I met Roman at the LG Jazz festival when I went serving up coffee from Rock Hill.
That particular year there was an issue with the water and you had to walk down by the beach to get it and haul it back up each time....obviously I needed alot of water for these giant coffee brewers. It was muddy and the containers were heavy.
No one offered a hand....until Roman showed up.
I came to know him better over the years, Susan also but not as well.
Roman is a very nice gentleman and I can actually picture them doing this.
Thank you for the reminder there are still good people out there.
There are six or more Ukrainian families in the Glens Falls/Queensbury area. Three or four of them have been brought here under the sponsorship of local residents through the Uniting for Ukraine (U4U) humanitarian parole program. Sponsorship entailed providing resources for them when they arrived - housing, transportation, English lessons, orientation to our community, etc - just as Susan and Roman did for Liza. That has been fun, because these folks are wonderful people. And in all cases it wasn't long before they were up on their own feet.
In the past, folks in this U4U program had options to stay beyond their prescribed two year parole. President Trump has terminated that option and is rumored to be considering sending them back to Ukraine before their 2 years is up.
These folks are working, are paying taxes, are helping to support our local economy. They are also contributing to our culture, making us aware of the richness of theirs. They all make fantastic borscht.
Send them back to Ukraine? Why? Don't we want to grow a richer, more interesting community?
Because tRump is a monster who knows no joy. He does not have the ability to feel compassion or empathy. It is our job to extend our compassion and empathy to our fellow citizens; I believe our force in number will outlast his billionaire buddies. Thank you for your heartfelt commitment to the Ukrainians, they deserve, and need, every ounce of support we can give them. 💪🏼❤️
I didn’t read the whole entire thing, but what I did read seemed complicated. A lot of hoops to jump through, considering the immigrants probably went through the same or similar process when they first arrived. Perhaps it’s always been that way, perhaps the Trump administration added layers of obfuscatory language and additional requirements. I don’t know. But given the tenor and tone of Trump’s rhetoric, and especially his absolutely shameful betrayal of our democracy, his destruction of our standing in the world, and just today Ukraine itself, I would not fault a Ukrainian immigrant for being a little afraid to engage with the current US government in any way.
Thanks, Ken, for sharing this beautiful, heart warming, eye opening story. I can’t believe in a god who is some kind of celestial puppeteer pulling strings from above. But there are some things that happen which seem more than just fate. They feel beyond mere coincidence. In our family we call them “divine co-inky-dinks”—mysterious, beyond explanation, but awakening and sometimes life changing.
My learning from the Front Page this morning is that more important than the cost of eggs is the price of life. Let’s get our priorities straight!
Thank you for the story of kindness, bravery and risk with Liza, Susan and Roman. How lovely the shared language of Ukraine and the shared caring led to such a connection. Your storytelling offers the opportunity to hear the impact of our concern and the difference it makes.
Yet another beautiful story proving that WE are in the majority after all! The current resident(s) of the WH are NOT. I hope there is some way these Ukrainians are able to continue to stay here - IF they want to. As someone on another post stated - these supposed human beings (WH) have no compassion or empathy - only being able to have the power for this absolute meanness!
This blog is truly a breath of fresh air every single time.
Thank you for humbling me today. An amazing story of an amazing, courageous young woman. Please keep us updated if you can. (Especially moving: she wants to bring her mother to Lake George to walk around the lake without fear of bombs.......
Thank you for the story about Liza, Roman and Susan. How rare Roman's and Susan's grace these days. I also loved the story about the Chapman Museum's railroaders display. My late uncle Paul Fisher retired to become an avid HO scale train fanatic. He was handy with a carving knife and built up buildings, bridges, houses, several train routes...it was a sight to behold.
Then there's that familiar story about our Elise. I can't imagine how she'll do in a UN atmosphere in which the vast majority of people there pretty much hate Trump.
Thanks for so many warming stories, Ken. Happy weekend.
"It's winter and it's cold, but 37 people were still hot enough under the collar to sign up for INDIVISIBLE's "Where is Elise?" rally in City Park in Glens Falls."
We’re in for a challenging four years, facing the Trump Regime attempting to enforce regressive restrictions on free speech, and promoting its extreme right-wing political correctness.
What we can do in response is live out our beliefs and principles every day.
