Page 1 - GC July-Aug 2022

A NEWSPAPER SERVING THE GERMAN-AMERICANS OF UPSTATE NEW YORK
AUSTRIA • GERMANY • LIECHTENSTEIN • SWITZERLAND
Vol. 10 No. 3 July - August 2022 Issue

Germans worry Maifest celebrates recurring

about war and inflation tradition at Hofbrauhaus Buffalo

w.com: The German govern- pushing environmental concerns in- by Steve Dlugosz
Dment is supporting Ukraine, to third place. he arrival of spring and
battling inflation, and combatting The war is driving up energy warm weather in Buffalo
climate change. A monthly survey prices, but food prices have also Twere embraced conjointly
has asked voters how they rate the risen significantly. Almost half of with the annual Maifest celebration
efforts. all respondents said they already at Hofbrauhaus Buffalo on May 22,
This week, German Chancellor have to cut back significantly be- an event that officially kicked off
Olaf Scholz made the announce- cause of this. Among low-income the biergarten season and highlights
ment that Ukraine earners, 77% one of the oldest German traditions.
is to receive the say they are be- Maifest has religious origins,
most modern air ginning to still celebrated in Germany and
defense system struggle, and so transitioned into the United States
Germany has to do 59% of east- and other countries. As part of the
offer, four multi- ern Germans, celebration, the maibaum (maypole)
ple rocket launch- whose average is decorated to show off the history from those attending Maifest. Lind-
ers, and a household in- and crafts of the town, with the day's sey Vega of Leveled Up Buffalo
powerful tracking comes are low- afternoon rain in Buffalo not deter- said the day serves as both a fun
radar to detect er than those in ring the maypole in Hofbrauhaus's time and good promotional purpose.
Russian missiles and drones. By the west of the country. beer garden from being decorated Other developments on site at
pledging such high-tech equipment, The German government has and danced around by those in at- Hofbrauhaus include projected in-
Scholz surprised his critics who had launched various measures to ease tendance. frastructure improvements, to go
accused him of dragging his feet for the financial burden on citizens. Numerous vendors were on along with added themed events,
weeks. From June to August, there is the €9 hand as well presenting a wide vari- including Christmas in July, and
The chancellor has good reasons ($9.67) monthly ticket for local ety of items and goods, partly sym- new beers available on tap, includ-
for his cautious approach to weap- public transport, the gasoline tax bolic of the Maifest historical ing premier lager, Hefeweizen,
ons deliveries: Pacifism is deeply has also been reduced, and every tradition of village market places Dunkel, Maibach Munich, Doppel-
rooted in his center-left Social taxpayer is to receive a lump-sum bustling as part of the spring emer- bach, Hopfen Special and October-
Democratic Party (SPD). This is payment of €300 to mitigate the gence. fest. Scott Schuler serves as brew
also true of the majority of SPD increase in heating costs. Even Over the years, the celebration master, praised by Filbert and others
voters, half of whom favor a cau- though the measures are only tem- has become a community-wide tra- for his creativity and knowledge.
tious approach so as to not provoke porary, most of those polled were in dition, drawing spectators and par- Hofbrauhaus also offers a Stein
Russia. This is the result of the lat- favor. ticipants from all parts of the Club, with a number of open mem-
est "Deutschlandtrend" survey by Bad marks for the government community. The beginning of bership spots available. Hofbrau-
pollster infratest dimap, which put But overall, the ruling coalition Maifest is treated as a "town holi- haus has also implemented Sunday
questions to 1,337 eligible voters government of SPD, Greens, and day." Last September marked the brunch, taking place between 11
this week. the neoliberal Free Democrats official grand opening of Hofbrau- who are interested in coming out to a.m. and 3 p.m.
Support for Ukraine (FDP) is losing support: 59% of haus in downtown Buffalo, with the Maifest. It's fun." Filbert said the infusion of vari-
They found that supporters of respondents express dissatisfaction uniqueness of the facility offering a Tori Castimore of Tozrezin gave ous establishments in the nearby
the Green Party, one of the SPD's with the government more than ever little bit of everything to WNY's thanks to Hofbrauhaus for provid- and Cobblestone districts has helped
coalition partners in government, since it took office last December. diverse population, according to ing a vendor-friendly setup, adding revitalize downtown.
are strongly in favor of decisive A majority of supporters of the R.J. Filbert, general manager at that she expected a solid day of sales
action, including weapons deliver- SPD and the Greens are happy with Hofbrauhaus.
ies and a tough approach towards the government's overall perfor- "We've got something unique to Buffalo Dortmund Sister City
Russia. This is remarkable, consid- mance, while FDP supporters are offer," said Filbert, a native of Pitts-
ering the party is rooted in the coun- fast becoming disenchanted: Half of burgh, PA, another city that is part program to welcome students
try's peace movement of the 1980s. the supporters of the pro-free mar- of the Hofbrauhaus franchise.
There is also a marked divide ket party are not impressed with the "Maifest is one of the things people Buffalo hosted Buffalo Dortmund Student Am-
between western and eastern Ger- government's track record. look forward to, part of our ongoing bassador Director and University at
