B-E-R
By the Beer Dude
“April showers bring May flowers” needs updating, as in “less water rationing!”
We hope the March precipitation has rendered April showers unnecessary; February sure did its part! We had to rearrange tables around a leaky roof unit game day (2/22) & again on 3/2. El Cerrito is on notice to fix it ASAP. We thank the crowd who came in out of the rain to play team games at our recent sectional; 32 in the stratified, nine afternoon + four eve in the 299ers. Saturday games had a slight uptick from last year. Kudos to Nancy Boyd for running a good show & for loading my flash drive with the game recaps so I could post them to our website afterward; the pair games are in traveler recap format; the team games are the standard recap (no match results).
Feb. Monday unit game experiment drew just four tables; A cashers were Vi Kimoto & Ara Hammond 1st, Larry Lew & Grace Uyeno 2nd, Carol Scott & “H” 3rd; B cashers were Meg Gallaway & Barb Taylor 1st, Veda Mason & Shahla Verrall 2nd. Sunday game drew just five tables, with Eric & Sandi on top, Tom Shimizu & Larry Zeni 2A, Barbara Gamba & Janice Kosel 1B, & Joyce DeMercurio & Jan Straus 2B. Sunday game day in April 26; check our web site to see if there’s a Monday unit game on the 13th; as I write, I have yet to decide, but am thinking not. Larry will be running the Sunday April game; I’ll be in Pacifica BBQing oysters at my brew club’s annual bash.
To the clubs we go, ECBC Monday first: “H” & Carol Scott were co-MP champs; Cris Barrere & Jack Scott had the best game (68%) at the ACBL-wide Senior Pairs game (where were y’all? – we had a piddly five tables; I was expecting 8-10). Live Oak’s Feb. MP champ was Jan Straus; the % game bests were Dexter Hodes & Gordon Libby w/68.33 Wed, “H-J” w/70.54 on Friday. Great Western Spring STAC games coming May 4, 6, & 8. Come for those silvers you need to get to LM &/or a shot to get your name in lights!
I don’t waste my space with sectional & regional name-dropping; overall regional cashers make the Forum anyway, & I post timely kudos on our web site home page. Mini-McKenney/Ace of Clubs winners, get space here, as they need to come to our May BBQ Swiss (ad herein & on our website) to get their medals &/or certificates. Here they are (single name = both; otherwise Mini-McK/AOC): 0-5 Colleen Tilton; 5-20 Meg Gallaway/George Cage; 20-50 Jonathan Pines; 50-100 Stephanie Kung/Barb Taylor; 100-200 Robert Berger; 200-300 Virginia Sykes; 300-500 Eugene Sor/Bill Jolly; 500-1K Cris Barrere; 1-2.5K Bruce Tuttle/John Begley; 2.5-5K Len Vishnevsky/Helen Studabaker; 5-7.5K Sally Woolsey; 7.5-10K Joanna Stansby; >10K Lew Stansby/Kit Woolsey.
Finally: Kudos to D21 Prez Stu Goodgold for winning the A/X Pairs game @ our sectional in a tough field. (he won w/58%). Eric & I will be seeking revenge in the future. We played against him 1st round & slipped enough matchpoints that could have put us 1st, as the top places were jammed; .25-.50/board or less were the separation points. Further Kudos to Jennifer Gu (whose name I’ve seen many times in the Forum) & her girlfriend who had the courage to “play up.” Jennifer made a gutsy raise to 3NT against us in the last round & her pard made four (best we could’ve done was hold it to three; which would have gotten us two instead of zilch). These Stanford kids have the right idea on how to improve & are very nice @ the table. They were joking around about having had a crappy game when we arrived for last round; bad omen.
You ain’t gonna get better by playing “comfort zone” bridge! ACBL’s mandated “Zero Tolerance” works. If you run into one who gets grossly out of line towards you or your partner, call the director ASAP! At a regional/NABC, get a recorder form & file your complaint against the offending player(s).
For the latest in B-E-R’s world, go to www.berunit497.org
Carson/Tahoe
By Rich Tirissini
Congratulations to Diane McCall and Paul Jorgensen on becoming Life Masters. Paul, along with teammate Gary Nitzberg, celebrated by accumulating 29.5 gold and 4.5 red masterpoints in the Vancouver Regional, February 17-21. Much of this was accomplished by way of two first place finishes in team Knockout events. Meanwhile, at the Carson Valley Bridge Club, Geoffrey Stokes compiled the highest masterpoint total with 2.79. Ken Grafton was second with 2.60 MPs and Gladys Tuirissini came in third with 1.84 masterpoints.
Game Results; Carson Bridge Center: unit game, Feb. 8: N/S 1A, Paul Ringer & Benjamin McLeod; 2A, Bob & Roberta Anderson; 3A, Imogene Meyer & Beverly Meyer; E/W 1A, Kenneth Grafton & Bob Garret; 2A, Virginia Kellermeyer & Donna McLeod; 3A, Brenda & Paul Pugsley. Carson Valley Bridge Club Feb. 2: N/S 1A, Gladys Turissini & Konrad Garret; 2A, Ken Grafton & Imogene Meyer; 3A, Jony Sellers & Carole Voge; 4A, Beverly Batdorf & Leona Pchelkin; E/W, Bob & Roberta Anderson; 2A/1B, Bruce Mitchener & Roxanne Hart; 3A, Theresa Pinney & Geoffrey Stokes; Feb. 9: 1A, Kenneth Grafton & Geoffrey Stokes; 2A/1B, Roxanne Hart & Ruth Rouse; 3A, Gary Nitzberg & Donna McLeod; 4A, Beverly Batdorf & Leona Pchelkin; Feb. 16: N/S1A, Gladys Turissini & Beverly Batdorf; 2A, Bob & Roberta Anderson; 3A, Jony Sellers & Carole Voge; E/W 1A/2A, Frances Coursey & Bob Allgeier; 1A/2A, Rich Turissini & Donna McLeod; 3A, Theresa Pinney & Geoffrey Stokes; Feb. 23: 1A/1C, Roxanne Hart & Bruce Mitchener; 2A/1B, Ruth Rouse & Marie Coffey; 3A, Gladys Turissini & Konrad Garret; 4A, Theresa Pinney & Donna McLeod.
Diablo Valley
By Chris Pisarra
This writing a column gig isn’t all beer and skittles; sometimes life intrudes on our games. There I was, all set to write something witty and perky about the local goings on, the results from the Chris’ Birthday Regional, the great birthday party Angie threw herself at the club, the upcoming NABC. You were gonna love it.
Then Micky called. Ken White went to his house in Tahoe, had a heart attack and died. The roof caved in. We all know that death is inevitable, we just think it will happen in the distant future, to somebody else. This time, that somebody was Ken.
Ken was the happiest guy I knew. He loved bridge in all forms; playing, teaching, directing, just being around bridge players. Recently retired, he was filling his days and nights with any bridge-related activity he could find. Always smiling, always trying to help the newer players enjoy the game as much as he did.
The big lesson here, of course, is that we never know what fate has in store for us. Whatever you really want to do, do it now. There may be no tomorrow.
The other lesson, though, is that the real joy of life comes in the giving back. As much as Ken loved to play bridge, he loved to teach and share his knowledge and experience with newer players, thus insuring the future of the game for all of us. We should take a lesson from that, and all try to find a newer player to help and encourage.
