Anaheim
By Marlys Haraden
As I write this we are coming into the Ides of March: kite-flying month, and the finish of a National bridge event in Houston. I’m sorry to say that I’m unable to attend.
Coming to the Anaheim club, which houses both Anaheim Unit and Santa Ana Unit, one sectional in April and one in May, there will be great fun for all. We have distributed fliers and will be doing more very soon. Great excitement in Anaheim all the time; we just had an IMP event. Talk about exhaustion! The last round you are sure to fail because you are so fried. And a ProAm is coming in the not distant future.
VOB stands for enough Values to Open the Bidding, but we all know there are those exceptions that do quite the opposite, and as we play against them on a regular basis we become wiser. Or shall I say, I’m becoming a little wiser.
The heroes in bridge don’t preach; it’s not so nice to give often unwanted lessons. Other heroes treat partner with respect, move on from a fallout or a bad play of self or partner, know that bridge is a partnership game, are willing to learn new things with partner, and are open to suggestions. The not so nice player berates partner, makes him wish he were elsewhere, and thinks he knows it all.
I strongly encourage being nice at the table at all times. We don’t want to lose any bridge players because someone can’t behave, so we encourage Zero Tolerance at all times. This is essential to the wonderful game of bridge!
Winners of the unit game were: 1st Phil Hiestand - Y.M. Chu - Harish Singh - Haroon Sorathia, 2nd Gertrude McLachlan - Marie DeLeo - Nancy Coon - Daniel Oakes; 3rd Sandra Pickering - Stephen Love - Eddie Rose - Stephen Sturm.
Many more winners, so check out web site:
Next unit game will be catered, so come for great treats. We have had good numbers, and want to thank all of you who show up faithfully.
We do appreciate your attendance!
Bakersfield
By Mimi Stull
The Spring Wildflower Sectional will be Thursday, April 23-Sunday, April 26, so it’s time to get your partnerships ready! There will be Stratified Open play, KOs and Swiss Teams play. Strats will be: C=less than 750; B= less than 1500; A= less than 2500; A/X= more than 2500. A lot of help will be needed and volunteers may sign up on the bulletin board.
If you get this edition by Monday, March 30, there is a bridge luncheon at the Guild House which begins at 10:00 a.m. Paid reservations of $20 may be made with Shirley Eide. The Friday night game will be April 3 at 6:30 p.m.
A special 399er unit game will be held on Saturday, April 18 and will begin at 12:30 p.m. This a good opportunity for C players to enjoy!
Two of our unit members were in the Top 100 Masterpoint Winners in 2008 in District 22. They are Wafik Abdou, #13 with 608 MPs, and Teri Atkinson, #72, with 305 MPs. Congratulations on a great achievement!
The overall winners of the February unit game include: 1/A Gordon and Grace Tanner; Maynard and Sandy Denison; 1/B Beverly Busacca - Sharon Wilson; Marty Hinds - Bruce Maclin; Bob Pilshaw - Mimi Stull; Marj Robertson - Barbara Jones; Rich Wilson - Sandy Piazza; George Hollingsworth - Connie Bruce; Joy Stuchlik - Edie Sandrini; 1/C Sharon Balfanz - Diann Lowder; Mike Pemberton - Libbie Stull.
Congratulations to Jerry Schmit on achieving Bronze Life Master. Also, welcome to two new members of our unit - Donna Lorenz and Kathryn Marks.
Condolences to the family of George Collins, who died recently. George, 76, was a retired chiropractor and a long-time player. He had many favorite partners including his wife Kathy and his son Jack. George’s favorite bid was notrump at any cost!
For further info call Shirley Eide at 661 205-2439 or Tom Rauterkus at 661 663-7141 or visit our web site at:
Balboa
By Phil Pearl
New members: Phyllis Cool, Ned Delorme, Sharon Dunn, Chela Taleisnik, Emily Clarke, Shirley Eberhard, Stephanie Fogel, Patricia Gregg, Louise Lee-Liljenwal, Jenny Minton, Bertran Weidberg, Sharon Weidberg, Diane Williams and Dean Yoost.
