Bucks County Herald – November 29, 2007

Kringle Christmas Shoppe “heads up” from Karina Rilling

Dear Friends,

Good morning. Whenever Karina Sturman Rilling gives me a “heads up,” I listen. Karina is one of four beautiful sisters who fled with their parents from Latvia in 1944, moments before the Russian occupation. I wrote about the Sturman family in the Quakertown Free Press six years ago. If you’d like a copy of that story, let me know.

Karina told me that the “Kringle Christmas Shoppe” would have a definite Latvian flavor this year. For the last five years, the Haycock Historical Society has run a three-day Christmas benefit, “Kringle Christmas Shoppe.” Featuring juried artists, crafters and entertainers, it attracted more than 500 in 2006.

This year, the popular event will be held at the Bucks County Latvian Baptist Church in Applebachsville. The dates are Friday, December 7 (1 to 8 PM), Saturday, December 8 (10 am to 4:30 PM), and Sunday, December 9 (12:30 to 4:30 PM).

Chris Handschin is the President of the Haycock Historical Society. She told me that the Latvian culture would be highlighted with a kiosk area filled with Latvian costumes, food and amber jewelry. Amber is a favorite among Latvians who’ve collected older pieces throughout the years.

Chris emphasized that Calvin Ruth, a well known Quakertown artist, will be selling three of his oil paintings plus 60 water colors of scenes from the region. “My personal mission is to encourage local people to buy his pictures and register them so the community does not lose contact [with the art],” Chris began.

She was quick to point out that every crafter receives 75 percent of their sales and the society keeps 25 percent. The event is one of the major fundraisers for the year. All the artists and crafters live in Haycock’s neighboring municipalities.

Karina told me that one of her Latvian friends, Juris Ukstins, will autograph copies of his father’s journals from World War II. Juris translated them into English. “My Daily Bread” follows the family’s flight from Latvia to Germany to America during and after the war. “The proceeds will be sent to ministers who are pensioned and destitute in Latvia,” Karina added.

I also learned that Riga, Latvia’s capital, is home to the Christmas tree, a tradition begun in 1511, just six years before Martin Luther’s actions unleashed the age of Protestantism. Luther has always fascinated me. A Catholic priest, he nailed 95 stinging rebukes to the door of the Wittenberg Cathedral. At his subsequent church trial, he uttered the famous line, “Here I stand, I can do no other.”

Although excommunicated, in his mind, Luther continued to be a Catholic priest…in fact, a married priest. Latvians would have approved of Luther. They are people known for their spunk.

But I stray.

You’ll see and hear 42 artisans and musicians. Chris singled out several entertainers and guest authors from the area. “Steve Applegate and Richard Laughlin are both vocalists and guitarists,” she continued. “Gorden Allem and Ed Bauer play the Dulcimer, a primitive folk stringed instrument; Steve Wysocki is a pianist and Haycock elementary school teacher; Leah Augstroze is a violinist whose father is the President of the Latvian Church council; Jonnie Handschin is a guitarist and vocalist. Leah and Jonnie are students at the Lehigh Valley Charter School for the Performing Arts.

“Besides Juris Ukstins,” Chris said, “We have two guest authors who’ll be signing their books: Lynda Gene Raymond’s children book “Oscar and the Mooncats,” and Thomas Moll’s “Pennsylvania German Lineage in Haycock.”

Belgian horse and buggy rides through the village of Applebachsville will be a hit on Saturday and Sunday. “And on Sunday at 12:30 PM, choristers from the Latvian Church will sing in their native language,” Chris reported.

Every year, the society sells a commemorative plate. This year, the Latvian Baptist Church will be featured. Calendars with Haycock’s one-room schools will be popular. So will the raffles, prizes, treats and drinks.

Chris Handschin and Karina Rilling hope that you attend the show. “It’s so much fun,” Chris concluded. By the way, the three day schedule is on their website: www.haycockhistoricalsociety.org. I’ll see you there.

Sincerely,

Charles Meredith