2003

2003

Kalendarz - Historia

Past Events

Other news

Young Polanie looking for new kids to join

Young Polanie is a children theater group at the Polish Home. The group is currently preparing a new program and looking for new members to fill in all the roles in the play. Parents are asked to contact Ms. Barbara Strutynski or simply to come with their children to one of the practice sessions that are on Fridays from 7 to 9 pm.

Where: at the Polish Home, 1714 18^th Ave in Seattle

More: Ms. Strutynski can be reached at (425) 746-3037

New York Post

December 22, 2003 -- The decisive turning point in the West's long struggle against Islamic conquerors came on the afternoon of Sept. 12, 1683, during the last Turkish siege of Vienna. Severely outnumbered Polish hussars - the finest cavalry Europe ever produced - charged into the massed Ottoman ranks with lowered lances and a wild battle cry. Led by the valiant King Jan Sobieski, the Poles had marched to save Vienna while other Europeans looked away. The French - surprise! - had cut a deal with the sultan. (To Louis XIV, humbling the rival Habsburgs trumped the fate of Western civilization.)

The odds were grim. Many of King Jan's nobles feared disaster. But Sobieski risked his kingdom - actually a rough-and-tumble democracy - to save a continent.

On that fateful afternoon, the Polish cavalry struck the Turkish lines with such force that 2,000 lances shattered. The charge stunned the Ottoman army. A hundred thousand Turks ran for the Danube.

No army from the Islamic world ever posed such a threat to the West again.

Poland's thanks for its courage? In the next century, the country was sliced up like a pie by the ungrateful Habsburgs, along with the Romanovs of Russia and the Prussian Hohenzollerns. It was the most cynical action in European history until the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, which divided Poland again in 1939.

But the Poles never gave up their belief in their country - or in freedom. During our own revolution, our first allies were Polish freedom fighters such as Casimir Pulaski and Tadeusz Kosciusko. (Paris only joined the fight when it looked like we might win. And France intervened to spite Britain, not to help us.)

Throughout the 19th century, Poles fought for freedom wherever the struggle raged, in Latin America, Greece and Italy, and on the Union side in our Civil War. Although their country had been raped by the great powers of Europe, Poles kept her cause alive. Again and again, Poles rose against their occupiers, only to be savagely put down, with their finest young men slaughtered or marched to Siberian prisons. Then, at the end of the Great War, Poland suddenly reappeared on the maps.

What did the Poles do? They immediately saved Western civilization yet again. In the now-forgotten "Miracle on the Vistula," a patched-together Polish army turned back the Red hordes headed for Berlin. One of history's most brilliant campaigns, it saved defeated Germany from a communist takeover.

Poland's thanks? The slaughter of World War II. Then the Soviet occupation.

But the Poles never gave up. Their language, their faith - and their martial traditions - were maintained with rigor and pride. Of all the countries that gained their freedom as the Soviet Union collapsed, none had struggled for liberty as relentlessly as Poland.

Now the Poles are defending freedom again. In Iraq. While the establishment media agonize over the fickle moods of Paris and Berlin, there's little mention in the press of the superb contribution made by our Polish allies - at great cost to their own country.

In the words of an American officer who works closely with them, "Poland has taken to the Iraq mission for idealistic and principled purposes: Its leadership and military truly believe that freedom and justice are universal values worth fighting for."

To how many other nations would those words apply?

Poland has deployed 2,500 of its best soldiers to Iraq. It sent $64 million worth of its newest equipment - which operations in Iraq will ruin. Warsaw selected its finest officers to command and staff the Multinational Division Center South. A Polish major general commands a total of 12,000 troops from 22 nations with responsibility for a sector previously held by twice as many U.S. Marines. The Polish performance has been flawless.

Their reward? Surely America must recognize such a great contribution from an economically struggling ally - at a time when Polish troops also support peacekeeping missions in Afghanistan and the Balkans?

Sorry. Turkey, which stabbed us as deeply in the back as it could on the eve of Operation Iraqi Freedom, will receive a minimum of $2 billion from Washington - and the same elements in the Rumsfeld cabal who failed to plan for the occupation of Iraq hope to increase our aid to Ankara to $5 billion.

Pakistan, which refuses to press home the fight against al Qaeda, will get billions from Washington. The repressive Egyptian regime will get a few billion, too, as it does every year. Even Yemen will get a welfare check from Uncle Sugar.

And Poland? Like the Czech Republic, which sent a few medics to the Persian Gulf then withdrew them in panic, Poland will get a standard package of $12 million for NATO-related programs. Other than some logistical support in Iraq, that's it. Strategic peanuts for our most enthusiastic ally on the European continent.

Poland did have one request - a humble one, in the great scheme of things. Warsaw asked for $47 million to modernize six used, American-built C-130 transport aircraft and to purchase American-built HMMWV all-terrain vehicles so elite Polish units could better integrate operations with American forces. Much of the money would go right back to U.S. factories and workers.

Our response? We stiffed them.

For once, the Pentagon and the State Department agree: No can do. Impossible. Our pocket are empty. Got to FedEx every penny to our favorite dictators.

It's a mistake to over-idealize any nation. But if there's a land of heroes anywhere between the English Channel and the coast of California, it's Poland. Our Polish allies have taken a brave, costly, principled stand for freedom and democracy in Iraq. They desperately want to be seen by Washington as reliable friends in this treacherous world.

The least we could do is to treat them with respect.

Ralph Peters is a retired Army officer and the author of "Beyond Baghdad."

www.nypost.com/seven/12222003/postopinion/opedcolumnists/14094.htm

A recent letter from Mrs. Barbara Klita, Fred Frontier's mother, to the State of Alaska political leaders:

Dear Betsy and ALL Friend's,

I need help from Gov.Murkowski, Senator Murkowski, Senator Tad Stevens, Congresmen Dan Young, Senator Johnny Ellis, Mayor Mark Begich, to write the letter, request to Government in Taiwan.

