B-E-R
By the Beer Dude
May the snowpack have risen by now. We’ve been using mucho “gray” water on our greenery since EBMUD hit us w/mandatory reduction (19%) late last summer (they whack your pocketbook for exceeding your quota). If you’re headed for Houston for the NABC, send back some of its excessive humidity, please! Check out LBJ Space Flight Center, which is a reasonably short drive from downtown, if you take a day off.
This has been the worst winter ever for player losses. We found out mid-January that Ragu Nathan had passed away Xmas Day. Eric & I attended his memorial service at the Arlington CH; very nice gathering of his family, coworkers, & magician friends, some of whom performed a little legerdemain. We’d never known that Ragu was an accomplished sleight-of hand artist.
Early January, Christine Wright lost her long-time partner Zac Cohen to injuries suffered in a car crash 12/27 near Sacramento. Besides being a good player & helluva nice guy, Zac was an accomplished golfer. Finally, Terry Eaton, one of the Monday night game denizens, departed this earth late January. Terry had a great sense of humor & was another of those “seat of the pants” types who could nail you out of the blue. The unit extends its sympathies to all their families & friends.
Our first Monday unit game experiment drew a meager three tables, with Gus Graban & Else Kiefer winning & Larry Lew & Grace Uyeno 2nd. The Sunday game two weeks later was opposite a sectional, so we had just 4½ tables. Overall cashers were Prez Jim Scott & Grace Uyeno 1A; Eric & Sandi tied with Bill Jolly & Trudie Sinclair 2A; Gordon Libby & Dexter Hodes 2B. March games are the 9th & 22nd; Monday game is a “Hi-Lo” Pairs (all play the SAYC; I’ll create pairings based on highest & lowest MP totals of the participants). Yellow card & its system notes are available on the ACBL website; we have plenty of copies at the club. This is a chance for newer players to play “up” & have some serious fun!
Hi/Bye/Up the MP Ladder: Welcome new members Rick Chen, Rich Dibenedetto, Ann Dunipace, Linda Kohn, & Sharon Primbach; also transfers-in David Bebee (Vallejo) & Craig Jefferson (SF). Adieu to Cynthia Blum & Spencer Sun (Marin). Carol Maffin is our newest Junior Master.
In January, Helen Studabaker & Carol Scott owned Monday, shooting 72.2% one of the two regular club days. Live Oak got a new face to the MP leader board, Jack Ackrell. Best games were Tom Shimizu & Aki Watanabe’s 63.16% on Wednesday, & the Studabaker & Begley 75.5% whopper on Jan. 30. Club championship games are Monday the 16th & Wednesday the 18th.
Other good news, a nearby house has installed wi-fi, which means that I can upload game results to our web site before I head home; hope the same is true when we relocate to Madera CH for the summer.
I have the honor of directing East Bay’s game March 21 feting Barbara Harmon, a great lady whom I first met in 1979 @ the late Oakland BC on Broadway. She taught & mentored hundreds of novices & directed games in Oakland for many decades! I’m sure it will be as great as/better time than the game I ran a few years back when U502 saluted Adeline Crowl. See U502’s website for details; the game could be sold out by the time you see this.
For the latest in B-E-R’s world, go to www.berunit497.org
Carson/Tahoe
By Rich Tirissini
Congratulations to new Life Masters Diane McCall and Nick Pchelkin! And kudos to Bob Garrett for having the highest masterpoint total among Carson-Tahoe Unit members at the Reno Regional in December.
At the Carson Bridge Center, Ken Grafton had the most club masterpoints for the month of December with 4.48, followed by Gary Nitzberg with 4.33 and Martin Sklar with 3.63. Donna McLeod led the pack in January with 6.94 masterpoints, followed by Gary Nitzberg with 5.07 and Thelma Nelson with 4.19.
Joyce Barrett and Aleeta Jones shared first place at the Carson Valley Bridge Club with 1.20 masterpoints. Roxanne Hart and Bruce Michner were tied for third/fourth place with 0.84 MPs.
Game Results: Carson Bridge Center: December charity unit game, Dec 14: N/S 1A, Bob & Roberta Anderson; 2A, Ben & Donna McLeod; 3A1B, Al Monroe & John Guerry; 4A/2B, Carole Voge & Jony Sellers; 5A, Beverly Meyer & Imogene Meyer; 5A/2C, Barbara & Bill Strand; E/W 1A, Howard & Margaret Deyoung; 2A, Bob & Konrad Garret; 3A, Theresa C Pinney & Nancy Palmer; 4A, Roxanne Hart & Mary Sandhagen; 4A/3B, Edwin Straver & Regina Straver. Unit monthly championship Jan. 11: N/S 1A, Roberta Anderson & Gladys Turissini; 2A/1B, Carole & John Sill; 3A, Thelma Nelson & Elaine Cain; 4A/2B, Leona & Nick Pchelkin; E/W 1A, Virginia Kellermeyer & Donna McLeod; 2A/1B, Edwin & Regina Straver; 3A/2B, Brenda Pugsley & Paul Pugsley. Swiss Teams “Eight is Enough” Jan. 31: 1, Ben & Donna McLeod and Carole & John Sill; 2, Leona & Nick Pchelkin and Cheryl & Wayne Kinder; 3, Gary Nitzberg & Geoff Stokes and Paul Jorgensen & Eileen Angelucci.
Carson Valley Bridge Club: Dec. 1: N/S 1A, Beverly & Sam Batdorf; 2A, Gladys Turissini & Konrad Garret; 3A, Marie Coffey & Joyce Barrett; E/W 1A (1B), Theresa Pinney & Geoffrey Stokes; 2A(2B), Robert Allgeier & Frances Coursey; 3A, Ken Grafton & Nick Pchelkin; Dec 8: 1A, Gary Nitzberg & Roxanne Hart; 2A, Donna McLeod & Nancy Palmer; 3A, Joyce Barrett & Aleeta Jones; Dec. 15 N/S 1A, Ken Grafton & Nick Pchelkin; 2A, Nancy Palmer & Mary Phillips; 3A, Imogene Meyer & Aleeta Jones; E/W 1A, Gary Nitzberg & Donna McLeod; 2A, Geoffrey Stokes & Theresa Pinney; 3A(1B), Bruce Mitchener & Roxanne Hart; Dec 22: 1A, Bob & Roberta Anderson; 2A, Kenneth Grafton & Gary Nitzberg; 3A, Donna McLeod & Nick Pchelkin; 4A (1B), Mary Phillips & Paul Lockwood; Jan. 5: N/S 1A, Gary Nitzberg & Beverly Batdorf; 2A, Ken & Donna McLeod; 3A,Theresa Pinney & Geoffrey Stokes; E/W 1A, Konrad Garret & Gladys Turissini; 2A, Leona & Nick Pchelkin; 3A, Bob & Roberta Anderson; Jan. 12: N/S 1A, Aleeta Jones & Joyce Barrett; 2A (1B), Bruce Mitchener & Roxanne Hart; 3A(2B), Robert Allgeier & Frances Coursey; Jan. 19: N/S 1A, Bob & Roberta Anderson; 2A, Aleeta Jones & Imogene Meyer; 3A(1B), Jony Sellers & Carole Voge; E/W 1A, Theresa Pinney & Geoffrey Stokes; 2, Robert Allgeier & Frances Coursey; 3, Ruth Rouse & John Guerry; Jan. 26: N/S 1A, Beverly Batdorf & Leona Pchelkin; 2A, Paul Jorgensen & Gary Nitzberg; 3A, Marie Coffey & Kenneth Grafton; E/W 1A (1B), Geoffrey Stokes & Yuki Stevens; 2A (1B), Bruce Mitchener & Roxanne Hart; 3A (3B), Robert Allgeier & Frances Coursey.
Diablo Valley
By Chris Pisarra
Hello again. It’s been a while, but here I am, ready to fill the page with what passes for wit and wisdom. Unit 499 is moving along nicely, and there is much news to report.
Good luck/bad luck. We talk, or complain, about luck a lot around the old bridge club, but sometimes luck plays a pretty big part in our lives away from the table, too.