Gene Takamine has transferred to Hawaii, and Yoko Yamaguchi has transferred to San Diego. They were very long-time members of the Balboa Unit and we wish them well in their new units. New Junior Masters: Sandi Selvan, Dixie Allen, Lloyd Vogelweid. New Club Masters: Anita Eaton, Jacqui Larkin, Susanne Lee and Mei Yoost. New Sectional Masters: Virginia Grogan, Madge Nusenow. New NABC Masters: Mrs. E Mroz.
New Life Masters: Charyl Duff, Shmuel Fisher, Susana Hegstrom, Penny Wentworth. New Bronze Life Masters: Duff, Wentworth, and Hegstrom.
The Feb. 9 game at Huntington Beach was a festive affair. The players celebrated Tom Adam’s 92nd birthday, with cake, balloons, ribbons and song. Tom tells me he is within 18 points of 5,000 and Diamond Life Master. Way to go, Tom. Having known Tom for 39 years, I can testify that he still knows all the defenses, card combinations, bids, and declarer plays. If anyone wants to know anything at all about 2/1, see Tom Adams. Rumor has it that it was Max Hardy and Tom who wrote the book on 2/1.
The March 1 unit game ably directed by Ginnie Blitzman, had 17 tables in play. and the winners were: Strat A: 1 Patricia Menefee - Andy De Leon; 2 Eileen Niesen - Mary Lou Hughes; 3 Maryanne Roode - Sofija Korff; 4 Chris Larsen - Norman Woo; 5 Diana Black - Robert Hinrichs; 6/7 Charlotte & Stephen Sturm and William & Vivian Boulos.
Strat B: 1 Roode - Korff; 2 Black - Hinrichs; 3 Boulos - Boulos; 4 Marcia Shepardson - Huguette Saldinger; 5 Charles Messall - Al Martinez; 6 Marvin Radoff - Audrey Wicks.
Strat C: 1 Black - Hinrichs; 2 Boulos & Boulos; 3 Messall - Martinez; 4 Virginia Lee Paul - Anthony Doria; 5 Pam & Michael Moreland.
The Ace of Club winners will be announced, and the certificates handed out, at the May unit game.
The subject of this month’s Brief Bio is Dr. Renee Alpert PhD, a.k.a. Renee. She is a clinical psychologist, with a full time practice that she schedules around her bridge games. She is an ex New Yorker. She went to Cornell for her undergraduate work, and Temple University for both her Masters and Doctoral degrees. After completing her PhD, she was imported to California by her college sweetheart. Unbeknownst to him, she would one day become a bridge addict. They have been happily married for 26+ years, and have two grown sons, ages 24 and 20. Eric, the oldest, graduated USC and is currently traveling in Cambodia. Jeremy is completing his bachelor degree at UC San Diego this June. Renee taught classes in Psychology and Statistics for many years at Cal State University Fullerton, as well as the local community colleges.
Renee is known for wearing colorful, unusual clothing and jewelry. However, we observe that she is also very fashionable. She enjoys being creative and devotes some of her free time to artistic endeavors, including jewelry making, crafts and painting. She is an accomplished pianist, playing both classical and contemporary pieces.
Renee finds time in her busy schedule to work out and walk several times a week with her husband, Alan. She also enjoys skiing and traveling. She had a busy December, starting with the Palm Desert Regional, then skiing in Mammoth, and warming up in Fort Lauderdale.
