William Penn Life, 2015 (50. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)

2015-08-01 / 8. szám

Branch News Branch 8 Johnstown, PA by Alexis Kozak Get on your mark, get set, GO! The summer is exploding with WPA activities and events. In July, WPA hosted its golf tournament and scholarship days, a great event for all fellow golfers and non-golfers to enjoy two days of fel­lowship. In August, there's the Hungarian Heritage Experience, where Hungar­ian culture is reborn. David is still telling us stories from last year after spending the week with the great students and staff at Scenic View. Speaking of sharing stories, may I please reminisce on the wonderful neighbors I grew up with? I had a second opportunity to live next door to them when David and I were first married. I'm referring to Steve and Vera Petruska, whose last name should be very familiar to every­one in our WPA family. Steve was branch coordinator and an agent for years. No two people were more Hun­garian than that lovely couple. Some of you will remember well when Steve would come to homes for insurance calls. He took the time to have coffee and talk to the people and really listen. I am sure folks looked forward to these visits, when someone would come into their home & speak Hungarian. After Steve passed away, Vera suggested that my brother, Sándor Yuhas, take Steve's place. Sándor was a perfect fit. Sándor, like Steve, cared truly for the Hungarian cul­ture and the people. Unfortunately, Sándor left this earth in 2007 way too young at 42 due to a brain tumor. I then stepped up to the plate as branch coordinator. I will never be able to fill the shoes of Steve or Sándor, but 1 feel truly blessed being part of this great fraternity. Looking back, if it were not for the Petruskas, I would not be writ­ing this. Let's all ask ourselves: how did we get to be active with William Penn Association? How many won­derful people were in your story? It is my honor to send out a great big birthday wish to Vera from Vera and the late Steve Petruska dance the csárdás at a Branch 8 event. everyone at Branch 8. Happy 90th, Vera! Can't believe your milestone. Your family is blessed to have you in their lives. I still say, "my friend and second mother Vera told me...." Your wisdom has been used throughout my life. Thank you, Vera, for always being there, for your lessons about life, and most of all, for introducing us to William Penn Association—a gift that keeps on giv­ing. Mark your calendars: Branch 8 will host a bacon roast in September. Please call David Kozak, branch president, for details at 814-242-1111. Looking forward to seeing you all! Branch 13 Trenton, NJ Branch 13 was happy to participate in this spring's effort to join hands to fight hunger. Our branch made a donation to the Mercy House of Di­vine Mercy Parish in Trenton, which provides food and household items to families and individuals of our parish and its surrounding commu­nity. Mercy House also works with other organizations to provide ac­cess to social services, immigration support and many other needs. Branch 14 Cleveland, OH by Richard E. Sarosi Summer is in full swing, and we hope the rains are finally behind us. In Ohio, we celebrated July 4 with warm temperatures and sunny skies. It was a special day to keep all of our active military personnel and veter­ans in our thoughts and prayers. On July 1, the small town of Fairport Harbor, Ohio, right on Lake Erie, was the scene of a Mardi Gras parade. Each year, this small com­munity hosts a two-hour parade which showcases many groups. It was a pleasure to wave the flag as the many participants and groups paraded by. Thank you for your service. "Rain, rain, go away; come again some other day." Once again, this was the song we had to sing June 27 for the Cleveland Hungarian Cultur­al Garden's "Concert in the Garden." Mother Nature was not in the mood for listening to music in the garden, so the concert was moved to Breezy Bluff, the Bratenahl home of Richard Fleischman. This home was built in 1905 and was the perfect venue for the Cleveland Orchestra's string quartet. The second part of the program included traditional Hungarian folk pieces, with Emma Shook on violin and Steve Hegedeos accompany­ing. We learned that Emma is part Hungarian. This was the first time this classically-trained violinist released the Hungarian in her soul and played the traditional pieces in true Hungarian fashion. The beau­tiful Hungarian music filled the foyer, library and dining room and delighted the nearly 100 people who attended the performance. Be sure to visit the Hungarian Cultural Garden in Cleveland as there are some changes to discover. It was a coincidence that I was scheduled to be on the WCSB Hungarian Radio Program with Bob Kita the morning of June 27.1 was able to get the word out about the venue change for the "Concert in the Garden." Thank you again, Bob. Bob is a lifelong friend and a friend of William Penn Association. His 16 0 August 2015 0 William Penn Life

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