The Ukrainians I know are industrious and have strong work ethic. I wish mb someday our church community could host some families.

As for Utica, my mother grew up quite near there and it's an area where there are a lot of immigrant families. As you know, my mother's family was Polish and many of the families I remember were either Polish or Italian.

And Utica was also the closest city to my college - I'm a graduate of Hamilton College in Clinton, NY. When my family came to visit we'd go to Manny's Delicatessen in Utica - which my Dad liked so much that he'd stop there if he had to go to Syracuse (both my parents graduated from Syracuse University) on business. Small world!