Chicago, Illinois (PMN)—According to the TruthOut.com website, on July 30, 2010, the Polish Border Guard Office released a number of documents to the Warsaw-based Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights, which, for the first time, provide details of the number of prisoners transferred by the CIA to a secret prison in Poland between December 5, 2002, and September 22, 2003, and, in one case, the number of prisoners who were subsequently transferred to a secret CIA prison in Romania.

The documents provide important information about the secret prison at Szymany, in northeastern Poland, and also add to what is known about the program in Romania, which has received far less scrutiny. The existence of the prisons was first revealed in The Washington Post on November 2, 2005, although the Post refrained from ""publishing the names of the Eastern European countries involved in the covert program, at the request of senior U.S. officials."

However, on November 6, 2005, Human Rights Watch identified the countries as Poland and Romania, and stated that it had seen "flight records showing that a Boeing 737, registration number N313P – a plane that the CIA used to move several prisoners to and from Europe, Afghanistan, and the Middle East in 2003 and 2004 - landed in Poland and Romania on direct flights from Afghanistan on two occasions in 2003 and 2004. "Although the Polish and Romanian governments denied the claims, Swiss Sen. Dick Marty, a 'reporter' for the Council of Europe, concluded in a report in June 2007, based on two years of research and interviews with over 30 current and former members of the intelligence services in the United States and Europe, that he had enough "evidence to state that secret detention facilities run by the CIA did exist in Europe from 2003 to 2005, in particular in Poland and Romania." Marty also identified both sites, noting that the flights to Romania flew into the Mihail Kogalniceanu military airfield, and also explained how the flights were disguised using fake flight plans.

In September 2008, a Polish intelligence official confirmed that between 2002 and 2005 the CIA had held terror suspects inside a military intelligence training base in Stare Kiejkuty in northeastern Poland. He said that only the CIA had access to the prison, and that, although Prime Minister Leszek Miller and President Aleksander Kwasniewski knew about it, "it was unlikely either man knew if the prisoners were being tortured because the Poles had no control over the Americans’ activities. "It was not until March 23, 2009, however, that the first details of specific flights into Szymany were officially confirmed in Poland, when the Polish Air Navigation Service Agency released information about a Lockheed L100-30 Hercules, registration number N8213G, which had flown in on February 4, 2003. This was followed up on September 16 with far more incriminating records, demonstrating that a notorious "torture jet," a Gulfstream V, registration number N379P, had flown into Szymany on six occasions between February 8 and September 22, 2003, and on June 2 this year, a further release identified a Gulfstream IV, registration number N63MU, which had flown in on July 28, 2005.

The recent revelations by the Polish Border Guard Office are, however, even more significant, firstly because they include, for the first time, confirmation that N63MU flew into Poland on December 5, 2002, and secondly, because they provide details of the number of passengers on seven of the flights, as follows:

Who Are the "High-Value Detainees" (HVDs) held in Poland? In identifying these 20 passengers, the documents provide more questions than answers, as it is not known how many of them were prisoners, and how many were U.S. government operatives accompanying them. However, what can be stated with certainty is that three of the men who arrived on December 5, 2002, were the HVDs Abu Zubaydah, Abd al-Rahim al-Nashiri and Ramzi bin al-Shibh, who had all been held previously in a secret CIA prison in Thailand.

Click Here for broadcast from Polish Radio August 20, 2010 - 8 min.12 sec.  – Allow Time For MP3 Download –

Chicago, Illinois (PMN)—Acclaimed jazz singer Grazyna Auguscik presented a salute to composer Fryderyk (Frederick) Chopin in an evening of visionary interpretations of the composer’s masterpieces at the Jay Pritzker Pavilion in Chicago’s Millennium Park on July 25, 2010. Entitled "Chopin 200: Grazyna Auguscik’s World Sound," this concert was presented by the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs, Millennium Park

and Grazyna Auguscik, supported by the Consulate General of the Republic of Poland in Chicago. Admission was free.

As part of a worldwide celebration of the 200th anniversary of Chopin’s birth, Auguscik was joined by accordion virtuoso Jarek Bester from Poland, Matt Ulery on bass, the Chicago International Trombone Ensemble and a host of Chicago-based musicians, including Howard Levy (harmonica and piano), Paulinho Garcia (guitar and vocals), Ronnie Malley (ude) and Ian Maksin (cello). The revered Andrzej Jagodzinski Trio from Poland rounded out the evening.

Singer, composer, arranger, and producer Grazyna Auguscik has won the praise and admiration of music critics, jazz enthusiasts and even non-jazz audiences with a singular voice that speaks a universal language. Her unorthodox approach to rewriting classic works is at once a tribute to its authors as well as an adventure into uncharted territory. Born in Poland, she graduated in 1992 from the Berklee College of Music in Boston, and has made Chicago her home since 1994, with frequent appearances at the Green Mill, Katerina’s, the Chicago Cultural Center and Millennium Park. Amidst her active schedule of worldwide performances, Auguscik has managed to record, produce and distribute fourteen albums, ten under her own record label, GMA Records, and appears on many projects as a guest.

A master jazz interpreter of Chopin’s music, composer-arranger Andrzej Jagodzinski brings his trio to Chicago for the celebration, featuring Adam Cegielski on bass and Czeslaw "Maly" [Little] Bartkowski on drums. The first recording by the Andrzej Jagodzinski Trio, Chopin, was named Best Record of 1994 by Jazz Forum and won the Fryderyk Award, the Polish Grammy, as best jazz record of the year.

