Trumpeter

left to right: Stanley
Tomaszewski, Carla Hazard
Tomaszewski, Richard
Poremski, Marie Kijowski,
Jennifer Trentowski Hopkins,
Lillian Rogowski,
Krystyna Osowski, Victoria
T. Leshinskie, Thomas
L. Hollowak, and Henry
Wentz. Photographs by
David Hopkins.
Trumpeter
Polish Heritage Association of Maryland
Volume 33 Number 1
Installation Ceremony
Spring 2008
The New Year began with an Installation Ceremony conducted by Edward
B. Rybczynski, Esq. who swore in the new officers elected by
acclamation at the November 2007 meeting. The following were elected
to serve a three year term: Victoria T. Leshinskie - President, Thomas
L. Hollowak - First Vice-President, Krystyna Osowski - Second Vice-
President, Henry Wentz - Treasurer and Jennifer Trentowski Hopkins
- Secretary. Lillian Rogowski, Marie Kijowski, Richard Poremski, Carla
and Stanley Tomaszewski will serve as members of the Executive Committee.
After administering the oath of office to the President, Mr. Rybczynski
invited Victoria Leshinskie to address the members gathered. Ms.
Leshinskie thanked the organization for their faith in her past leadership
by returning her to the office of President. She extended a special thank
you to Lucy Carey, Florence Kulbicki, Adam Mazurek, Edmund Solinsky
and Angela Szczybor for their dedication and services to the organization
for the past three years.
During the reception that followed the members were entertained by
Thomas Trentowski who played a number of Polkas on his accordion.
Many of those in attendance sang along and a few couldn’t resist the
urge to danced thereby making this a truly festive day.

sc h o l a r s h i p pr o g r a m f o r ac a D e m i c
Ye a r 2008/2009
PHA will award eight scholarships to deserving students
at the May 18, 2008 meeting. The Scholarship
Program is open to graduating high school seniors or
undergraduate students who are working towards a
bachelors degree. To be eligible students must be of
Polish Heritage and legal residents of Maryland who
meet the general requirements. The selection is based
primarily on financial need. Additional evaluation will
focus on academic standing, leadership potential and
pride of their Polish Heritage.
Applications must be completed and postmarked by
March 31, 2008. Students are eligible for all of the
scholarships listed below except the Baltimore International
College Scholarship. This scholarship is open
only to students who have been accepted to the school
and who have not been a past recipient of this scholarship.
The Scholarships to be awarded this year are:
Baltimore International College
Rev. Franciszek Okroy, S.Ch. Memorial Scholarship
Polish Heritage Association of Maryland Scholarship
Robert P. Pula Memorial Scholarship
Dr. Josephine Wtulich Memorial Scholarship
Dr. Stanley Wtulich, Jr. Memorial Scholarship
Edward J. Yurkowski Scholarship Foundation, Inc.
Dr. Kenneth & Nancy Williams Scholarship
All of the scholarship are for $1,500 except the Williams
Scholarship which is $1,000. To apply visit our
website: pha-md.org and go to the Scholarship page
where the application and complete information is
available.
Du e s Du e
The deadline for payment of dues is April 1, 2008. Don’t be dropped from the membership roll send your dues
to: Richard Poremski, 400 Gusryan Street, Baltimore, MD 21224.
Individual $20, Couple $35, Family $50, Full-time Student $10. Make your check payable to PHA and while
your at it give a contribution to the General Operating Fund or the Scholarship Endowment - all donations are
tax deductible!
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ca l e n Da r o f ev e n t s
April 13 - Members Show & Tell
Please Note this is the Second Sunday!
May 18 - Scholarship Awards Presentation
Executive Committee Meetings: 2:00pm
Business Meetings: 2:30pm
Program: 3:00pm