Here, Renee talks about her bridge career: “I grew up with a penchant for card games, but I didn’t take up bridge until I moved to California in 1982. I began a series of beginner lessons from Chris Larsen. For many years I played mostly once a week at the Huntington Beach game. More recently, I decided to work less and play more bridge. I took Chris’ 2/1 lessons, and I have recently added Precision to my bridge tool chest. I now play twice a week and enjoy the challenge of the regional tournaments. Last year I qualified in Strat C of the North American Pairs for District 22, and placed 11th in the finals at the Detroit NABC. This year I plan to enter a four-session event at the Houston NABC. I became a LM and Bronze LM last year. My favorite partners are Lorrie Schramm, Patricia Al-Hakeem and Rai Osborne.
My only regret is that I didn’t take up bridge earlier in life.”
Thank you Renee, for a very interesting brief bio.
Bishop
By Lilla
For those of you that have not heard, Ron Smith has sold his home and moved to Utah. During the past month or two we have missed a very important item. On January 21, Barbara Reeder and Lee Mizrahi had an outstanding bridge game, scoring 75.69%! Can any of you imagine that we didn’t have that news in before this month? Changeovers certainly slowed us down.
Things around here seem to be picking up and Dottie is having five or six tables for each game. We were all rather discouraged for a while during the winter, but spring seems to be moving in and the players are ready to get out and play once again. Our winners for this month were: Feb. 2, Reeder and Mizrahi 1st, then Farmer and Abbott, Crunk and Kittinger, and Sparks and Taylor; Feb. 4, Farmer and Taylor 1st, 2nd Sparks and Lohr, 3rd Reeder and Mizrahi; because of snow and weather there was no game on the 9th or the 11th, and sickness canceled the game on the 16th. Feb. 18, 1st was Sheehan and Faint, followed by Taylor and Abbott, and Imboden and Hadeler in 3rd. Monday the 23rd found Reeder and Mizrahi back in their usual form in 1st, ahead of Crunk and Kittinger, Abbott and Gilbert.
Since there are those that are unable to play in the unit game on the second Sunday of each month, the board decided to have an extra unit game each month, and this will be held on the fourth Sunday. On Feb. 8, once again Reeder and Mizrahi were 1st, the Ruffs were 2nd, Kittinger and Taylor 3rd, and Imboden and Hadeler 4th. Our last unit game was the 22nd, and the winners were Kittinger and Penny Bourne with Greer and Hadeler 2nd, Reeder and Farmer 3rd, and Busby and Knight 4th.
Our best wishes, thoughts and prayers go with Ron in his new location. We also send get-well wishes and thoughts to our players that are undergoing physical problems at this time.
Hurry back all of you, we miss you!
Coronado
By Jean Seager
Seventy percent bridge games are rare. Many players never score that high. Yet, at the Eastlake Bridge Club last month, one player scored two 70% games. On February 18, Robert Shapley and partner Walt Bochenek scored 73.01%. Robert also scored a 70% game February 11 with partner Elaine Chan. Congratulations to all three players for superior play.
The Coronado Club has two new Bronze Life Masters. Dick and Lori Morrow reached that plateau recently. In addition, they earned the club championship title in Coronado.
Robert and Marie Garin did well at the Riverside Regional, coming in third in two Knockout Teams games.
At the club level, Eastlake Bridge Club winners include brothers Jim and Tom Ciolli, Lois Richards and Jim Ciolli, Kathleen Hennessy and Sharon Gordon, and Robert Shapley and Kathleen Hennessy. In addition, Shirley Hosemann and Beverly Sanchez tied with Kathleen Hennessy and Sharon Gordon for a club win.
In Coronado, Marty Roth and Betty Thompson came very close to a seventy percent game when they scored a 69.44 percent. Other winners were Phil Akre and Alice Dudley, Mary and Richard Hsieh, Bill Kipperman and Sally Naumann and Bill and Jean Seager. Also in the winner’s circle were Leila and Marty Bloomberg, Hazel Metz and Marguerite Cook, John Pizzato and Dick Palmer, Bill and Eleanor Kipperman, and Carol Brager and Robert Shapley.
