BOROUGH OF SNPJ, Pa. — The snow is falling in large flakes, dumping buckets of snow throughout the Midwest, and everyone is anxiously awaiting spring. The SNPJ Heritage Center invites you to welcome spring by attending Heritage Day Sunday, April 25, at the SNPJ Slovenian Heritage Center.

Dober tek! Good appetite – the order of the day. Slovenian sausage, goulash, pierogies, haluski, strudel and potica will be available for purchase in the dining room, prepared by SNPJ Recreation Center Director Tim Jergel.

The museum will be open from 1 to 5 p.m. with Slovenian crafters and exhibitors exhibiting from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Any purchase made in the SNPJ Heritage Center gift shop this day will receive a 10 percent discount off the total price. This is a multi-generational event and is open to everyone. Bring the kids and the grandkids – the museum has interesting and educational displays.

Displays/exhibitors will include Irvan “Bud” Brown from Coudersport, Pa., who will be exhibiting “Tramp Art;” Olga Petek (614) of Wickliffe, Ohio, displaying and explaining a large personal collection of Slovenian artifacts; representing the Slovenian American National Art Guild from Euclid, OH Doris Sadar (5) of Willoughby Hills, Ohio, wil be displaying an extensive collection of “splasher cloths;” Miss SNPJ 2010 Kara Maruszak (53) and Miss SNPJ 1978 Kathy Hlad (158) will be demonstrating the button box; Tim Cimperman (31), a professional photographer from Sharon, Pa., will be displaying many of his photos taken at local polka dances.

In addition the Consul General of the Republic of Slovenia, Mr. Jure Žmauc; and Ed Oshaben (158) of Cleveland, representing the Slovenian Genealogy Society International, will be on hand. Guests will also have the opportunity to meet The Voice of Youth Heritage Center Youth Reporter Carly Evanish (138).

Kathy Hlad, an accomplished button box musician and instructor, will be sharing her expertise with visitors on Heritage Day. Kathy, who is known as “the Girl with the Million Dollar Smile,” was adopted by Rudy and Florence Hlad, who were wonderful and supportive parents.

Kathy began her cultural and music career at the age of 8. She joined the SNPJ Youth Circle 2 Slovenian Junior Chorus and began to learn and cherish the traditional songs of Slovenia. During a family vacation to Slovenia in 1972, when she was introduced to the great Lojže Slak, Kathy fell in love with the beautiful sound of the button box with its unique deep bass. She began studying the button box under the guidance of Frank Novak at the age of 13, fashioning her own smooth and simple style after Slak, and adding the influence of Cleveland icons Johnny Pecon and Lou Trebar. In 1976 Kathy was part of the musical entertainment on a tour throughout Europe sponsored by her father and Frank Sterle.

Kathy’s father purchased her first button box, a cherished Slak-Zupan, directly from Slak during one of Slak’s American tours. She has an array of button boxes, including a stunning gold button box handcrafted for her by Valentine Zupan in 1976.

Kathy has had many accomplishments and awards presented to her throughout the years, including the title of Miss SNPJ 1978, along with the titles of Miss Talent and Miss Fraternalism; and Slovenian Woman of the Year in 2006 (representing Slovenian Workmen’s Home). The Cleveland-Style Polka Hall of Fame awarded Kathy their Button Box Duo award in 1993 and the Button Box Individual award in 2003. She shared the responsibility of music director with the “Captain’s Crew” for the Button Box Group award, and recently she has added Polka Hall of Fame Trustee to her collection of honors.

Kathy began sharing her talent and experience of button box music at the age of 15 by instructing more than 75 students throughout the years. Many appearances on “Polka Varieties” with America’s Polka King Frank Yankovic made Kathy a household name. She has played with numerous bands throughout the United States, Canada and Europe, including the Pecon-Trebar Orchestra. Kathy’s playing is featured on eight different CDs. In 1992, Kathy and Ron Likovic released their “Dear Friends” CD. This recording boasts several original songs, including the popular “Mountain Echo.”

Kathy enjoys being able to share with others the pleasure of playing through her teaching and by volunteering hundreds of hours to entertain for senior centers, special needs children and adults, hospice patients, benefit dances, church festivals or any event where music adds an extra-special spark. Kathy notes that accompanying sing-a-longs with the “Recycled Teenagers” has been the most satisfying of her projects.

The SNPJ Heritage Center Committee is looking forward to you being our guest and getting acquainted with the Heritage Center. For more information on Heritage Day, contact Carol Sadar Maruszak at (440) 944-4229.