THE NEWS FROM HERE (06/26/05)

THE NEWS FROM HERE

From pre-kindergarten to high school age students, this week's installment of the "News From Here" focuses on children and their involvement in the Ukrainian community. The "News from Here" begins with a story about a Mother's Day celebration in New York City featuring the 3-and 4-year olds of Svitlychka. Moving a little upstate, the next "News from Here" piece highlights Lviv's Zabava Musical Group and its visit to Corning and Elmira Heights, N.Y., thanks to the long and hard work of the Corning Sister Cities Association. The "News from Here" concludes in New Jersey at St. Nicholas School's open house, where an alumni thanked the school for his success throughout high school.

NEW YORK: Children of "Svitlychka" celebrate Mother's Day

Svitlychka, a program sponsored by Branch 83 of the Ukrainian National Women's League of America (UNWLA) in New York City, celebrated Mother's Day on May 14. The 3- and 4 year-olds enrolled in Svitlychka entertained their mothers with a concert of songs and recitations, prepared by Daria Genza of Branch 83 and teachers Lesia Kozak and Marta Machaj. The children, with the help of Daria Drozdowsky, sang various songs, including their favorite, "O, o, o, yayechko odno."

At the conclusion of the program the young boys and girls presented their mothers with bouqets of flowers, then proceeded outside to appear in the Ukrainian Festival sponsored by St. George Ukrainian Catholic Church. The girls, donning their embroidered blouses, flowered skirts and kerchiefs, and the boys dressed in their embroidered shirts, particapted in the musical section of the show.

This year 16 children were enrolled in the Svitlychka, where they learn their prayers and explore their creativity through the arts. Svitlychka students also participate in concerts organized by the Ukrainian school. With all of these activities, Svitlychka, a self-sufficient program under the financial management of treasurer Anna Rak, helps to prepare children for kindergarten and beyond.

CORNING/ELMIRA HEIGHTS, N.Y.: Lviv's Zabava performs

After nearly two years of planning by the Corning Sister Cities Association, Lviv Committee, headed by William and Gloria Misnick, the Zabava Musical Group finally visited New York's southern tier. Roman Bits, music teacher at Lviv's School No. 4, founded Zabava in 1976, and he continues to head the group. Yaroslava Yadlos is Zabava's group leader and assistant administrator.

Composed of high school students, Zabava is a 12-member ensemble and an award winning group that has traveled throughout Europe. While in New York, Zabava entertained audiences with their fun upbeat songs that they performed in Ukrainian, along with some German and Polish pieces.

On April 22, the ensemble performed a concert at Corning Museum of Glass. The following day Zabava performed at Sacred Heart Ukrainian Catholic Church in Johnson City. On April 24 the ensemble gave a concert at the Catholic War Veterans Hall in Elmira Heights. Audiences at each venue applauded Zabava with standing ovations.

During Zabava's 11-day visit to the U.S., members stayed with host families as part of a Sister Cities cultural exchange program. They toured Niagara Falls and all of the key museums in the Corning/Elmira Area. At the Corning Museum of Glass, members of Zabava made their own glass souveniers. They also visited the Peace Garden in Corning and they saw Corning's City Hall, which houses Ukrainian artifacts in a display case that Mr. Misnick helped construct. Before Zabava left New York, the performers got the opportunity to ride through Manhattan on their way to the airport, and to capture some shots of New York City landmarks.

Readers can purchase Zabava's self-titled CD of Ukrainian songs for $16.50, which includes shipping and handling. Please send checks payable to Corning Sister Cities (please note "for Zabava CD") to 2869 Northwood Circle, Corning, NY 14830.

PASSAIC, N.J.: Alumni attributes success to St. Nicholas School

Mark Pancyk, currently a student at Clifton High School, where he is in the top 1 percent of his class of 670 students, spoke at St. Nicholas School's open house this past April. Mr. Pancyk, who will be the salutatorian at Clifton High's graduation, attributed both his academic and his moral success to his education at St. Nicholas School.

According to Mr. Pancyk he not only received an upbringing from his parents, but also from St. Nicholas School, "which brought out in [him] the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit." These gifts: wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety and fear of the Lord, Mr. Pancyk stated, have guided him through the personal and erudite facets of his high school career.

St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic School has been in existence for over 60 years. 70% of the students are Ukrainian, hailing both from the US and Ukraine. Ukrainian and religion classes are taught daily; computer classes, access to high-speed Internet, cable televisions and VCRs in every classroom are also available. St. Nicholas School also offers a new science laboratory, physical education, a library program, a music program, a school choir and an after school program for those parents who work.

Parents can register their children at St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic School by calling the school office at (973) 779-0249 or Father Ihor at the rectory (973) 471-9727.

- compiled by Roxolana Woloszyn

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