Dana Harbor
By Catherine Cram
Unit game winners February 15: N-S 1- Xiaoxue Walker - Lawrence Sharp, 2- Rita and David Wakeman, 3 Al Martinez - Charles Messall II; E-W 1- Dan Glasgow - Andy DeLeon, 2-3 tie Abdol Samiian - Jacob Weisberg and Gale (new DLM) and Jim Senter (old DLM).
Next unit games are March 15 and April 9.
2009 Mentor Program - One mentee on a Saturday was overheard to say, “my head is so full of new information I’ll never be able to lose weight!” (or something like that). Her mentor commented, “Bridge is better if you keep the bidding simple. It can get very complicated, and that usually doesn’t improve your game.” Boy, is that an understatement. Get in the program! Members with less than 300 masterpoints qualify to be mentored by volunteering higher ranking players. Look for more notable quotes as the program runs through June. The value of this program goes far beyond the new friendships it fosters. It adds to the cordial atmosphere of our club and those positive vibes lift us all!
Easybridge! – starts at the very beginning again March 11. If you have friends considering duplicate, this is the way to get a solid start. Sally Palmear is a great teacher with loads of experience!
Three very high percentage games were scored in the Monday night 199er game recently: check the list elsewhere in this issue. Also, Ann Nixon - Mark Itabashi scored two 70%ers.
Congrats to the 2008 Mini-McKenney and Ace of Clubs winners. Mini-McKenney is for most points by club members playing anywhere; Ace of Clubs is for most points won in club games only. Awards will be presented on March 24. The winners are: 0-5, Gregory Hanson, both categories. 5-20 Teresa McNeil, both. 20-50 James Haimes McK; Lee Mequet Ace. 50-100 Leslie Levine, both. 100-200 Myrna Silverman, both.
In 200-300 Ronald Heath McK, Marian Stark Ace. 300-500 Jane Dober both. 500 - 1000 John Winslow both. 1000-2500 Philip Hiestand both. 2500-5000 Steven Love McK, Andrew DeLeon Ace. 5000-7500 James Senter both. Over 10,000 Mark Itabashi, both.
New Members and New Ranks - Welcome to new members Anne Fettel, Sanford Groves, Harold McBee, Michael Reavis and Randee Yoder, and to transferees Carol Hood, Melanie McClintock-Blau and Chela Taleisnik. Welcome back to David Adams, James Morris, Susan Bachtelle and Robin Lang. Moving up in ranks this month are: Jr. Masters Susan George, Maureen Morden and Jeanne Takahashi; Club Master Michael Campbell, and Sectional Masters Evalyn Earhart and Lisa Hanson. Ardelle Wolf attained her Life Master and Bronze LM simultaneously. Richard Leach became a Bronze LM and Gale Senter attained the coveted rank of Diamond Life Master, one of two in our club. Congratulations to all!
Dana Harbor Unit 538 (949 248-1268) is located near the ocean, marina and Doheny Beach. We have friendly games daily. See our ad or visit our web site for details www.danaharborbridgecenter.org
La Jolla/Beach
By Alice Leicht
The cloudbursts are bringing their act to a close. Flowers are bursting out as they begin their display. And bridge, ah bridge, is bursting through attendance records up and down the confines of southern California. I suppose that more people are realizing the benefits of playing this game; fun, challenge, mental exercise, and masterpoints followed by bragging rights.
Which brings us to congratulations to Robert Garin, a new Bronze Life Master, and to Kathleen Brainard, a new Junior Master.
On February 8 our unit championship game finished with Marvin French and Jon Wright in 1st place Flight A, followed by Donna Wood and Paul Foster 2nd. Flight B 1st place was won by Ralph Baty and Greg Stander, while Ed Layton and Pat Chapman were 2nd. Flight C 1st place winners were Lyle Kalish with Wilfred Westlake and 2nd place went to Jean Louis and Pat Astier.
