My father and I watched amovie not that long ago called“Shenandoah” in which JimmyStewart plays a widower with 5sons and 1 daughter living on afarm in Virginia during the CivilWar. He tries to keep his familyout of the war. When theyoungest is taken as a prisoner ofwar, they are thrown right intothe middle of it. I love the oldJimmy Stewart movies. Theyalways contain bits of “folksy”

wisdom. In this movie Jimmy imparts several piecesof wisdom. When he is asked by one of his oldersons why he continues to search for his youngestthrough unbearable hardships and the loss of twoof his other sons he replies, “I have to try. We haveto try. Because if we don’t try, then we don’t do.And if we don’t do, then, what are we here for?”

Those who created District 6 over a hundredyears ago tried and did. It is up to us to keep whatthey started growing and strong. We may have totry new things. The world is different today. Thenew immigrants don’t need the same kind of sup-port they once did. And the majority of immigrantsinto the USA are coming from regions other thanScandinavia. That makes it all the more importantthat we preserve and share our culture. We alsoneed to reach outside our Scandinavian community.By doing this other people will get to know VASA.

Everyone knows about the Mason’s, the Lions, andthe Elks. They are known not by their “secret” ritu-als but by the services they provide to our society.We need to be known that way also. We havemade a start with the food drive at Golden Colony.We will do more at other district events throughoutthe year.

Jimmy Stewart also said something else in themovie that stayed with me. He was asked what warwas about. He replied by saying, “I don’t reallyknow. Politicians speak of the need of it, Generalsspeak of the glory of it, and soldiers just want to gohome.” Whatever our politics, our soldiers and vet-erans deserve our thanks and help. On November7th we will be holding our first annual VeteransBenefit Ball! All the profits will be divided betweenKids for America and the Marines for Marines. Kidsfor America help the families of those who areserving now. Marines for Marines support thoseservice men and women who have been injuredand their families. We have reserved an 18 pieceband for the occasion and Kids for America willalso be performing. So mark your calendars. Youwill have a great time while supporting two greatcauses.

Summer is coming to an end. It has been a busyone for the Park. I would have liked to have seenmore people at “Pack the Park” but, those who didattend had a great time. Our last concert in theseries is August 29th and is hoped to be the largestyet. Then, we have Scanfest on September 6th.

Those two weekends create an immense amount ofwork for the Park Trustees. I would like to thank allthe volunteers. Without so much help none of thiswould be possible. Fall brings with it more eventsand the bulk of the Executive Board Official Visits. Ilook forward to spending time with all of you.Together we will try and do for the future genera-tions of Vasa.

In Truth & Unity,Debbie Larsson

District Master NJ #6

October 3rd – Leif Erickson Smörgasbord at VasaParkOctober 9th – Dalahäst, Vägen, & Lyckan OfficialVisit October 14th – Frithiof Official VisitOctober 23rd – Three Crowns Official VisitOctober 24th – Membership Seminar at Vasa Park,10:30 AMNovember 6th – Arlington Lodge Official VisitNovember 7th – Veterans Benefit Ball at Vasa ParkNovember 14th – Jul Bazaar at Vasa ParkNovember 15th – Viking Official VisitNovember 20th – Baltic Framat Official VisitNovember 21st – Lodge Linne Import SaleDecember 12th – Skansen Children’s Club Lucia atVasa ParkDecember 13th – District Lucia at St. Stephen’sLutheran Church in Edison NJ (where Lyckan Lodgemeets).

Volume LVIII, No. 22 Published Bi-Monthly OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2009 www.vasaorder.net/?Lodge=D6 Periodicals Postage Paid at Hackettstown, NJ 07840

N.J. VasaHome Family

The Official Publication of District Lodge New Jersey No. 6, V.O.A.

DATES TOREMEMBERFriday night dinnersthroughout the year – call973-691-8383 for weeklymenu – Reserve byThursday night please.

Saturday . . . . . . . . . . . October 31Halloween celebration - see ad onpage 5.Saturday . . . . . . . . . . November 7Veteran’s Appreciation Ball - see adon page 6.Saturday . . . . . . . . . November 1436th Jul Bazaar at Vasa Park - seead on page 6.Saturday . . . . . . . . . November 21Lodge Linne’s Import and Gift Sale -see ad on page 3.Saturday . . . . . . . . . November 28Annual Jul Dans at Vasa Park - seead on page 2.Saturday . . . . . . . . . December 12Skansen Children’s Club Lucia - seead on page 2.Sunday . . . . . . . . . . December 13NJ District #6 Lucia at St. Stephen’sLutheran Church in Edison.Vasastjärnan will perform.

