Page 26 BAZAAR, from Page 23 Center and CASF,” said Katie Pelletier, American president of GAIWC. For a successful Pfennig Bazaar each year, GAIWC depends on the assistance of the citizens of Kaiserslautern and surrounding communities. While donations of goods have been collected from the public throughout the year, GAIWC offers a final opportunity to contribute items for this year’s Pfennig Bazaar. From noon to 5 p.m. Feb. 26 and 27, volunteers will eagerly help unload donations from vehicles at the back of the Gartenschau event hall along Badweiherstrasse, off of Forellenstraße. Items accepted include clean clothing, linens, hats, dress shoes, dishes, toys, books, antiques and collectibles, and small 220v household appliances. Items not accepted include large furniture, mattresses, skis, ski boots, luggage, running shoes and curtains. For more information or to volunteer, contact the Pfennig Bazaar chairwoman, Martina Anctil, at bazaarchair@gaiwc. com or 01577-3408463, or visit www.gaiwc.com. For more than 50 years, the Pfennig Bazaar has been the place for bargain hunters. Other programs sponsored by GAIWC include a GermanAmerican Day event each fall with the Atlantic Academy Rhineland-Palatinate to celebrate German-American relations, and a ceremony each May with the Kaiserslautern Kindergraves Memorial Foundation to honor the memory of 451 American children buried in Kaiserslautern between 1952 and 1971. GAIWC members meet monthly in conversation and literature groups, cultural and family outings, traditional dinners and other gatherings. For more information or to get involved, contact Pelletier at president@gaiwc.com or 06383-9266018, or visit www. gaiwc.com. A Welfare Request Form is available to download in either German and English under the Pfennig Bazaar/Welfare tab of the club’s website. Requests can then be submitted to the board of directors for consideration. (Courtesy of GAIWC)
Kaiserslautern American
February 15, 2013
Olsbrücken says goodbye to winter by Petra Lessoing 86th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
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raditionally, on Sunday after Fasching, the community of Olsbrücken observes a special custom — the burning of winter. The hiking club Pfälzerwaldverein will cosponsor this annual event in the village of Olsbrücken. Hikers interested in joining the spring bonfire should meet at 6 p.m. at the Dorfplatz (village square) in Olsbrücken. The mayor will hold an opening speech and village officials will sell torches for €2. The torchlight procession will then proceed through the village up to the old sports field on Oberberg hill. The route is less than a mile long and takes about 30 minutes to complete, said Thomas Jutzy, who is in charge of hikes and publicity for the PWV hiking club. Usually, about two weeks prior to the event, members of the hiking group start building a 15-foot-high pile of wood to be burned near the sports field. Even old Christmas trees are added to the pile. When all hikers have arrived at the pile, they will throw
Participants of the burning of winter event in Olsbrücken walk with torches up to Oberberg hill where the bonfire is lit.
Courtesy photos
People watch the "burning of winter" in Olsbrücken. This year's event takes place at 6 p.m. Saturday.
their torches onto the wood, under the supervision of the local fire department. In starting this fire, winter will be “burned.” “Our club is running a hut on that hill, where sausages and beverages will be served,” Jutzy said. “Many members to include some Americans love to be on duty and run the hut on special events.” Organizers expect about 500 to 600 guests to join this annual event. For more information on the event, visit www.pwvolsbruecken.de. Other communities in the Pfalz will say goodbye to winter with so-called summer day parades leading through the town, ending with the burning of piles or figures made of straw and wood. In the wine-growing village of Neuleiningen, the burning of winter with a parade will take place March 10. More celebrations will take place in Forst, Landau and Speyer. In Speyer, a snowman will be burned. The voluntary fire department in Kollweiler will “burn winter” March 15 near the local Bürgerhaus.
Toddler training cups: Do you know your options? by Airman 1st Class Aubrey Koehler 86th Dental Squadron A broad selection of training cups are available, however not all of them may be suitable for your child. Knowing the purpose of a training cup is the key to helping you select an appropriate one. The sippy cup is a training tool to help children transition from a bottle to a cup. Finding the right cup and monitoring its use are important aspects of this transition. The most effective training cups have a snap on lid and spout. Cups with handles for your child to grasp are a great choice. Some training cups even have weights in the bottom to help make spills less likely. When selecting a training cup, be sure to avoid those
that advertise "no spill." Cups with valves only allow your child to obtain liquid by sucking, much like a bottle. Once the skill of sipping is accomplished the purpose has been achieved and your child can move on to an open cup. Children should be encouraged to drink from a cup by their first birthday. At this point, you will be helping your child develop the motor skills and cognitive thinking involved in using an open cup. Do not allow your child to become accustomed to having their cup within reach. Drinks should only be given at mealtimes or when they are thirsty for water. Sipping while in the stroller, car seat or any other time in between meals puts the child at risk for injury and tooth decay. Giving sugary drinks (including milk) to fussy toddlers pro-
motes frequent sipping, which in turn encourages tooth decay as the bacteria feast on the sugars and produce acids that deteriorate the teeth. Sipping while walking or running may result in injury to the mouth as toddlers are often unsteady on their feet. Your child’s well-being depends on you. Be sure to schedule a dental “well baby checkup" when your child’s first teeth appear. The dentist will provide you with useful information on how to properly care for your child's teeth and gums in addition to checking for decay and other potential problems. Early and consistent visits can help your child establish good dental habits that last a lifetime. For questions or concerns, call the 86th Dental Squadron at 479-2210 or 011-49-6371-46-2210.