man voters on the matter of military Supporters of the main opposi- plans. The maypole dance and deco- exchange in June Buffalo German Instructor Lynn
aid to Ukraine: 53% of respondents tion parties — the conservative ration, it's historical. We can do uffalo Dortmund Student Am- Engle was part of the U.S. delega-
in the west of the country support Christian Democratic Union and these things all year round, it creates Bbassador Program under direc- tion and instrumental in the devel-
military assistance, while only 35% Christian Social Union (CDU/CSU) a lot of excitement...We're building tor Lynn Engle will welcome 15 opment of the program here in
of those in the region that was for- — and, above all, supporters of the a culture. We have the best service students arriving in mid August to Buffalo. The 16-person delegation
merly socialist East Germany do so. far-right populist Alternative for team in the City of Buffalo." attend high school while living with met with and visited several local
The German government also Germany (AfD) as well as the The maypole and dance around host families in Buffalo. Last year leaders and institutions to under-
supports EU sanctions against Rus- growing number of non-voters are it is described, historically, as a sin- she had 8 students and is excited to stand the connections within and
sia and continues with diplomatic clearly critical of the government's gular symbol of spring's awakening have almost double this year. between diverse communities by
efforts. German Chancellor Olaf course in Berlin. Among lower-in- and fruitfulness. The maibum (may- The students will be attending bringing individuals together for an
Scholz and French President Em- come households and people living pole) may stand in a market place, Canisius High School, St. Joe’s, honest exchange of the issues.
manuel Macron spoke to Russian in eastern Germany, 70% express in front of city hall or at individual Nardin, Buffalo Seminary and Mt. The week-long event began with
President Vladimir Putin on the dissatisfaction. residential houses or businesses. St. Mary’s and immersing them- a tour of City Hall provided by Da-
phone recently – without achieving The CDU/CSU manages to ben- In addition to the Maipole cere- selves into the American high vid Granville (former sister city liai-
any tangible result. efit from this trend and has forged mony, live music was performed by school culture. The students and son to Mayor Masiello) followed by
How do voters rate these ef- ahead in the monthly national sur- Parkside Brass and the Marabella host families will enjoy a variety of a discussion with Tim O'Shei from
forts? Fifteen percent of survey re- vey, polling at 27% the conserva- Band, with the SGTV Schuplattler events that include visiting Niagara the Buffalo News who provided
spondents said they felt that the tives have again emerged as the Dancers performing in the after- Falls, rafting at Letchworth State some background on issues in Buf-
sanctions were going too far, 41% strongest force in German politics. noon. Park, Sky High Adventure in Elli- falo including division in the com-
thought they did not go far enough, They headed the government for Vendors on site included: Torzr- cottville and a day at the Ganonda- munity and the aftermath of the
while 41% also felt there should be most of the 77 years since the end of ezin, Leveled Up Buffalo, Gnome gan Seneca Art & Culture Center in May 14 massacre.
more diplomatic efforts. Twenty- World War II and lost power last Estay, Ashtronomical Art, Soaring Victor, NY. Participants also met with sever-
three percent of those surveyed year after 16 years in government with Creations, Kaleyedascopize: Recently, a group representing al organizations including Journey's
deemed Germany's arms deliveries under Chancellor Angela Merkel. Unleashed Arts and Route 5 Glass both the U.S. and Germany came End Refugee Service, Buffalo Co-
as having gone too far. The SPD continues to lose sup- Design. Numerous vendors as well together in Buffalo as part of the Lab, The Native American Commu-
Dramatic price hikes port, while the Green Party contin- as Filbert credited the work of staff American Institute for Contempo- nity Services of Erie & Niagara
Over the past few months, vot- ues to make gains on the federal member Matt Chase for adept coor- rary German Studies with Johns Counties, Westminster Economic
ers' priorities have shifted. Last level as in the regional states. For- dination of the day's vending layout. Hopkins University. The week- Development Initiative, UB Inter-
September, a majority named cli- eign Minister Annalena Baerbock "Matt (Chase) is so easy to work long event from June 5 to June 10 cultural & Diversity Center and
mate change as the most important and Economy Minister Robert with," said Ashley Lamp of Ash- was phase 2 of the Social Divisions Open Buffalo.
problem that German policymakers Habeck of the Green Party have the stronomical Art, which offered and Questions of Identity in Germa- AICGS has three primary objec-
should focus on. But now, foreign highest approval ratings at 60%, far gems, crystals, stones and other ny and the United States. Phase one tives for the program: (1) bring to-
policy towards Russia and Ukraine ahead of Chancellor Olaf Scholz items for sale. "Hofbrauhaus is such took place in Dortmund, the sister gether people who are actively
and battling inflation top the list, (43%) and CDU chairman Friedrich a cool venue, you get a lot of people city of Buffalo back in March of engaged in their communities for
Merz at 35%. 2022. continued on page 7