Point on the map: Tolochin District. Report by "SB" newspaper
At the Crossroads of All Roads
Tolochyn is first mentioned in chronicles in 1433 as a town within the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. However, the historical roots of this very cozy district center, spread along the banks of the Drut River, should be sought earlier – in the mighty Drut Principality. According to one version, the town got its name from the word "toloka" and the principle of working together, that is, doing everything collectively. These lands have always been located at major strategic and trade crossroads. The district truly boasts advantageous geography, mesmerizing landscapes, and a unique energy, fueled by its pearl-like churches – the Holy Protection Church and the Church of St. Anthony of Padua. The architectural pride and adornment of the district center is the Holy Protection Convent. The region has many buildings from the late 19th – early 20th centuries and older, and the Drut settlement is a unique archaeological monument, the only place in Belarus where all parts of a medieval settlement have been preserved. The people in Tolochyn District are also of a special character. Hardworking, creative, hospitable, and soulful. Let's get acquainted!Let There Be a Garden!
In her maiden name, the gardener of the Tolochyn Cannery, Elena Khatkevich, had a bright surname fitting the theme: Grushevskaya. For over 10 years, Elena Leonidovna has dedicated herself to making the small trees in the industrial factory garden grow big. And today, she literally reaps the rewards, harvesting juicy pears and ripe apples from the branches in season. Her husband Alexander, younger brother Sergey, and his wife Galina work alongside her. A whole friendly dynasty!
Many know that the best potatoes in the Vitebsk region are grown in Tolochyn. This crop has long been a brand of the local cannery. And in the spring of 2005, the first 3.5 hectares of apple orchard and 17 hectares of red and black currant berry fields were planted here.
The total area of the garden is now 630 hectares. Apple trees, as well as pears and cherries, stretch towards the sun here. There are many varieties, with the main ones being of Belarusian selection. They are winter-hardy, which is important for the northern Vitebsk region.
"We can't list them all," smiles Elena Khatkevich:
— The most popular are 'Syabryna' and 'Belarusian Sweet'. And my favorites are also...so juicy "Imant", tender sweet-and-sour "Imrus". For pears, the variety "Prosto Maria" is a direct hit for me: large fruits, excellent taste, and no stony inclusions.
Elena Leonidovna can immediately name a dozen dishes made from local vitamin fruits. The main thing is to love what you do with all your heart, the interlocutor is sure:
— Then its subtleties will become an open book, and daily chores will not seem like a routine. I consider my work creative, in some ways even akin to jewelry. Let's take budding, or eye grafting. Plants need to be grafted with a single bud with a thin layer of wood. A bud is taken from a cutting of a cultivated variety, and the procedure is practically an operation: everything must be precise and sterile. Otherwise, the bud will not take root and the efforts will be in vain.
The villager actively uses her experience and knowledge in the garden, not only the industrial one but also her own. A few years ago, the Khatkevich family planted 20 young trees near their house. The head of the family even brought wild apple trees from the forest – for an experiment. With the light hand of Elena Leonidovna, all of them took root and one day obiazdefinitely thank the hosts with a rich harvest.
Farm Secret
Machine milker Anzhela Voronovich has a family business. She, her husband Sergey, and her sister Elena have been working at OJSC "Korolki" for many years. On their fifth farm, everything is in order and going according to plan. And it is simple and precise, like a steadythe daily life of the local cows. Work conscientiously, do not complain about fate, smile at the world and people, lists Angela Nikolaevna:
— Many say that I have an easy character, they say, I can't even get offended for real. So it's great when there's no room for negativity in life! Every day I get up at 4.00 and start the morning actively: I need to have time to take care of the household and run to the farm. More than 60 cows won't milk themselves — they need my hands and the milking pipeline.
— My husband and I wouldn't trade our jobs for anything. We're kept here by our love for animals and the excellent housing, the keys to which we were given practically from day one. Gas, heating, water – we have everything, we live and are happy!