Fred Frontier,29 years old, American arrive to Taipei, Taiwan 5.20.03 to teach English for Hess, Language School and he disapperd 5.23.03 in Tiehsiang, Hualien County, Cathalic Hostel,where is Fr. ALfonse Savioz, for 20 years and 20 years other places in Taiwan. All together 40 years. HE is from Switzerland. He met Fred, my son. For him, Fred never come back from the montains, after, when he check in 5.22.03 and paid for 3 nights 5.22.03, 5.23.03, 5.24.03. There is not evidence for his accident in the Taroko Gorge National Park at all. After his phone call to his girlfriend in Seattle, WA. and put some money 50 USA dolars from the machine by his credit card to his walet on 5.23.03 at 10 am. He never came back to the same Hostel. First, he dosn't know chinese. He must ask somebody for instruction how to get out the money from the ATM machine. The 2 Chinese have been check in the same day as Fred was in.

They ask him for money, they hurt him, stolen the passport american. ON black market 25.000 USA dolars. They keep him, I don't know where. How long this will be? It's already 7 months for Christmas. I'm here by myself with no chinese.The senator Tad Stevens promise me to send here FBI and CIA from American Ambassy in Tokio, Japen. Was only on the paper not in action from 9.18.03.Nobody cares.

Please write the letter to the Government in Taiwan, President Chen, Major Ma, department of North American Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Director Chao, the First Bureau, Foreign Affairs Division, National Police Agency, Robert J.P. Lee, Criminal Investigation Bureau, Chen Yi-Ming. Also write to American Institute in Taipei, and you can receive address from them.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year
Barbara Klita

Donation Fred Frontier Fund acc. nr.451524 Credit Union 1
Anchorage, AK.

Bal Sylwestrowy

Kolacja podana o 19:00 początek balu o 20:00, koniec 2:00 rano.

Bilety $50.00 od osoby dla członkow TDP; $80:00 od osoby dla sympatyków.

Rezerwacje: Pan Marian Strutynski (425) 746-3037

New Year's Eve Ball

Dinner served at 7:00 pm, dances start at 8:00 pm, end of ball at 2:00 am

Tickets $50.00/person for the PHA members; $80:00/person for the PHA friends.

Reservations: Mr. Marian Strutynski (425) 746-3037

A Letter from Fred's Mother:

I like the polish sentence “ZAPRE SIE A NIE DAM SIE” (I don’t give up) and the story about the piano, how a little boy was missing and was found in the loving arms of the pianist. The arms of God our Father is always around me. I pray a lot.

My son Fred, 28 years old, missing in Taiwan since the 23rd of May 2003, on the 23rd of November it will be 6 months. I hope that he will come back this Christmas 2003. I still remember the time we spent Christmas together last year. We were together for 3 weeks in San Diego, CA and in Mexico. He paid for the round trip airline ticket for me from Anchorage, Alaska to Seattle, WA. From Seattle, WA to San Diego, CA we took the bus, so many hours in the bus, but I was with him. It was a wonderful vacation. We went horse riding, to the beach in Mexico and we stayed in the hotel too.

It is only 6 weeks away from Christmas 2003, I have to work very hard to find my son. He disappeared on the 23rd of May 2003 in Taiwan, Tienshang Toroko Gorge National Park, Hualien County. He checked in a Catholic hostel where he paid for 3 nights from May 22 to 24, 2003. He only slept one night in the hostel. Two Chinese checked in with him. One of them could have been watching him and noticed he was an American having an American passport. If Fred had a polish or Italian passport and not alone, maybe nothing would have happened to him. Somebody must have hurt him, stole his passport and sold it in the black market! I learned that an American passport can be sold for 25,000US$! They must still be keeping him some place, I don’t know where, with no possible communication…for how long and for what? He disappeared like a ghost. There is no evidence that he had an accident in the mountains. I was there for 6 weeks last summer when I first came with about 25 police 100 park rangers, hikers. He disappeared on the 23rd of May 2003 and somebody brought his backpack on 7th of June 2003. On the 13th of June 2003, his wallet containing credit cards, driver’s license, 5.00 US$, his return train ticket to Taipei for the 25th of May 2003 which he never used, was found in his bed under his pillow in the dormitory of the same Catholic hostel of 24 beds. Nobody knew who brought these things. When I arrived 2 months later on July 17, 2003, I found his belongings in the hostel but not his passport.

The young Taiwanese man, about 18 ~25 years old with a woman of the same age did not belong to the hostel. They arrived at the same time I was there. They wanted all the things of Fred back specially the digital camera and the wallet but I told them that they are mine. I asked where Fred’s passport was. The man did not answer and just left. Nobody knew his name. I think that he is involved in Fred’s disappearance. He seems to knows everything. Another time when I was with the police investigator, Mr. Mark Chih from the Foreign Affairs Division, (Tel: 886-2-2393-0989; cell phone: 0920 752870; National Police Agency. No. 7. Sec. 1, Chunghsiao East Rd. Taipei, Taiwan, ROC; e-mail: Robert49@npa.gov.tw; jplec@hn.tpemail.net.tw) a detective, there were two Chinese pretending to read the newspaper, one of them has the face of a criminal. With my mother’s instinct, I feel that he must have hurt my son. I told this to the police. They are doing some investigation.

I hope Fred is not killed, I hope he is still alive!

I need help to pay a private investigator to know whether the people are telling the truth. Please send donation to:

Fred Frontier Fund

Acct.# 451524

Credit Union One (Main Branch)

3500 Eide Street

Anchorage, AK 99503

tel: 907-339-9485

And please pray!

Thanks, God bless you!

Barbara

PS: My cell phone in Taiwan #0913739940. I have a hard time here. Not knowing Chinese, communication is almost impossible; transportation too. I can not manage by myself to go around.