Our second February game ended with results that were quite unusual. Menoocher Bahmanian with Sally Ishihara were 1st in Flight A. Second place went to Billie Green with Mary Ballin. Menoocher and Sally were also 1st in Flight B. Billie Greene and Mary Ballin were again in the 2nd spot! Flight C winners were Peggy and Douglas Magde. The second place went to Michael Kohn and David Slagel.
The top masterpoint winners in District 22 for 2008 were announced in last month’s Forum. Our unit has six members noted: Jason Feldman 487, Debbie Gailfus,470, Alan Gailfus 398, Steven Johnson 354, David Oakley 347, and Freda Anderson 325.
Should we now refer to them as the “Sensational Six?”
Our new members are special to us. We always hope to see them at our unit games and to get to know each one. This month we have three transfers into 526. A springtime welcome to Nicholas Miller, Dale Phillips, and Robert Sobel.
March has a fifth Sunday. This is a time for 526 to host a Swiss Teams event. We will have another “Eight is Enough” game, a time to put together a team of mixed level players and go for it. Eight points is maximum for a team. An A player is 3, B player is 2, C player is 1. Combine the numbers and create a team.
The Pacific SW Regional happens April 6 through 12. Our regular second Sunday game will not be held, inasmuch as it is on the last day of the regional. I hope you will be able to take advantage of the opportunity to win red and gold points during the week. The Town and Country Resort Hotel is the place to be. Meanwhile – enjoy Spring!
Lompoc
By Don Kerr
Once again we had one player way ahead of the rest of us: Ada Bakalar was our big winner last month with four wins. There was no player with three. She was followed by Joyce Gehlhaar, Jo Gowenlock, Sue Helmuth, Barbara Holt, James Kelly, Nelson Owens, and Kay Rowland with two wins. With one win were Malcolm Anderson, David Bakalar, Clyde Brown, Darlene Fraser, Criscza Goodrich, Barbara Gustitus, Robert Lindquist, and Nita Phenice.
Palm Springs/Coachella Valley
By Nancy Erickson
Volunteers are the life blood of Unit 533’s success. As I pen this month’s article for the Forum I could list individually the army of very special people who are working to assure our sectional will be the best ever. Not wanting to overlook anyone, I will just say “thank you” to all of you who contributed and manned the various functions. We couldn’t have done it without you!
Tony Hoffman and Rube Kaplan have both written excellent, thought-provoking articles for the unit’s monthly Bridge Mix. In the coming months please watch for articles by Jim Darvey, Bob McConnell, Dick Prochnow and Rob Sommer. If you didn’t get a hard copy of the Mix go to our web site www.coachellavalleybridge.com
Speaking of the web site, our unit is blessed to have the ultimate volunteer in our webmaster Bob McConnell. Bob provides our members an interactive comprehensive site just loaded with timely accurate information. A phenomenal photographer too, we often take for granted that Bob will deliver and make us all look good in the process.
The unit will hold its annual Awards Presentation prior to the start of our game in April. The following players will be recognized: Ace of Clubs – Rube J. Kaplan, Frank Shah, James A Maniscalco, Terry L. Strand, Peter J. Rodler, Florence D. Boggio, Marlene Klinger, Sherry E. Rosemann, William H. Lewis Jr, Phyllis Tasset, John Currie, and Rhoda Walsh. Mini-McKenney – Rube J. Kaplan, Ramie F Monsky, John Bratton, Terry L. Strand, Beverly A. Hartin, Florence D. Boggio, Marlene Klinger, Noel S. Hanford, Marilyn P. Loesberg, Jim Darvey, Irwin Kostal Jr and Rhoda Walsh.
Additionally, members who received major promotions will be acknowledged. The culmination of this event will be the announcement and presentation of the Edith Hirschman Award for Sportsmanship at the Bridge Table.
Club director Mick Riccio has a new open Stratified game Sundays at 1:00 p.m. The game is held at the new Golden Rainbow Senior Center, at 700 E. Tahquitz Way in Palm Springs. Players may contact Mick at 760 641-6398 for more information.
