Polish Youngstown hosts Heritage Day festival


By Sean Barron

news@vindy.com

AUSTINTOWN

Mike Ostrowski’s style of dress may have made him look like a man ready to do battle, but in reality, it probably won him many hearts.

“The feathers were an intimidating factor against an army,” the Detroit man explained. “It was an unnatural thing to see a 9- or 10-foot wing coming at you.”

Ostrowski was referring to two large sets of feathers that were part of an outfit he wore, which resembled a combination that was common in the Polish Calvary during the 1600s.

The armor and feathers he had on also were a source of interest for many who attended Saturday’s eighth annual Polish Heritage Day festival at St. Anne Ukrainian Byzantine Catholic Church, 4310 Kirk Road.

Hosting the 12-hour event was Polish Youngstown, an organization that formed in fall 2008 and is dedicated to promoting, educating and inspiring people regarding Polish culture and customs.

The gathering offered plenty of entertainment, foods and workshops, as well as music and dance classes related to Polish history and culture.

It also provided attendees with an opportunity to renew memories and share their stories with one another, noted Aundrea Cika Heschmeyer, Polish Youngstown’s director and the event’s chairwoman.

“This is a chance to celebrate whatever [Poland] means to them,” Cika Heschmeyer said, noting that new additions to this year’s fest included hands-on folk art and crafts, first-time speakers and expanded interactive activities for children.

Ostrowski explained that wearing such large groups of feathers while in battle tended to make enemy members’ horses nervous, thereby giving those who wore them a competitive advantage. He also had on display various pieces of weaponry from that time, such as a 16-foot kopia, which resembles a large lance.

In addition, Ostrowski had on hand a copy of a book about the Battle of Vienna, which took place Sept. 11 and 12, 1683, against the Ottoman Turks. Vienna was considered a major economic, cultural and political hub, so the Polish Army was among the factions that defended the city when it was besieged by the Ottoman Empire, he said.

For many, St. Anne’s proved to be a major food and entertainment center, as they enjoyed meals that consisted of haluski (cabbage and noodles), pirogi, kielbasa subs, stuffed cabbage and other traditional favorites. Complementing the experience for some was being able to dance to the sounds of Li’l Lenny and the Harmony Boys Orchestra.

Also readily available for those with a desire to savor a portion of the sweet side of Poland were baked goods that consisted of snoogles (twisted, flaky pastries with cream-cheese filling), stara baba (croissants filled with butter cream and topped with sugar), kolachi (rolled dough pastries filled with various spreads) and paczki (doughnuts with apricot and other fillings).

The items were courtesy of Kiedrowski’s Simply Delicious Bakery in Amherst, Ohio, noted Marianne Poprik of Boardman, an original Polish Youngstown member.

“We’ve used his for several years already,” Poprik said, referring to the bakery owner’s specialties.

Over the years, the bakery has received numerous recognitions and accolades for its baked goods and pastries. The Baking Channel gave the 32-year-old Kiedrowski’s Bakery the 2011 Best Bakery in America Award.

Poprik added she wished to express her gratitude for the volunteers who made the event possible.

The fest also included workshops, classes and demonstrations on preparing pirogi dishes, learning about the traditions behind Polish baking, cooking and crafting, conducting research on one’s genealogy and teaching basic Polish greetings.

Also, Ostrowski conducted an educational activity called “The Winged Hussars,” in which attendees were challenged to recreate aspects of historical events or periods in the country.

Items that exuded Polish culture and were for sale included aprons, bookmarks, cards, shirts, bibs, tote bags and dish- and washcloths.

Adding to the festivities at the family-friendly gathering were a pirogi-eating contest, basket auction, sing-a-long and an opportunity to celebrate Mass at dusk around a bonfire.