Winnie Jasper and Jerry Chamberlain had the good luck to be able to make a month long cruise, ending in Bangkok, Thailand. Then the bad luck to have their return flight delayed by a day, but the good luck to have United Airlines put them up in a decent hotel. Then the truly dreadful luck; many thousand political protesters surged into the airport and closed it. For nine days. Winnie & Jerry were stuck. But, good luck, they were still in a hotel, which United was paying for, along with all their meals. They weren’t stuck sleeping on the floor in the terminal, trying to eat from rapidly emptying vending machines. More bad luck; with the unexpected extension to their trip, Winnie ran out of her medication. Good luck; Jerry was able to walk to a local hospital, then sweet talk a local doctor into prescribing what she needed. Through it all, they had the good luck to be able to text message friends back home, and eventually their phone started working so they could talk to everyone and reassure them that they were all right. Finally, very good luck. United managed to get them on a Singapore Airlines flight from a local military base, and eventually home. Just as life is for all of us; an unending string of turns of luck, this time with a very happy ending and a story to tell for the rest of their lives.
Oh, and their next trip? A cruise from Osaka to - wait for it - Mumbai. Good luck.
I’ve talked so much about the good work Vernita Davidson has been doing with hospitality; I’m afraid I may have overlooked her incredibly hard working, yet quiet and reserved, co-chairs: Pat George and Rosalind Juo. The good times we’ve all had require the three of them working together, I want to make sure they all get the credit.
We should all thank our lucky stars that we live in sunny California. Some of us went to the nationals in Boston last November, and it sure was cold. Alaska cold. Arctic cold. Penguin cold. The only thing colder than the weather were the cards. Gail revoked. Linda Bandler revoked. I revoked. Our bridge was awful.
Even Iris Libby & Carol Cottam got bit by the bad luck bug. Playing in the Fast Pairs, they were 1st in their section, Strat C, both sessions. And still didn’t manage to make the overalls. I know life isn’t always fair, but that’s painful.
Things are working out for Iris, despite the Boston weather and bridge. She’s the new Grand Pooobah of the unit, and became a Life Master during the wonderful Monterey Regional. Life is pretty good.
At the Pleasanton Sectional, Diablo Valley had an interesting double with, in the Saturday morning one session pairs game, Mike Bandler & Bob Luebekeman won N/S, while Heidi Lippitt & Linda Gross took the E/W honors. People from other units must wonder why they even bother to show up when mighty 499 is on the scene.
I went to Reno the day after Christmas every year for almost three decades, but now that District 21 has the wonderful Monterey Regional, I’ve given up on the snow and ice. Marvelous Marvin hasn’t though, and he sent me this note:
“It is important that we help newer players to achieve Life Master. I have identified three promising newer players and have committed to helping them make LM. Randy Corr, Carol Jennings, Jane Burnson and I finished first in the Bracket 4 Knockout in Reno this week. This was the first regional that Carol ever played in. Randy Corr (after this win) is projected to finish first in the District 21 Club Master category (20-50) points.”
You gotta love and respect a guy who works so hard with newcomers. Good going Marv, and congratulations to all his proteges.
Some people got to go to sunny Hawaii right after Monterey. Marj Russell writes in to tell me; "Judy Keilin achieved her Life Master playing with Sharon Tarpinian and placing 1st in Strat C in the Stratified Open Pairs. Judy Keilin, Sharon Tarpinian, Carroll Brooks and Marj Russell placed 3rd in the Friday-Saturday Compact KO 1, and came in 1st in the Weekend Bracketed KO Bracket 3." Nice going ladies.
I’m running out of space, and need to pack for the Chris’ Birthday Regional in Burlingame. Glad to see you all here, drop me a note when you do something noteworthy. Chris@Pisarra.com
Fresno
By Laura Da Costa
It is a new year, a new author for this column, and soon a new club house. Big changes are ahead for 2009!
The Fresno Bridge Club has been located in the same building since 1963. Though all of the members have acquired some great memories in this clubhouse, it is time for a change. The new club house is being remodeled now, and should be ready for its unveiling some point in April.
Located near Fresno State University, the new clubhouse will have two rooms instead of one large room, cutting down on the noise created between turnovers of morning and afternoon games. It will also allow lessons to be given while games are being conducted. We also look forward to having a new kitchen in this clubhouse. (Imagine a kitchen in which the dishwasher doesn’t block the path to the sink, cabinets that don’t bonk people on the head, and there is no men’s bathroom door.)
There will also be ample parking in a lot that is level and actually drains after rain (no more Lake Bridge Club). A big thanks to the building site committee, Byron Steinert (chair), Paul Boyd, Kay Chrisman, Robert Durbrow, Richard Meffley, Michael Molinari, John Oakshott, Bert Rettner, Jay Roll, and Dave Shuster. Also thanks go to advisors to the committee, John McGregor, John Renna, and Charles Tingey.
The fund raising committee (led by Jill Wood) has worked to improve player services for the new building by organizing multiple events such as a player auction, sale of Starbuck’s gift cards, a pot luck game on January 24 (profits generously donated to the clubhouse by John Schnell), and artwork in which donors can have their names added to one of the four suits. There is even a change bottle located in the club. The response from members has been tremendous; by the end of January, more than $14,000 had been donated.
Thanks to all who have volunteered to work on these activities, donated money for the board, thrown change in the bottle, and played in the pot luck game.
In other club news, we want to congratulate Olivia Stockton for becoming a Life Master in Monterey and Howard Reed who just passed his director certification test!
Also, congratulations go out to those pairs that cracked 70% this month: 1/15, Suzanne Graham & Paul Boyd (71.11%); 1/20: Bill & Diane Civiello (71.67%); Marion Krohn & Verlee O’Neill (70.54%); 1/21, Mary Ann Clark & Beverly Little (70.63%); 1/22, Kent Billeter & Laura Da Costa (70.31%); 1/28, John McGregor & Patrick Carroll (71%)!
That is it for this week. I hope to provide specific dates for the grand opening of the bridge club next month. I hope all of our friends who live outside of Fresno will make a point of coming this year and seeing what the new clubhouse has to offer.
There will be a Non-Life Master Sectional in August, 22 and 23, and a Halloween Sectional, October 29-November 1.
We hope to see you soon.
East Bay
By Sandi Davis
Spring is in the air and it is time to celebrate and express our appreciation to Barbara Harmon for her years of contribution and dedication to our unit in particular and the advancement of bridge in general. What better way to celebrate than with a bridge party! Saturday, March 21 at 1:00 p.m. at the Piedmont Veterans Hall; we are holding a game to celebrate Barbara, so if she has impacted your life as she has so many others, call Tom (510 530-4913) or Shirley (510 658-9736) to make a reservation as this event is booking quickly. Space is limited to 26 tables and the fee is $7.00.
Speaking of the Piedmont Veterans Hall, Doug Handler has started running a Swiss Teams game on Wednesday nights replacing his pairs game. His Friday night game now includes pre-made hands and hand records so that you and your partner can argue for hours after your game! His Monday night game remains the same. So come on out and support our evening games.
The new unit board elected its officers recently with Betty Kael (president), Roseanne Smith (vice president), Tom Pajak (treasurer) and Mary Payne (secretary). We are in very good hands J!
Be sure to mark your calendars for these events because you don’t want to miss them! First, reserve for Barbara’s party on March 21, followed by the two sectionals we will hold this year as we return to Holy Redeemer Center from June 5-7 and again November 20-22. Then finish off with our Holiday Party which as always will be a double session event on December 20.
At the unit game on January 18, Ravi Bhalla & Wen-Chao Macbride came in 1st overall with Hugh Callahan & Dick Walker in 1st N/S. On February 1, Joyce & David Denyven came in 1st overall with Richard & Judy Timmons taking 1st place N/S.
Well done.
