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The Legend of Pinky Deras

29 August 2010 - By Deacon Jim

‘The Greatest Ever’ chonicled in new baseball film, says former teammate, Tom Paciorek
By Raymond Rolak

HAMTRAMCK– More like a Grand Slam. The movie preview was definitely a grand slam. It was the first showing of the short-documentary, “The Legend of Pinky Deras: The Greatest Little-Leaguer There Ever Was.” Players from the 1959 Hamtramck Little League National Champions and the 1961 Hamtramck Pony League National Champions were celebrated. These were mostly second generation Polish-Americans and Pinky carried the load for both of these championship teams.

Former Major Leaguer, Tom Paciorek highlighted the film with his great praise for Deras. The statistics back him up and then some. During that 1959 summer, Deras hit .641 with 33 home runs and 112 RBI’s. “When Deras pitched, you couldn’t see the ball,” said Paciorek. “And when he hit, well you had better walk him or it was a home run.” Most remember Paciorek as the longtime Chicago White Sox broadcaster.

Paciorek should know. Besides broadcasting baseball, he has the pedigree. He was an 18 year MLB veteran, an All-Star and 1972 Minor League Player of the Year.

The evening was supposed to be about celebrating Art ‘Pinky’ Deras. He wouldn’t hear of it as he shared the spotlight with his former teammates. The players in attendance received a standing ovation. “That’s Pinky,” said Robert Miller, a 1961 Pony League Championship teammate. “He was humble then and he is humble now.”

One of the great anecdotes of the evening was when Deras recalled his professional California League playing days; he went out for dinner one night with Tom and John Paciorek. “I think we were in Modesto, which was pretty heady stuff for three kids from Hamtramck. That was the 60’s and I was probably a bit too free spirited. I really looked up to John. He was a great player.” John Paciorek has a special footnote in baseball history, as he has the listing for the highest batting average in the ‘Baseball Register’. Another lost to history detail was that the Deras family name had originally been spelled Darasz.

The movie presentation had rare footage of the 1959 Championship game between Auburn, California and Hamtramck. Kevin Deras (Art’s son) located the ‘lost’ 16-millimeter film at the Little League archives in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.

Mark Modich, another longtime teammate said, “We were good as a team, but Pinky just had that much more talent.”

Deras kept shifting the spotlight from himself. “Don’t forget Sid Cline pitched a great second game,” said the tall pitcher. “Hawaii had just become a State so there was a lot of excitement.”

“I was big for my age, everyone caught up,” he added smiling. In the 1959 Finals, Hamtramck won three straight, Puerto Rico, Honolulu and Auburn. It was on Aug. 29, 1959 when Deras pitched that championship game, a 12-0 shutout. In all, Hamtramck won 13 straight games in their journey. The mostly Polish-American community of Hamtramck went wild. Their native sons were Little League National Champions.

In the preview there were scenes from the nationally televised, “The Lawrence Welk Show” that the players appeared on and never before seen shots of the 1961 Pony League Championship from Washington, Pennsylvania. One of the players even danced with the prominent, ‘Champagne Ladies’. Dodge of Chrysler Motors was a national sponsor for the Welk show and because there was a Dodge-Main (factory) connection to Hamtramck, the advertising agency pulled it all together.

Deceased and heralded educator, Joe Piasecki was remembered fondly for being such a great teammate. Also, the other catcher, Greg Pniewski said, “I had to catch those fastballs and Pinky threw the equivalent of over 100 mile per hour.”

The evening was sponsored by the Hamtramck Recreation Department and high praise went out to former Director Frank Wysoki who was so instrumental in the achievements of the Hamtramck baseball programs.

Deras emphasized how successful the Hamtramck High School baseball teams were in the old Twin Valley Conference and former Detroit Tiger, Ike Blessitt, who was in attendance, agreed wholeheartedly.

