Ukrainian National Home in Jersey City marks 85th jubilee (01/25/04)

Ukrainian National Home in Jersey City marks 85th jubilee

JERSEY CITY, N.J. - November 16, 2003, was a historic day for the Ukrainian National Home at 90-96 Fleet St. - it was the 85th anniversary of this Jersey City institution. Jersey City's Ukrainian community celebrated this event with a gala banquet.

The banquet honored 14 outstanding Ukrainian community activists, as well as National Home members. The main speaker, Zenko Halkowycz, introduced the Rev. Vasyl Putera, who led the assembled in prayer. The Rev. Putera remembered the departed pioneers who made all this possible.

Mr. Halkowycz delivered a short history covering the last 85 years of the Ukrainian National Home. The present structure, which was completed September 23, 1958, is the third building to bear the name "Ukrainian National Home." Mr. Halkowycz recounted the struggle of the pioneers who came to Jersey City as immigrants, who worked 12 hours a day, yet were visionaries and saw a need for a Ukrainian center as well as a Ukrainian Catholic church.

Mr. Halkowycz recounted the story of the events in 1958 when at the dedication of the present building State Sen. A. Harrison Williams laid the cornerstone, how Jersey City Mayor Bernard Berry delivered a rousing patriotic speech and how 650 people squeezed into the main hall of the home for the opening ceremonies and a grand banquet.

Mr. Halkowycz pointed out that during the past 45 years the Ukrainian National Home was very generous in donating funds for worthy Ukrainian charities and youth organizations. The home sponsored various youth projects from softball and dart teams, to embroidery, bandura music and youth dance groups.

Currently the home is host to many Ukrainian organizations and groups. The current dance troupe, called Maky, which is directed by Tamara Siby, performed and entertained the assembled members and their guests at the banquet. The popular Ukrainian vocal and music ensemble Lvivyany, under the management of Tamara's mother, Stacy Siby, entertained with nostalgic and haunting Ukrainian melodies and songs. Both Ms. Siby and her daughter grew up around this magnificent building and are members in good standing.

The following members were honored for their dedication and service and were recognized with plaques: Stefan Goras, Petro Kostyk, Stefan Czujko, Stefan Maksymczuk, Walter Bilyk, Ilia Shevchuk, Peter Wasko, Mychaijlo Pylypchak, Adam Tizio and Mr. Halkowycz.

Ukrainian National Women's League of America Branch 71 was honored for outstanding help in raising funds for the home. Mary Wasko was honored for raising money to help defray financial shortcomings. Jaroslaw Oberyszyn, an accountant, was honored for his financial services which he provides pro bono year after year. Last, but not least was the manager and director of the Ukrainian Federal Credit Union, Yaroslav V. Zaviysky, whose financial help and advice are invaluable to the Ukrainian National Home.

The evening's festivities continued late into the night with an anniversary dance to the tunes of Vasyl Kavatsiuk's music ensemble. Mary Furey, the home's manager, and her staff prepared a regal banquet and a Viennese table with cake and coffee.

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