DISTRICT MASTER’S MESSAGEby Deborah Larsson

Deborah Larsson

SCANFEST – 25th ANNIVERSARY REPORTVasa Park was the setting

for the 25th Anniversary ofScanfest, held on Sunday,September 6, 2009. Theweather was near perfect,sunny and in the 70’s.Thousands flocked to VasaPark to celebrate Scandi-navian culture. There wereover 30 performers this yearand there was a wide varietyof musical, dance and culturalselection for festival goers.Some highlights were thepride of NJ District 6,Vasastjärnan Jr. Club enter-taining the crowd with twodance performances duringthe festival, Vasa’s own IngerHanright giving two talks onthe History of Folk Dress andholding a “Folk DressFashion Show” in the maintent during the afternoon andThe Swedish Folk Dancers ofNew York delighting thecrowd with two performancesand got audience members toparticipate in a dance whichpeople were buzzing abouthours later. Another greatperformance was given bythe Pillerkaar, an EstonianFolk Dancer Group. Therewere many other performersall skilled and entertaining.The children’s stage was pop-ular all day and the kids andtheir parents were treated tomagic, comedy, storytellingand marionettes. The VikingShip and our wooden carvedViking were perpetually pho-tographed with gueststhroughout the day. Morethan 50 craft and merchan-dise vendors were presentselling arts, crafts, foods andScandinavian merchandise.

And then there was the food!Scandinavian treats wereavailable as well a number ofother food varieties. Big OlafIce Cream was a huge hit andthe busy scoopers built upsome serious muscles servingtheir customers. Differentorganizations were also rep-resented throughout the festi-val and our Vasa Membershiptable was busy and a numberof prospective members tookapplications for membership.For those that stuck aroundto help with the cleanupefforts, we were treated laterto a jam session at theClubhouse by about a half-dozen of the musicians whosang and played Scandi-navian music as well as rock,oldies, country and other hits,all to the delight of thoseassembled. Most of us alljoined in a sang along and afew of our musically talentedmembers cracked out instru-ments and joined in as well.

It was a wonderful festival,probably one of the biggestin Scanfest’s 25 year history.Congratulations to theScanfest Committee on their25th anniversary and thanksto them, their volunteers andChad Peterson, NJVH Boardof Trustees Liaison toScanfest, for a wonderful fes-tival with a program full ofentertaining talent, ensuringall had plenty to do, see, eatand buy.

A heartfelt and sincereTHANK YOU! goes out to allthose who volunteered tohelp out on the Vasa ParkStaff. It takes a large numberof volunteers to staff this Large crowds enjoy food and shopping.

Busy outside bar.

event and everyone’s help isgreatly appreciated. Volun-teers handled parking cars,directing traffic, staffing thebars, scooping ice cream (BigOlaf), cooking/serving food(Lilla Stugan), collectinggarbage, keeping the bath-rooms stocked and clean,assisting with the gates and anumber of other coordinationand logistical tasks. There arealso a number of tasks com-pleted the whole week

before the festival andcleanup activities immediatelyafter the festival and the nextday. Our volunteers rangedfrom about age 10 throughabout age 90. Everyone thatvolunteered contributed andthis volunteer effort is abso-lutely essential for us to pulloff events such as these. TheBoard of Trustees greatlyappreciates all the volunteerhelp that we received forScanfest and the other events

at Vasa Park this summer.These events keep Vasa Parkvibrant and alive. Our mem-bership should be proud ofall the hard work and successthat our volunteer staff hasproduced this year. Thankyou again for all your hardwork for and dedication toVasa Park.

In Truth and Unity,Kevin DeFeo, TreasurerNew Jersey Vasa Home

MORE PHOTOS ONPAGES 3 & 4

SKANSENCHILDREN’S CLUB

Lucia Celebration

Miss Aliza Zafiropoulos as Lucia

Saturday, December 12th

Doors Open at 2:00 p.m.

Vasa Park Cultural Center

$5.00 Donation for AdultsChildren 12 and Under FREE

2 www.vasaorder.net/?Lodge=D6

N.J. Vasa HomeFamily

The Official Publication of District Lodge NJ, No. 6Vasa Order of America

District MasterDeborah Larsson181 Midfield Rd.