The writers and directors of the movie were present and moderated a spirited question and answer session. Buddy Moorehouse and Brian Kruger introduced narrator, Oliver Darrow. The large crowd gave the film makers another standing ovation. “We are still editing and will make a few more tweaks,” said Kruger, President of ‘stunt3-multimedia’.

The movie also highlighted the special recognition award the National Polish-American Sports Hall of Fame gave to the 1959 Hamtramck Little League National Champions. “I didn’t save many mementos but I have my photo with Stan Musial from when I was at spring training with the St. Louis Cardinals,” said Deras. Deras retired recently after spending 30 years as a Warren Public Safety Officer.

Paciorek reiterated, “Pinky was the best 12 year old baseball player ever and he was the best 14 year old baseball player ever. I have seen many and he was the best. We had the support of the whole community.”

The film will again be previewed Sunday, August 29, on WXYZ-TV Detroit Channel 7 at 1:00 PM before the ABC-ESPN presentation of the 2010 Little League World Series at 3:00 PM. Copies of the DVD which is expected to be 42 minutes long will be available at stunt3.

Photo courtesy of stunt3-MultiMedia

1959 Hamtramck Little League National Champions

Chester, John
Cline, Charles
Cline, Sid
Dembeck, Richard
Deras, Art
Ferrebee, Reginald
Heald, William
Jones, Kenneth
Lepkowski, Steven
Milewski, Michael
Modich, Mark
Piasecki, Joseph
Pionkowski, Eugene
Polich, James
Pniewski, Gregory
Przytoysz, Matthew
Scott, Mark

Tags: ι ι ι ι Categories: Poland - Polish - Polonia, Xpost to PGF

The Vascular Birthmarks Foundation 1st Annual Bands For Birthmarks – Family Fun Day in Albany

28 August 2010 - By Deacon Jim

The Vascular Birthmarks Foundation (VBF) will be celebrating its 1st Annual “Bands for Birthmarks” family fun day. Beginning at 3:00 pm on Sunday, August 29th, at the Polish Community Center, 225 Washington Ave Ext, Albany NY 12205. The event offers a fun and inexpensive end of the summer day for families to enjoy music, clowning, football and just being outdoors—while helping a worthy cause.

Three well-known local rock/party bands in the Capital District are donating their services to this worthy cause. Featured bands include: Prolonged Exposure, What-Ever!, and T.R.O.U.B.L.E. In addition, there will be three clowns from the group Heartfelt Clowning. These include: Happy Heart, Sweet Pea, and Hot Flash. Bouncey Bounce and plenty of delicious Polish and American foods will also be available for purchase. Local former NFL Player Tim Sherwin will be conducting a receiving clinic for the kids. There will be a limited number of free footballs that will be autographed for kids attending the clinic.

For more information, contact: Basia Joyce at (518) 495-3938, or you can register on-line, or just show up and have some fun. The weather forecast is for sunny skies, temperatures in the mid 80′s. Come join us ! ! ! Students admission is only $5.

Tags: ι Categories: Events, Poland - Polish - Polonia

Church and State in Poland

28 August 2010 - By Deacon Jim

From Reuters: Poland’s cross wars revive debate on role of church

A simple wooden cross honouring victims of a plane crash that killed Poland’s president in April has spurred demands that the influence of the powerful Roman Catholic Church be pared back to forge a more secular Poland.

The Roman Catholic Church was a focus of Polish national resistance over centuries of foreign occupation. Most recently, it provided protection for the Solidarity trade union in its battles with Soviet-backed communist rule in the 1980s.

Churches were packed after an air crash on April 10 killed conservative President Lech Kaczynski and 95 other people, mostly senior state figures. Many Poles gathered spontaneously to honor, and often pray for, those who died.

A scout group set a crucifix outside the presidential palace in Warsaw, which turned into a shrine for the victims.

Four months later, the three-meter-high cross is still there, festooned with candles and flowers despite attempts by the state and some clergy to move it to a nearby church. The “cross defenders” stood their ground, squabbling with police.

