Western-oriented, democratic “Verkhovna Rada” (parliament) and President Petro Poroshenko, Mrs. Kymuk also visited the Ukrainian military units now engaged in anti- terrorist operations in the southeastern regions of Ukraine.

    The meeting and Mrs. Kymuk’s presentation will be followed by a social hour with coffee and pastries. All are welcome. One does not have to be a member of the club or be of Ukrainian descent to attend and be welcomed.
                                                           • • •
    The monthly member- ship meeting of North Port Branch 56 of the Ukrainian National Women’s League of America, known as “Soyuz Ukrayinok” (union of Ukrainian ladies), headed by President Ann-Marie Susla of Englewood, will take place at 10 a.m. March 3 at the Oseredok. The agenda will include a report by Olya Hron of Osprey, branch vice president and chair of the committee of the very successful fundraiser “Vyshyvani Vechernytsi” (“Embroidered Ball”) on Feb. 14.

    Following all reports, there will be a brief, solemn commemoration program honoring all Ukrainian heroines.

    Prior to the meeting there will be requiem divine liturgy and “Panakhyda” (special prayer service for the dead) at 9 a.m. at St. Mary’s Ukrainian Catholic Church for the repose of souls of all departed members of UNWLA Branch 56.
                                                           • • •
    The monthly membership meeting of North Port’s Cpl. Roman G. Lazor Post 40 of Ukrainian American Veterans, headed by Col. Roman Rondiak, USA (Ret.) of Osprey, will take place at 3 p.m. March 6 at the Oseredok.

    Atanas Kobryn covers the Ukrainian community for the North Port Sun. He can be emailed at atanask@aol.com. 

Our Neighbors — The Ukrainians

by Atanas Kobryn

A Valentine’s Day wedding at St. Mary’s

     The Southwest Florida Ukrainian American Catholic congregation, led by the Rev. Dr. Severyn Kovalyshin, pastor of North Port’s Presentation of the Most Holy Mother of God (St. Mary’s) Ukrainian Catholic Church, has a reason to be much happier following a rather rare event, a “vinchannya” (marriage) of a young couple in the local church.

    Adrian Kekis and Lida Kryzaniwsky were married last Saturday, Valentine’s Day, by the Rev. Dr. Kovalyshin and the Rev. Renaldo Kekis, the groom’s father.

    Adrian is the son of Marij and the Rev. Ronald Kekis, pastor of the Ukrainian Catholic Church of the Resurrection in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. Lida is the daughter of parish members Chrystyna and Dr. George Kryzaniwsky, a U.S. Armed Forces veteran and member of North Port’s Cpl. Roman G. Lazor Post 40 of the Ukrainian American Veterans.

    My wife Katrusia and I congratulate the parents of the bride and groom, and wish “Mnohaya Leeta!” (many, many years) for the newlyweds.
                                                            • • •
    Ukrainians in Ukraine and throughout the world commemorate in February Ukrainian Heroines. The tradition began after two patriotic female revolutionaries were murdered by occupiers of Ukraine — Olha Basarab was murdered Feb. 12, 1924, while imprisoned in L’viv, and Olena Teliha was executed by Nazi Gestapo Feb. 21, 1942, at Babyn Yar in Kyiv.

    There are many more heroines, including the most recent ones, members of the “Heavenly Hundred” killed by Yanukovych’s security thugs during the “Revolution of Dignity,” now fighting the Russian aggression in eastern Ukraine.
                                                            • • •
    The Executive Board of the Ukrainian American Club of Southwest Florida, headed by Daria Tomashosky of North Port, held its meeting last week to discuss various issues and to plan the club’s activities for the next several months. In addition to approving the officers’ reports (secretary, treasurer, corresponding secretary and Social Services Committee chair), board members discussed at length the club’s scholarship program following the presentation of professor Victor Lisnyczyj, chair of the Scholarship Committee.

    Prof. Lisnyczyj informed board members that the information about applications for the club’s scholarships was given to North Port and Port Charlotte high schools. Applications are also available on the club’s website at ukrainianamericanclub. com. All seniors from these two high schools are eligible to apply for a $1,000 scholarship. The traditional scholarship awards luncheon will be held at noon March 18 at Heron Creek Golf & Country Club in North Port.

    Among several projects discussed, plans for arranging an exhibit of artwork of members of the local Ukrainian American community in March or in April at the North Port Library elicited the most favorable response. It will be finalized at the next membership meeting.