Colonia, NJ 07067-3634732/388-3329

EditorJerry Meloskie116 West Shore Rd Denville, NJ 07834(973) 627-4746

Email: tmeloskie@aol.com

TreasurerHelen Haumacher

119 Creek Rd.Andover, NJ 07821-2037

973/786-6398

Circulation ManagerBob Anderson

(Change of address - newsubscriptions)19 Ridge St.

Hackettstown, NJ 07840908/852-4357

Email: NJVHF@vasaorder.com

New Jersey Vasa HomeWolfe Road

Hackettstown, NJ 07840973/691-8383

Cultural Center ManagementBob Haughton973/691-8383

FAX 973/691-4994

The New Jersey Vasa Home Family,(ISSN 0744-8384) is published bi-monthly by District Lodge NewJersey No. 6, Vasa Order ofAmerica. Periodicals postage paid atHackettstown, NJ, and additionalentries.One copy per family is sent to allmembers of the New Jersey District.The cost is included in the annuallodge assessments.Non-member subscriptions:In the USA, $15.00 per year;Canada and Foreign, $20.00 peryear.Change of address:please give both old and newaddress and include the most recentmailing label. Allow six to eightweeks for change to become effec-tive.POSTMASTER:Send address changes to 19 RidgeSt., Hackettstown, NJ 07840.COPY SUBMISSION:Copy must be received by the dateshown in the VHF * FYI box on page6.

Expiration DateIngred Allison 08-09Ann Anderson 02-10Ivar Anderson 02-11Kenneth Anderson 02-10Linda Anderson 02-11Frank Ballo 06-09Arthur Bjorkner 12-09Cheryl Bjorkner 12-09Erik Bjorkner 12-09Kurt Bjorkner 12-09Nancy Bjorkner 12-09Sandie Bjorkner 12-09Lawrence Blomberg 02-12Marjorie Blomberg 02-12Carol Boyle 02-10Steve Boyle 02-10David Carlson 12-11Ingrid Carlson 08-11Kurt Carlson 08-11Mary Carlson 12-11Frank Csulak 12-09Ines Csulak 12-09

Expiration DateEmily Dunbar 09-09Ronnie Emihl 06-09Walter Emihl 06-09Marjorie Greendyk 12-10Vic Holmkvest 12-09Lillian Jensen 09-09Irene Johanson 12-09Richard Johanson 12-09Barbara Johnson 02-14Gunnel Johnson 02-14Karl Johnson 12-09Kennith C. Johnson Jr. 02-14Ellen Knapp 09-11Arve Larsson 06-13Madelyn Lawson 12-09Arlene Lindstrom 09-09Chuck Lindstrom 09-09Doug Lindstrom 09-09Jerry Meloskie 02-15Terry Meloskie 02-15Berit Morgan 12-09Stan Morgan 12-09Shirley Nylund 12-09Agnes Nystol 04-10Sigbjorn Nystol 04-10John Olson 09-10Sandy Olson 09-10James Omdahl 12-09Mary Omdahl 12-09Allison Osborne 12-09Kisten Osborne 12-09Mark Osborne 12-09C. Richard Overberg 12-11Chris Pierson 04-10Dick Pierson (in memory) 04-10Dot Pierson 04-10Laurie Pierson 04-10Randy Pierson 04-10Rick Pierson 04-10Ron Pierson (in memory) 04-10Roy Pierson 04-10Margaret Ronn 08-10Robert Ronn 08-10Julie Schedin 09-10Steven Schedin 09-10Carol Schelin 12-11Eugenie Scholtz 12-09Roberte Scholtz 12-09Chu Signor 12-09Fred Signor 12-09Vic Skaar 06-09Vivian Skaar 06-09Sveaborg Lodge 09-09Ronni Thorsell 09-12Vagen Lodge 12-09

VASA HOME FAMILY BOOSTERS CLUBHas your name been dropped from the Booster List? Do

you want your name to appear on the Booster List? Yourdonation of only $10.00 or more helps defray costs of printingthe paper and lists your name in the Vasa Home FamilyBoosters Club.

Since its inception in 1999, Booster Club donations haveunderwritten at least one issue of the paper. It’s a great way tosupport the paper and see your name in print. If you see meat a meeting, event or at Vasa Park, stop me and give me yourname and address. If you wish, donations can be sent (madepayable to New Jersey Vasa Home Family) to the addressbelow:

NJVHFHelen Haumacher

119 Creek Road • Andover, NJ 07821-2037Saturday, November 28, 2009

5:00 p.m. in Viking HallVasa Park, Budd Lake, NJ

Dress for the season – Folk costumes especially welcome And feel free to bring an ornament for the tree.

