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R VERR CK TIMES

Vol. 4 No. 33 Thursday, October 10, 2024 Covering the Northwest Corner of Buffalo

Speaker series takes another look at

the immigrants who made Black Rock

by Amber Healy
regory Kinal is proud of his
Ukrainian heritage. For a
Grecent discussion on 19th
century immigration, the first in-
stallment of the Black Rock Histori-
cal Society’s fall speaker series,
Kinal carefully unfolded out of a
bag a vibrantly embroidered shirt,
Assumption Church parishioners stitched by hand more than 100
years ago.
The shirt belonged to Paul Kinal,
celebrate with Rev. Jedrzejewski the brother of his grandfather, Peter.
“His mother made him this shirt,”
ssumption Church was the
site of a joyful celebration Kinal said with pride to a group of
about a dozen people gathered in the
Aof the 50th anniversary of
the ordination of its former pastor, Black Rock Historical Society last
Thursday. With deep reds and dark
Fr. Richard Jedrzejewski. The Greg Kinal shows a representation of ship used by early immi-
large congregation included family, blues embroidered on the cuffs and grants during a Black Rock Historical Society talk.
chest of what would have been a
friends and parishioners from the photos by Amber Healy
various churches at which Fr. Je- starched and carefully laundered
white shirt. He said the shirt would
drzejewski served, along with new
friends from the parishes where he have been worn for special occa-
sions as a way for his relatives to
celebrates Mass since his retire-
ment. honor their cultures and traditions
from Ukraine while making a new
The hymns were selected by Fr.
Richard and overseen by organist home and brighter future for them-
selves in America.
Bruce Woody and included trum-
peters Ray Domin and Cedric Wro- Focusing on the busiest years for
immigration at Ellis Island, Kinal, a
bel, along with an entourage of
singers lending their talents in retired history teacher from Pem-
broke Public Schools, showed pho-
praise of God and gratitude for the
legacy of 50 years of service to tos collected from his family and
from archives, drawing stark con-
God’s people by Fr. Jedrzejewski.
Assumption trustee Cynthia trast between how people dressed Ukrainian shirt.
when they arrived and how they
Zarbo said, “Fr. Richard is gener-
ous in love, compassion and wis- were quickly tricked out of what Now they land and they get on the
would not have been considered wharf over in Manhattan, and along
dom to everyone – from those
living on the streets to those in his outlandish clothing in Ukraine, Po- comes the Americans with a transla-
land and other Eastern European tor. ‘Look at you! People are going Old photo of Mary Kinal.
parish and community and those
who are friends and family. He gen- nations 100 years ago. to think you just got off the boat!’”
“They wore the clothing that was To newly arrived immigrants, want nothing to do with that (for-
uinely shows how Jesus would mer life),’” Kinal said. “For my
want us to care for others.” Council President Deborah Baker fashionable in the old country. My they wanted to fit in, to not draw
relatives coming from Ukraine, we attention to themselves; they want- grandmother, like most everybody
Concelebrating with Fr. Jedrze- and her cadre of helpers. With polka
had sable, mink, silver fox, no big ed to start a new life in a place else, (coming to America) was a
jewski were Fr. Leon Biernat, Fr. music in the background, guests
deal. We lined boots with mink. where they were promised gold- better life. That’s why she was com-
Cole Webster, Fr. Sebastian Pierro, reminisced and offered their con-
That’s like buying a Cadillac and paved streets and endless opportuni- ing here.”
and current pastor of the Catholic gratulations and gratitude to the
never taking it out of the garage, you ty. They had no reason to think the The three women, he said, re-
Community of Buffalo – North, Fr. guest of honor. mained close friends for the rest of
Joseph Tokasz. Michelle Keil, current secretary know?,” he said. “So they get here Americans, speaking a language
with these big Cossack hats, and they might not have understood, their lives, getting together to play
A lovely reception followed in at Catholic Academy of West Buffa- cards. If nothing else, that part of
the church hall organized by Parish they had mink coats to keep warm. were trying to dupe them out of
Continued on page 4 giving up or selling their warmest the old country stayed with Mary
clothes for a little bit of money. But Kinal until she passed away. They
Police report on activity in Grant Amherst they also didn’t have much money came to the United States with the
required $25 and their boat tickets
in their pockets, most likely, and
by Roxie Harbison were eager to fit in. They might and were allotted 44 pounds of lug-
he Buffalo Police Dept. has even have thought the Americans gage, but like most immigrants,
Tconducted several ‘Task Force’ were being generous to them, trad- they brought little more than a small
raids in the neighborhoods accord- ing what would be normal, every- amount of money and whatever
ing to Community Policing Officer day attire for a few dollars out of the they could wear or carry in small
Paul Rudnicki who spoke at the kindness of their hearts to their new suitcases or trunks.
Grant Amherst Business Assn. neighbors. It was not guaranteed that ev-
Meeting on Oct. 8. Forging a new future eryone who left for Ellis Island, or
“Safety and other concerns re- Kinal spoke often of his grand- everyone who successfully arrived
there, would be allowed to stay.
garding the recent uptick in mother, Marunka, who was 18
vagrant/drug activity in the neigh- when she left Ukraine with two of Kinal said the average time to make
it through inspections and question-
borhood” was on top of the agenda her friends, also just 18. They cob-
for the group. bled together the money they need- ing at Ellis Island was about six and
a half hours. If they passed, they
Rudnicki reminded the mem- ed to make the long boat journey to
bers to call 911 if they see problem What color will it be? Nick’s Place is getting new siding but Manhattan in just a few months. were released and off to find their
way to their destinations; others
vagrants or drug activity. He said GABA members were wondering what color would it be. When they left their small village to
the Buffalo Police Dept. had a Be- make their way to the coast, his were kept in quarantine for up to
lice. This has reduced crime and is He emphasized the importance two years if they had an illness or
havioral Health Team come out and grandmother, better known as
talk to the homeless adding that if a being used in other cities, Rudnicki of calling 311 or 911. He response Mary, said her friends sat at the other concern. Still others were sim-
said. by BPD in part is influenced by the ply rejected by inspectors and offi-
homeless person is a veteran they volume of calls from trouble areas. back of the wagon, looking at their
can get resources for them. He reminded small corner stores village and crying at the thought of cials and sent home on another ship,
and deli’s about the city ordinance • In other business, GABA still dropped off at whatever port the
He said BPD is using a tech- has $8,000 to spend as part of the leaving behind their families, their
nique called “Directed Patrols” requiring 70 percent of front win- church, their friends and the only boat docked at and forced to make
dows are to remain unobstructed. Streetscapes grant. It was voted on- their way home to the village they
where a witness to a crime can ap- to order three more benches and life they knew.
proach police with information days He added that corner stores that sell “I said, where did you sit? She left or to make a new life some-
drug paraphernalia and other drugs four more metal trash receptacles. where else.
after an incident so the suspect said, ‘I sat looking straight ahead. I
doesn’t see them talking with po- they aren’t licensed for will be shut Continued on page 5
down. Continued on page 8