Ukrainian holiday events abound

    At 3 p.m. Friday, the North Port Cpl. Roman Lazor Post 40 of the Ukrainian Veterans will hold its monthly membership meeting at St. Andrew’s Ukrainian Religious and Cultural Center, known as the “Oseredok.” This will be the first meeting chaired by newly elected Post Commander Col. Roman Rondiak, USA (Ret.), who was formally installed, together with all other elected and re-elected officers, by National Commander Ihor W. Hron at the Installation/ Fundraiser Luncheon Nov. 13 at Heron Creek Golf & Country Club.
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    The Executive Board of the Ukrainian American Club of Southwest Florida, headed by Daria Tomashosky of North Port, held its meeting Monday at St. Andrew’s to discuss, among other topics, the traditional Christmas dinner set for 5:30 p.m. Saturday at the Oseredok. Party Committee Chair Anna Mariani reported that the program will include a very special and interesting guest from Ukraine. Klara Szpiczka reported that there are no more tickets for the dinner and that all arrangements for food were completed. There will be hors d’oeuvres, main course items (mostly homemade by members), homebaked pastries for dessert, and coffee or tea.

    Board members also discussed the club’s participation in the International Coalition Night at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, in response to an invitation by the Ukrainian Army officers who serve as a liaison with the Headquarters U.S. Central Command at MacDill; “Kolyada” (visiting homes of local Ukrainian Americans, wishing them happy holidays and new year, and singing carols), which will begin on Dec. 26; and the Jan. 28 meeting program.
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    A week from today, at 4 p.m. Dec. 10, here will be an outstanding cultural event of the season at the Oseredok — a concert featuring world-renowned singer, composer, lyricist and pianist Sofiya Fedyna of L’viv, Ukraine. Ms. Fedyna defended her Ph.D. dissertation on the subject of international peace at the National L’viv University, where she now teaches. She remembers fondly her music teachers Iryna Akheian, Lesia Salistra and Maria Baiko, national artist of Ukraine and professor of the National L’viv Music Academy. Ms. Fedyna, in cooperation with Professor Baiko, published her first two albums in 2005 and 2007, and in 2008, her third album.

    Ms. Fedyna was an active participant in the “Revolution of Dignity” from November 2013 through February 2014 at Kyiv’s Maidan, which resulted in ousting pro-Kremlin former president Yanukovych. Since that time, she performs at charity concerts to support the Ukrainian Army fighting the terrorists and Russian Army invaders in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions of Ukraine.

    On Sept. 24, she performed at the L’viv Philharmonic Society Charity Concert to support the 44th artillery brigade; on Oct. 12, a charity concert to support the Ukrainian Army in Drohobych; on Oct. 15, to support the AZOV Battalion of the Ukrainian Army in L’viv; and on Nov. 8, a charity concert to support the Ukrainian Army in L’viv. She is also the president of the worldwide Lemko organizations.
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    St. Mary’s Ukrainian Catholic Church, at North Biscayne Drive and Price Boulevard, will hold its annual Christmas Bazaar from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Dec. 12. There will be Ukrainian food with meals served all day; breads and pastries; artwork, crafts and gifts available for purchase; raffles and 50/50 chances; and a white elephant table. All are invited. Pre-orders accepted; call 941-423-2427.

    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

 

81st anniversary of ‘Holodomor’ commemorated

    Last Saturday was declared a Holodomor commemoration holiday, with services in the capital of Kyiv and all other cities and towns throughout Ukraine to commemorate the genocidal artificial famine in 1932-33 ordered by Stalin that took over 10 million lives. President Petro Poroshenko and other national and local officials participated.

    In New York City, a special ecumenical service was held at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, with Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan and many representatives from various denominations, in addition to the Ukrainian Catholic and Orthodox Church dignitaries taking part. In many locations outside of Ukraine, observances took place in various cities, including Chicago, Toronto, Paris, Rome and Lisbon.

