April, 2006 - Nr. 4
Dick reports...
Rustic Charms
Spring has sprung on the 20th of March and there is renewed hope for better things to come. Now that the temperatures are a little higher it is time to explore the rustic charms of the countryside around Toronto, especially to the north of the city - or better yet north of Brampton and north on Highway 10, or Heart Lake Road.
One of the first delights that should not be missed is Downey’s Farm Market and Winery. This is where you can find produce that is fresh, from their own or neighbouring farms, organic and not trucked in from Florida. But I am not going to dwell on the many wonderful things you can buy there at very reasonable prices, or the wonderful – award winning – fruit wines or the child-friendly environment. I have written about that many times before. The next great opportunity will be the Easter fest (see ad in the last issue) an ideal event for the children to enjoy, it comes complete with an Easter egg hunt, petting zoo, Easter Bunny, wagon rides and many other delights to fascinate city kids.
Up Heart Lake Road to Mayfield, East on Mayfield to Sandhill and Airport Road, turn left and continue on for a couple of clicks and you will find the Glen Echo Nursery "Where great ideas are growing", on the West side of the street. This is one of the most fantastic Nurseries and Garden Centres where competent and experiences staff can answer all your gardening or landscape design questions. This is especially important prior to the start of the growing season now. Browse in the most complete gift store one can imagine. Even if it is still a bit chilly outside, the store is heated and invites the visitor to stay a while. The white cat - that is at home there - loves to be petted and if you do it right, will roll over on its back so you can stroke her belly.
If you are thinking of spring gift ideas, giftware, glassware, pottery, statuary, candles or other gardening products visiting this exceptional leader in the field is a must – all year long! And if you want information on the dangers of the "Asian Long Horned Beetle" – this is also where you will find it and more pertinent gardening information.
Just as an example of a tour, if you continue north on Airport Road, you will pass other farmer’s markets, and when you get to the rustic village of ‘Caledon East’, visit the Einhorn store on the east side of the street and check out Volker’s luscious Belgian Chocolates, delectable Cheeses, Sauces and other gifts and delights for the discriminating and selective palate.
If you want to head in other directions, say along Steeles Avenue – going east towards the Rouge River Valley, you will reach Whittamore’s Farm Market at 8100 Steeles Avenue East, about 6 km east of Highway 48. They will be opening the market with Asparagus and Rhubarb in May. Watch this paper for picking times as soon as the first Strawberries become available.
But those are only a few destinations – just to get you started. These little rustic jewels are dotting the countryside and all have charms of their own - for you to discover.
Spring Concert at the Donauschwaben
It
was an exhilarating event played to a full house on Wednesday, March 29. It
started with the ‘Mooskirchner Band – after an introduction by Andy Mora –
with well-known tunes from the southern part of Germany, interspersed with
some hilarious stand-up comedy.
It
is Germany’s "Country" music, well known and well loved by most. During one
part of the performance I thought I heard a ‘Pan flute’. But it was only
Erich – as the lonely shepherd – skilfully playing a recorder. It was
magical! Some of the renditions were honoured with a standing ovation for
the quality of the performances, especially Charly with his masterful - out
of this world - trumpet solos.
Visitors
Next
on the agenda was 16-year-old Romy. Romana Dadlhuber, who hails from the
area around Passau, in Lower Bavaria. She
displayed
an exuberance, energy and talent way beyond her young years. She has a TV
Show in Germany and was also part of the "Musikantenstadl"
with
world-renown show master Karl Moik. She also maintained wonderful contact
with the audience at all times. It was exhilarating and the audience loved
her from start to finish.
During
the intermission, Christian Gebhardt, 17 years young and another great
talent, entertained with more popular hits from the old country. It appeared
that both of these youngsters have great careers waiting for them.
In
the last part of the show Edith Prock was the star. She is an accomplished
vocalist and wowed the audience with delightful renditions of songs from
Germany and Austria – especially Vienna – that awakened enjoyable
recollections in most of the
audience.
Her performance also garnered her a standing ovation that was well deserved
and freely offered by the grateful guests.
After
the next intermission the band played on till 1:00 am, when they immediately
went to Boston for the next evening’s performance. Next stop: Switzerland!
Have a nice trip!
Prinzessin Ball at the Donauschwaben Klub
This
is the 16th time this annual affair is staged for the Danube
Swabians to elect a Miss "Donauschwaben" – or Princess – for the coming
year. It is always one of the most festive occasions and the one the Youth
Group is looking forward to every spring. It is staged by and for the
benefit of the Youth Group as a means to raise funds for activities all
through the year. The hall was decorated to this year’s theme ‘Casino Night’
with very innovative table décor, even a number of poker chips on all the
tables. I think the idea came from the group’s trip to the Taj Mahal Casino
in Atlantic City.
The function of the new "Princess" would be to represent the
club at various functions during her reign as a "Goodwill Ambassador". Some
of these are the Kindertrachtenfest, Kindermaskenball, Landestrachtenfest,
Rosenball, Mother’s Day Banquet, Traubenfest,
Kirchweihfest,
Christmas Banquet, Kinderbescherung and similar events. Of course there is
still always "Oktoberfest" – since the Toronto International Caravan was
cancelled after 35 years in
June
last year and it does not look as if it would be revived.
It
was an exciting sight when the exquisitely gowned young ladies, and later on
their escorts, marched into the hall to a medley of waltzes by the ‘Golden
Keys’ from Kitchener.
Entering the Hall
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The reigning Miss Danube, Michelle Vincent, then gave an
account of her own and the group’s experiences in their travels throughout
the past year.
It was well received by the large audience. The icing on the cake was a
slide show of some of the – at times hilarious – events captured during
their trips that included Leamington, Disney World and the Trump Taj Mahal
Casino in Atlantic City.
"Our
trips really do help to spread information about our culture and traditions,
and as Miss Danube you are one of the chief instruments through which this
is achieved", she said in her address. She was also thanking the club for
the "huge amount of support from everyone". Her thanks went out to the
various members that helped substantially in the success of the Youth Group,
the Schanks, Mrs. Gubasta, Mrs. Motsch, the Betsch family and others, just
to name a few.
Then came the moment that everyone had been holding their
breath for: "The envelope please" said Henry Betsch, the new president of
the club, and after som
e
problem trying to wrestle it open he was able to announce the 1st
runner up ‘Natasha Szauter’, and after more struggles with another envelope,
‘Lisa Poos’ as the new Miss Danube 2006. The guests acknowledged this with
deafening applause.
After placing the tiara on Lisa Poos head, followed by flowers,
congratulations, hugs and photo opportunities, the new "Princess" opened the
floor with a first waltz.
An
address by the new president of the Youth Group, Annie Scully, and a
presentation of a plaque - with pictures of the group’s exploits - by her to
the club - that was gratefully received by Henry Betsch - were other
highlights of this colourful evening.
As always
Dick Altermann
Comments to: dick@echoworld.com