The Polish Home Foundation

Major events and activities in 2003 as of Nov 5, 2003

The Olbinski Exhibition & Fundraiser, May 2003

The biggest event organized and supported by the PHF was the Olbinski exhibition and fundraiser in May, 2003. The exhibition was held at the Suzzallo library of the UW and at the Polish Home. This great event helped bringing the great surrealist artist to the local public, generated a lot of interest in Polish culture. It also enjoyed wide public support with the Olbinski lunch fundraiser resulting in a smashing success. All the costs have been paid from the event income that is from donations, from the lunch fundraiser and from the strong art sales.

Other Fundraisers

The Foundation had a stand at the Spring and Fall Bazaars at the Polish Home, increasing public awarness of the PHF and raising money selling Olbinski calendars and cards as well as folk art and some other goods donated to the PHF.

The Foundation was also helping handling fundraisers for individuals in medical emergency.

Financial support for events

The PHF supported financially these events in 2003:
The Polna Rapsodia concert (in March 2003, grant in 2002), organized by Mr. Tomasz Aleksander
The Polish Avant-Garde Films of 1930-1945 at UW, organized by the Department of Slavic Languages and Literatures of University of Washington, Seattle
The Polonez dance group performance at the PHA 85th Anniversary gala, organized by the Polish Home Assn, paid to the dancegroup
The Seattle Polish Film Festival, organized by the Seattle-Gdynia Sister City Assn.

Grants

Besides the grants supporting the events mentioned above, in 2003 the PHF issued the following grants, in cash and software, to support:
The Polish Home Association in Seattle for the facility improvements related to noice reductin program addressing neighborhood complaints
The Department of Slavic Languages and Literatures of the University of Washington in Seattle for events related to Polish language and culture
The Red Cross, the Seattle Office, for the family reunion trip of George Gordon / Jerzy Budzynski to Wroclaw, Poland
The Film Arts Foundation for the "Wiktor Siminski: the Art of Survival" documentary movie project
Individuals in medical emergency: Mr. Krzysztof Tasak, Mr. Zack Moss

For a full list of events and grants please visit our website.

Plans for future

The Foundation’s next event will be a concert by Mr. Roman Czarny. Mr. Czarny is not only a Polish Consul but also a composer and a singer, known for his Chicago Night Blues and other songs. We also plan to bring the Polonez dance group for a bigger event in late spring 2004.

Other possibilities include fundraisers involving Polish or Polish-American celebrities, bringing in performance groups to Seattle or organizing a movie event.

To learn more, please come to our next meeting on Nov 19, 2003 at the Polish Home.

Polish Bazaar at St. Margaret’s, Nov 15, 12 noon - 7 pm

If you still crave Polish food and good deals after the big bazaar at the Polish Home, there is another Polish bazaar coming. This one is a smaller, yearly event at the Polish Parish. There will be stands with merchandise, a wheel of fortune and a Parish raffle drawing with tickets on sale till the last moment. Home dinners at $8 full and $4 half size will also be available during the bazaar. The profit goes towards the Parish needs.

Where: St. Margaret Church, 3221 14^th Ave W, Seattle, admission free

More: contact to the parish (206) 282-1804, http://www.polskaparafia.org/

The 12^th annual Seattle Polish Film Festival opens on Friday, November 7^th, 2003 and will run through Sunday, November 16^th, with a midweek break, at the Broadway Performance Hall.

Launching the Festival will be "The Old Tale: When the Sun Was God", (see the picture) the latest film by a veteran director Jerzy Hoffman ("With Fire and Sword", "The Quack", "Lepper", "Deluge"), based on the classic novel by Jozef Ignacy Kraszewski. Starring in the film are the award-winning actors Michal Zebrowski, Daniel Olbrychski, Ewa Wisniewska, Jerzy Trela, and Anna Dymna. The Festival’s opening screening and opening reception gala will be attended by the honorable Jerzy Hoffman and the film’s co-producer Jerzy Michaluk ("With Fire and Sword"). Moviegoers will have an opportunity to meet the guests.

Additionally, this year’s Festival will feature some of the best recently-produced Polish films including a popular comedy of the summer entitled "The Body", "Show" starring Cezary Pazura, and the much anticipated children’s animation entitled "Golden Drops", among others.

Furthermore, the 12^th annual Seattle Polish Film Festival will feature a photo and poster exhibition centered around one of Poland’s best and largest film festivals, the Gdynia Film Festival.

Since its inception, the Seattle Polish Film Festival has grown in popularity in the Puget Sound region. This has been due in part to the Festival's selection of newly released and highly acclaimed films and visits of famous directors and actors such as Agnieszka Holland, Krzysztof Zanussi, Radoslaw Piwowarski, Andrzej Seweryn, Olaf Lubaszenko, and Lech Majewski.

All films feature English subtitles. Tickets prices for screenings of "The Old Tale: When the Sun Was God" are $12.00. General admission ticket prices are $8.00. Children film ticket prices are $4.00. Series passes are $60.00 and don't include "The Old Tale: When the Sun Was God".

Tickets will be available for purchase: (1) online at http://www.ticketwindowonline.com, (2) all Ticket/Ticket windows locations, (3) via phone at (206) 325-6500 or fax at (425) 450-3839, and (4) the Broadway Performance Hall box office prior to show time. Advance purchase is recommended.

The Seattle Polish Film Festival is produced by the Seattle-Gdynia Sister City Association. Association President Glen Lee invites the public to attend this highly acclaimed and very popular local Festival. The Festival Coordinator is Krystian Koper. For Festival information, schedule, volunteering, and sponsorship please visit the Festival website at http://www.PolishFilms.org or call the Festival hotline at (206) 901-0146.

Seattle Polish Film Festival at BPH, Nov 7-9 & 14-16

SPFF Schedule for the second weekend

Film City Gdynia, an exhibition about the most important film festival in Poland, organized by Ewa & Krzysztof Poraj-Kuczewski will on display at the Broadway Performance Hall throughout the Festival.

