"Spring" Into May With A New Polish Book

By Dodie Piersielak

Spring is here, and what a busy time it is for all of us. There’s spring cleaning, spring gardening, spring clothes; the list goes on. With these seasonal activities, you also need to make some quiet time for yourself. What better way to enjoy this time than with a good book?

This month’s PFA Marketplace Section has been updated and offers five new books for your enjoyment. The children’s book “Twice a Hero” will teach any child about two heroes of the American Revolution: Thaddeus Kosciuszko and Casimir Pulaski. The cookbook “Cooking The Polish Way” has some great low-fat and vegetarian recipes. “A Match Made In Hell,” which has a great review from Publishers Weekly, is on my list of books to read. For those of you who have never visited Poland and want to know more about this country, then “Poland: A Unique Country & Its People” is for you. Finally, there is “Michelangelo in Ravensbruck.” The Countess Karolina Lanckoronska wrote the book right after her release in 1945 from a concentration camp and makes for a riveting story.

We would like to hear from you about any of the books that you have purchased through our Book Service. Please feel free to send me your reviews. Also, if you have any ideas for books to offer, please let me know via the contact information that is listed at the end of this column.

Last month I traveled to Washington, D.C., compliments of the National Fraternal Congress of America (more information on this story can be found here). My friend Barbara Smagin and I were escorted to Capitol Hill and to the offices of Congresswomen Louise Slaughter, who presented me with a beautiful plaque. We spent some time talking about fraternal organizations and what the Polish Falcons of America was doing on a local and national level. I gave her a copy of a recent Sokol Polski issue and a Nest 52, Rochester, N.Y., newsletter. Congresswoman Slaughter is from the Rochester area, and she is familiar with Rochester’s Polonia, so it made talking to her easy. Another high spot of the trip took place after we went to Mass at the Basilica. Barbara and I accused a gentleman of stealing our taxi. It turned out to be his taxi, which he gracefully shared with us. This gentleman was Archbishop Edwin O’Brien, who supervises all chaplains in the military. You never know who you will meet or how you will meet them!

Remember, if you have any questions or comments related to Polonia issues, contact me by postal mail at 11 Mainview Drive, Rochester, NY 14625, or by e-mail.