From the pen of Andrzej Mleczko:
— In my class there are only two students who are for Satan.
The rest have decided to support God.
From the Herald Sun: Pratt life an achievement
RICHARD Pratt was a personality as big as the life he led in business, politics, in sport and the theatre. He had the gift of success, but he gave through his remarkable philanthropy.
There were many sides to the character of a poor Jewish immigrant who became one of Australia’s richest men and head of an international corporate empire.
Mr Pratt, who was a strong supporter of Jewish causes, died at his home at Raheen, which was the former palace of Australia’s staunchest Roman Catholic, Archbishop Daniel Mannix.
Mr Pratt was a philanthropist who did not limit his generosity to his own faith.
He gave to all and should be remembered for the work of the Pratt Foundation as much as his other achievements.
His place in the business life of the country should not be overshadowed by the charges brought against him after admitting his responsibility in a price-fixing scandal.
In any case, this evidence was found to be inadmissable and the charges dropped and it is his contribution to national life that deserves to be remembered.
The Pratt Foundation supports a range of charities as well as the arts.
The respect in which he was held was shown by those who visited him as he was dying at Raheen.
He returned his Companion of the Order of Australia and stepped down as president of the Carlton Football Club because of the court action, but he led the club’s resurgence and was visited in his last days by the club’s champions.
Richard Pratt was a man of many parts. He was a champion junior footballer at Carlton as well as an amateur boxer at Melbourne University and became a friend of world heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali, who was a guest at Raheen.
He was also an actor and singer who turned away from a career in Hollywood to build his global business empire.
The handsome young Polish immigrant was a star in London and New York of the quintessential Australian play, The Summer of the Seventeenth Doll, in which he played sugarcane cutter Johnnie Dowd…
I did a profile on him several years ago. May he rest in peace.
Child Survives Holocaust to Tell Her Story:
ARLINGTON, Va. – For many people, stories of the Holocaust and those who lived through it are part of a history lesson. But for some, those stories are more than a history lesson —“ it’s their childhood.
As part of the national Days of Remembrance event commemorating the victims of the Holocaust, the Army National Guard recently hosted Elzbieta Straussburger, who lived through the Holocaust as a child.
Straussburger spoke of her experiences during World War II and how the war personally affected her and her family. For many in attendance, it gave a human face to the Holocaust through firsthand experiences of events that happened almost 70 years ago.
“On the first of September 1939, the Germans came,” said Straussburger, who was barely a year old at the time. “They came from the west and the Russians came from the east and in 17 days [our life] was gone.”
As a result of the invasion, her father went into the Polish army.
“He felt that he wanted to do things for his country,” she said. “He was a physician, and he knew that he would be useful.”
Straussburger and her mother wouldn’t see him again until after the war.
“We lost track of him totally … My mother was 27 when this happened. So, what does a young, 27-year-old woman with a child do? She went to her mother…”
A really excellent story that delves into the realities of life, realities that are often overlooked or misinterpreted.
From The Valley Independent: Polish community celebrates centennial of former church
Sto lot (100 years) was celebrated by persons of Polish descent in Monessen on Sunday.
The former St. Hyacinth Catholic Church was founded in 1909 by people who emigrated from Poland, and Sacred Heart of Jesus Polish National Church had its beginning in 1929.
The observance, held in St. Vincent de Paul Jozwiak Hall, featured many ties to their Polish heritage, including the food, entertainment and homage to Our Lady of Czestochowa.
The Rev. Dennis Bogusz, a former pastor of St. Hyacinth Church before it was merged into Epiphany of Our Lord Church, along with other Monessen parishes, was keynote speaker.
“I enjoyed my time at St. Hyacinth,” the priest said.
He reminded the audience that May 3 is a significant day in Poland – marking Polish Constitution Day, signed in 1791.
“This is a very important day for Poles,” he said, “as we also honor Mary, Queen of Poland.”
Dan Zyglowicz, Greater Monessen Heritage Museum board chairman, was master of ceremonies.
