Berthoud Weekly Surveyor September 27, 2012 Page 3

The Second Annual Authentic Berthoud Oktoberfest

Special to the Surveyor Pull out your leiderhosen and brush up on your German polka skills, because Berthouds Second Annual Oktoberfest is almost here. A volunteer committee made up of Berthoud and Loveland residents has been working for months to bring you Colorados most authentic Oktoberfest west of I25. There are several new things planned for the event, but last years crowd favorites will be back. This years beer sponsors are Grimm Brothers Brewhouse of Loveland and City Star Brewing of Berthoud. City Star is brewing up a special Oktoberfest just for this event. Beer, soda and water will be available for purchase via tokens. New this year, official Berthoud Oktoberfest pint glasses will be for sale at the fest for $5 and may be used to drink Grimm and City Star beer during the event. This years festival will feature two stages; the main stage will host the Dick Zvodney Polka Band, Steve Rock on the accordion and the TEV Edelweiss Schuhlplattlers. The fest is excited to have the Schuhlplattlers back this year, said Heidi Kerr-Schlaefer, founder and writer at HeidiTown.com and co-founder of Berthoud Oktoberfest. They were such a big hit last year. People still talk to me about how much they loved the wood chopping dance. They dance at big fests like Breckenridge Oktoberfest, so our little festival is really lucky to have them, Kerr-Schlaefer added. New this year will be a cultural stage, located at the south end of the park near the childrens activities. Storyteller Kitty Little is scheduled for 2 p.m. special treat provided by the Berthoud Community Library District. Last year the Storm Mountain Folk Dancers charmed the crowds at Berthoud Oktoberfest with their European folk dances. They are coming back to perform on the cultural stage at 3:30 p.m. The cultural stage will also host a pretzel-eating contest for children and the scarecrow awards. Authentic German food will be for sale, via a token system, including handmade Bavarian pretzels. The Brick Oven will provide pizza and kraut burgers again this year. Be sure to visit the Berthoud Historical Societys tent between 3 and 4 p.m. to participate in a sausage-tasting event. Berthoud Oktoberfest is familyfriendly and childrens activities will be plentiful. The Berthoud Fire Department will hold a bike raffle, and the Thompson Valley Soccer Association will be on hand to do demonstrations and skill training for the kids. To get everyone in the mood, a Oktoberfest promotional event has been scheduled at City Star Brewing. Tom Allan Grengs on the accordion will play at City Star on Wednesday, Oct. 3, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. The Second Annual Berthoud Oktoberfest is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 6 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. If youd like to volunteer for a two-hour shift go to www.BerthoudOktoberfest. com and follow the link to the sign up. There is also a link for interested vendors. You can also find this event

on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/ BerthoudOktoberfest. The Second Annual Berthoud Oktoberfest is brought to you by the Berthoud Area Chamber of Commerce/Main Street Program and a handful of volunteers who have been working tirelessly on this event. The Berthoud Oktoberfest also thanks this years sponsors: Mueller & Associates Berthoud Drug Berthoud Weekly Surveyor Bruce Fickel Attorney Dees Boutique Hardys Imaging Heiditown.com Ludlow Farms Mortgage Contract Services RE/MAX Town & Country Subaru of Loveland Town of Berthoud Usana/Barb Mitteis Weedin Agency Whistlestop

10th Annual Scarecrow parade & contest

Special to the Surveyor The 10th annual Scarecrow Parade and Contest will be held on Saturday, Oct. 6 at 5 p.m. during the Berthoud Oktoberfest. All scarecrows will be displayed on Mountain Avenue after the event. Frames for making your scarecrow creations can be picked up at the Berthoud Community Library during regular library hours. Bring your finished scarecrow to the cultural stage during the Berthoud Oktoberfest in Fickel Park on Oct. 6. Parade and recognition will take place at 5 p.m. on the cultural stage.

Morning sky watchers get a Venetian treat on Oct. 3

enus rises in the east-southeastern sky nearly three and a half hours before the Sun in October. Shining brilliantly at a magnitude of -4.0, Venus is an easy planet to find. Venus spends October in the constellation Leo, the Lion. On the morning of Oct. 3, when Venus will be very close and just below the dimmer star, Regulus, making this a stunning pair to observe. On the morning of Oct 12, a waning crescent Moon will be to the right of Venus. Jupiter rises in the eastern sky about 10 p.m. as October begins and about 8 p.m. by the 31st. Shining at

can be seen per hour for patient sky a dimmer magnitude than Venus at -2.6, Jupiter will be the brightest star watchers. In comparison, the Orionid meteor shower will peak from Oct 20 in this part of the sky. You will find a through 24. These meteors will appear waning gibbous Moon just below and to be coming out of the southeastern to the left of Jupiter on the evening of sky, from the constellation Orion, the Oct. 5. Hunter. The meteors from this shower Mars will be hard to find in the Ocwill be bright and fast, and can reach tober evening sky. The red planet can a peak count of 40 to 70 be found by looking about 12 meteors per hour for those degrees above southwestern Eye on sky watchers that venture horizon about 45 minutes the Sky to darker, rural skies. after sunset at October Surveyor Columnist On each Friday evebegins. Surprisingly, Mars ning of October, on the CU will keep this relative posiBoulder campus, the Fiske tion to sunset throughout Planetarium is having wonthe month. Each night you derful astronomical shows. can see the planet where the The show for Oct. 5 is called Mars Curiosity Rover is curMars Revealed. There is rently exploring. a live talk on Oct 12, where Two meteor shows can the CU faculty will talk be seen in October. From about Measuring the Oldlater October through early est Light in the Universe November, meteors from the with one of the Highest Taurid meteor shower will Mike Telescopes on Earth. The streak across the night sky. Hotka Oct. 19 show is called The These meteors will appear to Crowded Sky, and the Oct. be coming out of the eastern 26 show is called the Many Faces of sky, from the constellation Taurus, Hubble. Each show starts at 7:30 p.m. the Bull. About a dozen bright meteors and is followed by telescope viewing at the Sommers-Bausch Observatory, weather permitting. For more information, visit the website http://lyra.colorado.edu/sbo/public/ openhouse.html or call 303-492-5002. The Little Thompson Observatory is having their monthly open house event on Oct. 19. At 7 p.m. Steve and Irene Little will give a talk on the Mayan calendar and the superstition related to the end of the world. Telescope observing follows the talk, weather permitting. The observatory is at the northeast edge of Berthoud High School. More information can be found at http://www.starkids.org or by calling 970-613-7793.

Celebrate local veterans 1940s style

Special to the Surveyor Berthoud Community Library District will kick off our local Common Read program with a party on Wednesday, Oct. 3, 6:30 8 p.m. at the Berthoud Area Community Center. Salute the book Unbroken: a Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption, and celebrate in 1940s style with foods of the home front, swing music and dancing, games for kids, and photographs of local veterans. For more information contact the library at 970-532-2757 or e-mail director.bpl@gmail.com.