Legion to hold Fasching Fest

NEW BREMEN - Get your dirndl frocks and lederhosen ready for the time to polka is quickly approaching after a local organization announced plans to resurrect the Fasching Fest.

New Bremen village councilors listened to a Tuesday night presentation by Adam Suchland and agreed to donate $500 toward the Feb. 24 event.

Jim Coons, executive director of the Southwestern Auglaize County Chamber of Commerce, recently announced plans to forgo the annual Minster festival in order to focus on seminars and presentations related to the current state of the economy.

Suchland and fellow Sons of the American Legion members are interested in bringing the event from Minster to New Bremen on the eve of Ash Wednesday. He also hopes to involve the American Legion Auxiliary in the fundraising event.

Festivities would begin at 4 p.m. at the Legion hall located along state Route 66 with traditional Bavarian fare including sausage, sauerkraut, hot potato salad and streudel bites. Bette's Polka Band, a popular feature at area events, would offer music beginning at 5 p.m.

Suchland noted the village's donation would cover the cost of the husband and wife group from northwestern Ohio.

In other business, councilors:

• Gave first reading to a resolution of necessity for improvements to Elk and Fox streets in the second phase of the Teton Subdivision reconstruction project. Engineers estimate the project will cost $479,000 with $190,000 coming from an Ohio Public Works Commission grant. The local share is $289,000. An ordinance certifying curb assessments in phase one (Front and Deer streets) also was approved on first reading.

• Amended the village payroll ordinance increasing pay for seasonal help to reflect minimum wage laws starting at $7.30 to $8.25.

• Set the next meeting for 7:30 p.m. Feb. 10 at the village administration building.