There have been some rank advances. Carmen Murray is our newest Junior Master. Libby Silver and Mary Toman achieved Club Master. Marilyn Vinnicombe is now a Sectional Master. Stuart “Stuey” Schneck has arrived at Regional Master and Robert Hartman gets to include a letter in his player number for becoming our latest Life Master. Way to go!
We have lost two members of our unit. Martin Forrer passed away in December and Suzie Otagiri in January. Martin was a regular at Barbara/Betty’s game and will be missed. Suzie has not been active in the game for many years but is remembered fondly for both her fine play and gracious presence at the table.
Our condolences to her husband Jim.
People are still a bit confused by the online telephone directory which replaces the hard copy we mailed out in past years. Many have asked why we don’t “just put my information in.” Because it is the Internet, we will not post any telephone numbers or e-mail addresses without your permission. If you want your information in the directory, some of you have contacted me and you are welcome to continue to do that.
However, the fastest way is to go directly to the website www.eastbayunit-502.com/ (and don’t forget the dash (-)!) and follow the simple instructions when you click on Unit Directory. Try out the new Partnership feature on the web site while you are there. That’s it for this month. Please e-mail me at sandstress@mail2sandra.com with your corrections, glories and debacles!
Hollister/Morgan Hill/Gilroy
By Dian Wood Picone
Year 2009! Hard to believe we are entering the end of the first decade of the new millennium. Seems like a good time to look at how bridge in our unit has grown and changed over the years. We have expanded the number of players and games and lessons offered. In Hollister, Linda King has introduced many beginners to the game, and she and Mike Slattery have provided more experienced players with opportunities to improve their skills. Directors Linda and Mike, building on Don Bugge’s earlier efforts, each host a game, Linda on Tuesday and Mike on Wednesday with players from all over the unit.
In Morgan Hill and Gilroy, directors Ron Dragt, Win Stone, Dick Tani, Don Bugge, Mike Slattery and Rosemary Erwin greet visiting Hollister players and sometimes players from San Jose and parts north, both at the unit games as well as the regular Monday and Thursday games. The unit game now includes a “beginners” section, something we under 20 point players really appreciate. We all enjoy the fruits of much labor.
Some earlier teachers whose names are known to many who never met them, like Norma Black, Jim Harper, and Rita Tingley have left the area. Others, like Carol Jones, Jeanne Becht, and Bertie Bertonis are no longer with us but are remembered with affection and gratitude.
In Unit 524, as the games go on, we thank those who make them possible and remember those who built the foundation on which they rest.
What a way to start the New Year! Patrick Arnett achieved his Life Masters while playing in Nevada last month and Mike Slattery has received his too (he is so wicked smart that most of us didn’t know he didn’t have one).
Congratulations you guys!
Linda King will give a Tuesday lesson on "Jacoby Transfers" (3/17), "Strong Openers" (4/14), and "Slam Bidding" (tba in May). Great Western Spring STAC week is May 4-9, so be there, and be prepared.
Many thanks to the wonderful Hollister cooks who contributed a terrific “Pot Luck” lunch at Linda’s January 19 Pro-Am game. And speaking of good cooks, we were happy to hear that Marty Schwabacher is feeling better and will be back at the tables soon.
Gilroy/Morgan Hill: Open Pairs Monday: 1/5 1st, Dick & Mitsi Tani; 1/12 N/S 1st, Patrick & Liega Arnett; E/W 1st, Win & Patty Stone; 1/19 1st, Mike Slattery & Bob Frohman; 1/26 1st, Patrick Arnett & Liega Arnett; 2nd, Bob Frohman & Frank Frohman.
Open Pairs Thursday: 1/8 1st, Bill Smith & Chris Boncich; 1/15 1st, Mitsi Tani & Mike Slattery; 1/22 N/S 1st, Ron Dragt & Win Stone; E/W 1st, Teri Swan & Chris Boncich; 1/29 1st, Lorrie Scott & Jonna Robinson; 2nd, Bob Blaine & Chris Boncich; 3rd, Liega Arnett & Lucy Grisetti.
Unit Game: 1/18 1st, Ron Dragt & Win Stone; 2nd, Don McCown & Betty McKenzie; “Under 20 Points” 1st, Nancy Adrian & Eva Rasmussen.
Hollister Tuesday Pairs: 1/6 N/S 1st, Nancy Adrian & Eva Rasmussen; E/W 1st, Patty Stone & Connie Coyne; 1/13 N/S 1st, Gale & Katie Dimick; 2nd, Win Stone & Burt Malech; E/W 1st, Charles Costa & Lanetta Bishop; 1/20 N/S 1st, Chiong Yuan Han & Doug Stauffer; E/W 1st, Maxine Elin & Don Jones; 2nd Gertrude Edvenson & Luisa Velasco; 1/27 Pro-Am N/S 1st, Rosemary Erwin & Lanetta Bishop; E/W, Gertrude Edvenson &. Stuart Proctor.
Mike’s Wednesday Bridge Game: 1/7 1st, Sheila Hill & Rosemary Erwin; 1/14 1st, Dick Tani & Bob Williams; 1/21 1st, Don Bugge & Rosemary Erwin; 2nd, Bill Millar & Bob Williams; 1/28 1st; Bob Williams & Betty McKenzie.
News about our bridge players is always welcome. Contact me:
DianPicone@yahoo.com
Livermore Valley
By Kathi Nelson
Thank you to everyone who pitched in on our annual sectional tournament! Special mention has to go to Lynn Gast (Queen of Cookies), Pat Patrick, Lynda DeVito, Tony DeVito, Katie Love, Pat Task, Ameen Paul, Gabe Gabrielson, Gil Reeser, Wayne Vondera, Sharron Wulferdingen, Jean Barry, Jan Batcheller, Carmen Meuter, Anne Lindl, Martha Edelman, Paul Dubois, Paul, I, and my better half, Jim Ostrowski. Former 501ers John and Susan Wachsman helped out tons. We look forward to hosting you all again. If I missed your contributions, ping me and I will make sure I thank you. Tournaments have a way of turning my brain to mush.
First, congratulations to Tony DaVito and Jan Batcheller on becoming Life Masters!
We had a huge turnout on Saturday. Lois Anderson & Bill Fave won the Newcomer Pairs at all levels. Bob Luebkeman & Mike Bandler won the Saturday morning side pairs in A, Heidi Lippitt & Linda Gross won B and Marilyn Vinnicombe & Fred Barnes won C. In the Saturday afternoon side pairs, Subramanyam Chitti & Dianne Barton-Paine won A, Lu Isaacs & Linda Raymond won B with Helen & Richard Spaulding in third. In the Open Pairs, Jo Ginsberg & Len Vishnevsky won A, Bert Hall & Ching Chao took B and Lee David & Kevin Haze placed third.
Sunday saw another big turnout for Swiss Teams. Bracket 1: 1, Stephen Kanzee, Alan Davis, Jean Barry and Nick Wiebe; 2, Guy Gecht, Peter Friedland, JoAnna Stansby and Yul Inn; 3, Len Vishnevsky, William Watson, Robin Roche and Mark Moss. Bracket 2: 1, Derek Fiero, Teddi Fiero, William Yetter and David Gambelin; 2, Jim Kelsey, James Merzon, Rajan Jeyakumar and Daniel Raider; 3, Lee & Lo Pesavento, John Marron and Marilyn Horan. Bracket 3: 1, Teresa Duewer, Gil Reeser, Gary Minnig and Ameen Paul; 2, David Goldfarb, Andrea Schneider, Leslie Friedman and William Campbell; 3, Vince De Pasquale, James Harper, Martin Holtz and Joseph Parker. Bracket 4: 1, Peter Schneider, Edwin Seputis, Neal Mazaroff, Corey Largman; 2, Phyllis Vierra, Carl Lomelino, Thomas Pajak and Judi Carollo; 3, Lois Flock, Ernie Scosseria, David Cartwright and Cathleen Otvos.