    In North Port, “panakhyda” services were celebrated after the conclusion of the regular liturgies (Masses) at St. Andrew’s Ukrainian Religious and Cultural Center by the Rt. Rev. John Fatenko, and at St. Mary’s Ukrainian Catholic Church by the Rev. Dr. Severyn Kovalyshin, pastor, with the Rt. Rev. Mitrate Archpriest Wolodymyr Woloszczuk, pastor emeritus, and His Excellency Miguel Mykycej, retired bishop of Ukrainian Catholics in Argentina, who is visiting his sister Eva Juzyn of North Port. Representatives of local Ukrainian American organizations, with lighted candles, lined up behind the two main candle-holders, president of the Coordinating Committee, Roma Guran, and Marian Bojsiuk, representing Ukrainian American Veterans Post 40 Commander Col. Roman Rondiak, USA (Ret.).

    The Ukrainian Baptist Church of North Port, according to Pastor Vitaliy Bernatskiy, celebrates a week of Thanksgiving with daily prayers, including thanksgiving prayers for this year’s harvest, for the well-being of the local community, and for Ukraine and the soldiers fighting the War of Dignity against Putin’s aggression.
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    Local branch 56 of the Ukrainian National Women’s League of America, known better as “Soyuz Ukrayinok” (union of Ukrainian ladies), headed by Ann-Marie Susla of Englewood, held a very nice and well-attended “tea evening” to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the UNWLA’s national magazine, “Nashe Zhyttia — Our Life” last Sunday at St. Andrew’s.

    Ann-Marie informed me that Soyuz Ukrayinok’s traditional fall picnic, held last Wednesday at Maxine Barrett Park in Venice, was a success in spite of the relatively cold weather (not nearly as cold as in Ann-Marie’s hometown of Buffalo!). The picnic committee, chaired by Larissa Shpon of Warm Mineral Springs, arranged for a delicious buffet lunch and some interesting activities that the guests enjoyed a lot. Ulana Rondiak of Osprey did a masterful job as mistress of ceremonies.
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    Last week’s column reporting on the UAV Post 40 installation/ fundraiser luncheon at Heron Creek Golf & Country Club omitted the awards given out. UAV National Commander Ihor W. Hron, who is also Post 40’s past post commander, was presented with an award for his many initiatives on behalf of UAV and Post 40 by outgoing post Commander Eugene “Gene” Tomashosky.

    Tomashosky also recognized and presented the annual Commander’s Award to a well-known and respected couple, professor Vira and Dr. Bohdan Bodnaruk of Venice, active with St. Andrew’s and other organizations. Vira Bodnaruk is also president of the Ukrainian Language Society, which, among its many activities, promotes the distribution of Ukrainian books and other literature in Ukraine, with emphasis on the eastern region.

    A happy, safe and healthy Thanksgiving to all.

    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 American Veterans leaders sworn in

    The newly elected/ re-elected leaders of the Roman G. Lazor Post 40 of the Ukrainian American Veterans were formally sworn in and installed by UAV National Commander Ihor W. Hron of Osprey, who is Post 40’s past post commander, last Thursday at the traditional installation/ fundraiser luncheon. Over 100 members and guests attended the luncheon, held at Heron Creek Golf & Country Club in North Port.

    The new officers of Post 40 are: commander, Col. Roman Rondiak, USA (Ret.); vice commander, Col. Roman Synychak, USAF (Ret.); adjutant and historian, John Czerkas; finance officer, Oleh Sawkiw; chaplain, the Rev. Roman Badiak; judge advocate, Dr. George Baranowskyj; quartermaster, Mykola Kompanijec; welfare/ service officer, Marian Bojsiuk; and public relations officer, Bohdan Hirniak. Eugene “Gene”

A. Tomashosky, immediate past post commander, will be a full member of the Executive Board.

    Col. Rondiak is also UAV national adjutant, and Marian Bojsiuk is UAV national chaplain and service officer.

    Gene Tomashosky did an outstanding job as master of ceremonies. After greeting the attending members and guests, he commanded the posting of colors, and after the induction of new officers and change of command ceremonies introduced new post members and special guests, including presidents of local Ukrainian American organizations and two Ukrainian Armed Forces officers now serving as liaisons with the Headquarters United States Central Command at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa.