The cross debate reflects political divisions. It has become a rallying point for radical rightists backed by the main opposition, the nationalist Law and Justice (PiS) party led by Kaczynski’s twin brother, Jaroslaw.

“The problem of too close links between church and politics exists here for so long that many people don’t even see it,” said Jacek Kucharczyk, head of the Institute of Public Affairs.

Poland, a country of 38 million people, is one of the few strongholds of Catholicism in a largely secular European Union.

A 2009 survey by the Polish episcopate’s statistics body showed 41.5 percent of Poles attended Sunday mass, a number that has been gradually falling since the survey started three decades ago, but still much higher than elsewhere in the 27-nation EU.

PROBLEMS WITH SECULARISM

For many Poles, the cross is as much a cultural and traditionally Polish symbol as it is a religious one.

“At times of occupation, this symbol of Polish identity was relatively safe. And by some strange paradox, this habit from times of oppression is approved today in a free country as a symbol of a free nation,” said Zbigniew Mikolejko, philosopher of religion at Poland’s Academy of Sciences.

Crosses hang on the walls of schools, hospitals and state buildings throughout Poland as well as in parliament, something many Poles find natural despite the fact that the constitution guarantees the separation of church and state.

The Polish Church itself is deeply split between a moderate clergy and a more nationalist-minded hierarchy. Many from the latter group openly backed Jaroslaw Kaczynski in this year’s presidential election triggered by his brother’s death and now call on their supporters to prevent the removal of the cross.

“This is an absolutely unacceptable role of church in a democracy. It damages the state as much as the church,” said Marcin Krol, political philosopher at Warsaw University.

Kaczynski polled 47 percent in losing the presidential poll to Bronislaw Komorowski, the candidate of Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s pragmatist Civic Platform (PO). Analysts said the “cross wars” could drive PiS support back down to levels seen before the crash, which occurred in Smolensk, western Russia.

“Now he can only come down toward some 25-35 percent of society constituting his core supporters,” Kucharczyk said.

Analysts saw the PO’s rating as stable, despite the row.

Adam Boniecki, a priest and a leading Catholic intellectual, said the cross had split Poles along political lines of PO versus PiS.

“There is a difference between fighting for a cross and fighting with it. This row has started a reflection about the role of the church,” he added.

SECULAR STATE

The raised voices of the “cross defenders” have led to calls for a more secular state and the elimination of religious symbols from public life.

In an interview with the weekly Polityka published on Wednesday, Komorowski said he still hoped the cross would be moved.

“The current situation is politically risky and difficult for everybody. It is particularly so for the Church, I believe, which is already paying a price for this conflict and will continue paying it in the longer term.”

A survey by the ARC institute showed in July nearly 60 percent of Poles believed no religious symbols should be shown in public places, while about 30 percent took the opposite view.

About 63 percent believed religions other than Catholicism were getting worse treatment in Poland, it showed.

“The cross row unblocked a discussion that has been a taboo — the fact that a large part of the society is tired with the Church’s permanent political engagement,” Kucharczyk said.

Poland’s leftist opposition, the Democratic Left Alliance (SLD), is drafting proposals to entrench secular standards and analysts say it may win political points in this.

“We must hold a discussion in Poland, which many other European countries already have behind them,” SLD spokesman, Tomasz Kalita, said. “We care for the Polish constitution to be respected. At present, it’s not.”

The best quote being from Fr. Boniecki: “There is a difference between fighting for a cross and fighting with it.”

This is all too familiar, from the role of Churches in political life in many countries to the mosque debate. Faith, informed through the light of the Church, must guide the conscience of believers. It is incumbent on pastors and deacons to teach, to impart, those life lessons – of how to make faith active for the good of the community and the world. From there, the Church must put its faith in the strength of its catechesis.

