UKELODEON: For The Next Generation (01/14/01)

UKELODEON

For The Next Generation

Junior chess champ presented with computer

by Oksana Zakydalsky

LVIV - Eight-year-old Annichka Muzychuk, bronze medalist at the world junior chess championships held in Spain at the end of October, was recently presented with her own computer. The computer was funded by the Taras Shevchenko Fund and presented by Orest Kosyk, the director of the fund in Lviv.

The fund was created by Canadian Wasyl Iwanycky and has supplied many computers to schools throughout Ukraine. Annichka, who has been playing chess since the age of 5, competed in the category of girls up to age 10, which meant that she played against many competitors who were older. Before becoming world bronze medalist, Annichka captured a gold medal at the European junior chess championships held in Greece at the beginning of October.

Annichka's family lives in Stryi and both her parents are teachers of chess. Her 5-year-old sister also has started playing the game.

Her new computer will help Annichka develop her game and prepare her for future competitions. The family was very grateful to the donors, as playing on the international chess circuit is financially draining and no government support is provided.

Other Ukrainian children also did well at the recent world junior chess championships where boys and girls competed separately in several age categories up to age 18. The gold medal among boys' up to age 14 was won by Oleksander Areschenko of Luhansk. Two other bronze medals were won by Ukrainian girls: Natalia Hryhorenko (girls up to age 14) and Diana Aptiunova (girls up to age 12).

The 10 gold medals at the world junior championships were won by the following countries: India and Georgia - two each; Azerbaijan, Spain, Ukraine, China, Vietnam and Iran - one each.

Parma students learn about Famine of 1932-1933

PARMA, Ohio - The sixth grade Ukrainian class of St. Josaphat's Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral School recently studied the great man-made Famine in Ukraine in 1932-1933, which claimed an estimated 7 million to 10 million victims. A part of these studies included a visit to the Famine Monument at St. Vladimir's Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral and the Memorial Famine Room in St. Vladimir's school building.

The 22 students, their teacher Daria Kramarchuk, and their chaperones were met at the school's entrance by the Rev. John Nakonachny, pastor of St. Vladimir's. He took the children to the Famine Room, which contains an exhibit of pictures and newspaper articles, and an explanation of the tragedy. On exhibit, also, are Ohio state and city government proclamations commemorating the 65th anniversary of the Great Famine (1993) when the room was dedicated. In a corner of the Famine Room, under the icon of the Virgin Mary, is a book that lists the names of family members of parishioners who perished during the Famine.

The children then proceeded to the parish library, where librarian Helen Norka gave them a tour of the exhibits and encouraged them to use the facilities, which are open to the community every Wednesday evening and Saturday morning.

Then Mary Ann Sklaryk, parish youth coordinator, treated the sixth grade class to refreshments.

Before returning to St. Josaphat's School, the children recited the Lord's Prayer, placed a wreath at the base of the Famine Monument and took a tour of St. Vladimir's Cathedral.

Hopefully this visit will become an annual event, allowing students to learn about the tragic events that took place in Ukraine during the Communist era.

Thanks for the greetings!

During the year 2000, The Ukrainian Weekly and/or UKELODEON received greetings from several camps. Among them were six summer camps and one winter camp. The summer youth camps that sent us greetings were: "Let Po Sviti," a camp for preschoolers, "Odyseia" and "Knyha Nadiyi" camps for novatstvo, and "Char Zillia" and "Meta: Maibutnist" camps for yunatstvo held at the Pysanyi Kamin campground in Middlefield, Ohio; as well as "Do Hurtu ... Do Mety," the camp for advanced Plast youths held at Vovcha Tropa in East Chatham, N.Y. More recently, at the end of December 2000, the Zymovyi Mandrivnyi Tabir (ZMT), a winter mountaineering camp for older Plast youths held near Lake Placid, N.Y., sent a greeting to The Weekly.

Vinok members extend best wishes

Hello to all Ukrainians! A special "Hartuysh" to fellow "SUMivtsi"!

Our group's name is Vinok. We are a vocal ensemble. In 1999 we got together to perform at the 50th anniversary banquet of the SUM Mykola Pavlushkov Branch in Chicago. Since then we have been invited to sing at many SUM and Ukrainian community events.

This year we had two special performances. We sang for the mayor of Chicago, Richard Daley, at an event celebrating Ukrainian Independence Day and for the governor of Illinois, George H. Ryan, at another event celebrating Ukrainian independence at the Governor's Mansion.

Every week we get together and practice under the direction of Wolodymyr Popowycz. Our repertoire of songs is growing because of the different kinds of events at which we are invited to sing. Some people have called us Ukrainian Spice Girls, but we like Vinok better. We love to sing and are hoping to see you at our next performance!

Best wishes to everyone in the New Year!

- Christina Drozd, Andrea Dzwinyk, Adriana Popowycz, Oriana Pawlyk, Nadia Siryj and Oksana Siryj

Philadelphia student wins photography prize

PHILADELPHIA - Andrew Zwarych, age 11, won first place in a photography contest sponsored by the Lower Moreland Township's "Art Goes to School" program. Andrew's school, St. Albert the Great, where he is a fifth grader, is one of the schools in the township participating in this program. His entry, titled "Parade of Sails," consisted of very colorful sailboats from the catamaran boat races held in Wildwood Crest, N.J., each year in August.

Andrew attends the Ukrainian Heritage School. He is also a member of Plast, plays soccer for the Ukrainian Nationals (Tryzub) and dances in the Voloshky School of Dance. He plays the clarinet and bandura. Andrew resides in Philadelphia, Pa., with his parent, Mykola and Irena.

Mishanyna

To solve this month's Mishanyna, finds the words that appear capitalized in the text below.

HAPPY NEW YEAR to all our faithful UKELODEON readers! We hope you and your families had a joyful Christmas. As you can see, Mykola Myshka is getting ready for his HUTSUL dance - the ARKAN. He wanted to bring his TREMBITA to celebrate the year 2001, but it was too heavy for him to hold. Instead he played carols on his SOPILKA. Both the sopilka and trembita are WOODEN instruments. Have you ever played one?

Hutsuls are also known for their FOLK ART, including elaborate woodcarving. The oldest examples date back to the 17th century and are called OBRAZY. The Hutsuls used NAILS or a KNIFE to CARVE many items, including CANES, PISTOLS, MUSKETS and KEGS.

The Hutsuls live in the CARPATHIAN mountains. In KOSIV there is a famous market where many of these treasures can be found.

Mykola Myshka becomes a Hutsul

Mykola Myshka is wearing his Hutsul outfit to a dance that he'll be attending. The Hutsuls are a colorful and talented group of people who live in the Carpathian Mountains of western Ukraine. In addition to a hat, shirt, slacks and shoes, Mykola is also wearing a typical decorated sleeveless jacket. Do you know the Ukrainian name for this article of clothing?

CHECK IT OUT:

On page 12 of this issue, read about a winter mountaineering camp held near Lake Placid in the High Peaks Region of the Adirondack Mountains of New York State.

OUR NEXT ISSUE:

UKELODEON is published on the second Sunday of every month. To make it into our next issue, dated February 11, please send in your materials by February 2. (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, N.J., 07054; telephone, (973) 292-9800; fax, (973) 644-9510; e-mail, staff@ukrweekly.com.

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