Genealogy Club Program To Trace Immigrant Ancestors From Central/Eastern Europe

By SHANNON HICKS

Published: Feb 05, 2010 12:00 am

On Wednesday, February 10, at 7 pm, noted genealogist Matthew Bielawa will address the Genealogy Club of Newtown on the topic of how to trace the roots of ancestors who came to the United States from Central and Eastern European nations.

Mr Bielawa will discuss how to locate ancestral towns or villages using US records such as Ellis Island passenger lists, church records, naturalization papers, and Census data. In addition, he will explain the different types of foreign records available and offer tips for overcoming the challenges of foreign languages and official shifts in national borders.

Matthew Bielawa is the associate registrar at Central Connecticut State University and serves as vice president of the Polish Genealogical Society of Connecticut and the Northeast. He has a bachelorâs degree in Slavic and East European Studies from UConn and a masterâs degree in Slavic languages and literatures from NYU.

His research specialization is Western Ukraine/Eastern Galicia and he has founded a genealogy website about the area (halgal.com).

The clubâs 2010 programs will continue on the evening of March 10, when Penny Hartzell will speak on âFinding Immigrant Ancestors Who Came Through New York City.â

All meetings of the Genealogy Club of Newtown take place in the community room of C.H. Booth Library, 25 Main Street. Visitors and new members are always welcome.

For additional information call Harlan Jessup, 203-270-7887.

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The voters certainly spoke — and I respect the outcome — but let’s not forget that a “majority” doesn’t mean everyone agreed. Many of us are deeply concerned about the rising cost of living here. Supporting schools and services is important, but so is ensuring that residents can afford to stay in the town they love. We all want Newtown to be a great place to live, but lately, it’s starting to feel less like “Nicer in Newtown” and more like “More Expensive in Newtown.” That’s not sustainable, and it’s not a criticism of the town itself — it’s a call for responsible budgeting and long-term planning that doesn’t rely on tax increases year after year. I hope future decisions will reflect not just the desire to maintain services, but also the need to ease the financial burden on residents.

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I appreciate the passion behind this message, and I absolutely understand the desire to invest in our town. That said, I voted no — not because I don't care about Newtown, but because I do. Fiscal responsibility is not about ignoring problems, it’s about making sure we address them in a sustainable and transparent way. It’s frustrating to feel like every year there’s a new “urgent” reason to raise taxes, with little serious effort to curb spending or prioritize needs. I worry this just sets the stage for another round of increases next year. That doesn't mean I’m against education, safety, or our town’s future — it means I believe in accountability and in asking tough questions about how our money is managed. Voting no wasn't a rejection of Newtown — it was a call for more thoughtful, balanced leadership. I hope future conversations can include all perspectives, not just those willing to write a bigger check.

The voters spoke, loud and clear that they support our schools and municipal services. The majority vote was a mandate to keep delivering well rated education services and keep it" Nicer in Newtown."

Great effort by the those who attended to shine a light on the attacks on Democracy. Thanks for the article so all can understand whats happening.

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Thank you LeReine, for speaking out about this. The list of public servants who are unfairly targeted for abuse just for doing their jobs has been growing. It is a testament to the power of propaganda that otherwise good and well-meaning people can get so emotional as to act out in this way.

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Genealogy Club Program To Trace Immigrant Ancestors From Central/Eastern Europe

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