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Other News 2019


Other News in the past years2018 - 2017 - 2016 - 2015 - 2014 - 2013 - 2012 - 2011 - 2010 - 2009 - 2008


Volunteer for the Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity in Seattle!

The Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity (GOCC / WOSP) is the biggest annual charity event in Poland, raising over $46 million in 2019; it has been raising funds for children hospital equipment and similar causes since 1991. This is also the goal this year. In Seattle this is the second edition of this event. Volunteers will be soliciting funds on January 11 & 12 and the local Grand Finale will take place at the Polish Cultural Center Dom Polski on January 11 from 4 to 10 pm. The Finale program includes performance by several local groups, auctions, games, great food and more! The GOCC Seattle needs a lot of volunteers, so if you would like to help please contact the organizers right away!

 

More: facebook WOSP Seattle page, the volunteer contact is Anetka Kalicka, the overall questions / info to Anna Cholewinska

posted December 12, 2018

 2019 Polish Community Giving Campaign - donate before Dec 31!

If you are looking for charity to support before the end of the year, give to Seattle Polish Foundation (SPF)!

This year, SPF and other local Polish organizations joined to launch a community-wide fundraiser to benefit different local Polish causes. You can support any local cause or event such as Polish Festival Seattle or the Seattle Polish Film Festival, Polish schools, cultural events, improving infrastructure at the Polish Cultural Center and more, by making a donation to SPF.  read more about this campaign

 

More: 2019 Fundraising campaign, SPF donation page

posted December 12, 2019

 Art Sale For the Orphanage Is a Success

The art sale organized recently by the Polish Parish and the local artist Basia Niesulowski has been quite successful. A sum of $2,100, which includes proceeds from the art sale as well as cash donations, has been sent to the orphanage maintained by the Sisters of Mercy of St. Karol Boromeusz (Carlo Borromeo) in Katowice, Poland. Congratulations!

 

More: Art sale For an Orphanage at the Polish Parish

posted December 8, 2019

 Read Polish Books For Free On Mobile

The Seattle Public Library Polish librarian Leszek Chudzinski invites you to read 12 super books in Polish at leisure using your phone or iPad by joining the event CZYTAJ PL (read PL). Directions: 1) download the free book app WOBLINK (iOS/Android), 2) scan the QR code from the event poster, 3) read or listen to 12 great books. The event ends on Nov 30, 2019, so hurry! You can also drop by to the SPL Central Library and pick up a book from an extensive Polish book collection there - no time limit on that one, and it's also free!

 

More: czytaj.pl website, or contact Leszek Chudzinski, SPL Central Library LEW dept, 1st floor, tel. 206-386-4636

posted November 21, 2019

 Dec 13 & 14: Consular Visit to Seattle at the Polish Cultural Center

The Consulate General of the Republic of Poland in Los Angeles kindly informs that the consular visit to Seattle to process passport applications is scheduled for December 13 & 14, 2019. The Consul will be available at the Polish Cultural Center, by reservation only, 9 am to 5 pm on Friday and 9 am to 2 pm on Saturday. To make a reservation send an email to [email protected] with subject line "Dyżur w Seattle" stating your name, the PESEL number or the passport number and a preferred time.

   

Where: at the Polish Cultural Center Dom Polski in Seattle, WA; reservations required.

More: info about the visit in Seattle (PL), the Consulate passport info

posted November 20, 2019

 Local Results of the Polish Parliamentary Elections

These are the local results of the Polish parliamentary elections in Seattle and the USA, compared to overall results.

 

Percent of valid votes for different candidates cast in Seattle, LA consular region, USA and overall for the Senate electoral district #44 in Warsaw. Total votes cast includes invalid votes.

Candidate Seattle LA region USA dist. #44
C. Kasprzak, Ob. RP 16.00% 14.25% 7.94% 15.35%
M. Rudnicki, PiS 26.35% 27.05% 58.02% 29.04%
K. Ujazdowski, KO 57.65% 58.70% 34.04% 55.25%
Total votes cast 428 2,944 29,195 558,589

 

Result: Mr. Ujazdowski (KO) became the Senator from the Senate electoral district #44.

