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CAMDEN DIOCESE RETAINS POLISH PARISH. Bishop Joseph Galante announced the Camden Diocese plans to cut the number of its parishes from 124 to 66, but thankfully Saint Joseph's Parish was not among those to be closed or clustered with other parishes. Saint Joseph's Church, South Camden, a Polish parish, will remain a stand-alone parish with its own pastor. It had been feared by the Polonia of the Camden area that the church would be merged and lose its identity, but that is not the case. The church will continue to serve the Polonia of South Jersey and keep up the traditions that have been ongoing since the parish was founded in 1892. BEIJING BOYCOTT. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has become the first European Union government official to declare he would boycott the opening of the Olympic Games in Beijing this summer in protest against China's brutal reprisals against Tibet. The Czech government has followed suit, and Tusk has tried to persuade other European leaders to join in the campaign. Close to 80,000 Poles have signed petitions calling on Tusk to set a negotiating team to mediate in the Sino-Tibetan dispute. BEGINS IRAQ WITHDDRAWAL. The first convoy of Polish troops and equipment left the Echo military base in Diwaniyah, south central Iraq mid-April. "The process has been divided into three phases," said Head of Logistics of the 10th Polish Contingent, Colonel Wieslaw Brona. "The first [to be completed by] April 30, second by the end of June and the last, not later than October 15." According to the Polish government's plans, Poland will complete its withdrawal from Iraq by the end of October 2008. BREZINSKI HONORED. The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) honored Dr. Zbigniew Brzezinski (inset, left) by hosting an exceptional foreign policy colloquium on the occasion of his 80th birthday. Of particular interest was the panel on "The Cold War, the Collapse of the Soviet Empire, and Reunification of Europe," with former National Security Adviser Brent Scowcroft, General William Odom and Prof. Charles Gati. Henry Kissinger participated in the second panel. The highlight was a 45-minute forward-looking interview with Prof. Brzezinski by CBS Chief Washington Correspondent Bob Scheiffer, at the conclusion of which the audience of 400 leading foreign policy experts gave a spontaneous and prolonged standing ovation. EU REFORM TREATY APPROVED. Poland's parliament overwhelmingly approved a European Union reform treaty after the government agreed to include safeguards proposed by President Lech Kaczyński. The safeguards exempt Poland from being forced to legalize homosexual "marriages," ensure Poland of more favorable voting rights until 2014 and protect against German property claims. Poland became the sixth country in the 27-nation bloc to approve the treaty. Critics claim the treaty is nothing more than a veiled attempt to rejuvenate the EU constitution, which French and Dutch voters rejected in 2005 referenda, and create a European superstate ruled by Brussels bureaucrats. IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF COPERNICUS. Polish astronomers, led by Warsaw University's Professor Andrzej Udalski, have discovered a planetary system in some ways similar to be a scaled-down version of our own. Conducting their observations as part of the Optical Gravitational Lensing Experiment (OGLE), they detected two large planets similar to Jupiter and Saturn orbiting around a sun some 4,500 light years away. According to Udalski, that method allows us to determine whether there are planets around a parent-star. RESTITUTION LEGISLATION. Poland's government has pledged to enact a property-restitution law by the end of 2008. Former owners will be eligible to receive 20 percent compensation for property seized by Nazi Germans or Poland's communist rulers during and after World War II. About 80 percent of the confiscated property had belonged to ethnic Poles, including Polish nobility whose lavish palaces, mansions and manor houses were confiscated. The remaining 20 percent of the lost property had belonged to Jews. |