Here’s one idea: when your regular partner can’t make it one week, don’t just stay home. Find a rookie and ask him/her to play with you that day. You don’t have to make it a regular item, but keep in touch. Your regular partner will cancel out again in a couple of months, and you can continue the mentoring. You will find that it benefits you every bit as much as it does your new friend, and we can all use another new friend.
So other things happened last month. There was a regional in Burlingame. Somebody won, somebody lost. Angie turned 80, and threw herself a wonderful party at the club. There were about 18 tables, plenty of food, a wonderful way to celebrate the day for her. People made Life Master, people are winning the Ace of Clubs and Mini-McKenney races.
But we won’t see Ken around the club anymore, unless we keep his memory and spirit alive by enjoying ourselves, enjoying our game, and helping others to do the same. I’ll try to do all of that, and I hope you will too.
East Bay
By Sandi Davis
We had some really good stuff happen in February and March. At the unit game on February 15, Susan Wiebe & Otto Edor (N/S) came in 1st OA with David & Joyce Denyven coming in 1st E/W. On March 1, Hugh Callahan & Dick Walker (N/S) came in 1st OA with Fred Barnes & Marilyn Vinnicombe taking 1st place E/W; well done.
The regional in Burlingame was the site for both Ed Fong and Donna Rolle becoming Life Masters! Congratulations and keep up the good bridge! So many of you excelled at the regional that I ran out of room listing your accomplishments so had to simply list those that had first place finishes. Congratulations to: Eric Leong, Nick Wiebe, Teresa Boyd, Mark Moss, Cass Hawes, Dick Hart, Greg Vance, Otto Edor, Jim Canty, Gretchen Smith, Rose Ann Kase, Elizabeth Silverman, Eileen Thompson, Adrienne Hillebrandt, Calvin Harper, Cole Powell, Joyce Hart, Shirley Rodenborn, Doris Weiner Gluckman, Robert Berger, Joel Teller, Jim Helt, Dave Cartwright, Carol Smith, David Pratt, John Eidinger, and Ron Kow.
Betty Kael announced that the Dimond Library game on Wednesday is now open to any player with less than 750 MP. This is a great game with friendly folks so get out there and support it! On top of that we got the final results for the 2008 Mini-McKenney and Ace of Clubs awards for our unit. This had several unusually tight races this year and those who prevailed will be honored for their excellence at the unit game April 5 at Mosswood. I hope everyone that won will bring a partner and come receive their kudos. In the Mini-McKenney standings the winners were: Barbara McNeal (0-5), Janis Brown (5-20), Michael Sasso (20-50), Joel Teller (50-100), Elizabeth Silverman (100-200), Frank Rooney (200-300), Lynne Bromley (300-500), Teresa Boyd (500-1000), Barbara Hanson (1000-2500), Jack Scott (2500-5000), WenYen Leong (5000-7500) and Hugh Ross (10,000+).
In the Ace of Clubs standings the winners were: Barbara McNeal (0-5), Roma Rehfisch (5-20), Michael Sasso (20-50), Joel Teller (50-100), William Stephens (100-200), Neal Mazaroff (200-300), Dennis Bromley (300-500), Teresa Boyd (500-1000), Barbara Hanson (1000-2500), Barbara Harmon (2500-5000), and WenYen Leong (5000-7500).
Mark your calendar! Because of the popularity and success of the event, Unit 502 will be holding two Swiss Teams games in place of our pairs game this year. The first will be on May 3 so watch for the flyers with the info. It is never too early to find your perfect teammates. The second Swiss will be on October 4.
We received notice that member Joan Dunbar of our unit has died. Our sympathies go to her family and friends.
On a happy note, we have some more rank advances. Lisa Euphrat and Suzanne Quick are our newest Junior Masters. New Club Masters are Meg Bowerman, Colin Everitt, Susan Kovacevic and Mary Levine. Susan Bailey is now a Sectional Master. Nathan Wilmes has achieved Regional Master. Dr. Frank Rooney is now a Life Master and both Dennis Bromley and Hannah Marks are Bronze Life Masters.
Congratulations on your achievements!
That’s it for this month. Please e-mail me at sandstress@mail2sandra.com with your corrections, glories and debacles!
Fresno
By Laura Da Costa
Hello Everyone! The time is finally here! After much discussion, the new Fresno Bridge Center should open this month at 1320 East Shaw Avenue #100 (phone number will not change). Hopefully most of you have already been by to familiarize yourself with the location. After peeking through the window many times over the past months, my mother and I took our first walk through of the site at the end of February. It was an exciting time; the painting had been completed and new cabinets were being installed in the kitchen. The flooring still needed to go in, but it was wonderful to see how clean and fresh it all looked. We should be taking possession of the building in March, but it will take some weeks to hook up equipment, bring in the new furniture, and move our supplies. Games should start around the third week of April.
To celebrate, you are invited to an Open House and Silent Auction in the new clubhouse on May 2 from noon to 5:00 p.m. We encourage you to bring a friend to view our new playing facility, participate in the silent auction, and even kibitz a bridge hand or two. Here’s a preview of a few of our auction items: weekend get-a-way to Pismo Beach, two-night stay in San Francisco, private wine tour of some of the Madera wineries, homemade dinner, and a painting from a local Fresno artist. No bridge game this day but a big celebration. Please come!
The Winter Sectional was a rousing success despite the wet weather. (You know, California should pay us to have a sectional, it always rains when we do.) The sectional was one of the largest we have had in recent years (164 ½ total tables). Congratulations to Gerard Laquerriere (our top masterpoint winner) and Betty Eden (our top 99er). It was great to see our friends Mark Stern, Jim & Susan Slinger, and Vivian & Rick Betcher returning to Fresno to play. We should thank those people that worked so hard on this sectional: John Simpson who served as tournament chair (and Dave Shuster who formerly served in that role), Kay Chrisman for working partnerships, Verlee O’Neill for arranging caddies, and our director Dianne Barton-Paine. Finally, our thanks go to Mary Jo Davila and Dora Gostanian for organizing the refreshments; they wanted to make sure that I pass on our appreciation to everyone who donated food as well.
Congratulations go out to those pairs that cracked 70%: 2/4 Skip Miller & Byron Steinert (76.67% and won by 30 matchpoints!); 2/16 Robert Endara & Carolyn Lofton (70.51%); 2/25 Bob Mortimer & Everett Bondesen (72.22% in Madera). I am told that Bob & Mary Mortimer had moved from Madera to Fresno last year, and this was Bob’s first time back to Madera to play since last November. What a welcome back!
Lastly our congratulations go to Maggie Mahaffey for being honored as a Goodwill Member of District 21 in the recent regional in Burlingame.
That’s it for this month; I will see you soon at the new club house!
Hollister/Morgan Hill/ Gilroy
By Dian Wood Picone
Linda King has a busy spring bridge season planned in Hollister, so mark your calendars. Starting April 7, and the first Tuesday evening of every subsequent month from 6:30 to 9:00 p.m., Linda will have a “Bridge Game Plus” for those of us wanting a relaxed evening of bridge; plus masterpoints; plus a half-hour lesson. This will be a great game, especially for new players.
