UKELODEON: For The Next Generation (12/09/01)

UKELODEON

For The Next Generation

Hartford SUM members hold candlelight vigil for victims of terrorism

HARTFORD, Conn. - The Ukrainian American Youth Association (SUM), Hartford branch, (whose members are seen in the photo above) recently held a candlelight vigil outside the Ukrainian National Home in Hartford to honor the victims of the September 11 tragedy in New York, Pennsylvania and Washington. The SUM youths also raised $200 toward the World Trade Center Relief Fund set up by the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America. The funds came from a bake sale and solicitation of donations.

Let's help Afghanistan's children

Dear UKELODEON:

After the tragic events of September 11 our fourth grade encouraged the children of St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Catholic School to give $1 for America's fund for Afghan children. This fund was set up by President George W. Bush. A student's parent paid for our postage. (Thank you, Mr. Puzyk, for your generosity.)

Did you know that one in four Afghan children are not going to make it to their fifth birthday? One in three Afghan children is an orphan. Almost half of all children in Afghanistan suffer from chronic malnutrition. Millions face the threat of starvation. That is why we should be thankful for having food, water, a place to sleep and people who care for you.

Ivanka L. Farrell
age 9
Springfield, N.J.

PS: Here is one of the letters we sent to President Bush. This one is from my classmate Alexis M. Rozyi, who is 9 years old.

World focuses on Black Sea

The Ukrainian Stamp Collectors Club of Austria earlier this year released a special first day cover and a special postmark marking the International Day of the Black Sea. The release was a part of the "Europe 2001" series of stamps released by the Republic of Austria; the one on this cover focuses on "Water: A Natural Treasure." This philatelic release by the Ukrainian Stamp Collectors Club of Austria points to the fact that Austria is connected to Ukraine via the Danube River that flows into the Black Sea. The design of this first day cover is by Ivan Turetskyi of Lviv.

Scientists have warned that the Black Sea is declining because of over-fishing, pollution and the impact of species alien to it. The United Nations Environment Program said the environment, wildlife and people linked with the sea are threatened by discharges of raw sewage, coastal erosion and the dumping of sludge and mud dredged from ports. A $100 million project targeted at the Black Sea and two of the major rivers that drain into it, hopes to address some of these problems. Klaus Toepfer, UNEP's executive director, said "We have known for some time that the Black Sea - a water system of global importance - has been suffering." He emphasized: "The findings are a warning to the world that we cannot take the health of our water systems for granted."

UKELODEON: it rhymes with nickelodeon. Yes, that's a kids' network (spelled with a capital "N"), but the original word referred to an early movie theater that charged a nickel for admission. According to The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, the root of the word, "odeon," is from the Greek "oideion," a small building used for public performances of music and poetry. Our Ukelodeon is envisioned as a public space where our youth, from kindergartners to teens, can come to learn, to share information, to relate their experiences, and to keep in touch with each other. Its contents will be shaped by the young readers of the next generation.

"Brave Rooster" goes on the road

CHATHAM, N.J. - "The Brave Rooster," a children's operetta performed by a lively troupe of Philadelphia-area youngsters age 3 to 18 was presented here at Chatham High School on November 18. Two weeks later the show was in Washington.

The sponsor of this very special production featuring very special amateur actors was the Ukrainian Educational and Cultural Center (UECC) of Philadelphia. The U.S. premiere of "The Brave Rooster" was in the "

City of Brotherly Love" in June. The operetta was next performed during the summer season at the Soyuzivka resort.

The theme of the operetta is the triumph of Good over Evil as the rooster and the dog stand up to bullies: the polecat and the fox. The story was adapted for the stage from the tale "When the Moon Rises" by Natalia Zabila.

The operetta from Lviv was composed by Bohdan Yaniwsky, who has worked in all the major theaters of Ukraine and has composed numerous operas, symphonies, choral works and songs. Director Ivan Prasko, an actor and teacher, is best known in Ukrainian circles for directing the opera "Lys Mykyta."

Assistant director Katrya Oransky-Petyk, a performer in musical theater and a voice teacher, coached the children during rehearsals, while Taras Lewyckyj of the school of the Voloshky dance was responsible for the choreography. Many other people were involved in costume and set design, as well as other aspects of the Ukrainian-language production.

The UECC has said it hopes to take this production of "The Brave Rooster" to other cities.

Passaic school holds Family Fall Festival

SLOATSBURG, N.Y. - St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic School in Passaic, N.J., held a Family Fall Festival on Saturday, October 13, in Sloatsburg, N.Y. The day was filled with fun, face-painting, pumpkin-decorating, hay rides, games and prizes. (See above are some of the students who participated in costumes.) The family event ended with a celebration of divine liturgy at St. Mary's Village.

Mykola Myshka awaits St. Nicholas

[Illustration]

Mishanyna

To solve this month's Mishanyna, search for the words capitalized in the text in the Mishanyna grid.

Come DECEMBER, children can't wait for ST. NICHOLAS to arrive - be it at church, at school or at home (where he traditionally leaves GIFTS under your PILLOW or under your bed).

We celebrate his feast day on December 6, according to the new calendar (called the Gregorian calendar after Pope Gregory XIII, who introduced it in 1582), or December 19, according to the old calendar (the Julian calendar. adopted by Julius Caesar in 46 B.C.).

St. Nicholas was a KIND and HOLY man who became known as a wonderworker. When we think about his humble GOOD DEEDS done in SECRET we realize that he is an excellent EXAMPLE by which to live our lives.

His parents died of the PLAGUE, but left him with considerable wealth, which he chose to give it away to the POOR and NEEDY children. Word of his HUMILITY spread. He became a MONK and later was chosen to be archbishop of MYRA. It is said that he was imprisoned for his FAITH and died in 342.

Children throughout the world view St. Nicholas as their special PATRON (although he is also the patron saint of sailors). During this special time of the year, let us remember St. Nicholas the WONDERWORKER. May he take care of all the children around the GLOBE and give them HEALTH and PEACE, and a good childhood.

OUR NEXT ISSUE:

UKELODEON is published on the second Sunday of every month through the joint efforts of The Ukrainian Weekly's editors and Lydia Smyk. To make it into our next issue, dated January 13, please send in your materials by January 4. (Please include a daytime phone number.)

Send in your articles, letters, photos, etc. to: The Ukrainian Weekly, UKELODEON, 2200 Route 10, P.O. Box 280, Parsippany, NJ 07054; telephone, (973) 292-9800; fax, (973) 644-9510; e-mail, [email protected].

| Home Page |