October Czechfest over faster than rolling dumplings

Diners feasting on pork loin, potato dumplings and sauerkraut were serenaded by an accordion band playing “Green Meadow Waltz” at the fourth Nebraska Czechs of York October Czechfest held Sunday, Oct. 5 at the York City Auditorium.
The annual event drew visitors from the area and as far away as David City, Wilbur, Prague, Lincoln, Omaha, Alaska, New Jersey and the Czech Republic. Names like Sluka, Vavrina, Votipka, Cuda, Zelenka and Hubka were not uncommon as area Czechs, and a few honorary Czechs, gathered for the ethnic celebration.
Seven Czech-Slovak queens from York, South-Central Nebraska, the state and nation were introduced to the crowd; demonstrating their talent and telling about their kroj (traditional Czech dress).
A dance featuring Bob Blecha and the Bouncing Czechs rounded out the day’s activities which included the first ever Dumpling Roll-off.
Pitting their dumpling making skills against the clock were Connie Strouf of Wilbur, Joan Kirshenbaum of Omaha and York’s own Karen Hying. The women were charged with mixing, rolling, cutting and plating dumplings from the recipe provided. All three competitors were awarded certificates of participation. But only two came away with a prize. Strouf was recognized by judges Charlene Olson and J.R. Wolfe for the uniform look and consistency of her rolled dumplings. Kirshenbaum took home honors in the category of speed for her rounded, lumpy sort of dumplings. Olson and Wolfe said they felt confident in their qualifications as judges because they are Czech and really like dumplings.
The 2008 Czechfest was over faster than “kolébav˘ knedlíky” (rolling dumplings). Sunday, Oct. 4 is the date Nebraska Czechs or York have set for the 2009 October Czechfest. Plans will get underway for next year’s event as soon as the last kolache is eaten. 

A special guest at the Nebraska Czechs of York October Czechfest was Miss Czech-Slovak US 2008-2009, Sandy Ptak of Anchorage, Alaska (center). On Ptak’s left is her Miss Czech-Slovak Little Sister Shayla Miller and Blair Miller, both of Friend.