Despite not always happy news in our community we all marched on with the festivities at hand and celebrated our customs as always. We were not able to attend everything but have a few choice occasions to report on.

The Danube Swabian Club in Scarborough had a busy December. We heard that the Christmas Show was yet another unqualified success with fabulous performances. (This is a good place for me to remind our readers and community organisers that his is your community publication. We cannot be everywhere. Thus it is a good idea if you have photos or something noteworthy to report to contacts us about it to enhance the coverage for your event. You can make comments or send us pictures. That would be wonderful! We will work it into our coverage.)

The New Year’s Eve Gala was just that: a memorable gala with a winter wonderland scenic feeling created by snowflakes and festive light decorations. For a reception starter there was finger food and punch, which was followed at the sit-down dinner with fancy soup, salad, steak and shrimps as well as a very delicious Mango desert. There was nothing but praise to be heard from the guests, who danced the night away till 1 am to the musical musings of Peter Beck and his band.

Unfortunately we have no photos to show you just how wonderful it really was.

New Year’s Eve Celebration at the Hansa House

Also billed as a gala it had all the earmarks of the friendly atmosphere we are so used to at the club. President Robert Gutwein and his board are slowly trying to implement a few gentle changes to the old traditional trimmings, some of which are very successful and others are going to undergo further alterations. Thus club life will adjust itself to current needs.

In his welcoming speech he pointed out that the club is what all of us make it to be. It is a matter of participation, of communication, and the dedication of those that do the work. He is correct; it is what we make it. Therefore we must communicate when it counts to the correct terminals if we have ideas for change and/or improvements.

Thus we like to mention, like Mr. Gutwein, who the hard working members of the board are, ready to be contacted by you in their capacity: Ekko Hildebrandt VP; Boe Hladysh, Treasurer; Gerhard Fuellert, Membership Director; Fred Kothleitner, Maintenance Director; Klaus Novak, Director and Bar Manager, Barbara Bunge, Director. All but Ms. Bunge were present and presiding over a table of happy revellers.

...in good company

The food that came from the kitchen family style tasted well even though it was a bit different from the usual fare. I think food is always a work of art in progress and never pleases all the people all the time. To begin with there was a generous helping of antipasto on every table, followed by salad, a main dish with green beans and two types of meet and potato and of course a dessert of Tiramisu. There was a choice of red or white wine.

The Matt Lebar Ensemble

The great hall was nicely decorated, as usual, and the Matt Lebar Ensemble enchanted everyone with the great musicianship of each member. That trumpet player…I am telling you…fantastic!

Dancing into the New Year with Matt Lebar

The rest of the evening was devoted to dancing to Matt Lebar’s Ensemble and visiting with friends. The upstairs Stube was not as busy as in the past, but had equally nice atmosphere with a DJ.

...3...2...1...

And when the final moment came to the countdown of the old year there was much cheering at the appropriate time when all the balloons came tumbling down. Lots of well-wishing and hugs and kisses were exchanged with champagne toasts.

Happy New Year!

After all that celebrating no one could just go home. A Goulash soup was distributed on every table that smelled heavenly. We did not stick around for that, having to go all the way to Toronto.

Robert Gutwein’s wish for everyone to come back next year will surely be fulfilled and hopefully all other New Year’s wishes and plans will also come to fruition!

Happy New Year!

Sybille Forster-Rentmeister