    (Now former) North Port Mayor Jim Blucher was the featured speaker, who was followed with brief remarks by Col. Kalenichenko, Armed Forces of Ukraine, and UAV National Commander Hron. An auction of a picture donated by NC Hron and colorful traditional Ukrainian Easter eggs by Marian Bojsiuk, plus special donations from guests, raised over $3,000 for the UAV National Monument, which will be erected to honor all veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces at St. Andrew’s Ukrainian Cemetery in South Bound Brook, N.J. The monument is scheduled to be dedicated in fall 2015 during the UAV 68th National Convention.
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    This Saturday, Ukrainians in Ukraine and throughout the world will commemorate the 81st anniversary of “Holodomor,” the genocidal famine in 1932-1933 artificially perpetrated by Josef Stalin and his cohorts in Ukraine and adjoining to Ukraine regions, which resulted in about 10 million deaths. In Ukraine, Nov. 22 was declared an official “Holodomor Commemorative Day.” The religious services and various civic observances are scheduled to be attended by political leaders and government officials, including President Petro Poroshenko.

    Ukrainians will pause at 2 p.m., Kyiv Time, for a moment of silence in commemoration of the Holodomor victims. In New York City, the Ukrainian American community will be commemorating the 81st anniversary of Holodomor with a requiem service at 1 p.m. at St. Patrick’s Cathedral.

    In spite of decades- long Russian Communist propaganda denying the murderous acts of the Stalin regime against freedom-loving Ukrainians, the majority believe that ”Holodomor” was a genocide against Ukrainians.

    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 American Veterans elect new leadership

     The North Port Cpl. Roman G. Lazor Post 40 of the Ukrainian American Veterans, headed by Eugene “Gene” A. Tomashosky of North Port, held its monthly membership meeting last Friday at St. Andrew’s Ukrainian Religious and Cultural Center (known as the “Oseredok”), and elected a new slate of officers to lead the post for 2014-2016.

    Col. Roman Rondiak, USA (Ret.) of Osprey, UAV national adjutant, was elected post commander; Col. Roman Synychak, USA (Ret.), vice commander; Oleh Sawkiw, finance officer; the Rev. Roman Badiak, chaplain; Dr. George Baranowskyj, judge advocate; Mykola Kompanijec, quartermaster; John Czerkas, historian; Marian Bojsiuk, UAV national chaplain/ service officer, welfare/ service officer, and Bohdan P. Hirniak, P.E., public relations officer. Eugene A. Tomashosky will serve on the post executive board as immediate past post commander. Post Commander Rondiak will appoint the post adjutant, as per the UAV constitution and bylaws.

    The newly elected and re-elected officers will be formally installed by UAV National Commander Ihor W. Hron, Post 40 past post commander, Thursday at the Officers Installation/ Fundraiser Luncheon at Heron Creek Golf & Country Club in North Port.

    All tickets for the luncheon are sold out. In addition to the installation ceremony there will be a reading of 16 post members’ names who passed away, a presentation of the Commander’s Award to a community activist, recognition of special guests including the Armed Forces of Ukraine officers now serving as liaisons with the Headquarters United States Central Command at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, and an auction for paintings. The keynote speaker will be outgoing North Port Mayor Jim Blucher.
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    On Nov. 4, in the Cathedral of St. Josaphat in Parma, Ohio, the head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, Patriarch Svyatoslav (Shevchuk) of Kyiv, Ukraine, presided over the consecration and enthronement of the newly elected Ordinary of the Eparchy of St. Josaphat in Parma, Bishop Bohdan

J. Danylo.

    The Ukrainian Catholic parishes in Florida, including North Port’s Presentation of the Most Holy Mother of God (St. Mary’s) Ukrainian Catholic Church, belong to St. Josaphat Eparchy (the Diocese). My wife Katrusia and I were invited but, sadly, were unable to attend the pontifical divine liturgy with the rite of ordination and installation, and other activities, due to her physical condition.
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    HBO announced that it has finalized a deal to carry live American coverage of Saturday’s heavyweight championship fight between Wladimir Klitschko (62-3, 53 KOs), and challenger Kubrat Pulev (20-0, 11 KOs) of Bulgaria from the O2 World arena in Hamburg, Germany.