He credited Dorothy Jozwiak with the successful Monessen Polish heritage exhibit at the museum. It may be viewed until June 1, Wednesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Jozwiak spoke of the history of Our Lady of Czestochowa as a tribute was presented at her icon.
Led by Dolores Yonek, four children – Mary Grace Steffy, Stephen Palli, Gianna Gaul and Sarah Palli – placed flowers in front of the icon.
Dorothy Janol and Irene Babinski lit candles at the shrine as Jozwiak paid tribute to: Polish immigrants, founders of the churches and schools, clergy and religious, parish and civic organizations, fraternal groups, business establishments, veterans, and people buried in St. Hyacinth Cemetery…
From The Guardian: St Luke Passion at Canterbury Cathedral
Sounds New, Canterbury’s contemporary music festival, has focused on postwar Polish work this year, culminating in a performance of Penderecki’s St Luke Passion with forces from Poland conducted by the composer himself. Last heard in the UK at the 1982 Proms, this 1966 work put Penderecki on the international map as an angry, avant-gardist. At Canterbury, with Polish dignitaries in attendance, we were conscious of just what an establishment figure he has become.
As a religious-political statement, the work still arouses intense admiration. Its aim was to redefine the Bach-based tradition of passion music in the aftermath of mid-20th century genocide, and Penderecki’s choice of a Latin text over the vernacular expressed a libertarian Catholic militancy in opposition to totalitarian thought…
The brief review captures a whole swath of history in three paragraphs. Well done.
The Polish mountaineer group Zakopower has a new release out — Salomanga. Groups like Zakopower, Krywań, Goleć uOrkiestra, and Trebunie Tutki along with traditional and more avant garde crossover groups like Daab are keeping the tradition of Polish mountaineer music – Goralska Muzyka – Highlanders Music – alive and well. Here’s a sampling:
And another version…
Departament Pracy Stanu Nowy Jork wysyła ostrzeżenie:
Albany NY (Kwiecień 15, 2009) —“ Commissioner M. Patricia Smith z Departamentu Pracy Stanu Nowy Jork oświadczyła dzisiaj, ze Departament Pracy jest świadomy o mającym miejsce fałszywym straszeniu bezrobotnych. Ludzie ci bez skrupułów wymuszają opłatę za wysłanie petycji o przyznanie bezrobocia. Wielu Polaków staje się ich ofiarami w metropolii Nowojorskiej.
Departament Pracy nie pobiera opłat od zwolnionych pracowników chcących otrzymać świadczenie pieniężne dla bezrobotnych ( przez Internet lub przez telefon).Departament ostrzega nowojorczyków, zwlasza z etnicznych środowisk, żeby byli świadomi, ze pobieranie opłat jest nie prawda.
—žTa wiadomość jest jasna: nie ma opłat za złożenie petycji o przyznanie swaiadczenia dla bezrobotnych. Jeżeli powiedziano ci cos innego jest to niezgodne prawda.— —“ powiedział Governor David A. Paterson.Â
—žJa popieram Commissioner Patricia Smith z Departamentu pracy za jej wysiłki aby oszustwo i nadużycia wycelowane w nowojorczyków , którzy szukają pomocy zostało wyeliminowane. Jest trudnym do uwierzenia, ze wykorzystuje się ludzi, którzy właśnie stracili prace i są w krytycznym położeniu.—
Commissioner Smith powiedziała, ,,Ja chce przypomnieć nowojorskim emigrantom, ze Biuro Departamentu Pracy dla Praw Pracowniczych Emigrantów może pomoc ci niezależnie od twojego statusu emigracyjnego. Jeżeli zostałeś skrzywdzony przez oszustów, zachęcam ciebie do skontaktowania się z naszym Biurem jak najszybciej.—
Biuro Praw Pracowniczych dla Emigrantów próbuje dotrzeć do emigrantów w ich własnych środowiskach. Biuro Pracy rozprowadza broszury z informacjami w jedenastu językach, w ostatnim czasie również po polsku i koreansku. Biuro informuje emigrantów o ich prawach i świadczeniach prowadzonych przez departament.