For some of us, we’ll do so quietly but persistently. For others of us, we’ll do so loudly but persistently. We’ll do so as we cast our ballots. We’ll do so as we attend town halls. We’ll do so as we join protests and economic boycotts. We’ll do so as we bear witness. Whatever suits us.
What we won’t do, though, is to go back. We won’t obey.
Having known Susan and Roman for many years, the fact that they would show compassion and caring to someone like this, comes as no surprise. Let’s hope that this senseless war will end soon and the subjects of this heartwarming story can someday reunite.
Thanks for writing a beautiful story. It really makes a difference about our attitude towards what is happening with Ukraine when we see things on a personal level.
The reference provided by "W. Tucker" is to a USCIS publication called Re-Parole Process for Certain Ukrainian Citizens and Their Immediate Family Members, dated February 27, 2024. It is out of date since the new Trump administration's executive orders of late January and information from the Department of Homeland Security in February. Please see this reference from Welcome.US. It explains what is going on now.
I wonder why "W. Tucker" posted this out of date reference with no attached explanation. A simple misunderstanding of the reality of the moment, or a deliberate attempt to mislead?
Trump and Vance -big bullies, trying to threaten and demean Zelensky--the contrast was extreme. That Republican legislators praised Trump for "putting America first" showed have far they had fallen in terms of understanding and caring, in terms of who should be honored, who is courageous, and who has lost all moral compass. I was horrified....I felt happy that Western Europe honored, welcomed and praised Zelensky. There too the contrast was extreme. Tom Paxton nd John McCutchon have a CD "We Together" where they sing "we are Ukrainians now...
“We in America do not have government by the majority. We have government by the majority who participate.” - Thomas Jefferson
Hi AI do you have a source for the quote by Jefferson? The following link claims the quotation has never been found in the writings of Thomas Jefferson. https://www.monticello.org/research-education/thomas-jefferson-encyclopedia/government-majority-who-participate-spurious-quotation/
Apparently not. Thanks for the heads up.
I met Roman at the LG Jazz festival when I went serving up coffee from Rock Hill.
That particular year there was an issue with the water and you had to walk down by the beach to get it and haul it back up each time....obviously I needed alot of water for these giant coffee brewers. It was muddy and the containers were heavy.
No one offered a hand....until Roman showed up.
I came to know him better over the years, Susan also but not as well.
Roman is a very nice gentleman and I can actually picture them doing this.
Thank you for the reminder there are still good people out there.
A sweet column - thanks.
There are six or more Ukrainian families in the Glens Falls/Queensbury area. Three or four of them have been brought here under the sponsorship of local residents through the Uniting for Ukraine (U4U) humanitarian parole program. Sponsorship entailed providing resources for them when they arrived - housing, transportation, English lessons, orientation to our community, etc - just as Susan and Roman did for Liza. That has been fun, because these folks are wonderful people. And in all cases it wasn't long before they were up on their own feet.
In the past, folks in this U4U program had options to stay beyond their prescribed two year parole. President Trump has terminated that option and is rumored to be considering sending them back to Ukraine before their 2 years is up.
These folks are working, are paying taxes, are helping to support our local economy. They are also contributing to our culture, making us aware of the richness of theirs. They all make fantastic borscht.
Send them back to Ukraine? Why? Don't we want to grow a richer, more interesting community?
Because tRump is a monster who knows no joy. He does not have the ability to feel compassion or empathy. It is our job to extend our compassion and empathy to our fellow citizens; I believe our force in number will outlast his billionaire buddies. Thank you for your heartfelt commitment to the Ukrainians, they deserve, and need, every ounce of support we can give them. 💪🏼❤️
https://www.uscis.gov/humanitarian/uniting-for-ukraine/re-parole-process-for-certain-ukrainian-citizens-and-their-immediate-family-members
I didn’t read the whole entire thing, but what I did read seemed complicated. A lot of hoops to jump through, considering the immigrants probably went through the same or similar process when they first arrived. Perhaps it’s always been that way, perhaps the Trump administration added layers of obfuscatory language and additional requirements. I don’t know. But given the tenor and tone of Trump’s rhetoric, and especially his absolutely shameful betrayal of our democracy, his destruction of our standing in the world, and just today Ukraine itself, I would not fault a Ukrainian immigrant for being a little afraid to engage with the current US government in any way.