    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 American Veterans meet Friday

   The North Port Cpl. Roman G. Lazor Post 40 of the Ukrainian American Veterans, headed by Commander Eugene “Gene” A. Tomashosky of North Port, will hold its monthly membership meeting Friday at St. Andrew’s Ukrainian Religious and Cultural Center (known as the “Oseredok”). Commander Gene scheduled the start of the meeting at 2 p.m. instead of the customary 3 p.m. due to the need for preparations for Veterans Day observances.

    One of the items on the agenda will be the election of post officers for 2014-2015, who will be formally installed by UAV National Commander Ihor W. Hron of Osprey, a Post 40 member, at a special Officers Installation/ Fundraiser Luncheon at noon Nov. 13 at Heron Creek Golf & Country Club in North Port.

    All proceeds from the luncheon will go to the UAV National Monument Fund. The monument will be erected at a special plot at St. Andrew’s Memorial Cemetery in South Bound Brook, N.J. donated to the UAV by the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA. Formal dedication of that memorial, honoring all veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces, will take place in the fall of 2015, in conjunction with the UAV 68th National Convention.

    Other planned Post 40 Veterans Day activities: A “panakhyda” (requiem service) for the repose of souls of all departed veterans will be celebrated following Sunday’s divine liturgy at St. Andrew’s Ukrainian Church, and participation in the community Veterans Day observance at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Veterans Park, next to the North Port Library.
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    The Ukrainian American Club of Southwest Florida, headed by Daria Tomashosky of North Port, held its monthly membership meeting Oct. 29 at the Oseredok. The reading of last meeting’s minutes, the financial report and reports of other officers were followed by a lengthy discussion of this year’s Christmas dinner, scheduled for 6 p.m. Dec. 6 at the Oseredok.

    This year’s Christmas dinner committee is chaired by Anna “Nusia” Mariani of Port Charlotte, who had chaired last year’s very successful Christmas dinner. Knowing Nusia as we all do, she will do everything in her power to outdo her last year’s dinner. In addition to delicious food including homemade pastries, and other “traditional” events, the dinner will provide many pleasing activities and a good time for all.

    At the end of the meeting there was a very interesting presentation by Col. Roman Rondiak, USA (Ret.) of Osprey about his visit to Ukraine last summer.
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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), headed by Ann-Marie Susla of Englewood, held its monthly membership meeting yesterday.

    The meeting’s agenda included the plans for fundraising for the national UNWLA project, “Aid for the Victims of the Ukrainian War of Dignity Program,” and the traditional fall picnic scheduled for Nov. 19 at Maxine Barrett Park, near Sharky’s on the Pier in Venice.

    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

Clubs’ post-vacation schedules in place

    The three most active North Port Ukrainian American clubs’ meetings are back on the regular (post-vacation) schedule — the Ukrainian National Women’s League of America, Branch 56, will be meeting at 10 a.m. on the first Tuesday of the month, Post 40 of the Ukrainian American Veterans will be meeting at 3 p.m. on the first Friday of the month, and the Ukrainian American Club of Southwest Florida will be meeting at 6 p.m. on the last Wednesday of the month.

    Tonight’s meeting of the Ukrainian American Club of Southwest Florida, headed by Daria Tomashosky of North Port will take place at 6 p.m. at St. Andrew’s Ukrainian Religious and Cultural Center (known as the “Oseredok”). The agenda of the meeting, the outline of which was approved by the club’s executive board at its meeting last Oct. 22, will include, in addition to the customary reports of officers and committee chairs, a discussion of this year’s Christmas dinner, caroling and other projects.

    This year’s Christmas dinner will be held at 6 p.m. Dec. 6 at the Oseredok. The dinner, chaired by Anna (Nusia) Mariani of Port Charlotte, is working diligently to make this year’s affair even better than last year’s, including some pleasant surprises. Details — except the surprise part will be communicated at tonight’s meeting.

