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Items should be typed or printed and should include the name and daytime phone number of a contact person. Items submitted after deadline will be considered for that week's edition but may be held over for later publication. Photos should include information on the time and place of the event, as well as full names of people from left to right, front row to back.

Articles about Poland and Polish visitors to Texas in the on-line edition of the Courier:

Check it out - website promotes Texas Polish pride	Published April 17, 2008
‘Bandera bell’ to peal in Polish church	Published April 3, 2008
Donations needed for new Polish bell	Published Dec. 27, 2007
Bridging the Atlantic and 150 years	Published July 12, 2007
Goodley made honorary citizen of Strzelce Opolskie	Published July 5, 2007
Bandera group to visit Polish sister city-county	Published May 31, 2007
'Why Bandera County students want to go to Poland' Emily King, 13 Kristi Eliker, 19	Published April 12, 2007
They're going to Poland!	Published March 29, 2007
Sponsor a Bandera County Student for a 'Polish Adventure'	Published March 1, 2007
Bandera delegation given royal welcome by Polish Officials	Published June 2, 2005

‘Bandera bell’ to peal in Polish church by Judith Pannebaker BCC Editor Published April 3, 2008 This impressive bell, purchased through the largesse of local citizens, will be installed in the tower of St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Rozmierz, Poland. Father Andrzej Kowolik, pastor of St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Rozmierz, Poland, admired the newly cast carillon bells, one of which was purchased with donations from Bandera County and surrounding areas.    Thanks to the generosity of the residents of Bandera County and surrounding areas, a new bell will soon toll in St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Rozmierz, Poland.     According to Elenora Dugosh Goodley, who spearheaded the project, local donations for the new bell topped $5,605 – which converted to $16,950 in Polish dollars. “The bell was purchased before the American dollar started dropping in value,” Goodley said. Currently, one US dollar equals approximately three Polish dollars.     In an email, Goodley explained the genesis of the new carillon bell.     In June 2007, 19 people from Bandera County and the City of Bandera, dubbed the “Bandera County Cowboy Capital Group,” visited Rozmierz and Strzelce Opolskie, the area’s sister city-county. The Cowboy Capital crew was duly impressed by the hospitality extended to them by the residents of Rozmierz.     During one festive dinner, Father Andrzej Kowolik discussed the restoration of St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Rozmierz, where he serves as pastor.     “I asked him how our group could help and what was badly needed,” Goodley recalled. “Father Kowolik said that St. Michael’s bell was cracked and they needed new ones. Our Bandera County Cowboy Capital Group agreed that a bell would be a perfect gift to St. Michael’s Catholic Church.”     After the group returned to Texas, Goodley asked other people to help with the bell’s purchase. The response was gratifying and immediate, and the necessary money was soon raised. An inscription on the bell from Bandera reads:     “Bells Ringing, Hearts Singing.     “This Bell Shouts love from Hearts     “Not time or space will stop Bringing.     “Generations have joined together in love and gratitude,     “With a commitment of honor, respect, goodwill, and love of God.     “Presented by Polish Descendants and friends     “in Bandera County, Texas USA.”     Recently, Goodley received an email from Agnieszka Pospiszyl – aka Texas Agnes – one of 19 residents of Strzelce Opolskie who will visit Bandera this June.     According to Pospiszyl, two new carillon bells were ordered by the church – one purchased by the parish and the other, a gift from Bandera. After the bells were delivered, Pospiszyl and a friend, Radek Dimitrow, visited Kowolik in Rozmierz. She forwarded pictures of the bells to Goodley, who, in turn, shared them with the Courier.     Pospiszyl indicated the arrival of the bells apparently caused quite a stir in the city – and the local press will cover the Texans’ largesse. She wrote that everyone in the congregation had been affected by Bandera’s generous gift to their parish church.     One question tendered by Pospiszyl to Goodley was particularly touching: “Is that bell kind of symbol (a) for you, or maybe (a) way to leave a memento for (other) generations?” Goodley’s reply was equally as poignant.     The donation of the bell to St. Michael’s, she wrote, was especially significant because not only had many of Bandera’s early Polish immigrants attended Mass at the church in Rozmierz, but had also celebrated other significant milestones there, such as baptisms, first communions and marriages. For these reasons, the church will always remain special to the descendants of Bandera’s Polish immigrants.     Pospiszyl concluded her email with: “Father Kowolik asked us to sent you best regards and hopes you find the photographs interesting.”     Residents who donated to the church bell’s purchase include John and Elenora (Dlugosz) Goodley, Mary (Dlugosz) and JM Clements, Wallace (Dlugosz) and Albina Butler, Bandera County Precinct 2 Commissioner Bruce Eliker, Charlie Dugosh and family, Theresa Helbert, Dorothy Batto, Erin Grey, Bud and Eleanor Center, David Jureczki, Roy (Dlugosz) Dugosh, Erin Thomas, Chelsea Crenshaw, Punkie (Adamietz) Camp, Dorothy (Anderwald) Callahan, Elaine (Marzurek) Stephens and Annette (Kalka) Schulte.     Donations were also made in the memory of Jan Dlugosz, who was born in Rozmierz, and emigrated to Bandera County in 1854; Hubert Dugosh, born and raised in Bandera County; and his son, Ignatius Edward Dugosh, also a county native. In addition, the following Polish Silesian immigrant families of Bandera County were represented:     Adamietz, Anderwald, Dlugosz, Haiduk, Jureczki, Kalka, Mazurek and Pyka.     Concluding her reply to her friend, Texas Agnes, Goodley wrote, “The bells are beautiful. I am very proud to have been a part of this gift of love. My best regards (go out) to you and the people in Rozmierz and Strzelce Opolskie, Poland.”     A contingent of residents and government officials from Strzelce Opolskie and Rozmierz will visit the area this summer. According to Goodley, plans are being made for a new “Bandera County Cowboy Capital Group” to visit Poland in the summer of 2010.