 

Percent of valid votes for different parties cast in Seattle, LA consular region, USA and overall for the Sejm electoral region #19 in Warsaw. Total votes cast includes invalid votes.

Party Seattle LA region USA dist. #19
PiS 22.48% 21.98% 52.75% 27.49%
KO 47.78% 48.19% 27.68% 42.05%
Lewica 16.16% 18.29% 8.83% 18.19%
Konfederacja 11.71% 9.08% 8.30% 7.51%
PSL 1.87% 2.46% 2.44% 4.75%
Total votes cast 428 2,946 29,517 1,381,917

 

Results: KO won 9 seats (45%), PiS won 6 seats (30%), Lewica won 3 seats (15%), Konfederacja won 1 seat (5%) and PSL won 1 seat (5%) of the total of 20 seats from the Sejm electoral district #19.
 

More: oficial result site

posted October 17, 2019

 Support Seattle Polish Film Festival

2019 SPFF Poster

The Polish Film Institute has cut down its financial support to the Seattle Polish Film Festival (SPFF) this year, leaving a significant hole in the budget. Hence, the SPFF and its producer, the Seattle-Gdynia Sister City Association are appealing to all film buffs around here to open their wallets wider than usual to support the festival financially!

Please see the SPFF donor letter and the SPFF donation form that you can send in with your donation.

 

Also: As always, volunteers are needed to run the Festival. Send email to [email protected] if interested.

 

More: SPFF site

updated September 24, 2019

 Call for Polish Art for the SPFF Opening Party

Seattle Polish Film Festival is excited to issue its first open call to local Polish artists! SPFF would like to show off, and sell if possible, the artwork during the annual Vodka and Drop of Art opening party for the Festival. The event is part of the Capitol Hill Art Walk on Thursday, October 10. All mediums and techniques are welcome. The deadline for submission is October 4, 2019. Please see the Calling All Polish Artists leaflet for more info.

 

More: SPFF site

posted September 19, 2019

Learn How & Help Making Pierogi for the Fall Bazaar

Make pierogi!

Would you like to learn how to make pierogi? THis is your chance to learn from the best! The Polish Women's Club invites everybody to pierogi making sessions before the Spring Bazaar at the Polish Cultural Center on November 2-3, 2019. Come to help, or come to learn how to make pierogi first and then help at one of these days:

       September 17 & 24, October 1, 8, 15 & 22

All pierogi making sessions are at the Polish Cultural Center Dom Polski on Tuesdays from 6 to 9 pm.

 

More: Contact the Club President Barbara Augustyniak for more info

posted September 12, 2019

 Help Andrzej Mroz w/ Medical Bills

Andrzej Mróz

Mr. Andrzej Mroz, the former Solidarity leader, local community activist and one of the most recognizable members of the Polish community had a quadruple by-pass surgery and is currently at an ICU. Friends of the family established this GoFundMe page to help with medical bills and for expression of support. Mr. Mroz was the Solidarity leader at the Ziemowit coal mine in Tychy, Poland and was decorated with the Polonia Restituta Order. He was also featured in the documentary movie Poassing the Torch about our community. Please go to this GoFundMe page and help with the fundraiser if you can.

 

Update as of September 19: the outpouring of the support by the community has been phenomenal and $20,000 have been raised in a short time; please read the thank you note from Kasia Mroz.

 

More: Solidarity Activists Honored by the Polish Consul

posted September 4, 2019

 Seattle Polish Film Festival Poster Contest

2018 SPFF Poster

Win $100! The 27th Annual Seattle Polish Film Festival  (SPFF) has announced its yearly competition for the festival poster design for this year's Festival to be held in October. The submission deadline is August 10, 2019. To learn more, please read the 2019 SPFF poster competition guidelines and entry form.

 

Also: Volunteers needed to run the Festival. Send email to [email protected] if interested.

 

More: SPFF site

posted July 28, 2019

Local Polish Americans Decorated by the Consul General

Miroslawa Kruszewska

      Izabella Wodzicki

 

At the Polish Festivat at the Seattle Center on July 13, 2019 Consul General Jarosław Łasiński honored two local Polish-Americans with decorations bestowed by the President of the Republic of Poland.

