Aus langem Winterschlaf erwacht
Scheint endlich die Natur,
Der Rauhreif hat noch über Nacht
Gezogen seine Spur.

Die grauen Nebel schweben noch
Gespensterhaft durchs Tal,
Verflüchten sich am Morgen doch
Beim ersten Sonnenstrahl.

Aus brauner Erde lugen vor
Schneeglöckchen und Anemonen
Die Vögel zwitschern früh im Chor
Hoch in der Bäume Kronen.

Die ersten Triebe spriessen zart
am wilden Strauchgeäst.
Forsythien blühen ganz apart
Zum nahen Osterfest.

by Angela Kramberich

JAM SESSION: “THE BUTTON BOXES RETURN!”

From 7:00 to 11:00 p.m. Dinner served from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.

• Broiled Cod with Lemon Butter sauce — $14.95
• Ginger Snap crusted Pork Chop — $14.95
• Almond Schnitzel — $13.95
• Sauerbraten — $14.95

All dinners include Salad, Vegetables, Potatoes, Bread and Butter. Tea, coffee and dessert extra. Soup $1.50 per cup and $2.25 per bowl. Potato Pancake three for $1.75.

Your table is reserved until 15 minutes after your reservation time. Should you run late, we kindly ask that you notify us by phone. Past 15 minutes we cannot guarantee your table

Thank you,
Teutonia Staff

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NOTICE: DRESS CODE STRICTLY ENFORCED!

Please read your House Rules and dress accordingly. For upstairs events a shirt with a collar, dress pants and a suit coat are required attire. No Jeans or Tennis shoes.

SOILED WORKCLOTHES, WORKBOOTS, AND BLUE JEANS ARE NOT ALLOWED TO BE WORN AFTER 7:00 PM ON SATURDAYS IN THE RATSKELLER AND UPSTAIRS!!!

Ethnic attire is always appropriate for upstairs and downstairs. MEMBERS, PLEASE INFORM YOUR GUESTS OF THESE HOUSE RULES TO SAVE EMBARRASSMENT!

Member Ed Prem plays his accordion every first Friday of the month during lunch!

NOTICE: Due to increased emphasis on complying with the PENNSYLVANIA LIQUOR CONTROL BOARD it is necessary for all members to carry and utilize their membership cards when entering the club at all times. Please be prepared to show your membership card when asked, as our staff will be responsible for verifying all memberships.

Also, all patrons of a licensee shall be required to leave that part of the premises habitually used for the serving of liquor or malt brewed beverages to guests or patrons not later than one half hour after the stated closing time, according to LBC code section 4-499.

Your cooperation and understanding in this matter is appreciated and essential for private club compliance.

Thank you,
The Board of Teutonia Männerchor

———–

• CLUB SMOKING AND NON- SMOKING POLICY
• THE UPSTAIRS SINGER HALL IS SMOKE FREE.
• THE RATSKELLER BAR AREA SMOKING IS ALLOWED.
• THE RATSKELLER DINING AREA WILL BE SMOKE FREE WHEN FOOD IS BEING SERVED.
• THE WHOLE RATSKELLER WILL BE SMOKE FREE, IF THE AREA IS BEING RENTED BY AN OUTSIDE PARTY.

Visiting will be the Easter bunny with a present for each child and clowns making balloon animals for the children. Each child will also receive a ticket for a free hot dog with French fries and a drink.

Roast beef and pork sandwiches are available for $7.00 in the kitchen.

PLEASE REGISTER THE CHILDREN BY MARCH 24, 012. Please call the club @ (412) 231-9141 or just send an E-mail to mannerchor1@aol.com.

Teutonia Children’s Easter Party

• Name of member:
• Member Number:
• Telephone No.
• Names and Ages of children:

We are little over half of what we collected in our previous drives. We are asking once again for the help of our 2,000 members who have not responded. This is a very important drive and the money is seriously needed and will be well spent and held accountable.

Thank you from the Board of Directors

Life member Herman W. Rieck went to his heavenly reward on February 3, 2012 at age 90. Herman was an active member of Teutonia since 1977 when he joined the club. He served as Sergeant of Arms on the Board under the presidency of Otto Schneider. He and his wife attended Schlachtfeste, picnics and many events at the Teutonia Männerchor as he was very interested in his German heritage and culture.

Life Member Edwin R. Reinhart passed away on January 16, 2012. He was a member since 1981.

George Tunstall left this earth suddenly on February 6, 2012. He was a member since 2008 and was an avid “66” league card player.

Our deepest sympathy goes out to the Rieck, Reinhart, Cimoch and Tunstill families.

In old picture albums you see the girls with their long braids, or what we called a Hahnekamm, (rooster comb), or a bob with a giant bow in your hair and the boys with haircuts that reminded you of a bowl cut. When you explain these pictures to the grandchildren of these modern days they look at you, and you know they want to bust out laughing. An old school picture shows the third grade with a very serious lady teacher and all the boys and girls with their Brottaschen (bread satchel) hanging around their neck. There were no cooled, refrigeration packs. We just carried our sandwich, and maybe an apple wrapped in wax paper around until it was time to eat it.