Bracket 5: 1, Cecilia Ip, Lee Medeiros, Gerald Cunha, Rosalind Juo; 2, Glenn Boyce, Kathryn Von Dohre, Stephanie Singer, Rich DiBenedetto; 3, Katherine Nelson, James Ostrowski, John & Susan Wachsman. Bracket 6: 1, Stephanie & Richard Rogers, Christopher Friday, Jeffrey Reid; 2, Mary Stuart, Elizabeth Silverman, Sondra Michaelson, Addie Mattox; 3, Andrew Fine, Frank Concepcion, Paul Dubois and David Silberman.
In the Stratified Swiss Teams, John Michelson, Phyllis Kreider, Sheilah Wasserman and Donald Kreider won first overall, with Dan Bergmann, Bing Young, Arthur Mirin and Rick Wilson took second overall and first in the E and F.
We’re hoping to build on our momentum by holding two special games. By the time you read this, we will have played the first of our quarterly individual games.
On March 20 we’re going to hold our first Barometer game. You must sign up in advance for this.
Marin
By Bob Sampson
He just quietly goes about being one of the two or three best players in Marin. His table deportment is exemplary and his results consistently high. We speak of a local expert who with a San Francisco partner won District 21’s finals for North American Pairs held January 17-19 at Burlingame.
Congratulations Bruce Noda!
Beautiful Monterey attracted sunny weather and record attendance at the Clambake Regional in January. Jim Washburn, playing with a roommate from his college days at Dartmouth, won the Bing Crosby KO’s, Bracket 2. Cindy & Gary Kirk were 5A/3B in the Cannery Row Side Game Series. Carole & Bob Liss were 6A in the Senior Pairs.
Wednesday: Jack Lemon KO Teams, Rod Masters & Gene Simpson placed third in Bracket 1 KO’s and got enough gold to become a Life Master. 1 in Bracket 5 in KOs were Susan Bowser & Anita Stone; 2nd in Bracket 6 were Gwen and Robert Toso, Helene Warwick and Carmella Sogge. In the evening Irene Averell & Simpson won A Swiss Teams; 6C, Cathie Hayes, Barbara Cooper and Alex Kinas; 299er Pairs: 2A/1B, Jeanne Radtke & Lillian Oliver; 5A/3B, Betty Jennings & Sylvia Levine; Side Pairs 2A/1B, Michael Hartnett & Nancy Ferguson. Thursday: Senior Pairs 8A, Lou Sasselli & Loretta Bromberg; Lee Trevino Side Series 1, Ferguson & Hartnett; Clambake Side Series 4, Rod Masters & Gene Simpson; 99er Pairs 4C, Annette Tham & Ann Schweichler; Tiger Woods KO 3 2, Jim Washburn; KO5 1, Bob Roman. Friday: Bracket 1 John Steinbeck KO Teams, 1, Bruce Noda; 99er Pairs 5A, Eileen Murray; 299ers, 3C, Irene Lam; Phil Harris Swiss Teams: 8B, Cindy & Gary Kirk; 6C, Hayes, Cooper & Kinas; Swiss Teams: 6A, Loretta Bromberg; 1C, Irene Lam; 4C, Susan Angel. Saturday: Bracket 3 Mark O’Meara KO: 1, Bob Roman; 2, Pat & Ed Rothenberg.
In the Bracket 1, Cypress KO Consolation: 3, Bruce Blakely; Bracket 5, 1, Jane Bauer, Irene Lam and Susan Angel; Lee Trevino Side Series 3, Nancy Ferguson & Michael Hartnett; Open Pairs 3C, Pat Irwin & Mary Tepley.
At the Honolulu Regional, Jan. 12-18, the only Marinites we found who made the trip were Hilde & Jerry Meislin. They made the most of it by placing in four successive stratum B side games (5th, 1st, 4th and 6th) and winning Flight X of A/X Swiss Teams.
Ho omaika i!
The ACBL Internet posting for the Livermore Sectional January 24-25 was incomplete. We know that in Open Pairs, Marla Kravatz & Molly Anderson were sixth in C and Loretta Bromberg was tenth in A. Phyllis Kreider & Sheilah Wasserman did well by winning the second most points after Loretta. Susan Angel & Louis Thoelecke placed. Scratching were Jean Marchant and Keith & Tracy Bauer.
There were five 70 percenters in club games in January (scores rounded): at Belvedere, Bobbi & Herb Wiltsek 73%; at Crossley’s, Jane Bauer & Terry Hope 73% and Diane Grialou & Sharon Henning 72%; at Hoppe’s, Joan Ehmann & Louis Thoelecke 71% and at Terra Linda, Joe Herzberg & Ron Studen 71%. Check all high scores and more at Jim Oser’s web site (www.fournotrump.com) which includes a plethora of data from Marin, Sonoma, Santa Rosa and San Francisco clubs.
Plan on playing in the Marin Sectional next month on the 25th & 26th. Send e-mail to mbsam247@sbcglobal.net
Modesto
By Lee Striplin
Congratulations to Ralph Jungwirth for becoming a Gold Life Master. He achieved this goal while playing with Latrelle Uhl at the Monterey Clambake Regional.
Twenty-two pairs showed up for lunch & bridge at the January unit game. In Flight A: N/S 1, Roland & Jackie Wilson, followed by Jan & Pieter Mastenbroek, Ronald Allison & William Osborne, and Jinsoon Chan & Juanita Kaufman. Allison & Osborne were first in both B & C, Chan & Kaufman were second, and third were Linda Kenyon & Frances Redington. Hayward Hawke & Alan Strauss led A, and were first overall; 2A/1B, Gary Capwell & Charlotte Martin; 3A/2B, Betty Gailfus & Joyce Rudesill; 4A, James Kenyon & Galen Neptune; 1C/3B, Jean Chitwood & Lyn Rabinovitz.
Galen Neptune was the masterpoint leader in January; 2, Stewart Tunick. Hayward Hawke and James Kenyon followed closely behind. George McMahon led C; 2, Jeanie Jones.
Several players won points at the Monterey Clambake Regional. The team of Candace Garvey, Kathy High, Terry McMillan, & Pam Sands won first in a Knockout game. They won fourteen points including four gold. Also placing in their Knockout game were Dee Alexander, Sharon Cole, Fred Fellows, & Jeanne Russo, who won ten points.
Our unit recently elected new officers. They are Glenn Van Denburg, president, Jackie Wilson, vice-president, and Jeanne Russo, secretary-treasurer.
Jan Mastenbroek, Pat Martin & Joyce Rudesill went on a Caribbean cruise in January, and they played lots of bridge. Several couples escaped the dismal winter here by heading for Hawaii. They were Chris Brown, Barbara Price, John & Joyce Ielmini, and Ken & Berna Levy. They all had a great time.
The Almond Valley Sectional is coming up early this year on March 27, 28, & 29. Barbara Price is the chairperson. Our unit always provides lots of good food and hospitality, so round up your partners and mark your calendars.
Monterey
By Maja
The Monterey Clambake Regional held in January was a great success. Not only was the weather perfect for this event (in contrast to the games illuminated by flashlight last year) but attendance set a record with 2574 tables. Many thanks to all those who worked at the partnership and hospitality desks. A new and popular touch was the espresso bar installed on the deck which received steady business from dawn to dusk. Local event winners were Robert Burke & Pat Thomas, Mon. Charity Pairs; Annemarie Von Adelung & Barbara Hake, Tue. 99er Pairs; Suzanne Klein & Maria Gussner, Clambake Side Series; Peter Herrick & Brenda Stevenson, Wed. 299er Pairs; Peter Herrick & Brenda Stevenson, Thurs. morning 299er Pairs; Janice & Richard Skow, Thurs. 99er Pairs; Richard Williams & Steve Ligas, Thursday Open Pairs; Peter Herrick & Brenda Stevenson, Saturday 299er Pairs.
The locals who collected the most masterpoints from the regional are Steve Ligas 34.95; Pat Thomas 30.09; Robert Burke 15.79; Peter Herrick 15.00; Brenda Stevenson 14.45; Tim Gillott 13.95; Marianne Van Gelder 13.91; Walter Thorpe 13.52; Carole Le Brun 13.09 and Martha Hawley 12.09.
