Patricia Zalisko of Estero, an active member of the North Port branch 56 of “Soyuz Ukrayinok” (Union of Ukrainian Ladies) and of the Presentation of the Most Holy Mother of God (St. Mary’s) Ukrainian Catholic Church in North Port, had been awarded a fellowship by the Virginia Center for the Creative Art. The VCCA is near Sweet Briar College in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in rural Virginia.
Zalisko will be among approximately 25 Fellows focusing on their own creative projects at this working retreat for visual artists, writers and composers. Each artist is provided with a comfortable private bedroom, a private studio and three prepared meals a day The VCCA is one of the world’s most prestigious and nation’s largest year-round artists’ communities. VCCA fellows have received worldwide attention and major awards and accolades, including Pulitzer prizes, Guggenheim fellowships, National Endowment for the Arts awards, Academy Award nominations and others.
Zalisko was a successful lawyer in New York City who decided to give up her legal practice and devote her time and talents to painting. She had several successful exhibits of her paintings in various cities, including New York City.
My wife Katrusia and I, as well as all members of the Southwest Florida Ukrainian American community, including her husband, Walter, are very proud of Patricia Zalisko, and wish her continuous success and more honors.
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The very popular traditional Ukrainian American dinners will commence to be served at the Ukrainian Catholic Parish Center on Friday, Sept. 30 between 4:30 and 6:00 p.m.
The Parish Center is near the Presentation of the Most Holy Mother of God (St. Mary’s) Ukrainian Catholic Church, 1078 North Biscayne Drive (corner of Biscayne Drive and West Price Blvd.), North Port.
Volunteers will gather at 8:00 a.m., Thursday, Sept. 29, to make the traditional Ukrainian potato and cheese, and fried cabbage “varenyky” (also known as pierogis) and “holubtsi” (cabbage rolls) with rice and hamburger meat, and rice and mushrooms. The dinners also include a piece of chicken or fish, soup or compote, and home baked pastries with coffee or tea.
More volunteers are always welcome. The time spent making varenyky and holubtsi is also a wonderful time to socialize with other parishioners and friends, and making new friends. For more information call 941-426-7931.
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The first post-vacation membership meeting of Ukrainian American Club of Southwest Florida, headed by Daria Tomashosky, of North Port, will be held at 6 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 28, at St. Andrew’s Ukrainian Religious and Cultural Center, 4100 S. Biscayne Dr., North Port. In addition to the standard reports of officers, there will be an interesting presentation by Lieda Boyko of Port Charlotte, who visited for over one month Ukraine last summer.
She traveled to various parts of Ukraine, including the Sumy region, and visited with families of Ukrainian soldiers defending Ukraine from the Russian aggression in the eastern region of Ukraine, including wounded and dead.
The traditional social hour with beverages and home-baked pastries will follow. There is no admission charge and all are welcome.
Email: atanask@aol.com
Our Neighbors — The Ukrainians
The 15th anniversary of the most deadly attack on the U.S. soil which resulted in the loss of nearly 3,000 lives, including American Ukrainians, was commemorated last Sunday with prayers by the local Ukrainian Americans.
A special prayer of the Ukrainian Orthodox congregation of St. Andrew’s Ukrainian Church at the conclusion of the Sunday’s Divine Liturgy for the repose of souls of the 9/11 victims was led by the Rt. Rev. John Fatenko. The Rev. Oleh Saciuk’s special sermon about the tragedy and heroic dedication of many first responders and civilian volunteers followed the prayers.
The “Panakhyda,” a traditional Ukrainian requiem service, was celebrated at the conclusion of Divine Liturgy (Mass) by the Rev. Vasyl Petriv, pastor of Presentation of the Most Holy Mother of God (St. Mary’s) Ukrainian Catholic Church for the repose of souls of the 9/11 victims.
The very solemn and moving service, with the church choir beautifully singing the responses ended with both the choir and the congregation singing “God Bless America.”
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The 15th anniversary of the tragic day is being vividly remembered by me and my wife, Katrusia.
After seeing on our TV screen the planes striking the World Trade Center towers, and knowing that our only daughter Maria Luba, an employee of Citibank, was working on the 47th floor, we did not know at first what to do.