Greetings, Ms. Goldstein. Thanks for your note. You may be interested to see my comment on the "W. Tucker" reference attached.
and of courserand of course wTF tucker posted something so he can pretend
what he is pretending.. who knows what he is pretending.. he never has a point, he just has his
throw up stupid and hope fools think it means something
Thanks, Ken, for sharing this beautiful, heart warming, eye opening story. I can’t believe in a god who is some kind of celestial puppeteer pulling strings from above. But there are some things that happen which seem more than just fate. They feel beyond mere coincidence. In our family we call them “divine co-inky-dinks”—mysterious, beyond explanation, but awakening and sometimes life changing.
My learning from the Front Page this morning is that more important than the cost of eggs is the price of life. Let’s get our priorities straight!
Thank you for the story of kindness, bravery and risk with Liza, Susan and Roman. How lovely the shared language of Ukraine and the shared caring led to such a connection. Your storytelling offers the opportunity to hear the impact of our concern and the difference it makes.
Yet another beautiful story proving that WE are in the majority after all! The current resident(s) of the WH are NOT. I hope there is some way these Ukrainians are able to continue to stay here - IF they want to. As someone on another post stated - these supposed human beings (WH) have no compassion or empathy - only being able to have the power for this absolute meanness!
This blog is truly a breath of fresh air every single time.
Thank you for humbling me today. An amazing story of an amazing, courageous young woman. Please keep us updated if you can. (Especially moving: she wants to bring her mother to Lake George to walk around the lake without fear of bombs.......
Thank you for the story about Liza, Roman and Susan. How rare Roman's and Susan's grace these days. I also loved the story about the Chapman Museum's railroaders display. My late uncle Paul Fisher retired to become an avid HO scale train fanatic. He was handy with a carving knife and built up buildings, bridges, houses, several train routes...it was a sight to behold.
Then there's that familiar story about our Elise. I can't imagine how she'll do in a UN atmosphere in which the vast majority of people there pretty much hate Trump.
Thanks for so many warming stories, Ken. Happy weekend.
"It's winter and it's cold, but 37 people were still hot enough under the collar to sign up for INDIVISIBLE's "Where is Elise?" rally in City Park in Glens Falls."
We’re in for a challenging four years, facing the Trump Regime attempting to enforce regressive restrictions on free speech, and promoting its extreme right-wing political correctness.
What we can do in response is live out our beliefs and principles every day.
For some of us, we’ll do so quietly but persistently. For others of us, we’ll do so loudly but persistently. We’ll do so as we cast our ballots. We’ll do so as we attend town halls. We’ll do so as we join protests and economic boycotts. We’ll do so as we bear witness. Whatever suits us.
What we won’t do, though, is to go back. We won’t obey.
Good advice.
Having known Susan and Roman for many years, the fact that they would show compassion and caring to someone like this, comes as no surprise. Let’s hope that this senseless war will end soon and the subjects of this heartwarming story can someday reunite.
Thanks for writing a beautiful story. It really makes a difference about our attitude towards what is happening with Ukraine when we see things on a personal level.
Great story! And Ukraine owes the US nothing.
It was great, and Channel 6 was there too. Very good turnout!
A great read! Much needed. Thank you
The reference provided by "W. Tucker" is to a USCIS publication called Re-Parole Process for Certain Ukrainian Citizens and Their Immediate Family Members, dated February 27, 2024. It is out of date since the new Trump administration's executive orders of late January and information from the Department of Homeland Security in February. Please see this reference from Welcome.US. It explains what is going on now.
https://welcome.us/explainers/latest-changes-to-humanitarian-parole-programs-including-private-sponsorship-programs
I wonder why "W. Tucker" posted this out of date reference with no attached explanation. A simple misunderstanding of the reality of the moment, or a deliberate attempt to mislead?
Trump and Vance -big bullies, trying to threaten and demean Zelensky--the contrast was extreme. That Republican legislators praised Trump for "putting America first" showed have far they had fallen in terms of understanding and caring, in terms of who should be honored, who is courageous, and who has lost all moral compass. I was horrified....I felt happy that Western Europe honored, welcomed and praised Zelensky. There too the contrast was extreme. Tom Paxton nd John McCutchon have a CD "We Together" where they sing "we are Ukrainians now...