UKELODEON: For The Next Generation (11/13/05)

UKELODEON

For The Next Generation

On the run with cross-country champion Nicky Salek

by Vera Chuma-Bitcon

It was an unseasonably hot Halloween afternoon at Soyuzivka when the 5K race organized by Plast Spartanky took off in 2003. As the front-runners fell into their paces, I noticed Nicky Salek, a thin, dark-haired, young runner with a smooth and effortless stride starting to push a very fast pace. Starting too fast is a common mistake made by young, inexperienced runners. Surely, he would succumb to the heat, hills and distance.

I was wrong. Nicky finished strong, leading the field and winning in a little over 18 minutes. It was obvious to me that Nicky was going to be a force to be reckoned with on the track and field circuit.

Since that day, Nicky, son of Natalka and Frank Salek from Morris Plains, N.J., has run many more impressive races, adding to his string of running accomplishments at a tender age of 13. Nicky runs at least 25 miles a week, taking only Tuesdays and Saturdays off.

His father, Frank, joins him several days a week, including the weekly long run of seven miles, most recently in the dark. Thanks to Nicky, training together has helped his father substantially improve his own race times.

Nicky has also trained with the Morris County Striders Club. He is always easy to spot on the track, since he is the only youngster training with an all-adult team. He is also a member of the New Jersey Striders Running Club and has raced at the Morris County Lakeland League series. Nicky is the 2004 cross country champion for his age group in this league.

One of his major accomplishments was qualifying for the 2004 U.S.A. Track and Field (USATF) Junior Olympic National Cross Country Championship in Schaumburg, Ill., where he came in the top 25 percent of runners from all over the country.

This past summer, he ran in seven 5K road races and was number one in his age group in every single race, frequently coming in the top 10 overall.

Nicky is also busy as an active member of Plast Ukrainian Scouting Organization in the Newark, N.J., branch. He belongs to the 5th "Kurin" boys' group. He attends the troop meetings after a full morning of Ukrainian school on Saturday.

I had the opportunity to chat with Nicky about his sport. The enthusiasm and excitement in his voice said it all.

"What is it about running and racing that you really like?" I asked. He quickly replied, "I enjoy being able to run faster than the others. This is a difficult sport and not too many people are really good at it."

He particularly enjoys running cross-country. "It gets you into great shape, the courses are always challenging, different and interesting. The best part is meeting other young runners. I have made some great friends through racing." His goal this season is to break 15 minutes in the 4K, which is about 2.5 miles. His other goal is to once again qualify for the USATF Junior National Cross Country Championships.

When cross country is over, Nicky plays basketball, until it is time to concentrate on the spring track season. He runs the 800 meters and one mile events. His best mile, is an amazing 5:22 min.

Being a typical competitive runner, Nicky has a goal in mind for the 2006 spring track season - breaking 5 minutes for the mile. Knowing his determination, hard work and focus, I can only believe that he will reach it.

"Nicky," I asked, at the end of our discussion, "what's the first thing that comes to your mind when I say the word running"?

"I just love it!" he replied with the biggest sparkle in his eyes.

Vera Chuma-Bitcon author is an avid competitive runner and a 1982 NCAA All-American in track and field.

Third graders earn "Coins for Katrina" to help hurricane victims

PASSAIC, N.J. - Third graders at St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic School here organized what they called a "Coins for Katrina Ice Pop Sale" to benefit the victims of Hurricane Katrina. The small class of 11 students was determined to help the victims of this tragedy, so they worked hard to conduct their September 28 fund-raiser and succeeded in collecting $207. The Self Reliance (N.J.) Federal Credit Union in nearby Clifton, N.J., matched the amount raised. Thus, a total of $414 was sent to the American Red Cross. Seen on the right are members of the third grade class: (foreground) Diana Hernandez, (from left) Dominik Baran, Mark Glodava, Daniel Peltyszyn, Daniel Bukalo, Andrew Harhaj, Olivia Perez, Natalia Sabat, Briana Miller, Michael Miklosh and Ivanna Klics.

Parma parish welcomes new group of altar boys

PARMA, Ohio - On Sunday, September 25, four new altar boys were admitted to the Altar Boys' Society of St. Vladimir's Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral in Parma, Ohio.

