It was a perfect autumn day to celebrate an Oktoberfest with the surrounding countryside displaying its leaves in colorful splendor. Pumpkins and fall decor festooned the Polk Township Vol. Fire Co. Lots of good food, good music, great entertainment and activities provided a delightful backdrop for the first West End Rotary Oktoberfest Car Show on Sunday. Its members were pleased with the community's response.

"The entire community got involved and helped it be such a huge success. We heard a lot of good feedback on how wonderful the meal was and we thank Lou Herfurth for helping us with the cost of the meat, the cookers and for preparing the pig for the pig roast. Our member Tom Donnelly was instrumental in cooking the meat and keeping us stocked in the kitchen," said Theresa Yokum, WERC's president.The German potato salad was made by Cherry's Sunset Diner, the Glacier Restaurant and the West End Rotary Club. The coleslaw came from The Hamilton.She added thanks to Chris Kresge who brought his grandfather's cider press and to Gould's Produce for donating the apples for complimentary fresh pressed apple cider.Heckman's Orchards donated the pumpkins for the free pumpkin painting available to the children.Beltzville Beverage gave WERC discount pricing on the specialty beers for the beer tasting as well as West End Beer Distributors giving a discount on the keg of Yuengling. The Yuengling Brewery donated our banners and key chains for all the drivers in the car show.Several local merchants donated items for the Chinese auction and cakes for the cake walk were donated from DiMarco's Bakery, Grandma's Bakery, Steve's Carpet, Luna Rossa, Kinsley's Shoprite, Mr. Z's, New Beginnings, Weld Services and many more. Jim Mannello in authentic German lederhosen (sp?) ran the old fashioned cake walk and got everyone involved.There were several outdoor vendors ranging from member Dan Maugher's beautiful handmade wooden items to Mother Nature "Who was our biggest ally," said Yokum.Music was provided by K-SE Enterprises. The outside DJ was Shannon Burke. Indoors there was authentic German music from CD's."It was perfect autumn day and with the event right in Kresgeville, it gave people something to do with the family right in their backyard. The car show was an amazing showing with 61 cars and several motorcycles. They all got free dash plaques and the winners in each category were awarded People's Choice award plaques provided by West End Awards," said Yokum.The winners were: Pre 1940, Gus Levanduski with a 1930 Model A Ford Roadster; 1940-49 Stock, Art Ponstingle with his 1942 Ford Tudor Super DeLuxe; 1950-59 Stock - Harley Fish, Jr. with his 1955 Ford Crown Victoria; 1950-59 Custom, Paul and Sharon Kuntz, 1958 Chevy Impala; 1960-69 Stock, Sherwood Gower with his 1963 Chevy Corvette Stingray; Matt Gower for his 1964 1/2 Ford Mustang Convertible; 1960-69 Custom, Darryl Breinich for his 1963 Ford Fairlane, 1970-79 Stock, Harry and Betty Hahn for their Ford Grand Torino; Robert Horn for his 1974 Olds Cutlass Supreme; 1970-79 Custom, Bill Jones for his 1972 Chevy Nova, 1980+ Stock, James and Ruth Kindrew for their 1980 Chevy Monte Carlo; 1980+ Custom, Thomas and June Berger for their 2007 Ford Mustang Shelby GT; Pre 1970 Truck Stock, Wayne Troxell for his 1964 Chevy Corvair Rampside; Pre 1970 Truck Custom, James Smith for his 1956 Ford Pickup; 1970+ Truck Stock, Kina Cardwell for her Chevy S10 Pickup; Motorcycle - Stroker, Dyna Wide Glide Harley; Work in Progress, Dale Kresge for his 1957 Chevy Bel Air."We're hoping to continue the success with input from the drivers for next year and possibly add a motorcycle ride that will start and finish at the event," said Yokum.Yokum also gave all the members thanks for their cooperation and dedication to help it make a success but singled out members Jill Rehrig of New Beginnings, the event's coordinator and member Dr. Karin-Susan Breitlauch of Creature Comforts, with her husband Ed Gallagher, as the car show coordinators, for all their hard work and time they put into it."They just did such a fabulous job," said Yokum.Proceeds from the event will be used toward the purchase of an ice rescue suit for the Polk Township Vol. Fire Company at a cost of $470."Depending on how the numbers end up, we're hoping that we can buy two of them," said Yokum.She added, "I encourage any local organization that is in need of a specific item to contact us so we can add it to our 'community wish list.' We hope to target our future fundraisers to help all of our local organizations the best we can. That's what West End Rotary is all about.""I think the event was incredible for our first Oktoberfest and Car show. And as always our little club of 18 members was mighty and managed to succeed at another great fundraiser for the community," said Yokum.You are invited to attend the club's Mixer to be held on Thursday, Oct. 22 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the Luna Rossa Cafe in Gilbert. It is free event to meet and socialize with the members and learn more about the club. (This event will be held in lieu of that day's morning meeting.)Also, please feel free to visit one of their meetings held every Thursday at 7:30 a.m. at the Western Pocono Community Library in Brodheadsville. Log onto their website at

www.westendrotaryclub.org.