    The next monthly membership meeting will be held at 6 p.m. Feb. 25 at St. Andrew’s Ukrainian Religious and Cultural Center (known as the “Oseredok”). The guest speaker will be Halyna Kymuk, who spent many weeks as an observer and active participant of the Revolution of Dignity, also known as “Euromaidan” in Kyiv (Nov. 23, 2013-Feb. 22, 2014), which resulted in the replacement of the corrupt, Kremlinoriented government of former president Yanukovych with a democratically elected pro-Western “Verkhovna Rada” (parliament) and government headed by President Petro Poroshenko.

    Atanas Kobryn covers the Ukrainian community for the North Port Sun. He can be emailed at atanask@aol.com. 

Our Neighbors  -  The Ukrainians

by Atanas Kobryn

 

"Embroidered Ball" on Valentine’s Day

     North Port Branch 56 of the Ukrainian National Women’s League of America, better known as “Soyuz Ukrayinok” (Union of Ukrainian Ladies), headed by Ann-Marie Susla of Englewood, is sponsoring its traditional annual “Vyshyvani Vechernytsi” (“Embroidered Ball”) at 6 p.m. Saturday at St. Mary’s Ukrainian Catholic Parish Center, 1078 N. Biscayne Drive, at the corner of West Price Boulevard in North Port, with music by Vic Syzonenko. All are welcome.

    Tickets, at $15, can be ordered from Kati Posnachiwsky at 941-423-6329 or Tania Silecky at 941-302-6054. For more information, call branch vice president Olya Hron at 941-966-2845.

    All proceeds are for the UNWLA “Heart to Heart” Fund to help victims of the “Revolution and War of Dignity” in Ukraine.


• • •

    Members of Cpl. Roman G. Lazor Post 40 of the Ukrainian American Veterans, headed by Col. Roman Rondiak, USA (Ret.), held their first meeting of 2015 on Feb. 6 at St. Andrew’s Ukrainian Religious and Cultural Center (known as the “Oseredok”). The meeting was called to order by Vice Commander Col. Roman Synychak, USAF (Ret.) due to Commander Rondiak’s absence. After the opening formalities (salute, Pledge of Allegiance and commemoration of deceased comrades), members approved last meeting’s minutes and discussed the financial report, which will be reintroduced at the next meeting and then approved.

    Following the reports of other officers, UAV National Commander Ihor W. Hron relayed information about activities and plans of the UAV National Executive Board. One of the items discussed by NC Hron at length was the UAV National Monument. The work to erect the monument at St. Andrew’s Ukrainians Cemetery in South Bound Brook, N.J., has started, and a formal dedication will take place in the first half of October, in conjunction with the 68th UAV National Convention that will take place in New Jersey. NC Hron will write a letter to all post commanders requesting the attendance at the monument dedication of representatives from every post.

    NC Hron introduced a guest, Oleksandr Kryskiv of L’viv, Ukraine. Kryskiv, a political and community activist, is one of the leaders of the Ukrainian Scouting Organization “Plast” in Ukraine. He spoke about the situation in Ukraine in general, and specifically about Plast members, who, as volunteers, are fighting the Russian aggressors and their stooges in the Donbas region. Following his presentation, post members approved a donation to purchase special winter boots for this group of volunteers. Additional funds were also donated by post members.

    Other individuals, including members of the North Port community, who would like to contribute to this project, can do so by mailing a check payable to “UAV Post 40” and mailing it to the post at 4100 S. Biscayne Dr., North Port, FL 34287.

    Col. Synychak relayed messages from absent Commander Rondiak, and PPC Jerry Zinycz made inquiries about the status of the address book, which our post in cooperation with two other organizations is planning to publish. IPPC Gene Tomashosky provided information about the status of the project.

    The next membership meeting will be held at 3 p.m. March 6 at the Oseredok.

    Atanas Kobryn covers the Ukrainian community for the North Port Sun. He can be emailed at atanask@aol.com. 