This past September, I was fortunate enough to travel to Poland with my family. We arranged a tour through Pat
Tours-the “Best of Poland” tour, which would take us to Warsaw, Czestochowa, Auschwitz, Zakopane, Krakow,
and back to Warsaw.
In Warsaw, we were
taken to a local
restaurant, where
we enjoyed a four
course meal and
folklore show. We
toured Lazienki
Park, the Jewish
ghetto Memorial,
and Old Town,
where we were also
given access to the
Royal Castle. We
also attended a
piano recital featuring
music by Frederic
Chopin.
On the way to Zakopane,
we stopped
in Czestochowa and
Auschwitz. We arrived
at the Jasna Gora Monastery just in time to see the Black Madonna before it was veiled for the afternoon.
In Auschwitz we toured buildings that have been converted into educational spaces that explain how the concentration
camps operated.
Once in Zakopane, we toured the town before taking a cable car ride to the top of Gubalowka Mountain. After
spending time browsing and eating handmade cheese in the market, we took a raft trip down the Dunajec River.
It was very cold!
In Krakow, we toured the Wawel Coronation Cathedral
and castle and Old Town Square (home of St.
Mary's Church). After purchasing some souvenirs
at the Cloth Hall (and spending some time in the E.
Wedel chocolate store), we spent the afternoon in the
Wieliczka Salt Mine. Our final dinner with our tour
group was in a charming restaurant in the Jewish district,
complete with a trio of Jewish folk musicians.
It was a trip to remember.
Photographs by David Hopkins
Be s t o f po l a n D to u r
by
Jennifer Trentowski Hopkins
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to o t i n g ou r ho r n
Walt Benewicz, who for 44 years has served in leadership
roles with the International Longshoremen’s Association
Local 953 was featured in the Port of Baltimore
Magazine’s March/April 2008 issue. The article,
“Embracing Technology Solidifies ILA’s Future” states
that Walt is a fourth-generation port worker who is
currently Chief Clerk at Ports America at Dundalk Marine
Terminal and President of Local 953.
Raymond Dombrowski was given an award by the Polish
Embassy. Due to his health the ceremony was held at his
home in Bel Air, Maryland.
Cecilia Januszkiewicz wrote an article, “Reckless Spending:
Maryland’s ‘Structural Deficit’ Will Endure Despite Hundreds of Millions in
New Revenue” which appeared on the OP ED page of the Baltimore Sun, February
19, 2008. The former Secretary of Maryland’s Department of Budget and Management
from June 2005 to January 2007, during the Erlich Administration is now a
senior fellow at the Free State Foundation, a non-profit think tank.
Lukasz Kuropaczewski gave a recital in Carnegie’s Weill Recital Hall in New
York. The student of Manuel Barrueco, Lukasz’s performance was received with
acclaim from leaders of the classical guitar community, as well as those in attendance
at the packed concert hall.
Maryland Department General Casimir Pulaski Post 209 celebrated their Tenth Anniversary on March 9, 2008
with a dinner. Among the honored guests were PHA members: Victoria Leshinskie, Richard Poremski and
James Mislak. A number of PHA members have and are members: Lucian Antosiak, Stanley and John Ciesielski,
Raymond Dombrowski, Stanislaw and Alfreda Jamrosz, Jerzy Miegon, Wladyslaw Milan-Kamski, Stanislaw
Mostwin, Benedict A. Pokrwyka, Robert Pula, Ed Solinsky and Andrew Styka.
Senator Barbara A.
Mikulski (D-Md.)
was presented with
the first annual Medal
of Freedom from
the Polish American
Congress (PAC)
today. The Senator
was awarded for her
extraordinary achievements
and dedication
to the betterment of
the Polish American
community in the
United States and to
the people of Poland.
- 4 -
Photograph by Kathy Bergren
Smith, courtesy of The Port of
Baltimore magazine.

