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ACROSS THE GLOBE
POLAND ARRESTS ALLEGED MOSSAD AGENT. The German federal prosecutor’s office says Polish authorities have
arrested an alleged Mossad agent wanted in connection with the slaying of a Hamas leader in Dubai.
A prosecutor’s spokesman told The Associated Press that Germany is now seeking Israeli Uri Brodsky’s extradition. However, Israeli
ministers want him returned to Israel.
Brodsky is suspected of working for a foreign spy agency in Germany and helping issue a fake German passport to a member of the Mossad hit squad that
was allegedly behind the killing of Mahmoud al-Mabhouh in January. He was arrested in early June upon his arrival in Poland because of a European arrest warrant issued by Germany.
“EYESORE” TO BECOME HOMES, SCHOOL. Nearly four years after a wrecking ball took to Baltimore’s old St. Stanislaus Church
site, work is again under way to make way for a new project.
Developer Larry Silverstein is acquiring the property from the Franciscan Friars. He said his first order of business is to get a school building in
shape for a Montessori school to occupy in the fall, and then he plans to build as many as 20 townhouses.
Silverstein has done ten other projects in Fells Point.
“It’s right up our alley. We restore old buildings and do urban infill, so to get a property like this in my backyard is a dream-come
true,” the developer said.
Some unresolved issues remain for the site, which many called an “eyesore.” Silverstein said the so-called
four-bay house that’s still standing is unstable and can’t be saved. He said the old church is not going anywhere, but he’s welcoming ideas.
St. Stanislaus church closed its doors ten years ago. The former Franciscan stronghold was once the center of the
neighborhood.
PSAA DISTRICT 7 BRINGS HOME HLOND TROPHY. The Aria Chorus, a mixed choir from Wallington, N.J. won highest points at the 49th International
Convention of the Polish Singers Alliance, held in Buffalo, May 27-30.
The 49th International Convention was hosted by the Alliance’s District IX, Buffalo, and chaired by Mary Lou Wyrobek. Co-chairs were by the Hon.
Ann T. Mikoll and Janina Mazun.
In addition to competitions, and business meetings, members of visiting choirs toured Western New York. Combined choruses sang at a Mass at St.
Stanislaus Church.
Other winners included the Oginski Chorus from Hempstead, N.Y., which won first place in Male Chorus Competition, and the Club Filaret from Detroit,
which took first place in Female category.
CRASHSITE THIEVES CAUGHT. Four Russian soldiers were arrested for the theft of bank cards from the wreckage of the plane crash that killed
Polish President Lech Kaczynski and ninety-five others in April.
The thieves used bank cards stolen from the body of crash victim Andrzej Przewoznik to withdraw a total of about $6,000 over a two-day period from
Przewoznik’s bank account. Russian investigators report that the four suspects have admitted the theft and are cooperating with officials.
The soldiers were on duty at the airport in Smolensk where the Russian-made plane carrying the Polish President and his delegation crashed while en
route to a memorial ceremony at the site of the Katyn Massacre.
Meanwhile, addressing a press conference in Warsaw, Polish government spokesman Paweł Graś apologized to the servicemen of the OMON Russian
swat team for suggesting they were responsible for the theft of the credit cards. Speaking in Russian, Graś explained that he had made a mistake.
AMERICAN POLONIA AT A GLANCE
CALIFORNIA
YORBA LINDA — The Polish National Alliance Orange County
Lodge 3193, will host its 30th Annual Polish American Day, Sun., Aug. 01, 2010 at The Pope John Paul II Polish Center, 3999 Rose Dr., just one block south of Imperial Highway.
The event begins with a Polish-language Holy Mass at 10:30 a.m., followed by dancing and entertainment from 1:00-5:00 p.m. Roger & the Villagers,
one of California’s finest polka bands, will provide music. The Polania Polish Folk Dance Ensemble will also perform various dances from regions of Poland. Booths including Kozlowski Farms from
Sonoma County and POLAM Federal Credit Union will be featured. Polish food — “the best outside of Poland” — will be available prepared by Teresa Turek Catering throughout the day.
