Houston branch of the UNWLA holds 20th annual Easter Bazaar (06/04/00)

Houston branch of the UNWLA holds 20th annual Easter Bazaar

HOUSTON - Ukrainian National Women's League of America Branch 118 of Houston held its 20th annual Ukrainian Easter Bazaar on Sunday, April 16, at the Ukrainian parish hall on the grounds of the Protection of the Mother of God (Pokrova) Ukrainian Catholic Church.

When the doors opened to a waiting crowd at 11:30 a.m., the guests were greeted with a bright and colorful springtime display of Easter bunnies, flowered wreaths, embroidered "rushnyky" (Ukrainian ritual cloths) and a warm aroma of delicious foods and pastries wafting from the kitchen. A cultural and historical display created by the branch's past president, Danuta Peleschak, provided information about the UNWLA and its local branch.

Craft vendors included pysanky artists Daria Byrd, Olga Dub, Elizabeth Goulytch and Olia Holowka, who provided a beautiful assortment of Ukrainian Easter eggs to sell. Hand-made embroidered pillows and other items were for sale at Larissa Streeter's table and also at the tables of UNWLA members, Justyna Uschak and Tatiana Hirka. Anne Crockett brought her silver jewelry to the bazaar this year, and Ms. Myndiuk displayed and sold her colorful assortment of beaded necklaces. A new vendor at the bazaar, Vasyl Goulytch, brought and sold his beautiful hand-carved wooden boxes.

The newly elected president of Branch 118, Martha Noukas, provided a large assortment of pysanky kits, dyes, cassette tapes, greeting cards, recipe books, posters, ceramics and Easter items for sale at the UNWLA booth. Ms. Noukas has been the chairwoman for the Easter Bazaar for the past several years and has been responsible for the publicity for the event. She had two young assistants, Julianna Villacorta and Olia Seniw, helping her at the UNWLA booth this year.

Branch Vice-President Halya Seniw was in charge of the pastry and paska sales, where she had no less then 10 women helping her with the sale of those goods. Among those helping Ms. Seniw, were Olia Hirka, Christine Villacorta and Nadia Buchai, wife of newly appointed honorary consul of Ukraine for Houston and Texas, Greg Buchai (who was also in attendance at the bazaar). Evgenia Balaban, Anna Douchynksa, Christine Puzyk and Denise Sroka oversaw the kitchen area and made sure that the dinner lines ran smoothly.

Guests were invited to try their hand at the art of pysanky-making. Participants of all ages gathered onto the stage where pysanky demonstrators Maria Bilyk King, Nadia Krebs and Ella Goulytch helped eager students with their kistky, eggs and wax.

Another highlight at the bazaar was the newly completed Ukrainian quilt that was on display. Eighteen members of Branch 118 embroidered pieces for the quilt, which was finished just in time for the bazaar.

The children's craft table was a huge success, keeping Branch Treasurer Vanessa Horodecky busy cutting paper and ribbon, as the children made paper wreaths and pompom bunnies. A coloring contest resulted in extraordinary works of art by children of all ages. Door prizes were given away on the hour and various prizes were raffled off by UNWLA member Pamela Uschak and her two daughters, Hanna nd Mary.

Refreshments were served by Victor Villacorta, his son Adrian and their friend Mannie. The young men in the community helped direct traffic as the guests arrived on the church grounds. Thanks to Walter Puzyk and his sons, there were no parking problems.

The ladies of UNWLA Branch 118 were truly grateful for the many volunteers who helped them prepare for the bazaar. The warm, sunny weather resulted in a huge turnout, with visitors from as far as Dallas and Galveston.

This bazaar has been the main fundraiser for Branch 118 over the years, and has enabled the branch to sponsor two student scholarships, provide medical assistance to a girl in Ukraine that needed help with a spinal defect and to provide assistance to three orphanages in Ukraine.

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