By Randi Ross Marodi

For the Observer-Reporter

CALIFORNIA - The distinct sound of accordions, trumpets and drums took the chill off a wintry February evening as Mon Valley Push performed at the California Sportsmen's Club.

Even though the parking lot was filled with snow and the temperature had dipped to about 20 degrees, it didn't stop the small legion of fans that was ready to polka the night away.

While the band was setting up for its gig, Frank Stetar of Daisytown, one of the band's trumpet players and vocalists, expressed concern about the weather. It seems the size of the crowd depends on the weather and location.

"Our following has grown as the years go by," he said.

Stetar, who is the band director at California Area High School, said polka music has always been a huge part of his life.

"I grew up with it. I'm just trying to keep it alive," he said.

And thanks to the talents of drummer Blake Haskins of Hopwood, trumpeter Steve Rossi of Greensburg and accordion players Barry Niccolai of California and Steve Molish of Daisytown, Stetar is succeeding.

"With our style of polka, the accordion is no longer a forefront instrument, it's in the background," he said, explaining their style of polka can be described as push, meaning they use two trumpets.

Stetar also is thankful for those fans who share his passion for polka.

"Some people like to come and listen, and some like to dance. Some like to just drink and jump up and down," he said. "Everyone tends to have their own style of dancing the polka. I don't think I've ever seen it done twice the same way."

Alma Vechnak of Brownsville, for example, was content just to listen to the music.

"My dancing days are over," she said, explaining that she really loves the rhythm of polka music. "I grew up on it. When I was young, I went to a lot of Polish/Bohemian weddings. We had the bands and a basket right there where you could throw money in it."

Stetar believes that dancing is a very important part of the polka experience.

"If the crowd is into it, it takes us to the next level," he said.

When the band started to play, two older ladies jumped up, grabbed hands and started dancing across the floor, which was lit by purple, red, yellow and green strobe lights.

Mary Rizak, a widow from Malden, said she is disappointed the band doesn't play much in the area.

"I love to dance. I go to all the polka dances," she said. "I even went on a polka cruise in November to St. Martin and St. Thomas."

Her dancing partner, Andy Pagac of Richeyville, said he loves everything about the polka, and he dances even though his wife doesn't like to.

"It's a good lively dance. We have a lot of fun," Pagac said.

Like Vechnak, Karen Urban of Bentleyville considers herself a listener.

"I'm uncoordinated, and I had my back operated on not too long ago," she said. But she likes the social aspect, and the music, she said, "grows on you."

While the band played tunes like "Pennsylvania Hills," "Better Times" and "Weeping Willow," Beth Gira of Belle Vernon said she and her husband, John, love to polka.

"If it's not a private party, we're there," Beth Gira said.

Added her husband, "I was brought up on picnics and polkas."

The Giras met at a polka dance at the Webster Dairy Bar in 1951, and together they have won a few twist dance contests. They also attend a lot of polka festivals in the summer.

After the Belle Vernon couple took the dance floor, Rizak and Pagac soon followed. They were joined by another couple, Brenda and Glenn Anderson of Bentleyville.

"We met at a polka dance. In high school, we would go to the dances at St. Agnes in Richeyville," Brenda Anderson said as she left the dance floor. "That was 29 years ago."

The Andersons, whose style of dancing is highlighted by little kicks, have enjoyed the polka for years.

"We just like to go out and have fun and get a little bit of exercise," she said. "We don't get a chance very often, because there aren't a lot of bands out there that play this type of polka."

Mon Valley Push, which has a CD, "Mon Valley Push Reality," will perform at the Seven Springs Fourth of July Festival July 15 in Sylvan, N.Y., and in Maynard, Ohio, on July 29. In 2008, the band already has gigs lined up in Michigan and Chicago.

For more information about Mon Valley Push or to hear a sample of their music, visit the band's Web site, www.monvalleypush.com.

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