October 28, is a Special Names Day Celebration
By Raymond Rolak
October 28, is Name Day for people named Thaddeus and thus, General Tadeusz Kosciuszko, a good reason to celebrate for sure. His ideals were lofty and he prized honor and liberty for all.
In Poland, Names Day celebrations are customary. Like a ‘Birthday Party’ in America, one would celebrate with friends and family on the feast day of the Saint one is named after. On October 28, because of his cherished celebrity and honored courage, everyone considers themselves ‘Tad.’ Tadeusz Kosciuszko, that is.
After his exploits in the American Revolution, Kosciuszko returned to Poland to help restore the Polish borders.
After Poland passed the May 3, Constitution in 1791, it was attacked by Russia, Prussia and Austria who wanted to stop these democratic reforms. King Stanislaw Augustus created the Virtuti Militari medal to honor the Polish soldiers, who had fought to defend the first democratic constitution in Europe. But the Poles lost the war, and the Russians demanded that these medals not be worn or displayed.
While the officers who received this honor took the medals off their chests, they sent the blue with black ribbons from these honors to their wives and girlfriends, who used them to tie their hair in ponytails.
On Oct 28, 1792, Prince Czartoryski held a Names Day party (imieniny) at his palace for the name’s day of Tadeusz. General Kosciuszko was celebrated. The women wore white dresses with black and blue sashes and tied their hair in ponytails with the medal ribbons. The women also made a garland crown of leaves from an oak tree planted 100 years earlier by King Sobieski, and placed it on Kosciuszko’s head to honor him.
General Kosciuszko was described by Thomas Jefferson as the “Purest son of Liberty”. When Kosciuszko died he left his money and property in America for the freeing and education of slaves. George Washington commented, “He served America with courage and distinction.”
Because October is Polish Heritage Month in America, remember to be Tad that day. Wear a blue and black ribbon. Remember parents, grand-parents and all those who came before us. Remember the sacrifices of veterans, teachers, mentors and most of all, remember the examples of Kosciuszko. “Happy Names Day- Tadeusz.”
The NY Folklore Society Graduate Student Conference, Latino Folk Culture and Expressive Traditions will take place Saturday, November 20th at New York University, 20 Cooper Square, 4th Floor, New York, NY.
For over 65 years, the New York Folklore Society (NYFS) has held an annual conference, typically with guest speakers, such as master artists and academic scholars, who have addressed a particular theme. This year, in collaboration with NYU’s Latino Studies and Latin American Studies Departments, NYFS seeks to encourage young scholars to continue their studies and become active contributors to the fields of folklore, ethnomusicology, anthropology and more.
Theme: Latino Folk Culture and Expressive Traditions
Preliminary Schedule (Subject to Change):
9:00 – 10:00 a.m. Registration
9:30 – 10:00 New York Folklore Society Annual Meeting
10:00 – 11:45 a.m. Latino Music and the Negotiation of Identities
1:30 – 2:45 Representations and Depictions
3:00 – 4:00 p.m. A Statewide Community Conversation on Latino Folk Culture with Latino comunity leaders and artists from throughout New York State
4:30 – 5:30 Juan Flores, Director of Latino Studies, NYU “Afro-Latino Perspectives on Folklore”
6:00 Performance by Raquel Rivera y Los Ojos
6:45 Reception
For registration information, please E-mail or call the Society at 518-346-7008.
Registration:
$20.00 for Members of the New York Folklore Society
$25.00 for non-members
Free for Students
Polish Movie Nite is happy to announce the San Francisco premiere of Modjeska- Woman Triumphant, presented by Maureen Mroczek Morris, Sunday, October 17, 2010 at 3pm at the Delancey Street Screening Room, 600 Embarcadero, San Francisco, CA 94107
Modjeska- Woman Triumphant is presented by Maureen Mroczek Morris for the benefit of the Polish Club. Suggested donation: $5-10. Please call (415) 244-5252 to reserve your seat.
Modjeska- Woman Triumphant, 2009, 57 minutes
The stylized documentary Modjeska- Woman Triumphant is the culmination of six years of work by director Basia Myszynski, who has referred to the film as the “project of [her] life.” Probably most compelling is the narration by Beth Holmgren, professor at Duke University, who is currently working on a book about Modjeska.
Born in 1840 (arguably, but that’s a whole other story), Helena Modrzejewska was a famous Polish actress working in the second half of the 1800s. Although much literature and other materials exist about Modjeska (as she came to be known in the States), most notably about her life and career in Europe (Poland did not exist as a sovereign nation at that time), this is the first film to specifically focus on Modjeska and her life in Southern California, which she so loved.
In 2009, I attended a lecture by Marek Zebrowski (director of the Polish Music Center at USC), hosted by the Modjeska Art and Culture Club of Los Angeles, during which he spoke about Modjeska’s close friendship and intellectual exchange with composer Ignacy Paderewski. Zebrowski, who was also interviewed for Myszynski’s film, made the case that Modjeska left Europe for the US for largely political reasons. Interestingly, Woman Triumphant puts forth another thesis, namely that Modjeska also fled greatly for personal reasons. With an illegitimate son in tow (and her own legitimacy also frequently pointed out), she could reinvent herself in a new country without the stigma and gossipy journalism that publicly followed her every performance. No doubt, it was a combination of multiple pressures that pushed her out of the Russian Empire (although she had been born near Krakow under the more lenient Austrian rule, she had advanced quickly to play leads in Warsaw as well as in Russian cities). In a brief email exchange, Myszynski explained to me, “The film focuses on the most personal of reasons because [they] most affected her [and] me as a filmmaker.” Focusing on the personal in addition to the political reasons “would highlight the drama best in understanding why we make the choices we make – usually we are most affected by the personal,” she writes.
That said, Modjeska was not only running away from problems, but turning to new opportunities. She envisioned the formation of a utopian artist colony in the Wild West, where she and fellow ex-patriots would live off the land and at night could discuss art, literature, and music around a campfire. She would eventually call her property Arden, referring to the work of her beloved Shakespeare. After emigrating in 1876, she settled in 1888 in Orange County, in what is now known as Modjeska Canyon. She stayed at Arden until 1906, when she moved to Newport Beach where she would spend the last years of her life writing her memoirs…
‘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
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. —Stan Musial was the first inductee into the National Polish-American Sports Hall of Fame,— said Enberg. Grant was impressed with Enberg’s history recall. —I 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. —We 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.
After Poland passed the May 3, Constitution in 1791, it was attacked by Russia, Prussia and Austria who wanted to stop these democratic reforms. King Stanislaw Augustus created the Virtuti Militari medal to honor the Polish soldiers, who had fought to defend the first democratic constitution in Europe. But the Poles lost the war, and the Russians demanded that these medals not be worn or displayed.