Following the 8:30 a.m. English divine liturgy, special prayers were read, in both English and Ukrainian, by the clergy, asking the Lord to guide and protect the boys as they begin their service to the Church. Each boy also received a special certificate and an icon as a gift from the Senior Ukrainian Orthodox League (UOL) chapter.

St. Vladimir's has 22 altar servers, divided into six groups, who serve at the Ukrainian and English liturgies on Sundays.

Kids enjoy Ukrainian Arts Camp

by Marijka Wyrsta

ELLENVILLE, N.Y. - For the last two weeks of the summer, 19 children from all over the eastern United States enjoyed two fun-filled weeks at the Ukrainian American Youth Association's (SUM) Ukrainian Arts Camp ("Mystetskyi Tabir") in Ellenville, N.Y. This camp is dedicated to the preservation of Ukrainian culture and tradition.

The camp was named "Zaporizka Sich" on the occasion of the 455th anniversary of the establishment of the famous Kozak military fortress that defended Ukraine for 225 years.

Participants had a variety of arts and crafts to choose from: bandura (the famous Ukrainian stringed instrument), pysanky (Ukrainian Easter eggs), embroidery, woodcarving and ceramics. Dancing and singing were also included in the program as mandatory activities for all.

The children enjoyed three traditional "zabavy" (dances), a campfire and a traditional Easter dinner complete with a visit from the Easter Bunny. The participants also had the opportunity to visit a water park during a camp field trip.

Two weeks of hard work and practice, under the leadership of a camp command headed by Volodymyr Wyrsta, culminated in a final performance on September 3, when all the participants of the camp were able to show their parents and the Ukrainian community the skills they were taught.

Performing at the annual SUM "Zdvyh" Festival, the children presented three dances, including the Hopak, and performed 10 songs accompanied by the bandura. At the end of the program the campers sang "Ukrayino" and let orange balloons out into the open sky.

Mishanyna

To solve this month's Mishanyna, find the words capitalized in the text below within the Mishanyna grid.

If you're a member of a Ukrainian youth organization, such as Plast Ukrainian Scouting Organization or the Ukrainian American Youth Association, or if you are a student at a school of Ukrainian studies, you probably know that during the month of NOVEMBER Ukrainians mark the anniversary of an important HISTORIC event.

On November 1, 1918, the city of Lviv in WESTERN Ukraine, then under control of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, was the scene of what is known as the November UPRISING.

The Ukrainian NATIONAL Rada, which issued a proclamation on October 18 concerning the establishment of an INDEPENDENT Ukrainian state, was preparing to take power in eastern HALYCHYNA (also known as Galicia).

At first, the Rada (which means council) hoped to establish a Ukrainian administration with the support of the AUSTRIAN authorities. However, it soon became clear that this was not to be. Therefore, the RADA decided to act on its own. It empowered the Ukrainian MILITARY Committee to take charge of the operation.

The operation was to take place on November 3 by Ukrainian soldiers who belonged to the Austrian army stationed in Lviv and by a brigade of the Ukrainian SICH Riflemen, or Sichovi STRILTSI. However, actions by the Polish authorities forced the Ukrainians to act sooner.

Thus, two days earlier, between 3:30 and 4 a.m., Ukrainian SOLDIERS occupied public buildings and military significant sites in Lviv. There was no bloodshed during the takeover. Ukrainian FLAGS were raised in Lviv and proclamations were issued to announce the emergence of a Ukrainian STATE.

The uprising met the resistance of Lviv's Polish residents, who made up about 60 percent of the city's population. The result was armed conflict between the Ukrainian and Polish sides, which marked the beginning of the Ukrainian-Polish WAR of 1918-1919.

The outbreak of combat in Lviv mobilized public opinion in central Ukraine, then under German occupation, and the Ukrainian government headed by Pavlo Skoropadsky. APPEALS for assistance to Halychyna's Ukrainians were issued and, in fact, detachments were sent to LVIV on November 12 to aid the Ukrainian forces.

By the end of November, unfortunately, Polish authorities had taken CONTROL of Lviv, although Ukrainian forces surrounded the city on three sides.

Source: Encyclopedia of Ukraine.

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