Friday, November 14^th

8:00 - Requiem, Requiem, dir. Witold Leszczynski, 2002, 102 min, $8, 35mm

Saturday, November 15^th

4:00 -The Structure of Crystal, Struktura Kryształu, dir. Krzysztof Zanussi, 1969, 74 min, $8, 35mm

6:00 -The Hexer, Wiedzmin, dir. Marek Brodzki, 2002, 129 min, $8, 35mm

8:30 - Day of Wacko, Dzien Swira, dir. Marek Koterski, 2002,140 min,$8, 35mm

Sunday, November 16^th

6:00 - Chopper, Motor, dir. Wieslaw Paluch, 2003, 80 min, $8, Beta

8:00 - Antichrist, Antychryst, dir. Adam Guzinski, 2002, 28 min, $8 (shown together with AlaRM), Beta

Alarm, AlaRM, dir. Dariusz Gajewski, 2002, 67 min, beta

A Polish Reunion Story at KING 5, Nov 11, 7 pm

The Evening Magazine on the Veteran Day will present a family reunion story featuring a Polish WWII survivor. Mr. George Gordon, born Jerzy Budzynski, residing in Seattle since after the war, is a survivor of Nazi concentration camps who lost touch with his family when he was arrested. Only in July, 2003 did American and Polish Red Cross organizations found the surviving sister of Mr. Gordon, Krystyna, living in Wroclaw, Poland. The Seattle Red Cross organized a family reunion trip for Mr. Gordon, supported among others by the Polish Home Foundation.

Where: on KING 5 TV, Seattle (channel 5), The Evening Magazine show

News Credits: Polish News from Puget Sound is a private distribution list serving Seattle and the Pacific Northwest. It is edited by Ryszard Kott; contact: Editor@PolishNewsSeattle.org

Saturday and Sunday November 1st and 2nd, Noon to 7pm at the Polish Hall, 714 - 18th Ave, Seattle

39th Annual Fall POLISH BAZAAR

Delicious dinners of pickle soup, borscht, pierogi, Polish sausage, and cabbage rolls served all day. Exceptional home made pastries from our bakery and dessert bar. Take home dinners and desserts available for your Polish Dining Pleasure.

Upstairs we will have an excellent selection of crafts, Polish Bolesławiec pottery, crystals, amber, artistic glass, books greeting cards, Christmas ornaments and the traditional wafer - Polish "Opłatek".

Seattle's one and only - Polish Pickle Contest

Bring your home made pickles - judging on Saturday at 5 pm.

Free admission - parking adjacent to the Polish Hall.

Alaskan goes to Taiwan to find son who went missing in May
Fred Frontier, hired to teach English, disappeared while sightseeing

By TATABOLINE BRANT
Anchorage Daily News

(Published: October 27, 2003)
Barbara Klita, Fred Frontier's mother, left for Taiwan on Saturday to search for her son, who has been missing since late May.

Fred Frontier and his mother, Barbara Klita, were in San Diego last Christmas. Frontier went missing in Taiwan in May, and his mother is going there to search for him. Barbara Klita refuses to give up hope that her son is alive.

On Saturday morning, the former school bus attendant boarded a plane in Anchorage for Taiwan, where she can neither read nor speak the language, to look for her son.

Klita doesn't know how long she'll be on the island or what she'll do to support herself while she's there. All she knows is that she doesn't want to come back to Anchorage without Fryderyk Frontier.

Frontier, 29, vanished five months ago. A longtime Alaskan with a colorful past, he went to Taiwan in May to teach English for Hess Educational Organization. He arrived a few days before he was scheduled to start work and went sightseeing.

No one has seen him since.

American and Taiwanese authorities are looking for Frontier, but Klita, who in July spent a few weeks searching in Taiwan, wants to start her own investigation with the help of a private detective.

"I am feeling I am going to find him," she said in a thick Polish accent during an interview before she left Anchorage. "If I don't, I don't give up. Somehow I have to find him. He is not a ghost."

Frontier grew up an only child in a single-parent family. He was born in Rome, where his father still lives, but the two have had almost no communication over the years, his mother said. Klita said her son changed his last name to Frontier from Veschi when he was 18 because he felt his father didn't love him. The new surname was inspired by Alaska, she said.

Frontier lived with his mother in Poland and Buffalo, N.Y., before the two settled in Alaska in 1985. He is known locally for his work promoting events and causes close to his heart: recycling at the University of Alaska Anchorage, dances and music shows around town, Rainbow Gatherings near Knik River and pushing for the legalization of marijuana. In 2000, Frontier ran unsuccessfully for a state House seat on the Green Party ticket.

Frontier was an outgoing, eccentric type whose promotional work was always done with gusto, his friends said. As circulation manager for UAA's student newspaper, for example, Frontier was known to hand people papers under bathroom stall doors to get them to read it.

"He was either really brave or really foolish, depending on who you talk to," said Crispin McCabe, 30, who attended Steller Secondary School with Frontier years ago.

McCabe recalled an anti-racism campaign Frontier worked on in high school. He handed fliers to everyone, including a group of skinheads, McCabe said.

"He was one of those people who refused to accept that people can't get along," he said. "He thought if he tried hard enough, he could find common ground. ... He is just very genuine. He doesn't have a bad bone in his body."

Frontier graduated cum laude with leadership honors from UAA in 1998 with a bachelor's degree in anthropology, university officials said. He was also fluent in Polish, Spanish, Russian and English.

Frontier's friendliness and curiosity won him many friends from all walks of life, said Richard Benavides, a legislative aide who met Frontier in a logic class at UAA and worked with him in student government.

"He was a lot smarter than he let on, because he was very laid back," Benavides said. "He was very much a mover and shaker on things he believed in. The bit about recycling, ... he really worked at it. It got to a point where we actually started a program because of his push and drive."