Additionally, Linda will offer “Bidding Brush-up” lessons with “Strong Opening Bids” on Tuesday, April 14, and “Slam Bidding” on May 12. All will take place at Dunne Park, at 10:15 to 11:45 a.m., before Linda’s regular Tuesday game. The fees for each lesson and each game will be $5.00.
Don’t forget Great Western Spring STAC week is May 3-10. To reserve your space for lessons and bridge, call or e-mail Linda King (831 801-9257 or lrking@hughes.net ).
Do you remember what a wonderful time you had last year at the Earthquake Sectional in Hollister? I had such a wonderful time that I had to double my tread-milling for a month! Well, this year’s Earthquake Sectional, June 27 and 28 at the IOOF Hall in Hollister, looks to be even better. Contact Connie Coyne (831 638-2178 or ccclac@hollister.com ) who is this year’s host and Patty Stone (408 846-2952 or pastone@verizon.net ) who is the partnership coordinator, to reserve a space or arrange for a partner. We’re pretty sure that the same great and generous cooks who provided refreshments last time will be busy cooking up a storm. Bring your appetites and join us for bridge and goodies.
Morgan Hill/Gilroy: unit game 2/15, A 1st, Bob Frohman & Mike Slattery; 2nd, Bob Williams & Ken Imboden; B 1st, Lucille Shelby & Mary Falbo; 2nd, Ron King & Stuart Proctor. Open Pairs, Monday p.m.: 2/2 1st, Joanne Wicker & Win Stone; 2/9 1st, Rosemary Erwin & Sheila Hill; 2/16 1st, Bob Frohman & Joanne Wicker; 2/23 1st, Don McCown & Rashmi Beman; 2nd, Mitsi & Dick Tani. Open Pairs Thursday a.m.: 2/5 1st, Lorrie Scott & Jonna Robinson; 2/12 Junior Fund Game, 1st, Linda King & Jonna Robinson; 2nd, Julia Robertson & Lorrie Scott; 2nd, Teri Swan & Helen Lindsey; 2/19 1st, Patrick Arnett & Julia Robertson; 2nd, Mike Slattery & Mitsi Tani; 2nd, Marilyn Cox & Selma Chastine; 2/26 N/S 1st, Bill Smith & Mike Slattery; E/W 1st, Dick Tani & Don Bugge.
Hollister: Mike’s Bridge Club, Wednesday p.m.: 2/4 1st, Bob Frohman & Bozidar Boncich; 2/11 1st, Bill Millar & Rosemary Erwin; 2/18 1st, Bozidar Boncich & Bob Frohman; 2/25 1st, Bob Frohman & Bozidar Boncich. Linda’s Tuesday afternoon Pairs: 2/3 N/S 1st, Win Stone & Linda King; 2nd, Barbara Earley & Jackie Raymer; E/W, Gertrude Edvenson & Luisa Velasco; 2/10 N/S 1st, Gale & Katie Dimick; E/W 1st, Chiong Yuan Han & Doug Stauffer; 2/17 1st, Luisa Velasco & Gertrude Edvenson; 2/24 N/S 1st, Rita Lompa & Kay Devita; E/W 1st, Gertrude Edvenson & Luisa Velasco.
News about our bridge players is always welcome. Contact me by e-mail at:
Livermore Valley
By Kathi Nelson
February is always a special time! In Punxatawney, Phil saw his shadow. In Pleasanton, we saw our first special game of the year; an individual game on the 27th. We had a great turnout and will be looking to schedule more in the months ahead. Franklin Lowenthal and Ching Chao tied for first place, with Ameen Paul, Gary Shepley and Grant Robinson rounding out the top five. By the time you read this, we will have also hosted our first Barometer game. Stayed tuned to our website (unit501.bridgeforyou.com/ ) for more special events in Pleasanton on Friday night.
Also, attendance remains strong in the Monday morning Livermore game. We welcome you to both games.
Marin
By Bob Sampson
As we wondered if President Obama is skillful enough to steer our ship of state to safety, a lot of people went to the Presidents Day Regional in Burlingame to show their skill at bridge. Here in reverse alphabetical order, more or less, are the accomplishments of Marin players. Bruce Noda scored the most points by a Marin player and 20th most among the 1,438 point winners.
Winning events were: The team of Nancy Zakim, Cliff Lardinois, Joan Ehman and Adrienne Feuer, KO2, worth 20 gold apiece; Alicia & Thomas Wright, Compact KO 2 Consolation; Joe Taggard, Jr. & Carl Meyer, Compact Consolation; Gene Simpson, KO 1 & Compact KO 1; Bob Roman, KO 3; Ron Mulcare and Susan Bowser, KO 4.
Also finishing in the points were: Loretta Wolf & Charles Falk; Joe Taggard, Jr. & Carl Meyer; Ellen Schiller & Bob Liss; Bob Roman; Hari Ramani; Margaret & Mark Peterson; Ron Mulcare & Susan Bowser; Jean Marchant & Susan Angel; Irene Lam; Cindy & Gary Kirk; Ann Herner; Susan Bowser; Jim Cohen; Loretta Bromberg; Bruce Blakely; Tracy & Keith Bauer; Frank Aftewicz.
At the San Francisco Sectional, in reverse chronological order, Marin winners follow: Gene Pudberry & Linda Oldenberg 5C, Stratified Open Pairs; Louis Thoelecke, Tracy & Keith Bauer and Bruce Nissim 3B in 0-1500 Swiss Teams; Bruce Blakely 4th in A/X Swiss Teams; Laura Kenney & Gene Simpson 1A in A/X Swiss Teams and 5A in Open Pairs; Lynn Redding & Irene Lam 5D in Limited Pairs; Eileen Murray, 2D Limited pairs; Loretta Bromberg 10A Open Pairs; Arti Bhargava 3D Limited Pairs; Mary Tepley 3B Senior Pairs and the pair who led off our victories, Bob Liss & Ellen Schiller 4A Senior Pairs.
Marin achievers at the El Cerrito Sectional, also in reverse chronological order, included the following: Marla Kravatz, Mark Peterson and Tracy and Keith Bauer 1D in 299ers; Susan Bowser and Anita Stone 4C Swiss Teams; Bob Roman 5A Open Pairs; Bruce Noda 1A Strat Swiss Teams; Loretta Bromberg 3A Open Pairs; Irene Lam & Lynn Redding 6B Limited Pairs.
In February club games, four pairs had 70 percent games: Keith & Tracy Bauer and Billy & Michelle Hinners (Crossley’s) and Joyce Palmer & Ron Studen and Hanna Kishi & Karen Turnbaugh (Terra Linda). E-mail at mbsam247@sbcglobal.net
Modesto
By Lee Striplin
There was a full house at last month’s unit game. Capturing first overall were Jan & Pieter Mastenbroek with a 70% game; N/S 2nd were Chris Brown & Barbara Price, followed by Gary Capwell & Charlotte Martin (A & B), Galen Neptumne & Leigh Tibbetts (A & B), and Faye Salmon & Dick Urhammer; B were led by Capwell & Martin, followed by Neptune & Tibbetts, Robert Fish & Mary Zak (C-1), and Doris Ashcroft & Roy Carnahan; Hayward Hawk & Stewart Tunick led A in E/W; 2nd, Jinsoon Chan & Juanita Kaufman (B, C-1); 2nd, Ray Adams & Theresa Wade; 4th, James Kenyon & Alan Strauss; 5th, Jackie & Roland Wilson; 2nd B, Jeanne Russo & Grace Torbohn, followed by Elena Franzia & Pat Martin (C-2), and Vicki MacClyment & Gail Vick.