Most people did not have refrigerators and kept milk and things, which could spoil on the basement steps or in a Speisekammer (Larder) that was kept very cool. Our older sisters and brothers sometimes painted the Easter eggs with watercolors.

They also made little vases out of eggs my mother used for baking. They would be carefully emptied by just cutting the top off, thoroughly cleaned out and three or four dried beans glued to the bottom. Then they were dipped in gold or silver paint and dried. On Easter morning, they were put by each place setting filled with water and little flowers like snowdrops, daffodils or violets, whatever was in bloom. This made a beautiful, but inexpensive decoration.

First grade also started in the spring at Easter time. One custom in Germany for first graders was the Zuckertüten. They are cone-like beautifully decorated containers with crepe paper on the top. Every first grader on their first day of school is given one of those, some huge, some smaller and very small ones for younger siblings. The legend is told that the Zuckertütenbaum (the cone tree, featured in the image to the right) grows in the school cellar just for all the six year olds. But the parents bring them to school, while no one is watching.

Remembering my first day of school, my cone was green and silver and of medium size, but the little girl beside me had such a huge one, she could hardly manage to hold it. It had a huge chocolate bunny looking out of the top. The cones were filled with little toys, pencils and sweets. I found out the girl’s name was Hildegard Bock and when she switched her cone from one arm to the other the big chocolate bunny fell out. I helped her pick up the pieces and we ate them all up together. So began a deep friendship, that first day of school. Hildegard and I, even though two continents apart, are keeping up that 74-year old friendship. These kinds of stories are great to share with your grandchildren and teach them how it was then, a much gentler time.

Christel van Maurik

February was the month were the “Narren” ruled Teutonia. Starting with the Kappenabend which had many Teutonians wearing some of the most original and funny hats. Bill Dorfner III got things started with some fine singing lead by Willi Banzhaf. As the evening progressed this group became known as the “Four Bills” with Bill Sr., Bill Jr. Bill III Dorfner and Bill Banzhaf having the revelers singing the old Karneval Lieder. Bill Sr. said it was the best time in years everyone had.

On Saturday, February 18th, The Teutonia Faschingsball was attended by more Costumed Teutonians for some time. Attendance also was up from last year, but still needs more support from our Members. About 150 attended the evening and we hope that we can improve on the attendance in the coming years. The Peter Karsti Band got everyone in the Fasching Spirit and led the Revelers in the Parade with the three Judges leading the parade in Taxedo and Top Hats with Willi Banzhaf, John Erskine and Andy Costigan. The newly crowned 2012 Teutonia Karneval Prinz Brandon the First and his lovely Lady Prinzessin Renee followed and behind them the many costumed partipants. The three Judges had a tuff time selecting the winners but came up with the most beautiful couple dressed in Venitian Costume, Martin and Ursela Gerhard. The prize for the best couple went to Jim and Karin Liebmann dressed as a Scotsman and his Lassy. The most Original prize went to Beth and Rob Wehr as a Mounaineer Couple. The Funniest prize went to Bill and Tania Dorfner dressed as “Kartoffel Köpfe” Potato Heads. The best group of the evening was the Ladies in Pink and Escorts in Leather Jackets. Don “Juan” Smith, Alex “the cat” Ruggiero, Tom “Elvis” Englert, Jim “Big Beloa” McGivern, Marina “Frenchy” Ruggerio, “Sandra D” Kim Wright, “Marty” Amber Wright, Bridgette “Rizzo” Mackenzie, “Baby” Aubrianna Kechmar. All received a fine bottle of wine for their efforts. We also awarded several more prizes for exceptional fine custumes with one of our new Teutonia Souvenier Glasses. As you can see in our picture above the evening was a uge success and we hope that next yeaRS Fasching Season will bring even more Teutonians to this Annual German Karneval/Faschings Ball.

WB

Rita Mueller and her family are overwhelmed by the many Building Fund donations in memory of her late husband Eberhard Muelller. They would have liked to send personal thank you notes, but do not know some of the addresses. So they would like to thank everyone for their generosity this way and tell you how appreciative they are.

Birthdays in March are celebrated by: Loretta Diehl; Betty Freehling; Kathy Hinsman; Ingeborg Loulis; Richard Browning; John Erskine; Kurt Mueller; Keith Stewart; Robert Stimmler; Frank Yund and Leo Sweeney.

To everyone a very happy Birthday, good health and our very best wishes.

If you would like to make reservations for the Heimatabend on March 24th please call Alice Weinbrenner at 412-821-6063.

It is usually an event that is heavily attended and life members and their guests are advised to make their reservations early on and state their and their guest’s choice of dinner for that day.

Please let the club know about any members having a birthday, birth or death in the families so that it can be mentioned in the club’s newsletter.

This notice is to the members who were used to having dancing upstairs after the Schlachtfest all these years. Lately the club had just a few people taking advantage of this added event to the Schlachtfest and it is now not cost-effective to hire a band. We will still have our Schlachtfest however.