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Across American Polonia CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES—The Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) is the second largest public school system in the United States. Irena Szewiola served as a teacher, counselor, and assistant principal in 15 schools for 43 years (not including the years she served as substitute teacher after her retirement in 1995). Szewiola worked pro bono on behalf of Polish immigrant parents and their children for decades. They were not provided with the same services which were provided speakers of Spanish and other language groups. Last year, with the cooperation of a Polish-born mother of three sons in elementary school whose family was mistreated by administrators, she filed a well-documented Uniform Complaint with LAUSD's Educational Equity office and forced LAUSD to translate into Polish and make available on its website the Parent Student Handbook. See www.lausd.net, click on "Parents|Guardians Welcome Parents|Guardians" page will open. Click on "Polish." Printed copies of this guide and "A Parents Guide to Special Education Services" are available upon written request and payment of $3.85 each. Write to the Office of General Counsel, Central Office Government Relations, 333 S. Beaudry Ave., 20th Floor Los Angeles, CA 900127. Information in the handbooks is based on California's educational code as well as federal laws applicable to public and private schools nationwide. They are a good resource for Polonians worldwide who seek current information on public education in the United States. SAN FRANCISCO—On May 10, the Polish Arts and Culture Foundation will hold its 42nd anniversary celebration with the annual Gala Grande Polonaise Ball at The Fairmont Hotel in San Francisco. Guests of honor is pianist Rafal Blechacz and baritone Mariusz Kwiecien. More information please call (510) 599-2244. SAN FRANCISCO—On Sun., May 10, Warsaw Chopin Competition Gold medal winner pianist Rafal Blechacz will perform at the Herbst Theatre, 401 Van Ness Avenue at McAllister Street, 7:00 p.m. San Francisco concert organizers have created a "Polonia Discount," meaning tickets normally $38 will be only $30. This discount is available only by telephone: (415) 392-4400. The patron just has to mention the "Polonia Discount" to receive it. CONNECTICUT HARTFORD—Noted author and lecturer on the recent and past history of Hartford, Wilson Bill Faude will be addressing the Polish Cultural Club of Greater Hartford, Thursday, May 8 at 6:30 p.m. at the Polish National Home at 60 Charter Oak Ave. Faude will be pointing out the need to document and cite the historically important events in which people of Polish descent participated. His knowledge of the history of Hartford and the important connections to the history of this state, the Constitution, and Revolutionary War will point out the important role the city of Hartford played in the formation of our young country. Faude has occupied positions of cultural and historical importance, first as Executive Director of the Mark Twain House from 1971-1978 and then as Director of the Old State House from 1978 to 1981 and then from 1985 to 2001 where he currently remains as Executive Director Emeritus. From 1981 to 1985 he served as Director of Visual and Performing Arts for the Development Office at the University of Hartford. . He currently is involved as an Archival Aid for the City of Hartford. He has authored many books and articles on Hartford, decorative arts, Mark Twain and has lectured at Columbia University, the Metropolitan Museum of Art and at Cooperstown, NY, home of the Baseball Hall of Fame, and among other countless institutions. The public is invited to attend this lecture which promises to be a fascinating glimpse into Hartford's life past and present. For further information you may call Mary Heslin at (860) 236-5023. The Polish Cultural Club of Greater Hartford is an affiliate of the national organization, the American Council of Polish Culture. NEW JERSEY JERSEY CITY—The Katyn Forest Massacre Memorial Committee, Inc. and the New Jersey Division of the Polish American Congress has organized memorial services every September for the past 20 years in Jersey City. The memorial services commenced in the early 1980s, and an independent committee was formed in 1986 to collect funds for erection of a monument in memory of the Katyn massacre of 1940. In the year of 1990 and 1991 the Katyn monument was officially unveiled to the public. Memorial services to commemorate victims of the Katyn massacre, and also to the victims of World War II began to be held every year. Since 2002, the Committee and the PAC have also added memorial services in memory of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. The monument, its steps, and the foundation are in need of repairs and renovation. The Committee and the PAC are appealing for donations. It would be appreciated if all donations were made payable to the committee and forwarded to: Katyn Forest Massacre Memorial Committee, Inc., Krzysztof L. Nowak, Chairman, P.O. Box 1602 Cranford NJ, 07016; (908) 875-4179. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call. AUDUBON—The Polish American Congress, South Jersey Division, is sponsoring a 3-day trip to Jamestown, Virginia, to commemorate the 400th Anniversary of the first
Poles landing in Jamestown. The trip is from Tuesday, September 30, to Thursday, October 2, and it includes participation in the ceremonies to be conducted in Jamestown by the National Polish American Congress on October 1.