Leading the Mini-McKenney races are Barbara Price (2500 to 5000), Chris Bell (1000 to 2500), Sharon Fauss (500 to 1000), Susan Hamilton (300 to 500), Vicki MacClyment (200 to 300), Kathy High (100 to 200), Gary Oing (50 to 100), Jeanne Russo (20 to 50), Lloyd Rotherham (5 to 20), and Hal DeRoos, Jr. (0 to 5).
David Jenkins has become a new Regional Master, and Hal DeRoos, Jr. is a new Sectional Master. Last month Roland Wilson won the most masterpoints, followed by Barbara Price and Chris Brown. Gary Capwell was the leader in B, followed by Jackie Wilson and Linda Kenyon.
The next unit game is coming up Sunday, April 19, at 12:30 p.m.
Happy Easter!
Monterey
By Maja
The is little to report; it must be because February was a short month. Big news! In the Friday afternoon Pines Club Championship there was a tie for first between Betty Yager & Van Gilles and Sue Finley & Ona Labbe. Amazing!
Other recent club championship winners were: Monday aft. Pairs, Mitsuo Tatsugawa & Helen Rubin; Tues. EZ Bridge, Helen Gould & Gail Salmonsen; Ord Bridge Club, Ruth Horner & Mary Ellen McCormack; Wed Oaks, Connie & Beth Ege; Wednesday afternoon pairs, Dorothy Cody & Clare Riggs; Mty BC, Michel & Roene Nasr; Cypress, Bill Putnam & Ruth Horner; Fri. Oaks, Lani O’Day & Olivia Bigelow.
The Unit Pro-Am game in February had a great turnout (19 tables) and was very successful. Winners in Section A in descending order were: Lyde McReynolds & Maurice Weir, Ronald Loiacono & Tracy Piazza Leaton, Sarah Stern & Bee Melendez, Janet Hedlund & Cissy Clement, Janet Dowd & Anthony Brown, Judy Dudley & Carole Champion; and in Section B were: Ronald Loiacono & Tracy Piazza Leaton, Janet Hedlund & Cissy Clement, Judy Dudley & Carole Champion, Marianne Van Gelder & Dennis Vanmiddlesworth, Lauren Upson & Brenda Stevenson, E. Gordon Wright & Bill Breen. Well done all!
Traditionally the Wednesday mid-day and evening games have been Social Bridge at the request of players. No longer! With a new year and the improved skill level of newer players, these are now duplicate games. The 11:00 a.m. is a Non-Life Master game; no partner necessary. The 7:00 p.m. is an open game with reservations requested; call Lyde 626-4796.
Napa/Solano/Sonoma
By Keith Vincent
We held our first 2009 unit game on February 1 with nine tables in play. The N/S winners were Anastasia Loban & Barbara Kiesel, followed by Laura Kinney & Gene Simpson, Sheila Malinowski & Chris Larsen, Knud Rasmussen & Mary Haley. E/W leaders were Don Powell & Joe Freeman, Jerome Fenton & Keith Vincent, Barbara DeMarco & Ray Fischer, John Rothschild & Lilyan Frank. The second game on the 15th had eight tables. The N/S leaders were Dave Spharler & Chris Larsen along with Sheila Malinowski & Keith Vincent, followed by Gay Metz & Gary Henry. E/W winners were Tim Jeans & Dawne Dickenson, followed by Dan Harp & Bill Wells, Tom Sheahan & Marsha Horowitz.
The Vintage Duplicate Club in Sonoma sponsored a Friday evening dining tournament. it was a Swiss game with 13 teams in play. The next one will be in April. The unit and Vintage DC recently purchased a set of electronic scoring devices called Bridgemates. With the use of these boxes the results are transmitted to the computer and analyzed so that the results can be compared and give an actual percentage for each hand. The use of this device is comparable to using pick up slips, as the results are noted by all the players at the table, and errors are infrequent. Other features of Playmates is that it allows the players to see the percentages on each board, and results of each board played (Information similar to that provided on travellers). These latter features are built into the device but don’t have to be necessarily turned on. We recently had a vote on this at Sonoma and the majority wanted these features to be available at the table, but only to be shared in a confidential manner. For years we have used pick up slips at our unit games as this prevents any comparison of the score and allows for more accurate scoring of the hands.
Congratulations to Tim Jeans, our latest Bronze LM. Ben Hulsman passed away recently. I used to call him the Hideous Hog after a player written about by Victor Mollo in the Bulletin. That character was also a brilliant player, but could be a bit aggravating at times, but aren’t we all?
Palo Alto
By Eric Mayefsky
It’s been a wet and wild winter and for Unit 503 bridge players, I don’t just mean the rain! A pipe burst at the Palo Alto Bridge Center during the Presidents Day Regional, resulting in flooding and rendering the center unusable for about two weeks. However, the center has been “stabilized” and normal use has returned, with some non-urgent repairs being scheduled for down the road.
In more positive news, based on the overwhelming popularity of our recent Swiss Teams unit games, Unit 503 will be holding a monthly Swiss unit game in addition to its normal schedule of unit games. These games will be the first Monday of each month at 6:30 p.m. at the (now quite dry) bridge center. There will be separate open and 99er stratified sections and ample nosh and finger food. And, because it’s a unit game, the masterpoint awards will likely be substantial.
Note that you can also now sign up for all our unit games (day or night) from our web site, www.paloaltobridge.com
This is a good way to reserve yourself a spot if you can’t make it down to the bridge center in advance, or like me, you always forget to sign up when you’re there! (Don’t worry, you can still sign up in person if you want to.)
Hope to see you at all our games, unit and otherwise in the coming months!
Reno
By Bud Brewer
District 20 ACBL Director Jeff Taylor announced last month that the Reno Unit’s transfer in 2008 to District 21 notwithstanding, he has nominated Reno unit director Kathy Lane to the National Goodwill Committee. Probably no individual in the Reno unit is so involved in helping others learn and play this wonderful game of bridge and to play it with behavior reflecting concern for partners and other competitors. As president of the Reno Youth Bridge Inc., she heads up that non profit organization’s new teaching program for students in the Washoe County School District. She also is active as a substitute teacher in the system, a director for the unit’s regular Sunday club game, the Tuesday Non Life Member game and the Wednesday evening game as well as serving on the unit’s board of directors. On top of all this she plays golf once a week in season and of course duplicate bridge at her every opportunity. This is a well deserved nomination. Bud Brewer was also nominated to the National Goodwill Committee this month by the members of the Reno unit board of directors. Bud serves as managing director of Reno Youth Bridge, Inc. web master of the Reno Bridge and Reno Youth Bridge web sites and an enthusiastic if, according to his favorite partner, his wife Dottie, somewhat less than expert bridge player.
Three Reno players achieved their Life Master status this last month. Evelyn Almelah crossed over the 300 point level in the Reno Regional playing sessions with Tom Howell and Catherine Johnson. Lars Bruun-Andersen acquired the necessary gold points playing in the Riverside Regional and Rick Weiss reached that rank also playing in the Riverside Regional.