Eventually we decided to call her home, hoping that one of her children would answer. To our delight, we heard the voice of our daughter. She informed us that her 4-month-old granddaughter Victoria had an appointment with a doctor, and because Victoria’s mother did not have any paid days off left, she volunteered to take a day off work and take her granddaughter to the doctor.
Was this a coincidence, or an act of Providence?
We believe it was the latter, and thank God for keeping our daughter alive.
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Last Friday, the meeting of Cpl. Roman G. Lazor Post #40 of the Ukrainian American Veterans, chaired by Commander Col. Roman Rondiak, U.S. Army, retired, dealt with several issues, including the UAV’s 69th National Convention, election of Post 40 officers at the next meeting Oct. 7, and Post #40 Officers Installation/ Fundraiser Luncheon at noon, Nov. 16 at Heron Creek Golf and Country Club in North Port.
Tickets for the Officers Installation/Fundraiser Luncheon at $25 per person can be ordered by no later than Nov. 6 by calling Gene at 941-786-5256, or Roman at 941-445-5281.
Checks should be made payable to UAV Post 40.
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The Board of Directors of the Ukrainian American Club of Southwest Florida, headed by Daria Tomashosky of North Port, met Monday at the Oseredok. Reports were presented by officers and committee chairs and decisions made regarding the following events: Traditional Club’s Christmas Party will be held Dec. 3, spring picnic i- March 8, 2017, and Scholarship Awards Luncheon - April 5.
The next membership meeting will take place at 6 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 28, at St. Andrew’s Ukrainian Religious And Cultural Center — the Oseredok.
Email: atanask@aol.com.
Our Neighbors — The Ukrainians
by Atanas Kobryn
Members of North Port’s Cpl. Roman G. Lazor Post 40 of the Ukrainian American Veterans, led by Post Commander, retired U.S. Army Col. Roman Rondiak, of Osprey, who is also UAV National Adjutant, will meet at 1 p.m. Saturday at St. Andrew’s Ukrainian Religious and Cultural Center — the Oseredok — in North Port. This is the first membership meeting after the vacation hiatus. The meeting will include several important agenda items, in addition to the financial and other reports, including nominating candidates for officers for the next term, election of delegates to the UAV 69th National Convention which will take place in Chicago from Oct. 13–15, and planning for the traditional Veterans Day dinner dance and installation of newly elected officers in November.
One of the UAV National Convention agenda items will be election of national commander and members of the national executive board for the next two years.
In view of all this, Commander Rondiak is asking all members to attend this important meeting.
Membership in The Ukrainian American Veterans is open to all Ukrainians, Ukrainian Americans, and Americans of Ukrainian descent veterans of armed forces of the United States who did not receive a dishonorable discharge. Also eligible are individuals who are not of Ukrainian descent who are married to a Ukrainian or Ukrainian American spouse.
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The first post vacation membership meeting of North Port’s Milena Rudnycka Branch 56 of the Ukrainian National Women’s League of America — UNWLA, popularly known as “Soyuz Ukrayinok” (Union of Ukrainian Ladies), headed by President Ann-Marie Susla, of Englewood, will take place at 10 a.m. Sept. 13 at the Ukrainian Catholic Parish Center, 1078 N. Biscayne Dr., North Port.
The agenda of the meeting will include, in addition to the mandated reports of officers, discussion of plans for the traditional fall picnic (date and location to be determined at the meeting). The traditional coffee and pastry social will follow the meeting.
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Plans are being formulated for the popular Ukrainian American dinners, served for many years on Fridays at the Ukrainian Catholic Parish Center next to the Presentation of the Most Holy Mother of God (St. Mary’s) Ukrainian Catholic Church in North Port, corner of West Price Boulevard and Biscayne Drive.
The opening date and schedule will be announced in a week or two.
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Last week was a special week for our family. We were visited by our son, Lt. Col. A Ihor Kobryn, his wife, Angelita, and their son and our youngest grandson S. Bohdan Kobryn. In addition to enjoying the visitors and marveling at the antics of our 6-year-old grandson Bohdan in and out of the swimming pool, we got to celebrate Ihor’s 46th birthday on Sept. 2 with a traditional birthday cake.
Our oldest son and Ihor’s brother, Alexander Zenon Kobryn of Lakeland, was able to join us also. His youngest nephew Bohdan was especially happy to see him.
Email: atanask@aol.com
Our Neighbors — The Ukrainians
by Atanas Kobryn