Ms. Mirosława Kruszewska of Seattle received the Knight's Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta for artistic and creative activities and promoting Polish culture and arts. Ms. Kruszewska is a poet, theatre critic and essayist and published several books, including W pułapce wolnosci / Trapped in Freedom and Polacy w Ameryce (Poles in America).

Ms. Izabella Wodzicki of Bellingham, nee Odyniec, received the Siberian Exiles Cross awarded to the survivors of the brutal deportations of Polish citizens to Soviet Union camps during WWII.

Congratulations!

posted July 28, 2019

Members of Polish Choir Honored by the Consul General

 

 

 

 

At the Polish Festival at the Seattle Center on July 13, 2019 Consul General Jarosław Łasiński honored several members of the Polish Choir Vivat Musica! with the certificates of recognition on the 15th anniversary of the choir.

The following founding members received the certificates awarded by the Consul General (left-to-right): Barbara Niesulowski, Mira Pawluskiewicz, Barbara McNair, Maria Grabowska; not pictured: Anna Sawicki and Zbigniew Przydzielski. Congratulations!

posted July 28, 2019

Book About Darek Stuj

Local philanthropist and marathon runner Darek Stuj of Seattle is the hero of a new book printed recently in Poland. Massa Publishers issued his auto-biography Z KRAŚNIKA DO SEATTLE, moje ślady na ścieżkach pomagania innym, edited by Jolanta Boroń. The book describes his spiritual journey leading to a lifetime of charity and helping others, both in his home town of Kraśnik, Poland, and in several African and Asian countries. His charity projects building wells, schools and orphanages inspired several other Seattleites to join his efforts. Congratulations!

 

More: article and video from the meet-the-author with Mr. Stuj in Kraśnik on June 10, 2019

posted July 11, 2019

Polish Festival Community Exhibit

At this year’s Polish Festival Seattle, we would like to celebrate members of our Polish community in a photo collage project. We are asking any and all people of Polish heritage to provide photos of themselves or family members currently living or have lived in the Pacific Northwest. You may have just moved here, or you may have lived here for generations, it doesn’t matter! The photos will be displayed around local history posters. We hope to end up with a collage of the hundreds of many faces that make up our Pacific Northwest Polish community!  ... read more info here

posted June 27, 2019

L. Halverson Honored w/ the Order of Merit

Mr. Lloyd Halverson of Camas, WA was decorated with the Officer's Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland by the deputy-governor of the Swietokrzyskie province in Kielce Poland. Mr. Halverson, a longtime City Administrator in Camas, has been honored for his activities promoting democracy through local government in Poland and local government partnerships between Poland an the USA since 1989. Since 2004, the City of Camas and the Camas Sister City Organization partnered with three towns in Poland: Morawica, Krapkowice and Zabierzów. The Order of Merit is bestowed by the President of Poland. Congratulations!

More: CK info article about the ceremony on June 13, 2019 and a photo gallery

posted June 20, 2019

 Polish Festival Calls for Volunteers for July 13, 2019

Polish Festival at the Seattle Center is fast approaching – if you'd like to help, now is the time to sign up! You can sign up for 2 hr or 3 hr shifts. Please see the festival volunteer info & registration page at the Signup.com to sign up - it has a complete list of available positions and shifts and plenty of positions to choose from. For more info contact the PF volunteer coordinator at polishfestivalseattle@outlook.com.

Free T-shirt and food vouchers for volunteers!

 

Also: the Festival is looking for families who could host performers flying in to Seattle from other states. Please see for more info here

  

More:  How to get involved with Polish Festival Seattle.

posted June 6, 2019

M. Pietrzyk's Documentary Wins the Grand Jury Prize at SIFF

It gets better and better! Michal Pietrzyk's documentary All On a Mardi Gras Day that he directed and co-produced has just won the Grand Jury Prize at the 2019 Seattle International Film Festival. The prize comes with a $2,500 cash award and a right to submit the movie to the 2020 Oscar competition. Way to go, Michal, congratulations!

 

The movie was also presented at the famous Berlin International Film Festival in February and at the New York's Tribeca FF. Mr. Pietrzyk is a local filmmaker who also serves as the Artistic Director of the Seattle Polish FF. The movie presents a secret 200-year culture of New Orleans African-Americans.

