An Evening with President Lech Walesa
Poll results are in, and I appreciate your participation. Your feedback is valued.
There were issues with the Mailchimp survey feature, leading to some confusion. Despite this, 120 responses were received for the first survey question and 68 for the poll.
94.2% of respondents indicated they want the editor’s letter to continue, while 5.8% answered No. Additionally, 91% of voters stated that they would recommend the newsletter to others.
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Solar Lottery is a 1955 science fiction novel by American writer Philip K. Dick. It was his first published novel and contains many of the themes present in his later work. It was also published in altered form in the UK as World of Chance. The main story is about a man named Ted Benteley who lives in a strange world, dominated by percentages and the lottery.
Is it you? Or you may know someone who is interested? Or perhaps you can help by picking up flower donations? Or perhaps you have abundance of lavender, or daisies or other flowers or grasses …Anything helps so Wianki station can actually be present during the festival.Please contact Asia Gromadzka
Through June 2025, the Art Gallery in the Polish Cultural Center presents the art of Adam Dopierala.
You can view the PHA Gallery most Friday evenings when the restaurant is open and at other PHA events. The works of the presented artists are available for viewing in our gallery and can also be purchased directly from the artist. Purchasing artwork is a significant recognition for the artist and additionally sponsors PHA.
Published in 1953, “Fahrenheit 451” was the first novel published by Ray Bradbury. “Fahrenheit 451” is set in a dystopian future where books are banned and firemen burn them. The protagonist, Guy Montag, starts questioning this society’s norms, realizing the value of literature and free thought. Quite relevant these days.
Dla poprawy humorów, wiersz a raczej piosenka Wojciecha Młynarskiego.
Co rano, proszę pań, proszę panów
Nowych problemów spotykam gąszcz
I tyle moich pragnień i planów
Ambiwalencja przenika wciąż
W miejskiego ranka smutnej szarości
W miejskiego ranka leciutkiej mgle
Tyle ogarnia mnie wątpliwości
Ale na pewno wiem jedno, że
My last op-ed caused quite a stir. After years of no comments, no emails, and no thank-yous, I received several emails complementing our new newsletter and a few criticizing my opinion. Some responses were quite vile and aggressive.
This calls for an explanation and a follow-up.
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Wybory Prezydenta Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej w 2025 r.
The results of the first round of the presidential elections in Poland are in. I promised to remain neutral and avoid politics, but I cannot stay silent. When I see that 6% (12% in US, 17% in Canada) of Poles are voting for a fascist who openly calls for restoring the death penalty, promises to imprison women, reduce the congress and senate, increase presidential power, and restore a sovereign Poland (think North Korea) all in the name of God, I had to say something. Additionally, 51% voted for the extreme right that wants Poland to exit the EU.
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Aldous Huxley’s “Brave New World” depicts a dystopian society where technology and conditioning control every aspect of human life. People are genetically engineered, socially conditioned, and kept passive with a drug called soma. The novel explores themes of freedom, individuality, and the cost of technological progress.
Like in the Marek Grechuta song, we love spring with its warmer breeze, new leaves and colorful flowers. After long winter hibernation we feel new energy and are ready to get rid of old stuff. We pack warm winter coats, clean the house and garden. We feel tireless, run the stairs up and down, carry heavy loads, endlessly bend our backs – just overuse our bodies in every possible way. The next day we wake up sore, weak and stiff. And here comes the rescue! A wonderful homeopathic remedy - Rhus toxicodendron, Rhus tox for shorter.
Last year, we had a presidential election in the US, and this week, Polish citizens will vote for their president. While it’s not my place to tell you whether to vote or which candidate to choose, I hope you will consider voting for someone who represents the entire country, not just their party. Now more than ever, we need a president who prioritizes the nation over party interests and personal gain. We need a leader with empathy, someone who unites rather than divides, and who promotes compromise instead of hatred.
See you at the polls on Saturday.
Early Bird Movie Pass Access to all the 2025 festival movies are available here. Visit SPFF website to get the latest news about this year festival.
Solzhenitsyn’s Gulag Archipelago is a monumental work that exposes the brutal realities of the Soviet labor camps. Through harrowing personal accounts and meticulous research, he illuminates the oppressive system that crushed countless lives. It’s a compelling and essential read that continues to resonate.
Competition is open to all artists. Posters may be created in any media, but must be submitted electronically. Entries will be judged on their originality and artistic merit. The poster design should capture the essence of Polish/American cinema.
Submissions are now being accepted until 7/2/2025 for the 33rd Annual Seattle Polish Film Festival Poster. Be creative. Have fun. Win $250.
„Biedroneczko leć do nieba, przynieś mi kawałek chleba”
As a child, I whispered this gentle, magical plea to a ladybug whenever I saw one. I counted dots on the red wings to check my luck – seven were the most desired number. If possible, I carefully lifted boża krówka (“God’s little cow”) onto my hand with a blade of grass or a leaf, marveling at the soft tickle of her tiny feet on my palm. I observed her, and when the moment felt right, I raised my hand and blew lightly to encourage her to fly to heaven and bring me a piece of bread.
Like many Polish immigrants, I have a deep fondness for Polish bread. Each time I move to a new location, my first mission is to find stores that carry rye bread. There’s nothing quite like a fresh, warm loaf of rye bread. American wheat bread often feels bland, lacking flavor and filled with unnecessary additives. Polish rye bread, by contrast, is made simply from whole rye flour and water, offering an incredible taste and maintaining its freshness for many days.
After years living in Seattle, I have yet to find good rye bread, which led me to start baking it myself. In this issue, I will share a recipe and some stories about Polish rye sourdough bread. If you have a better recipe or know a place that makes and sells quality bread, please let us know.
GiveBIG 2025 concluded yesterday, but the website is still accepting donations. If you missed the event, you can still show your support and appreciation. This year’s fundraiser exceeded our wildest expectations, reaching 98% of our goal. Amazing! We are humbled by and grateful for your generosity. Thank you so much!
If you have a business or know someone who has a business and would like to advertise it to close to 2000 members of our community, please contact the editor.