Once again North Shore Community Development Association is getting ready for Communities in Bloom 2007. Tatamagouche finished with 3 Blooms out of a possible 5 Blooms for 2006 and Honourable Mention for Community Involvement and Floral Displays. Our overall scores improved over 2005 and it was easy to tell that the entire community put forth a great effort. Driving or walking Main Street you could see many more planters and window boxes filled with beautiful flowers. The hanging baskets supplied by the Village Commission were great!

Plans have started for 2007 and NSCDA hopes that everyone will get involved making this year even better that last. Our goal for 2007 is to reach 4 Blooms – what an accomplishment that would be and it is certainly attainable with the continued support from businesses, local groups and individuals.

If you have any ideas or would like to get involved… please, call Lisa Redmond at 657-3811, Esther MacKenzie at 657-2980 or drop into North Shore Business Centre, 225 Main St, Tatamagouche.

Are you between the ages of 15 & 18 ?
If so we would like you to participate in the research project on your food choice behavior.

The study will involve participating in a 90 minute focus group discussing how you choose the foods you eat.
Participates will receive a $20 Truro Mall Gift Certificate. Please call Letitia @ 893-6227

Are You Between the ages of 19 & 40 ?
If so we would like you to participate in a research project on food choice behavior.
Participants will receive a $20 Gift Certificate from Foodland or Truro Mall.
For More Info Call Letitia @ 893-6227

TATAMAGOUCHE - Roll out the barrel!! Staub die lederhosen ab, (dust off your leather pants), Strap on your lederhosen (leather shorts) and dust off your dirndlkleid (ladies wear). It’s Oktoberfest Time in Tatamagouche! The 27th Annual Oktoberfest celebration will take place this year on September 29th & 30th at the North Shore Recreation Centre.

The famed Oktoberfest began with a Royal Bavarian wedding in 1810. The groom, King Ludwig I, decided to commemorate his marriage to Maria Teresa of Saxony, by proclaiming that a state fair be held in Munich in conjunction with the fall harvest and to his regions most famous product - beer. Tradesman and merchants arrived in Munich from throughout Germany to join in the merry-making. They examined the crops, sang songs, danced and sampled the first beer of the season. The celebration was such a success that Ludwig issued a Royal Decree that saw Munich enjoying a fall festival each year. Oktoberfest has become an annual celebration in many countries of the world since that time.

Sponsored by the North Shore Bavarian Society and held the last Friday and Saturday in September, the annual North Shore Oktoberfest draws thousands of visitors to the Village of Tatamagouche. All events are held at the North Shore Recreation Centre in Tatamagouche. With a great deal of work by volunteers, the Centre is transformed into a Bavarian Dance Hall with concession stands throughout the hall that offer traditional foods that range from Oktoberfest sausages and German sauerkraut to delicate cheesecakes and other delicious treats. The North Shore Bavarian Society is awarding a cash door prize this year to one of the lucky ticket holders.

All amenities are available at each of the three events, which include a Friday Evening Dance, Saturday afternoon Beer Gardens, and a Saturday Evening Dance. Beverages will include domestic and German Beers, local wines and imported spirits, a Schnapps Bar, coffee and soft drinks.

Shadow Security from Halifax and their event security division will once again be on hand with experience that has provided security for over 185 artists and 1.2 million attendees. Last year they were a welcome addition to the annual event.

The Friday Evening Dance begins at 8 p.m. and an Awards Ceremony at 10 p.m. will recognize the businesses in Tatamagouche who decorated their shops and storefronts for the Oktoberfest celebrations. First, Second and Third Prizes will be awarded.

The Beer garden on Saturday will be held from 11a.m. to 5 p.m. and the Saturday Evening Dance from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m.

Die Holzhacker Bub’n and the Saxons will be playing German & Canadian music
at all three events and a free children’s show that will include many activities is scheduled for Saturday, September 30th from 1 - 4 p.m. at the Tatamagouche Creamery Square. There will be ample on site parking to accommodate huge crowds and Markie Bus Tours from Truro will be operating again this year.

