Clutier American Legion Hora-Machacek Post 453 in cooperation with members of the Auxiliary held their annual fall pancake breakfast and bake sale fundraiser on Sunday, Oct. 18, in Clutier. Auxiliary members pictured with a selection of baked goods for sale include (l-r): Margaret Babinat, Ila Jean Yung, Collette Wiebbecke, Diane Caloud and Bev Colvin. Not pictured, Deb Kupka. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

CLUTIER – The community of Clutier had a lot going on last weekend, including the annual fall pancake breakfast and bake sale hosted Sunday, Oct. 18, by Clutier American Legion Hora-Machacek Post 453 in cooperation with members of the Auxiliary.

Unfortunately, turnout this year was down somewhat for both fundraisers, possibly owing to Vining Fire Department’s own pancake fundraiser and bake sale, which was held at roughly the same time in the fellow Czech Trail community. In conjunction, the City of Vining held a raffle for park improvements.

Treasurer Diane Caloud said the Clutier Auxiliary’s bake sale profits were “OK” but certainly did not break any records. True to tradition, the biannual bake sale featured delectable Czech pastries, including homemade kolaches and rohlicky, plus a variety of other sweet and savory baked goods – all made and donated by Auxiliary members. As there is no longer a grocery store or similar business in Clutier, the Auxiliary’s sales are one of the few times during the year folks can purchase locally made Czech baked goods without conducting a private sale.

During this year’s fundraiser, which ran from 8 a.m. to noon at the Post home, Auxiliary members received assistance from Trail Life USA members Ryker and Reagan Wiebbecke, grandsons of Richard and Collette Wiebbecke. The young trailmen not only helped arrange (and rearrange) the bake sale table as needed all morning, they also assisted customers by carrying purchases to their vehicles.

Also in the back room, Clutier Library Director Vickie Beaver was selling raffle tickets for the annual quilt fundraiser. Two quilts will be raffled this year as part of the library’s annual Election Day soup fundraiser set for Tuesday, Nov. 3. Both quilts are currently on display at the library.

Legionnaire and Past Post Commander David Svoboda cooks up scrambled eggs in the Post home kitchen, Sunday, Oct. 18, in Clutier. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

In the Post home kitchen Sunday morning, recently elected Post Commander Duane Hosek kept the breakfast offerings rolling with assistance from several Legionnaires, including Past Post Commander Richard Wiebbecke, who was manning the pancake griddle while Hosek fried sausage patties nearby. After 14 years of loyal service, Wiebbecke stepped down in what his wife Collette, an Auxiliary member, told the newspaper was simply “time for a change.”

The Clutier Legion currently has 38 members on its roster, while the Auxiliary has almost 50. Membership in The American Legion is open to any U.S. veteran who has served at least one day of active military duty since Dec. 7, 1941, and was honorably discharged, or is currently serving active military duty honorably. New members are always welcome and needed.

Eligibility requirements for membership in The American Legion Auxiliary are currently limited to:

(1) grandparents, parents, siblings, spouses, and direct or adopted descendants within two degrees of consanguinity of members of The American Legion; and

(2) grandparents, parents, siblings, spouses, and direct or adopted descendants within two degrees of consanguinity of all service members who served in either of the following periods: April 6, 1917, to Nov. 11, 1918 and any time after Dec. 7, 1941 who, being a citizen of the United States at the time of their entry therein served on active duty in the Armed Forces of any of the governments associated with the United States during either eligibility periods and died in the line of duty or after honorable discharge;

PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

(3) grandparents, parents, siblings, spouses, and direct or adopted descendants within two degrees of consanguinity of all service members who were in the Armed Forces of the United States during either of the following periods: April 6, 1917, to Nov. 11, 1918; and any time after Dec. 7, 1941, who served on active duty in the Armed Forces of the United States during either eligibility period and died in the line of duty or after honorable discharge; and

(4) to those women who of their own right are eligible for membership in The American Legion.

Those interested in learning more about joining the Clutier American Legion Auxiliary can contact Diane Caloud (dkcaloud@gmail.com).

More weekend happenings

Later in the afternoon Sunday, Clutier’s ZCBJ Hall hosted a dance and fundraiser featuring Barefoot Becky & the Ivanhoe Dutchmen. Freewill donations were earmarked for further Hall renovations. Czech baked goods were also for sale during the dance.

On Saturday, the City of Clutier sponsored a tree-planting in the northeast corner of town near the water tower.

Following a presentation at the Clutier Park Pavilion by Trees Forever, volunteers, with assistance from Frazier Nursery of Vinton, planted two rows of trees along Sixth and Curtis streets.

According to a social media post authored by City Clerk Darla Riese, the plantings were made “to create a natural wind and snow barrier” for the community.

PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER