`anne Frank' Revival Falls Flat Emotionally

After Holiday, Shoppers Rush Home With Leftovers

By BOBBI DEMPSEY; Times Leader Staff Writer
 Sunday, December 28, 1997 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Page: 3 





HAZLETON- A few years ago, the closest John "JJ" Polascik got to a piece of
fine wood was the plastic imitation kind on the dashboard of a broken Buick. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Polascik, 49, made a living correcting collision damage and erasing the
effects of fender benders in the auto repair shop he has owned for about 15
years. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; But he always yearned to express his more creative side. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "I love making things, especially out of the really exotic woods." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Polascik's woodworking efforts began gradually. In between fixing cars, he
would chisel away a few spare minutes to make yard decorations out of plywood. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 While enjoyable, it was also frustrating because his creations would
usually get stolen quickly or deteriorate from the elements. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 He craved more of a challenge. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 So he branched out into more complicated projects, and was soon making
purplewood planters, birch baskets and maple mail holders. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Polascik began to wonder how he would split himself between his newfound
hobby and the booming repair business that had expanded into a second garage. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Luckily, Polascik's son, Bryan, had mastered the mechanical business. Last
year, Bryan was ready to take over. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "I got on his nerves, so he basically told me, `Go to your room, Dad.' " &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Polascik took over his smaller, original garage, and the wood chips started
flying. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 An old Corvette had to be moved to make room for his supplies, including
some woodworking tools and shelves of paint and veneer. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 One table in his shop is covered with sketches and drawings for future
projects. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Those familiar with Polascik's garage know that he'll always greet you
armed with two things: a smile and his favorite Mickey Mouse hat. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 And, if you're interested, he's usually willing to entertain you with his
latest joke. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Fun and games aside, Polascik now spends most of his time sanding, carving,
assembling and detailing his various creations. He takes pride in his results
with rare wood. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "When you can bring out the beauty is something like that, you don't feel
so bad about robbing Mother Nature of her tree." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 No two pieces are exactly alike. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "I hate to duplicate things, because then it's like you're mass producing,"
he said. "I like to keep them one-of-a-kind." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Polascik gives most of his works as gifts. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "It's like giving part of yourself." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Although the woods he uses are costly, Polascik said he would feel guilty
asking for an appropriate price. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 And the satisfaction of making someone happy brings a smile that "I don't
get working under the hood of a car," he said, adding, "unless, of course, I'm
making out the bill." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Polascik can't count the number of things he has made during the past year,
but some creations are permanently etched in his memory. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 There's the planter made of African rosewood- so rare that he had to wait
six months to get his hands on some. He carefully labored about 40 hours on
that production. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 And the fruit basket perched atop a nativity scene base cut from Baltic
birch. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Without a doubt, his pride and joy, the jewel of the collection, is the
miniature bench he made from bubinga, a heavy African rosewood often used for
expensive guitars. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 When not in the shop, Polascik still likes to keep busy with various
creative projects. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Before even entering Polascik's Hazleton home, visitors marvel at one of
his largest creations- a new front entranceway with picket fences and gates,
and painted wooden trellises. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 He redid his bathroom in marble and tile, and even added his own special
creation- an Egyptian pharaoh that lights up when the bathroom is occupied. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "It's King Tut. Get it? For the throne room?" &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 TIMES LEADER PHOTOS/PETE G. WILCOX &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 John `JJ' Polascik uses an electric jigsaw to cut out a pattern while
working in his Hazleton workshop. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Polascik displays some of the woodcrafts he's created. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 This design was made out of zebra wood by Polascik. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Woodworking Creative Outlet For Hazleton Man Turning From Auto Body Repair, John Polascik Has Made Home And Outdoor Wood Creations His New Passion