Help to finance this film - visit this crowd funding site to support the movie!

 

More: SIFF Shortfest Winners Announcement, About the movie at the Berlin FF, electronic press kit

posted May 30, 2019

 Funeral for Ms. Krystyna Balut is on June 1, 2019

 

 

 Krystyna Balut

 

 

Mrs. Krystyna Bałut, a long time Polish Home member, died surrounded by her family on Good Friday, April 19, 2019. She was 88.

 

Her small figure behind a history table was a familiar site to anybody attending Polish Festivals or Bazaars, where she tirelessly shared the story of the Polish survivors of the Soviet WWII deportations to Siberia that so few lived through.  read more here

 

     Funeral: Saturday, June 1, at 10:30 am at the graveside at

            Sunset Hills Memorial Park in Bellevue

 

     Donation in Lieu of Flowers: Fundacja dla Polonii charity via a donation to

            the Polish Women Club (Koło Pań), please contact Maria Grabowska

            This organization in Poland supports schools and provides assistance for

            grandchildren of the Polish WWII Siberian deportees who remained in Russia.

updated May 22, 2019

 The EU Parliament Elections in America

The European Union Parliament election in the USA and Canada is on May 25, 2019. To vote, Polish citizens from Seattle area should register first - this can be done online (indicating the LA consular region) or at the Consulate General of Poland in LA by email, phone, fax or in person; registration deadline is May 23, 2019. Voting is by person only; you can vote in Los Angeles, or take a waiver and vote elsewhere, for example in Chicago or Vancouver, BC.

   

Where: online registration at https://ewybory.msz.gov.pl.

More: election info on the LA consulate page, wiki EU elections info, euronews info

posted May 16, 2019

 2019 Polish Community Giving Campaign and GiveBIG

This year, Seattle Polish Foundation and other local Polish organizations joined to launch a community-wide fundraiser to benefit different local Polish causes. This coincides with the Seattle-wide GiveBIG campaign that runs on May 8, 2019. You can support any local cause or event such as Polish Festival Seattle or the Seattle Polish Film Festival, Polish schools, cultural events, improving infrastructure at the Polish Cultural Center and more, by making a donation to SPF.  read more about this campaign

 

If you used to donate through GiveBIG you are welcome to do that too; please be aware though that this year the GiveBIG campaign charges higher fees than in the past. Hence, donating to SPF directly is the most cost effective way to apply your generosity towards your favorite Polish cause.

   

More: 2019 Fundraising campaign, SPF donation page, GiveBIG SPF page

posted April 25, 2019

 PHA Anniversary Movie on Sale

The anniversary movie PASSING THE TORCH: 100 Years of the Polish Home Association is available at the  PHA booth during the Spring Bazaar this weekend. The movie, premiered at the 2018 Seattle Polish Film Festival is based on dozens of interviews and a wealth of historical materials. It shows the rich history of the Polish community through different eras and the role that PHA and the Polish Home played as the anchor of Polish life in Seattle and Washington state.

Also available: the anniversary book 100 Years of the Polish Home Association..

   

More: movie trailer on YouTube, Polish Cultural Center Dom Polski

posted April 10, 2019

Michal Pietrzyk's Documentary at Tribeca

Michal is on the roll! His documentary All On a Mardi Gras Day that he directed and co-produced was presented at the famous Berlin International Film Festival in February and now has been qualified to New York's Tribeca FF. Mr. Pietrzyk is a local filmmaker who also serves as the Artistic Director of the Seattle Polish FF. The movie presents a secret 200-year culture of New Orleans African-Americans.

Help to finance this film - visit this crowd funding site to support the movie!

 

More: About the movie at the Berlin FF, electronic press kit

posted March 28, 2019

 Apr 26 & 27: Consular Visit to Seattle at the Polish Cultural Center

The Consulate General of the Republic of Poland in Los Angeles kindly informs that the consular visit to Seattle to process passport applications is scheduled for April 26 & 27, 2019. The Consul will be available at the Polish Cultural Center, by reservation only, 9 am to 5 pm on Friday and 9 am to 2 pm on Saturday. To make a reservation send an email to [email protected] with subject line "Dyżur w Seattle" stating your name, the PESEL number or the passport number and a preferred time.

