The Polish Heritage Center Newsletter is
generated quarterly and is delivered
directly to the homes of members. Enjoy
this online version:
generated quarterly and is delivered
directly to the homes of members. Enjoy
this online version:
The torch is passed….
Lawrence Molczyk, outgoing PHC President
The first meeting of the new Polish heritage center board was held on Sunday, January 20, 2013. We
welcomed newly elected board members Ray Kusek, Tony Stobbe and Mike Spotanski. It was with great
expectation and excitement that we put new officers in place. Judy Welniak was installed as the new
president. New board member Mikes Spotanski was elected vice president. Judene Jakubowski accepted
the role of secretary. And we retained the expertise of our long-term treasurer, Virginia Pokorski.
As outgoing president I outlined some directions and challenges we face. As I write this on inaugural day it is
perhaps, appropriate to speak in terms of the state of our union.
The majority of our membership themselves, can be ranked as historians. Many of us are the children of
second generation Polish Americans. We can look to our parents as having provided a transition from the
traditional lives of Polish- born immigrants to integrated Americans. We carry the memory of these
ancestors, but those traditions may appear to be vestigial organs in today’s society. But in honoring the past
it is not necessary to return to an earlier time or seek to re-create it. Simply, in understanding where we
came from, our past provides definition to the present and a foundation for the future. This is the gift the
Polish heritage center provides to future generations. I have watched our membership grow to include an
entirely new generation who are in the position to carry on the work of our organization using the tools and
techniques of the present.
This was immediately apparent during our first board meeting of 2013, as the talk quickly turned to
upgrading the center’s computer system, instituting the use of financial software, and creating genealogical
databases. In addressing the future of our organization we have asked ourselves,” how are we going to get
new people to do this?” But the real challenge is allowing new people to do things differently than we have
done them in the past.
Part of doing things differently is to allow ourselves to move beyond deeply ingrained inter-community
rivalries. We must as a Polish community move beyond towns and villages to a regional and even world
embracing way of thinking. What is good for Loup city is good for Ashton, Farwell and Nebraska. This is the
vision which will insure our survival. Our ethnic heritage is a common bond but it is our diversity which makes
a strong in today’s
Lawrence Molczyk, outgoing PHC President
The first meeting of the new Polish heritage center board was held on Sunday, January 20, 2013. We
welcomed newly elected board members Ray Kusek, Tony Stobbe and Mike Spotanski. It was with great
expectation and excitement that we put new officers in place. Judy Welniak was installed as the new
president. New board member Mikes Spotanski was elected vice president. Judene Jakubowski accepted
the role of secretary. And we retained the expertise of our long-term treasurer, Virginia Pokorski.
As outgoing president I outlined some directions and challenges we face. As I write this on inaugural day it is
perhaps, appropriate to speak in terms of the state of our union.
The majority of our membership themselves, can be ranked as historians. Many of us are the children of
second generation Polish Americans. We can look to our parents as having provided a transition from the
traditional lives of Polish- born immigrants to integrated Americans. We carry the memory of these
ancestors, but those traditions may appear to be vestigial organs in today’s society. But in honoring the past
it is not necessary to return to an earlier time or seek to re-create it. Simply, in understanding where we
came from, our past provides definition to the present and a foundation for the future. This is the gift the
Polish heritage center provides to future generations. I have watched our membership grow to include an
entirely new generation who are in the position to carry on the work of our organization using the tools and
techniques of the present.
This was immediately apparent during our first board meeting of 2013, as the talk quickly turned to
upgrading the center’s computer system, instituting the use of financial software, and creating genealogical
databases. In addressing the future of our organization we have asked ourselves,” how are we going to get
new people to do this?” But the real challenge is allowing new people to do things differently than we have
done them in the past.
Part of doing things differently is to allow ourselves to move beyond deeply ingrained inter-community
rivalries. We must as a Polish community move beyond towns and villages to a regional and even world
embracing way of thinking. What is good for Loup city is good for Ashton, Farwell and Nebraska. This is the
vision which will insure our survival. Our ethnic heritage is a common bond but it is our diversity which makes
a strong in today’s
Get ready for Fat Tuesday February 12 with this basic Paczki 6 cups of flour 3
yeast cakes or packets
20 egg yolks 1 teaspoon salt
1 and a half cups of milk (one half cup warm and 1 cup scalded)
1 cup less 2 tablespoons butter l-cup sugar
1 jigger (1 and a half ounce of rum Cherry, prune, or pudding filling.
Dissolve the yeast in one half cup warm milk (110 degrees) for five minutes. Make certain the
milk is not too hot or it will kill the yeast and you will have a hard lump) Sift the flour into one cup
cooled scalded milk gradually while mixing. Add the yeast mixture, stirring until smooth. Let rise
until doubled. Beat the salt into the egg yolks, add to flour mixture, mix well. Add the sugar and
rum. Mix well. Knead until the dough no longer sticks to the side of the bowl. Turn to coat and let
rise until double. Punch down. Let rise. Cut in half. Divide dough into golf sized balls. Place on
greased sheet leaving room for rising. Allow to rise for one hour, or until balls are softball size.
