POLISH CULTURAL CLUB of GREATER HARTFORD, INC. Established 1976 March/April 2017
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NEWSLETTER POLISH CULTURAL CLUB OF GREATER HARTFORD, INC. Established 1976 www.polishculturalclub.org March/April 2017 An Affiliate of the American Council for Polish Culture PCCGH SPRING GARDEN PROGRAM PCCGH TO HOST AN EXCLUSIVE AFTERNOON AT THE POLISH CENTER OF DISCOVERY AND LEARNING “America’s Best Idea, National Parks — Premiere Opening of New Exhibits: Costumes, Amber, Folk Art 100 years and counting . “ SUNDAY, APRIL 30, 2017 1:00 p.m. The Polish Center of Discovery and Learning 33 South Street, Chicopee, MA Bernard Pajewski Fee: $15.00 Krystyna Słowikowska Farley Program: 1:30 and 2:30 p.m. Lectures on Krystyna Słowikowska Farley’s Polish Costumes by Staś Radosz Slide Presentation by Dr. Richard Benfield All Afternoon Commentary on Bernard Pajewski and his Folk Professor of Geography at Central Connecticut State University Art Collection by Marek Czarnecki THURSDAY, MARCH 23, 2017 Finale: An Elegant Wine, Hors D’oeuvres, and Dessert Reception Honorees: Krystyna Słowikowska Farley, Donor of 32 Traditional 6:30 p.m. Brief Meeting Polish Costumes and a Collection of Amber 7:00 p.m. Lecture/Slide Presentation and 8:00 p.m. Refreshments Staś Radosz, Executive Director of the Polish Center, who will receive the PCCGH’s “Distinguished Service Award” for East Hartford Public Library (Raymond Library) his long-standing and tireless service to the Polish Center and to Polonia. 840 Main Street, East Hartford, CT 06108 Staś Radosz (Enter parking lot from Central Avenue. Staś Radosz says of Mrs. Farley: “Krystyna is an energetic woman with a warm heart and personality that is larger than life . Her ever present Meeting Room 1 is on the lower level rear.) thoughts of past persecution and struggle for survival have made her a de- termined advocate of her cherished heritage. The Polish Center consid- Free Admission and Parking. Handicapped Accessible. ers itself fortunate to be the recipient of Krystyna Farley’s impressive col- Open to the General Public. lection — visitors are met with an enthusiastic burst of vivid colors.” For additional information, please call (860) 568-2044 Marek Czarnecki says of Mr. Pajewski: “Bernard Pajewski was a very pri- vate person who passed away in January of 2017 at age 87. Inside his mod- The National Park Service celebrated its 100 year anniversary in August est Cape Cod house in New Britain, he amassed the largest collection of 2016 with a history that can be described as varied, tumultuous, and, in Polish folk art in the United States. I knew Bernie while he was alive and some ways, controversial From parks having to be guarded by the army, to over 200 carved wood folk sculptures, kilim tapestries, icons, maps, books, the extermination of apex predators likes wolves and cougars, . to roads and many other items. It took three trucks to carry his life’s work to the cutting through 80 miles of pristine wilderness and road cuttings seven feet Polish Center.” wide through trees over 3,000 years old . to where today the 420 parks administered by the National Park Service are loved by 292 million visitors (some might say loved to death and facing a crowded and uncertain future). Please see the enclosed flyer for further information. This lively one hour presentation will look at the history of America’s na- tional parks, how they changed over the century, what they have become today, and what lies ahead in the 21st century. We will meet characters like John Muir: “Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where nature may heal and give strength to body and soul alike.”; Ebenezer Bryce who called his Canyon a “helluva place to lose a cow;” and Adolph Murie, who described the visitor center in Denali as a “Dairy Queen!” Be prepared to be educated and entertained by Dr. Benfield! Page 2 NEWSLETTER CO-PRESIDENTS’ MESSAGE 2017-2018 CLUB OFFICERS AND Dear Friends: EXECUTIVE BOARD MEMBERS 2016 ended on a high note with a successful 40th Anniversary Cel- The Club’s Officers, elected at the November 2016 Annual ebration, annual Szopka Competition and Festival, and Wigilia. Meeting for a two year term, as well as members of the Execu- Thanks to all who helped to make these events possible. Club tive Board, are listed below. We look forward to serving our events for the first six months of 2017 are well in hand . members, as well as Hartford Polonia, in the coming year. Please feel free to contact any of us at any time. The Third Annual “Pączki na Karnawał” Co-Presidents: Patricia Kaczynski and Frances Pudlo was held on Sunday, February 26 at SS. Cyril and Methodius Church. Thirty Vice President: John Majdan dozen pączki of various flavors were Secretary: Lilia Kieltyka available and enjoyed. There were two Treasurer: Raymond Kowalski winners of the Jelly Bean Count: Gene- vieve Urban and