Frontier moved to Seattle about three years ago. He worked a series of computer-related jobs and made a new crop of friends. McCabe, who lives in Seattle now, said Frontier would hold potlucks at his house once a month.

"It was always quite an international crowd," he said.

By the end of the night, everyone would be talking in Polish and Russian. Before long, Frontier decided he needed a change and applied to the Hess Educational Organization, which offers teaching opportunities in Taiwan. Hess offered him a job teaching English for a year, according to James Li, a spokesman for the organization in Taiwan reached recently by e-mail.

Frontier arrived in Taipei, Taiwan's capital, the night of May 20, Li said. The following day, he checked in at Hess' main office in Chung Ho City. Frontier was not scheduled to start work until May 26, and he told officials that he planned to sightsee until then, Li said. He stored his luggage at the main office for safekeeping and left.

It was the last Hess saw of him.

Frontier did not tell anyone specifically where he was going, so when he didn't show up for work on May 26, Hess officials didn't know where to look. They started contacting anyone who might know something -- the hostel where Frontier had been staying, his family and friends.

The American Institute of Taiwan and the National Police Administration were also contacted, Li said. More than 1,500 missing person posters were hung around the island and Hess took out ads in English and Chinese newspapers, Li said.

According to Taiwanese newspaper reports, police have pieced together Frontier's last known movements and have appealed to the public for help. They have come up empty so far.

The last person in the United States to hear from Frontier was his girlfriend in Seattle, Klita said. On May 23, he left her a message on her answering machine, telling her how beautiful the mountains were where he was staying, Klita said.

After some investigation and with the help of Frontier's credit card statements, officials learned that he checked into the Tien Shang Catholic Hostel in Hualien from May 22-25, Li said. Frontier is believed to have gone hiking in Taroko Gorge, one of Taiwan's premier tourist attractions, Li said.

It is not clear whether Frontier stayed at the Tien Shang hostel all the nights he paid for or who saw him last. The American Institute of Taiwan would not comment on the case, and the National Police Administration could not be reached by phone and did not respond to an e-mail.

According to police reports and newspaper accounts, Frontier's backpack and wallet unaccountably showed up in the room he had been staying in about 10 days after his checkout date.

Klita said her son's driver's license and credit cards were all in his wallet but his passport was missing. Klita said when she visited the hostel in July, one man wanted to keep her son's belongings.

"I asked people at hostel what's his name; they won't tell me," Klita said. "He was very aggressive toward me. I got this feeling that he was related to Fred's disappearing."

Klita believes someone is holding her son against his will.

Li said foul play has not been ruled out.

"We are remaining optimistic and hoping for a positive conclusion," he said.

Klita has spoken with missionaries in Taiwan who are going to help her get settled when she arrives. She has an open plane ticket that's good for a year and a five-year work visa.

Klita believes her son is alive because he came to her in a dream one night while she was in Taiwan. "I ask him: 'Fred, what happened to you? Did somebody hurt you?' He said, 'Very badly, you don't imagine.' ... Then he disappeared."

Daily News reporter Tataboline Brant can be reached at tbrant@adn.com or 907-257-4321.

Mark Salman plays Chopin at Sherman Clay, Nov 1, 7 pm

Mr. Salman, a Steinway artist hailed as a "heroic virtuoso" and one the Chopin Foundation's upcoming featured artists, will be performing at the Sherman Clay in Seattle in honor of Steinway & Sons' 150th Anniversary. His performances have been described as "powerful", "dramatic", "wildly imaginative" and "touchingly lyrical"; He performed at Carnegie Hall and is best known for his expertise in Beethoven. Mr. Salman will be playing Sonata OP. 31#3 by Beethoven, Sonata in B Minor by Chopin and St. Francis Walking on the Waves by Liszt.

Where: downtown Sherman Clay, 1624 Fourth Avenue, Seattle; admission free

More: RSVP at (206) 622-7580 or to Jennifer_Bowman@sclay.com

News Credits: Polish News from Puget Sound is a private distribution list serving Seattle and the Pacific Northwest. It is edited by Ryszard Kott; contact: Editor@PolishNewsSeattle.org

L. Cieslinski talks on NGOs in Poland at PHA, Nov 1, 7 pm

Mr. Lukasz Cieslinski is an NGO (Non-Governmental Organization) activist and a leader who galvanized his Pomorskie region (centered at Koszalin, Poland), where he is the President of the Center for Support of Social Initiatives. He comes to the US as a guest of the US Department of State and the World Affairs Council of Puget Sound. He will present the situation of non-profit and other NGOs in Poland, their activities and problems, social perceptions and expectations for NGOs, legal position etc. as well as how their situation is affected by Poland’s becoming a member of the European Union. Mr. Cieslinski also hopes to hear about our experience with Polish-American organizations active in our region.

Where: at the Polish Home, 1714 18^th Ave in Seattle, admission free.

More: an NGO forum http://www.federalizacja.ngo.pl/

News Credits: Polish News from Puget Sound is a private distribution list serving Seattle and the Pacific Northwest. It is edited by Ryszard Kott; contact: Editor@PolishNewsSeattle.org

Polish Book Club meeting, Bellevue, Nov 1, 11 am

This new book club gathers people who like to share and discuss interesting Polish language books. The first meeting will focus on a book about Agnieszka Holland by Maria Kornatowska, Magia i pieniadze, featuring conversations with the famous director. The book offers insights about her career, life, and movie industry in Poland, France and USA. Coffee and sweat treats will be on hand to induce a friendly discussion atmosphere. Please spread the word about this new club and come with proposals what to read next.

