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.
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    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

 

Ukrainians celebrate birth of Jesus today

    Ukrainian Christians in Ukraine and many Ukrainian Americans and Ukrainian Canadians celebrate today, Jan. 7, the Feast of Jesus Christ’s birth, including North Port’s St. Andrew’s Ukrainian Church and the Presentation of the Most Holy Mother of God (St. Mary’s) Ukrainian Catholic Church. This day is the 25th of December according to the “old” Julian calendar used by some churches of the Byzantine tradition, including the Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church and Ukrainian Orthodox churches.

    The celebration actually commenced yesterday, on the eve of the feast, starting with a strict fast (no meat or dairy products), special church services and a festive 12-course dinner known as “Svyata Vecherya” (holy supper). All courses of the meal are also meatless and, traditionally, without dairy products, although the traditional ban on dairy products is more often than not ignored, especially in North America. Some of the Ukrainian dinner recipes include “borsch with vushka” (meatless beet soup with mushroom dumplings), “varenyky,” also known as “pyrohy” (pierogies stuffed with potato), “uzwar” (dried fruit compote), “holubtsi” (stuffed cabbage without meat), fish and special baked goods. The main dish that is almost identical in all regions of Ukraine and abroad is “kutia” (boiled wheat, poppy seeds and honey, often with crushed nuts and raisins). This is the first dish of the “Holy Supper.”

    The Christmas (in Ukrainian “Rizdvo”) Eve supper, in addition to the traditional dishes, is also replete with many ancient traditional ceremonies, many predating Christianity. Many of these practices are still in effect in some Ukrainian villages. It is primarily a family affair, although in many localities, including here in North Port, churches sponsor community suppers to accommodate a large number of single or older and infirm members of the community. Caroling is an integral part of the festivities.

    The two aforementioned North Port churches had these community suppers last night after special Christmas Eve church services.

    Today’s continuous celebration will consist of special Christmas divine liturgies, which will be celebrated at 9 a.m. by the Rt. Rev. Ivan Fatenko for the Ukrainian Orthodox faithful at St. Andrew’s Church, and at 11 a.m. by the Rev. Dr. Severyn Kovalyshin, pastor, and the Rt. Rev. Mitred Archpriest Wolodymyr Woloszczuk, pastor-emeritus, at St. Mary’s Church. The rest of the day is devoted to visiting relatives and friends, and caroling.
                                                             • • •
    North Port Branch 56 of the Ukrainian National Women’s League of America, known as “Soyuz Ukrayinok” (union of Ukrainian ladies), headed by Ann-Marie Susla of Englewood, will hold its traditional annual holiday (Christmas and New Year’s) “Zustrich” (get-together) at 4 p.m. Friday at St. Andrew’s. Members can invite a guest, spouse or signifi- cant other.

    The Zustrich, to celebrate the holiday season while enjoying delicious hors d’oeuvres and baked goods brought in by members, as well as a glass of wine, storytelling and caroling, will also include a presentation by Ann-Marie Susla of several awards approved by the last UNWLA XXX National Convention to members.

    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