Pre-Easter bazaars and other activities

    The Southwest Florida Ukrainian American community will be busy during the second half of this month with some very popular and interesting activities, in addition to strictly religious services and prayers appropriate for the Holy Lent, known to Ukrainians as “Velykyi Pist” (great fast).

    On Friday, from 9 a.m. until 6:30 p.m., the very popular Pre-Easter Bazaar at the Ukrainian Catholic Parish of St. Mary’s will be held. It will take place in the Parish Center located next to the church at 1078 N. Biscayne Drive at the corner of West Price Boulevard in North Port. Traditional Ukrainian American dinners, which include a selection of varenyky (pierogis), holubtsi (cabbage rolls), sausage and other delicacies, will be served from noon until closing. Coffee and pastries will be available all day. Takeout will be available also, but the kitchen management would appreciate advance ordering for larger orders. In addition to food items, there will be many items available for purchase, including the world-renowned “pysanky” (Ukrainian hand-decorated Easter eggs) and other gift items. Iwanna Holowaty and Oksana Lew, both of Venice, are co-chairs of the Bazaar Committee. For more information, call 941-423-2427.

    On March 28, between 9 a.m. and 5:30 p.m., there will be another, just as popular Pre-Easter Bazaar at St. Andrew’s Ukrainian Religious and Cultural Center (known as the “Oseredok”), at 4100 S. Biscayne Drive in North Port. There will also be all kinds of items available for purchase, including baked goods such as babkas, pysanky, house articles, books and other gift items. Traditional Ukrainian food will also be available to eat on-site, or for takeout. For more information, contact Gene Tomashosky at 941-786-5256 or St. Andrew’s at 941-426-9745.

    On March 31, the traditional annual Scholarship Awards Luncheon, sponsored by the Scholarship Committee of the Ukrainian American Club of Southwest Florida, headed by Daria Tomashosky of North Port, will be held at noon at Heron Creek Golf & Country Club. Tickets, at $25 per person, should be ordered in advance by mailing a check payable to the Ukrainian American Club to Nancy Wosny, Club Treasurer, 6167 Otis Road, North Port, FL 34287. Tickets will not be available at the door.

    The Scholarship Committee, headed by professor Victor Lisnyczyj of North Port, solicited applications for scholarships from North Port High School seniors, and for the first time, from seniors at Port Charlotte High. Only one $1,000 scholarship will be awarded at the luncheon.
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    The monthly membership meeting of the Ukrainian American Club of Southwest Florida will be at 6 p.m. March 25 at the Oseredok. Several important issues will be discussed, and President Daria is asking all members to attend. Nonmembers are always welcome to attend and to socialize at the end of the meeting over a cup of coffee and delicious home-baked pastry.

    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