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St. John United Church of Christ is sponsoring the eighth annual
celebration with a traditional German meal on Oct. 21. Proceeds go
to Mom and Me Camp at Lincoln Correctional Center, Back Bay Mission,
Share Pregnancy and Infant Loss Support, and Church World Service
Disaster Relief Fund. The Alley Kats, entertaining at Germanfest
for the second year, are under the direction of electronic accordion
player Terry J. Dutko of Granite City, who organized the dance band
over 20 years ago. Tom Roussin at sax, clarinet, flute and piccolo
as well as vocals has been with the group around 17 years; he hails
from St. Louis. Drummer Stan Soboleski of Fenton, Mo., joined over a
decade ago. And Dan Franke of Belleville and Dallas Blair of
Clayton, Mo., completed the current lineup about four years ago.
Franke is featured at guitar and Blair on the trumpet; both also
contribute vocals.
Festivities take place from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 21 and center
around the church parking lot at the corner of Eighth and Maple
streets in Lincoln. Two large tents will go up on Oct. 20. One will
house the band and dance floor. The other will be home to the
serving line and dining tables.
Drive-through and delivery service are both available for the
German meal, which features bratwurst, red cabbage, German potato
salad, sauerkraut, applesauce, and choice of apple strudel, German
chocolate cake or angel food cake. Drink choices are apple cider,
lemonade, tea and coffee.
Cost is $7 per meal; children under 6 eat free. Tickets are
available from church members and at the door. Drive-through lanes
enter through the parking lot at Springfield Clinic on Eighth
Street. Free delivery in town is available with an order of six or
more pre-paid tickets by calling 732-6957.
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Also in the tent area is a new feature this year, a silent
auction sponsored by the church Charity Guild. Auction goods are
donated by local businesses and individuals and include restaurant
gift certificates, dinner theater tickets and handmade items.
Savings bonds, a lube and oil change, handbags, florals, glass
items, and an afghan are up for bids. Proceeds from the silent
auction go to local charities, including Habitat for Humanity.
One cooking procedure is also new at this year's Germanfest.
Whereas the red cabbage has always been prepared in a collective
effort and the apple strudel was done so last year, the German
potato salad has previously been made by about 20 different cooks in
their own kitchens and then brought in on the day of the feast. This
year the cooks will gather in the church kitchen to make the potato
salad the Thursday and Friday before. Carolyn Pech of Lincoln,
Germanfest co-chair, said, "It works so well for the cabbage and
strudel, we decided to see if it would work for the potatoes. That
way we get to spend time together and the recipe is exactly the
same." Wayne Mara of Lincoln is also co-chair.
During the festivities and for about a month afterward, gifts and
decorative items from A Greater Gift, a division of SERRV
International, will be available for purchase in the church
fellowship hall. An alternative trade and development organization,
SERRV works with more than 90 groups in 34 countries, including five
impoverished regions of the United States. A Greater Gift suppliers
follow internationally accepted fair trade practices, including
equal opportunities for women, no exploitative child labor, employee
involvement in decision-making, concern for the environment, respect
for cultural identity, healthy working conditions and fair pay.
Items available for purchase include toys, musical instruments,
jewelry, foods, baskets, and other gifts and articles of home decor.
[News release] |
