‘Memories of Lifetime’ event Saturday

Staff report

LIBERTY

Ethnic Heritage Society leader Rev. Joseph Rudjak will share “Memories of a Lifetime” at 10 a.m. Saturday at Kravitz’s Deli Meeting Room, 3135 Belmont Ave., for the William Holmes McGuffey Historical Society.

The program is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be served and a good-will offering will be accepted to benefit the society. A 50/50 raffle will take place. Reservations are required. Call Richard S. Scarsella at 330-726-8277 for reservations or information.

Rudjak is the founder of the EHS and received the society’s Vision Award in 2011 for his pioneering efforts to save Mahoning Valley’s varied ethnic history and traditions.

He is best known for being the longtime pastor of Holy Apostles Roman Catholic Parish in Youngstown, which comprises the merged Sts. Peter and Paul Croatian Church, St. Stephen of Hungary and the now-closed Our Lady of Hungary parishes.

He has taught ethnic studies, ethnic politics and American migration studies at Kent State and Youngstown State universities.

The program will present an overview of the past and current state of Mahoning Valley ethnic heritage preservation efforts, his experience as the former president of the Polish Arts Club of Youngstown, his patronage of the New Music Guild, tales of his many trips and studies abroad, his childhood memories of being raised in the heavily multi-ethnic historic Brier Hill district and his dream of restoring the Westlake Crossings neighborhood.