Holding on with a couple of better than average scores to add to their big lead, Paul Nagel & Richard Schiveley won the February Reno unit championship game with a fine score of 202.22 or 64.22% nosing out Bud & Dottie Brewer by 32/100ths of a point or .10%. The Brewers, who were 1st in B finished 2nd in A with a hard charge down the stretch scoring a total of 19.05 points in the last round as compared with 13.09 points by the winners who managed to sustain their overall lead going into the last two boards. Following the Brewers were Gregg Foss & Jeanne Levitre who finished with a very nice 61.63% game that placed them 2nd in B and 2nd in A. Lin Goldstein & Sheila Wimer scored a 61.20% to finish 4th followed by Nels Erickson & our newest Life Master, Rick Weiss, with a score of 59.62% . Thomas Howell & Paul Blumberg finished in 6th place overall in A and 3rd in B Strat. Other teams placing in B were Richard Michelson & Mark Lumblad who finished at 53.16% and 4th in B. The final position in B was won by Maria Johnson & June Lucas with a score of 164.66 or 52.78%. A total of 16 tables were in play drawing from communities well outside the Reno Unit area. Prior to the game Gil Ramirez, unit president gave out the Mini- McKenney and Ace of Club awards for 2008 to achieving members of the club. He also announced the dates for the unit’s Spring Sectional, April 15-19 at the Grand Sierra Resort.
Sacramento
By Bob Olsen
Two new bridge clubs in our area! 1. Salad and Something at the Sacramento Bridge Center, 2330 Fair Oaks Blvd., Friday at 6:30 p.m. supper, 7:00 game. Stratified Open Pairs, $7.00. Charles Smith, director; partnership Elizabeth Sachs @ 916 452-4539.
2. Roseville Duplicate Bridge Club, at the Polish-American Community Hall, 527 Main Street, Roseville, Tuesday 11:00 a.m., Kent White, club manager @ 916 434-1699.
April is charity month. You and your club can help by hosting a charity club championship game during any or all of the regular sanctioned sessions for the entire month of April. The cost is an extra $1.00 per person and players can win sectional rated red points.
When a sectional (excluding STACs) or higher rated event is being conducted within 25 miles of a club game playing site, the club is permitted to hold only its regularly scheduled club masterpoint games (i.e. no special games). Per ACBL Board decision.
The Folsom Bridge Center is offering various classes, workshops, and mentoring for beginners and rubber bridge players who are interested in duplicate. For information contact Louann Partridge @ 530 672-6450 or sylou@sbcglobal.net
Folsom Bridge Center had 75 tables for the 26th Annual All Charity Weekend, March 6-8. Val Williams provided two doubly delicious and elegant quiches with Caesar salad for the Saturday two-session event. Jo-Bob (the Geisslers) served a wonderful sausage barbeque - there were six great little fatties browned to perfection and served with Jo’s famous ranch beans. Nancy Wilson and George Lim bested the competition for the trophy; and, accolades for Patti Anders and Barbara and Barbara Vann as well. Players enjoyed seeing their results on the full screen projection and found results for all five events on the Web site: FolsomBridgeCenter.com Jim Steelquist is quite the master of the web. Door prizes were collected 16 times by as many lucky players.
Sunday Swiss winners were A: Bob Boggs, Nancy Wilson, Lyn & Phil Benner - B: Jean Cole, Vera Balluff, Ann Derwin & Steve Holmes - C John Medina, Brence Davis, Pat Johnson & Kimber Stanhope. The Barometer winners: A Bruce Chapman & Barbara Vann, B Mary Glaser & Rich James III, C Roy Mode & Bruce Thompson. The high MP winners: Barbara Vann and 199er Patti Anders.
San Francisco
By Kim Fanady
Lots of San Franciscans have been doing lots and lots of good things at the bridge table, so this month’s column has lots and lots and lots of names. Hope yours is one of them!
Unit 506ers cleaned up at our home sectional in February! The triumphant were: Sid Lorvan, 1st overall in the two session Open Pairs; Gigi Marki & Daisy Straus, 1st overall in the Side Pairs, with Kevin Burke & Charlie Collins 2nd overall & 1st in B & C; Andy Straus, 1st overall in the Side Pairs; Madlyn & Tom Stein, 1st overall in the 199er Pairs, with Mary Lou Donnici 1st in F; Argenta Price, 1st in X in the A/X Swiss; Susan Boeing, Ron Goodman and Louis Lipset, 1st in C & D in the B/C/D Swiss. Many others had overall placings and section tops.
Despite the rain, the sectional was great fun as always, and thanks to all the volunteers who brought fabulous food.
Congrats to the Unit 506 Mini-McKenney and Ace of Clubs winners for 2008. These awards go to the player at each masterpoint level who wins the most points overall (MM) and at club games only (AC): The victorious are: 0-5 MP, Judy Salgado (AC), Monica Guo (MM); 5-20 MP, Susan Boeing (both); 20-50 MP, Chris Chung (AC), Adam Portley (MM); 50-100 MP, Louis Lipset (AC), Ron Goodman(MM) – Louis and Ron were also first in District 21; 100-200 MP, Jeff Reid (both); 200-300 MP, David Strauss (both); 300-500 MP, Mike Bozarth (AC), Victor Chubukov (MM); 500-1000 MP, Ed Hornung (both); 1000-2500 MP, Don Friedman (both); 2500-5000 MP, Dariush Youseffi (AC), Ari Greenberg (MM); 5000-10,000 MP, Vicki Lerner (AC), Mark Ralph (MM). Good job all! Special kudos to Norrie Cavallero, who had the good judgment to transfer to Unit 506 in August. Norrie won the national Mini-McKenney in the 5-20 MP category. That means she won more masterpoints than anyone in the entire ACBL! Way to go, Norrie!
Kudos to this month’s masterpoint ladder climbers: Junior Masters Jeremy Flinders, Eleanor Fraenkel, Siesel Maibach; Club Master Judy Salgado; Sectional Masters Joseph Kushner, Maxine Sigel; Regional Master Kris Wong; Life Master Norrie Cavallero; and Gold Life Master (2500 MP!) Larry Kolton. Well played, all.
Welcome as always to our new members and transfers: new members Kate Braverman, Claudia Kelly, Terry Levin, and Leeann Steiner; and transfers Vladimir Cuperman (Santa Barbara), Robert McNeil, and Jean Walker (Visalia). Say hello to these folks when you meet at the table.
Coming up this month at the clubs: QuickTricks will hold its annual and very popular Pro/Am on April 27. The Pro/Am is lots of fun and a terrific opportunity to meet fellow bridge players and get some free bridge tips! Check out the club web site at www.quicktricks.org for all the details. And speaking of club games, Lea Salem & Brian Jersky posted a whopper of a game at St. Mary’s in February: 70.92%.
That’s a big score!
This month’s unit game will be a Swiss Teams event on April 11, noon at the Sunset Club. Bring your team for lunch and the game. Next month, the unit and all the SF clubs will participate in Great Western Spring STAC Week, May 4-10.
Once again we are sorry to mark the passing of another Unit 506 stalwart, Ernie Benesch. Ernie was always a gentleman with a good sense of humor at the table. Despite his failing health, Ernie always came to play and his bridge instincts remained sharp to the end.
He will be much missed. Our condolences to his family and friends.