Visitors are encouraged to visit tourism and business operators in the area who decorate
their shops for the occasion and many offer Oktoberfest Celebration Specials. As well as the Oktoberfest there are many things to see and do in the area. For example: the Hidden Jewel Shop of Treasures in Pugwash is offering 30% off dresses, shirts and tops for the weekend. View a wide selection of handmade quilts from various quilters at the Fraser Cultural Centre at the Annual Oktoberfest Quilt Sale. A visit to Jost Vineyard’s in Malagash is a must and on September 16th drop in during their 8th Annual Grape Stomp and watch the fun as stompers squish grapes for charity.

Be sure to visit Sugar Moon Farm while in the area which just recently was selected by
Halifax’s Hip Weekly Newspaper and their food panelists as the “Best Reason to Take a Drive.” Enjoy buttermilk pancakes, baked beans and sausage, with maple syrup.

For those who enjoy lip-smacking, palate-pleasing German cuisine, visit the German food section at Sunrise Mercantile, just 2 minutes west of Tatamagouche. At this new “hot spot” for gourmet foods from around the world, owners, Dave and Suzy Belt will feature free in-store sampling of German treats the week leading up to Oktoberfest. If you want to take home some delectable German foods, Sunrise Mercantile is the place to go for a complete selection of spaetzle, sauerkraut, mustard, malzbier, curry ketchup, potato dumplings, rotkohl, spices, pickles, preserves, breads, cookies, chocolate, marzipan, and even “original” Fanta orange drink - all imported directly from Germany. Sunrise Mercantile is also launching their fall music concert series beginning Friday, September 22nd with classical music by the Tatamagouche Chamber Ensemble; continuing with a Celtic Christmas concert by the harp group, Maeve, and finishing with an intimate acoustic Christmas concert by balladeer Dave Gunning. While shopping at the Mercantile, also plan a few extra minutes to sit for a while in their new cafe, where you can enjoy a leisurely dessert, coffee, or tea, while overlooking a spectacular ocean view.

On October 7th & 8th ride the chairlift at Ski Wentworth for a spectacular view of all the fall colors in the beautiful Wentworth Valley for the annual Wentworth Valley’s Fall Festival of Colors. For more details visit skiwentworth.ca

“The North Shore Bavarian Society thanks the many volunteers and Society Members who volunteer their time to make this event a success.” ” The Oktoberfest celebration requires a lot of hard work but as people continue to return each year to celebrate and others volunteer their time, the spirit and the comradeship continues throughout the year.”

Tickets to the Oktoberfest can be purchased at The Balmoral Motel, Tatamagouche, Fulton’s Pharmacy, Tatamagouche and River John, Sunrise Mercantile, Tatamagouche, Mingo’s Music Sales, Truro and the Amherst Wandlyn Inn.
For more information call 657-3030 or 657-3104 or visit www.nsoktoberfest.ca

During November of 2005 surveys were sent to over 70 local volunteer groups. The purpose of the survey was to determine what is needed by these groups to make it easier to encourage more people to volunteer and to help them sustain the people they have. The groups that responded to the survey were invited to attend a Supper Meeting held on Feb 20th in the boardroom at North Shore Business Centre. The results of the survey were presented to those attending followed by much discussion. Many great suggestions were made and North Shore Community Development Association hopes to implement as many of these suggestions as possible.

There is lots of buzz happening at North Shore Community Development Association, plans are in the works for the upcoming Communities in Bloom Event. NSCDA entered Tatamagouche in the event in 2005 and out of a possible 5 Blooms, Tatamagouche finished with 3 Blooms and Honourable Mention for Environmental Awareness. These results were outstanding considering the fact that the group was late getting started in the activities. 2005 was a learning year and the group started with small projects such as the signage and flowerbeds at each end of the village on Route 6, a storefront and residential contest and Adopt-a-Highway cleanup by the local 4-H Club.

Tatamagouche already has so much going for it; wonderful architecture, outstanding lawns and gardens, a quaint retail community consisting of numerous small shops that blend in with the culture and heritage of the area.

Committees are being formed and volunteers rounded up to help get this project rolling. Although the population of the village is approximately 700 residents plus 1200 in the rural areas, there is an incredible group of volunteers numbering in the hundreds that can be counted on to help. NSCDA is hoping these people will come forward to give their assistance in any way that they can to put Tatamagouche on the map. If you have some time to spare and would like to get involved please call Julie Langille or Lisa Remond 657-3811 or drop into North Shore Business Centre, Main St, Tatamagouche.