Sunday, February 26, 2017
YOUNGSTOWN
The Polish Mardi Gras, or Ostatki, the last party before Lent featuring music, imported Polish vodka, beers and liquors was celebrated Saturday at the Youngstown Country Club.
Unlike traditional Polish ethnic events, Saturday’s “adult night out,” sponsored by Polish Youngstown, promotes Polish culture in a different way, said Agi Khoury, one of the founders of the organization.
Other founders include Ted Szmaj, Angela Messenger, Darek Chmoczyk and Aundrea Cika.
To keep the event stylish, they said, Radek Fizek, a former Mazowsze member, entertained by playing the violin and singing and with DJ music. Mazowsze is a famous Polish folk dance group named after the Mazowsze region of Poland.
Khoury comes by her intense interest in Polish culture through her adoptive parents, who immigrated in the early 1970s to the United States with her and her brother, 2 and 1, respectively.
According to its website, Polish Youngstown, in partnership with public and private organizations, “is the umbrella organization created to inspire and educate area residents on all things Polish. Its mission is to develop, promote and support Polish events throughout the Mahoning Valley area; and its goal is for its member organizations to flourish through public awareness and to promote Polish customs with accuracy and liveliness.”
Among the guests were three young adults attending a Polish Youngstown event for the first time.
Laura Hankey, of Girard, said she is 25 percent Polish because of her great-grandmother, who immigrated to the U.S. from Poland.
Jeff Basile of Diamond and Jon Szallai of Girard, neither of whom are Polish, said they were enjoying the food and drink.
For Adam Wajda and wife, Agata, of Hubbard, and Agata’s sister, Jadwiga Labedz of Austintown, all of whom were born in Poland, Polish Youngstown was a chance to reminisce and drink a little authentic Polish wine.
“Poland had many beautiful castles and houses and countryside,” Labedz said fondly.
Adam Wajda came to the U.S. and Mecca Township at age 27 and lived for a time there with his aunt, who was a schoolteacher in Bristolville.
Khoury said organizers were pleased with Saturday’s turnout to the event, which gives people an opportunity to preserve and stay in touch with their history and culture.