Reservations only • Seating is limited Adults $37.50; 17 and under $15.00; 12 and under free

Make checks payable to “Sommardans” and mail to:Kristin Baker, 56 Scandia Road, Hackettstown, NJ 07840______________________________________________

Sommardans is sponsored by NJ District Six V.O.A.

T H E T W E L F T H A N N U A L

A S C A N D I N A V I A NC H R I S T M A S C E L E B R A T I O N

P R E S E N T S !

All night dancing around the Christmas Tree to live music by Jeanne Erikson Widman and Smorgasbandet.

Fresh ham dinner, Swedish meatballs and other traditional Scandinavian specialties including authentic Scandinavian pastries.

Candle-lit ceremony and pageant of Sankta Lucia

A visit from Santa

Cocktail hour begins at 5:00 p.m. with Jul Glogg and cash bar

For information, contact Kristin Baker at 973.691.8637

CORRECTION TOLEIF ERIKSON

SMORGASBORDAD IN LAST ISSUE

In the Oct./Nov. issueof the VHF on page 4,

Mark Bernabei’stelephone numbershould have been

printed as862-432-0237

and reservationdeadline should havebeen September 26.

www.vasaorder.net/?Lodge=D6 3

Lodge Linne #429 Vasa Order of America

SCANDINAVIAN IMPORT AND GIFT SALE* Sweaters from Norway* Holiday home decorations* Christmas decorations,

cards, ornaments, etc.* Toys and Children’s Books* CDs * Stainless Steel Tableware* EXPANDED jewelry section

* Imported Specialty Foods* Scandinavian Pastries and Breads* Linens (including table runners)

… Holiday and general* Candles* Danish Iron Candleholders* Household items … Cookbooks* Swedish straw items … Tomtes

SALT BROOK SCHOOL40 MAPLE STREET

NEW PROVIDENCE, NJ

INFORMATION:Karen – 908-665-1292Sandy – 973-539-4066Diantha – 908-464-6526

10:00 – Coffee & Pastries11:00 – Light Scandinavian

Lunch Served

10:00 AM to 3:30 PMOnly Cash or Checks Accepted

Välkommen

SaturdayNovember 21, 2009

Our 31st Anniversary

The August 22nd meetingof New Jersey District SixExecutive Board was held atthe home of Inger and JohnHanright. Attendance was100% and guests includedGrand Lodge Webmaster,Robert C. Anderson and PastDistrict Master WilliamPeterson. Business conductedincluded final corrections tothe convention meeting min-utes. The District Secretaryand Assistant District Secretarydid a terrific job preparing theminutes and they will be for-warded to the local lodgesshortly. The district spousesmet to plan for the upcomingSmorgasbord on October3rd.The Smorgasbord is ahuge task and takes a dedicat-ed group to plan and prepareall of the dishes and staffingrequirements. Tickets are notavailable at the door so don’tforget to mark your calendarand make reservations in

advance. Further planning toreplace all of the plaques inthe District Memorial case atVasa Park continues and acomprehensive list will besent to all of the local lodgesfor verification of names,spelling, dates, etc… beforethe new plagues areengraved. Planning for theNovember 7th Veterans daycelebration is moving alongnicely. The board has securedthe 18 piece Big Band “ReedsRhythm and All That Brass “toperform as well as “Kids forAmerica.” “Marines forMarines” will be representedas well. All proceeds will bedonated to veteran’s organiza-tions. This is the same BigBand that performed at theDistrict Centennial Celebrationand it is sure to be a wonder-ful dinner and dancing event.The meeting was adjournedand we all enjoyed a finemeal prepared by Inger.

Message From TheExecutive Board

Historian’s Report

Vasa Park MemoriesOne of my most treasured

possessions is a picture of meand the daughter of a couplethat were close friends of myparent’s. This picture appearsto have been taken when Iwas less than two years oldand was definitely takenbetween the cabins here inVasa Home Park. By doingsome simple arithmetic it isapparent that this picture wastaken in the summer of 1944.During the summer of 2004this same lady and I wentback to what we believe to bethe same spot and retook thispicture. These two picturesare displayed side by sidewith great pride in our home.To me the fact that both of usare still here and friends isone of the greatest treasuresof our Park.

