Some of our own selected as Performers of the Year!

Bert Stromholm and blind virtuoso accordionist Brent Buswell have been selected by Finlandia Foundation National as their 2008 Performer's of The Year.

Bert, a Past President, accordionist and program chairman of SAHS for the past 19 years and Brent will be subsidized by FFN for transportation costs to anywhere in the USA for one year to perform at various events, Scandinavian or American. Bert and Brent have been performing together for the past 10 years. They have been already contacted by organizations as far away as San Francisco, Seattle, Portland, Oregon, Duluth, Minnesota among others and it looks like a busy year ahead.

Congratulations Bert, congratulations Brent, happy traveling to both of you!!

2008 SCANDINAVIAN HOP REUNION

The Hop will be held April 26, 2008 at 7PM at VASA PARK, Budd Lake, N.J. 07828. Music by the Bert Stromholm Orchestra.

Other musicians are invited to sit in : bring your instrument!

Entrance includes Scandinavian and American Dance instruction, open face sandwiches,coffee, and cake.
Refreshments available at VASA's licensed bar.

Please join us for this rollicking evening of fun and music.

A brief Hop History: In 1977, a few couples that had lived in Brooklyn, NY and had recently moved to New Jersey decided to try and have a dance that would be attended by people from all the Scandinavian countries - not just sponsored by individual clubs and organizations as had been done in the past. Other unique features would be: dance instruction on every band break, teenagers would be invited to be seated at their own tables and be charged a very minimum entry fee, given free refreshments and treated as honored guests. The committee hoped for 100 people at the first dance and over 200 showed up. A larger hall was found an for the next 22 years with 2 dances a year an average of 265 people, including about 50 teenagers, showed up for the dances. Some of the dances had crowds of over 300 people. When attendance started to decrease in the late 90's the committee decided it was time for them to hope that some other organization would take it over and they had their last dance.

The floor was filled all night with dancers and the great dance music of the 5 member SAHS Band that was augmented by Ines and Frank Csulak on the accordion and trumpet who volunteered their services for the night. Where else can you dance to a 7 piece Scandinavian dance band in this day and age? Hope to see you all at the next Hop. Keep checking the SAHS website for updates.

Liisa and Bert Stromholm,
Hop Chairpersons.

A Holiday Recipe:

Yule Glug
In a pot put:
1 Cup of water
2 Tablespoons of Sugar
Rind of a citrus (Orange, tangerine, or lemon), Toss in the juice too!
5 Cinnamon sticks
6 Whole cardamom
8 cloves
3 dozen blanched almonds
¼ lb raisins
Boil this up for about a minute then add:
1 gallon of port wine
1 cup whiskey
Heat it up and enjoy with friends!!

Have you sent us your Dues?

Our Annual dues are due in January to keep up your uninterrupted membership. WE NEED AND APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT, so please stay with us so that we can keep this wonderful event alive and dynamic.

Individual membership is still $10 or the whole family can join for $15 via Family membership. Please make our your check to SAHS New Jersey and send it to:
The Bakers
4 Hidden Glen Road
Long Valley, N.J.07853