October 2003 - Nr. 10
Dick reports...
They all call it Canada…
…but I call it "Home"!
With that song, by 21 voices, this multi-talented group of gifted performers of the Szauter Family and the "Forget-me-nots" concluded their performance at the Danube Swabian Club – as they have at previous concerts and 14 concerts in Europe and the USA.
I think I should mention that the large and appreciative audience awarded a standing ovation to the artists after this performance.
This
was truly a "variety" evening that started with a Dolly Parton imitation,
carried on with clogging, dancing, original Viennese Schrammel music - two
violins, one guitar and one other instrument of choice – plus Blue Gras and
Gospel music. The palette of
entertainment
presented was different from performances most of the audience had
previously enjoyed. The group has an amazing repertoire to choose from, so I
was informed and they keep demonstrating this again and again.
Most
of the performers play a variety of instruments including the "Zither" and
the "Hackbrett" (Remembered by most as originating with Gypsy music) and
other contemporary instruments. This made for a wonderful variety in the
sounds of the various musical deliveries, thereby assuring great
appreciation and entertainment for the many music-lovers in the audience.
Ingrid
Szauter, the matriarch of the family, had the organization of the event well
in hand, functioning partly as MC and performing with the group at other
times.
Since there was no admission charged for the performance, a collection basket was passed around for possible donations. Over $1,100.00 were collected and presented to the group by Adam Rendl, who represented the club’s president this evening. Need I say more?
Up, up and away…
…’up, up’ refers to the huge kites and ‘away’ to the surfers in wetsuits that are attached to the other end of the kite’s lines.
All
this happened at Cherry Beach recently when I went there to see some kites
flying in the breeze. I was not prepared for the kite-surfers that I found
there. I was watching one fellow flying his kite from the beach, and
wondered why he had a surfboard clamped between his legs. Then – as he moved
closer to the water – I realized that he was going into the lake to surf,
pulled by the kite flying above him.
I
didn’t know that sport existed and subsequently – after I got home – I went
on the Internet to get more info on "Kite surfing". Lo and behold there was
more information than I had anticipated.
Apparently
this sport started a few year ago in the Rhineland, moved to the Baltic Sea
and from there around the world to as far away as Hawaii and New Zealand.
The kites come in many varieties and sizes also. There are ‘ram-air’ kites
that work similar to the parasails skydivers use. Other can be blown up –
either with air, nitrogen or CO2 - to give them strength and stability. As I
watched the surfers on Lake Ontario I also noticed that an experienced
surfer could manoeuvre them quite a bit within the available wind area. It
sure looked like fun and wearing a wetsuit would protect one from the cold
water of the lake.
If you would like to know more about it, type "Kite
surfing" into your browser and hit "search". You will also be as surprised
as I was when I did this – unless you already know all about it.
German Mills Settlers Park
It’s new – it’s big – and it’s Markham’s! After a four-year struggle and a lot of political finagling, concession between the region and the various municipalities, fund raisers and a lot of discussions and phone calls it finally came to fruition.
The original area where in 1794 William ‘Moll’ Berczy settled the first 64 families, who had worked at clearing Yonge Street as far north as Bond Lake, and cut a road across what is now Bond Street, as far as the Don River - before they could get on their land - is now going to be one wonderful park along the Don River.
As Lorne Smith, Markham’s historian tells the story, these settlers established a foundry to manufacture farm implements and it is believed that the millstones for the gristmill and other heavy equipment was floated up the Don River from York.
John Street was the first road the German "Berczy" settlers cut from Yonge Street and it naturally became the main route from the interior of Markham Township to York. Produce, people and supplies traveled through German Mills every day and it soon became the first major centre of commerce in what is now the town of Markham.
Some of the first commercial enterprises were the gristmill, mentioned above, a sawmill, a brew house, a distillery and more. The waterpower of the Don River had to provide power for the commercial establishments
Through the efforts of Erin Shapero, Ward 2, and a lot of helpers, the 1.8-acre area fronting on German Mills Road, north of the 1874 Schoolhouse has been added to German Mills Settlers Park. This area had been slated for development and was a serious obstacle to the realization of the "Friends of German Mills Settlers Park", Evergreen Common Ground, and many other interested groups and individuals, in the park.