Santa Clara Valley
By Ray Yuenger
If you read this column as soon as you get your Forum, to thank you I’ll remind you to attend the Santa Clara Valley Spring Sectional beginning Friday, April 3 at 2:00 p.m. For more information about the schedule, look at sjbridge.org or at last month’s Forum advertisement.
You’ll have more notice of our next unit game on Monday night, April 13, and time to organize your team. Some of you will remember the 8-is-enough format. No team of four can have a rating higher than eight, with the most experienced players (over 1,500) being 3s, Non-Life Masters being 1s, and 2s in between. We will stratify teams if the turnout warrants it. It’s a chance to team up with someone new.
Please sign up at the club when you have a team.
Looking back now, at the Presidents Day Regional, Missy Coy & Marilyn Imaoka-Yancey and Belinda Gu topped their stratifications in the Charity Pairs. Winning their strats in two-session pairs games were Doug Hong, Kit Humphrey, Dan Turkus, Eryl Barker, Dan O’Neal & Jim Tseng, Mark Pensler & Murty Ponnapalli, Lynn Yokel and Li-Chung Chen. In the limited pairs, earning strat tops were Mark Pensler & Murty Ponnapalli, Judy Kaplan, Ben Bosklopper & Elenalani Lam, Leslie Perkins & Lynn Bartz, Thomas Feury, Anna Maria De Acha, Jimmy Woo & Terry Lancaster, and Rajeeva Sharma & Corinne Carter.
On winning Knockout Teams were Rose Meltzer, Dianne Shannon; Wendy Dewell, Barbara Mash; Don Nemiro; Gerry & Joan Piaget; Jia Wang; Nongyu Li and Ted Hwa. On winning two-session Swiss Teams were Rose Meltzer; Joel Koransky, Ken Rosenfeld, Mindy Foos & Michael Fleisher; Jay Xu; Steve Bosma, Ben Bosklopper, Victor Rivkin & Boris Ginzburg; and Mark Pensler & Murty Ponnapalli.
At the San Francisco Sectional, Will Watson won the two-session pair game, jumping out in front with a 74.4% first session. Strat tops went to Alan Malloy & Michael Bodell and Frank Lowenthal. Belinda Gu’s Swiss team was first in its strat.
At the Berkeley - El Cerrito - Richmond Sectional, Stu Goodgold and Li-Chung Chen had strat tops in pairs games. Dianne Shannon’s Swiss team won.
Our honor roll of new Masters includes: Rollin Chambers, Holly True (Junior); Roy Denman, Rosemary Heath, Charlotte Miller, Don-Min Tsou (Club); Susama Chunder, Leslie Perkins (Sectional); Alfred Hume, Linda Rallis, Jennifer Sheppard, Mary Simoni (Regional); Clair Feury, Thomas Feury, Nancy Ward (NABC); Jia Tarng Wang (Life).
And now, our 2008 Mini-McKenney (M) and Ace of Clubs (A) winners by masterpoint range: Rose Meltzer (M), Ed Barlow (A) (unlimited); Diane Shannon (M), Fran Dickman (A) (10,000); Peter Friedland (M), Bonnie Beardsley (A) (7,500); Frank Lowenthal (M), Bruce Luttrell (A) (5,000); Lynn Yokel (M), Derek Fiero (A) (2,500); Nongyu Li (M), Bruce Scott (A) (1,000); Lynn Shannon (M), Peggy Sprague (A) (500); Alan Malloy (M, A) (300); Michael Bodell (M, A) (200); Paul Lee (M, A) (100); Mary Simoni (M, A) (50); Jane Slenkovich (M, A) (20); Lynn Bartz (M, A) (5).
I’m sorry to say long-time member Jean Power passed away.
I remain rayyuenger@comcast.net
San Mateo/Redwood City
By Joel Steinberg
February has the fewest days, but it seemed to have the most activity that I can remember. Greetings from Unit 498. Our members helped staff the recent Burlingame Regional, and since it was in our own back yard, it seemed that everyone played and scored some points. Tuesday aft. Charity Pairs. 1st, Ted Richmond & Roger Dewes; Tues. p.m. Charity Pairs. 3rd, Ed Frymoyer & Mie Thiemmedh; 299er Pairs. 4th, Bob McComb & Mike Flashner; Wed. a.m. 299er Pairs. 1st, Mary Ann DeMoss; Wed. Senior Pairs. 6th, Nancy Gordon & Ed Frymoyer; Wed. p.m. Swiss; 4th C, Sharon Legallet, Carole Ringoen, Jan Grove and Linda Schwarz; Lincoln KO Bracket 1 2nd, Hamish Bennett; Bracket 4 2nd, Nancy Finney, Alice Wallace, Penny Bellamy, and Margaret Conner; Thurs. aft. 299er Pairs. 1st, Phil Scatena & Carl Sutherland; Thurs. 99er Pairs. 1st, Gayle Hester & Margaret Harger;
Thurs. p.m. Swiss 2nd A, Marcus Ballinger & Dan Raider, 1st B, Hugh Huff, Ralph Levin, Sara Rae Miller and Bruce Bishop. The Jefferson KOs were especially kind to us: Bracket 1 2nd, Everett Boyer & Greg House; Bracket 2 2nd, Hugh Huff, Bruce Bishop, Ralph Levin and John Lawton; Bracket. 3 1st, Leonore Cavallero; Bracket. 4. 2nd, Mary and Jay Bates, Al Malouf, and Carol Knowles; Fri. a.m. 299er Pairs. 1st, Nancy Finney & Margaret Conner; Thurs.-Fri. Madison Swiss 1st, Marcus Ballinger; B 4th, Phil Scatena & Carl Sutherland; Fri. aft. 299er Pairs. Tied 1st, Selma Mittelman & Janis Paslin-Diller and Penny Bellamy & Alice Wallace; Fri. p.m. 299er Pairs. 1st, Phil Scatena; 2nd, Doug Ulrich & Jerry Scott; 5th, Dena Fisher & Lolly Donovan; U.S. Grant Bracket 2 KO 2nd, Arlie Lamb, Ed Frymoyer, Ed Hornung and I; Sat. a.m. 299ers 2nd, Margaret Harger & Gayle Hester; Sat. aft. 299ers 1st B, Loraine McCloud & Mavis Baird; Sat. aft. side game 1st, Loretta Baines; 4th, Ira Colton & Gert Philippi; Washington Bracket 1 KO 2nd, Marcus Ballinger; Bracket 2 2nd, Patty Frederick & Fre Chasalow; Bracket 3 2nd, Mary & Jay Bates, Al Malouf and Anne Javer; Sun. aft. 99er game 1st, Margaret Harger & Gayle Hester: Sun. Senior Pairs 2nd, Bob Robbins & Martie Moore; 5th B, Norm Kalman and I.
Bracket 2 KO 4th, Nancy Gilchrist, Gigi Nordman, Margaret Conner and Gretchen Schmeeckle; Bracket 3 4th, Phil Scatena & Carl Sutherland; Sun. Compact KO Bracket 1 1st, Marcus Ballinger; Bracket 2 1st, Everett Boyer & Greg House; Bracket 4 4th, Jay & Mary Bates, Al Malouf and Anne Javer; Jackson Bracket 1 KO 1st, Hamish Bennett; 7th, Bob Robbins, Pat Litfin, Rosemarie and Jim Dean; Mon. BCD Swiss 8th, Lex Murdoch, George Prozan and Kris Tejwani; Bob Luebkeman Senior Swiss 1st, Ted Richmond; 4th, Kate Talbot & Zak Mohammed; 2nd B, Tony Baranski, Arlie Lamb, Miwako Litwin and I.