A secular state is fine, with rights for all, and Church can be all that it is in such a state. A secularist state that militantly fights against all faith (excepting those that co-opt themselves by getting behind the state’s agenda) is not good for anyone. On the other hand, its opposite, a theocracy, does little to guide the lives of believers because they can only see the Cross and the Word as a weapon.

Tags: ι ι Categories: Christian Witness, Poland - Polish - Polonia

The Holy Mount of Grabarka in Poland (Święta Góra Grabarka)

23 August 2010 - By Deacon Jim

From Mystagogy:

The most prominent and well-known feature of Grabarka is the forest of crosses surrounding the Church, all brought to the Mount by pilgrims.

The Holy Mount of Grabarka has been a center for pilgrimage for Orthodox Christians from Poland and other countries since the 18th century. Especially noteworthy is the feast of the Transfiguration of Christ in August, which draws about 10,000 believers from all over Europe. It is traditional for them arrive at Grabarka by foot, some of them bearing the wooden crosses that can be seen surrounding the Church.


Grabarka
Uploaded by amabka. – Exotic and entertaining travel videos.

Tags: ι ι ι Categories: Christian Witness, Poland - Polish - Polonia

Polish Heritage Night at Wrigley Field

23 August 2010 - By Deacon Jim

Polish Heritage Night, First Time at Wrigley Field, sponsored by PEPSI — by Raymond Rolak

CHICAGO– PEPSI and —˜Chicago Cub’s Charities’ helped the Chicago based Polish American Association to raise over $12,500 at the first Polish Heritage Night at Wrigley Field. Purchase, New York is the home for PEPSI headquarters.

Almost 34,000 turned out to enjoy the game and pregame festivities which included the high energy of ALIZMA. The violin trio did not disappoint.

The PAA sold Cub’s baseball caps with the Polish flag on the side for $5. All the proceeds went to the PAA for their programs. The PAA provides social services in the Chicago area. Besides PEPSI, PNC Bank was also a keynote sponsor for the evening.

Those that came late missed the jazzy renditions of the Polish and American National Anthems by vocalist Agnieszka Iwanska.

Everyone seemed to join in the celebration. The San Diego Padre broadcast team of Dick Enberg and Mark Grant highlighted their telecast back to California with Polish American baseball anecdotes. —œStan Musial was the first inductee into the National Polish-American Sports Hall of Fame,— said Enberg. Grant was impressed with Enberg’s history recall. —œI try and vote every year,— added Enberg. It should not be surprising as Enberg is a baseball history buff and always peppers his broadcasts with old tidbits of baseball information. Before the game, the Central Michigan University alumnus (1957) also bragged about former CMU quarterback Dan LaFevour, now playing for the Chicago Bears.

Grant, a former pitcher, fondly told stories about Danny Ozark. Ozark was his manager in San Francisco in 1984. The deceased Ozark was a NPASHF inductee this year.

Also, before the game, Cub’s Coach Allan Trammell was impressed with the entertainment and reminisced about Polish night at old Tiger Stadium in Detroit. —œWe used to tease Dick Tracewski our longtime coach. I have Polish-Philadelphia roots and this brings back memories of my mom’s cooking. It is hard to find good stuffed cabbage in California,— said Trammell.

Students from the Polish Saturday School in Chicago were the honor guard for the pregame anthems. Aleksandra Krystek of the Polish Consulate and Jadwiga Pytlik-Kacik of the Polish Saturday School choreographed the music and flag protocol. It went off without a glitch.

Zygmunt Matynia, Consul General of the Republic of Poland and Gary Kenzer, Executive Director of the PAA were scheduled to throw out the ceremonial first pitches. Also, Stan Kaczmarek of the Cub’s was supposed to do a special toss before the game but the music ran long. No one complained as ALIZMA was rocking the house. They boot-scooted and energized old Wrigley Field with both Polish pop songs and American Country favorites. The Polish triplets Aleksandra, Izabela and Monika, were a big-big hit.