That picture and anotherpicture of me in the swim-ming pool (with plain cinderblock walls) at the age of 2 or3 are my proof that I havebeen a Vasa Park regularpractically all my life. As mywife is so quick to tell me Iwasn’t a regular cabin kiduntil my early teenage yearswhich definitely left me as anoutsider. During the 1940’sand the first half of the 1950’smy family and I would onlystay at the Park for one ortwo weeks at a time duringthe summer season. Therewere some cabins that wererented out on a weekly basisat that time, after all noteverybody could afford the$50 or $60 for a summerrental. We would arrive on aSaturday afternoon and seeMrs. Werner for sheets andblankets and move in. If wegot here early enough in theday we would catch the iceman and buy some ice, if notsomeone would let us storesome milk and eggs in theirice box until the ice manshowed up on Sunday. By themid 1950’s we rented“Skansen # 3” the second halfof the season which meantthat we moved in the first

weekend of August and haduse of the cabin throughLabor Day and if it wasn’t toocold we would also use thecabin the weekend of theBarn Dance.

About this time theWerner’s retired and Walterand Eva Lynch were hired asPark managers. I went towork for Mr. Lynch and tookover the job that had beendone by Dickie Anderson andDavid Johnson before me. Itwas my job to put up theflags and pool umbrellas inthe morning, clean the bath-rooms daily, pick up papersand trash around the pool,outside bar, and appleorchard, take in umbrellasand flags in the evening allfor the glorious sum of $18weekly. About the same timethe Werner Pavilion was com-pleted and the small room onthe front of the building wasused as a store for the kids sothat we would no longer haveto go into the bar for a sodaor snack, it became part ofmy job to run the store also. Ican remember the hours ofoperation so well (1p.m. to5p.m. and 7p.m. to 9 p.m.daily except Thursday my dayoff).

Of course we still had adance on both Saturday nightand Sunday afternoon as wellas wonderful dinners made bythe ladies of the variouslodges. They would charge afew dollars for the dinner andsell tickets for the dance andrun the outside bar. Each

weekend one of the manylodges would hire a band(usually Phil Carlson on theaccordion, Joe Hendricksonon drums, and TeddyKronquist on the saxophone)and sell tickets for the bigSaturday night dance. Theseweekends usually brought inenough money along withlodge dues to sustain thelodge for the coming year.

This was still the timewhen most mothers were“stay at home moms” and allthe cabins were full the wholeweek. The fathers were offhome through the week andmom and the kids were ontheir own. On a good weekone or two of the dads werein the Park on vacation andthese were the weeks we kidsgot out to the movies orBertrand’s Island.

These are my memories ofVasa Park from the mid 50’sthrough the early 60’s asimperfect as they may be.Both Ann and I would love tosee other people offer correc-tions or their memories forthe years either before or afterwhat we have written. If youwould like to add to ourmemories you can either sub-mit them through the NJVHFamily editor or send them toAnn. The NJVH Family is ourpermanent record for ourgreat organization and Parkand this is our only way tokeep these memories alive.

Ken Anderson forAnn Anderson

District Historian

MORE SCANFEST PHOTOS

Big Olaf with Steve Boyle baking the famous waffle mix.

Young children dancing.Scanfest Entertainment ChairKathy Hval.

4 www.vasaorder.net/?Lodge=D6

Cultural Report

Greta Garbo - The Mystery and the MythBorn on September 18,

1905, Greta Louisa Gustafssonlived in a working classneighborhood in Stockholm,Sweden. Her parents Karl andAnna did day labor's jobs,they had grown up on theirfamily farms. Moving to thecity Karl had some difficultholding a job. Greta was justan average student in school.She left grammar school in1919 due to her father's ill-ness. Taking a position in abarbershop as a lather girl aposition not uncommon foryoung girls at that time, someeven work them selves up toassistant barber or barber.Greta was not interested inthat occupation her passionhad always been in the the-ater. In June of 1920 Greta'sfather died two weeks latershe is confirmed in the statechurch. In July with the helpof her sister Ava she got a jobin the millinery department ofPUB one of Stockholm'sdepartment stores. Her abilityto photograph very well land-ed her a few modeling jobs.Her first film was for heremployer titled “How not todress,” followed by a one reelcommercial titled Our DailyBread. In 1922 she played abathing beauty in the two reelcomedy Luffarpetter/Peter theTramp. Greta receives somegood publicity from thesefilms and she enrolled in theRoyal Dramatic Theater. Whilea student there she capturesthe eye of Mauritz Stiller whowas Sweden’s foremost film-maker. In 1923 he cast herand Mona Martenson in anoverly long but successful filmGosta Berling. Stiller becameher mentor and glamorized