The celebration at the old Schoolhouse - now a childcare
centre - was presided over by Markham’s Deputy Mayor Frank Scarpitti, who
addressed the many guests and related some of the background of the
problems, surrounding the acquisition of the area in question, and how -
after four years of concerted efforts - they were solved.
Other
congratulatory messages and an unveiling of a memorial plaque – a
contribution of the Historical Society of Mecklenburg Upper
Canada,
represented by the president Christian Jürgen Klein and several other
members, followed this address.
The guests were also treated to hamburgers, hot dogs, ice
cream and soft drinks to make this event even more festive.
Detailed maps and p
hotos of the proposed new park area were
also on display and intensively studied by many of the visitors.
Congratulations, Markham!
Oktoberfest Season
It started at the sold-out Hansa Haus first. Not really a surprise, since the Harmonie Brass was doing its usual best to get the guests ‘in the mood’, so to speak.
Another attraction is the legendary reputation of the Hansa
kitchen and the variety of delightful choices of great meals. The
well-stocked bar made sure that there was something cold, for everyone’s
taste, available.
The Schuhplattler groups, Weiss-Blau Bayern and the
Volkstanzgruppe Almrausch, provided entertainment.
When the ‘Juniors’, after
their performance, did their ‘bell-ringing’ show, the applause following it
showed that this performance was really appreciated by the audience.
Next in line was the Oktoberfest at the Ray Twinney Centre,
hosted by the German Canadian Club – Newmarket. This is a three-day event in
the ice-hockey arena of the Centre where a wooden floor is covering the ice.
It traditionally starts on a Friday and ends on Sunday. This year they had
the best Friday ever, I was informed and the rest of the days were great
also. But why shouldn’t it be? It’s the only game in town.
This year Karlsberg and Beck beers were offered – quite a change from Molson that had been offered in the past.
The food was catered by "Chef’s Selection" from Newmarket
and featured bratwurst and schnitzel dinners – with sauerkraut of course.
Well presented and very tasty, I might add. For desert: tasty apple strudel
and other pastries to go with the coffee.
The Golden Keys from Kitchener provided the musical
background with popular seasonally adjusted selections geared to the
audience – even the "Chicken Dance" for the kids in the audience.
Pretzels, beer nuts, a wine & schnapps bar, arts & craft
booth and other entertainment booths completed the traditional Oktoberfest
layout of the arena.
This year Mary and Ernie Molkthin were the official
"Greeters" to welcome the visitors to the event. I asked Klaus Wagner, the
club’s president, why we don’t hear more of the club. "We have a great club"
he pointed out and showed me the events listed in the club’s Newsletter,
"but the only event, where we invite the public, is this Oktoberfest".
Next stop was the "Donauschwaben (Danube Swabian) Club" in
Scarborough. The highlight of this event was the visit by the "Original
Bregtal Express" from the Black Forest. This seven-man band decided on a
North American visit and performed at another event in Delaware earlier this
month.
Wonderful
‘evergreens’ and some contemporary hits were on their very well executed
repertoire. The audience loved everything they played, judging by the
permanently crowded dance floor.
The club had to add three more tables to accommodate all the
visitors that had showed up. Some of the special guests present on Saturday
evening were Tom Jakobek, who is running for mayor in Toronto, and Brad
Duguid, (Lib.) who is running against long-term supporter of the club,
Marilyn Mushinski, M.P.P. (PC) in the coming provincial election.
Wonderful food selections were offered – including my favourites: stuffed peppers.
The traditional Oktoberfest pretzels found many lovers and a
variety of beers and other delightful beverages were available to wash them
down.
The next big event is the Oktoberfest in Kitchener. That is an event that usually no one in Kitchener and many other visitors from around the continent and the rest of the world ever miss.
Also on the horizon is the traditional Bayern Club Oktoberfest on the 25th of October in the St. Peter & Paul Hall in Scarborough. See you there!
As always
Dick Altermann
Comments to: dick@echoworld.com