Heat oil in deep fryer to 360 degrees. Deep-fry each paczki until golden brown. Fill a pastry bag
with your favorite filling and using a plain tip, pipe into each Pazcki. Sprinkle with confectioner's
sugar
yeast cakes or packets
20 egg yolks 1 teaspoon salt
1 and a half cups of milk (one half cup warm and 1 cup scalded)
1 cup less 2 tablespoons butter l-cup sugar
1 jigger (1 and a half ounce of rum Cherry, prune, or pudding filling.
Dissolve the yeast in one half cup warm milk (110 degrees) for five minutes. Make certain the
milk is not too hot or it will kill the yeast and you will have a hard lump) Sift the flour into one cup
cooled scalded milk gradually while mixing. Add the yeast mixture, stirring until smooth. Let rise
until doubled. Beat the salt into the egg yolks, add to flour mixture, mix well. Add the sugar and
rum. Mix well. Knead until the dough no longer sticks to the side of the bowl. Turn to coat and let
rise until double. Punch down. Let rise. Cut in half. Divide dough into golf sized balls. Place on
greased sheet leaving room for rising. Allow to rise for one hour, or until balls are softball size.
Heat oil in deep fryer to 360 degrees. Deep-fry each paczki until golden brown. Fill a pastry bag
with your favorite filling and using a plain tip, pipe into each Pazcki. Sprinkle with confectioner's
sugar
New Lifetime Memberships
Bill & Sheila Ojendyk, Clifford C. Roulston, John & Sandi Mudloff
Yearly Renewal Membership
Ray & Lois Bartusiak, Anthony Nykiel, Helen & Tonya Evans, Judith Hanzel , Joe & Maria Mazurek, Donald Gappa,
James & Laura Kugler, John Maciejewski, Patti Ford, Ethel Pearson, Dorothy Gappa
Memorials to the Polish Heritage Center
In Memory of her dear brother, Fr. Stanley Gorak ,from his sister, Gertrude Gorak
In Memory of Steve Eurek from Larry & Virginia Nollette, Bob & JoAnne Piechota, Phyllis Piechota, Judene Jakubowski,
John & Therese Hulinsky, John & Jane Maschka, Claude & Nancy Badura, Roman & Sandra Badura,Kenneth & Lois
Maschka, Alozy & Darlene Spotanski, Virginia Pokorski, Darwin, & Linda (Kosmicki) Anderson, Dan & Kathy Bydalek,
Lois Kaminski, Doris & Archie Kosmicki, Marge Lewandowski, Eric & Tamara Nelson, Jim & Deloris Stanczyk, Jerome &
Jeanette Siwinski, Thriftway Lumber.
In Memory of John & Michalina (Spotanski) Turek from Alfred & Carol Turek
In Memory of Lloyd Marshalek from Cyril and Maria Skorupa
In Memory of Leona Smedra from Kenneth Smedra
In Memory of Jon Baker from Judene Jakubowski, Phyllis Piechota, Jim & Deloris Stanczzyk
In Memory of Edward Chlebinski from Phyllis Piechota
In Memory of Don Gloe Judene Jakubowski, Bob & JoAnne Piechota
In Memory of Bernard Cuba from MaryAnn Boryca
Donations to the Polish Heritage Center
Vestments, linens & photos from the late Fr. Anthony Figlerski donated by Gary & Lori Eurek
Nov. & Dec. Building Fund Donations
$1,500 from the Leonard & Esther Nowak family foundation
$50.00 from Marcella Jablonski
$50.00 from Daniel & Gail Heiny
$25.00 from Anton Pliska
$100.00 from Roma (Stobbe) Jorgensen
$50.00 from Donna Fredrick
$100.00 from Richard Nowak
$100.00 from Leona Prokop
Bill & Sheila Ojendyk, Clifford C. Roulston, John & Sandi Mudloff
Yearly Renewal Membership
Ray & Lois Bartusiak, Anthony Nykiel, Helen & Tonya Evans, Judith Hanzel , Joe & Maria Mazurek, Donald Gappa,
James & Laura Kugler, John Maciejewski, Patti Ford, Ethel Pearson, Dorothy Gappa
Memorials to the Polish Heritage Center
In Memory of her dear brother, Fr. Stanley Gorak ,from his sister, Gertrude Gorak
In Memory of Steve Eurek from Larry & Virginia Nollette, Bob & JoAnne Piechota, Phyllis Piechota, Judene Jakubowski,
John & Therese Hulinsky, John & Jane Maschka, Claude & Nancy Badura, Roman & Sandra Badura,Kenneth & Lois
Maschka, Alozy & Darlene Spotanski, Virginia Pokorski, Darwin, & Linda (Kosmicki) Anderson, Dan & Kathy Bydalek,
Lois Kaminski, Doris & Archie Kosmicki, Marge Lewandowski, Eric & Tamara Nelson, Jim & Deloris Stanczyk, Jerome &
Jeanette Siwinski, Thriftway Lumber.
