September 9, 2014 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E1367 Nicholas Church. The pastor at that time was their church’’ according to the history, the sub- As evident by the BDCPs delay, this flawed Father Basil Beretz. The people who were stantial funds needed to build a new building plan is based on unreasonable assumptions members of the parish had actually initiated were raised. A ground-breaking ceremony was instead of sound science and has raised red plans for a church of the Byzantine Rite held on Sunday, Jan. 25, 1981. During the flags from various federal agencies, including Catholics a number of years before that time. ceremony, the history notes, ‘‘the sound of the Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. St. Nicholas’ founders emigrated from a region axes could be heard ringing from the nearby Army Corps of Engineers. That is why I of- of the Austro-Hungarian Empire which is today woods. The St. Nicholas wood-chopping crew fered an amendment to the FY15 Energy and the easternmost part of Czechoslovakia and had a lot of land to clear and they did not Water Appropriations Act to ban the govern- arrived in Lorain, Ohio in the last part of the have time to attend the ceremony. Addition- ment from funding tunnels taking our water. 19th century and the beginning of the twen- ally, a ‘‘hearty band of volunteers worked We must focus our finite federal resources on tieth century. They attended St. Michael Hun- throughout the year of 1981 and painted the initiatives that will result in increased water garian Byzantine Rite Catholic Church and for entire interior of the complex, laid all the floor supply and storage capacity, not waste it on a brief time services were held in Kohlmyer’s tiles (estimated at over 10,000 tiles), sanded projects that take from one region of the state Hall in Lorain. and stained all the woodwork and contributed and send it to another. The church history characterizes the years thousands of cost-free hours of labor. As a re- The BDCP is not a plan that reflects the in- from 1900 to 1914 as the formative years of sult of their physical contribution, the interior of terests of all Californians; I along with my St. Nicholas Parish: ‘‘In 1905 a committee of the convent was finished as well as many Delta colleagues remain willing to work with all Byzantine Rite Catholics of Rusyn origin other items that were not in the original con- parties on a statewide solution that considers sought the advice and counsel of the late tract. By early spring, the new complex was all stakeholders interests. Bishop Joseph Schrembs, Bishop of Cleve- nearing completion and an appeal was made f land. In 1907 the faithful of the future St. Nich- for volunteers to purchase the pews, certain olas Parish solicited funds for the purchase of kitchen items and the appointments in the HONORING ALAN AND SALLY lots on Toledo Avenue, Lorain, the former site church. The response was overwhelming. The MERTEN of the church and rectory. The parish would parishioners of St. Nicholas, the Greek Catho- then relocate in 1982 to 2711 W. 40th Street, lic Union Lodge, the Russo-Slav Club and HON. FRANK R. WOLF the present site of the St. Nicholas Byzantine other fraternal organizations associated with OF VIRGINIA Catholic Church complex. An historical mural the church had come through once again. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES retained in the old church for many years con- The church history records that ‘‘the last Tuesday, September 9, 2014 tained the list of the following contributors for service to be held at the old St. Nicholas the lots: Andrew Kakos, Andrew Ksenich, An- Church was on Palm Sunday, April 4, 1982, Mr. WOLF. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to rec- drew Karahuts, George Ksenich, Michael and many a tear was shed as the last song ognize George Mason University President Lascisky, Michael Rusinko, George Demchik, was sung. Finally, on Holy Thursday evening, Emeritus Dr. Alan Merten and his wife, Sally. John Danko, George Vajda, Vasil Pavelvach, April 8, 1982, Father Felock blessed the new In June, I had the pleasure of attending a Peter Yureck, John Kocak, Joseph Kokinda, altar and church and the first service was dedication naming the university’s new senior Peter Kekel, John Taraka, Stephen Lascisky, held.’’ The life of the parish continued in its administration building ‘‘Alan and Sally Merten Elek Ksenich, John Kvasnak, Nicholas new location through the 1980s, 1990s and Hall.’’ Ksenich, Vasil Teleha, Peter Hazlak, Mike into the new century. The school was closed Dr. Merten served as George Mason Uni- Rericky, Peter Hrinda, George Maczik, Mike in 2007 and the parish embarked on a mission versity’s president for 16 years, stepping down Kizak, Jacob Andraska, John Jeresko. Ste- of renewal as the new century dawned. in 2012. This dedication is a fitting tribute to phen Ksenich, Joseph Suster, John Moroznak, Today, the members of St. Nicholas the Mertens, a pair who worked tirelessly for George Tomcso, Frank Kablinka, John Szalag, Church’s focus is on its future even as they the better part of two decades promoting, Daniel Demjanovich, Mike Koscs, Mike honor its past. Standing on the shoulders of its growing and improving George Mason Univer- Koczak, Joseph Szasz, Joseph Gluvna, John founders and the families who established the sity. As a result of Alan and Sally’s efforts, the Naaymik and John Maylik. The purchase of parish as a cornerstone of its community, the university has become one of Virginia’s great- the aforementioned lots was consummated parishioners of today’s St. Nicholas Byzantine est schools, as well as a nationally and inter- through the Cleveland Chancery in the name Catholic Church are proud of its rich history. nationally recognized center of academic and of Bishop Schrembs and held by him in trust Yet, as they celebrate a century of parish life, research excellence. for the St. Nicholas Parish. In this manner St. the congregation of St. Nicholas’ looks toward Current George Mason President Angel Nicholas Parish was constituted as a Catholic the next century with hope and faith. Onward! Cabrera honored the Mertens’ service to the parish under a Catholic bishop.’’ f George Mason community at the June 23 The church continued to grow and expand, ceremony. President Cabrera and former both physically and in membership. A rectory OPPOSITION TO THE BAY DELTA Board of Visitors rector, Edwin Meese III, was added in 1919 and a second story of the CONSERVATION PLAN lauded the Mertens’ contributions to the school original church was dedicated on July 16, and to the community, and I was allowed to 1928, by Bishop Basil Takach, the first bishop HON. JERRY McNERNEY offer a few words as well. I always enjoyed of the Byzantine Rite Catholic Exarchate of OF CALIFORNIA working with Dr. Merten and was grateful for Pittsburgh. Renovations continued and in 1946 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES the opportunity to speak on my relationship the mortgage was paid off. Tuesday, September 9, 2014 with Alan and Sally, as well as my apprecia- Under the stewardship of Father Andrew tion for their commitment to the school and Pataki who later became the bishop of Parma, Mr. MCNERNEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today leadership in the community. a parochial school was built. On Sunday, June to continue to express my opposition to the As stated in the resolution used to enact the 12, 1960, a festival was held and Bishop Nich- Bay Delta Conservation Plan, or BDCP. The dedication, the Mertens’ legacy includes four olas T. Elko blessed a newly renovated St. BDCPs comment period closed at the end of endowed scholarships and numerous gifts to Nicholas Church and the new St. Nicholas July and California state officials reviewed university building and program funds. There School. Sisters under the Order of St. Basil comments from stakeholders throughout Cali- is no doubt that George Mason is a better in- the Great came to Lorain to begin teaching at fornia as it determines the best route going stitution for the Mertens’ efforts. I hope they the school in 1962. A small house was pur- forward. The result: the state has delayed im- will remain active in the George Mason com- chased nearby and remodeled by parishioners plementation of the BDCP. munity for many years to come. as a convent. Since being elected to Congress in 2006, I respectfully submit George Mason Univer- On Dec. 14, 1964, St. Nicholas’ celebrated I’ve expressed concerns with this proposal. sity’s ‘‘Resolution to Rename University Hall’’ its golden jubilee with bishop Nicholas T. Elko Building two tunnels that make it easier to ship and the following news article from George officiating at the pontifical Divine Liturgy as- Delta water south does nothing to address Mason University on the ceremony. sisted by the former pastors Fathers Andrew California’s larger water issues. We need to RESOLUTION TO RENAME UNIVERSITY HALL IN Pataki and George Simchak. focus our investments on recycling, desaliniza- HONOR OF ALAN AND SALLY MERTEN By the late 1970s it was apparent the tion, conservation, and storage—both above Whereas, George Mason University Presi- church had outgrown its original buildings and, and below ground. Becoming better managers dent Emeritus Dr. Alan G. Merten led the in ‘‘a beautiful testimonial to the generosity of our water resources will help prepare our university with distinction for 16 years, dur- and the love that our parishioners have for state for wet and dry years. ing which time he launched an ambitious VerDate Mar 15 2010 07:27 Sep 10, 2014 Jkt 039060 PO 00000 Frm 00009 Fmt 0626 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A09SE8.017 E09SEPT1 smartinez on DSK4TPTVN1PROD with REMARKS.