Our Neighbors — The Ukrainians

by Atanas Kobryn

 

Judge speaks on Ukraine’s democracy quest

    Last week’s meeting of the Ukrainian American Club of Southwest Florida, headed by Daria Tomashosky of North Port, — the first meeting of this year — was attended by a large number of members and many guests fully filling the main hall of St. Andrew’s Ukrainian Religious and Cultural Center (known as the “Oseredok”). There is no doubt that the reason for such a large turnout of members, guests and even guests who are not members of the Ukrainian American community, was the speaker, the Honorable Bohdan A. Futey, a federal judge serving on senior status for the U.S. Court of Federal Claims, and his topic, “Ukraine’s quest for democracy and rule of law after the Revolution of Dignity,”

    Judge Futey, who spoke to various audiences on legal matters at many seminars and professional meetings in the United States, Canada, Germany and Ukraine, and was consulted by governmental agencies of Ukraine, had no problem keeping the audience captivated for over an hour. He traced the pre-history of the “Revolution of Dignity,” which lasted from Nov. 23, 2013, to Feb. 22, 2014, and its aftermath, and explained some of the difficulties the new, western-oriented government of Ukraine, including President Petro Poroshenko, are facing in their quest for democracy and the rule of law in the midst of open military aggression of the neighboring Russian Federation. The revolution, which began as a peaceful protest against then-president Yanukovych’s refusal to sign an agreement with the European Union, resulted in over 100 lives of peaceful demonstrators shot by security personnel, ordered by Yanukovych, while the de-facto open war since April 2014, took over 5,000 Ukrainian lives, including soldiers, but mostly civilians including women and children — and there is no end in sight.

    Preceding Judge Futey’s presentation there was a relatively brief meeting of the club. Following the traditional reports of secretary Doris Horbachevsky, treasurer Nancy Wosny, and correspondence secretary and chair of the social services committee, Halya Lisnyczyj, president Daria asked professor Victor Lisnyczyj, chair of the club’s scholarship committee, to submit his report. He spoke about the last meeting of the committee, some of the difficulties he and members of the committee had to face and to overcome, and informed members and guests that the applications for scholarships, which are available on the club’s website (ukrainian americanclub.com) for seniors at North Port High School and, for the first time, from Charlotte County high schools. The traditional Scholarship Awards Luncheon will be held March 18. Details to come.
                                                                            • • •
    The monthly membership meeting of Cpl. Roman G. Lazor Post 40 of the Ukrainian American Veterans, headed by Commander Col. Roman Rondiak, USA (Ret.), will take place at 3 p.m. Friday at the Oseredok.

    Finance Officer Oleh Sawkiw is asking all members who did not mail their dues to him to prepare to pay this year’s dues ($30) at the meeting, with checks payable to “UAV Post 40.” Additional donations are appreciated.

    Atanas Kobryn covers the Ukrainian community for the North Port Sun. He can be emailed at atanask@aol.com. 

Our Neighbors — The Ukrainians

by Atanas Kobryn

Federal Judge Futey to speak tonight

     The Honorable Bohdan A. Futey, serving on senior status for the U.S. Court of Federal Claims, will be the guest speaker tonight at the monthly membership meeting of the Ukrainian American Club of Southwest Florida, headed by Daria Tomashosky of North Port. His topic will be “Ukraine’s quest for democracy and rule of law after the Revolution of Dignity.” Everyone is welcome.

    Judge Futey’s activities have been multifaceted. In addition to his duties at the U.S. Court of Federal Claims since his appointment in 1987 by President Ronald Reagan, he has spoken at various conferences and meetings in the U.S., Canada and Ukraine. He has written numerous articles for American, American Ukrainian and Ukrainian news media. His last mission to Ukraine was heading the World Mission of Ukrainian World Congress on observation of presidential elections and elections to the “Verkhovna Rada,” Ukraine’s parliament.

    The meeting of the Ukrainian American Club will be held at 6 tonight at St. Andrew’s Ukrainian Religious and Cultural Center (known as the “Oseredok”), 4100 S. Biscayne Drive, North Port. Judge Futey’s presentation will be preceded by a brief business meeting. Club members are being asked to wear the embroidered attire for a group photograph at the meeting.
                                                     • • •
    The North Port Branch 56 of the Ukrainian National Women’s League of America, known as “Soyuz Ukrayinok” (union of Ukrainian ladies), held its annual membership meeting, chaired by professor Vira Bodnaruk of Venice on Jan. 20 at the Oseredok. The meeting agenda included the annual reports of officers, committee chairs, and finally of branch president, Ann-Marie Susla of Englewood.

    After all reports were read, discussed and approved, the nominating committee, consisting of Orysia Zinycz, Zina Ferenc and Tusia Van Meggelen, presented a list of candidates to be elected for 2015-2016.