    At the end of the meeting, but prior to the traditional coffee and pastries social, our member Col. Roman Rondiak, USA (retired) of Osprey will share his experiences during his visit to Ukraine last summer. Considering Col. Rondiak’s extensive experience in the military, his talk will undoubtedly include much information about Ukraine’s war with the terrorists in Eastern Ukraine who are supported by arms, supplies and manpower from Putin’s Russian Federation.

    Members are being asked to bring to the meeting nonperishable food items, preferably cans, which the club will donate, as in the previous years, to the Salvation Army in North Port.
                                                     • • •
    It can now be made official that the website of the Ukrainian American Club can be accessed by visiting ukrainianamericanclub.com. The site contains interesting material that will be added and edited regularly.
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    The North Port Branch 56 of the UNWLA, known as “Soyuz Ukrayinok” (union of Ukrainian ladies), headed by Ann-Marie Susla of Englewood, will meet at 10 a.m. Tuesday at the Ukrainian Catholic Parish Hall, 1078

N. Biscayne Drive (corner of West Price Boulevard), North Port.

    The meeting agenda will include the continuation of discussion and fundraising planning for the National UNWLA War Victims Fund’s “Aid for the Victims of the Ukrainian War of Dignity Program.”
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    The monthly membership meeting of Post 40 of the UAV, headed by Commander Eugene “Gene” Tomashosky of North Port, will be held at 2 p.m. Nov. 7 at the Oseredok. The main item on the agenda will be the election of post officers for 2014-2015.

    The elected officers will be formally installed at the installation/fundraiser luncheon at noon Nov. 13 at Heron Creek Golf & Country Club.

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

Our Neighbors — The Ukranians

by Atanas Kobryn

Community concerned about Ukraine

    North Port and Southwest Florida Ukrainian American organizations, like other Ukrainian American and Ukrainian Canadian organizations in North America, are following very closely the developments in Ukraine. There are many initiatives to provide humanitarian assistance to the victims of the military aggression of the neo-fascist Russian government headed by President Vladimir Putin. The victims are not only several thousands of wounded soldiers in need of medical supplies, but also thousands of widows and orphans of soldiers who died while defending their country, or who were captured and murdered by Russian soldiers and their hirelings. An additional burden to the cash-poor Ukrainian government, whose treasury was plundered by former president Viktor Yanukovych and his crew, are hundreds of thousands of refugees from occupied Crimea and the eastern regions of Ukraine.

    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, is raising funds in tandem with the UNWLA National Headquarters’ UNWLA War Victims Fund. Checks should be made payable to “UNWLA War Victims Fund” and mailed to UNWLA, 203 2nd Ave., New York, NY 10003-5706.

    It has been reported by world media that while Russia is providing most modern arms, in addition to trained Russian military units, for the terrorist activities in Eastern Ukraine (which president Putin continues to deny), the military units of the Ukrainian Army, National Guard and volunteer battalions rely on their patriotism more than their weapons. When Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko spoke to a joint session of U.S. Congress last month, he thanked the United States for its assistance in confronting the Russian aggression, but he also had asked for more. His phrase “Blankets and night- vison goggles are important, but one cannot win a war with blankets,” preceded his plea for assistance in defensive lethal arms, which the U.S. government is reluctant to provide.

    Fortunately, the need for defensive lethal arms for Ukraine is beginning to move many leaders of the U.S. Congress to action, as evidenced by the introduction of several bills: H.R. 5190 by Jim Gerlach and 10 other members of Congress (“Ukraine Security Assistance Act of 2014”), H.R. 5241 by Gerry Connolly with Steve Chabot (“Crimea Annexation Nonrecognition Act”), and S. 2828 by Bob Menendez with Bob Corker, Ben Cardin and Ed Markey (“Ukraine Freedom Support Act of 2014”). A Washington Post article of Oct. 20 by Senators Carl Levin (D) and James Inhofe (R) stated: “We believe now is the time to add defensive military aid, including weapons, to our support of Ukraine.”

    While Russian officials, including President Putin, continue to deny the presence of Russian military personnel in Ukraine, the Russian human rights activist Yelena Vasilieva reported in her published summary table of the Russian Army losses in Ukraine that up to 4,360 Russian servicemen were killed.

    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