Players enough to fill nineteen tables attended the afternoon Pines game on Friday January 16 to celebrate J.D. Clinton’s 80th birthday. A surprise party, lunch and a wonderful cake preceded the game. Among J.D.’s gifts were 80 scratch-off Lotto tickets (haven’t heard yet if he found any winners). There was special applause for this dearly loved friend in our unit. Overall winners of this sanctioned game were Nancy Borucki & Ron Olson; B winners were Joyce & Jim Martin, and C winners were Robbie Meryash & Claire Rugg.
On Tuesday evening, March 17, 7:15 the Ord Bridge Club (at the Bridge Center) will participate in ACBL’s annual league-wide charity event. Highlights: pre-dealt hands, hand analysis, big points! For info, a partner or reservations call Bill Putnam 831 772-0430.
Our local travel group will head to the Victoria British Columbia Regional in April this year. A group of 42 players will play in the tournament and take in the sights. Victoria is one of the group’s favorite destinations for travel and bridge.
Last fall’s Easybridge! participants are continuing their zest for their new favorite pastime with a series of workshops with Lyde and Jill. Twenty-six enthusiastic new players are perfecting their skills and hopefully will soon join us in some of our regular games.
Recently reported winners are Helen Gould-Gail Salmonse, EZ Bridge Tuesday a.m. and Roene and Michel Nasr, Mty BC Wednesday p.m.
Napa/Solano/Sonoma
By Keith Vincent
The first unit game of 2009 brought in 12 tables. The N/S leaders in A were Barbara & Gerry Fox; in B/C Gary Henry & Gay Metz; E/W were Bill Wells & Jerry Fenton along with Don Powell & Wayne Gordon. Nine tables for the January 18 game, N/S winners were Barbara DeMarco & Ray Fischer; E/W leaders were Joan Garciand & Tom Jacobson.
Congratulations to our newest Silver LM, Robert Wegsten. Also to Allen Hull & Anita Pensler who were 1, E/W at out December 7 unit game.
About halfway through the play of the hand, the declarer lays down his hand, exposing his cards.. This was his way of claiming, as was his customary practice. He later explained that ACBL doesn’t require an oral explanation for his claim, and that his action speeds up the game. Later in the tournament another declarer claimed during the play. This time the opponent had a chance to say, “Play out the hand.” Surprise! The declarer went down a trick.
A letter to ACBL: A player showed his hand as declarer and apparently claimed without making any actual statement. There was still a trump out. Later he said that he had contacted ACBL and that his action was acceptable to them. Even if there are no trumps lurking about, is it acceptable to claim without making any statement about one’s line of play? ACBL: The applicable section of Law 68C states that the claimer “should” include a statement of his line of play, not that he “must.” There are those who feel that the last line of Law 70A, “any doubtful points as to a claim shall be resolved against the claimer,” means that the non-offender may direct play, or somehow automatically achieve a windfall here. This is not the case. In cases when a claim statement is not made the director must learn to distinguish between a poor claim and a poorly stated claim. While players at times make sloppy claims, once their director has solved the problem of the hand, the claim should be allowed. As we point out to all subscribers, a clear statement of claim removes all doubts.
Reno
By Bud Brewer
Although now a member of District 21, the Reno Unit was pleased to assist District 20’s Holiday Regional at the Grand Sierra Hotel here in Reno during the last week of 2008. Several Reno members served at the partnership desk, hospitality and other responsibilities.
While attendance was down a bit, a large crowd of enthusiastic competitors played in the final regional of the year hoping to seal their races for McKenney or Mini- McKenney status.
Reno members Kathy Lane and Bud Brewer were honored this month by their nomination to the National ACBL Goodwill Committee. The nomination of Kathy was unusual in that it came from Jeff Taylor, the District 20 Director, Reno Unit’s transfer to District 21 last summer notwithstanding. Kathy directs two club games a week and sits on the Board of Directors of the Reno Unit. She is president of Reno Youth Bridge, Inc., a non-profit company funding the teaching of bridge to Washoe County school students. In addition, she is an excellent teacher and an accomplished bridge player. Bud is webmaster of the unit’s web site, treasurer and founding director of Reno Youth Bridge, Inc., and serves on the ACBL National Youth Bridge Advisory Board.
The Reno unit game championship in January saw 15 tables of fierce competition with overall winners Mark Lunblad & Richard Michelson outlasting the late charges by Gil Ramirez & Neal Moore to capture the title. The Lunblad & Michelson team scored a very nice 60.5% game as Ramirez & Moore finished in a second place tie with Marie Desmond & June Lucas less than half board behind winners. Lunblad & Michelson also won B with C won by Jeannene Levitre & Greg Foss.
Reno’s Tuesday semi Non-Life Master charity games are becoming a very popular event. In these games, a Life Master may participate only if they partner with a Non-Life Master. Once a month or so, Bob Luebkeman comes up to Reno and gives a lecture before the game on how to bid and play better bridge. The game is classified as a charity game with benefits alternating between the ACBL Education Foundation and the Reno Food Bank.
Sacramento
By Bob Olsen
Year 2009 board of directors for Unit 505: Officers: president Arlen Schectman; vice president Bob Olsen; treasurer Glenn Holsonbake; secretary Joan Bailey. Members: Katherine Ewing, Joshua Kantor, Marie MacAuley, John Medina, Monrad Monson, Elizibeth Sachs, and Sally Wheeler Valine. Meetings are open to all and your input is appreciated. Meetings are held at 9:30 a.m. at whatever location that day’s unit game is scheduled.
Effective February 1 the Citrus Heights games have moved to Folsom. The new location is 1139 Sibley St., Folsom 95762. From Highway 50E exit Prairie City Road, which becomes Sibley. The regular schedule of games will continue. Call the Folsom Bridge Center at 530 350-7361 for more information. Also the 26th Annual All Charity Week is scheduled for 3/6,7,8 at the Folsom Bridge Center.
The March Unit 505 game will be on 3/15 at the Folsom Club.
Ann Hill has started an Easybridge! class, which meets on Mondays at 7:00-9:00 p.m. at the Sacramento Bridge Center. Classes are ongoing. Please call Ann Hill at 916 726-7565 for more information. Tell your non-bridge playing friends that Easybridge! is a great way to start.
Jean Pond, a longtime Sacramento resident, bridge player and teacher, passed away on January 24 at age 91. Jean had her last bridge game five days prior to her demise. We shall miss her.
San Mateo/Redwood City
By Joel Steinberg
Here it is, the first of February, and there is lots to report from Unit 498. Members of the unit scored big at the recent Monterey Regional: Greg House & Everett Boyer tied for 3rd in the Jack Lemon Bracket 1 KO and came in 2nd in the Monday evening Charity Pairs. Ted Richmond won the Wednesday Senior Pairs by over 100 points, and came in 5th in the Tuesday Senior Pairs. Greg House won the Wednesday evening Swiss Teams, while Arline & Jim Van Ness came in 2nd. Betsy Schneider won the Wednesday Open Pairs. Ed Hornung, Arlie Lamb, Ed Frymoyer, and I won the Jack Lemon Bracket 2 KO, and Tony Baranski & Hugh Huff tied for 3rd. Dan Stowell & Don Doolittle were 2nd in Bracket 3, while Jan Grove, Sharon Legallet, Carole Ringoen, and Linda Schwarz won Bracket 4. Dan Raider & teammates won the Tiger Woods Bracket 2 KO, and Lenore Cavallero was 1st in Bracket 5. Don & Elise Stone were 6th in the Thursday Side Series. Hugh Huff & Bruce Bishop won C in the Phil Harris Swiss. Hamish Bennett won Bracket 1 in the John Steinbeck KO, Loretta Baines was 2nd in Bracket 2, and Ed Frymoyer, Arlie Lamb, and Tony Baranski tied for 3d. Bruce Bishop & Hugh Huff won the Lee Trevino Side Series, were 2nd in the Thurs.-Sat Side Game series, and 3rd in the Nancy Lopez Swiss. Betsy Schneider & Robert Ng were 1st in Saturday Senior Pairs. Elise & Don Stone were 2nd in the Mark O’Meara Bracket 2 KO, and Lenore Cavallero won Bracket 3.