to o t i n g ou r ho r n
po l i s h Bo o k re v i e w s
- 5 -
The March 13th issue of the Catholic
Review featured a back page article
on the Borowsky Family. “American
Virtuosi” the story of the internationally
acclaimed musical family who
credits their faith and home schooling
for their success.
Frank Wesolowski gave a presentation
at the January 12th meeting of
the Baltimore County Genealogical
Society Eastern European Interest
Group.
On Sunday, March 16th Adam Mazurek provided an insightful discussion on seven Polish books. The books
reviewed were: Full Circle by Radek Sikorski; The Bronski House by Philip Marsden; Stories of Karol by Gian
Franco Svidercoschi; The Reconstruction of Nations by Timothy Snyder; The Zookeeper’s Wife by Diane Ackerman;
Michelangelo in Ravensbruck by Karolina Lanckoronska and Poland for Beginners by Olgierd Budrewicz.
In Full Circle Sikorski uses the manor house Chobielin and its restoration to provide a local
cross-section of Polish history. Sikorski effectively and even entertainingly discusses an amazing
variety of topics from Imperial German land records to Communist administration.
The late poet Zofia Bronska Ilinska, flees Poland in September 1939 along with her mother,
Zofia and they settled on the English coast. In 1993, after receiving a letter
from a cousin in Poland asking her to visit, Zofia returned to her native village.
She was accompanied by her longtime friend, writer Philip Marsden.
“A country of 40 million inhabitants, Poland is neither the most beautiful place in the world,
nor the international champion in cultural heritage offers - and yet, it is a fascinating country.
The secret is in tis general atmosphere and the people.” - By the author, Olgierd
Budrewicz.
Gian Svidercoschi tells of the unknown life of Karol Wojtyla. Timothy Snyder
traces the emergence of Polish, Ukrainian, Lithuanian, and Belorussian nationhood
over four centuries. The Zookeeper’s Wife is about one of the most successful hideouts of
World War II. It’s a tale of people, animals, transcendence, and subversive acts of compassion. The
final book, Michelangelo in Ravensbruck is the story of Countess Karolina Lanckoronska, wealthy
landowner and professor of art history after joining the resistance, she was arrested, sentenced to
death, and held in Ravensbruck concentration camp.

meeting. Among these were Mrs.
Ruth Peitsch who generously provided
Tom with copies of the
Church Histories, photographs, and
programs, as well as allowing him to
photograph the original church and
the present church that was dedicated
on September 2, 1962.
The new church and the older
church from the back
ma rY l a n D’s pr o t e s t a n t po l e s
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The February 17th meeting provided the members
of PHA an opportunity to learn about two
Protestant congregations in Maryland. Thomas
Hollowak gave a powerpoint presentation about
the First Polish Evangelical Church of Christ
the Lord founded in 1904. The church located
at Sollers Point Road in Dundalk, Maryland is
known today at Christ Lutheran Church, but it
was organized by a group of Polish immigrants
from Suwalki, Poland. At one point when
they were between pastors the Rev. Paul Fox
(Fuzek) who was pastor of St. Paul’s
Polish Presbyterian Church tried to convince
the Lutheran congregants to join his church.
The group decided against joining Fox’s church
and in 2004 celebrated their 100th Anniversary.
The congregation today still has a number of
the descendants of the original Polish founders,
but it also has a number of non-Polish members
and today English rather than Polish is used
during services.
PHA was happy to welcome several of the
Polish descendants of the early founders of
Christ Lutheran Church who attended the

