Cortland radio polka host steps into hall of fame

By GUY D’ASTOLFO

dastolfo@vindy.com

In the world of polka, Val Pawlowski is a hall-of-famer.

And she’s got the awards to prove it.

She was honored for her work promoting and marketing polka by the Cleveland-Style Polka Hall of Fame at its annual ceremony recently in Euclid. It was the fifth award — and 15th nomination — she has received from Hall in the last 15 years.

Pawlowski is best known for her weekly radio show on 830-AM WKTX in Cortland, but she also plays a huge role in organizing polka events in the two-state area, including Polka Fest in Geneva on the Lake.

A Cleveland native, Pawlowski got into polka in earnest 15 years ago when she started working at WKTX. Her show, which she owns and produces, airs Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. She also sells advertising for the station.

“When I started, they said polka was dying,” said Pawlowski. “But I’m still here.”

Read the full story Monday in The Vindicator and on Vindy.com.