William Penn Life, 2010 (45. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)

2010-05-01 / 5. szám

Tibor's Take with Tibor Check, Jr.

It's been a long, hard winter

It is May, and I hope the snow and cold are gone for the next six months. I do remember just a few years back, we had several inches of snow during the first few days of the Emerald Month. (Living in Chester land, Ohio, one gets used to the early arrival of winter, and the season of spring often times allows for Old Man Winter to extend his stay much too long!)

In this issue, I am doing some spring cleaning in the way of writing to you.

During the past eight months of writing Tibor's Take,

I have written articles about the good old times and about some serious and emotional subjects and occasionally attempted some tongue-in-cheek humor (e.g., last month's segment on paprika). I have also received dozens of emails, letters, phone calls and personal comments about my articles. All of your comments have been positive and encouraging. You, the readers, have given me several ideas for future commentary as well. Some of the more memorable communiqués came from Mary V. and Ali F.R. of Florida; Rosie B., Ann P., Kathy

N. , Victor A. and Mr. Falk, all from Ohio; Anna P.C. of Arizona; Liz S. of Magyar Marketing; Jean K. and Beth H. of Wisconsin; Andrew M. of Connecticut; Michelina E. G. of New Jersey; Elaine F. G. of Michigan; Carol N.

O. of California; and Ed P. of Pennsylvania. Keep sending those comments and ideas!

I commend the William Penn Fraternal Association Scholarship Foundation for this years essay theme: "If I could interview someone, either in the past or present, who would it be and why?" As a student of history, I find this question very intriguing. There are so many ways this subject can be taken and portrayed. It is very difficult to come up with the appropriate person whom I would interview. One must ask the following before attempting to write this composition: Who do I question? Will my interview enlighten mankind now or in the future? Do I want to interview a family member from generations ago? Will this person of the past know about what is going on now, so that they can offer their

Let's hear your take

Let me know how you enjoy my thoughts and views on growing up Hungarian Style. If you have any questions or comments about me or my column, please email me at: SilverKingl937@yahoo.com, or drop me a letter in care of the William Penn Association, 709 Brighton Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15233.

insight? Or do I want to question a Magyar of the past that was pivotal in shaping Hungary's future? What questions would I ask? There are so many variables and twists to this theme. I suspect that the judges will have a particularly difficult time picking this years' best essays.

Since my column in the March issue of William Penn Life, a few developments have taken place concerning the Cleveland Diocese's Hungarian church closings.

The last Magyar church to be closed will be St. Emeric on June 27, 2010. Congressman Dennis Kucinich was invited to help appeal St. Emeric's impending closure. Mr. Kucinich has contacted the leadership in Hungary to help persuade Bishop Lennon to change his mind.

In contrast the Youngstown Diocese in Ohio is in the early stages of downsizing its parishes. The Most Rev. George V. Murry, bishop of Youngstown, has chosen a much more humane and Christian procedure. He would like the parishes to combine by nationality or geographic proximity. The newly grouped parishes will portray the identities of each blended church into one community. Religious artifacts such as stained glass windows, statues and ethnic items will be part of the newly combined church. It is evident that there is a more sensitive way for our church leaders to reduce the number of parishes.

As for the shuttered St. Margaret of Hungary, the church and its over 10 acres of adjoining property are in the final stages of being sold. The selling price will be over $1 million. The Village of Orange is the purchaser.

Too bad many of us found out a bit late that we could have been counted as being of Hungarian ancestry in the 2010 Census.

Did you know they're Hungarian?

Did you know French President Nicholas Sarkozy, is of Magyar ancestry? The popular French leader was born on Jan. 28, 1955. His full name is Nicholas Paul Stephane Sarkozy de Nagy-Bosca. His Hungarian forbearers were of Magyar nobility and aristocracy. His predecessors used the family fortune to help finance and fight in the war against the Ottoman Turks during the 16th and 17th centuries.

8 0 May 2010 0 William Penn Life