Dorothy Bognar reports from a very special celebration in New Jersey.
Dorothy Bognar
Published: December 6, 2024
On November 17, 2024 the NJ Chapter of the Carpatho-Rusyn Society celebrated their 25th anniversary with a banquet at the Woodford Hall in Little Falls, NJ. One hundred and five long time supporters and friends gathered for an afternoon of ethnic food, music, and the privilege to honor Bogdan Horbal the curator of Slavic and Eastern European Collections at the New York Public Library. He has written and published more than 100 articles and publications.
Mr. Horbal’s two part presentation focused first on the historical evolution of the creation of the New York Public Library and the historical figures making it possible. His visuals along with his explanation brought these founders to life. The second part of the presentation introduced the dinner guests to his recently published remarkable book “From Thatched Roof Houses to Immigrant Entrepreneurship First Generation Lemko-American Businessmen”. This remarkable book offers an overview of Lemko entrepreneurship during the early decades of immigration. It includes 200 biographies of Lemko immigrant businessmen. It is illustrated with over 300 historical advertisements, photos, documents and maps. This invaluable book with hundreds of citations and extensive index might enable you to find a biography of an ancestor of yours as it did for me. At the presentation’s conclusion Mr. Horbal was presented with the Chapter’s John Mihalasky Humanitarian Award by chapter president Jerry Chanda and Susan Mihalasky, John Mihalasky’s daughter.
The dinner guests enjoyed a menu of ethnic delicacies such as mushroom soup, roasted potatoes, stuffed cabbage, kielbasa and sauerkraut and the venue’s famous Russian pork chops. The delicious dinner ended with coffee, tea and a one and one half sheet cake dedicated to Mr. Horbal.
During and after dinner guests were treated to a program of ethnic music for listening and dancing pleasure presented by Joseph and Maria Jurasi who the NJ Chapter members and supporters have enjoyed over the many years which they have provided our entertainment.
Our chapter has been fortunate at our dinners to have Tom and Kathryn Peters with their genealogical/historical exhibit. Tom is available to answer questions related to genealogy as guests at each table view the beautiful centerpieces created by Kathryn Peters.
The occasion concluded with the always popular drawing for the winners of the 50/50 raffle and this year for the 12 baskets and 13 lovely and unique centerpieces. This raffle fundraiser results in significant monetary rewards for the chapter.
The New Jersey C-RS chapter thanks our 105 faithful supporters this year.
Dorothy Bognar is a member of the Carpatho-Rusyn Society.