Najszybszym sposobem na złożenie petycji o przyznanie świadczenia dla bezrobotnych jest wypełnienie aplikacji na stronie internetowej Departamentu Pracy www.labor.ny.gov. Dla tych którzy nie maja dostępu do Internetu, proszę dzwonić pod numer 1-888-209-8124.
W 2006 imigranci stanowili 2.47 miliona zatrudnionych, czyli 26% zatrudnionych w Stanie Nowy Jork. W Mieście Nowy Jork imigranci Stanowili 1.76 Miliona czyli 47% wszystkich zatrudnionych.
Aby skontaktować się z Biurem Praw Pracowniczych dla Emigrantów proszę dzwonić 1-877-IMM-WRKR (1-877-466-9757).
Two Friends Author New Book on Dance and Songs for Children
Maria Bielski and Janina Dobkowski have recently co-authored and published a book of Polish children’s singing games and dances entitled “Two Friends, They Went A’ Dancing.”
The book contains the lyrics of ten popular singing games in both English and Polish as well as a vocal music score with chords. Clear step by step movement and dance instructions are outlined with the text. In addition, a CD of the recorded songs with accompaniment is included so that parents, grandparents, teachers, and children can immediately enjoy the songs and games. Each page has an original “wycinanki” (Polish cut-out style) illustration designed by the artist, Joanna Bielska, which can be reproduced for coloring or craft projects.
The authors created this book as a resource for anyone interested in folk culture. They hope it assists parents and grandparents in passing Polish traditions on to their children and grandchildren. Teachers, occupational therapists, ethnic dance directors, whether Polish or not, can use this book to enrich their classroom program, physical education curriculum, music and dance classes, and children’s events. The CD can be used during assemblies, parties for both children and adults, car trips, and sing a longs.
Both authors are teachers by profession and have an extensive background in Polish folk art, music, and dance. They have danced with the Polish American Folk Dance Company and organized countless folk dance workshops all over the New York Metropolitan area. They are members of the Polish American Teachers Association, which has its headquarters at the Kosciuszko Foundation, and the Marie Sklodowska-Curie Professional Women’s Association.
Ms. Bielski has been on the teaching staff of the Krakowianki and Gorale Children’s’ Dance Group of Greenpoint for the past several years. Ms. Dobkowski is a member of the National Dance Association and Dance and the Child International which fosters dance opportunities for children. Mana and Janina have been friends since their teenage years in the Polish Scouting organization. They have been dancing and singing together their whole lives. The authors invite everyone to grab a friend, young or old, and dance.
From Polish American World:
Scholarship Money Available!
American Polish Council of Long Island announces that it will award a “Leon Young Scholarship” for 2009.
The application deadline is May 27th, and is fast approaching! More information and applications are available for download at the Council’s website or by calling toll free 1-877-455-4344 to request an application via U.S. Mail.
The American Polish Council of Long island is proud to support Polonian youth and help with their continued success. For more than 40 years the Council has awarded an annual scholarship to a deserving high school senior, and for the last few years has awarded two $1,000 scholarships to Long Island graduating seniors.
The Council invites all graduating seniors of Polish decent to submit an application for this year’s scholarship.
Scholarships Available!
The President of the Polish American Cultural Association, Joe Brala along with Chairperson Irene Wierzbicki, announced the opening of the Association’s application period for its annual scholarship award.
There will be a one time award of $1,000 given to a high school senior attending college in September 2009. In addition, the President of the General Pulaski Foundation, Michael Bibla, announces an $800 scholarship is also available.
To qualify for these awards, a student must be of Polish ancestry, well rounded academically and a responsible community minded citizen. For an application, call the Polish American Cultural Association at 516-883-5553 or Chairperson Irene Wierzbicki at 516-671-7081.