Click Here for broadcast from Polish Radio July 14, 2010 - 3 min.35 sec.  – Allow Time For MP3 Download –

Athens, Ohio (PMN)—"The Origins of Modern Polish Democracy," edited by M. B. B. Biskupski, James S. Pula and Piotr J. Wrobel, was released by Ohio University Press & Swallow Press in August, 2010.

"The Origins of Modern Polish Democracy" is a series of closely integrated essays that traces the idea of democracy in Polish thought and practice. It begins with the transformative events of the mid-19th century, which witnessed revolutionary developments in the socioeconomic and demographic structure of Poland, and continues through changes that marked the post-communist era of free Poland.

The idea of democracy survived in Poland through long periods of foreign occupation, the trials of two world wars, and years of Communist subjugation.

Whether in Poland itself or among exiles, Polish speculation about the creation of a liberal-democratic Poland has been central to modern Polish political thought. This volume is unique in that is traces the evolution of the idea of democracy, both during the periods when Poland was an independent country—1918-1939—and during the periods of foreign occupation before 1918 through World War II and the Communist era. For those periods when Poland was not free, the volume discusses how the idea of democracy evolved among exile and underground Polish circles.

This work is the only single-volume English-language history of modern Polish democratic thought and parliamentary systems and represents the latest scholarly research by leading specialists from Europe and North America.

Adapted from an article by Raymond Rolak

The Polish American Association, Pepsi and the Chicago Cubs united to celebrate the first Polish Heritage Night at historic Wrigley Field when the Cubs hosted the San Diego Padres on August 17, 2010.

As a special attraction, Alizma, comprised of Polish triplets Aleksandra, Izabela and Monika, will perform their popular violin pieces before the game. The versatile trio performed three of their signature songs. Born in Poland, they rose to stardom at age 16, performing on Polish national television then touring across Europe. Eventually they moved to the United States and made their first big national splash on the TV show, "America’s Got Talent." Since then, Alizma has toured throughout the United States and internationally.

Another attraction was accomplished jazz vocalist and composer, Agnieszka Iwanska, will sing the Polish national anthem. Iwanska graduated from the University of Katowice, Poland’s only accredited jazz program. When the Ricketts family bought the Cubs, they had a mission statement of getting more involved with the community. "This is our first heritage night and I expect we will expand the program," said Mathew Wszolek, director of promotions for the Chicago Cubs.

Those attending Polish Heritage Night received a special commemorative Cubs cap embroidered with the Polish flag on its side. The cap was given to each game attendee who contributed $5 to Chicago Cubs Charities when purchasing their ticket. Chicago Cubs Charities donated 100% of the cap sales to support the Polish-American Association programs.

Since 1922, the Polish American Association has been serving the needs of Chicago’s Polish community. The Polish American Association provides a range of bilingual and cultural programs to the Chicago community in the areas of social services, education, employment,  immigrant services, and advocacy.

Chicago (PMN)—The Music Ministry of St. John the Evangelist Church in St. John, Indiana will present: "Hail Mary! A Concert of Polish and American Marian Hymns" performed by the Lira Singers on Sunday, September 12, 2010, at 3:00 p.m. as part of its Laudate Concert Series. The church is at 10701 Olcott Avenue in St. John, Indiana.

The Lira Singers, who are well-known for their interpretation of such hymns, are the core group of the Ensemble, the nation’s only professional performing arts company specializing in Polish music, song and dance. Lira is based at the Lake Shore Campus of Loyola University Chicago as artist-in-residence.

The Reverend Sammie Maletta, Pastor of St. John the Evangelist Parish, invites all to attend this concert which the Music Ministry scheduled as a celebration of the Birth of the Virgin Mary which is commemorated in September. Nine concerts will be featured in this year’s Laudate Concert Series, including the four hallmark concerts at the end of August and beginning of September. Advent and Christmas concerts follow next on the schedule. The concert series is in its second year.

The September 12th concert is an excellent opportunity to see the magnificent church which St. John the Evangelist Parish dedicated in 2008. The Romanesque structure is traditional in architecture and yet accommodates contemporary worship, with stunning stained glass windows and a soaring vaulted ceiling. It is located next to The Shrine of Christ’s Passion, a spiritual journey not be missed if time allows on the concert day.

Tickets for "Hail Mary! A Concert of Polish and American Marian Hymns" are $15.00 in advance sale and $20.00 at the door. Tickets may be purchased through St. John the Evangelist Parish. To purchase tickets by telephone, using credit cards, call the office of the Lira Ensemble at (773) 508-7040.

More information about this event is available by calling St. John the Evangelist Parish at (219) 365-5678, ext. 266. 

Chicago (PMN)—Adam Olender, Vice President of the Parents Association for St. Faustyna Polish School located in Addison Illinois, is seeking advertisers in the school’s newsletter to offset costs.

St. Faustyna has quickly become one of the largest Saturday Polish Language schools in the Chicagoland area with attendance of pre-school through high-school students of well over 1,000 students in 2009.

The new school year is upon us and each year the school deals with various budget constraints. One of the ways to offset these limitations is a monthly school newsletter. The monthly newsletter includes information on the school, schedules, upcoming programs, coupons and advertisements. It newsletter is sent to all the families of students and is available electronically on the school’s website at http://www.szkolawlombard.org .

The school is looking to the community for support of its young girls and boys by purchasing advertising space in the newsletter. In this economy businesses need to think of new ways to deliver their message to the public. Olender believes this is a great opportunity for businesses to immediately reach out to a large number of families.

Should you have any questions about prices or concerns, contact Adam Olender at (224) 622-5522 or by e-mailing at adamolender@yahoo.com .