In the concourse and near gate F, volunteers from the PAA and Cub’s staff were selling the Polish Flag-Cub’s hats. Almost 2,500 were sold. Krystyna Grell and Beata Cohmiak did a brisk business selling hats and also passed out baseball instruction cards printed bilingually for rules enhancement and —˜rookie’ attendees.

With people still mingling outside of festive Wrigley Field, the San Diego Padres did the home team in, 1-0. The Cubs had a disaster of a first inning and never recovered. It has been a rough year for the loveable —˜Cubbies’. They have 10 rookies on the roster and after the game they traded slugger Derek Lee to the Atlanta Braves. They are over twenty games under the .500 mark. It looks as if the rebuilding has started.

The Levy Restaurant and Catering Company provided Polish style dinners at the —˜Sheffield Grill’ and there was Polish offerings throughout the Wrigley Field concession stands.

Chicago Black Hawk broadcaster Ed Olczyk sang the traditional Wrigley Field, —˜Take Me Out to the Ball Game’ during the 7th inning stretch. The still enthusiastic crowd stood and joined in as the established tradition demands. Most stayed to the end, there was a chance in the bottom of the ninth. Alas, the home team went down still, 1-0. The loveable Cub’s.

John Pachlowski and Michal Jaworski of TVN-24 did a television feature for Polish TV and the Chicago Sun-Times highlighted all the Polish-American baseball players in the NPASHF, including Jenny Romatowski. She is another Polish-American Wrigley Field baseball connection. You can look it up.

Other Major League Baseball teams that hosted Polish Nights this year are the Detroit Tigers, Cleveland Indians, Chicago White Sox, and the Pittsburg Pirates.

There is a baseball training center in Kutno, Poland which has hosted the European Little League Championships.

Raymond Rolak is a Michigan based sports broadcaster.

Tags: ι Categories: Poland - Polish - Polonia, Xpost to PGF

Wooden Churches of the Lower Beskids

16 August 2010 - By Deacon Jim

A reader suggested this to me… and here for your enjoyment and edification:

More about the Beskid Range, and the wooden churches of the region from Wikipedia. Many of these churches have changed hands several times, going from Roman, to Greek Catholic, to Orthodox, and back again.

Tags: ι ι ι Categories: Poland - Polish - Polonia

Do not manipulate the cross

15 August 2010 - By Deacon Jim

The Roman Catholic Primate of Poland, Archbishop Józef Kowalczyk, speaking at the Częstochowa Shrine on August 15th, called on his countryman to stop using the cross as a political symbol. Now if only the politicians, politicos, and the easily manipulated of all countries would heed the message. More information and background on this issue is available from Reuters in: Warsaw archbishop calls for memorial cross removal

From Wiadomosci: Prymas Polski: nie angażujcie się w tę manipulację krzyżem!

Blisko 100 tys. osób uczestniczyło w niedzielę na Jasnej Górze w uroczystościach święta Wniebowzięcia Najświętszej Marii Panny. Prymas Polski, abp Józef Kowalczyk, apelował w homilii o zaprzestanie gorszącej manipulacji symbolem krzyża. Wzywał, by krzyż nie był narzędziem przetargu politycznego…

Roughly translated to: Polish Primate: do not join yourselves to this manipulation of the cross!

Nearly 100 thousand people attended the celebration of the [R.C.] Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary on Sunday at the Marian Shrine of Jasna Gora in Poland. The Polish Primate, Archbishop Józef Kowalczyk, appealed in his homily to end the scandal of the manipulation of the cross. He urged that the cross was not a political tool up for bid.