It saddens me to report Roxy Violin, longtime member of Unit 533 and beloved husband of Lois Violin, passed away February 23, 2009. Our thoughts and prayers are with Lois and her family.
Ridgecrest
By Tony Miller
Betty Doig is in bad shape. She went into the hospital with pneumonia and can’t keep any food down. The pneumonia is cured but they can’t release her. Barbara Meggers hasn’t returned to the duplicate bridge table since her fall (reported last month). I understand she has been playing some “social” bridge. Sue Douglas underwent very successful knee replacement surgery and is back playing while convalescing. Mavis Royer’s husband, Brad, stepped on some glass, ignored it, and almost lost his foot. During one of her doctor visits, the doctor noticed he was limping, looked at it, called a colleague, and they immediately admitted him for surgery.
Greg Vernon and I won the unit game with a 70.83%. Sarah Carter and Dave Speer were second followed by Jody Skaggs and Craig Stump; Yvonne Chillina and Yasuko Mullen also placed in Strat B.
The Monday afternoon club participated in the ACBL-Wide Senior Pairs with a Strat C pair leading the way. Nancy Brown and Jody Skaggs led with 63.43%, followed by Charlene Stephens and I, then Craig and Greg. In Strat B, Esther Sires and Sarah were second and Margaret O’Neill and Yasuko third. Nonie Adams and Eileen Dietz were second in Strat C.
Yasuko was the TGiF club monthly masterpoint leader followed by Margaret, Charlene, Craig, Greg, Sarah, Esther Hart, myself, Jody, and Eileen. Greg was the COM club leader followed by myself, Mary Kay and Jay Bornfleth, Sarah, Esther Sires, Jody, Yvonne, Esther Hart, and Mavis.
Riverside
By Les Moore
Partners and partnership, as you know, are vital to the game of bridge, as the game consists of two sets of partners to consummate the game. It is very important to develop a strong thinking relationship between two people, by their methods used in bidding, in order to arrive at a workable contract. After reaching a contract, the play is important, but the outcome depends mainly on whether the contract was feasible.
There are many opinions about who should be partners. One bridge writer, Milton Ozaki, stated that, “Husbands and wives make poor partners – unless they happen to be someone else’s husband or wife!”
The Riverside Bridge Club has a very good reason to be able to refute that statement. We have many successful husband and wife pairs in our club. The list includes: Mary Ann and Jerry Braden, Jean and Tom Cantwell, Marion and Larry Davis, Peggy and Gene Green, Bill and Ann Hamann, Arlean and Jon Harvey, Jean and Dick Lehman, Sandy and Dick MacGregor, Pat and Tony Mascari, Debbie and Craig McManigal, JoAnn and Ken Olivier, Mary Lou and Bob Stotts – plus others I may have missed. This group comprises nearly a third of the members who play regularly at the Riverside Club.
We have two bridge members who have played as partners for over ten years: Fern Thompson and Eileen Kramer. They are rarely seen playing with other partners. Their bridge-playing led to taking lessons from Dale Klinzing about five years ago. Their continued progression in the game resulted in silver points at the recent Inland Empire Sectional and gold points at the recent Riverside Regional. We congratulate you ladies, on your past achievements and in your future bridge endeavors.
In his book Points Schmoints by Marty Bergen, he gives 21 rules of being a good partner. They seem like solid rules to me.
Rixi Markus, one of the all-time great players, made an optimistic statement when she said, “I have always believed that your attitude toward your partner is as important as your technical skill at the game.”
The Riverside Bridge Club had three 70% games during February ... the first since last November. To find out who they were, check the listings elsewhere in this issue.
Recently, Paul McAdams had a medical problem which necessitated hospitalization. He is now at home recuperating. Hopefully he will have a speedy recovery and be back to bridge soon. I am sure he would appreciate a call. He can be reached at 909 864-0632.