her changing her last name toGarbo. This made her a minorstar, she was then cast her inthe German film “The JoylessStreet” (1925). This was direct-ed by G. W. Pabst ofHollywood’s MGM studiosEuropean department. MGMsigned Stiller and he insistedon bringing Garbo to the USwith him. In 1925 Greta alongwith Stiller worked to create a“mystery woman” image likesome former foreign stars. In1926 she appeared in “TheTorrent” MGM realized theyhad a star in the making; shedemanded more money andthreatened to walk out if shedidn’t get it, so they paid her.

Garbo went on to make aseries of very successful films“Flesh and the Devil” (1927)co-starring with John Gilbertmaking an adaptation ofTolstoy’s Anna Karenina titled“Love” originally titled “Heat”but they felt this was anembarrassing title. Gilbert andGarbo were planning to getmarried but Greta nevershowed up for the wedding.Greta’s thick Swedish accentwas originally thought tokeep her out talking moviesbut America’s fascination withthe mysterious actress was herticket to the talkies. Some ofthe better known films, Shestarred in were “Grand Hotel”(1932) “Queen Christina”(1933) “Anna Karenina”(1935) and “Camille” (1936).The talkies were not as big asuccess as her silent films, herlegendary aloofness lead tothe most miss quoted phraseof her career. According toseveral books I read abouther life she didn't say “I wantto be alone” she said “I want

to be let alone” in “Nintchka”she repeated that line andradio comedians made it sofamous that it will forever beassociated with Greta Garbo.The war in Europe waschanging how Americans feltabout foreign actors and for-eign films. Greta’s popularitydropped and when sheappeared in the poorly madefilm “Two-Faced Woman”(1941) it more or less endedher career. She was offered arole in Alfred Hitchcock’s“The Paradine Case” insteadshe went into permanentretirement. A millionaire manytimes over she didn’t need toact. Greta bought a sevenroom apartment in New YorkCity as well a commercialproperty on Rodeo DriveCalifornia. Occasionallyphotographed outside herNew York apartment shemostly remained alone. Thelast known photograph takenwith a long range lensshowed her nude, these werepublished in People in 1976.On February 9.1951 shebecame a naturalized citizen.In 1954 she was awarded aspecial Academy Award. Shesurvived breast cancer butdied April 15, 1960 at the ageof 84. After a long legal battleher ashes were finallyinterned at the SkogskogardenCemetery in her nativeStockholm. Greta Garbo has astar on the Hollywood Walk ofFame and in 2005 the USPostal Service and theSwedish Posten jointly issuetwo commemorative stampsbearing her likeness.

In Truth and Unity Carol McDermott

District Cultural Leader

Reminiscing

My thoughts turned toyears gone by and to all myVasa friends in New Jersey,after reading the current NJVasa Home Family. So Ithought I would write to youall via our newspaper.

My first long ago memorycame as I read the first page.Reading Carly Antonucci’sarticle when she mentionedher great-grandfather whom Iknew way back in 1955. Twoold Baltic Lodge memberscame to interview me at myhome, for membership. Onewas Lars Larsson, also relatedby marriage to our currentDistrict Master, DebbieLarsson.

Then reading Ann C.Anderson’s article broughtthoughts of a very youngRuser family with two littlesons swimming with the polli-wogs and the ice cold waterat the point where the springwater entered the pool. Therewas also non-stop Swedishmusic coming forth from theloud speakers. You oftenheard the Swedish languagebeing spoken or heavilyaccented English as youwalked around the Park.

As I read about the Boardof Trustees I thought of a dearyoung girl by the name ofHelen Lewerth, who joined

Gullvivan C.C. at a young age.This little girl has grown up tobe a very busy Vasa memberat the Park, named HelenSmith. As I was thinkingabout how she found the timeto do all that she does for thebenefit of Vasa, I received anice note from her. This mademe think even more whereshe found the time to do it.She told me that she complet-ed two volumes of Gullvivanmemorabilia and that theywere now in the Archives.“Dear Helen your days mustbe 48 hours long.”

