Czech Heritage Society Holds Annual Piknik
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Carolyn Heinsohn presenting Sadie Noska the CHS Scholarship check. -
Helen Mikus celebrating being 100 years old as she attended the Czech Heritage Society Piknik. -
Both Texas CHS State Queen Madelyn Karstedt and Fayette County CHS Little Princess Lillie Karstedt competing in pagent’s this year.
The Fayette County Czech Heritage Society met on Tuesday, June 10, in the Hanslik Hall at TCHCC in La Grange for its annual Piknik. The evening began with members and guests socializing, singing Czech songs to the accompaniment of Jimmie Fucik on the accordion, and viewing silent auction items that benefit the CHS scholarship and queen sponsorship fund.
The birthdays being celebrated for the months of March, April, May, and June include Gracie Ann Fucik, Jimmie Fucik, Carolyn Heinsohn, Madelyn Karstedt, and Sadie Noska. The centenarian celebrating her 100th birthday is Helen Mikus. Carolyn Heinsohn spoke of Helen’s contribution to preserving Czech heritage and culture in Fayette County. Helen Trnovsky Mikus was one of the charter members who founded the Fayette Chapter of the Czech Heritage Society in 1984. She also founded the Fayette Czech Singers and Dancers in 1985, promoted Czech culture by organizing activities for young people in Fayetteville ISD, wrote informative articles about Czech heritage for local newspapers, and donated time and artifacts to the first Czech exhibit at the Fayette Heritage Museum in La Grange.
Jennifer Macha Lane, Marketing and Business Development of TCHCC, was introduced. She explained the new goals for TCHCC that include marketing for increased usage as a venue, enlarging the gift shop, and expanding online.
The 2025-2026 Fayette County CHS Little Princess is Lillie Karstedt who was crowned by her sister, the reigning 2024-2025 CHS Miss Texas Czech-Slovak Queen Madelyn Karstedt. Lillie will represent Fayette County CHS, July 12, at the State Royalty Pageant in Ennis, Texas. Madelyn will represent Texas CHS at the US Czech-Slovak Queen’s pageant, the first weekend of August, in Wilber, Nebraska. Madelyn and Lillie are daughters of John and Bonny Karstedt of La Grange.
The 2025 CHSAmos Pavlik Memorial Scholarship in the amount of $500 was presented to Sadie Noska, a Flatonia High School graduate. Sadie was valedictorian of her class and plans to attend Texas A&M University, majoring in business.
The piknik concluded with Czech-English bingo. The next meeting scheduled is, September 21, with Retta Slavik Chandler speaking on the origin of The Texas Czech heritage and Cultural Center.