German Chancellor Angela Merkel's Bavaria-based conservative allies have rejected a grand coalition with the leftist Green Party. There was "no willingness at all" in the Christian Social Union (CSU), the sister party of Merkel's Christian Democratic Union (CDU), to forge an alliance with the Greens, said Horst Seehofer, party chief and premier of the state of Bavaria. "I have not heard anyone today calling on me to talk to the Greens," Seehofer said following a meeting of Read more [...]

28th Annual Oktoberfest held at Mountain Creek <!----> Make text smaller Make text larger Photos Photos by Chris Wyman Members of the HSV Bavaria Dancers perform the "Küssend Tanz" or "Kissing Dance."<!--1 of 6--> The Grammy Award winning Jimmy Sturr His Orchestra performed five sets over the two-day period.<!--2 of 6--> Longtime Vernon ski instructor Bernhard Oesen of Wantage sported a stylish cap and lederhosen Read more [...]

Single-minded revellers gathered for the world-famous Oktoberfest beer festival Saturday, hoping the heady atmosphere of ale, lederhosen and oompah music will not be flattened by Germany's election fever. The first keg was opened for the 180th edition of Munich's Oktoberfest to the traditional cry of "O'zapft is" ("The keg is tapped") by Social Democrat mayor Christian Ude, flanked by Bavaria's conservative state premier Horst Seehofer. But on the eve of close national elections, the two leaders Read more [...]