In Memory of John & Michalina (Spotanski) Turek from Alfred & Carol Turek
In Memory of Lloyd Marshalek from Cyril and Maria Skorupa
In Memory of Leona Smedra from Kenneth Smedra
In Memory of Jon Baker from Judene Jakubowski, Phyllis Piechota, Jim & Deloris Stanczzyk
In Memory of Edward Chlebinski from Phyllis Piechota
In Memory of Don Gloe Judene Jakubowski, Bob & JoAnne Piechota
In Memory of Bernard Cuba from MaryAnn Boryca
Donations to the Polish Heritage Center
Vestments, linens & photos from the late Fr. Anthony Figlerski donated by Gary & Lori Eurek
Nov. & Dec. Building Fund Donations
$1,500 from the Leonard & Esther Nowak family foundation
$50.00 from Marcella Jablonski
$50.00 from Daniel & Gail Heiny
$25.00 from Anton Pliska
$100.00 from Roma (Stobbe) Jorgensen
$50.00 from Donna Fredrick
$100.00 from Richard Nowak
$100.00 from Leona Prokop
Pisanki "Written" Eggs for Easter March 31
The name Pisanki comes form the Polish
verb pisac, "to write." The eggs are decorated
with many traditional Polish symbols of Easter.
Most popular are: the Lamb with Resurrection
Banner (Baranek, symbolizing the Lamb of God
from the Agnus Dei of the Catholic Mass),
pussy willow (often used instead of palms in
Poland), Cross (symbol of the Crucified
Christ), or Easter greetings, such as Wesolego
Alleluja or Alleluja. Different regions of Poland
have also developed particular geometric and
floral designs specific to those communities.
Natural dyes, such as onion skins or beets,
are often used to color eggs referred to as
Kraszanki
The name Pisanki comes form the Polish
verb pisac, "to write." The eggs are decorated
with many traditional Polish symbols of Easter.
Most popular are: the Lamb with Resurrection
Banner (Baranek, symbolizing the Lamb of God
from the Agnus Dei of the Catholic Mass),
pussy willow (often used instead of palms in
Poland), Cross (symbol of the Crucified
Christ), or Easter greetings, such as Wesolego
Alleluja or Alleluja. Different regions of Poland
have also developed particular geometric and
floral designs specific to those communities.
Natural dyes, such as onion skins or beets,
are often used to color eggs referred to as
Kraszanki
I would very much like to see the genealogical
program get started and keep going. I think more
and more people are investigating their heritage
and want to pass it on to future generations. I have
done a lot of investigating in my family, doing at
least 5 families at once, and realize how important
it is to talk to people and get all the information
possible before these people pass away. Not
knowing my father's father made that part of my
investigation very hard. So with records at a place
like the PHC, it would make it a lot easier.
I would also like to see us get more activities at the
Festival in order to get more people to come.
Sometimes we get in a rut with what we are doing
and need some new ideas to make it fresh again.
With three new members on the board, I'm sure we
can get new ideas and young people to do more
participating.
Next of course is the new building. Trying to
expand the genealogical department will need
more space, so the building will have to be big
enough to accommodate all this. I intend to work
on getting more donations and maybe bigger ones.
Haven't decided how to do this yet, but am working
on it. With a bigger facility, more people should be
willing to bring in memorabilia.
My main goal for all of this, is to have all these
things for the generations to come. We must
preserve our heritage for future generations or we
will lose everything. Judy Welniak, President2013
program get started and keep going. I think more
and more people are investigating their heritage
and want to pass it on to future generations. I have
done a lot of investigating in my family, doing at
least 5 families at once, and realize how important
it is to talk to people and get all the information
possible before these people pass away. Not
knowing my father's father made that part of my
investigation very hard. So with records at a place
like the PHC, it would make it a lot easier.
I would also like to see us get more activities at the
Festival in order to get more people to come.
Sometimes we get in a rut with what we are doing
and need some new ideas to make it fresh again.
With three new members on the board, I'm sure we
can get new ideas and young people to do more
participating.
Next of course is the new building. Trying to
expand the genealogical department will need
more space, so the building will have to be big
enough to accommodate all this. I intend to work
on getting more donations and maybe bigger ones.
Haven't decided how to do this yet, but am working
on it. With a bigger facility, more people should be
willing to bring in memorabilia.
My main goal for all of this, is to have all these
things for the generations to come. We must
preserve our heritage for future generations or we
will lose everything. Judy Welniak, President2013