    Ann-Marie Susla was unanimously re-elected for the third term as branch president. My wife Katrusia, who is a Branch 56 member, and I congratulate Ann-Marie and wish her continued success. Also re-elected were recording secretary Roma Guran, corresponding secretary Larissa Shpon, treasurer Orysia Zinycz and financial secretary Ulana Stadnyk. Elected were vice presidents Olya Hron and Lesia Popel, and press secretary Yara Litosh. Lidia Bilous, chair of the UNWLA social services committee, was elected member-at-large.

    Other individuals elected: Anna Mariani and Zina Ferenc, cochairs of the membership committee; Oksana Lew, chair of the cultural affairs committee; Neonillia Lechman and Vira Bodnaruk, co-chairs of the public relations committee; Kateryna Steciuk and Tania Silecky, co-chairs of the art and museum committee, Lieda Boyko, chair of the scholarship committee; Roxolana Yarymovych, chair of the archives committee; and Katia Posnachiwska, chair of the hospitality committee. The social welfare committee will consist of Halya Lisnyczyj, Anna Mariani, Helen Indianu and Odarka Horbachevsky; and the auditing committee, Areta Baranowskyj, Bohdanna Fryder, Iryna Kuzyk, Chrystia Lazor Stecyk and Luba Yarmak.
                                                       • • •
    The monthly membership meeting, first in 2015, of Cpl. Roman G. Lazor Post 40 of the Ukrainian American Veterans will be held at 3 p.m. Feb. 6 at the Oseredok.

    Finance Officer Oleh Sawkiw wishes to remind post members that dues for 2015 of $30 are due. Checks can be made payable to “UAV Post 40,” and any additional donations will be appreciated.

    Atanas Kobryn covers the Ukrainian community for the North Port Sun. He can be emailed at atanask@aol.com. 

Our Neighbors — The Ukrainians

by Atanas Kobryn

 

Unification of Ukraine lands commemorated

     The Southwest Florida Ukrainian American community commemorated the 96th anniversary of the unification of all Ukrainian lands in one Ukrainian National Republic with an assembly and concert last Saturday at North Port’s Ukrainian Catholic Parish Center. The event was sponsored by the Coordinating Committee of the Ukrainian American Organizations of North Port and vicinity (“Hromadskyi Komitet”), headed by Roma Guran of Venice. It was organized and presented by a Unifi- cation Commemoration Committee headed by Lidia Bilous of Osprey.

    The observance began by posting the American flag and the blue and yellow national flag of Ukraine by the Color Guard of Ukrainian American Veterans Post 40 and Ukrainian Armed Forces officers who are members of the liaison team with U.S. Central Command at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, and the singing of the two national anthems. Dr. George Baranowskyj, Post 40 judge advocate, and Eugene Tomashosky, past post commander, were the flag bearers. Members of the Honor Guard were Post Commander Col. Roman Rondiak, Marian Bojsiuk, Jerry Zinycz, Julian Helbig, Clifford Heiser and the Ukrainian Army officers, Col. Kalenichenko and Col. Nazola.

    Roma Guran, president of Hromadskyi Komitet, opened the assembly, greeted the attendees and introduced mistress of ceremonies Lidia Bilous, who in turn introduced professor Vira Bodnaruk to deliver the keynote address. Yulia Lopanchuk and Iryna Strilka recited poems appropriate for the occasion, and Col. Kalenichenko delivered a brief message and greetings from Ukrainian Army personnel and members of volunteer formations fighting Ukrainian terrorists and soldiers of the Russian Federation in the eastern frontier of Ukraine.

    The highlight of the evening was the internationally renowned Ukrainian soprano-soloist Oksana Krovytska, New York City Opera star, who sang over a dozen patriotic, historic and folk songs, including two arias from the Ukrainian operas “Natalka Poltavka” and “Zaporozhets za Dunayem.” She was accompanied by pianist Chrystyna Karpevych, who also sang two songs while accompanying Krovytska on the piano. The standing ovation prompted the two performers to add yet another song to stop the ovation. It was definitely one of the best commemorations of the unification of Ukraine lands, in our area.

