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Braddock

Monday, January 7, 2013

Cast Your Vote for Monongahela as 2013 'River of the Year'

Voting in the statewide contest ends Jan. 18.

The Monongahela River flows at the edge of Swissvale, Braddock and Rankin —and here's a chance to let others know how valuable the river is to the local area. The Mon has been nominated for 2013 Pennsylvania River of the Year, one of six waterways nominated across the state—the Juniata River and Swatara Creek in south central Pennsylvania, Kiskiminetas and Monongahela rivers in the southwest, Lackawanna River in the northeast and Schuylkill River in the southeast.  “Individually, each of these waterways showcases unique natural resources and recreational potential,” said Richard J. Allan, state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources secretary. “Collectively, they demonstrate just how blessed Pennsylvania is with its wealth of …

Saturday, December 24, 2011

Carpatho-Rusyn ‘Big Supper’ Is Still Our Christmas Eve Celebration

We could have a turkey or ham, tasty side dishes and elaborate desserts to celebrate, but this simple, meatless one reminds us of our heritage.

When my grandmother came to the United States in 1907, she brought a steamer trunk with all her worldly possessions. She also brought traditions steeped in the Byzantine Catholic heritage that formed the center of life for the peasant farmers and herders in her small village in the Carpathian Mountains, along what is now the Slovakian border with Poland. One of those traditions is what our family calls “Big Supper,” the Christmas Eve Holy Supper celebrated by Carpatho-Rusyns (Ruthenians) and other eastern European nationalities. We don’t follow most of the feast’s religious customs today—fasting before the meal, wheat at the table, clean white tablecloth, holy water and garlic. Nor do we drink the shots of whiskey before the meal (even …

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