Genowefa Laudate. Historian: Patricia Kaczynski Thanks to Nancy Yiznitsky for donating Executive Board: Clifford Archie, Patricia Archie, Ursula the $20 gift certificate to the Polish L to R: Lou Maglaty, Anna-Mae Brodowicz, Marek Czarnecki, Edward Farley, Krystyna Farley, Maglaty and Fran Pudlo National Home and to Stacey Pribyson, Mary Heslin, Florence Langridge, Anna-Mae Maglaty, Louis Mag- owner of The Wethersfield Diner, for donating the second $20 gift laty, Carol Bogon Phelan, Virginia Pudlo, Elizabeth Sikorsky, Phyl- certificate to her restaurant. The Easter raffle prizes were won by lis Stawiarski, Krystyna Wisło, and Nancy O. Yiznitsky. Irena Mojsa, Jadwiga Kordowska, and Gini Pudlo. On March 23, 2017, Dr. Richard Benfield returns to engage us with another of his educational and entertaining slide presenta- TO OUR NEWEST MEMBERS . tions: “100 Years of America’s National Parks.” The event will be held at the Raymond Library in East Hartford, is free, and open to Gail and Reid O’Connell of Glastonbury the general public. We look forward to a delightful evening! Jean Barnum and John Niedzwiecki of Newington Daniel Niedzwiecki of Farmington WE HOPE TO SEE YOU at the exclusive event scheduled for Sun- day, April 30, 2017 at the Polish Center of Discovery and Learning Jeffrey and Maureen Krauss of Cromwell in Chicopee, MA. Normally closed on Sundays, Executive Direc- Joan Egbertson of Barkhamsted tor Staś Radosz has invited the PCCGH to host a special premiere of two new exhibits donated by two Club members: Krystyna Please note that 2017 membership cards are included with this mail- Farley and the Estate of Bernard Pajewski. The Polish Center of ing. If you have not received your card, please contact Anna-Mae Discovery and Learning is a surprising jewel of Polish-American Maglaty, Membership Chair, at (860) 521-7621. artifacts that anyone of Polish heritage should visit at least once. We always look forward to welcoming new members, so please share We are fortunate to have such an institution only 30 minutes from Club information with your family and friends. Membership applications Hartford. We also wish to honor Krystyna Farley for her strong can be downloaded from our website: www.polishculturalclub.org. passion and deep devotion to her Polish heritage and Staś Radosz, for what he has accomplished with the Polish Center in what only can be described as a labor of love. Please use the flyer enclosed with this newsletter to sign up. It will definitely be a memorable JENNIE MARCONI-JAVORSKI SCHOLARSHIP event. Sponsored by the Polish Cultural Club of Greater Hartford, Inc. Now is the time to pass along the enclosed Scholarship Applica- Scholarship applications, along with all requested materi- tion to students of Polish heritage pursuing higher education. als, must be received and postmarked no later Completed information must be received on or before May 1. A than May 1, 2017. An application has been inserted as scholarship award ceremony and reception will be held in June. part of this Newsletter. It can also be downloaded from the Club’s website: www.polishculturalclub.org. Please visit our website: www.polishculturalclub.org. Annual re- Florence Langridge and Virginia Pudlo, Scholarship Co-Chairs ports of the Historian were recently added, as were photos from the 2016 Szopka Competition and Festival and 2016 Wigilia. NEWSLETTER STAFF Happy Easter! Wesołych Swiąt Wielkanocnych! Editor: Frances Pudlo ([email protected]) Assistant Editor: Anna-Mae Maglaty Pattie Kaczynski and Fran Pudlo, Co-Presidents Staff: Carol Bogon Phelan, Nancy Yiznitsky Polish Cultural Club of Greater Hartford, Inc. Page 3 DO YOU KNOW . THE ORIGINS OF CELEBRATING POLISH EASTER TRADITIONS Wesołego Alleluja! This is the greeting by Poles as they complete the six week period prior to Easter known as Lent or Wielki Post. Although fasting is most important, everyone enjoys the last week of merrymaking and good food just before Ash Wednesday. This week is called Fat Week or Tłusty Tydzien which starts on the Thursday before Ash Wednesday when parties are held and famous jelly donuts called pączki are baked and consumed. In the United States pączki are eaten on Fat Tuesday, also known as Mardi Gras, rather than the week-long period as it is in Poland. On Ash Wednesday, people go to church for ashes. They also cut pussy willows, called bazie or kotki and place them in water in the hope that they will bloom by Palm Sunday. This period of six weeks leading to Easter Sunday is a time of fasting and prayer. Stations of the Cross and Gorzkie Żale (Bitter Sorrows) are religious traditions. Gorzkie Żale are beautiful hymns or lamentations sung on Friday evening and Sunday afternoons. These ancient chants, retracing the Passion and Crucifixion, ring out in churches throughout the land. Palm Sunday, Niedziela Palmowa, begins Holy Week, when preparations for Easter begin wholeheartedly.