Donations needed for new Polish bell Published Dec. 27, 2007    St. Michael Catholic Church will go under restoration in the coming years. The bell in the church is cracked and needs to be replaced. The costs in dollars range from $5,000 up.     Rozmierz is a small village and raising money for the restoration and a new bell will take many years. Most of the people are farmers or have dairies and produce milk. Their industry is cooking oil, strawberries, wheat and milk.     During last summer's Bandera County Cowboy Capital Group goodwill visit, from June 5 to June 18, many members wanted to donate money towards helping the restoration of St. Michael Catholic Church. We asked the parish priest, Father Andrzej Kowolik, what the church needed most. He stated that the bell in St. Michael's was cracked and they needed to replace it and that any donation would be appreciated.     Many in the Bandera Goodwill Group believed and agreed that a new church bell would be appropriate.     Every time the bell rings it would be symbolic and a reminder of the connection between our two sister churches. The gift of a new church bell would be a tribute to the Silesian immigrants who left Rozmierz and the surrounding villages and came to Texas and helped develop the City of Bandera and Bandera County. The sound would spread love in partnership for many years to come. Many of the Polish Silesisans who immigrated to Texas were baptized, had their first communion, confirmation, or were married in St. Michael Catholic Church in Rozmierz. Rozmierz is one year older than Krakow, Poland. St. Michael Catholic Church is an historic link to Bandera County and the State of Texas. The year that St. Michael's Catholic Church was built is believed to be around the early 1600s.     As of this date, we have collected $4,200. I do not want to pressure anyone to make a donation. Some of you have already contributed and your donation is greatly appreciated.     However, before I send the bank draft and a list of names, I want to make certain that everyone has the opportunity to be included in this special gift. Any donation that you can contribute toward this gift of love will be greatly appreciated.     Father Kowolik has requested that I send an inscription and all the names of contributors which will be engraved on the new bell.     This fund is not tax deductible. Any interest earned on the Bell Account will be added to the total amount sent to St. Michael Catholic Church.     Please make your donation payable to Elenora Goodley and send to     Elenora Goodley     9845 Tower View Road     Helotes, TX 78023     Thank you Bandera County residents for all your support.     Eleanora Dugosh Goodley