Please contact Pat Kwoka, Secretary of the South Jersey Division, at (856) 310-1783 for more information. NEW YORK NEW YORK—The Fourth Annual New York Polish Film Festival will present the best and most diverse lineup of contemporary Polish cinema, May 9-13, 2008 at Anthology Film Archives, 32 2nd Ave., Manhattan. The Festival will premiere many acclaimed feature films, documentaries and shorts. Some festival highlights include a Special Screening at MOMA for the Oscar-nominated film "Katyn" by legendary Polish filmmaker Andrzej Wajda. For info on film schedule, event details and to purchase tickets online please visit us at www.nypff.com. CATSKILL—M Gallery is pleased to present "Translation," a group show featuring abstracts, including a sculpture by revered artist Lubomir Tomaszewski. This exhibition will run through May 13, 2008. M Gallery is located at 350 Main Street. More information is available at (518) 943-0380. The website is www.mgallery-online.com. EAST AURORA—Allan A. Kasprzak won a seat on the East Aurora Village Board of Trustees. The Buffalo Police Officer was the top vote getter in the contest for three openings on the Board. OHIO CLEVELAND—The Syrena Polish Folk Ensemble of Cleveland is holding open enrollment for people who would like to join and learn exciting lively Polish folk songs and dances. Syrena Polish Dance Ensemble is a non-profit adult dance group. The ensemble showcases the beauty of Polish folk culture through traditional song and dance, sketches and regional dress. Syrena's main repertoire consists of various regional folk dances and national dances, featuring authentic folk attire and music. Performances last around 45 minutes with a multitude of costume changes. Syrena also performs humorous Polish skits and colorful costume pageants. The group is also known for audience participation, recruiting onlookers to join part of the dance. For more information, contact Raymond Vargas, director/choreographer at (216) 661-3337; www.syrenaohio.com. PENNSYLVANIA PHILADELPHIA—The Polish American Congress (PAC), Eastern Pennsylvania District, announces Maria Koleda (inset, right) will be the Grand Marshal of the 2008 Pulaski Day Parade, Sun., Oct. 5, in Center City, Philadelphia. The PAC selected Koleda in recognition of her more than 30 years of participation with the organization and its affiliates. Koleda and her family—parents Witold and Zofia Suchoicki, and her brother and sisters—have proudly participated in Polish American community activities since their arrival in Philadephia from Poland. Koleda and husband Marek have a son, Marek, and two daughters, Renata and Aneta. As a music enthusiast and singer, Maria has served as the leader of the youth choir "Pokolenie," as leader and singer in the Piast Band, and continues to conduct singing of 100 students of St. Adalbert Polish Language School, of which she headed since 1996. Koleda is also the administrative vice president at the Philadelphia Warehousing & Cold Storage Company. Koleda is a longtime member of the PAC, its Youth Committee, Pulaski Day Observance Committee, Heritage Month Committee and a participant in various events sponsored by the Polish American Cultural Center Museum in Philadelphia. PHILADELPHIA—Associated Polish Home, 9150 Academy Road, will hold its "Members Dinner Dance" (a free dance for members), Sunday, May 18, from 2:00 to 6:00 p.m.
Music, Polish dinner, cash bar. For information, call Dorothy Skorczynski (215) 802-2031.The Home will hold its Memorial Day Picnic, Mon., May 26, starting at 1:00 p.m. Music by Shoreliners Band. For picnic information call
(215) 624-9954. WASHINGTON, D.C. Polonians members are joining the Polish American Congress' Washington Metropolitan Area Division (WMAD) in droves. Since January 1, individual membership has jumped from nearly 50 percent, rising from about 100 to over 150 members. PAC WMAD President Susanne Lotarski credited much of this increase to the work of what she called the Division's "champion recruiters" --- Slawomir Korzan, John Armstrong and Roman Korzan. Slawomir Korzan, who came to the U.S. in the late 1980s, has been particularly effective in gaining new members. Korzan joined WMAD about a year and a half ago, when, as he puts it, he "decided that I'd been in America long enough to get established and now I wanted to give something back." Korzan believes that "the Polish American Congress is the best organization the Polish community has to promote our interests and we need to be sure that it is as strong and effective as possible ... many people want to join PAC, we just need to reach out to them." The WMAD membership drive has attracted the attention of the PAC national leadership and won praise from both PAC VP for American Affairs Anthony Bajdek and VP for Membership Ava Polanska. —Paul Armstrong
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© 2008 POLISH AMERICAN JOURNAL, P.O. BOX 328, BOSTON, NY 14025-0328 | (716) 312-8088 | Toll Free (800) 422-1275 |
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