Finally, Mie Thiemmedh & Ed Frymoyer won the Saturday Swiss. What a great showing by our members!
The year-end McKenney and Ace of Clubs winners are out: For the A of C, they are Peter Klebofski, Beverly Nuding, Carl Sutherland, Sharon Legallet. June White, Jo Boyer, moi, Raad Bunni, Arlie Lamb, Ted Richmond, Stephen Kanzee, and Hamish Bennett. (Hamish always wins in his category because he is the only member with 20,000 MPs). The Mini-McKenney winners are the same first seven, followed by Don Doolittle, Dan Raider, Greg House, and Kiran Nadar, Stephen K, and Hamish. What is especially noteworthy is the accomplishments of two of our members: Novice Lenore Cavallero was First in the entire ACBL in the 5-20 point category (271 points), and Greg House was first in the ACBL Gold Life Master category (1491 points). Greg was also 21st in the Barry Crane 500.
(I always feel good whenever I get a rare good board against Greg).
Congratulations to new Jr. Master Gordon Murray; new Club Masters Randy Rayals and Harvey Small; new Sectional Masters Margaret Harger and Terri Richards; new Regional Masters Dena Fisher and Phil Scatena; New NABC Masters Margaret Conner, Nancy Finney, and Bob McComb; new Life Master Gretchen Schmeeckle; New Bronze LMs Bruce Bishop and moi; new Silver LMs Anne Longknife and Don Doolittle.
We celebrated Ernie Benesch’s 95th birthday on Jan. 27. There was a huge turnout (two full sections) and a fine lunch with a monster birthday cake.
We held a pre-Super Bowl unit game Jan. 31; Pizza, beer, wine, a pool on the game and lots of bridge.
The Bayshore Bridge Club holds Open Stratified Pairs game Monday & Friday at 12:15, Monday and Thursday evenings at 7:00 and 99er Fun Bridge Thursday at 9:00 a.m. Call 650 344-4919 for further information on unit games.
Don’t forget the upcoming San Mateo Sectional at the San Mateo Expo Center March 7-8. And it is not too soon to plan attending our April 4 unit game, and the May 3 unit game and awards dinner.
San Francisco
By Kim Fanady
Doesn’t it seem like Daylight Savings Time arrives earlier every year? Seems odd to be springing the clocks forward only a week into March. But I guess we can all use the extra light to find our way to the bridge table!
Lots of San Franciscans have made us proud recently. At the District 21 finals of the North American Pairs, a Unit 506er qualified for the national finals at every level. Congrats to Mark Ralph, Flight A; Victor Chubukov (with honorary San Franciscan Eric Mayefsky),
Flight B; and Argenta Price, Flight C. By the time you read this they should be distinguishing themselves at the Houston Spring NABC; good luck to all.
Unit 506 vice president Dean Wangsvick received the District 21 Goodwill Award for 2008, presented at the Airport Regional last month. The district Goodwill Award is a great honor. Congrats and many thanks to Dean for his tireless service to the unit.
And did you all see the picture of Balboa High grads Lewis Geist and Lauren Chinn in the February ACBL Bulletin? Lewis and Lauren learned to play bridge through the Center for Bridge Education high school bridge program. They were featured in the Bulletin for capturing the first annual Peggy Berry Sutherlin Trophy. Good job!
Congrats to this month’s masterpoint ladder climbers: Junior Masters, Ann Arnold, John Arnold, Marion Cope, Jan Katten; Club Masters Marilou Donnici, Shike Rothblatt, Bruce Rutan; Sectional Masters Joseph Fang, Liliane Kirchoff; Regional Masters Rona Friedman, Tom Stein; and Silver Life Master Ann Longknife.
Well played, all!
Welcome as always to our new members and transfers: new members Romana Bracco and Jason Yee; and transfer Sherman Maisel (Palo Alto). Say hello to these folks when you meet them at the table.
Here’s some very exciting news: there’s a new bridge club in town! The Concordia Bridge Club, located at the Concordia-Argonaut Club, 1142 Van Ness Avenue @ Post Street, San Francisco, recently reopened under the ownership and management of San Francisco director and icon Dianne Barton-Paine.
Check out the club’s website at www.ConcordiaBridgeClub.com for the game schedule and all the info. It’s great to have more bridge in San Francisco!
This month’s unit game will be a pairs game on March 21, preceded by the annual lunch and ceremony in honor of 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). It takes a lot of hard work and good bridge to win, so come on out to the game to congratulate and celebrate with the victors. The results weren’t final at press time, so names will be named in next month’s column.
Regretfully, this month’s column closes once again on a sad note. We lost two longtime unit members recently: Barbara Goheen, a fine player who graced the tables at the Sunset Club for many years; and Seymour Ellison, a past Unit 506 president and a kind and gentlemanly presence at every club in town. They both will be much missed. Our condolences to their families and friends.
Santa Clara Valley
By Ray Yuenger
Come to the unit game on Monday, March 9 to pay your respects to the Ace of Clubs and Mini-McKenney winners for 2008 and stay to challenge them in a Stratified Pairs game.
Our Spring Sectional begins on Friday, April 3 at 2:00 p.m. We’re returning to our regular venue, the San Jose Masonic Temple. If you want to learn how to defend against weak notrumps, Wayne Stuart will tell you at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 4. See our ad elsewhere in this newspaper or at sjbridge.org for further information.
Please sign up at the San Jose Bridge Center to bring a food dish or to help out on the food and hospitality committees. Do your part to make our sectional a success.
Please also sign up for the Pro-Am unit game to be held Friday night on March 27. There are plenty of beginners eager to learn bridge from our more experienced players. Those who have participated before know what a fun and rewarding experience it is.
Until we have lists of available partners on sjbridge.org, Unit 507 needs a coordinator for a mentor program. If you can keep two lists of prospective mentors and mentees (for want of a better term) and put them in contact with each other, please let me know.
Dianne Shannon & Don Nemiro started out the New Year right by winning the Charity Pairs at the Monterey Regional with a 70.15% game. Richard Markell was first in his stratification. At this best-attended Monterey Regional yet, in two-session pairs games, strat tops were earned by Bill Reister; Beverly Wright; Victor Rivkin & Boris Ginzburg; David Gambelin & William Yetter; and Zag Kadah & Kamen Nedeltchev. In the limited games, it was Ellie Bernhardt & Janet Dekker; Karen Rice & Corinne Carter; and Rosemary Heath & Holly True.
On winning Knockout teams were Rose Meltzer; Rita Randolph; Rita Tingley & Sabina Siem; Art & Colette Quaife, Thomas & Claire Feury; Yul Inn & Will Watson; Joel Koransky, Ken Rosenfeld, Lynn Shannon & Lynn Yokel; Lyle Supp, Bruce Scott & Eileen Kotecki.
On winning Swiss teams were Nongyu Li; Steve Bosma, Ben Bosklopper, Victor Rivkin & Boris Ginzburg; Dianne Shannon & Don Nemiro; Wendy & David Fotland; Marcia & Robert Dean; Dan O’Neal & Marilyn Campbell; Art & Colette Quaife, John & Mischel Postas; Miwako Wong, Jane Slenkovich, Karen Rice and Anthony Disilvestre.
At the Honolulu Regional, Henry Zoellner won an Open Pairs game. Prevailing in their bracket at the Pleasanton Sectional were Derek & Teddi Fiero, Bill Yetter & David Gambelin.
Our unit will be well represented at the national North American Pairs, with Michael Bodell & Elenalani Lam in Flight C, Michael Fleisher & Mindy Foos in Flight B, and Will Watson in Flight A.
When you see Wendy Dewell and Judy Clark, thank them for the order they brought to the walls of the San Jose Bridge Center.
Congratulations to our newest Masters: Rochelle Gutman, Evelyn Meyer (Junior); Philip Freiberger (Sectional); Marilyn Cox (Regional); Ilmars Pakulis (Silver); Kit Humphrey (Gold).