Bridging the Atlantic and 150 years By Theresa Helbert Special to the Courier Published July 12, 2007 (Back row), Sister Dorothy Batto, Emily King and Theresa Helbert; (front row), Darla King, Adeltrud (Pyka) Guz, Dorothea (Pyka) Szodrok and Shirley Harrison Gunter Guz and Elenora Dugosh Goodley Eleanor Center and her long lost aunt    The Bandera County Cowboy Capital Group recently visited Poland as good-will ambassadors to Bandera’s sister cities, Rozmierz and Strzelce Opolskie; sister schools in Strzelce Opolskie; and sister church, St. Michaels in Rozmierz.     The group included Elenora Dugosh Goodley, Roy Dugosh, Bandera County Precinct 1 Commissioner Bruce Eliker, Kristi Eliker, Shirley Schaefer, Darla King, Eleanor and Bud Center, David Jureczki, Tim Flick, Sister Dorothy Batto and Theresa Helbert, as well as BISD representatives, librarian Deborah Harrison; teachers Erin Gray and Alice Anne Nix; and students Chelsea Crenshaw, Emily King, Samantha Morin and Seva Nix.     Goodley first explored the idea of the sister cities, schools and church to exchange ideas and encourage relations between the descendants of Bandera’s Polish settlers and the descendants of the families left behind in Poland.     By sharing the homes of their Polish hosts, the trip became an even more enriching experience. In addition to seeing the sights, such as elaborately decorated old churches and other buildings, lush green fields and beautiful flowers, hearing about the majestic, but tragic, history of the Polish people and visiting with school and government officials, they experienced the warm hospitality of everyday family living, including scrumptious food and lively music and dancing.     Some members of the group received extra benefits when the Polish teachers and students helped them find their Polish relatives.     Eleanor Center, whose mother immigrated to America from Zawisty, Poland, in 1905 at 16, was reunited with her 90-year-old aunt and her family. Tears came to Center’s eyes when her aunt said, “I’m glad I waited for you.”     During the trip, Center had hoped to find her family, but Zawisty is a seven-hour drive from the area where the group was scheduled to visit. However, her Polish hosts had arranged a two-day side trip with a driver, translator and photographer. When the group arrived at the village, a local resident recognized the family name and gave them directions to family farm. The reunion was heartwarming and emotional, and the family insisted everyone stay the night before making the long journey back.     When Center called to share her good news with the group, she learned others had been successfully rejoined with Polish relative.     While touring the town of Kamien Slaski, Schaefer, the Kings, Batto and Helbert, descendants of Johann and Francesca Pyka, learned about a Pyka family who lived in the next village.     The Mayor of Kamien Slaski confirmed the information and secured a telephone number. When no one answered the phone, the group’s bus driver volunteered to make a slight detour.     Imagine Dorothea (Pyka) Szodrok’s surprise when a bus load of Americans and their Polish translators stopped in front of her house and asked if she knew the Pykas. She said that was her family name and, with a huge smile on her face, welcomed the descendants of Johann and Francesca Pyka, who had immigrated to Texas about 1854.     Although the visit was short, Szodrok invited everyone back on Saturday to meet other family members. That day, her daughters, son, grandchildren and her sister, Adeltrud, and her husband, Gunter Guz, joined the festivities. Some family members had traveled from Germany to Siedlec just to meet their American cousins.     This meeting brought about another family reunion.     Guz’s mother was a descendant of Jacob Dlugosh, whose brother, Joannes (Jann) Dlugosh, was one of the original families who settled in Bandera. Goodley, trip organizer, had researched her family’s linage for many years, but had been unable to find her great-great-grandfather’s birthplace.     Although Goodley had visited Poland several times, and located many Dlugoshes, she was unable to make a family connection until meeting Guz. Unfortunately, Goodley’s brother, Roy Dugosh, was involved in other activities and did not get to meet his new-found cousin.     As part of class assignments, the students of Strzelce Opolskie middle school teacher Aneta Czarny research old records. The work of Czarny, her students and fellow teacher, Monika Pala, made it possible for the Bandera group to make many family connections. They bridged five generations, 5,000 miles and 150 years of Texas history.

