Magyar News, 1994. szeptember-1995. augusztus (5. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)

1995-03-01 / 7. szám

DIVERSITY OPENS DOOR FOR HUNGARIANS

One day I received a call from Easton. The caller was Jerry Gaben, president of the Historical Society of Easton. He told me that they are planning an evening with a Hungarian theme. First it seemed a bit strange. I know a few people in Easton who are Hungarians, like Joseph Farkas, the Aranyis, and maybe a couple more. Anyhow I gave as much information as Jerry asked for. It was later when I gave better consideration towards the event. This was when Dotty Curtis, who has a show on TV,

called. Then I found out that their committee tasted the food at the Kossuth Club and they were also enjoying the Gulyas Dinner at the Calvin Hall. I definitely have to congratulate them for doing their homework. It really paid off. The event was a full success. As Jan Burroughs told me, they had to close the reservations because they couldn’t accommodate all the people who wanted to participate. I met a lot of friends at the dinner. Also, it was a pleasure to see

Grace Matus who was in the film with her husband Julius.

The Society has a program to show the diversity of Easton. This much success with a few Hungarian residents proves that they are on the right path and we all wish them the best for the future.

Following below is the front page of the Society that gives an account of the Hungarian Evening. Also on the next pages we have an article written by Dorothy Laskay D’Amato about her Hungarian family.

Joseph F. Balogh

the SCHOOLHOUSE SENTINEL.

Volume 23 No.2

Easton, Connecticut

February 1995

Hungarian Program

Was One For the History Book

With an ethnic Hungarian theme, on Wed, Jan 25th, the dinner program brought together a local area film, a well known tenor and a producer of the film, plus cordial conversations about the life and times of Hungarian families who settled in our town.

The evening began with an authentic Hungarian dinner. Specialties included stuffed cabbage, chicken paprikash, kolbase, noodles, potatoes, hard boiled eggs, kolrabi and Hungarian rye bread. It truly was a delicious beginning - heartily enjoyed by all!

The planning and preparation of the dinner was chaired by Melba Laskay, very ably assisted by three Laskay sisters: Ethyl Swanson, Lillian Kocsis and Dorothy D'Amato, plus the support of Charlie.

(The Laskay family arrived in Easton around 1920 and their story was shared by Dorothy D'Amato - please see In Search of a Home later in this edition).

Dinner was topped off by delectable authentic Hungarian pastries made by Ella Gura and her son, and by Madeline Saad.

After dinner, Albert Kovács, a renowned Hungarian tenor, touched our hearts singing a capella. And then the film Searching For Wordin Avenue was shown.

The film traces the immigration of the Hungarian community to the Wordin Avenue area in Bridgeport and their later settling into our Fairfield County area. Portions of the local filming took place on a farm in Poverty Hollow, just north of Easton. This popular Hungarian immigrant film, which was completed in 1981, received a SCINE Golden Eagle Award.

Following the film, Bernadette Baldino, one of the producers shared her experience ... and was very warmly welcomed to our community. Bernadette has just become Easton's new library director.

Hungarian History and peasant clothing exhibits lined the hall, furnished by AI Bauer from the Hungarian History Society of New Brunswick, NJ. The Laskays brought wonderful photo albums filled with scenes of Hungary and a hand embroidered display. Others brought hand-bills from the film and contributed hand embroidered exhibits. We were also pleased with the presence of Joseph Balogh, Editor and Publisher of MAGYAR NEWS, the monthly Hungarian Newsletter.

Janice and Nanci Burroughs handled all the general coordination and many phone calls. Dolly Curtis first brought the film to our attention and helped to get us connected with Hungarian research sources.

Sincerest thanks to everyone who helped. We had a wonderful evening sharing in our rich local history.

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