As always, rayyuenger@comcast.net
Santa Cruz
By Susan Benich
Attention 299ers! The spotlight is on You. Be sure to come to the Santa Cruz Masonic Temple at 828 North Branciforte, Santa Cruz on March 14 and/or March 15 for our third annual “Rising Stars” Sectional. The day promises to be one of challenges, triumphs, and tasty treats. See advertisement in last month’s Forum, go on-line to santacruzbridge.org, pick up a flyer at the club, or contact Bonnie Simon or Jane Jennings for further information.
How many of you have played bridge with your children? How many of you became a Life Master while playing with your daughter/son while she/he was a pre-teen? At least one of you, Barry Samuel, can make that boast. Barry is a new board member, former junior high school science teacher, retired director of the County of Santa Cruz Department of Parks, Open Space and Cultural Services, husband of Ellen for 37 years, father of Erica & Melanie, grandpa of Alanna Rose & Ethan. Barry was raised in Queens, New York, earned his undergraduate degree at Cornell University, and his Masters from Queens College. Ask Barry about working for a non-profit, Greenmarket, aluminum recycling, Silodor Open Pairs, and Silver Ribbon Pairs. Good luck, Barry, in reaching your goal of winning a regional Senior Pairs event. Judging by past performance, it won’t be long!
See the March calendar for details on Bridge Camp, club championship games, free lessons, Spring Equinox parties, the Pro-Am game, extended team Knockouts, the Barometer game, and the unit game in addition to all the regularly scheduled games and the 299er Sectional.
Our own Wayne Stuart was honored to be a guest speaker at the Monterey Clambake Regional where our club was well represented by the following winners: Dolly Bass, Mary Peterson, Phyllis Cramblet, Annemarie Happee-Moller, Linda Brown-Johnson, Phil Johnson, Alice Hopkins, James Slinger, Susan Slinger, Joanne Bruno, Diana Schilling, Susan Benich, John Benich, Vicki Kuhlmann, Charles Pender, Gerald Patrick, Bernard Feldman, Jonni Faircrest, Jane Jennings, Candace Dauphinot, Sherry Gilbreath, Susan Darsey, Richard Wasserstrom, Phyllis Wasserstrom, Mick Friedberg, Bill McIntosh, Elena LaBorde Bishop, John Hadley, Don Seldeen, Nancy Driscoll, Jim Martin, Joyce Martin, Wayne Boss, Barry Samuel, Carol Maggipinto, Mark Maggipinto, Malcolm Sprott, Dennis Webb, Claire Swetland, Ken Llacera, Shirley Llacera, Liesel Sabloff, Harold Rogers, Marion Edmondson, Gloria McCammon, Judy Nielsen, Henrietta Cooper, Marilyn Diola, Mardell Carman, Peggy Kiefer, Diane Wolfsen, Judith Murdock, Jan Winham, Irma Andrews, Peter Andrews, Alice Del Core, Marilyn Nadler, Gary Knutson, Ginger Stone, Bonnie Simon, Jack Simon, B. Wayne Stuart, Mick Friedberg, Pam Benz, Mary Davidson, Nancy Wainer, Mark Wainer, Thomas Snouse, Shirley Passaro, Vee Duvall, Mary Simoni, Peggy Dilfer, Lois Wolfe, Heather Cutting, Phil Rodriguez, Ann Ottenberg, and Robin Evenden. My sincere apologies to anyone I might have missed.
At the International Fund Game (Jan. 31) 1st overall were Mark Maggipinto & Marilyn Nadler, 2nd overall, Carol Maggipinto & Bud Rice. First overall in C were Elena LaBorde-Bishop & John Hadley. Second overall in C were Phil & B.J. Johnson.
Congratulations!
Like all families, our bridge family experiences joys, sorrows, frustrations, and disappointments. Like all families, the immediate family members can only do so much and often depend on extended family and friends to pitch in. During the illness of Nancy Markovitz some of her closest friends made her situation known and the outpouring of generosity by her extended bridge family has been a true blessing.
It’s comforting to know that in times of need we can be more than partners and competitors. Sadly, Nancy passed away on February 6. We will miss her.
Santa Rosa
By Randee Dimond
We all study, take classes when we can, read about bridge in the local paper, the Forum, and the Bulletin, try to learn from our mistakes and not give too many gifts to the opposition. Still, it’s sometimes hard to sit down at the table with the “big boys” (and girls) who exude confidence and have an array of weapons in their arsenal. If you’ve been playing in newcomer games and feel it’s time to move on, but open games seem too daunting, make a point of coming to the Gallery to kibitz one or more of the top players (ask Kathy for a recommendation). Follow them through a game and take in the bidding and play. Keep score and write down your questions so you can ask them when the game concludes. Most players welcome kibitzers as long as you follow the rules (no comments and a poker face). You may hear bids you don’t understand and wouldn’t have made, see unimaginable squeezes and coups in the play of the hand, but you will walk away having learned a thing or two. Bridge is experiential but it doesn’t have to be hands-on to confer good habits.
Of course you can kibitz on line, but the personal interaction just isn’t there. Most any game any day is a candidate to kibitz, so give it a try. And don’t forget Monday night and Thursday friendly games as a step toward open competition.
Our January winners include 70% gamers Rose Marie Johnson & Peg Devine. Great game, ladies! A 73+% game was scored up by Kate Hill & Gary Robinson who also enjoyed regional successes in both Reno & Monterey. Special congratulations to new Gold LM Shirley Blum and to Helene Gay, Jerry Scoville, and Paul Scheinberg, the unit’s newest Silver LMs. These are hard-won honors and they’re to be congratulated even as we conspire to out-play them at the table. Also in the winners circle were Jackie Ortiz, Pat Gittings, Betty Riley, Jim Huhn, Bob Klein, Jennifer Jones, Evelyn Holtz, Jane Wahler, Lee Grams, Peggy Leiser, Nina Arabit, Nancy Johnson, Richard Zalenski, Wayne Gordon, Asher Nathan, Linda & Larry Wyner, Dorothy Perry, Marie Stewart, Chris & Bob Evans, Dorothy Gummerson, Ron McEwan, Gladys Sawyer, Elise Henderson, Debbie Tesler, Arnold Adams, Sarge, Pat Scoville, Meryl Fischer, Mary Omodt, Tom Gee, Sara Rothmuller, Abdul Navid, Sally Jamison, Jerry Murphy, Elise Henderson, Patty Hasrberson, Carol Zocchi, Jon Merry, Chris Flindt, Kathy Venton, Dave Pankratz, Danielle Hejmanowski, John McNulty, Mark Hersko, Cindy Ketelson, Wendy Merget, Joanne Argyres, Helen Fladseth, Carole Liss, Lynn Blumenthal, John Kozero, and Angela & James Coons.
The famous Santa Rosa Sectional is coming March 21-22 at Oddfellows Hall. It will be a blowout event as always. Saturday is pairs day with a two session Stratified Pairs starting at 10:30 a.m. The second session is at 3:30 so you’ll have plenty of time to get out to dinner. There will also be single session side games both morning and afternoon and a 299er single session game starting at 10:30. Our reputation for world-class snacks is on the line, so please sign up to bring goodies on one or both days. Sunday is team-and-free-lunch day. Start time is 10:30 a.m. Our unit will provide a fabulous lunch during the day along with snacks, so bring your bridge skills and your appetite. It’s a play-through, so you’ll be out fairly early. For information or partnership assistance, call either Kathy Venton at 707 591-5015 or Mark Hersko at 707 837-8045.Wherever you are along the learning curve, tournaments are fun!
Coming attractions for March include the second annual Frank Bessing Memorial Team Game on March 15. Frank is honorary captain of all teams, so get your lineups in order. There will be some great food and Jennifer will teach a lesson before the game. The winning team will see its name inscribed on the permanent trophy. Look for a flyer with details at the Gallery.