Categories: Christian Witness, Poland - Polish - Polonia, Political

Take me out to the ballgame, Polish Night, and poprawiny

12 August 2010 - By Deacon Jim

Polish-American Baseball Night – —˜A Big Hit’ In Detroit by Raymond Rolak and courtesy of Polish Times/Czas Polski

DETROIT—“ Before the game, the players watched with amaze: both the A’s and the Tiger’s. They watched along with everyone else, the color and the authentic costumes. They watched the Polish folk dancing and listened. The show was spectacular and this all helped to make Polish-American Night at Comerica Park a giant hit.

Coordinated by the Polish American Congress-Michigan Division, the evening was a vision of color and the weather was perfect. For those in attendance, the Polish style music was a hit also. At game time, Comerica Park was standing room only.

The home team lost to the Oakland A’s, 5-4, but the post game fireworks presented by Pepsi got most in attendance in good spirits before they left the stadium. The accompanied Polka music during the fireworks show was a surprise and an added bonus.

It was the 40th Annual Polish-American Night with the Tigers and before the game General Manager, Dave Dombrowski was smiling, —œWe will have a full house and it will be a great pre-game show.— The Tigers and the Polish-American Night committee hit a home run with the presentation.—

At the Detroit event even —œPAWS—, the Tiger’s mascot was dressed in Polish folk costume and the Press Box and staff commissary was serving Polish stuffed cabbage and kielbasa-n-kraut.

Early arrivals to Comerica were treated to the lively tunes of Big Daddy Lackowski & the La-De-Das, The Natural Tones and The Kielbasa Kings. Big crowds gathered outside of Comerica Park before the game and enjoyed the music. WDIV-TV weatherman, Chuck Gaidica highlighted Big Daddy Lackowski on the Channel-4 evening news.

Also, the first 10,000 people entering the stadium got vintage-style wool —˜Olde English D’ Tigers caps with the 1935 World Series highlighted. These were sponsored by the Detroit Medical Center. It is the 75th anniversary of that title. Furthermore, The Tigers and the Polish-American Night Committee presented tee-shirts to those that bought a pre-planned ticket package. Also, the Polish American Congress Foundation got $5 from every Polish Night pre-game ticket package sold.

There were 13 dance troupes and the Polish Scouts performing on the field. Representatives of sponsoring Polish fraternal groups were introduced before the game.

Before the game, Tiger radio broadcaster Jim Price hosted Wally Ozog, currently of Chicago and President of the Polish Roman Catholic Union of America, on his pre-game show. Price highlighted past Polish-American nights at Tiger Stadium. Throughout the Oakland-Detroit game broadcast, Price brought to light, anecdotes about former Major League Polish-American baseball players. He told humorous stories about Tom Paciorek, Frank Tanana, Ron Perranoski and Dick Tracewski. Price, who played for the Tigers said, —œWe always looked forward to Polish-American Night as we had Polish food in the clubhouse after the game and we always teased —œTrixie— (Tracewski), for getting another plaque from the host committee. People forget he was on three World Series winners as a player and another as a coach. That’s four rings. Those are great memories.—

Price also mentioned that former Tiger Jim Northrup and his wife are sponsoring an orphanage in Poland.

On the field, right before the umpires declared, —œPlay Ball—, Barb Toboy, introduced Robert Szczublewski, who was dressed in traditional Polish costume. He had stirring renditions of the Polish National Anthem and the —œStar Spangled Banner—. It transitioned to the honoring of a decorated U.S. Army veteran, Specialist Joe James, who was on leave from Iraq. They got standing ovations

Ceremonial first pitch throwers, Nicole Blaszcak and Jerry Lubiarz did commendable jobs and survived the tremendous applause. The PRCUA Zakopane Polish Folk Dance Group had the distinction of being the color guard.

The Tiger loss dampened a spectacular three home run night by Miguel Cabrera. It was the first time for the Tiger slugger that he had three in one game. Oakland reliever Andrew Bailey earned his 10th save of the year. The A’s are now 9-2, in the all-important, one-run games.

