For Pierogi Fest, everyone\'s last name ends in \'ski\'

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BY TIM SHELLBERG
Times Correspondent | Wednesday, July 30, 2008 | 1 comment(s)
For most of the year, Keith Speaks serves as the executive directorof Neighborhoods Inc., a Hammond-based nonprofit organization thathelps to increase home-owning opportunities in the region.

But for a day or two every summer, Speaks becomes Freak, theself-proclaimed "producer, director, lead singer" and "leadwhatever" of the Neighborhoods IncSKI Surplus Building Materialsand Construction Site Refuse Air Band.

"I'm not an entertainer, but when we turn that corner and the crowdstarts up, I get energized," he said.

"I don't care how hot it is or how tired I am or how my feet hurt.I just get jacked up by that crowd waiting for us."

Scheduled to perform today in the Pierogi Fest Polka Parade along119th Street in downtown Whiting, Speaks came up with the idea ofthe Refuse Air Band for the annual parade seven years ago. He tookhis cue for the ensemble from Pasadena's Doo Dah Parade, a wackyevent created to counter the city's prim and proper Rose Parade.

Many more are expected to come to this year's celebration becauseOprah recently named it one of the top seven events in the country.

The band's namesake comes from the source of their instruments; theband members use everything from PVC pipes to wood leftovers tounused or discarded toilet parts to create their guitars,percussion and horns.

And when it comes to their appearance and wardrobe, anything goes.

I've worn my hair punked and I've had my hair dyed red on one sideand white on the other, which is the color of the Polish flag,"Speaks said.

"As the years go on, we try to get more bizarre if we can."

Musically, the band has a pair of signature songs for Pierogi Fest:"Taking Care of Business," the classic '70s anthem fromBachman-Turner Overdrive, and "I Want to See a Flying Saucer" bythe veteran Texas cult band Brave Combo.

Speaks is expected to be joined today by Refuse Band regulars suchas his wife, Virginia "Schlomo" Speaks, his son, David "CoolBreeze" Speaks, Kassia "Polaca" Mehidi and Adam "Booboo" Mehidi,both from Highland, and Sandy "Sandrew" Wojtaszek, Chris "Soupcan"Wojtaszek and Tom "Doubter" Conley, all from Hammond.

In the past their ensemble has included members from Poland andHungary.

"We won't know who's going to be with us until the night of theparade," Speaks said.

"If we have any new members, we tell them we'll have an intenserehearsal right before the parade."

The Pierogi Fest Polka Parade is part of the 2008 Pierogi Fest,which is running today through Saturday in downtown Whiting.

As always, there will be lots of food, entertainment and activities(check the Web site for events and times at www.pierogifest.net ), but the parade promises to be the best, wackiest fun time.

The Busha Brigade will be twirling their bathroom plungers in theirhouse dresses and hair nets, and the Precision Lawnmower DrillTeam, dressed in bathrobes, black socks and house slippers or wingtips, will perform their figure-eight maneuvers for the crowd.

Last year, the online travel Web site VirtualTourist listedWhiting's Pierogi Fest in the Top 10 Wackiest U. S. Festivalsalongside such worthy companions as the Roswell UFO Festival andWisconsin's Cow Chip Throw.

Pierogi Fest Polka Parade
When: 8 p.m. today
Where: 119th St., Whiting
Cost: Free
FYI: or (219) 659-0292 or www.pierogifest.net