This article was originally published in The Ukrainian Weekly on February 17, 2008. Reprinted with permission.

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 Though closed for the off-season, there's much ado at "Suzy-q" 

PARSIPPANY, N.J. Soyuzivka may be closed to guests during the off-season, but the Ukrainian heritage center located in Kerhonkson, N.Y., nonetheless has been the scene of much activity in recent months. Furthermore, as General Manager Nestor Paslawsky put it, "Everything is being done to improve and enhance Soyuzivka for our hormada" [community] by the time it reopens in May.

Though it has officially been closed since mid-November, the center popularly known as "Suzy-Q" has remained open to take reservations for cultural programs, camps, vacations, weddings and special events at Soyuzivka. Plus, there are plenty of renovations now under way at Soyuzivka most notably to the Veselka pavilion, the focal point of the center's activity. And then there is the matter of the co-op development project planned for this beloved center of Ukrainian community life.

So, is Soyuzivka really closed?

The general manager commented that perhaps it's more appropriate to say Soyuzivka is "semi-closed."

"We're open to take reservations," said Mr. Paslawsky, adding, "so we advise Soyuzivka guests not to wait, but to book now for the summer season and beyond." As a matter of fact, he added, the center has booked several functions for May, even before the official kick-off for the new season that will take place over the Memorial Day holiday weekend. In addition, he said Soyuzivka has eight to 10 weddings already booked for 2008 beginning in June. (Incidentally, an increasing interest among brides to incorporate Ukrainian traditions in their weddings has been noted by Soyuzivka personnel.)

Veselka is being upgraded, from top to bottom, he continued. A new air conditioning system is being installed, the bathrooms are being redone and a new state-of-the-art dance floor "suitable for use by the instructors and students of the extremely popular dance camps and dance workshops of the Roma Pryma Bohachevsky Ukrainian Dance Foundation" will be constructed. This year, Mr. Paslawsky explained, there will be eight weeks of such dance programs at Soyuzivka.

Working with the Ukrainian Athletic-Educational Association Chornomorska Sitch, Soyuzivka is looking to transform its soccer field into one that will be a small regulation-size field.

Another enhancement will be a tent erected over the area of the roller rink that will provide yet another venue for Soyuzivka's growing list of youth camps. "Our camps are so busy lately. We have three camps going on at one time "Tabir Ptashata [for preschoolers], Tennis Camp and Dance Camp," Mr. Paslawsky explained. "We needed another large multi-purpose space." The area under the tent will be available for games, dances, soccer, meals and other activities.

Also to accommodate the higher number of campers, Soyuzivka is converting more space for use by the camps, as well as sprucing up the Lviv lodge, where the old mess hall will be revamped.

All these renovations, Mr. Paslawsky said, will be completed in time for the new season that begins in May. "Being semi-closed gives us the time and the opportunity to do all these things. We're very busy getting all this in place," he said referring, first and foremost, to himself and Sonia Semanyszyn, assistant manager.

He noted that the Ukrainian National Association, through the Ukrainian National Foundation, has begun the necessary repairs and restorations â€" the total cost of which is between $200,000 and $250,000 â€" to improve Soyuzivka's facilities to accommodate expanded cultural programs and youth camps. "But, we will need to vigorously fund-raise to continue these upgrades," the general manager said.

With regard to the co-ops on the drawing board for Soyuzivka, Mr. Paslawsky explained that attorneys have been brought on and a co-op plan is to be presented to the attorney-general of New York State; land-use attorneys are being consulted; engineering firms are conducting surveys; and feasibility studies are being prepared. "We're moving ahead aggressively," he related. "We're putting together site plans and drawings for presentation to the planning board, the health department, etc." Only when the attorney general approves the plans can Soyuzivka begin marketing the co-ops, he said.

At the same time, Mr. Paslawsky noted, the executives of the UNA have been contacted by the Open Space Institute, whose goal is to preserve land in perpetuity by purchasing undeveloped tracts. The OSI is interested in purchasing a piece of land from Soyuzivka" which encompasses more than 390 acres, only a small portion of which it actually uses" that it will ultimately gift to the state for the public's use as part of Minnewaska State Park. Soyuzivka and its guests would retain the right in perpetuity to use the land for recreational purposes. In fact, the OSI previously had purchased a part of the nearby property owned by the Shevchenko Scientific Society, which is now state land.

Mr. Paslawsky hastened to add that there is no talk of selling Soyuzivka" despite the occasional rumors that emanate from unknown sources.

So, look for Soyuzivka's reopening over Memorial Day weekend, which will include a Ukrainian Film Festival" dubbed "Kino-Q," featuring documentaries, short films and animated features on Ukrainian subjects or produced by Ukrainian filmmakers; a pub night on Friday with Ukrainian accordionist Matthew Dubas; a "zabava" (dance) on Saturday evening with Hrim, whose contemporary take on Ukrainian dance tunes is popular with younger generations; and a musical performance by Walter Mosuriak on Sunday evening.

And, then, in short succession, come June weddings, the annual Father's Day program, the UNA Seniors Conference, plus camps for children and youths of all ages (Tabir Ptashat, Exploration Day Camp, Tennis Camp), as well as the Roma Pryma Bohachevsky Dance Workshop.

July brings Independence Day weekend events and more camps (Ukrainian Heritage Day Camp, Discovery Camp, Sitch Sports Camp and the first session of Roma Pryma Bohachevsky Ukrainian Dance Camp). Not to be missed is Soyuzivka’s second annual Ukrainian Cultural Festival, slated for July 9-13" the premiere event of the summer.

Then, in August, there is the second session of Dance Camp, a special weekend for adoptive parents and the children they have adopted from Ukraine (organized in conjunction with the Embassy of Ukraine in the United States), plus the Miss Soyuzivka weekend.

Finally, at the end of August and the beginning of September, the season wraps up with the always-popular Labor Day weekend program of sports events, dances, Ukrainian music and socializing of all sorts.

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