North Tonawanda History Museum © The Litwin Family

Litwin, a former North Tonawanda resident, is the polka editor for the Polish American Journal and writes the newspaper's "Polka Insider" column. "It's essentially a non-paying job, but I love it," he said. "I probably spend two to three hours a night working on polka items. I've been at this for almost 32 years."

Now living in Binghamton, Litwin keeps in touch with his NT roots as often as he can.

"I spent my first quarter century in North Tonawanda. I always felt once you're born in Western New York, you never quite left the area," he said. "People I talk to from 2,000 or 3,000 miles away say they wish they could smell the chicken chowder on a Saturday morning at the local fire hall."

Litwin recently reconnected with his North Tonawanda roots by offering his assistance with the North Tonawanda History Museum's Web site.

A former member of the Dom Polski Social Club, Litwin said he has plenty of background he can share on growing up Polish in the Lumber City. "I've always been a North Tonawanda boy," he said. "You can leave, but part of you always stays there."

Donna Zellner Neal, acting director of the museum, said Litwin's help has been greatly appreciated by the group, and his expertise on the area has been very valuable.

A section of the proposed North Tonawanda history museum will be dedicated to baseball player Stan Rojek, and Litwin's knowledge of Rojek likely will be used in the exhibit.

"Every day, we (instant message) each other. Steve has been there from the beginning," she said. "He's a very supportive person and he knows everyone who's everyone. He's a real neat person."

In addition to writing about polka, Litwin plays the concertina, which looks like a smaller version of an accordion. Litwin, an electrical designer by day, always is ready to break out his concertina, and he even travels every summer to a festival to play with other concertina lovers.

"Since 1984, we have sponsored a concertina jam session during the July Polka Fireworks Festival at the Seven Springs Resort in Western Pennsylvania," he says on his website biography. "I'm proud to say it's developed somewhat of a cult following where true concertina lovers gather to play the instrument they love."

Litwin's whole life can find a tie that binds to polka. He even met his wife of 30 years at a polka. The two traveled separately to a polka in Syracuse. By the end of the night, they left together and never looked back.

"Tonight is the 32nd anniversary of our meeting," he said Wednesday. "She came from Binghamton to Syracuse. She asked me to dance, and we've been dancing ever since. It's a perfect union."

Credit: Tonawanda News - May 23, 2004

From: Steve Litwin, Binghamton, NY - January 17, 2004

Steve Litwin's fond memory:

"I've been out of NT for 30 years but yet get back there several times a year. My Mother and sister, as well as a bunch of cousins, still live there. I've always said there is a certain"magic" for those from WNY. It's in your blood and it never leaves you. Last weekend I made chicken chowder and let me tell you there is "nothing" like the smell of chicken chowder on a Saturday.

The City Market is still a place we stop whenever we are in town. I'm sure bigger cities have such markets, yet for NT to have such a thing is unique. Most, outside the loop, don't understand what this is about.

My Grandfather ran a "garage" (service station) across the street from Buffalo Bolt, next to Fabin's corner store. Behind my Grandfather's service stations were the grounds where the Third Warders Socail Club held their picnic/field days. My Mother "worked" at Vic and Kai's on Oliver and when I was a kid we lived next door, between Vic and Kai's and Rudzinski's hardware store. Gabor's Appliance Store was across the street. I remember the Avondale and the Riviera and the Star. I wrote articles about the joy of taking the Canadiana to Crystal Beach or "walking" to almost everything you needed. Rojek's Dairy, Mr. Rojek and Tony, delivering milk was a special event, as was the iceman who brought ice to Litwin's on Oliver for (my Uncle's) bar and grill. I was the youngest Chairman of the Board of Directors at Dom Polski's and "lived" there for several years, keeping our Polish heritage alive. There is more but I'd rather not bore you with it at this time."