Cool temps dampen beer, liquor sales
Larry Jindra, one of the Kolacky Days parade announcers, summed up a memory of this year’s festival the best when he said, “I don’t ever remember a Kolacky Days this cold since it was held in September.”
Indeed, temperatures made it feel like September. According to the National Weather Service, on Saturday at noon temperatures were at 63 degrees. By 8:30 p.m. that night, it dropped to a chilly 55 degrees.
On Sunday morning, the Bun Run runners greeted 54 degrees of fall air to run their 5K race in, and by noon when the Grand Day Parade started, the temperature rose to 63 degrees. By the time the parade ended, it was a perfect 70 degrees for everyone at Memorial Park.
Beer Sales
Matt Kaderlik from College City Beverage of Northfield, the supplier for the Beer Garden liquor, reported that beer and misc. wine cooler sales were down this year. He said Kolacky Days used 70 kegs of beer, compared to 78 last year. Crowds also went through 25 cases of misc. liquor compared to 40 cases last year.
A new queen
The Kolacky Days Queen Pageant kicked off the festival on Friday with the crowning of a new set of local ambassadors. Allie Trnka, daughter of Jon and Ronna Trnka was crowned Queen. Kayla Trcka, daughter of Bill and Christine Trcka of Lonsdale, took home the double titles of First Princess and Miss Congeniality. Katelyn Stasney, daughter of Russ and Debbie Stasney, rounded off the royal group with the title of Second Princess.
The pageant also featured contestants Danielle Glende and Andrea Foote. Foote suffered an unfortunate accident prior to her talent competition. She had planned to play the polka selection “Pie in the Face” by Henry Mancini on her saxophone, but right before she went onstage, the instrument broke. Still, Foote went onstage and tried to play the energetic song, but stopped shortly after she began. She apologized, explained what happened and left the stage.
After the intermission, emcee Bill Marek complimented all of the candidates, and pointed out Foote’s accident.
“I thought she dealt with it with grace and handled it as best she could,” he said, then encouraged everyone in the auditorium to applaud the candidate.
The five candidates did well at answering their onstage interview questions. Trnka’s response to how she would design a billboard at the edge of town drew on the town’s history and her love of arts and crafts.
“I would put a lot of our history on it, such as Seneca because they are a large part of our community; and Franke’s (bakery) because their donuts are awesome; and I would also put some of our school system on it because we’ve had a lot of improvements and it shows how much our town is improving.”
Winners
Also at the pageant, Button Chairperson Angie Budin reported on the number of buttons that the candidates sold during the weeks leading up to the pageant. Budin said the group sold 655 buttons, but the top seller was Danielle Glende who sold 182 buttons. Glende’s effort was rewarded with a prize of $75 in Monty Bucks. She also drew Brittni Lindberg’s name as the grand prize winner of $100 in Monty Bucks. Other buttons winners ($25 in Monty Bucks for each) are Mary Stanke, Art Kaisersatt and Tim Birdsell.
Raffle
On Sunday, the Kolacky Days raffle was held at Memorial Park. Lloyd Wiechmann won the $1,000, and fellow fire fighter Ted Kadrlik won $500. Jason Silverman of St. Louis, MO won $300, and John Grimm won $200. Chuck Rynda won $75.
Sons of American Legion Bean Bag Winners
1st place - “The Mosquitos Are Coming” - Al and Keith Rezac.
2nd place - “Hole Patrol” - Taylor McCrady and Mike Kocina.
3rd place - “Team Rule’s” - Taylor Rohehling and Shane Schwarty.
2013 Homemade Wine Competition Winners
Best of Show: White Blend - Scott Lager, St. Peter
Class 1-Red Grape
1st Place-Shiraz Viognieri, Pete Croatt, New Prague
2nd Place-Port, Tony Blaschko, Le Center
3rd Place-Wild Grape, John Korbel, Mtgy.
Class 2-White Grape
1st Place-White Blend, Scott Lager, St. Peter
2nd Place-South African Sauv. Blanc, Pete Croatt, New Prague
3rd Place-Pinot Gris, Charles Richter, Mtgy.
Class 3-Rosé Grape
1st Place-French Rosé, Pete Croatt, New Prague
2nd Place-White Zin/Red Rosé Blend, Scott Lager, St. Peter
Class 4-Red Non-Grape
1st Place-MN Strawberry, Pete Croatt, New Prague
2nd Place-Chokecherry, Rachell Stephens, Mtgy.
3rd Place (Tie)-Elderberry, Marlin Menke, Faribault
3rd Place (Tie)-Raspberry Rhubarb, John Korbel, Mtgy.
Class 5-White Non-Grape
1st Place-Pepin Heights Apple, Pete Croatt, New Prague
2nd Place-White Chocolate, Cheryl Simon, Mtgy.
3rd Place-Rhubarb, Scott Lager, St. Peter
Class 6-Rosé Non-Grape
1st Place-Wheat, Cheryl Simon, Mtgy.
2nd Place-Rosé Fusion, Pete Croatt, New Prague
2013 Home-Baked Kolacky Contest Winners
Best Tasting Traditional 1st Place:
4th Generation/Severns, Scheel, Scheel, Baldwin
2nd Place:
Mrs. Arnold (Pat) Petricka, Medford
3rd Place:
Adeline Pomije, Owatonna
Best Tasting Non-Traditional
1st Place: Mary Holtz, Mtgy.
2nd Place: Darlene Homberg, Lonsdale
3rd Place:
Denise Halloran, Le Center
Most Perfectly Shaped
1st Place:
4th Generation/Severns, Scheel, Scheel, Baldwin
2nd Place: Denise Halloran, Le Center
3rd Place: Denise Halloran, Le Center
