After taking part in the Little Miss Schuetzen Park 2010 contest, Rosie Guenther, a Hoboken native and a winner, thought that the day was full of fun and excitement.
The contest was held in late summer at the 136th annual “Oktoberfest” presented by the German organization Plattduetsche Volksfest-Vareen of New York and New Jersey. The PVV holds the festival every year at the Fritz Reuter Altenheim, a retirement home located at 3161 Kennedy Blvd. in North Bergen. All proceeds go toward the Altenheim and other charities.
The Little Miss Schuetzen Park Beauty Pageant requires girls ages 7 to 12 to write an essay about a person of German heritage who contributed something to the world. A queen, two princesses, and four junior princesses are named. The winners get custom gowns made for them, and ride in the annual Steuben Day Parade down New York City’s Fifth Avenue, which was scheduled for Sept. 25.
“On the float you have to wave to people.” – Helen Grewe
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Chairperson Kathleen Solorzano-Youngclaus got involved with the contest two years ago after her daughter won the position of queen.
“It’s important to Hudson County,” she said. “There was a big German population in Hudson County, and by continuing the tradition we still remain one of Hudson County’s roots.”
Along with Youngclaus, founder and Chairperson John Lawrora and Chairperson Ellen Gloistein judged the contest.
Hudson County junior princesses
Guenther won one of the junior princess positions, along with Helen Grewe of Secaucus.
“I wrote about Dr. Seuss,” said Guenther, a fourth grade student. “I wrote that his real name was Theodor [Seuss Geisel], that he was born in Massachusetts, and that he helped children to read, helped inspire children with his books.”
Guenther mentioned that, while Geisel was on a road trip, he heard the rhythm of his car’s engine, which helped create his book “And I think I saw it on Mulberry Street.”
Her mother, Faith, said that her father was a resident of the Altenheim, and that while visiting, the staff asked if her daughter would be interested in competing. After asking her daughter, Guenther signed up.
Guenther’s father was born and raised in Germany, while her great-grandparents are from Austria and Germany.
Grewe, a fifth grade student, wrote her essay on Martin Luther, the German priest who broke away from the Catholic Church and began the Protestant Reformation.
Grewe said she wrote about how he was born in Germany and why he made the break from the Church.
She took part in the contest last year and won the position of court member. Grewe said she liked taking part in it because of all of the new friends she has met.
Being in a NYC parade
“I’m very excited,” said Guenther, referring to being in the parade in New York City, which her family attends as spectators every year.
Both pageant winners were excited to see what their custom-made gowns would look like.
“On the float you have to wave to people,” said Grewe, who said she enjoyed taking part in it last year.
The other winners who were scheduled to appear on Sept. 25 include Queen Karen Herbert of Freehold, 1st Princess Julia Danishewski of Staten Island, N.Y., and 2nd Princess Nastasja Radovic of Ridgefield.
Tricia Tirella may be reached at TriciaT@hudsonreporter.com.