Celebrate Ukrainian and American Friendship at Upcoming Cortland Country Music Park Event

Matt Brooks: Matt Brooks here on X 1 0 1 Always Classic. And with me in the studio today, Jane O’Shea and Marsha Patitucci from the celebrating American Ukrainian friendship. An event coming up on January 3rd at the Cortland Country Music Park going on from six to 9:00 PM That’s a great event with a great cause. Thank you for, joining me today.

Marsha Patitucci: Thanks for having us.

Jane O’Shea: Yes. Thank you.

Matt Brooks: Now, first off, Marsha, let’s talk about the, the celebration of American and Ukrainian friendship. What are some of the aspects of these cultures and friendships that’ll be showcased or expected at the event?

Marsha Patitucci: We’re asking everybody to bring one of their favorite recipes, maybe something indigenous from their family.

Something Ukrainian from our Ukrainians. I’m obviously bringing something Italian, but anybody who wants to come bring something great to eat, maybe an old recipe. There’ll be lots of good food. We have a cash bar, but the food is free and the entrance is free. You can’t go wrong.

Matt Brooks: Yeah. This is a, this is a really, is a point to just to kind of celebrate, [00:01:00] especially the, the integration of both cultures.

So if you, if you got like that grandma’s like. Famous, apple pie cook that if you have maybe a, a, a different dish to pass. It’s a, the spring is gonna be a lot of food, a lot of fun, and it’s all going on free to attend and really just asking for donations for a great cause. Because all the, donations go to the Ukrainian.

Education fund. Now, Jane, can you tell me, ’cause you’re the one who reached out talking about this event to the station, what inspired you to put an event like this, to celebrate American Ukrainian friendship?

Jane O’Shea: Yes, Matt. I have been tutoring Ukrainians in English since 2023, and I have heard their sad stories about leaving their homeland.

Leaving friends and family with the real possibility that they would never see them again, and the war continues. One of my students asked [00:02:00] me if I would plan an organize an event for young people and. I turned to Marsha and said, what do you think? And she said, let’s, so we’re having, let’s dance.

Celebrate American Ukrainian friendship.

Matt Brooks: It’s, that’s an amazing story, and it’s great that you’re able to take. This one student’s wishes and really make it a reality. Now, is there, we, you said it’s six to nine, we’re gonna be having a dish to pass, there’s gonna be a cash bar. Are there anything, maybe any other things that, maybe not on the press release that we should know about the event?

Jane O’Shea: Yes. We have DJ Philly C and we’ve asked him to come up with a selection of American pop, American rock and roll, and maybe a poka or two. It should be fun ’cause he, he gets the crowd moving.

Matt Brooks: Yeah. And you’re gonna, you have [00:03:00] all the space at the country music park too, so you’ll have a, you’ll definitely have enough room to, to really cut loose.

Marsha Patitucci: Yes, absolutely. And let me add the, the dance. Will be for all genres so the old timers can rock and roll as well as the young kids.

Matt Brooks: Everything great through the generations. All, all in one place. You really can’t beat it. And we talked about dish pass. Is there anything that folks should know, Marsha, about the, about what to bring specifically?

We’re talking about some of the maybe homemade family passed down recipes.

Marsha Patitucci: Certainly. Our Yang community, and I want you to know we’re reaching out beyond even Cortland. We are asking them to bring foods from their region and an entree. A dessert, a vegetable aside, whatever they choose.

And we also have all of our community members, we’re asking them, bring a home Amer homemade American dish. Yeah. This is about bringing culture together and inclusion and a warm [00:04:00] American welcome. Right in our mouth with our food.

Matt Brooks: Yes. And, and right through the feet on the dance floor as well. So this is, this is a great opportunity to really, especially on these colder buns where everybody just kind of wants to huddle indoors anyway, to, to, to get into, a social setting, meet people that you haven’t met before, and really the blending of cultures.

And it all goes to a, a great cause too. ’cause it might be free you to attend, but you are looking for donations for the Ukrainian Education Fund. Jane, can you tell me about that? The, what do these funds go to?

Jane O’Shea: Yes. Life has not been easy. Once, these Ukrainian families land in our neighborhoods, they’re willing to do the jobs that many Americans do not want to do.

So, and they. The biggest hurdle is learning the language. The Ukrainian language is so different compared to our language and as soon as they arrive, they want [00:05:00] to find jobs and learn English. So some of them are involved in our programs. Others go to TC three and learn language. Many of the families have brought over their young children who are now almost college age, so they, they are trying to figure out.

How my son or daughter can pursue higher education. So we wanted to address that and we have a Ukrainian education fund and it we will figure out at a later time after we receive application from. Students, where this money will go. If you’re interested in donating to this fund, Capco is processing our donations.

So if you write out a check to [00:06:00] Capco, just put Cortland United for Ukraine. On the memo line and it will go to that cause.

Matt Brooks: Yeah. And the, the great thing about that too is because it’s going through Capco, people can claim this on their taxes. So, and not only are you helping benefit, a great cause, but you do get a little kickback when, tax season runs around.

Now.

Jane O’Shea: That’s, that’s right.

Matt Brooks: We are running a little bit out of time and, wanna make sure that people who maybe are just learning about this event for the first time, if they wanna learn more, I mean it’s going on six to nine, January 3rd at the Cortland Country Music Park, free to attend donations.

Appreciated. Bring a dish to pass fun for the entire family. If people wanna learn more, if they have questions, where do they, people, where do people go?

Jane O’Shea: they can call or text me at (607) 423-1718. Let me repeat that. 6 0 7 4 2 [00:07:00] 3 1 7 1 8.

Matt Brooks: Perfect. Now, I gotta thank you guys for, for both coming in the studio today, talk about this great, event.

From inspired by one student to a, a whole country music park to be filled with food and joy. Thank you, Jo for joining me this morning.

Jane O’Shea: Thanks for having us, Matt. Yes, thank you, Matt.

Matt Brooks: And this is Matt Brooks, On X 1 0 1. Always classic.