Donation to the festival is $8.00 for adults; $6.00 (seniors); $3.00 (children 5-12_ and under 5 free with adult
admission. This event is one of the biggest gatherings of Polish Americans in the West.
For information call Tony Nowak at (951) 808-9580, Patty Kobzi (714) 998-8222 or visit www.pna-znp.org/content/events/events.htm.
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ILLINOIS
CHICAGO — The Polish Museum of America (984 N. Milwaukee Ave.), is sponsoring its annual used book sale Sat., July 17 (10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.) and Sun., July 18 (11:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.), in the
first floor Social Hall. Books on Polish subjects, written in either Polish or English will be available. Polish Museum mementos will also be sold. Payment is accepted in cash or by check only. Credit
cards are not accepted. For further information, call (773) 384-3352 X101.
MINNESOTA
MINNEAPOLIS — The Polish American Cultural Institute
of Minnesota is proud to announce that Miss Victoria (Tori) Piorek will perform the duties of Miss Polonia 2010 and will represent the organization in the Richfield July 4th parade on July 4 and the
Minneapolis Aquatennial on July 21.
Following in her grandparents and parents shoes, Piorek has danced with the Dolina Polish Folk Dancers for 14 years. She has been acting as
co-director for the group as well as for the teen Polish dance group Chabry. She will be traveling to Rzeszow, Poland in 2011 to attend the world-wide folk dance festival, held every three years.
Piorek is incredibly proud of her Polish background and hopes to always stay involved in the Polish community. She is currently working towards her BA
in Human Resources while working full time as an Executive Assistant at the University of Minnesota.
NEW JERSEY
CARLSTADT — A first for
the Polish American community: two fraternals — the Association of the Sons of Poland, headquartered in Carlstadt, N.J., and the Polish Union of America from Buffalo — have joined forces to
provide members and friends with two special tourist attractions.
The first will take you to Pennsylvania Amish Country from Wednesday, August 4 to Saturday, August 7 at a cost of $525 per person.
The second is a Dickens Christmas Tour in Ohio from Tuesday, November 2 to Friday, November 5 at a cost of $499 per person with full payment due on September 30th.
For more information, call the
Polish Union at (716) 677-0220 or the Association of the Sons of Poland at (201) 935-2807. If interested, a deposit of $100 should be sent immediately to the Polish Union of America at 745 Center Road,
West Seneca, NY 14224.
NEW YORK
NEW YORK — The Polish & Slavic Federal Credit Union of Greenpoint allocated $2.5 million as a special
dividend payout to help clients in the tough economic times. Dividends were paid to individuals and businesses who have been members since December 31, 2009. they received a one-time payout equal to 0.25
percent of average balances for 2009.
ROCHESTER — Lodge 512 of the Polish National Alliance will celebrate its 110th anniversary, Sept. 25 at St. Stanislaus Auditorium on Hudson and Norton Sts.
Cocktails at 6:30, dinner at 7:30, followed by dancing to True Colors. Tickets are $30.00 (adult) and $20 (student). For tickets, call (585) 266-5876 or 872-5953.
PENNSYLVANIA
PHILADELPHIA — The Polish American Congress Eastern PA District, announced that Ed and Jean (Abramczyk) McCloskey will be the Grand Marshals of the
2010 Pulaski Day Parade in Philadelphia. This is the second time that a husband and wife have been selected as Grand Marshals.
Ed, a retired Philadelphia Police Officer of 27 years, has been involved with the Polish Police Association since its inception 34 years ago and
currently serves as Second Vice President. Jean is the Chairperson of the Pulaski Dinner Dance. They have been involved in Polish American activities for over 50 years including the Pulaski Day Parade.
The McCloskeys will lead the Pulaski Day Parade in Center City Philadelphia on Sunday, October 3. For more information about the parade, call the
Polish American Congress office during regular business hours Mon.- Fri. at (215) 739-3408.
