Special Interest: Cultural Garden Clean Up

Cultural Garden Clean Up 

Info about the Clean Up

On Friday, April 26, 2013, our Rusin Cultural Garden Group will meet for breakfast at 9:00 AM for camaraderie and sustenance prior to our annual Spring clean up.  We will meet at Slyman's Restaurant at 3106 St. Clair Avenue and then proceed to the garden to get our space in ship shape order from 10:00 to 2:00 (you need not stay the whole time.  We will be happy with any help you can offer.)  If you can't make it to the breakfast,  you may proceed directly to the garden located at 930 East Boulevard, Cleveland, OH, within the Cleveland Cultural Gardens.

Please bring leaf rakes, brooms, weed pullers, lawn garbage bags, garden work gloves etc.  Be sure to bring a snack and/or lunch and something to drink.  A free Rusin Garden t-shirt will be given to all workers.  

Rain date for this event is Saturday, April 27th during the same hours.  Please contact Marcia at mbenko@prodigy.net, if you plan to attend.

Info about our Cultural Garden Special Interest Group

The main focus of this group is to get together, enjoy the company of other Rusyns, share our thoughts about the future of the garden with an emphasis on ideas for developing more items of interest, to maintain the garden and learn about our culture.

For those who may not know, the Rusin Garden of the Cleveland Cultural Gardens, has been in existence since 1939 when Carpatho-Rusyn immigrants came together, under the direction of Father Hanulya, to recreate a little part of their homeland, the Carpathian Mountains, and join with other area ethnic groups to show the unity of their new homeland, Cleveland.  Since its origin, the garden has gone through several phases of care and lack of attention.  Currently, the Cultural Gardens are experiencing a period of rebirth as several new gardens have been added and older ones are being revamped.  Our garden needs attention but we know from past experience, we can not do it alone.

For a several years, one of our members, John Krenisky, cared for the garden on his own.  He was joined by Marcia Benko and together they have gathered a small group of volunteers to tend the garden a few times a year.  Even with help, we have only been able to tend the upper portion of the garden.  We can use many hands to do a job that will make us proud to say, "We are Rusyn and this is our garden".       

Last June, the Cleveland Chapter of the Carpatho-Rusyn Society held a dedication ceremony to commemorate the return of Alexander Duchnovich's bust to its place of honor in the garden.  We would like to continue to improve the garden for ourselves and the many local and international visitors to the Gardens each year.  (Lolly the Trolley passes our garden on its tours of the Cultural Gardens.)

Can you help us continue what our ancestors started by offering ideas for our garden's improvement and/or by contributing your time to help keep our garden a place we will be proud to call Rusyn.

For those unfamiliar with the garden site, there is ample parking along East Boulevard adjacent to the garden.  Indoor heated/cooled restrooms are available in The Greenhouse (750 East 88th Street - Open 10:00-4:00) a short drive down Martin Luther King Boulevard.

Looking forward to seeing all of you on Friday.

Song and Dance of the Carpathians

    

 

 

Living Traditions Folk Ensemble

 

 

 

Saturday, April 20, 2013 at 7:00 PM, Harmonia and Living Traditions Folk Ensemble will present a concert of Eastern European music and folk dance.  The event will take place in the party center of St. Joseph Byzantine Catholic Church, as part of their yearlong festivities to celebrate their 100th anniversary.  The party center is located at 8111 Brecksville Road, Brecksville, OH 44141.

Admission:

Adults - $10.00

Seniors and 18 and under - $8.00

Children under 5 - Free

Tickets will be on sale at the door on a "first come-first served" basis until 300 tickets are sold.   Tickets, purchased and paid for previously, can be picked up at the "Will Call" table the night of the performance.

Beverages and snacks will be available for purchase.

Harmonia and Living Traditions Folk Ensemble have performed at our Vatra so we know a wonderful program is in store. In addition, Tom and Cathy Katrenich and several of their dancers are members of our Cleveland Chapter.  Join them to hear the music and watch the dances of our ancestors.

Harmonia

 

    

Righetti-Silvestri Presentation March 10, 2013

John Righetti and Laurel Tombazzi

 

Rusyn Ethnicity in the 21^st Century… It’s not just our past…It’s our future

            On March 10, 2013, an enthusiastic crowd of over 100 people gathered at St. Joseph’s Church hall in Brecksville, Ohio to hear John Righetti and Maria Silvestri speak on the future of Rusyn culture in modern times.  John is an international speaker on Rusyn issues and one of the founders of the Carpatho-Rusyn Society. Maria is a young Rusyn activist who has lived and worked among Rusyns in Europe and America.

Maria Silvestri

 

John gave an overview of the Rusyn people for the past 150 years. He explained why it is important for the young to understand their Rusyn culture for the success of their community and their own personal success as well.  Maria’s talk focused on her activities with young Rusyns in several counties in Europe.  A lively question and answer session followed and was concluded with a brief social time to allow guests to mingle.

Cleveland Chapter Member and Guest Speakers

Many thanks to John and Maria for their time and talent.  Thank you to Laurel Tombazzi, our Mistress of Ceremony for the event and all who helped at the ticket table, the Vatra table, sales table and in the kitchen.