Gail Martinsen, Cultural Director

One of Frigg’s (Odin’s wife) handmaidens is Eir, Goddess of Healing. She heals the other Gods and Goddesses. When they are injured or sick she heals and protects them. One of her healing rituals is to use the Eirflower, a white tanned flower. This ritual was used only when really needed! She, also, teaches other females the lore of herbs. Eir is mentioned in Snorri Sturulson’s Younger Edda. Eir means copper or brass and it is related to the English word ore. Norse culture considered medicine was mainly a job for women. Eir is slim, 5’9” to 5’11” tall with strawberry-blond hair, beautiful blue eyes and a pale complexion. When her arms are not covered you can see how muscular they are, but, usually they are covered with her red or grey gown and blue hooded cape. The cape is fastened on her chest with a red, tree shaped brooch. Eir, also, is associated with fire and forges, swords, intricate jewelry and a large, dark red mare. Eir defends and aids the warriors, has a creative energy, heals, is a metal smith, has much patience, perseveres and works with fire! Sometimes she uses fire for healing to get the impurities out. She comes when you can’t continue and like teaching a child to walk she’ll help you get up and continue on.

Have a very Happy Thanksgiving! Gail Eir - Goddess of healing.

Gary Berntsen Gary Berntsen was born in Bethpage, Long Island and grew up in Smithtown. His ancestors came to America from Norway. Gary is married to Estela and they have 3 children, 2 daughters and one son. Their son is an Army officer, who has served in an Airborne Unit in and their oldest daughter served in the Pacific and Persian Gulf as a Naval Intelligence Officer. Gary, himself, wanted to join the Army at 17, but, his parents refused to sign the papers. So, he joined the Air Force at 18 years old as a Crash Firefighter for 4 years. He left the Air Force with the rank of Sergeant! When he left the Air Force he went to college majoring in Political Science and minoring in Russian Studies. After graduating from college he attended the U.S. Marine Corp. Platoon Leader Class for 2 summers, but, before being commissioned in the Marines, he was recruited into the CIA. Then he worked in the CIA’s Clandestine Service for 23 years and on 3 different occasions was the CIA Station Chief. Gary, also, led the CIA’s paramilitary forces in eastern Afghanistan fighting and the Al Qaeda after 9/11. He led the capture of Kabul in Afghanistan and planned the battle of . Gary led teams into Nairobi, Kenya and Dar Es Salaam after the 1998 bombings of the U.S. Embassies, plus Counter Narcotics Programs in Latin America. Gary received CIA’s Distinguished Intelligence Medal in 2000 and CIA’s in 2004. He is one of the CIA’s most decorated officers! Besides his work as a CIA officer, he is an author of several books, such as “The Hunt for Bin Laden” 2012 and “Jihad: The Men and Ideas behind Al Qaeda” 2006 and he was on “Fox and Friends” in 1998. Gary’s first book was “The Walk-in” in August 2008. The book was about a CIA officer working an Iranian defector, the hero has to decide to believe the defector or not. Also, Gary ran for the U.S. Senate in 2010 for Charles Schumer’s seat, he ran as a Conservative Republican, but lost to Jay Townsend. He went back to Afghanistan in 2007 to 2008 as a civilian advisor to the 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team. Besides all of Gary’s service in the military and CIA, he has served as a School Board member and a Boy Scout leader. Gary speaks Farsi and Spanish fluently. Gary and Estela live in Port Jefferson, Long Island with their youngest daughter, Claire. “Dreamless” by Jørgen Brekke

“Dreamless” is the 2nd book in the Chief Inspector Odd Singsaker series. During a snowstorm a young singer with a beautiful voice is found dead with her larynx cut out of her body and an antique music box sitting on top of her body? Trondheim’s Chief Inspector Odd Singsaker is assigned the case just after recuperating from brain surgery. He is married to American detective Felicia Stone, they had met chasing a serial killer. All of the clues have disappeared due to the snowstorm. As Odd Singsaker is inspecting the case another young girl known for her beautiful singing voice is reported missing while walking her dog. During the investigation Odd discovers there is a connection between the 2 girls and a centuries old ballad on the music box. He works hard to discover what the connection is between them, the ancient ballad “The Golden Peace” and its composer! He hopes to find the killer before the missing girl has no time left!