Moreover, after graduating from a capital university with honors, the Voronoviches' elder daughter, Kristina, returned home. For two years now, she has been working as a speech therapist at the local school. The younger daughter, Alina, who is 16, is studying to be a hairdresser and spinner in Orsha. And she visits Tolochin almost every weekend. Fortunately, the transport links are excellent, and the railway station is within easy reach.
Every day, Anzhela Nikolaevna gets about 15 liters of milk from each cow. To maintain milk yield and increase calf weight gain, the operator from Tolochin has her own secret, not of the company, but of the farm. She believes that each animal needs a personal approach:
— You can set the mood for one cow by stroking her back, while another must put her head on my shoulder… In short, the chemistry between the operator and her charges is important.
The experienced milkmaid handles her duties without any problems. Anzhela Voronovich has twice been named the best machine milking operator in the region and has been honored on the district's Honor Board. In 2017, she represented the district at the republican livestock breeders' rally. Anzhela herself believes that one cannot lag behind in the leading farm "Korolki". Especially since the salary is decent, and the farm manager, Galina Kotova, is truly a person in her place. Largely thanks to her, "Korolki" is renowned throughout the district and beyond, believes the interviewee.
A Springboard to the Future
This summer, the pupils of the Tolochin Children and Youth Sports School received a wonderful gift. From Alim Selimov himself, a two-time world champion in Greco-Roman wrestling. Along with another famous wrestler, an Olympic medalistgames in Rio de Janeiro by Dzhavid Gamzatov, they came to the district center to conduct a master class. The idols signed autographs, presented the school with 10 sets of sports uniforms, and also gave tickets to the II European Games. Of course, for Greco-Roman wrestling competitions.
— The boys were delighted! — recalls local entrepreneur and long-time sponsor of the Children and Youth Sports School Vladimir Kamlyuk. He is directly involved in the visit of the titled wrestlers. A conspicuous poster hangs in his roadside cafe on the Moscow-Minsk highway, near the village of Salniki, with the inscription that by stopping here, guests help children's sports. Once the head of Dynamo Brest, Alexander Zaitsev, visited the cafe. Seeing the poster, he became interested in what was behind this phrase. What happened next, you already know. The entrepreneur is convinced that the children will remember the visit of sports stars for a very long time.
Following Vladimir Kamlyuk, others also began to help the sports school with words and deeds. For example, Vladimir Eduardovich's own brother Dmitry, entrepreneurs Sergey Ivanyuto and Alexey Zakrizhevsky.
There are enough businessmen in other regions too, but there are only a few such enthusiasts, says Igor Galuzo, Greco-Roman wrestling coach at the Children and Youth Sports School:
— To be honest, sometimes colleagues are green with envy: the material base is strong, and with trips to competitions thanks to sponsors, everything is much simpler. This year, the district executive committee made a significant gesture: they presented the department with a certificate for 3 thousand rubles. The money was used for uniforms and updating sports equipment.
Thus, step by step, the young Tolochin wrestlers are reaching a new level. Both in terms of training and results. Vladimir Kamlyuk is pleased with the successes of his fellow countrymen:
— If you recall how it all began, it would be a story about how I brought my son Nikolai to the gym. The seven-year-old boy dreamed of sports, and Igor Galuzo helped him become stronger in body and spirit. Kolya successfully competed at various levels, with excellentgraduated from the Olympic Reserve College, today he studies in Minsk and recently became a Master of Sport. I wish other guys had such a springboard. It's not even about championship regalia, but about the opportunity to temper character, the will to win.
An important aspect is patriotic education. For more than one year, an open Greco-Roman wrestling tournament in memory of Hero of the Soviet Union Pyotr Galetsky has been held in Tolochin. The competition, which has become a sports calling card of the district, brings together up to 300 wrestlers from Belarus and Russia. Igor Galuzo and Vladimir Kamlyuk once decided to dedicate it to a native of these places, whom the people of Tolochin call "our Alexander Matrosov".