   

Where: at the Polish Cultural Center Dom Polski in Seattle, WA; reservations required.

More: info about the visit in Seattle (PL), the Consulate passport info

posted March 21, 2019

Learn How & Help Making Pierogi for the Spring Bazaar

Make pierogi!

Would you like to learn how to make pierogi? THis is your chance to learn from the best! The Polish Women's Club invites everybody to pierogi making sessions before the Spring Bazaar at the Polish Cultural Center on April 13, 2019. Come to help, or come to learn how to make pierogi first and then help at one of these days:

       March 5, 12, 19 & 26

All pierogi making sessions are at the Polish Cultural Center Dom Polski on Tuesdays from 7 to 9 pm.

 

More: Contact the Club President Barbara Augustyniak for more info

posted February 26, 2019

Fat Tuesday / Fat Thursday Ponchki!

Fat Tuesday is coming fast and Fat Thursday in the Polish tradition is even sooner - so get your supply of ponchki / pączki!

At Polish places: Sebi's Bistro has a special on Feb 28 (Fay Thursday), and I'm sure they will have it on Fat Tuesday as well; also try George's Deli. You can also pre-order a batch from Viola Szymanski at 206-435-4103. See her ad here

posted February 26, 2019

Michal Pietrzyk's Documentary at Berlinale Shorts

The documentary All On a Mardi Gras Day, directed, edited and co-produced by Michal Pietrzyk was invited to the famous Berlin International Film Festival' short's competition. Mr. Pietrzyk is a local filmmaker who recently co-directed documentary Passing The Torch; he also serves as the Artistic Director of the Seattle Polish FF. The movie presents a secret 200-year culture of New Orleans African-Americans culminating in the Mardi Gras Day costume competition. Way to go Michal! Come back with the Golden Bear!

 

More: About the movie at the Berlin FF, electronic press kit

posted February 8, 2019

2019 Elections at the Polish Home Association

Pawel Krupa

 John Golubiec

 

At the Polish Home Association annual meeting on January 27, 2019, the following people have been re-elected to their positions: Mr. Pawel Krupa as the PHA President, Mr. Zbigniew Pietrzyk the Senior Vice-President and Mr. Roman Rogalski the Treasurer. Their terms run one year. John Golubiec is again the Chairman of the PHA Board of Trustees. Congratulations!

  

More: The PHA owns and runs the Polish Cultural Center Dom Polski in Seattle.

Detailed results of the PHA elections.

posted Jan 30, 2019

 A New Microsoft Flagship School in Gdynia

The Flagship School in Gdynia /

The Redmond company is building a new Microsoft Flagship High School in Gdynia to be open before September 1, 2019. The Flagship Schools are high tech equipped high schools supporting innovative education; there are only 18 of those around the world. The local Seattle-Gdynia Sister City Association and its president Zbigniew Konofalski facilitated the meeting between the City and Microsoft in July 2018 that lead to the contract signing for the new school recently. Congratulations to SGSCA and Mr. Konofalski for nurturing the connections between Seattle area and Gdynia!

 

More: City of Gdynia info on the school (w/ Google translate), the same info in Polish

posted January 24, 2019

Nominations to the Outstanding Pole Award due Feb 4

Wybitny Polak is an award given by the Foundation Teraz Polska to outstanding Poles living abroad to promote their success and positive impact of Poland. The nominations to the 2019 West Coast edition of the award can be submitted till February 4. The nomination process is open to the public and participation of different Polish communities is encouraged.

 

The awards are in five categories: business, culture, science, personality and Young Pole (less than 35 years old); the West Coast covers 15 states in the LA consular region. The past winners included Mr. Alex Herbst in 2015 and Mr. Michal Pietrzyk in 2016, both from Seattle. Please nominate outstanding people you know!

 

More: about the award, how to nominate (PDF), January 2019 Zycie Kolorado article with description of the awards and past winners (p.4-5), the award jury includes Honorary Consul Teresa Davis of Seattle.

posted January 24, 2019

The Great Orchestra Fundraiser a Big Success

The Grand Finale of the Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity at the Polish Cultural Center on January 12, 2019 was a big success and a great family event. Supporters turned out in droves including many families with small kids and were enthusiastic about non-stop performances from 4 pm to 10 pm and other attractions. Good vibes were contagious! The event was also a big financial success, raising over $10,000. Kudos to Anna Cholewinska for starting the event and congratulations to the organizing committee and all volunteers! It's a great start for a new tradition in Seattle.
 