I certainly enjoy getting mypaper as it keeps me in touchwith all my old time friendsand of Vasa Home park.Thank you Jerry for a job welldone. Even though I miss allof you, I am still so happy wemade the move to this verySwedish area. As you enterCenter City from the mainroad, there is the “SwedishVillage Mall” with the Swedishflag flying there every day.Center City is Minnesota’s old-est continuously inhabitedSwedish settlement since1850. The town’s originalname was Norbergshölmen.

In Truth and UnityCharlotte Ruser

Lodge Baltic-Framat #360

New York folk dancers performing. Crowds gather for shows under outdoor pavilion.

MORE SCANFEST PHOTOS

The fall is around the cor-ner and as we look back atthe summer of ’09 it sure didrain a lot! It started with theSAHS Fest and Barnesdag onJune 20th. We had a Pea Soupbooth and I’m not sure if itwas our “great” Pea Soup orthat the damp pouring rainmade it a real sell out. Eitherway we sold out and are real-ly becoming the Pea SoupLodge. The July meeting waswell attended as we sharedeveryone’s pot luck that theybrought to the patio at VasaPark. It didn’t rain but it wasgetting very cloudy as we dis-cussed our upcoming TrickyTray on July 25 that weshared with Lodge Draken.Well, the Tricky Tray washeld and we’re please toannounce that it was a suc-cess and thank you all thatattended, worked or donated.Our next event was Scanfeston September 6 and again wesold Pea Soup and again we

“sold out”. This time wethought we made enough butthe day was beautiful weatherwise and attendance at it’speak. We had a successfulday and for those that did notattend, you missed a wonder-ful day at Vasa Park. But tothose Frithiof members thateither made soup or workedthe booth….THANK YOU!

The October 14th meetingwill be our District Master’sOfficial Visit at Frithiof’s meet-ing hall at Arcadia Lodge,Thompson Avenue in Doverat 7:30 p.m. We hope you allcan make it because it isespecially good for the lodgeto have a nice showing out ofrespect for our District MasterDebbie Larson and spouseJohn along with their board.The November 11th meetingwill be our Chinese Auction(bring your treasures) andyour opportunity to do someChristmas shopping!!! See youthen.

FRITHIOF FOCUS

Scanfest Food Vendor ChairBeryl Hellgren. Event Planner and Liaison Chad Peterson with Harry Swanson.

www.vasaorder.net/?Lodge=D6 5

My Experience atSjölunden Swedish

Campby Erika M. Brattstrom

Sjölunden is an amazingcamp! When you first arrive,all of your contraband is con-fiscated. (That is anything inEnglish-books, magazines,i-pod, and cell phone!)

You may think this isharsh, so did I at first, butthere is so much to do atSjolunden that throughout thetrip, you soon forget about it.At the beginning of eachweek, you choose a weeklong activity. Some activitiesinclude: baking, sports, weav-ing, water sports, Scandi-navian or African dancing,music, newspaper, and paint-ing. The two I chose werebaking and sports.

Twice a day, you meet withyour learning group forSwedish lessons. Since I wentwith no knowledge of the lan-guage, I was placed in thebeginner group with five other“newbies.”

All meals included anentertaining mock presenta-

tion in Swedish to teach usabout the food we were beingserved. Only Swedish isspoken at all meals and isexpected in all other activities.For example, if you wantsomething, it must be askedfor in Swedish. Many languagelessons were presented with atheme and common Swedishholidays such as Lucia, GladPask and Midsommar hadtheir own celebration day.

We had plenty of time tohave fun with friends. Someof the down time activitieswere swimming, sauna,shopping, and games. Eachnight there was an eveningprogram that could include abon fire, dance, or themedpresentation.

While at Sjölunden, somefriends and I made a videothat is posted on Youtubeunder “eating at Sjölunden.”

Thank you Vasa for award-ing me this fantastic opportu-nity of a lifetime!

Birdhouse

Cabin Girls

1st Viking Lou Casella To Hold AHalloween Celebration

At Vasa Park

Witches, Skeletons & Vampires to turnViking Hall into a Haunted House on

Saturday, October 31, 2009Party and Parade of Ghosts, Goblins & Pumpkins to

start at 5:30 PM – Dinner at 6:30 PMMusic and Scary Sounds by Disc Jockey B.J. Peterson

Games, Contests & Dancing All NightLOOK FOR SPECIAL SURPRISE GAME

Awards for Best Pumpkin Face, Best Costume and Game WinnersCostumes and Masks Optional or Bring Your Own Scary Face

All Party-goers – Please Bring a Decorated PumpkinAs Always All Proceeds Go To VASA PARK

Don’t miss this one!Reserve Now – Call Lou – 908-647-6308

$25.00 Per Person – Make Checks to Roman FeastMail to: Lou Casella, 1433 Long Hill Rd., Millington, NJ 07946

P.S. All Witches MustREGISTER BROOMS at door.