me m o r i e s
by
Lillian Rostkowski Rogowski
The year was 1925 and St. Stanislaus Church was a hub of religious and social activities for the Polish immigrants
as they settled in Fells Point. Due to the custom officers, clearing
the Poles as they came through Locust Point, Fells Point became
congested and fully occupied so they moved East, along O’Donnell
Street to Canton. Therefore, another parish was planned to accommodate
them. The sister church was named St. Casimir, however, as
the new Parish expanded, Father Benedict Przmielewski, the pastor,
who was a very talented artist and sculptor received many awards from
his architectural design for the beautiful church which proudly stands
on O’Donnell Street from Lakewood Avenue to Kenwood Avenue. A
magnificent structure, with a unique front entrance, which is at street
level. As the church was being built, the school children marched along
Boston Street to St. Stanislaus School. After daily Mass, in the old
church, which is currently the Church Hall, for our classes. My sister
Dorothy and I marched to “St. Stan”, until the St. Casimir School was
completed. Two years for me and one year for Dorothy.
During the second grade at St. Stan, we participated in a Christmas
Pageant, the Piaselka, at the St. Stan school Hall. We were “angels” in the Nativity Scene which was the finale
of the program. I was selected to deliver two lines in Polish, “Hark, I bring glad tidings, the infant Jesus was
born!” As it happened, my lines were not delivered.
Suddenly shots rang out and pandemonium reigned. Our parents grabbed us and we left the hall in fear. It was a
lovely clear cold night in December [28] as we rushed home, in costume and our angel wings.
A crazed woman [Julia Tyma] shot the organist (from St. Casimir)
[Leopold Sendrakowski] as he was playing Kolendy, Polish
Christmas Carols, as she ran up the aisle.
That was my first experience to witness murder and I was only
7 years old. This tragic performance caused the last Piaselka to
take place. Eventually, the hall became very popular for wrestling
matches, as my father and his cronies arranged to see the
famous Polish wrestler, Stas Zbyszko, as well as dances and
English classes were conducted and many other activities. Bingo
was unknown in those days.
Personally, as a child, I was full of curiosity, as we marched, two
by two, with the nuns. There were much to observe. On one side
of Boston Street was the American Can Company and many canneries and packing houses with the loud, shrill,
whistle alerting the Polish ladies work was available. On the opposite side was the Blue Danube and the Pink
Elephant who kicked up his legs in neon lights at night and other bars along the way. Yes, the scenery is much
different at this time as the area became gentrified.
Memories is a new feature that will appear from time to time as we invite our members to share their reminisces of events, people and
places in their life. Essays should be 250 words or less and the editor reserves the right to edit for content and space.
- 7 -

Do n a t i o n s t o
ge n e r a l op e r a t i n g fu n D
Mr. & Mrs. Malcolm Bernstein
Rosemary Brozena
Lucy Carey
Dr. Roger Chylinski
Gordon Creamer
Michael Czlonka
Stanley Daniloski
Thomas Duszak
Albert Figinski
Thomas Hollowak
Mr. & Mrs. Anthony Horodowicz
Mr. & Mrs. Roman Horodowicz
Cecilia Januszkiewicz
Genevieve Jones
Mr. & Mrs. Vladimir Karnicki
Mr. & Mrs. Fred Karr
John Karr
Gerald Klis
Mr. & Mrs. Kris Krasel
Frank N. Lanocha
Victoria Leshinskie
Dolores Maminski
Mr. & Mrs. Raymond McLouski
Richard Poremski
Mr. & Mrs. James Quillen
Lillian Rogowski
Mr. & Mrs. Edward Rybczynski
Patricia Skryzynski
Mr. & Mrs. Francis Sliwka
Mr. & Mrs. Joseph Sliwka
Walter Sobus
Robert Suchy
Angela Szczybor
Roman Sznajder
John Szrom
Donation to Scholarship Endowment Fund
Frank N. Lanocha
Carla Hazard Tomaszewski
Visit Us Online at
pha-md.org
Of f i c e r s
President - Victoria T. Leshinskie
1st Vice President - Thomas L. Hollowak
2nd Vice President - Krystyna Osowski
Treasurer - Henry Wentz
Secretary - Jennifer Trentowski Hopkins
Chaplain - Vacant
ex e c u t i v e cO m m i t t e e
Marie Kijowski Richard Poremski
Lillian Rogowski Carla Hazard Tomaszewski
Stanley Tomaszewski
ne w me m B e r s
Mr. Malcolm Bernstein
Mrs. Barbara Damesyn
Mr. Michael Frampton
Mrs. Carole Prezstek Glynnn
Mrs. Patricia Jagielski
Mrs. Marcella Skarpac
Mrs. Pamela Stanitski & Olivia and Julia
De a t h s
Cas Bruchalski
Stephanie E. Galczynski
Frank N. Piasecki
tr u m p e t e r sta f f
Editor - Thomas L. Hollowak
Staff - Gordon J. Creamer, Jennifer Hopkins, David
Hopkins and John Mealey
Graphics - Carla Hazard Tomaszewski
The Trumpeter is published quarterly and available in
full color online. News and articles are welcome and
should be submitted to the Editor, 7 Dendron Court,
Baltimore, MD 21234 or by email:
historyk@comcast.net. The editor reserves the right to
edit material for content and available space.
Deadlines: March 1, June 1, September 1,
December 1.