THE NEWS FROM HERE (08/01/04)

THE NEWS FROM HERE

For the first summer installment of "The News From Here," two stories featuring exchanges between the United States and Ukraine are the focus.

First comes a story from Corning, N.Y., about the Misnicks - William, a Ukrainian and Gloria, a non-Ukrainian. Their active participation in the Sister Cities of Corning, Lviv Committee, has provided Lviv Specialized Children's Hospital with necessary medicines and equipment. The Misnicks have also worked for such causes as collecting funds for the families of those killed in the Sknyliv air show accident and for blind and visually impaired citizens of Lviv.

The second story in this week's "News From Here" concerns a Ukrainian, Oleh Bondarenko, who traveled to the U.S., to Shuckman's Fish Company & Smokery, whose enthusiastic president is Lewis Shuckman. Not only did Mr. Bondarenko learn how to improve his company in Ukraine, he also taught Mr. Shuckman a thing or two about the fish smoking industry.

CORNING, N.Y.: A couple's commitment to Ukraine

For more than five years U.S. citizens William and Gloria Misnick have been traveling to Lviv with medicines and medical equipment, according to Natalia Onysko of Lvivska Hazeta. They cooperate closely with Lviv Specialized Children's Hospital, working simultaneously on several projects to help sick children.

Today the Misnicks are co-chairs of Sister Cities of Corning, Lviv Committee; the partnership between Lviv and Corning, N.Y., started in 1987.

Volodymyr Oliynyk, the former deputy mayor of Lviv, became the real catalyst for solidifying and rebuilding ties between Corning and Lviv. "We left Lviv feeling encouraged that a Sister Cities relationship would be revitalized," Mr. Misnick recalls. In 1998 they connected with Lviv Regional Children's Hospital, and cooperation started with the grant of $500 for an interned service for the hospital, which continues today.

In 1999 Corning Mayor Albert Freiss and Mr. Oliynyk, in the name of Lviv, signed a protocol of cooperation between the two cities, and for the first time the Corning delegation visited Lviv Specialized Children's Hospital. Dr. Oleksander Myndiuk, chief of staff, explained the urgency of the hospital's needs, in particular for wheelchairs for the sick children. "We fulfilled his request," said Mr. Misnick, "shipping 22 wheelchairs, total cost of $2,000."

In addition to helping the Hospital, in July 2002 after the Sknyliv air show accident, Mrs. Misnick collected funds to help the surviving families. "This experience was the most heartbreaking of my life - meeting the people who lost their loved ones and the pain that I experienced with them. I hope that what I left would ease the sorrow a little and [I] pray that their faith will sustain them," she commented.

Though her parents are from Syria, Mrs. Misnick's willingness to learn the Ukrainian language and to understand Ukrainian culture is absolutely natural to her. She told Lvivska Hazeta that she supports and provides humanitarian aid to Ukraine because she supports her husband's heritage 100 percent, "It has enriched my life. I passionately endorse everything that has to do with Lviv and all Sister Cities projects, especially Lviv Regional Specialized Children's Hospital. Above all, one must understand that the children are Ukraine's future. That is why it was there that I got the most memorable gift: smiles on children's and parent's faces. When we witnessed the happy tears of gratitude on the parent's faces, I understood that we reached our goals. I hope to be remembered as a bright star that gave hope."

The Misnicks are optimistic about their future activity in Ukraine, "We were lucky to meet and make friends with Dr. Ihor Hrytsiuk from Lviv Specialized Children's Hospital," said Mrs. Misnick. "Our business contacts blossomed into a long lasting friendship. He has guided us and given his professional expertise," she told the Lviv newspaper. "We shipped to Ukraine over 1,250 kilograms of various medical supplies and equipment. As long as we are able, we will continue to provide whatever resources are available to us. We will not stop because we do not believe in quitting until the task at hand is completed to the satisfaction of those needing our help. "

The couple is convinced that it is not right just to bring whatever is possible or send money, but to ask what is needed. Among projects that the Misnicks currently oversee is the acquisition of glucometers for children with diabetes. The doctors asked the couple for this aid and they managed to get grants for the project. A grant was extended from 2004; therefore, this project will continue.

The latest project they have undertaken is supplying Braille and large-print materials to blind and visually impaired Lviv citizens. This endeavor had been requested at the joint Sister Cities meeting held in Lviv. Such literature will start arriving at Lviv's UTOS Library shortly, and everyone will have an opportunity to use the materials, noted Lvivska Hazeta.

"Sometimes our work in Ukraine was frustrating," said Mr. Misnick. "In the United States we work very quickly. We are very organized and have structured schedules. It took us a long time to understand that things are done very differently in Ukraine. But we love all of Ukraine, especially Lviv. It's easy for us to get along with Lviv citizens because we adopted this country as our native."

LOUISVILLE: Two men united by one passion

Oleh Bondarenko, the owner and director of a business that produces and sells smoked and salted fish supervises the work of 20 employees, controls the company's marketing strategy, ensures quality control and controls the company's finances and product pricing.

Recently he worked side by side with Lewis Shuckman, president of Shuckman's Fish Company & Smokery in Louisville as part of the Louisville International Culture Center.

During Mr. Bondarenko's visit to Shuckman's Fish Company & Smokery, he and Mr. Shuckman smoked fish and packed Kentucky Spoonfish Caviar(R), as well as exchanged ideas on different ways to smoke fish.

The ebullient Mr. Shuckman said of his colleague's visit, "This is fantastic. Oleh has wonderful ideas that will enable me to add an even better taste to my smoked fish. And I think I gave him some wonderful ideas on how to reduce the pricing of his production cost on his products, and make them more affordable to his customers."

Since both men feel that smoking fish is their passion, this is an experience neither one will forget. Now that they have established a wonderful friendship, they will continue to keep in touch after Mr. Bondarenko returns to Ukraine.

"I have enjoyed this time greatly, and I will never forget this educational experience. Lewis Shuckman and his family have treated me wonderfully," stated Mr. Bondarenko.

"My next trip will be to Ukraine," said Mr. Shuckman. "Two men, from two different countries with one passion - that is what makes this world complete," he commented.

- compiled by Roxolana Woloszyn

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