September 2007 Newsletter

Summerfest Sizzles

SLFC food sales at the Saline Summerfest were brisk on Friday vening and steady on Saturday during Saline’s Summerfest on August 10 & 11.  We took in over $1,100, and our net profit was just shy of $900 thanks to many welcome food donations and lots of volunteer help. We also sold 44 raffle tickets for the Charm quilt made by Dee Taylor and MaryJo Nehring to be raffled at Oktoberfest (tickets $5/each – photo on website).  A big “Thank You” to all who helped during the two-day Summerfest event.

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German October Visit Nears

Twenty-five visitors from Lindenberg will arrive in Saline on the afternoon of Wednesday, October 3. Many activities are planned for our guests and the host families, however all SLF members are invited to attend the Welcome Ceremony at City Hall on October 4 (6:00 pm); Oktoberfest on October 6 ($20/person – Tri-County), and the Farewell Dinner on October 12 at 6 pm ($10/person – American Legion). Activities include an informal welcome at Mac’s the evening of their arrival; tours of Liebherr, Scherer-Trier, the new high school & other Saline sites; day-trip to Grand Rapids for lunch & to visit Frederik Meijer Gardens; an evening at the harness races in Toledo; a day in Detroit to tour Detroit Opera House and Fox Theater (or Comerica Park and/or Ford Field); and a 2-day trip to Niagara Falls on October 9 & 10, which includes a Maid of the Mist ride. We hope you can join us at the Welcome Ceremony, Oktoberfest, and/or the Farewell Dinner.

 

Oktoberfest 2007

Plans are being finalized for Oktoberfest to be held Saturday, October 6, at the Tri-County Sportsman’s Club. Seating will begin at 5:30 p.m. with dinner served from 6 - 8 p.m. Entertainment will be The Fiddlers Restrung from 6:15- 7:00 p.m., and The Vagabonds from 8:00 p.m. to midnight for everyone’s dancing pleasure. The quilt raffle – tickets are still available – and a Live Auction will be held between 7 and 8 p.m. We are in need of appropriate items for the auction: please contact Audrey Barkel (429-2328) asap to donate an auction item. Only 250 dinner tickets are available, including those reserved for our German guests. Dinner tickets are $20/person and can be purchased from any Board member.

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2007 Christkindlmarket

This year’s Christkindlmarket will be held December 1, and will again feature vendors selling Christmas-related merchandise.  Along with the JC Glühwein tent, a SLFC food booth and bake sale will be held throughout the day, with the Saline Holiday Parade taking place that evening. Marianne Kozma (429-7225) and Audrey (429-2328) are taking the lead on this event. To HELP PLAN or PARTICIPATE in this event, or if you know any vendors who might be interested in joining us, contact either Marianne or Audrey asap. The next planning committee meeting is September 24 at 7:00 p.m. at Audrey’s house.

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GAPP

Sixteen Saline High School Students traveled to Lindenberg from June 15 - July 10 for this year’s GAPP exchange. SHS German teacher Bettina Hoops and her husband Peter Beardsley, with their daughter Katharina, led the visit, and Jim Roth went along to help keep tabs on the students. It was a successful and memorable trip for all.  Students from Lindenberg will visit here next in October 2008.

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SLFC Website

Be sure to check our website, which is updated frequently by Bruce Westlake. Photos of recent events and activities are regularly posted, as well as information about upcoming events. (You do have to sign up for a no-cost membership in order view photos.) The website is:

http://salinesistercity.org/

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Saline Fair Info Booth

Look for us at the Saline Fair! Plans are being made to set up an information booth about SLFC at this year’s Saline Fair in September.

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Stammtisch

Remember: Stammtisch meets the third Thursday of every month at Mac’s Restaurant in Saline at 7:00 p.m. Everyone is welcome! Next Stammtisch will be September 20.

Germans to Visit in October

he exact number is not yet known, but so far 24 visitors from Lindenberg are planning to come to Saline in October.  Their arrival date is Wednesday, October 3, and most will return to Germany on Saturday, October 13.  If you haven’t made your availability known and wish to serve as a host family, contact Jack Ceo at 429-1208 to add your name to the list.

      The SLFC Board has been busy planning activities for their visit. An informal welcome will be held at Mac’s the evening of their arrival followed by a formal welcoming ceremony at City Hall on October 4. Events planned include tours of Liebherr, Scherer-Trier and the new high school; a day trip to the west side of the state with a stop at Frederik Meijer Gardens near Grand Rapids; an evening at the horse races in Toledo, and dinner at Jerry’s Pub on Wampler’s Lake. 

      Our visitors have also asked us to arrange a trip to Niagara Falls, which will take place on October 9 & 10 for $152 per person, which includes transportation, one night’s lodging, and the Maid of the Mist tour boat.  Call Dick Nehring (429-4618) for additional information.

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Oktoberfest 2007

ktoberfest 2007 will take place on Saturday, October 6, at the Tri-County Sportsman’s Club where it has been held the past couple of years.  Seating will begin at 5:30 p.m. with dinner served from 6 - 8 p.m.  Entertainment will be The Fiddlers Restrung from 6:15-7:00 p.m. and The Vagabonds from 8:00 p.m. to midnight for your dancing pleasure.  A Live Auction will be held between 7 and 8 p.m.  To donate items for the auction, please contact Audrey Barkel at 429-2328.

      Attendance will be limited to 250 people, and the Board has voted not to reserve tables.

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Christkindlmarket 2007

iscussions and plans are underway for this year’s Christkindlmarket to be held Dec-ember 1^st along with other events and the annual Saline Holiday Parade that evening.  Marianne Kozma and Audrey Barkel are again taking the lead in planning this event, which was a huge success last year.  The first meeting of the Christkindlmarket Committee is scheduled for June 18^th at 7:00 p.m. at Audrey’s house.  Contact either Marianne or Audrey if you want to help in planning for this event.

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GAPP

ifteen or 16 Saline High School Students will travel to Linden-berg for eight weeks as part of this year’s German-American Partner-ship Program (GAPP).  The stu-dents will again be led by German teacher Bettina Hoops and her hus-band Peter Beardsley (along with their daughter Katharina). Jim Roth is going along to help keep tabs on the students.  The students depart June 15 for Lindenberg and return to Saline on July 10.

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SLFC Website

ruce Westlake is our webmaster and regularly posts photos of interest to members on the website.  The one drawback of our current website is that you have to sign up for a membership in order view photos – however there’s no cost.  Alternatives are being explored. The website is: http://salinesistercity.org/  

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 “Big Band” a Success

ur community recently hosted a group of students from the Lindenberg Big Band.  Twenty-four high school students stayed with local families and performed at various “play dates” in Ann Arbor and Saline.  It was considered a great success by all involved thanks in large part to Jim & Joan Roth!

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Saline Summerfest

Saline Summerfest is scheduled for August 10 & 11, and SLFC is planning to staff a food booth to sell brats, hot dogs and sauerkraut as we did last summer.  We will also add bake sale goods to augment our fund raising efforts based on the success we enjoyed at last year’s Christkinlmarket.  Contact Dick, Jack, or Audrey to offer your help.

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Saline Fair Info Booth

Plans are being made to set up an information booth about SLFC at this year’s Saline Fair in September.

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Stammtisch

emember that Stammtisch meets the 3^rd Thursday of every month at Mac’s Restaurant in Saline at 7:00 p.m.  Everyone is welcome!