Goodley made honorary citizen of Strzelce Opolskie Contributed by Elenora Dugosh Goodley Special to the Courier Published July 5, 2007 Newly elected Strzelce Opolskie Mayor Tadeusz Goc congratulates Bandera’s Eleanor Dugosh Goodley on her honorary citizenship.    Several weeks before leading a delegation from Bandera County on a goodwill trip to Silesia, Poland, special ambassador Elenora Dugosh Goodley received an unexpected surprise.     In an email from Strzelce Opolskie, Poland, newly-elected Head Teresa Smolen informed Goodley, “… in their fourth term to partnership in communication with you and between our cities of Bandera and Strzelce Opolskie, a unanimous decision was made to appoint you the title of ‘Honorary Citizen’ of Strzelce Opolskie, Poland.”     The event commemorating the bestowal of honorary citizenship on Goodley was scheduled for June 13 at the community center in the town hall.     After receiving the email, Goodley accepted immediately, expressing her gratitude for the honor. She assumed some sort of certificate would be given to her. However, that’s not what happened. Instead the Strzelce Opolskie Council had an elaborate ritual planned to honor the occasion.     During the ceremony, the “Strzelce Opolskie Hunter Mascot” announced the event with a horn fanfare. After reading the “Act of Granting Honorary Citizenship of the Commune of Strzelce Opolskie,” Smolen placed a yellow and blue sash over Goodley’s right shoulder.     Strzelce Opolskie Mayor Tadeusz Goc presented her with two certificates, one in Polish and one in English. Former Mayor Krzysztop Fabianowski offered Goodley a large bouquet of flowers, then several groups entertained the Bandera delegation with Polish folk dances. After the ceremony, everyone traveled to the nearby village of Kadlub, where the celebration continued with cakes, drinks and a roast pig dinner.     “It was a great honor, and completely unexpected,” Goodley said later. “I can’t thank the people and elected officials of Strzelce Opolskie enough for their kindness, not only to me, but to the entire Bandera delegation.”

'Why Bandera County students want to go to Poland' Published in March & April, 2007    In June, 19 representatives from Bandera, including five high school students from Bandera ISD, will visit Strzelce Opolskie, Poland, Bandera's sister city and county. However, several students are finding it difficult to raise money for this once in a lifetime opportunity. Collection jars marked "Bandera County Cowboy Capital Group" have been placed in businesses, shops and restaurants throughout the county in Lakehills, Pipe Creek and Bandera. All donations are earmarked to defray students' costs for the trip.     The Courier features these students who would like to visit Poland this summer. Here's hoping "putting a name to the cause" will start cash flowing into the "Bandera County Cowboy Capital Group" jars. Emily King, 13 "I want to go to Poland because I want to see the country that my ancestors came from and learn how Texas differs from Poland. I think this will be a once in a life time experience for me to find out about my heritage and meet new people and see new sites at the same time." Kristi Eliker, 19 "I want to go to Poland because not only is it a lifetime experience to see a place I may never see again, but also to meet new people and stay with them. When you stay with people instead of staying in a hotel, it gives you a different perspective on everything. You get to see and experience things that you wouldn't necessarily experience by yourself as a tourist staying in a hotel. I also want to go because of the amazing countryside and all of the things we will be able to do with the people we meet, including the hiking through the mountainside. It will be amazing."

They're going to Poland! Published March 29, 2007 The "Bandera County Cowboy Capital Group" includes (from left), top row above curve, Goodley, Eliker, Bandera ISD teacher Erin Gray, Tim Flick, Roy Dugosh, Myron "Bud" and Eleanor Center, Theresa Batto Heubert, Darla King, and Dorothy Batto; bottom row below curve, Shirley Schaefer and BISD students Samantha Morin, Rebecca Sosa, Chelsea Crenshaw and Emily King. Members of the "Poland Adventure" not pictured are BISD students Kristi Eliker and Seva Nix, Tammy York and BISD teacher Alice Anne Nix.    Members of "Bandera County Cowboy Capital Group" began finalizing plans for June's "Poland Adventure." As Bandera County Cowboy Group Leader, Elenora Dugosh Goodley made all arrangements for this summer's trip.     During their March 22 meeting, Bandera County Commissioners designated Precinct 1 Commissioner Bruce Eliker as the county's official representative during the visit to Strzelce Opolskie, Bandera's sister city and county in Silesia, Poland. After the group's photograph was snapped, everyone adjourned to Brick's River Café for a meeting and dinner.     "Everyone enjoyed meeting each other and learning about the upcoming adventure," Dugosh reported. Another group meeting will be held in May. Meanwhile, collection jars soliciting donations to "Send a Student to Poland" have been placed in restaurants and shops throughout Bandera County. "Please help. Any amount is greatly appreciated," urged Goodley. "We've received some donations in the mail and are doing much better raising money, but we still need more."

