pedestal Dedication - Carpatho-Rusyn Day in North America 15

Our dedication ceremony and festivities were held at Tremont Cityside Ballroom in the Tremont area of Cleveland.  Say More?

 We also celebrated Carpatho-Rusyn Day in North America.  The actual date for this celebration is October 26th.  The date was chosen by the Carpatho-Rusyn Consortium to recognize the date when twenty-one stateless peoples gathered in Independence Hall in Philadelphia to sign a Declaration of Common Aims.  This was the first time in modern history that Carpatho-Rusyns were recognized as a distinct nationality by neighboring peoples and the United States government.

C-R Day in NA - John Righetti Video 

We were very fortunate to have many attendees representing Carpatho-Rusyn Society 

 John Righetti - Maria Silvestri, Maryann Sromovski; 

Bonnie Burke from the Southern Branches;

 Jim Basista, Bettianne Diles and Mike Vasilcheck from the Youngstown-Warren-Sharron Chapter.  

The Timo Foundation

Maria and Cathy Silvestri

 Cleveland Cultural Gardens Federation

Dr. Wael Khoury (President) - Lori Ashyk (Executive Director), Mehmet Gencer  (Vice-President and Turkish Garden), Paul Burik (Executive Secretary and former President of the Federation) 

Honorees or their representative(s) - 

John Righetti

 Jerry Jumba

For Bishop Gojdich - Rebecca Sunderhaus

For Irena Nevicka - Paul Burik, Foutz, Kasunick, Peter and Tasha Hadzima, and Margaret Burik

Dignitaries

State Representative - Michael Skindell

The Hororable Ralph Perk Jr.

Clerical

Bishop-elect - Robert Pipta

Father Jan Maturkanic

Father Andrew Nagrant

Other Organization

Laurel Tombazzi - Eastern European Congress of Ohio

Out of State

Bethany Sromovski - PA

Jeffery Paison, Stephen Brewer and Mary Clare, NY 

We were very fortunate to have a wonderful attendance for this historic occasion.  

To open our program, john Righetti led everyone in a verse of Ja Rusyn Byl.  The poem written by Father Alexander Duchnovich.

Find John singing Ja Rusyn Byl at :33 on the video

Barb Popovich, President of the Friends of the Carpatho-Rusyn Cultural Garden of Cleveland welcomed guests.

A synopsis of each honoree was given.  

Video of our Dedication Ceremony

Paul Burik introduces those in attendance representing the Cleveland Cultural Gardens Federation.  

Dr. Wael Khoury - President

Mehmet Gencer - Vice-President

Ms Lori Ashyk - Executive Director

and

Dan Hanson

See Paul at 4:33 on the video

 We owe a debt of gratitude to Representative Skindell.  He informed us about the availability of state funds for such projects as our pedestals.  He worked with Diana Essock to request the funding and encouraged passage of S.B. 310 Section 223.15

See Representative Skindell at 6:50 on the video

Thank you to Diana Essock for having the vision of informational pedestals in our garden.  She has been the Project Manager and saw to the removal of the hard clay soil, that was replaced with good growing soil, the plantings around the pedestals and the creation and placement of the pedestals in the garden.  

See Diana at 13:00 on the video

To read about the Rusyns found on our pedestal. please go to Pedestal Installation under History on the website

Due to the inclement weather it was decided that the entire dedication ceremony would take place at Tremont Cityside Ballroom.  Bishop-elect Pipta was kind enough to stop at our garden, on his way here, to bless the pedestals in the garden.

Unveiling the faux pedestals were honorees John Righetti and Jerry Jumba who were assisted by Paul Burik representing Irena Nevicka, his great-aunt and Rebecca Sunderhaus a descendant of Bishop Gojdich.

See the unveiling at 14:51 on the video

• Thank You! to our sponsors for making the pedestals and all of this possible.  
• Thank you to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources and Holden Parks Trust for their support.  
• Thank you to the John and Helen Timo Foundation for helping us with interim funding.  
• Thank you to the Greek Catholic Union for printing our program booklets for today's program.  
• Thank you to the anonymous donor who enabled us to have Harmonia perform for this event.

Thank you to the board of the Friends of the 

Carpatho-Rusyn Cultural Garden of Cleveland for all their time and hard work necessary to make this day a reality.  We have all learned a great deal in the past three years.

President - Barb Popovich

Vice-President - Marcia Benko

Secretary - Patti Poole

Treasurer - Fran Burik 

Trustees - John Krenisky, Paul Burik and Greg Smith

Project Manager - Diana Essock

See the board at 2:20 on the video

Entertainment was provided by Harmonia,  led by Walt Mahovlich.

Living Traditions Folk Ensemble is a multi-generational folk dance group.  As you can see - they start them young and teach them the discipline and history required to perform with this group.  Many have been with this dance group for many years and there are several "family" units here.

Now it is time for the adults to share our culture through song and dance.

Say something here

Jerry Jumba has worked with many of these people during the time he was living in Cleveland.  A bit of a reunion!

Good times with old friends.

Tom Katrenich still has the moves!

Everybody.  All together now!