    Proceeds from the assembly and concert were designated to benefit victims of the war in Ukraine. They were augmented by several individual donations, including the honorariums of both guest performers, Krovytska and Karpevych. At the end of the concert, Col. Nazola thanked the organizing committee and all individual benefactors, including the guest performers, for their generous contributions for the benefit of war victims in Ukraine. He also assured all present, on behalf of the members of Ukraine’s Armed Forces and volunteer formations, including the defenders of the Donetsk airport, that they will stand and fight the aggressors until the complete victory. The United Choir, under the masterful direction of Lubow Dobrowolska-Ingram, concluded the very successful affair, attended by over 100, by singing the hymn-prayer “Bozhe Velykyi-Yedynyi” (God, Great and the Only One).
                                                                • • •
    The monthly membership meeting of the Ukrainian American Club of Southwest Florida will be held Jan. 28 at St. Andrew’s Ukrainian Religious and Cultural Center, known as the “Oseredok.” The guest speaker will be the Honorable Bohdan A. Futey, serving on senior status for the U.S. Court of Federal Claims. His topic will be “Ukraine’s quest for democracy and rule of law after the Revolution of Dignity.”

    Atanas Kobryn covers the Ukrainian community for the North Port Sun. He can be emailed at atanask@aol.com.

Our Neighbors — The Ukrainians

by Atanas Kobryn

Ukrainian women honor their own

     Members of North Port Branch 56 of the Ukrainian National Women’s League, known as “Soyuz Ukrayinok” (union of Ukrainian ladies), headed by Ann-Marie Susla of Englewood, and their guests had a wonderful time at the traditional annual Christmas “Zustrich” (get-together) on Friday at St. Andrew’s Ukrainian Religious and Cultural Center, known as the “Oseredok.” The Christmas Zustrich committee, chaired by Christyna Bodnar-Sheldon of Englewood, who also superbly performed duties as mistress of ceremonies, worked very hard in arranging for an enjoyable program and serving a delicious three-course buffet dinner. All hors d’oeuvres, dishes and desserts, including baked goods, were prepared in UNWLA members’ homes.

    An outstanding part of the program was, naturally, caroling by a group of ladies, organized by past president of Branch 56, Oksana Lew of Venice.

    Lieda Boyko of Port Charlotte was the starcarrier, an integral part of the traditional Ukrainian carolers.

    The Honorable Ihor Sybiga, general consul of Ukraine in New York, with his lovely wife Natalie, daughter Dorothea, and Natalie’s parents of Kyiv, Ukraine, were special guests. Other guests were the Rev. Dr. Severyn Kovalyshin, the Rt. Rev. Mitred Archpriest Wolodymyr Woloszczuk, the Rt. Rev. John Fatenko and Anastasia Fatenko.

    After members and guests had finished enjoying the main course, before serving desserts, President Susla announced and handed out to the branch and several branch members awards that were announced at the XXXth UNWLA National Convention in Tarrytown, N.Y., last May. There were two awards to the branch — one for sponsorship and support of the UNWLA Scholarship Action and organizing new branch members, and a second for a ponderable contribution in supporting the movement to democracy and civil society in Ukraine.

    Individual awards were presented to the following Branch 56 members: Honorary UNWLA memberships to Orysia Swystun of North Port and Lidia Bilous of Osprey; for 50 years of dedicated service to the UNWLA to Iwanna Holowaty and Maria Wolynec, both of Venice; for many years of dedicated service as members of the UNWLA National Executive Board to Anna Macelinski and Roxolana Yarymovych of Osprey; and for leadership activity in the area of culture in the local community to Oksana Lew.
                                                                 • • •
    The Coordinating Committee of Ukrainian American Organizations of North Port and Vicinity (“Hromadskyi Komitet”), headed by Roma Guran of Venice, is inviting all to attend the commemoration of the 96th anniversary of the unification of all Ukrainian lands in one Ukrainian National Republic, at 5:30 p.m. Saturday at the Ukrainian Catholic Parish Center, 1078 N. Biscayne Drive (corner of West Price Boulevard), North Port.

    The commemorative program will be highlighted by internationally known Ukrainian soprano-soloist Oksana Krovytska, a New York City Opera star who was honored with its coveted “Diva Award.”

    Proceeds will benefit the war victims.
                                                                • • •
    The annual membership meeting of UNWLA Branch 56 will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday at the Oseredok. All members are encouraged to attend. Membership dues may be paid at the meeting.

    Atanas Kobryn covers the Ukrainian community for the North Port Sun. He can be emailed at atanask@aol.com.

Our Neighbors — The Ukrainians

 by Atanas Kobryn