In the press-box, former Tiger great Willie Horton reminisced how honored he felt when presenting Paciorek into the National Polish-American Sports Hall of Fame in 1992. —œI remember how great the mushroom soup was that evening. I love Polish food. Tom and I were teammates in Seattle. He had good years in Seattle. He always helped keep the clubhouse loose. He is a great baseball broadcaster, always prepared.—

Ray Fosse, former catcher for the Oakland A’s and now their flagship station broadcaster sent glowing reports of the evening to California during his call of the game. Mario Impemba of Fox Sports Detroit also painted the picture of Polish —“American Night with highlights on the Tigers TV-cast. Fox Sports Detroit had great camera work with their High Definition video of the pre-game show. The television camera’s highlighted all the color of the Polish-American Night extravaganza.

Most of the electronic media outlets mentioned the National Polish-American Sports Hall of Fame induction ceremony June 24, in Troy, Michigan which honored former Phillies Manager Danny Ozark. Ozark led the Phillies to NL-East titles in 76, 77 and 78. He was also a longtime coach for the L. A. Dodgers. Past Philadelphia slugger Greg Luzinski presented for the deceased Ozark (2009). Paciorek, the popular and veteran announcer, was the emcee. He was awarded a sports Emmy for his White Sox and Washington National’s baseball broadcasts.

NPASHF Chairman Jim Conrad said, We also inducted “swimming champion Kristy Kowal of Reading, Pennsylvania and Hamtramck, Michigan native and tennis great Peaches Barkowicz.— NPASHF board members manned an informational table near the right field foul corner.

During an after party (poprawiny) at the Coaches Corner Bar & Grill, in Harmonie Park, former University of Buffalo football player Gerry Ratkewitz over piwa (Polish beer), said, —œI remember Al Kaline’s only three home run game, it was in 1955 against Kansas City. Steve Gromek was the winning pitcher.— Detroit native son, Gromek, pitched for the Tigers at the time and was inducted into the NPASHF in 1981.

Polish-American Night, the game and festivities, were dedicated to the memory of Poland’s President Lech Kaczynski and First Lady Maria Kaczynska and the 94 others who lost their lives in the tragic airplane crash of April, !0, 2010 in Smolensk, Russia. They were in route to the 70th anniversary memorial of the World War II, Katyn atrocity.

Polish-American Night in Buffalo was held at Coca-Cola Field on August 3rd, when the Bison’s AAA Team took on Lehigh Valley as part of Polish Fest. Polish American nights were also hosted by the Cleveland Indians, Pittsburgh Pirates, Toledo Mud Hens AAA, Chicago White Sox, and from the first time on August 17th at Wrigley Field, home of the Chicago Cubs.

Mr. Rolak reports that Polish Heritage Night at Wrigley benefited the Chicago based Polish American Association.

Prior to the event, Matthew Wszolek, Director of Special Events for the Chicago Cubs stated: —œWe’re proud to present this as one of our special premium nights at Wrigley Field,— and —œWith the help of the Pepsi, we hope everyone will enjoy an entertaining night at the ballpark while supporting several community programs in the process. We have some great musical and pregame surprises planned.—

When the Ricketts family bought the Cubs, they had a mission statement of getting more involved with the community. —œThis is our first heritage night and I expect we will expand the program,— added Wszolek.

Those attending Polish Heritage Night were eligible to receive a special commemorative Cub’s cap embroidered with the Polish flag on its side. The cap was given to each game attendee who contributed $5 to Chicago Cubs Charities when purchasing their ticket.

Chicago Cubs Charities donated 100% of the cap sales to support the Polish-American Association programs.

Larry Flood, Vice President of Chicagoland-Wisconsin Pepsi said. —œPepsi has a great tradition of aligning with the community. We’re happy to partner for such a positive event. This heritage night should welcome many new fans to Wrigley Field and Chicago Cubs baseball.— Pepsi is supplying the embroidered Cub’s hats.

The Polish American Association has been in operation since 1922 helping Chicago’s Polish community. The PAA provides a range of bilingual and cultural programs in the areas of social services, employment, education, and immigration services.