Enjoy your bridge, and lots of success to you and your partner(s).
Saddleback
By Bob Destino
First of all, we want to say a big Thank You! to everyone who participated in our February Unit 525 sectional tournament. Although we scheduled only a day-and-a-half of events, it was our most successful ever. We had more than 500 players and awarded 573 masterpoints. A special “Congratulations!” is due Mark Itabashi and John Farr for their 74.82% game Saturday morning. Other pair winners during the weekend included: Steven Love - Jay Boylan, Larry and Richard Hanna, Sandra Cropper - Verna Baccus, Karen McCarthy - Karen Olin, Paul and Lynn Johnston, Sybil Barzilay - Margot Green, John Adams - Lou Dubin, Jon King - Jerry Schreider, Eileen Garbutt - Mark Rehms, Irene Bates - Robert Svejkovsky. The winning Swiss teams were Sonja Dowdy, Linda Lawrence, Mark Rehms - Eileen Garbut and the team of Meyerson, Ramos, Michelin, Chernoff and Chodorow.
And while we’re saying “Thank You!” we want to express our appreciation to the Laguna Woods Duplicate Bridge Club for the opportunity to use their superb facilities for the tournament.
And on the subject of Laguna Woods, Ellie Warren starts a Diamond series of bridge classes March 26 at Clubhouse 7 at 9:00 a.m. This is a class for on-going learners and people who have had a little previous experience. It will review all previous taught bidding, and add transfers, weak and strong two openings. The class features printouts and emphasizes play of the hand, and introduces defense. For more information call Ellie at 949 454-9881.
Welcome! to new members of our unit Henryk Adamek, Joyce Auslander, Eleanor Fumanti and Helen Tran.
Congratulations to the following players who have moved up the Master rating charts: Sandra Branfield, Anne Bussey, Deborah Carver, Jennifer Ladefoged, Charles Niles, Peggie Zuber, Harry Brown, Janice Norgaard, Ethel Rosenfeld, Linda Ryder and Alfred Tuckman.
As this article is going to press, we will be holding our annual awards ceremony. Mini-McKenney medallions will be presented to twelve 2008 honorees; Ace of Clubs award certificates will be presented to twelve 2008 winners. If you were a winner but did not attend the March unit game, your medallion or certificate will be sent to you.
Our next unit games will be Sunday, April 12 and Sunday, May 8. May 8 will be a Great Western Spring STAC game with silver points ... don’t miss it!
San Diego
By Vicki Creamer
Start the month of February with a 70% game! That’s what our unit game winners, Maritha Pottenger – Pat Chapman did: 70.20! Lena Jelusich - Alice Lane were second, Mary and Ron Huffaker came in third, David Oakley - Dave Walters secured fourth, and Bert Waxler - Jim Andrews claimed fifth. Our NLM game was won by Majid Aalom - Harold Simon.
Our second February game stretched to accommodate our open strat, our super 499er Pairs, plus a GNT unit qualifier. Number one in the Open Pairs went to Debbie and Alan Gailfus; #2, Alice Leicht - Marvin French; #3, Emily and Barry Berkov; #4, Sumiko Inagaki - Anne Terry; and #5, Marian Zeldin - Ed Kunkel.
The 499er Pairs was won by Margaret and Howard De Young; #2, Harold Simon - Majid Aalom; #3, Rich Custard - Carl Cull; and #4 Toni Basson - Doris Philamalee.
This side game is becoming very popular, and your board voted to redefine it as a 499er session. This will include all players with fewer than 500 points, including Life Masters.
Meanwhile, our GNT for Flight A was won by David Oakley - David Walters - Mary and Ron Huffaker. The winning team for Flight B was Ursula Kantor - Elaine Chan - Paul Alesu - Randy Fadem. And the winning spot for Flight C went to Carolyn Crabtree - Joan Maden - Peggy and Doug Magde. Good job!