Bandera group to visit Polish sister city-county Special to the Courier Published May 31, 2007 Members of the Bandera County Cowboy Capital Group who are off to Poland June 5 include (back row), Elenora Dugosh Goodley, Roy Dugosh, Theresa Helbert and Bud Center; (middle row), Deborah Harrison, David Jureczki, Shirley Schaefer, Darla King, Erin Gray, Alice Anne Nix, Dorothy Batto, Eleanor Center and Tim Flick; (kneeling), Samantha Morin, Emily King, Chelsea Crenshaw, Bandera County Commissioner Precinct 1 Bruce Eliker and Kristi Eliker; and (sitting), Seva Nix.     The Bandera County Cowboy Capital Group held their last meeting before leaving for Poland on Tuesday, June 5, said Special Ambassador Elenora Dugosh Goodley. The group will return on Monday, June 18.     The group, consisting of 19 people, met at the original homestead of Jan Dlugosz, one of Bandera County's first Polish Settlers. The homestead is currently owned and operated by Roy Dugosh/Dlugosz, who, along with his wife, Debra, hosted the group.     A group picture was taken and emailed to sister city-county Strzelce Opolskie, Poland. Residents of Strzelce Opolskie and Rozmierz, Poland, will sponsor the Bandera group, who will be guests in Polish homes. Scheduled events include tours and a hike into the mountains during the nearly two-week visit.     From February 1 to May 26, the Bandera group raised money to offset airfare and expenses for the Bandera ISD students on the tour. Bandera County citizens and tourists raised $2,700 via donation jars and private donations for five students.     "We thank everyone for their generosity in this important and once-in-a-lifetime project for these students," Goodley said.     Merchants and restaurants who sponsored donation jars included OST Cafe, Exxon Mimi Mart, Busbees, Gingerbread House, Books & Blooms, Country Store, Blue Jeans, Braun Drugs and the Ice House in Bandera; EZ Mart and Barrel House in Pipe Creek; and the Dollar Store and Tadpoles in Lakehills.

Sponsor a Bandera County Student for a 'Polish Adventure' Contributed Published March 1, 2007 Collection jars will be going up all over the county to elicit funds from generous folks to contribute to sending a Bandera County student to Poland.    Bandera County's sister city/county friends in Poland have extended an invitation to the representatives, people in Bandera County, school officials, and students to come visit them in Silesia Poland in 2007.     "I have scheduled a trip, 'Poland Adventure' this coming June 2007," said Elenora Dugosh Goodley, Bandera County representative for sister city/county Strzelce Opolskie. "We have 19 Bandera County residents, students, and teachers signed up and excited to go.     "The name of our group is 'Bandera County Cowboy Capital Group.' Most of the people and students signed up will be able to pay for their airfare and expenses. However, a few students are having a difficult time raising money and may have to cancel.     "We are placing 'Bandera County Cowboy Capital Group' collection jars throughout Bandera County in many of the businesses, shops, and restaurants in Lakehills, Pipe Creek, and Bandera," said Goodley. "Any amount that you can donate will be greatly appreciated and make a BISD school student very happy. Please help give a student a chance of a lifetime. Please look for these jars and give generously!"