Kathy is holding a competitive bidding class beginning March 26 to help you get the most out of your game. She’ll cover many aspects of keeping yourself alive in competition including Pre-empts, Overcalls and those pesky doubles. You’ll learn how far to go without falling off a cliff, when to get in and when to stay out.
Always check the bulletin board for details on upcoming events.
Welcome back Pat Frenaye and Loy Mott; so good to have you back in our midst. We send get-well wishes to Laura Camm, recovering at home as this is written, but we hope she’ll be back by the time it’s in print.
Finally, welcome home Harry, the wandering pooch.
South County
By Jim Solomon
Having treated our members and guests to pizza and other culinary delights at our first special 2009 unit game at the end of January, our annual Pizza Swiss Festival (see below for the winners), we’re keeping on with the Italian culinary theme with lasagna, salad, and dessert at our next unit gala, a single-session pairs game on lucky Friday the 13th of March, at the capacious Marina Community Center in San Leandro.
We in South County have been shocked and saddened by the recent loss of two of our players. Zac Cohen, one of our Gold Life Masters and someone destined for even greater bridge achievements, was involved in a tragic car accident in late December and passed away 12 days later without having emerged from a coma.
We’ve also lost Fred Shehab, a longtime player in our games and a true gentleman at the table; his wife Ronnie, also a frequent player with us, predeceased him by 10 years.
Terry Terzian has bridge cruises coming up in early June and mid-October; see his ad in this issue of the Forum.
Notable Recent Tournament Performances: Monterey Clambake Regional: Mon. Charity Pairs: 2B, Margaret Halland. Tue. Open Pairs: 6B, Darlene Mayhew & Norma Bozzini. Tue. 299er Pairs: 2C, Mike & Mary Lubin. Tue. Clambake Side Series: 5A/4B, Margaret. Wed. Open Pairs: 3/4 C, Doug Burke & Kevin Schoenfeld. Wed. eve. Swiss Teams: 4B/3C, Joe Parker. Wed. Clambake Side Series: 5A/4B, Norma & Darlene. Tiger Woods KOs, Bracket 2: 1st, Richard Feinberg. Thu. Open Prs: 2A/1B/1C, Doug & Kevin. Thur. Swiss Teams: 2A/1B, Virginia Herring & Vince De Pasquale. Fri. 299er Prs: 4C, Mary & Mike. Nancy Lopez Swiss Teams: 4A/3B, Darlene, Norma, & Margaret. Mark O’Meara KOs, Bracket 1: 3/4, Richard; Bracket 2: 3/4, Jim Solomon. Cypress Compact KOs, Bracket 4: 2, Darrell Fung. Sat. Swiss Teams: 1 OA, Steve Castellino. Sun. Stratiflighted Swiss Teams: A/X Flight: 1 OA, Mark Dean & Andrew Gumperz; 7/8 A/3X, Steve Chen; B/C/D Flight: 2B, Jim & Bob Leubkeman Senior Swiss: 4A, Bill Cubley. Sun. Fast Prs: 4B/1C, Prakash Karamchandani. Livermore Valley Sectional: Sat. Open Pairs: 13A, Richard Feinberg; 15A, Andrew Gumperz; 4C, Bob Hamilton & Charlie Conrad. Sat. morning Side Pairs: 4A, Chuck Wong. Sat. Novice Pairs: 6D, Stephanie Singer; 6E/4F, John Compton. Sat. Side Pairs: 6B, Michael Rose & Taylor Lyen. Sun. Bracketed Swiss Teams: Bracket 1: 5th, Mark Dean & Andrew Gumperz; Bracket 2, 2nd, Jey Jeyakumar & Jim Kelsey; Bracket 3: 3rd, Vince De Pasquale, Joe Parker, Marty Holtz, & Jim Harper. Bracket 5: 2nd, Stephanie Singer.
Special Club Games in the Next 30 Days: Monday, Feb. 23, Tri-City BC (TCBC) and Redwood BC: ACBL-wide Senior Pairs game. Thursday, Feb. 26, Ashland BC: Unit championship game. Thursday, Feb. 26, Hayward Weekes Easybridge! Club (HWEC): ACBL Junior Fund championship game. Tuesday, Mar. 17, Fremont Easybridge! Club (FEC): ACBL-wide Charity Club Championship game.
Club championship games: Monday, March 16: TCBC; Saturday, March 21: TCBC; Thursday, March 26: HWEC; Tuesday, March 31: FEC.
Winners at Recent Special Club Games: ACBL-wide Interclub championship game, Tri-City BC (TCBC), Jan. 12: 1A/B (and 5A/3B ACBL-wide), Chrystal Newell & Alice Herceg; 1C, Marolyn Lorish & Gerry Jones. Lakeside BC Unit Championship (U.C.), Jan. 14: 1 OA, Jim Kelsey & Richard Feinberg; 1 E/W, Doug Burke & Kevin Schoenfeld. TCBC U.C., Jan. 19: 1 OA/1B, Amy Wu & J.T. Wang; Redwood BC U.C., Jan. 19: Open: 1 OA, Carla Francis & Bill Sumner; 1 E/W, Cathleen Otvos & Terri Boyd. NLM: 1 OA, Ella Wilson & Merilyn Cooper; 2 OA/1 N/S sec. C: Lynne Humphrey & Trisha O’Connor; 1 E/W 2B, Gen & Bob Brazil; 1 N/S 2B, Betty Giblin & Lenore Cohen. Unit 500 Pizza Swiss at Redwood BC, Jan. 30: Open: 1 OA, Chuck Wong, Cheryl Haines, Jean Barry, & Grant Robinson; NLM: 1 OA, Bill Barron, Ally Whiteneck, Trisha O’Connor, & Lynne Humphrey. ACBL-wide International Fund championship game, TCBC, Jan. 31: 1 OA, Richard Feinberg & Cris Barrere; 1 E/W: Terry Kellerman & Bill Hodges.
Welcome to Our Fold to Crystal Cheung of Fremont, who’s the wife of former director of the Fremont Duplicate Bridge Center.
Moving up the Masterpoint Ladder: Congratulations to Ben Kwok, who’s become a Regional Master; to Tina Chen and Mike & Mary Lubin, all new Sectional Masters; and Gloria Uhl, who’s now a Junior Master.
Turlock/Merced
By Jim Barnett
Winter has yet to arrive here in the Almond Valley and the bridge tables are busy. First, some dates to keep in mind. On Monday, February 23, Sweet Bridge will have an ACBL Wide Senior Game; On Monday, March 2, an Inter-Club Championship game;
On Wednesday March 18 will see another Inter-club championship game, and there will be club championships on March 20 & March 30.
The player of the month for all games was Margaret Quinn who earned 4.57 masterpoints. Margaret was also the top A player. Betty Brown was the top B and the top C player was Dennis Northern. Dennis and his partner Jim Higgins had the high game of the month with a 70.54% game. Monday’s player of the month was Audrey Mackall. The partnerships which finished first N/S during the month were Jack & Lenore Ellery, Joan Solga & Darlene Brammer, and Roland Wilson & Gary Capwell. Monday’s E/W winners were Betty Brown & Larrie Sweet, Jim Higgins & Dennis Northern and Dick Uhrhammer & George Loscalzo.
On Wednesday evening John Quinn was player of the month. First place winners were Larrie Sweet & Davy Terry, Dennis Northern & Jim Higgins and Dee Heller & Joan Perkins. Friday’s player of the month was Margaret Quinn. Partnerships finishing in first place N/S were Chris Brown & Barbara Price, Audrey Mackell & Dick Uhrhammer, and two partnerships tied for first place on January 16. They were Eva Slate & Ann Landers and Judy Lang & Joyce Coughran.
Those partnerships which finished in first place E/W were Toots Wade & Ray Adams, Bob Ranson & Vivian Stierwalt, Betty Brown & Margaret Quinn and Toots Wade and Margaret again. Betty Brown & Art Konency also finished in first place on January 23. On January 30 there was a handicap game in which Carolyn English & Dee Heller finished in first place, finishing first playing scratch were Audrey Mackell & Larrie Sweet and Jim Higgins & Dennis Northern playing E/W.