Submitted by Rob Hiscott
The first annual Oktoberfest community event held at Rotary Hall on Saturday, October 14th was a great success with a large enthusiastic turnout from the community! Rotary thanks everyone who came out during the day and evening portions of Oktoberfest! This event was sponsored by our local Rotary Club and Tagwerk Beer. Based on the enthusiastic response to this first event from the community, Rotary hopes to hold a Second Annual Oktoberfest around the same time next year!
The afternoon portion of Oktoberfest featured an entertaining Tae kwon do martial arts demonstration by the students and masters from KT Tai Kwon Do from Owen Sound. There were games and face painting for the kids, organized by Elise Stewart, Sam Hess, Gracey Williamson and Kayleigh Baxter from Bruce Peninsula District School, with generous financial support for the games from Marydale Ashcroft (The Shops at 84 Main) and Tim Hayes. There was delicious Oktoberfest food from the BBQ grills, and drinks including Tagwerk beers. Musical entertainment was provided by local musicians Dan Corcoran, Rod Layman and Makenzy Williamson who performed during the afternoon.
During the evening, Oktoberfest moved inside Rotary Hall with more delicious food and drink, and Mayor Milt McIver ‘tapping the keg’ shortly after doors opened. Rotarians tended the bar that evening (with considerable help from Master Brewer Christian Klaus Reimerschmid von der Heide at the beer tap serving draft Tagwerk Oktoberfest beer), Rotarians worked the BBQ grills and serving stations, as well as sold tickets (for the event and 50/50 draw) and Oktoberfest merchandise. The band RoadRash performed three sets of rock music from the 70s to 90s throughout the evening, with DJ music in between sets. Local artist Anita Penman provided beautiful artwork posters which were hanging inside Rotary Hall to promote the Oktoberfest spirit!
There was a lively beer stein hold contest where participants’ physical stamina was tested with holding large beer steins filled with water with their arm held straight out for as long as possible. There were three rounds of this contest eliminating participants at each stage. The final round of the beer stein hold contest towards the end of the evening was won by Glenn Uhrig of Random Ranch Alpacas who received an Oktoberfest hat and now holds bragging rights until the next contest next year! The 50/50 draw at the end of the evening was won by Shelly Schenk who will receive half (50 percent) of the total take of $675, with the other half going towards our Rotary Scholarship Program, to support graduates of Bruce Peninsula District High School pursuing their post-secondary goals!
Rotary thanks everyone who came out and made this first community Oktoberfest such a success! Special thanks go to the students and masters from KT Tai Kwon Do in Owen Sound, Mayor Milt McIver, student volunteers Elise Stewart, Sam Hess, Gracey Williamson and Kayleigh Baxter from BPDS, Marydale Ashcroft and Tim Hayes, Anita Penman for wonderful artwork decorating Rotary Hall, and to members of SWANS for helping out with food! Also special thanks to the musical talent, including musicians Dan Corcoran, Rod Layman and Makenzy Williamson who performed during the afternoon portion of Oktoberfest, and the band RoadRash that entertained everyone throughout the evening in Rotary Hall!
See more Oktoberfest photos here.
New Rotarians Inducted
At our recent Club meeting held Tuesday, October 3rd, three new Rotarians were inducted as Club members by Rotary District Governor Sonja Glass. Gwen Bestard retired from educational administration and is continuing a family tradition of connection with Rotary (grandfather was a Rotarian, and daughter was a Rotary exchange student), and strongly supports giving back to the community. Denise Blay is a retired teacher (still teaching remotely), and wants to support the local community, to ‘… give back to this area that is so draped in local culture, beauty, welcoming people, and energy.’ Richard Jackson moved to Lion’s Head full-time four years ago, and joined Rotary to help support the community and as a way to meet and socialize with others.
If you are interested in joining Rotary, to help serve our community through a range of projects, events and activities, contact any local Rotarian for further information. Our Club meets the first and third Tuesday of each month, and we’re actively looking for new members to support the Rotary motto of ‘Service Above Self’!
‘Spooky’ Trivia Night Oct 27
The second Trivia Night event sponsored by Rotary will be held at Rotary Hall on Friday, October 27th, beginning at 7 PM and hosted by Caeli Mazara and Eric Perez. This will be a ‘Spooktacular’ Trivia Night event in anticipation of Halloween, and will include some fall and Halloween trivia questions, in addition to the usual music and picture rounds and lots of general trivia questions.
There will be a $5.00 entry fee. Those participating can organize their own teams or join an existing team, with typically four to six people per team. There will be a prize for ‘Best Costume’ at the event, as well as prizes for the winning team that evening! Rotarians will tend bar that evening (serving both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages), and there will be food available for purchase at the Hall.
Come on out, test your trivia knowledge and have some fun! We hope to see you there!
At our Rotary Club meeting held October 17th, Rotarians voted to suspend the use and sale of bottled water at all future Rotary bars and events, effective immediately. Water will be available for free at Rotary functions, and patrons are encouraged to bring their own water containers.
