Just over 100 guests, including employees and interested parties, came to secure their very fresh copies of the almanac. The focus of this now 21st edition of the yearbook is the Saarpfalz art scene in its various facets: artists are introduced as well as individual works, but the presentation of the artworks is also in the spotlight.
But not only the creative potential that the Saarpfalz district has to offer is included in the new yearbook. Nicolaus Rubeck from Rohrbach, for example, addresses the extraordinary lives of the inhabitants of the forest around St. Ingbert – who for a long time were part of the everyday life of the region. Brigitte Bäumler (Mandelbachtal) reports on the brutal executions on the Ormesheimer Berg in earlier times – the "Schnerrgalgen" was a very special variant. The ancient migration routes of the red deer through Saarpfalz territory is the topic of Günther Klahm (St. Ingbert), while Horst Imbsweiler from Niederbexbach recalls the "wandering shepherd" Gustav, who with his flock was for a long time a familiar sight in the Höcherberg region. Texts and poems in the regional dialect are represented in great diversity.
This time, the introduction to the work was given by Hans-Joachim Burgardt, who is responsible for the organization of the reading and book festival HomBuch, and on which he also elaborated in more detail. He connected some of the contributions in the new Saarpfalz yearbook with personal memories or experiences. Burgardt took the remarks of the former mayor of Gersheim, Lothar Kruft, on the 25th anniversary of the "Bliestal-Freizeitweg" as an opportunity to recall the initial traffic chaos on the former railway line. "My pleasure was unfortunately abruptly ended by a very painful encounter with an inline skater," Burgardt recalls. As the financial director of FC Homburg, the speaker was very pleased about the contribution by Bernd Luckscheiter, who reflects on his relationship with Homburg in general and football in particular. The article by Heinz Weinkauf titled "The Red Dot," which deals with the Kunststall gallery in Altstadt and its founder Willi Spiess, impressed him greatly and prompted a visit to the cultural center. The conversation with the gallery owner Sybille Spiess-Deckert left "traces" on him. Reflecting on her father, Willi Spiess' daughter recalled that a life as an artist is also a constant struggle for existence.
Martin Baus, who is responsible for the editorial supervision of the publication, recalled the long tradition of yearbooks in general. Already shortly after the invention of the printing press around 1440, such "Calendars" were in circulation and popular. He quoted from the "Krünitz", an old encyclopedia, according to which yearbooks soon took on the function of "spreading various useful knowledge." "We are standing in this tradition to this day," emphasized Baus, pointing out that this self-imposed task has also found recognition beyond the region. A year ago, the Saarpfalz Yearbook was awarded the "Saarland Monument Prize" by the Chamber of Crafts of Saarland – in the category of journalism. The "Monument Oscar" in the form of an "angle element" had a place of honor on the stage of the conference room in the Forum.
District Administrator Dr. Theophil Gallo was pleased with the great response that marked the presentation at the forum. “The fact that so many of you showed up is proof for us that we are on the right track. The diverse range of contributions makes the yearbook a worthwhile compendium of our district. The yearbook speaks for itself,” Dr. Gallo outlined. The presentation, at which so many authors and interested parties always come together, is a good opportunity for mutual exchange, during which new ideas constantly emerge. He emphasized that, after ten years in office as district administrator, this would be his last presentation; next year, Frank John, the former mayor of Kirkel, will take over this task. He also thanked the many authors, well over 100, who have contributed to the success of the yearbook over the years, as well as Dieter Krämer from the Ottweiler printing company, with whom they work in an uncomplicated and constructive manner.
The new Saarpfalz yearbook is now available in bookstores and stationery shops. Price: €7.50
