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The Frohe Runde
German Christmas Market at the Maple Leaf-Almrausch Club
by Mary Krekeler
coming out to help.
The 2010 version of the Christmas Market at the All the tables from the Schenke had to be moved
Maple Leaf Almrausch Club, Ottawa, is over and up to the Europahalle and all the tables from the
once again it turned out to be more than we ever Europahalle had to be brought to the Schenke. The
imagined. It is hard to think that it can get better extra chairs had to be stowed away and when it was
each year but get better it does, and this year was all over the same thing happened again only in
no exception. We have again happily sent our reverse. Our Schuhplattlers are the ones who look
$500.00 contribution to the Heart and Stroke after this onerous chore. They are also the ones
Foundation.
who, over the course of the weekend constantly run
The Clubhouse was once again festooned in up and down the stairs serving our customers in the
Christmas finery thanks to our own Renate Grebler Schenke. Our Schuplattlers play a very important
and her wonderful designs. She was helped by role in the weekend and in their colourful costumes
Mary Triebe, Ingrid Strynzel, hubby Mike, Anne they are what people think of when they think
and Paul Strittmatter, Pat Kaefer and Helmut “German Club”. Many, Many thanks to Richard,
Kubicek. I was there for the final day of decorating Brenda, Noah and Bianca Nairne, Steve, Lyn, Ryan
when the top floor received it’s Christmas finery. and Amanda Volkmer, Erech and Ingrid Morrison,
The Club was glittering when Renate and her Irma and Paul Whynacht, Scarlet, Larissa and
Elves were finished.
Liam Russell, Heidi Rausch, Inge Henn, Robbie Mary Krekeler with daughter Wendy
Gruber, Helga Barr, Reinhard Bauer, Heather Bent, Anne-Marie Wallisch, Brigitte Gudauner, Christa
Kelly and Shaehan Corbell, Crystal Grant, Dean Rosinski, Elsbeth Fallak, Ingrid Brenning, Wilma
Terriah, Mark Jerabek and Maggie and Simone Jonke, Susi Scanlen, Connie Duck, Tina Scott and
Laflamme. Whatever would we do without you! Lorraine Reitenbach. Antje Engfeld provided
Gerti Gruber spent the entire weekend in her spot sweets as well as making the wonderful Gluewein
beside the bar in the Schenke selling and keeping over the course of the weekend. I understand that
track of the food tickets. Right beside her the bar Corrine Wallisch helped as well and I know it was
was manned for the whole weekend by Barry Exner
who comes every year. This year he was assisted
Monica Wallisch who prepared all of the wonderful
by Brad Barr on Friday evening, Werner
centerpieces for the tables in the Schenke. The
Bachhuber left the kitchen for the bar on Saturday Schenke looked and smelled wonderful.
and on Sunday Steve Volkmer stepped behind the It takes someone special to make sure that
bar. Paul Slominski pitched in to help keep up everything down there runs smoothly and makes
with the dirty glasses.
sure that the patrons all get seated. This is no mean
feat given that it seems like everyone wanted to eat
something. The lines at times were quite
unbelievable but I must say that everyone remained
in a good mood and though not happy with the wait
were satisfied that they would eventually be able to
get a seat. Many thanks go to Mike Grebler who
takes on this job every year. Unfortunately he was
called away on Saturday but Steve Volkmer
stepped in and all went smoothly.
Back upstairs Claudette Bachhuber and Christa
Peter Sowa with Melanie Pfennigs
Prutsch manned the tickets at the front door. It did
Wawel Bakery from Montreal
get very congested at times but it did not seem to be
a problem. The Club Table in the foyer was well
The Kitchen was a hive of activity starting
looked after by Renate Klose and Renate Grebler.
several days before the Market actually began. All
It is actually surprising how many people stop in
the Potato Salad, Red Cabbage, Sauerkraut, and the
various soups have to be prepared in advance. For
and look for more information about our Club.
almost a week before the Market began there was
Angie Kuehl with Ania Kwak Naturally we welcome all enquiries and do what we
someone in the kitchen working on preparations, Gingerbread Man Manotick Ont. can to get all the answers.
and there were trays of cutlery brought down to the The Cake and Coffee Counter was another very When the weekend is finally over and the time
Schenke on Monday evenings so that the ladies of busy place for the weekend. This is under the comes for all our vendors to pack up and head back
the shooting group could wrap everything in careful eye of Herta Bruder ably assisted by Karine home they need help in getting their goods back to
napkins getting ready for the big weekend. Slominski. These ladies make sure that there are their vehicles. This year there were several fellows
The kitchen was abuzz for days and in there at lots of sweets available over the course of the on hand to make it happen. I am not sure if I have
various times you could find Werner and Claudette weekend, and they do that by obtaining donations all the names but I did see Paul Strittmatter and his
Bachhuber, Heinz and Donna Buer, Christa of homemade cakes and tortes from people like son Markus loading out goods and moving tables,
Prutsch, Sandra Doak, Anne, Paul and Leslie Emmi Moll, Hannelore Hillebrand, Elfie Koehler, as well as Helmut Kubicek and Mike Grebler Jr.
Strittmatter, Helmut and Marianna Kubicek, Pat Inge Volkmer, Brigitte Dold, Ulla Robitschek, This is really a difficult job as some vendors have
Kaefer, Paul Slominski, Stephanie Grebler, Marion Gertrude Pandel, Hanni Lauten, Ricki Thierfeld, a long drive ahead of them and they want to get out
Birkenhead, Winfried Hillebrand , Uwe Spatling, Liesa Glades, Renate Grebler, Monika Profus, as quickly as possible. Thank you to these guys
Chris and his brother Phil Roth, and in front of the
sinks up to their elbows in dirty dishes and soap
Marianna Kubicek Edith Kuntz, Claudette
and to any others that may have been there as well
suds were Roy Engfield and Karl Dunker. Over the
Bauchhuber, Sandra Doak, Anne Sullivan, Hildi
but that I did not see.
course of the weekend you could also find Renate
Lehmann, Tilly Jerabek, Karl Dunker, Anne Mary Triebe and I organize this Market and we
Grebler and Mary Triebe in the kitchen helping out Strittmatter, Katie Kretzmer, Rosemary Koch, are very proud of what it has become. Mary and I
when the need arose. I think it was particularly Donna Buer, Luise Gruettner, Martha Froschhaur would like to thank everyone who has been
nice to see a couple of granddaughters helping out and Marilyn Keller. The following ladies not only
involved in this weekend, everyone has given it a
namely Leslie Strittmatter and Stephanie Grebler. supplied some of the cakes they also spent the
herculean effort and the results speak for
It is really wonderful to see the younger generation weekend dishing out the coffee and cakes:
themselves. Many thanks to one and all.
nd
Cake and Coffee Counter by Herta Bruder (2 from the left) and friends
18 The HBH News Jan / Feb / Mar / 2011