Where: Bellevue Regional Library, 1111 110th Avenue NE, Bellevue, WA, meeting room #4, admission free

More: contact Jagoda Sondej, (253) 630-7722, jasosna@comcast.net for info or a copy of the book, http://www.tmkp.org/glowna%20strona.htm

News Credits: Polish News from Puget Sound is a private distribution list serving Seattle and the Pacific Northwest. It is edited by Ryszard Kott; contact: Editor@PolishNewsSeattle.org

Halloween for kids at Polish Home, Oct 31, 7 pm

Games, competitions, riddles, music and sweet trick-o-treats await the children on this special evening. This event is organized by the Polish Scout troop.

Where: at the Polish Home, 1714 18^th Ave. Seattle; $5 per child to cover the cost

More: call Ms. Anna Bieniek for reservations or questions, (425) 280-4858

News Credits: Polish News from Puget Sound is a private distribution list serving Seattle and the Pacific Northwest. It is edited by Ryszard Kott; contact: Editor@PolishNewsSeattle.org

Seattle Polish Film Festival 2003 volunteer call

The Seattle Polish Film Festival will open on Nov 7, 2003. The Festival urgently needs a webmaster to help with the Festival website. Please contact the PFF Coordinator or the Editor if you would like to help with this year’s Festival.

Where: SPFF will be held at the Broadway Performance Hall in Seattle, Nov 7-9 & 14-16.

More: about Festival & website www.PolishFilms.org, PFFCoordinator@hotmail.com

News Credits: Polish News from Puget Sound is a private distribution list serving Seattle and the Pacific Northwest. It is edited by Ryszard Kott; contact: Editor@PolishNewsSeattle.org

Polish Book Club invites

Established very recently by avid readers and supported by the Soc. for Polish Culture, the new Club gathers people who like to share and discuss interesting Polish language books. The first meeting will focus on a book about Agnieszka Holland by Maria Kornatowska, Magia i pieniadze, featuring conversations with the famous director. The book offers insights about her career, life, and movie industry in Poland, France and USA. The reading should be doubly interesting given Ms. Holland’s incoming public lecture at the Univ. of Washington in Seattle on Dec 5, 2003.

Where: TBD, the first meeting in November

More: contact Jagoda Sondej, (253) 630-7722, jasosna@comcast.net for info or a copy of the book

News Credits: Polish News from Puget Sound is a private distribution list serving Seattle and the Pacific Northwest. It is edited by Ryszard Kott; contact: Editor@PolishNewsSeattle.org

85th Aniversary of the PHA.

Celebrations of the 85th Anniversary of the Polish Home in Seattle will be on October, 25th. 2003 at 6:00PM the Polish Home Association, 1714 18th Ave.

Events: Dinner, performance, dance.

Honorary guests are the representative of City of Seattle and the Consul General of Poland.

Please let your friends know about the 85th Anniversary Celebrations and join us in the planned events. No doubt you will enjoy meeting old friends and getting together with new acquaintances.

Ticket: $50.00 per person.

For reservation and pre-pay call Mr. Marian Strutynski (425)-746-3037

Mushroom Gathering Posse at Stampede Pass, Oct 25, from 10:30 am

It rains, it's warm and it can mean only one thing: the time has come to cultivate an ancient Polish tradition, described by Mickiewicz in Pan Tadeusz, of picking mushrooms! The Society for Polish Culture in Seattle invites all members and mushroom lovers to join in the annual Grzybobranie - a mushroom gathering party around Stampede Pass.

Where: meeting at 10:30-11 am by the Crystal Springs campground, Stampede Pass (I-90 East, exit 62)

More: RSVP to Jerzy Janeczek at (425) 643-4376

News Credits: Polish News from Puget Sound is a private distribution list serving Seattle and the Pacific Northwest. It is edited by Ryszard Kott; contact: Editor@PolishNewsSeattle.org

Jan Kanty Pawluskiewicz at PHA, Oct 24, 8 pm

Mr. Pawluskiewicz is a composer and a musician, very well known for his songs. He was one of the founders of the Anawa group, and on Grechuta’s Golden Hits disc, he authored most of the hits (6 of 11). For a long time he was affiliated with the famous cabaret in Cracow, Under Rams (Piwnica pod Baranami). He also wrote music for movies, including Agnieszka Holland’s Fever and A Lonely Woman, and for theater plays. Mr. Pawluskiewicz’s family visit to Seattle is a rare opportunity to meet this great artist.

Where: at the Polish Home, 1714 18^th Ave. Seattle; conference room, admission free

More: about JKP in Polish: http://www.eps.gda.pl/dworek/pawluskiewicz1.php

News Credits: Polish News from Puget Sound is a private distribution list serving Seattle and the Pacific Northwest. It is edited by Ryszard Kott; contact: Editor@PolishNewsSeattle.org

27 września o godz. 12:00 w Domu Polskim odbyło się spotkanie pożegnalne z

Konsulem Generalnym Rzeczpospolitej Polskiej Panem Krzysztofem Kasprzykiem. Pan Konsul na tym spotkaniu wręczył odznaczenia państwowe nadawane przez Prezydenta RP osobom zamieszkałym poza granicami kraju.

Krzyż Oficerski Orderu Zasługi RP otrzymali:

p. Barbara Strutyński i p. Marian Strutyński.

Krzyż Kawalerski Orderu Zasługi RP otrzymali:

p. Piotr Pawluśkiewicz, p. Ziomek Pawluśkiewicz, p.Roman Rogalski.

Wydział Literatury i Języków Słowiańskich UW zaprasza Państwa na kontynuację naszej serii wykładów „50 Years of Polish at the UW: Celebrating Polish-American Heritage”. Nasze pierwsze wydarzenie w tym roku nie jest jednak wykładem, a pokazem unikalnych polskich filmów. Ten spektakl zatytuowany: "Polish Avant-Garde Film before 1945" zawiera osiem krótkich filmów nakręconych pomiędzy 1930 i 1945 rokiem. Wiele z nich nigdy przedtem nie było pokazywane w USA, a są nam udostępnione przez Instytut Kultury Polskiej w Nowym Jorku (www.PolishCulture-NYC.org), a wypożyczone z Filmoteki Narodowej w Warszawie. Kuratorem przeglądu jest Prof. Marcin Giżycki, wykładowca Rhode Island School of Design i Szkoły Sztuk Pięknych i Nowych Mediów w Warszawie.