SWEDESBURG — July 23-25. Annual Polish Festival, Sacred Heart Parish, 120 Jefferson Street. Fri., 6:00-11:00 p.m.; Sat. 4:00-11:00 p.m.; Sun.,
4:00-10:00 p.m. Polish food, games & much more. Sloneczniki Children’s Folk Dance Group will perform on Sunday. Info call rectory (610) 275-1750.
BENSALEM —Aug. 1. Polish Army Veterans Post #12 Polish Soldiers’ Day, Polish Veterans Park (Polanka’s), 3258 Knights Road, Bensalem.
Mass 1:00 p.m. followed by Commemorative Exercises and picnic. Info call Polanka (215) 639-1019.
SCHNECKVILLE —Aug. 1. PNA Council 171 Polish Festival Dozynki at Schnecksville Fire Co. Pavilion, Rt. 309 (North of Allentown). Gates open 11:00
a.m. Polish Mass Noon. Music by Eddie Derwin & The Polka Naturals Band and the Reverse Band from New York. Refreshments available. Info call Michael Pierzga (610) 759-2775.
FORT WASHINGTON — Aug. 3. Concert (Polish American Fest), St. Thomas’ Church Bethlehem Pike and Church Road (Rt. 73). Performance by PKM
(Polish Intercollegiate Club Dancers), 7:00 p.m. Moonlight Concert, 8:00 p.m. with Malgosia Fiebig from Gdansk, Poland, performing on the carillon Free admission. Info call (215) 233-3970.
PHILADELPHIA —Aug. 5-7. Annual Festival, St. Adalbert Parish, Thompson Street & Allegheny Avenue, Port Richmond section. 6:00-10:00 p.m.
Music by Polish American String Band (Thur.); Polka Trio Band (Fri.); and Continental Polish Music (Sat.). Games of chance, refreshments and more. Call rectory at (215) 739-3500
BETHLEHEM —Aug. 6- 15. Bethlehem MusikFest, Spring & Main Streets. Noon to 11:00 p.m. Hundreds of performers including polka bands every
day. Info call (610) 332-1300 or visit www.MusikFest.org.
PHILADELPHIA —Aug. 13. The Philadelphia Chapter of the Kosciuszko Foundation Sixth Annual Summer Concert, Ethical Society Building, 1906 S.
Rittenhouse Square. 7:00 p.m. Info/reservations contact Fred Wolanin at ajwolanin@gmail.com or call Teresa Wojcik (215) 752-9270.
PHILADELPHIA. Aug. 14-15. Walking Pilgrimage, beginning from St. Adalbert Church, Port Richmond section, Philadelphia, to the Shrine of Our Lady of
Czestochowa, Doylestown, Pa. Info call rectory (215) 739-3500.
SOUTH DAKOTA
CRAZY HORSE — Sixteen girls and five boys from the Dakotas,
Alaska, Oklahoma and New Mexico started classes last month at the first Summer University Program at Crazy Horse Memorial.
The courses run through Aug. 13. The privately-funded program, offered under the auspices of USD, is new to the nonprofit Crazy Horse Memorial
Foundation.
Late sculptor Korczak Ziolkowski envisioned a university and medical training center shortly after dedicating the nonprofit Memorial in 1948 to honor
and help American Indians. His wife, Ruth Ziolkowski wished for the first dormitory and classroom facility on her 80th birthday in 2006, and well-wishers responded with nearly $200,000 that has helped to
fund architectural planning and engineering designs.
In 2009, Sioux Falls philanthropist and businessman T. Denny Sanford gave $2.5 million for the construction after Muffy and Paul Christen of Huron
provided a $5 million endowment to the South Dakota Community Foundation. The endowment’s annual investment earnings will pay for the educational program’s ongoing operating costs.
The Crazy Horse classes are aimed at college preparation and freshman-level English, algebra and American Indian Studies. The students can earn up to
12 college-credit hours, including time working in paid internships at the Memorial’s visitor complex.
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