More: facebook WOSP Seattle page or contact Anna Cholewinska

updated January 24, 2019

 Music Video Released by Magdalucca

Alternative-pop singer-songwriter Magdalucca has released a music video Stand By Your Side for her music album The Air Between. Seattleite Magdalena Hill is a performer and a multi-media artist; among others she produced and directed the short movie Lavender Braid in 2016. The new video is an effect of her collaboration with Katrina Wolfe, a Butoh dancer. Visit her site to watch & listen to her music.

  

More: Magdalucca and album release site, her facebook page and artist's site.

posted January 16, 2019

How To Make Polish Food at PCC Community Markets

Make bigos!

Among different ethnic food classes in the Global Gourmet series, the PCC Community Markets offers classes on Polish Comfort Cooking. Instructor Marianna Stepniewski shows hands on how to make bigos (hunter's stew), żurek (sour and creamy bread soup) and more. There are several classes scheduled at different Puget Sound locations in January and February and reservations are filling in fast, so if you want to attend, hurry up!

 

More: To make a reservation visit the PCC classes site. Classes are $55 or $60 per person.

posted January 3, 2019

Volunteer for the Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity in Seattle!

First time in Seattle, the Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity (GOCC) is a huge annual charity event in Poland; it has been raising funds for children hospital equipment and similar causes since 1991. This is also the goal this year. In Seattle volunteers will be soliciting funds on January 12 & 13 and the Grand Finale will take place at the Polish Cultural Center Dom Polski on January 12 at 4 pm. The Finale program includes performance by several local groups, auctions, games, great food and more! The GOCC Seattle needs a lot of volunteers, so if you would like to help please contact the organizers right away!

 

More: detailed info and volunteer contacts for GOCC Seattle, facebook WOSP Seattle page, for more overall info please contact Anna Cholewinska, for Grand Finale Anetka Kalicka

posted December 6, 2018

 Support Polish Festival at GoFundMe to Bring Talent from Poland

Polish Festival Seattle is asking for everyone’s help to raise funds for bringing great entertainment to Seattle. Money raised will go towards travel costs, housing and/or stipends for out of town artists, including a traditional Polish dance group. In 2019, we would like to bring Polish contemporary rhythm and blues singer, Kasia Wilk! For every $10 you give, your name will be added to a drawing for a ticket to Chihuly Garden and Glass. More:  How to get involved with Polish Festival Seattle.

Please visit our gofundme page for more info and spread the word! Polish Festival is on July 13, 2019.

 

More: Please contact Alisa Lahti at [email protected] for more info

posted Oct 24, 2018

Dr. Marcin Jauksz is the Polish Fulbright Scholar in 2018 / 2019

Marcin Jauksz

The UW Polish Studies Endowment Committee welcomes Dr. Marcin Jauksz as the Fulbright Lecturer of the Polish Studies at the Univ. of Washington in 2018 / 2019 academic year. Dr. Jauksz is an Assistant Professor at the Dept. of Polish and Classical Philology at the Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, Poland, in interest in the 19th c. Polish literature and culture and in film. His UW fall course is on the film adaptations of  the 19th c. European and American novels. Congratulations and welcome!

 

More: UW PSEC

posted October 11, 2018

How To Make Pierogi at PCC Community Markets

Make pierogi!

Among different ethnic food classes in the Global Gourmet series, the PCC Community Markets offers classes about making Polish pierogis. Instructor Marianna Stepniewski shows hands on how to make different vegetarian pierogis, from cheese- or mushrooms-based to onions & celery combo. There are several classes scheduled at different Puget Sound locations in November and December but reservations are filling in fast, so if you want to attend, hurry up!

 

More: To make a reservation visit the PCC classes site

posted Sep 27, 2018


  © 2018-2019 Ryszard Kott

Fot. 'Fountain" - Hanna Gil

Fot. "Seattle" - Ryszard Kwieciński