When the Tree Sings
Mikhail Martsinkevich's entire life is connected with craftsmanship and the forest. A former forester, master of the Ozertse forestry, today he is a sharpener of woodworking tools at the Tolochin forestry. The very same one that his elder brother Vitaly once headed and where another brother, Oleg, works today. Mikhail Viktorovich is also a true fan of his profession and his native enterprise. And also of carpentry.
If you have driven along the M-1 highway, you are familiar with Mikhail Martsinkevich's work by reputation. Comfortable rest areas with gazebos, swings, decorative sculptures are his work. For his wooden compositions, the master takes not money, but smiles and kind words, which people are not stingy with.
— Recall your most large-scale task? — I ask.
— The renovation of a fragment of ancient fortress structures for the 1000th anniversary of Drutsk. About 20 years ago, the chief architect of the district center called me and handed me a sketch: "Can you handle it?"
Mikhail Viktorovich succeeded. As they say, he passed his baptism of fire. And inFirst, he took a chisel and a plane, looking at his grandfather. He was a virtuoso carpenter, and his lessons are still valid:
— Take care of the carpenter's axe, keep it sharp as a razor. Do not pass the tool on, because it likes one pair of hands.
From the age of ten, Mikhail impressed his classmates with ships, soldiers, pistols, and submachine guns carved from wood.
And among his current works, there is a more curious "weapon" — a light wooden sword, dried by the sun and time. Silvered with paint, it shines every year at the celebrations in honor of Victory Day.
And the walls heal
Maria Vasilievskaya is 31. She has been a nurse at the Tolochin District Hospital for over 10 years. One glance is enough to guess which department: pediatric! Behind her is a backpack with little foxes, funny keychains with cartoon characters — Maria is hurrying to her favorite job. At the hospital, she puts on a white coat, and also a cap of all colors of the rainbow. That's when the image and character match.
— This helps to be on the same wavelength with the kids, not to forget that sincerity is very important, — the interlocutor believes. — No "I'll give you a shot, like a mosquito bite." It's better to comfort them from the heart afterwards, and the child will understand and believe that the pain is passing. And tasty oxygen cocktails remain.
To make the young patients feel at home, the young medic came up with an unconventional move — to populate the lobby, corridor, and wards with painted magical characters. It took more than 10 liters of white paint, a sea of colorants, and a couple of months for this Tolochin-style creativity.
First, the author sketched designs, which she presented to the hospital management. Chief physician Alexey Vishnevsky and head of the department Vera Pasyutina supported the idea. Mariatook brushes in hand and presented everyone with a fairy tale. Now the hospital walls are pleasing and surprising. The idea arose following the UNDP initiative, recalls Maria Vasilevskaya:
— Last year, the "World Without Borders" project was implemented in our hospital. Modern rehabilitation equipment was purchased, a physical therapy room and a playroom were equipped. One day I looked at the walls and thought: if only they could also look new. The first work – a huge, good-natured panda – is still my favorite.
Since the paint is hypoallergenic, the process unfolded right before the eyes of the little ones. Watching the "auntie-medic" draw, they forgot that they were sick. Funny hares, puppies, and hedgehogs look from the walls, bright butterflies and nimble swallows flutter on the arches in the corridor. And a dragon, a unicorn, and a princess greet everyone at the entrance… This is a tribute to Maria's favorite "Game of Thrones." By the way, she also painted her own entrance, turning the first floor of a typical building into an underwater kingdom. Our heroine is a self-taught artist. As she herself believes, she inherited her creative streak:
— My cousin's grandfather drew wonderfully, my great-grandfather was a talented woodcarver. I also always liked to draw. When my parents worked at a textile factory, my sketches were used. Based on them, children's blankets, napkins, and even a rushnyk with the coat of arms of Tolochin were produced.
Everything connected with creativity brings joy to the craftswoman. In her free time, she makes baskets from paper vine and elegant beaded brooches, and recently she became interested in jute filigree – a special technique where jute, glue, and inspiration are needed to create an intricate picture.