The Friends of the Greenfield Community Meetinghouse (of which I am secretary) is thrilled to have another successful Oktoberfest in the books!! Oktoberfest is the FGCM’s major fundraiser and “friendraiser” of the year, and our chance to tell the community about the ongoing Meetinghouse renovation and repair project.
This year, we were blessed with perfect weather, and we raised over $10,000 for repairs and renovations to the Meetinghouse. Somehow, everything always works out, thanks to our amazing volunteers and community support. Thank you, Greenfield and surrounding communities!
Every year, in the weeks leading up to Oktoberfest, there are all kinds of minor and sometimes major crises happening. On Tuesday, we realized we had forgotten to order shredded cabbage for the sauerkraut and coleslaw, and started rallying friends and neighbors to chop 40 heads of cabbage. Kathy Seigars and I both had nightmares about being chased by giant heads of cabbage! ( In the end, our wonderful cooks made it all work!)
Two days before the event, our set-up crew realized that the town bandstand was under construction, and Tim Schloemer jumped in and repaired it. Then, at the last minute, we could not find the 350 bratwurst we had ordered, and Palmer Timmons kindly did an emergency run to pick them up.
Some of the superheroes of this year’s Oktoberfest were chef Todd Powell, who has joined our cooking crew for the duration (hallelujah!); Jessica Weeks, manager of of Harvest Market, who puts up with our complete, unbridled insanity every year; Carol Baldwin, who jumps in every year in the kitchen, Keg Baldwin, who pulled a spaetzle all-nighter, and Warren Aldrich, who created the fabulous potato salad and coleslaw. Our grill cooks, Bruce Dodge and Tim Schloemer, manned the grills for four straight hours.
We could not run Oktoberfest without the generosity of John Hopkins of Monadnock Tent, who donates tents and labor; and White Star Software, which sponsors the event.
The FGCM is grateful to everyone in the Greenfield Town offices, especially Wendy Drouin and Aaron Patt, and for the support of our Select Board and Fire Department.
Many thanks to our “buffet ladies,” Maureen Lalime, Adele Hale, Pam Cornwell and Carele Mayer; Linda Dodge, who volunteered to be chief of desserts, Dr. Denise Poulin, who monitored the mac and cheese; and Penelope Pennoyer, Jim Fletcher, Abe Timmons and Bridget Austin, who were down at Oak Park at 8 a.m. on Sunday cleaning up. Many thanks also to Shannon Bilodeau of the Oak Park Committee, who organized the farmer’s market vendors, and to Dave Thimmel of Oak Park Committee for always answering random text messages. Thanks also to Jim Fletcher for designing and organizing all our signage.
Many thanks to Frank Shea, Mike Eneguess, Jeff Danforth, and Dan Camuso of the Greenfield Police Department. (We are very happy that Officer Camuso is officially joining the Greenfield PD this week).
Thanks to our vendors, Henniker Brewing, Mountain Base Brewing, Frogg Brewery, Hornburg Brewery, Pinguin Meadery, and Summit Winery, and to our bands, White Mountain Rounders and the Pop Farmers. Thanks also to Andres and Brighid Wood from the 4-H FIRST Robotics Team Inconceivable, to our friends at Seven Hills NH; and to Sheila Nichols for representing the Greenfield Police Study Committee.
Many guests commented on the beautiful display created by Lenny Cornell for the Greenfield Historical Society, which depicts the history of our Meetinghouse, with photos dating back to the late 1800s. We had one visitor comment that she would never know that the Meetinghouse needed any repairs because it looks so beautiful when you drive by. This is a challenge with fundraising for the Meetinghouse, and it is the reason that the FGCM hosted the first four Oktoberfests, along with many other events, at the Meetinghouse despite major issues with parking, plumbing, accessibility, electricity and kitchen space. Our goal was to get people in the door to understand just how much work the building needs.
We are very happy to announce that the repairs to the basement and the installation of the elevator, which are the first phase of the Meetinghouse renovation, is almost complete. As soon as we can get back in the building, the Friends of the Meetinghouse will once again begin to host events in Meetinghouse and give tours of all four levels. (Oktoberfest, however, is going to stay at Oak Park…everyone agrees it is a much better location!!)
The FGCM Board is Sheldon Pennoyer, Tim Schloemer, Greg Austin, Carele Mayer, Lenny Cornwell, Kathy Seigars, and Jesseca Timmons. For more information about the Friends of the Greenfield Community Meetinghouse, visit greenfieldmeetinghouse.org/.