Thanks to all our members who donated their time to staff partnership and hospitality desks throughout the tournament.
No sooner were we done with one tourney than we participated in the San Francisco Sectional. Bella Berkovitch & Edie Wong were 6th in the Sat. Side Pairs.; Sat. Open Pairs. 2nd, Hamish Bennett & Greg House; 5th B, Arlie Lamb & Don Doolittle; A/X Swiss 1st, Greg House & Hamish Bennett; BCD Swiss 8th, Arlie Lamb, Ed Frymoyer, Don Doolittle and I. I’m sure I must have left out some names; but you all know who you are anyway.
Mary Bates was presented with the District 21 Goodwill Award. Mary not only contributes a lot of her time to our games and tournaments; she is one of the nicest people one could ever meet. Nobody deserves this award more than she.
Congratulations to new Junior Master Carol Kemper; Club Master Barbara Hasten; Sectional Masters Guy Hecht and Robert Rove; Regional Master June White; and Silver Master Fred Herzer. Well done, all.
On a sad note I must report the death of Ernie Benesch. We had celebrated his 95th birthday at the Bayshore Bridge Club only two weeks earlier; he was well liked, a good bridge player, and a fine gentleman. We will miss him.
An amusing aside: My partner raised my 1NT to 3NT. As she put down the dummy she said, “My hand is perfectly square, partner.” Indeed it was: 3-3-3-3. (One of her cards was stuck to the back of another).
Until next month.
Santa Cruz
By Susan Benich
So do you have any idea how many of the 1438 winners that were at the Presidents Day Regional in Burlingame are from our club? Well, if you are interested have fun counting: Wayne Stuart, Jane Jennings, Ann Ottenberg, Jim Slinger, Susan Slinger, Judy Murdock, Jan Winham, Dick Wasserstrom, Phyllis Wasserstrom, Nancy Driscoll, Mary Peterson, Mary Pulliam, Neil Smyth, Don Seldeen, Diana Schilling, Susan Benich, Phil Johnson, B.J. Johnson, Mick Friedberg, Tom Snouse, Bill McIntosh, Ken Llacera, Vee Duvall, Mary Simoni, Joanne Bruno, and Elena Laborde-Bishop.
And, do you know who our new Junior Master is? How about our new Sectional Master? Our new NABC Master? In order they are Gary Laskey, Bonnie Tragni, and Phyllis Wasserstrom.
Congratulations to each of you!
Have you met Harriet Cohen and/or Roger Griffith? They are the newest members to join our unit. Please welcome them along with Phyllis Deming who has transferred into our unit from Massachusetts.
Before her retirement Joanne Nelson (mother of three adult children, Michael, Lara, and Elizabeth) was a librarian working in Publications and Law at UCSC. She is a new member of our board, but comes to us as an experienced board member having served on several non-profit boards (president of one) where fiscal responsibility was the primary issue. Her goal is to be a sounding board for club members in addition to welcoming and encouraging new members. Joanne has her work cut out for her as there are currently in Nancy’s beginning class 40 students just waiting for some nurturing.
Some February highlights are the following: In the two Saturday Swiss Team events, 1st A, Alice Hopkins, Ann Ottenberg, Robin Evenden, Charlie Pender and Virginia Calhoun, Phil Rodriguez, Jane Jennings, Bill McIntosh. 1st place in B/C, Joanne Bruno, Elena LaBorde-Bishop, Vicki Kuhlmann, John Hadley and Joanne Bruno, Vicki Kuhlmann, John Hadley, Susan Benich. In the unit game 1st in A & B, Pam Benz & Tony York, 1st in C, Jeff Pruett & Hal Rogers.
At Bridge Camp, N/S 1st in A/B, Peggy & Doug Dilfer; 1st C, Florence Perry & Alice Ford; E/W 1st A, Virginia LeRoy & Marge Clancey; 1st B/C, Rita Kinney & Wendy Miller. Results of the ACBL-wide Senior Game at our club, 1st overall A/B, Jane Jennings & Ken Llacera; 1st overall C, Bernard Feldman & Peter Nichols.
Extended 299er Team Knockouts will be held at 6:30 p.m. on April 7. See Nancy for details.
We’ve been missing you at the Monday evening open game! Bill’s game starts at 6:30. He has good treats. The company is unbeatable. But, we are missing you. Won’t you please come and challenge us to better our game. Call if you need a partner.
I’ve often overheard the comment, “Bridge players need to get a life!” What? We have many members that donate their time and talent to better the lives of others. Take Mick Friedberg for one; he currently volunteers his time teaching interpersonal skills to 3rd-6th graders at Linscott Charter School in Watsonville. In addition he is offering an elective class to 12 very fortunate 6th-8th graders. These students will meet from 1:45 to 3:00 p.m. on Mondays to - get this - learn to play bridge! Our bridge future is secure in Mick’s hands.
If you ever want to share ideas, news, positive “gossip,” happenings, to “toot your own horn” or someone else’s, please don’t hesitate to e-mail or call me. I really appreciate hearing from my “cub” reporters.
Santa Rosa
By Randee Dimond
Asked why he robbed banks, John Dillinger said, “Because that’s where the money is.”
A similar question might be, why do you play bridge? The answer: “Because that’s where the action is.” And what a month February was!
Bob Klein won his 5,000th MP and then some at the Presidents Day Regional reaching the Diamond Life Master plateau playing with David Neuman. Barbara & Lou Meola won not one, but two 299er events and more, adding nicely to their glassware collection. Evelyn Holtz & Nick Wiebe won the Open Pairs going away; Larry Borsian & John Kozero won a KO with their teammates; and Alan Shotkin, Tom Gee, John McNulty, and yours truly won their KO bracket. The SF Sectional was equally rewarding for Mary Omodt who with teammates Larry Borsian, Larry Wyner, and Chris Flindt won a Swiss event and for Patty Hertz and Wendy Merget who scored at the top of the Cs in a pairs game. Huzzahs and hearty congratulations Mary, John McNulty, and Randee on becoming new Life Masters. Pat Scoville has achieved the rank of Silver Life Master with her 1000th MP.
Congratulations to her and all of us who admire her skills.
Others from the unit performed with distinction (the good news is you’re playing great; and by the way, you have to play a team of world champions). To see the results of tournaments big and small, go to www.ACBL.org , click on “tournaments” and drill down.
February Gallery winners include those at the inaugural Monday night game. Stars of the night were Wendy Zukas & Ann Slater, Eleanor Wales & Susan Campbell; great turnout and great fun. Clear your calendar to play on a Monday night. February unit game overall honors went to Kathy Venton & Dave Pankratz. The same Dave had a terrific 70% game with Gary Robinson during the month. Gladys Sawyer & Elise Henderson also won unit game honors.