The event also celebrated all the Polish-Americans that excelled in Major League Baseball. Included is Cub’s coach Allan Trammell. He was inducted into the National Polish-American Sports Hall of Fame in 1998. The NPASHF Museum is in Troy, Michigan. Stan Musial was the first inductee in 1973.

Chicago Black Hawk broadcaster, Ed Olczyk sang —œTake Me Out to the Ball Game— during the popular Cub’s tradition at the 7th inning stretch. Olczyk was a NPASHF inductee in 2004.

Tags: ι Categories: Events, Poland - Polish - Polonia

Summer — food and festivals

1
12 August 2010 - By Deacon Jim

Minneapolis, MN: From the Twin Cities Daily Planet: Two Polish festivals for Minneapolis

For Polish families in Northeast Minneapolis there is the Twin Cities Polish Festival – and then there is THE Polish Fest. The latter, sponsored by Sacred Heart of Jesus Polish National Catholic Church, was Saturday, August 7, at the church at 420 22nd Ave NE. Parishioners at Sacred Heart of Jesus know that their fest long preceded the neophyte Twin Cities Polish Festival which is coming up August 14-15 at St. Anthony.

The bottom line: you just can’t have enough Polish festivity.

The Twin Cities Polish Festival, new on the festival scene, features a wide range of cultural, historical and educational displays, musical and dance entertainment and traditional foods and beverages. Attendees of whatever ethnic persuasion will enjoy “all things Polish,” presenting a kaleidoscope of unique cultural and educational displays, food and entertainment. Highlights include the Kresy-Syberia Exhibit, a literary display featuring Polish writer Joseph Conrad, a major Chopin performance, a whirlwind of polka, and a Polish Film Festival co-sponsored by Minnesota Film Arts.

Albany, NY: The Polish Community Center, 225 Washington Ave Ext, Albany is sponsoring a Polish-American buffet, Friday, August 13th from 4 to 8pm and a Polka dance – picnic with Rymanowski Brothers Band on Sunday, August 15th from 2:30 to 6:30pm. Call 518-456-3995 for more information.

Wilkes-Barre, PA: Takeouts-Only Chicken Barbecue on Saturday, August 14th from 1 to 4pm at Holy Cross Polish National Catholic Church, Sheridan Street, Heights, Wilkes-Barre. Dinners are $8. Tickets sold at the door.

Buffalo, NY: Annual Dozynki Harvest Festival and the Third Buffalo’s Best Pierogi Contest at Corpus Christi Church, 199 Clark Street, Buffalo, NY on Saturday, August 21st from 12:30pm till 11:30pm and Sunday, August 22nd from 12:45pm until 5:30pm. The Pierogi Earting Contest will take place Saturday at 4:30pm.

So come watch or particpate!!! The Church’s Pierogi contest has grown to become a big hit. This year they will have three categories… traditional, non traditional, and for the first time commercial (restaurant, businesses, etc.). The judges…Steve Watson (Buffalo News), Greg Witul (Local Historian), Tom Kerr (Executive Director of the Broadway Market), Alan Bedenko (The Buffalo Pundit and restaurant reviewer for Buffalo Spree), Marc Poloncarz (Erie County Comptroller), Marty Biniasz (Dyngus Day Buffalo/Forgotten Buffalo), Christina Abt (Local Author and host of Buffalo Style On WECK), Mark Lewandowski (President, Central Terminal Restoration Corporation), And Josh Boose (WGRZ-TV)…

Tags: ι ι ι ι Categories: Events, PNCC, Poland - Polish - Polonia

A Polka hello – just because

12 August 2010 - By Deacon Jim

Local favorite, Tony’s Polka Band, performing at the St. Stanislaus Youth Center in Scranton in 2007. Enjoy!

Tags: ι ι ι Categories: Poland - Polish - Polonia

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