Prezentowane filmy reprezentują różne trendy w sztuce (n.p. impresjonizm, surrealism) i techniki filmowe (film dokumentalny, animacja). Tematycznie są także różnorodne: usłyszymy muzykę Karola Szymanowskiego, poezje Anatola Sterna i Juliana Tuwima, zobaczymy wiele niezapomnianych obrazów i ujęć, jak również wejdziemy w nastrój tych czasów zapoznając się z antywojenną i antyhitlerowską propagandą filmową.

Filmy, które zobaczymy to:

Pharmacy, rekonstrukcja (Bruce Checefsky, 2001) Apteki Stefana i Franciszki Themerson (1930).

Europa 2, rekonstrukcja (Piotr Zarębski) Europy Stefana and Franciszki Themerson (1932)

Obliczenia Rytmiczne, rekonstrukcja (Ignacy Szczepański, 1985) filmu o tym samym tytule nakręconego w 1934 roku przez Jalu Kurka.

Dziś mamy bal, reż. Jerzy Zarzycki and Tadeusz Kowalski (1934)

Buty, reż. Jerzy Gabryelski (1934)

Przygoda człowieka poczciwego, reż. Stefan and Franciszka Themerson (1937)

Calling Mr. Smith, reż. Stefan and Franciszka Themerson (1943)

The Eye and the Ear, reż. Stefan and Franciszka Themerson (1945)

Na pokaz polskiej awangardy filmowej serdecznie zapraszamy wszystkich w sobotę 18-tego października do Sali 112 Husky Union Building (HUB Auditorium). Po pokazie zapraszamy na przyjęcie.

Sygnalizujemy także, że 5-tego grudnia odwiedzi nas Agnieszka Holland, a 12-tego marca ambasador RP w USA Przemysław Grudziński.

Prosimy o częste sprawdzanie naszej internetowej strony w celu uzyskania bieżących informacji o nadchodzących wydarzeniach. Link ponizej:

The Department of Slavic Languages and Literatures is pleased to announce the continuation of last year’s "50 Years of Polish at the UW: Celebrating Polish-American Heritage" lecture series. In October, we’ll break from the lecture format in order to offer a Polish avant-garde film screening. We’ll show eight of the best Polish films made between 1930 and 1945. These films, many of which have never before been presented to an American audience, , are on loan from the Polish National Film Archive in Warsaw and are shown in Seattle as a part of a national tour organized by The Polish Cultural Institute (www.PolishCulture-NYC.org). The series has been curated by Prof. Marcin Giżycki of Rhode Island School of Design, who is also Vice-President of the School of Visual Arts and New Media in Warsaw.

This night of film promises to satisfy all tastes. We’ll be treated to impressionism, surrealism, animation and documentary footage. If your bent runs toward the arts, you’ll be delighted with the shorts incorporating the music of Karol Szymanowski and the poetry of Anatol Stern and Julian Tuwim. Also, given the time period represented, we’ll have a healthy dose of anti-Nazi propaganda. Sadly, some Avant-garde films did not survive the war. Enough materials remain, though, for them to have been lovingly reconstructed by modern artists.

Following is a list of films to be screened:

Pharmacy re-make (Bruce Checefsky, 2001) of Apteka by Stefan and Franciszka Themerson (1930).

Europa 2, by Piotr Zarębski, inspired by Europa, by Stefan and Franciszka Themerson (1932)

Rhythmical Calculation re-make (Ignacy Szczepanski, 1985) of the 1934 film of the same title by Jalu Kurek.

There is a Ball Tonight by Jerzy Zarzycki and Tadeusz Kowalski (1934)

Boots by Jerzy Gabryelski (1934)

The Adventures of a Good Citizen by Stefan and Franciszka Themerson (1937)

Calling Mr. Smith by Stefan and Franciszka Themerson (1943)

The Eye and the Ear by Stefan and Franciszka Themerson (1945)

This exciting evening of film takes place on Saturday, October 18^th at 8 p.m. in the HUB Auditorium (Room 112) . A reception will follow the screening.

Please contact the Slavic Department for details at (206) 543-6848 or go to our website at: (see below)

http://depts.washington.edu/slavweb/events/PolLecture.htm.

FILM IN POLISH AVANT-GARDE CIRCLES BETWEEN THE WARS...

Fred był częstym gościem Domu Polskiego w piątkowe wieczory gdzie wywarł niezapominane wrażenie na wielu z nas. Ze smutkiem zamieszczamy notatkę, która ukazała się w gazecie "Taiwan News" dwa tygodnie temu. Myślami jesteśmy z Fredem i jego Matką.

Taiwan News

NPA steps up search for missing U.S. citizen

2003-08-08 / Central News Agency /

The National Police Administration said yesterday that it has stepped up efforts in the search for a U.S. citizen who went missing in Taiwan in late May.

NPA officials said that Fryderyk Mieszko Frontier arrived in Taiwan May 20 to take up an English teaching job at a branch of the Hess Educational Organization in Chungho, Taipei County, but that he did not show up for a Hess pre-job training program May 25 as originally scheduled.

According to NPA probes, Frontier stayed at Taipei Hostel after his arrival in Taiwan. He had told a hostel information desk staffer that he was going to take a leisure trip to eastern Taiwan before reporting to Hess for work. Frontier left his luggage at the Hess Chungho branch before departing for the eastern county of Hualien.

NPA officials said Frontier stayed at a Catholic hostel in Tienhsiang in Taroko National Park from May 21 through May 24. He checked out of the hostel May 25 and has not been heard from since.