Jørgen Brekke – 1968 Jørgen Brekke was born and raised in Horten, Norway in 1968. He studied at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology in Trondheim. After graduating, he became a high school teacher for several years and then a freelance journalist. His first novel “Where Monsters Dwell” was on the bestseller list in Norway for 4 months! It was sold in 15 different countries. He, also, wrote “Death Song”, “Where Evil Lies” “Oppdrag Mars” and several more. Jørgen, his wife and their 3 children live in Trondheim.

Dølahest The dølahest is a Norwegian draft and harness-type horse. They are a small draft horse who has pulling power and is fast and agile. They are used for harness racing. The dølahest were originally prominent in the Gudbransdal Valley and most likely are descendants in part from the Friesian horse. Over the centuries they have been bred with thoroughbreds, Arabian and other breeds added, definitely during the 19th Century creation of the Dole Trotter. Originally the dølahest was a pack horse, but, today they are mainly used for harness racing and riding. Most dølahests stand 5’7” to 6’3” and weigh 1,190 to 1,290 pounds. Usually their colors are bay, brown or black with grey, palomino, chestnut and dun, once in a while white markings can be found on their head and legs, the markings are mainly found on the trotters. The dølahest has a heavy straight head, a short muscular neck, pronounced and broad withers, wide and deep chests and strong, muscular sloping shoulders. Their back is long with short, sturdy, muscular legs, solid joints and tough hooves. Originally, they had weak legs and low fertility, but, those problems have been corrected. They are tested for pulling power and trotting for the grading and stud book inspection. They are the largest of the 4 native horse breeds in Norway. Archbishop Olaus Magnus mentioned this breed in his writings in the 1530’s. The breed was established in the 1850’s. They are known for their versatility and the distinctive character of their breed. In 2000, their population was around 4,000. The dølahest are still used today along with Fjord horses in forestry for thinning out and transporting logs on short distances. They can cause less damage to the forest floor and need narrower roads than tractors or logging rigs. Often mares have their foals while still up in the mountains. The owners don’t worry about predators because the stud defends his herd. In 1998, Haqugvar, a stud, protected his herd from an attacking bear. The following day he was found with deep cuts on his rump and hind legs, he was very weak and was having a hard time breathing! After a thorough examination, they discovered his wind pipe had been restricted by bear fur that he had pulled from the bear during the fight!!

Stegt flæsk med æbler – Bacon with apples Danish Food & Cooking – Judith H. Dern 8 bacon strips 2 Tbsp. salted butter, softened 4 parsley sprigs 1 cup finely chopped onions 2 slices rye bread 2 firm apples, peeled & chopped 2 leaves round lettuce

Fry the bacon over a medium high heat until crisp; drain on kitchen paper, leaving the fat in the pan. Cook the onion in the reserved bacon fat for 5-7 minutes, until transparent, but, not browned. Add the apples and continue cooking for about 5 minutes, until tender. Crumble half the bacon into the apple mixture. Butter the slices of bread to the edges, top with the lettuce leaves and cut each slice in half. Leaving one curl of lettuce visible on each piece, spoon the apple and bacon mixture on to the lettuce, dividing it evenly among the sandwiches. Break the 4 reserved bacon strips in ½ and place 2 pieces on each sandwich. Garnish with parsley sprigs and serve warm. (Cook’s tip: Choose crisp, tart apples for this recipe.)

Stekende Fisk – Baked Fish “The Complete Scandinavian Cookbook” by Alice B. Johnson 1 LB. salt codfish 1 cup milk 1/8 tsp. nutmeg 5 large boiled potatoes 1 small onion 1 egg yolk, slightly beaten 1 Tbsp. butter ½ tsp. salt 1 Tbsp. flour 1/8 tsp. pepper Soak codfish overnight. Slice potatoes in very thin slices. Flake fish. Make a heavy cream sauce of butter, flour and milk. Add egg yolk, chopped or sliced onion, salt, pepper and nutmeg. Alternate layers of fish with grated cheese. Bake in moderate (375) for ½ hour. 8 servings.

Matrossuppe – Sailor’s Soup “The Complete Scandinavian Cookbook” by Alice B. Johnson ½ lb. beef, diced 1 parsnip Pepper ½ cup shredded cabbage 1 stalk celery 2 qts. bouillon or water 4 small potatoes 1 leek 1 carrot Salt Add beef to bouillon or water. If water is used, bouillon cubes may be added before serving. Add shredded cabbage to beef and broth and cook for 1 hour. Add potatoes, carrot and parsnip, diced. Slice celery and leek and add to soup. Cook until vegetables are tender. Season. 6 or more servings.