"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.


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    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