The NPA said it has directed the Hualien County Police Bureau and the Taroko National Park police squad to step up the search for Frontier. Moreover, it urged local citizens to come forward with any information they might have regarding the whereabouts of Frontier.

"Anyone who has information about the whereabouts of Frontier is welcome to contact the NPA's foreign affairs office at (02) 2393-0989 or (02) 2394-0238, or the Hualien County Police Bureau at (03) 738-2000," an NPA official said.

He said Frontier stands 186 centimeters tall, weighs 96 kilograms, and has curly brown hair.

More about Fred's whereabouts

Polish Concert at University of Portland, Oct 5, 3 pm

The Polish Festival will continue also on Sunday, 5 October, as The University of Portland presents the annual Polish Music Concert. This year's program will be presented by University professor of piano Linda Barker and her students Charles Ashou, Lauren Hickok, Kessa Kagi, and Julie Page. They will play music of Polish keyboard masters, including Chopin, Moszkowski, Muczynski, and Szymanowski.

Where: the Buckley Center Auditorium on the University of Portland campus, Portland; admission free.

More: www.portlandpolonia.org, Marek Stepien, marek@gte.net

News Credits: Polish News from Puget Sound is a private distribution list serving Seattle and the Pacific Northwest. It is edited by Ryszard Kott; contact: Editor@PolishNewsSeattle.org

On October 4, 2003, at 7:00 PM at the Parish Hall of St. Margaret’s Church in Seattle, will be presented an evening dedicated to the 25^th anniversary of the Pontificate of John Paul II.

The program will include Introduction and Artistic Presentation, which will include

music and poetry of John Paul II.

In participating in the Jubilee celebration of the 25^th anniversary of the Pontificate of John Paul II, which takes place on many continents and is celebrated by the entire Christian world, we together with all of Seattle’s Polish community wish to join in this act of giving thanks to God for the gift of this Shepherd who in spite of storms and opposition, leads the Church with his steady fatherly hand.

Anna Skibska at William Traver Gallery, Oct 2, 5-8 pm

Ms. Skibska is a very talented artist working in glass. Her intricately woven glass sculptures and art objects were displayed at several exhibitions, including one at the Seattle Art Museum last year. Anna Skibska graduated from Academy of Art in Wroclaw, Poland, in 1984 and developed her unique style of glass design. The exhibition is organized by the Gallery and the Artist and runs till Oct 31, 2003.

Where: at the William Traver Gallery, 110 Union St., Seattle, admission free.

More: about the Artist and the Gallery http://www.travergallery.com/artists/as_main.html

News Credits: Polish News from Puget Sound is a private distribution list serving Seattle and the Pacific Northwest. It is edited by Ryszard Kott; contact: Editor@PolishNewsSeattle.org

WRHU is Long Island’s oldest noncommercial radio station operated by students and community volunteers in Hofstra University's School of Communication. I am writing you today to inform you of our annual Polka Marathon which will take place on Sunday, September 28th from 11AM to 3PM. The marathon features "Polka and Oberek Time" which airs every Sunday from 11AM to 2PM and is one our most popular shows! The marathon is a yearly event that raises money for the show and plays an essential part in keeping the show running. Basia Syzd, the host of Polka and Oberek time, has served the Polish-American community on Long Island with polka music for over 15 years. Now that WRHU has a webcast, Basia’s music can reach your readers as well, at WRHU.org.

Please inform readers that they can listen online at www.WRHU.org and clicking the side menu button labeled "Listen." You can find out more about WRHU’s 30 other formats and Polka and Oberek time at WRHU.org.

If you would like, we could arrange a phone interview with Basia. The Polish Home Association and Polka and Oberek Time share the same goal: Serving the Polish-American Community.

Thank you for your time and consideration, and please enjoy "Polka and Oberek Time" on www.WRHU.org !!

Sep 28, 2 pm

F. Huang in Chopin Foundation Concert at Benaroya,

Frank Huang is a rapidly rising star among Northwest pianists noted especially for the strength and flair of his performances. Currently at Julliard, he returns to his native Seattle to launch his professional career with this exciting concert. Included in his program are works by Beethoven, Chopin, Stravinsky, Scriabin, Mussorgsky, and others. The concert is organized by the Chopin Foundation NW; proceeds will benefit the young piano artists of the Northwest.

Where: Seattle Symphony, Benaroya Hall (llsley Ball Nordstrom Recital Hall), 200 University St, Seattle. Tickets $20 adults, $15 seniors, $10 students, at the door, at Benaroya, at Ticketmaster or at Chopin Foundation (206) 381-1415

More: www.ChopinNW.org, Steven Lagerberg (206) 381-1415

News Credits: Polish News from Puget Sound is a private distribution list serving Seattle and the Pacific Northwest. It is edited by Ryszard Kott; contact: Editor@PolishNewsSeattle.org

Sep 27-28

Polish Festival in Portland, Sep 27-28

The 10th Polish Festival in Portland is the main festival staged by the Polish community in the state down under and, they claim, it is the biggest Polish event in the US West of Mississippi. Two days of non-stop folk performances, homemade Polish food as well as booths with various merchandize should again lure over 10,000 guests.

Where: St. Stanislaus Church & The Polish Hall & Library, 3900 N. Interstate Ave., Portland, OR.

More: www.PortlandPolonia.org

News Credits: Polish News from Puget Sound is a private distribution list serving Seattle and the Pacific Northwest. It is edited by Ryszard Kott; contact: Editor@PolishNewsSeattle.org

Sep 25-27

Piotr Anderszewski plays at Benaroya, Sep 25-27

Mr. Anderszewski, 31, is one of the most interesting pianists of his generation capturing the attention of audiences and critics with his distinctive interpretations and commanding technique. He is a winner of the Royal Philharmonic Society’s Best Instrumentalist award (UK) and of the prestigious 2002 Gilmore Artist Award (US). Mr. Anderszewski will play Hovhaness: Symphony No. 2, Mysterious Mountain