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HAPPENINGSRoyal Glamour at New York GalaScandinavian royalties and other heads-of-states joined for an historic gathering atthe Hilton Hotel in New York City. They were all in town to celebrate the Centennialof the American-Scandinavian Foundation. Read all about it at www.amscan.org orwww.nordstjernan.com HRH Queen Silvia of Sweden looked beautiful as always andespecially elegant in that violet ball gown! This event, with tickets starting at$500/person was on October 21st. The next day King Carl XVI Gustaf and QueenSilvia flew up to the still-Swedish community of Jamestown, New York. Children’sClub Thule Folkdancers performed in the royals’ presence and Queen Silvia joinedthem for “Små Grodorna.”Donna Johnson of Vasa Lodge Thule and three others received an award directlyfrom the King commemorating her 50 year membership with The Nordic Club, celebratingtheir own 100th anniversary. Coordinator of the Scandinavian Folk Festival inJamestown, Don Sandy received the Order of the Polar Star medal from the King ofSweden. Grattis! Don is also a member of Vasa Thule Lodge, accordionist for both theadult and children´s folkdance clubs in Jamestown, as well as a member of two musicalgroups Nordanvind and Svenska Spelmän. Wish New York City weren’t so highsociety – it would have been spectacular to have a chance to meet and greet our Kingand Queen on a more intimate venue. Kanske nästa gång!Submitted by: Jeanne Eriksson-Andersen, Chairman,Lindbergh Lodge #505, New York, -Jeanne/Dragspel@aol.comSource: Sweden TodayTranströmer Wins Nobel Prize in LiteratureSwedish poet Tomas Tranströmer has won the 2011 Nobel Prize in Literature. Theacademy said it awarded the 80-year-oldpoet “because, through his condensed translucentimages, he gives us fresh access to reality.” Born in 1931 in Stockholm,Tranströmer is a poet, translator and psychologist, who have been translated into 50languages. The child of divorced parents, Tranströmer studied at Soda Latin inStockholm and graduated as a psychologist from Stockholm University in 1956. Hebegan writing early, at age 13 and published his first collection of poems in 1954 titled“17 dikter” (Seventeen poems).His work, though, lies within and further develops the Modernist andExpressionist/Surrealist language of 20th century poetry; his clear, seemingly simplepictures from everyday life and nature in particular reveals a mystic insight into theuniversal aspects of the human mind. Tranströmer is a close friend of the Americanpoet Robert Bly and their correspondence has been published in the book “Air Mail.”In 1990, Tranströmer suffered a stroke that affects his speech, but he continues towrite. Tranströmer has in the past been mentioned as a candidate for the Nobel Prizein Literature, and is considered one of Sweden's foremost poets. In addition to hiswork as a writer, Tranströmer was also a respected psychologist before he had hisstroke. He worked in juvenile prisons, and with disabled, convicts, and drug addicts.He is also a pianist, something he has been able to continue after his stroke, albeit withone hand. Here are a few lines describing a forest from one of Tranströmer’s poemsfrom the book “Dikter” 1985.“… Skogen är tysta övergivna lokaler så här års.Bara några få slags ljud: som om någon flyttadekvistarförsiktigt med en pincetteller ett gångjärn som gnyr svagt inne i en tjock stam.”This is the first time since 1974 a Swede has been awarded the prize (HarryMartinsson and Eyvind Johnsson shared the honor that year).Submitted by: Carol Blackwell, Phoenix Lodge #677New Jersey Vasa ParkCelebrates 75Wonderful YearsEven though the official festivities werenot to begin until Saturday, August 27th,parties started Friday afternoon as District#6 New Jersey members from far and widedescended on Vasa Park in Budd Lake.Gatherings at the summer cabins Fridayafternoon, prior to the weekly Friday nightdinner, found old friends getting togetherjust like old times. After dinner folks lingeredon the patio late into the night sharingphotos and memories of their years at thePark.Unfortunately the threat of hurricaneIrene kept some folks away on Saturday,but the majority of those who had beenlooking forward to this day for nearly ayear, braved the stormy weather. And theywere glad they did! Members from as faraway as California, Utah and Coloradomade the trip. License plates from NJ, NY,CT, PA, MO, NC, TN and FL were in ourparking lot along with a bus load of Swedesthat happened to be visiting NYC.The entrance fee to the Park was twentyfivecents. Not only did that modest sumgain you entry, and a commemorative journalbut also tickets for either a hamburgeror hot dog platter and a free soft drink.Remember when you could actually getsomething great for a quarter?The opening ceremonies on Saturdaydedicated 657 new memorial plaques bearingthe names of our Vasa members whoare now departed. This monumental undertakingwas completed by our Vice DistrictMaster Kevin De Feo with assistance fromhis wife Elve and daughter Emily. The newname plates are laser etched on materialthat will be weather resistant and will holdup for many generations to come. It is abeautiful memorial to those who helpedbuild Vasa Park.A presentation was then made by ourDistrict Master Jack Hanright. He and hiswife Inger unveiled the rune stone they createdfor Vasa Park along with their sonPatrick. It stands proudly next to the carvedwooden Viking outside the Cultural Center.Jack explained that he selected the stonefrom an old stone wall on Park property. Itcould barely be lifted by a front-end loader.He reduced its size and chiseled it into ashape that is reminiscent of the rune stonesContinued on next pagePage 26 www.vasaorder.com Vasa Star October-December 2011