No Flying in Viking Hall!

Labor Day weekend hascome and gone and I wouldlike to take this opportunity tothank The Board of Trusteesand all of the members thathave supported the variousevents held this summer. Ican’t remember a summer inrecent history when so manyvolunteers came out andworked as hard as you allhave. Not only did the parkhold 5 major public events,the local lodges also held sev-eral events at the patio and inthe grove. Last weekend“Scan Fest” was held at ourpark and the turnout wasabsolutely incredible. Excell-ent planning combined withperfect weather made the

event one of the largest ever.This year Trustee ChadPeterson stepped up to theplate to act as the liaison /chairman for the park. Chadplanned and worked with theScan Fest Committee and Imust say that he not only suc-ceeded in preparing andoperating the park, he hasraised the bar for futureevents. The Scan Fest Com-mittee is a very dedicated andhard working group that hasproduced what may very wellbe the largest ScandinavianFestival on the eastern sea-board. We are very proud tobe the venue for this festivaland hope to see it continuefor years to come.

“Pack the Park” took placeon August 8th and we allenjoyed great weather andgood times. Gothiod Lodgecooked their traditional BBQand the new horseshoe pitswhere broken in. The kidshad their egg toss and variousgames of skill. Later wedanced for a while to musicprovided by Eric Johanssonand Jan Persson.

Even though Labor Dayhas passed, we still have abunch of great events in storebefore the weather gets cold.I am certain they will be wellattended.

John HanrightPresident

New Jersey Vasa Park

Message from the Board of Trustees

Our new horseshoe pits, thanks tothe efforts of Bob Gustofson.

Kid’s Games

“PACK THE PARK” DAY

36th AnnualSCANDINAVIAN JUL BAZAAR

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 14th, 200910 AM to 3 PM

FEATURING: Scandinavian Imported Foods ♥ Crafts ♥ Pottery ♥ Christmas Items ♥ Linen ♥ Crystal ♥ Straw ♥Wood ♥ Tomtes ♥ Candles ♥ Paper Items ♥ Baked Goods ♥ Braids & much more

Coffee, Cake, Soda & Meatball Luncheon Available

FREE ADMISSIONFREE PARKING

At Vasa Park, Wolfe Road (off Rt. 46), Budd Lake, NJFor Information Call 973/691-8383 or 973/347-6852

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VHF ★ FYIFor this issue… the deadline is…December/January October 25thFebruary/March December 31st*April/May February 25thJune/July April 25thAugust/September July 1stOctober/November August 25th

* in consideration of Christmasholidays

Anyone requesting an extensionpast the deadline of the 25thMUST contact the editor inadvance of this date.

CLIP & SAVE

CLIP & SAVE

6 www.vasaorder.net/?Lodge=D6

Grand Hotel of Cape MayThe Oceanfront Grand Hotel of Victorian Cape May accommo-dates all, from business group to wedding party, from vacation-ing family to honeymoon couple. We offer several guestroomstyles and will best assist you in determining the perfectaccommodation to suit your special needs. The Grand Hotel ofCape May is the perfect place to dance, dine, relax, swim andsun. The Grand Hotel caters to your needs and your desires,comfortably, elegantly.

Toll Free 800-257-8550www.grandhotelcapemay.com

MorganFuneral

Home, Inc.

31 - 33 Main StreetNetcong, New Jersey

973-347-0165Established 1922

Samuel H. Morgan, Jr.Manager and

Director

HOUSEFORSALE

13 Viking Lane

1 Bedroom

973-347-8781

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BENEFIT BALLNovember 7, 2009 in Viking Hall

5:00-10:30pm $45.00 per person

Sliced Filet Mignon DinnerDancing to the sounds of Reeds, Rhythm and All That Brass an

18 piece bandPerformance by Kids for America

Formal Attire/Military uniforms (optional)

All profits to benefit Kids for Americaand

Marines Helping Marines an organization that helps all military families in their time of need

Reservations Required: Debbie Larsson 732-476-8513 No laterthan October 31, 2009