Other club winners were Kate Hill, Evelyn Holtz, Rose Marie Johnson, Peggy Leiser, Nina Arabit, Larry Hansen, Sara Rothmuller, Jackie Ortiz, Chris Flindt, Asher Nathan, Lynn Blumenthal, Jeanette & Greg Merenbach, Linn Erickson, Loy Mott, Lee Matejovski, Gloria Hersch, Jennifer Jones, Bob Klein, Mark Hersko, Ron McEwan, John Kozero, Larry Borsian, Larry Wyner, Wayne Gordon, Helen Fladseth, Nell Magnuson, Mike Livensparger (who, with Evelyn, had a mighty 70%+ game), Danielle Hejmanowski, Sally Jamison, Mimi Armstrong, El Shaw, John Richardson, Patricia Scoville, Jerry Murphy, Cody Kirkham, Chris Evans, Sue Snow, Oak Sawyer, Pat Frenaye, Jan Parker, Susan Campbell, Idelie Mitchell, Erwin Linzer, Patricia Gittings, Debbie Tesler, Larry (when life gives you lemons) Borsian, Jan Hess, Holly Gustafson, Tom Vecchio, Brian Haley, Patty Hertz, Kathy Juarez, Maureen Karbousky, Pat Gittings, Dorothy Perry and Opal Parves. Congratulations to all; some of you over and over again.
Ace of Clubs winners (for most points earned at the club level) for 2008 were Deborah Lewis, Tim Coshow, Anna Webster, James Oswald, Tom Gee, Mark Hersko, Larry Borsian, Gary Robinson, Kathy Venton and Bob Klein. Tom and Larry won both the unit and District 21 races in their category. Winners will each receive a certificate of achievement from the ACBL and a free play at a unit game from Unit 509.
Coming soon to the Gallery: "Competitive Bidding," a six session course, started March 26 and continues through April. Kathy Venton cover pre-empts, doubles, overcalls & advances. Contact her at 707 591-5015 for more details on this series that will make you more of a presence at the table. April 14 is the Tuesday daytime team game and the next unit game is Sunday, April 19. And it’s not too early to get STACed – Great Western Spring STAC week is May 4-10. There will be two Pro-Am games, Wednesday night and Thursday. Pros are those with over 200 MPs. If your ducks aren’t quite lined up, let Kathy help your fill out your team.
South County
By Jim Solomon
At our annual Lasagna Pairs game on Friday, March 13. We honored our big masterpoint winners for 2008, “A” (Ace of Clubs) & “M” (Mini- McKenney) and here they are: Rookie: A, Mickey Row & M, Tao Fan; Junior Master: A, Ruth Davis & M, Stephanie Singer; Club Master: both, Darrell Fung; Sectional Master: both, Bob Hamilton; Regional Master: both, Bill Beeson; NABC Master: A, Amy Wu & M, Charlie Conrad; Life Master: A, Allan Harris & M, Richard Feinberg; Bronze LM: A, Joe Parker & M, Jim Solomon; Silver LM: A, Pang-pen Sheng & M, Vince De Pasquale; Gold LM: A, Jim Kelsey & M, Zac Cohen. Pang-pen and Zac were our top masterpoint winners for the year in the AC and MM, respectively, and those are small but fitting tributes to them, both of whom have passed away in the last three months.
Finally, in online points Chuck Wong ranked 86th in the ACBL.
Notable Recent Tournament Performances: Glitter Gulch Sectional, Las Vegas: from the South County viewpoint, it was all Morrie Pakulis: Monday eve. Open Pairs: 6/7 B; Thursday afternoon Swiss Teams: 6A/2B/1C; Saturday eve. Open Pairs: 4A/2B; Sunday aft. Open Pairs: 3A/2B.
Presidents Day Regional: Wednesday Open Pairs: 12/13A, 6/7B, Steve Chen; Thursday aft. D21 Side Pairs: 2A/1B/1C, Doug Burke; 3A/2B; Norma Bozzini & Darlene Mayhew; Fri. Open Pairs: 3B, Norma & Darlene; Grant KO Teams: Bracket 2: 3/4, Joe Parker, Virginia Herring, & Vince De Pasquale; Bracket 4: 2nd, Charlie & Ann Conrad, Valerie Byrne, & Bob Hamilton; Saturday Open IMP Pairs: 6B, Steve Castellino. Washington KOs, Bracket 3: 3/4, Darrell Fung; Sunday Senior Pairs: 5A, Bill Cubley. Morn. Compact KOs, Consolation Bracket 3: 2/3, Stephanie Singer; Sunday Open Pairs: 3A/1C, Mark Dean; 5B, Steve & Colette Castellino; Sunday Compact KOs Bracket 1: 4th, Jay Magid; Bracket 2: 3rd, Bin Liang, Jun Shi. Bracket 3: Steve & Sarah Chen, Bo Xiao, & Jianming Zhang; Bracket 4: 1st, Darrell Fung. Consolation Bracket 2: 2nd, Jey Jeyakumar; Jackson KOs Bracket 2: 3/4, Jim Solomon; Monday B/C/D Swiss Teams: 3/4, Kunio Okui; Monday Fast Pairs: 4A/1B/1C, Prakash Karamchandani. San Francisco Sectional: Saturday morn. 199er Pairs: 2nd overall, Stephanie Singer; Sunday Strat Swiss Teams, A/X Flight: 4X, Mark Dean; Sunday morn. Open Pairs: 1 OA, Jay Magid. B-E-R Winter Be Gone Sectional: Sunday Swiss: 6B, Jim Solomon.
Special Club Games in the Next 30 Days: Tuesday, April 7, Fremont Easybridge! Club: ACBL Inter-Club Championship game.
Winners at Recent Special Club Games: Tri-City BC ACBL Junior Fund Championship game (JFCG), February 9: 1 OA, Genore Schaaf & Hildegard Leslie. Marina BC C.C., February 17: 1 OA, Larry Smith & Honey Saltzman; 1 E/W, Jack Meng & Robert Lapointe. Fremont Easybridge! Club ACBL JFCG, Feb. 17: 1 OA, Mickey Row & Jo Callahan; 1B, Nuno Rebelo & Vicky Santos. Tri-City BC ACBL JFCG, Feb. 21: 1 OA, Chrystal Newell & Terry Kellerman. 1B/1C, Gerry Jones & Marolyn Lorish. ACBL-wide Senior Pairs championship game, February 23: at Tri-City BC: 1 OA, Herta Apfel & Mary Borneman; 1C, Beverly Kline & Michael Rose. At Redwood BC: Open: 1 OA, Jan Hollowell & Jim Helt; 1 E/W, Grant Vance & Michel Schneider. NLM: 1 OA, Bob & Evelyn Lemon, Celia Bjerkan & Pat Edgar (tie); 1 N/S 2D, Pat Krock & Randy Corr; 1 E/W 2D, Ella Wilson & Merilyn Cooper; 1 N/S 2B, Hal Rayburn & Don Hubbard. Lakeside BC C.C., February 25: 1 OA, Virginia Herring & Vince De Pasquale; 1 E/W, Jim Kelsey & Tom Nugent.
Welcome to Our Fold to Jean Wood of Fremont, a new player in our Fremont and Hayward Weekes Park Easybridge! Clubs and almost as quickly a new member our unit and ACBL!
Moving up the Masterpoint Ladder: Congratulations to Allan Harris, Bronze Life Master; to Darrell Fung, NABC Master; to Dan McCracken, Club Master; and to Barbara Watts, who’s advanced to Junior Master status.
Members on the Mend: Penny Cobleigh suffered a bad fracture in February; she’s at home, progressing well in what’ll be a three-month recuperation. We’ll keep your chair warm for your return, Penny.