The city of Cleveland, Ohio, celebrating its 200th anniversary, held its One World Day September 8 in the newly-renovated Cleveland Cultural Gardens — with Rusyns well represented through our Society.

The Rusin Cultural Garden, founded in 1937 by the Rusin Elite Society, was renovated by our C-RS Cleveland chapter, under the direction of John Krenisky and Florence Orris.

On September 8, the Rusyn flag flew over the gardens — the first sight anyone sees now as they come into the garden area!

In the Rusin Garden itself, C-RS members staffed an informational display on Rusyns and sold Rusyn ethnic items and books. Many Clevelanders were educated about who the Rusyns are and about their presence in greater Cleveland.

Each ethnic garden was adorned for the day with a large batiked banner focused on its ethnic group. The spectacular Rusyn banner was the work of C-RS members Tim Loya, John Krenisky, and Joan Chemerly, who were taught the process to make the banner by the artist who created the costumes for the opening ceremonies of the 1996 Olympic Games.

Rusyn singer Beata Begeniova and accompanist Mišo Salak from Prešov, Slovakia, performed Rusyn folk songs on the main stage later in the afternoon, and the day was capped by a parade through the park featuring costumes and the banner of each ethnic group. Tim Loya carried the Rusyn banner in the parade, accompanied by C-RS members Paul Mustari (Coraopolis, PA), Caitlin Righetti (Mars, PA), and Maria Silvestri (Monroeville, PA), all in authentic Rusyn costumes.

Many C-RS members turned out for the event, including a large contingent from Pittsburgh and even Michigan! The members we saw in attendance or participating, in addition to those mentioned above: George and Helen Lemak (West Mifflin, PA), John and Mary Gembinski (Ypsilanti, MI), John Righetti (Mars, PA), Jerry Jumba (McKees Rocks, PA), Susan and John Timo (Bentleyville, PA), Cathy Silvestri (Monroeville, PA), Desia Ally Kowalysko (Shaker Heights, OH), Blanche Francetic (Richfield, OH), and James Badeaux (Pittsburgh, PA).

The renovation of these gardens is significant for the entire Carpatho-Rusyn community, for this is the only Rusin Garden in America. Our members in the Cleveland area who are interested in helping to maintain the beauty and dignity of our Garden, or who know plants native to the Carpathian Mountains which could be planted there, should contact John Krenisky.

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Last modified on September 27 1997
URL:http://www.carpatho-rusyn.org/crs/cleve.htm
Greg Gressa [ggressa@carpatho-rusyn.org]
The Carpatho-Rusyn Knowledge Base