Bandera delegation given royal welcome by Polish Officials by Eleanora Dugosh Goodley Published June 2, 2005 Eleanora Goodley presents Rozmierz Mayor, Stefan Witon, with a Texas flag. Fire Chief Max Konz was presented with a Polish fire suit by Roy Dugosh Wednesday evening. A gift from the Rozmierz Voluntary Fire Department in Rozmierz, Poland. Members of Bandera's voluntary fire department were present. Cliff Dugosh, a firefighter and 6th generation Dugosh, was on hand to take part in the historical event. Also present was, Danny Dugosh, Beanie Butler, Elenora Dugosh, and John Goodley. Fire Chief Konz was excited over the gift and welcomed the opportunity to communicate with one of Bandera's sister city fire departments.    Dugosh family members Beanie Butler, Mary Clements, Roy Dugosh, Elenora Dugosh Goodley, and her husband John Goodley, just returned from a visit to Strzelce Opolskie, Poland where they were given a royal welcome. Elenora Goodley presented Mayor Krzysztop Fabianowski with the final Polish version of the sister-city county proclamation from the City of Bandera. Mayor Fabianowski presented Elenora Dugosh with the Strzelce Opolskie flag, a gift for the city of Bandera, and invited the citizens of Bandera and all the descendants of Polish Silesian immigrants to come to their 150th anniversary celebration in June of 2006.     Elenora also presented the city of Strzelce Opolskie with an iron post ornament similar to the ones that are hanging from the lampposts on Main Street in Bandera, donated by Artie and Bunny Erfurt of Quality Iron Works in Bandera. The Dugosh family was given a tour through a Strzelce Opolskie Middle High School, a school for the disabled and handicapped, a homeless farm, and the fire station in Kadlub, Poland, in the county of Strzelce Opolskie. The Kadlub voluntary fire department has won the Polish National Fire Fighting Championship for the past three years and placed third in the European Championship this past year.     St. Stanislaus Catholic Church in Bandera and St. Michael Catholic Church in Rozmierz, Poland, also in the county of Strzelce Opolskie, became sister churches during their visit. During a Sunday Mass, Father Adrzej Kowolik blessed the two crosses made of wood from the 1858 St. Stanislaus Church, keeping one for St. Michael and sending the other one back with Dugosh family members. Father Kowolik hosted a special luncheon in his home. Mary Clements presented the cross to Father Stanislaw Oleksy and St. Stanislaus Catholic Church, where it will be displayed.     Strzelce Opolskie Public School Director, Krstyna Madej, presented Elenora with a picture of Strzelce Opolskie, High School Number 2 and several books for the Bandera school library. Director Madej expressed the desire to start a school exchange program between Strzelce Opolskie and Bandera. Beanie Butler presented Dr. Renee Schulze with the picture and information. Dr. Schulze welcomed the opportunity to work with the Strzelce Opolskie schools.     The Citizens of Rozmierz and the Rozmierz Voluntary Fire Department held a dinner reception for the Dugosh members, welcoming them back to their homeland. They were greeted with a plate of salt and bread, a tradition to indicate they had returned to their homeland. Elenora presented the Rozmierz Mayor, Stefan Witon, with a Texas flag and cowboy statues. Roy Dugosh presented the Rozmierz fire department with a Texas Banner. The Rozmierz Voluntary Fire Department gave Roy a firefighters suit and gear, a gift for the Bandera Voluntary Fire Department.     After leaving Rozmierz, the Dugosh members stayed in a castle in Kamien Slaski, located south of Strzelce Opolskie. They were welcomed by Father Erwin Mateja, director of the castle.     They toured the concentration camp of Auschwitz and Birkenau. A book of prisoner's names was displayed where the names of 6 Dlugoszas, 1 Pyka, 1 Kalka, 1 Lasowski, and many Adamiec and Adamecks were listed.     After leaving the castle they went to Krakow, and saw more castles, the salt mine, and the town square. Karkow has 125 Catholic Churches. After leaving Krakow, they traveled to Warsaw and toured the Old Town Square, castles, a few of Warsaw's 150 Catholic Churches, and the Warsaw Getto. While reading the Warsaw map, they discovered a street named Dlugosza. They hailed a taxi and ended their tour of Warsaw on Dlugosza Street.     Poland is a beautiful country. The big cities have large modern shopping centers. The food is excellent and the prices are good. Its people are hard working, friendly, and love Americans. Poland recently became a member of the European community, but still use their currency, the Polish Zlotych.