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Nest 725, Milwaukee, Wis. Recent Events [11/20/07]
On Friday, June 22, Nest 725 President Marian E. Hansen was the Polish Legend storyteller in the festival’s “Cultural Area.” On Saturday, 30 adult members of the Falcon Polish Folk Dancers performed in the two-hour Gala Concert with a few hundred Polish dancers from throughout the U.S. These Falcons performed a Polish Folk Gypsy Suite and brought the house down with their introduction of gypsy fortune-telling. A big “thank you” to District II Treasurer Connie Cwiok and her sister Theresa Zaworski from Chicago, Ill., who also took part in this event. In addition, District II’s newly elected President Paul Sadowski lent us a big helping hand. A “thank you” is also given out to Nest 725’s Dance Coach Sandy Abendroth. We were very lucky that Debera Orzechowski made two trips to New York to help purchase special hip shawls for our costumes. Debera lives in New Haven, Conn. On Sunday, our youth class performed a variety of Drills, dance routines and a tumbling exhibition at the Children’s Stage. “Thank you” to our class staff: Shannon Borek, George Wortz, Sue Hassman, and Lance and Janessa Agbuis. “Thank you” to a very hard-working board as its performers put their heart and soul into every performance. In order to enhance our Polish Folk Dance Class, Nest 725 purchased four tickets to attend a November 20 concert by the world-famous dance troupe Mazowsze at the local Riverside Stage. Caption: Pictured is the Polish Fest Adult Team performing the Polish Gypsy Suite. In the front is Nest 725 President Marian Hansen with District II Treasurer Connie Cwiok to the right. Recent Events [11/20/07]
This is a program that has a long history in our neighborhood, dating back to the community of Polish immigrants who settled here in the 19th century. Like the Germans who established turnvereins like Turners’ Hall on 4th Street, the Riverwest Poles organized a local “Nest” of Polish Falcons in 1916 to emphasize physical fitness, discipline and fellowship. With national headquarters in Pittsburgh, Pa., the Polish Falcons is a fraternal group that offers life insurance to its members and also supports centers like the one in our neighborhood. Marian Hansen is the mother-hen of the local Nest. Born on Weil Street, Marian has been working with neighborhood kids since 1969. Originally she organized a drum and baton corps at St. Casimir’s and then went on to develop a remarkable number of programs for kids at the Polish Falcon Nest: gymnastics, swimming, bowling, track, baseball, folk dancing, you name it. In the “canteen” behind the stage, a small room that bulges with costumes and trophies, Marian points proudly to walls full of honor certificates earned by Riverwest teams over the past 35 years. Five times the Riverwest Polish Falcons have been named national folk dance champions, she boasts. Four times the group has even performed in Poland. Every year they perform at Polish Fest. Clearly, Hansen is proud of the history of the Falcons program. And she sees how times have changed. “Kids used to be outside playing hopscotch, jump-rope or kick-the-can. You never see that anymore. Now they sit watching TV like couch potatoes, eating potato chips, which is even worse. We have way too many overweight children nowadays. Kids need to get exercise, they need to be doing things!” Danyel Brost is a young mom who grew up in the neighborhood and looks back fondly on her years with the Polish Falcons. “It was great for me,” she says. “I made a lot of friends that I still keep in touch with. We got to be like a family. They kept us occupied so we stayed out of trouble and we got to do a lot of traveling when we went to different competitions.” Danyel has such appreciation for the program, in fact, that she enrolled her son Floyd in the local Nest. The cost is only $40/year and that includes a life insurance policy worth $10,000, weekly classes and two-thirds of any expenses involved in traveling to different tournaments. Danyel thinks it was great that her son got to go to Michigan this summer for a competition. As a single mother, she’s a strong supporter of the Falcons: she loves that the program is so inexpensive and right in the neighborhood. “This program is a jewel which many people are not aware of.” That’s what Hansen has to say about the Polish Falcons. She invites parents to come by at 6 p.m. on Tuesdays and see for themselves. “There’s nothing else like this in Riverwest. Where else could parents find a program like this at such a reasonable price and so close to home?” Caption: Pictured is Marian Hansen talking to a group of Nest 725 youth earlier this year at the PFA National Zlot held in Orchard Lake, Mich. [Editor’s Note: The preceding article was first published in the Riverwest Currents and written by staff reporter Jackie Reid Dettloff.]
Recent Events [7/20/07] Between the float and the number of participants involved, the Polish Falcons of America took up more than half of a block in the parade’s lineup. Caption: When enlarged, pictured above are some of the Nest 725 members that took part in Chicago’s annual May Day Parade.
Member Spotlight [6/20/07] Audrey has previously been Nest 725’s President and is currently a Nest board member as well as being active on a number of Nest 725 committees. Recent Events [6/20/07]
This year, we had an attendance of 27 children ages 3-15. Each child paid $7 toward the bowling tournament, which included $5 for the rental of lanes and shoes and $2 for the tournament fee registration. Nine adults assisted with various duties, such as helping the younger children bowl and keeping track of scoring.
The children had a safe, fun time and our helpers did a good job. “Thank You” to everyone who assisted us with this event. Top Photo: Some of the Nest 725 members that took part in this year’s Youth Bowling Tournament. Bottom Photo: Nest 725 member Triston Agbuis gets ready to knock down some pins.
Recent Events [6/20/07] A big “Thank You” to my co-Chairperson Chris Borek (especially for helping me set up that village display), Sandy Abendroth, who was “Miss Pink Molly Rabbit,” and Audrey Fix, who was “Peter Rabbit.” “Thank You” also to George Wortz, who was in charge of the children’s entertainment and made sure everybody had plenty of fun with the many musical games that were played.
Thanks are also much deserved to Sue Hassman, who was in charge of raffles; Angela Fischer, who organized refreshments; Rick Fischer, who was our professional Nest photographer; Shannon Borek, who assisted with countless responsibilities; and again to Chris Borek, who was “Miss Chick a Dee.” Also, thanks are in order to Miss Wolnikowski, who is only 13-years old and helped us out whenever something needed to be done –– what a worker! The Nest 725 Board will review the outcome of this Easter Party and see how we can improve upon our strong initial showing. We will try this event again because those who were there had a good time, and we were able to provide a community service. Captions: Top Photo: Nest 725 President Marian Hansen (far right) is pictured with the rest of the Easter Egg Hunt Party Committee. Bottom Photo: Triston Agbuis takes on the limbo bar, which was one of the many games played at Nest 725’s Easter Party. Recent Events [3/20/07]
Since 1979, members of the Syrena Dancers have been the beneficiaries of one of the world’s leading authorities on Polish folk culture and dance. For more than 28 years, Ada has been the artistic director of the Syrena Adult and Children’s Dance Ensembles. Hansen has been friends with Ada since 1976. Through their friendship, Ada has participated in several Polish folk dance workshops at the Nest 725 Building and has also worked at two of the PFA’s National dance workshops hosted by Nest 725. Through the years, Ada and Marian have worked together with props, music, costumes, Polish skits and performances at the biggest Polish Fest in Milwaukee.
Because Ada was born and raised in Poland, she has been very instrumental in helping with the purchases of Polish regional costumes for Nest 725. Entertainment at this event was provided by Danuta-Lupina Karnicka, a native of Poland and performer of the Florentine Opera. There were also performances of three Polish dances suites by the Syrena Polish Folk Dance Ensemble. Dinner Music was provided by the Anthony Kawalkowski Orchestra from Chicago, Ill. “Sto Lat,” Ada, from the Polish Falcons of America. Return to PFA Home Page |
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