|
Polish Fest attracts hot, happy crowd
 | | GREETINGS!...The Krakowiacy Polish-American Dancers opened the annual Polish Festival on Friday with their crowdpleasing routines. (Times photo) |
|
Thousands of spectators came to Town Park last weekend for the 28th annual Polish-American Arts Festival, and despite heat and humidity, most were able to appreciate the variety of dance and musical performances.
Oppressive heat- the mercury topped 88 on Friday and 86 on Sunday- dominated the weekend, but a refreshing breeze kept the festival grounds somewhat cooler on Saturday and Sunday, following a still and oppressively humid Friday night.
Rain kept down crowds during the previous three festivals, but the only rain that fell throughout the weekend occurred overnight Friday, into Saturday morning. The festival grounds were dry in time for Saturday's start.
Brave Combo and Jerry Darlak and the Buffalo Touch traded sets Friday evening and had the crowd jumping within a short time.
Brave Combo's Carl Finch joined the Touch at the beginning of their second set, and he and Darlak played well off each other as they squeezed their respective accordions.
 | | POLISH FESTIVAL: A TIME TO SMILE...Barbara Merkling of Cheektowaga and Rose Marie Janik of Lancaster were among the thousands who stopped by the Cheektowaga Times booth during last weekend's Polish Festival. Look inside for more pictures from the weekend. (Times photo) |
|
Among Friday's spectators were the Jacobson family from Fillmore, New York and Brave Combo's home town, Denton, Texas.
Jake and Cindy Jacobson live across the street from Brave Combo's trumpet player, Danny O'Brien.
"We were comparing schedules and we were planning to visit my brother Rob in Fillmore," Jake Jacobson said. "Danny said he was going to be in New York the same weekend and I asked where."
The reply was Cheektowaga, so the Jacobsons added the Polish Festival to their list of activities.
Jacobson said that his family has seen Brave Combo several times in Texas.
"I've never seen them perform before such a small crowd," Jacobson added, as he scanned the crowd that numbered roughly 900.
Rob Jacobson said that he had never attended the Polish Festival before, but added he liked what he saw.
"Both the festival and Brave Combo are great," Rob said.
The Krakowiacy Polish-American Dancers of Buffalo charmed the crowd Friday, performing a medley of dances from different regions of Poland.
Sunday's dance performance featured Ania Piwowarczyk with Radosc and Friends.
Another act that attracted a large crowd- including many men- was Alizma, originally from Zagan, Poland, but now based in California.
Alizma is comprised of Aleksandra, Izabela and Monika Okapiec, 22-year-old triplets. The trio of violinists performed classical and pop musical fare.
The Polish Festival is also known for attracting several candidates for public office, but this year the only big name to appear was Democratic candidate for New York State governor, Tom Suozzi.
The Nassau County Executive shook hands and greeted dozens of festival goers during his Friday evening appearance.
"What are you going to do to help me?" asked one man after a quick introduction.
"I'm going to reduce your taxes and bring jobs up here," Suozzi replied.
During an interview with the Times, Suozzi said that he is the right person to help straighten out New York State because "I've been through this before."
Suozzi pointed out that he turned around "the worst-run county in the United States" by cutting its work force to its smallest number in 30 years and eliminating wasteful spending.
"Everything I've done in my professional life has prepared me for this particular job at this particular time," Suozzi said.
Suozzi, whose wife Helene is of Polish descent, said that ethnic festivals such as the Polish Festival are important and serve as reminders of our nation's diversity.
| 
)
)