Our new election chairperson Laura Loring will be looking for candidates for our local board. Take time to give back to our positive bridge community! Contact any board member (with a name tag at unit games) to let them know if you’re interested.
Amended calendar posted at AIB; Summer Sectional is August 14-16, not July 31-August 2 as originally listed. Also, the September 6 unit game will be a “Trophy Tribute” event, honoring our dear departed bridge buddies. Mark your calendars!
This month your donated Bridge Bulletins were taken to the Rancho San Diego Kaiser. Keep recycling your Bulletins (at the back table at AIB next to the refrigerator) and feel free to take one with a sticker on it to your favorite space for others to learn about our great game.
So much news! Our sectional was a huge success - up by 20 tables! Thanks to chairman Ralph Baty, hospitality Marian Zeldin, Mary Huffaker, and AIB’s Wirt Gilliam and John McCright. Friday’s NLM a.m. game was won by Carolyn and Howard Crabtree; #2, Judy Dveris - Karen Perling; #3, Sue Kaloustian - Susan Ealy-Pililaau; #4, James Scamman - Stuart Fletcher, and #5, Shay Andrews - Sharon Gordon. Afternoon NLM winners were #1, Bernice Ashe - Anita Hammersley; #2, Howard and Margaret De Young; #3, Ed Weaver - Elaine Pepper; #4, Barbara and Charles Coffey; and #5, Isabelle Wasserman - Barbara Rozansky.
Open Pairs was won by John Coufal - Rick Roeder; #2, Russ Novak - Sally Naumann; #3, Nicholas Krall - M. Ali Mahdavi; #4, Lena Jelusich - Michael Page; and #5, Tim Flaherty - Debbie Gailfus. Afternoon Open Pairs was won by Nicholas Krall - M. Ali Mahdavi; #2, Alan Rowen - Andrew Loh; #3, James and Lynette Martin; #4, Jim Backstrom - Ed Molloy; and #5, Anita Burgis - Ronald Kay. Stay tuned for next month’s column with Saturday and Sunday winners of this huge event!
Milestones: Junior Master: Peggy Lieb, Club Masters, Gerald Bischoff, Anwar Hafeez. Sectional Masters: Kathy Allman, Anita Hammersley. Regional Masters: Linda Gu, Marvin Warner, Ed Weaver. NABC Master: Douglas Magde. Diamond Life Master: Kent Hartman.
Ace of Clubs: Patricia Bischoff (0-5), Stu Gruber (5-20), Lawrence Sherman (20-50), Dianne Sullivan (50-100), Violet Breckenridge (100-200), Ben Domurat (200-300), Andrew Loh (300-500), Jan Fischer (500-1000), Fred Parker (1000-2500), Maritha Pottenger (2500-5000), Virginia Hastings (5000-7500), Lena Jelusich (7500-10,000), Roger Doughman (over 10,000).
Mini-McKenney: Patricia Bischoff (0-5), David Slagle (5-20), Lawrence Sherman (20-50), Dianne Sullivan (50-100), Patricia Loh (100-200), Ben Domurat (200-300), Andrew Loh (300-500), Yoon Kim (500-1000), Matthew Mallory (1000-2500), Maritha Pottenger (2500-5000), Jon Wright (5000-7500), John Strauch (7500-10,000), Grant Baze (10,000+).
All of these winners will be honored at our April 5 Awards Game.
N. San Diego County Coastal
By Iris Allyn
Unit 531 is more popular than ever; every month bridge players are either joining us or transferring into our unit. Mr. Chuck Shumacher is a new member, and new transfers are Dr. J. Spencer Emtage, Roberta Massey, Zsiga Nagy, Michael Schultz, Efy O. Tal.
Dan Beck just made Life Master. Congratulations Dan.
Last month unit game winners are: first, Debra Cameron - Marilyn Rumsey, second, Jojja and Ted Applegate, third, Ruth Wilner - Betsey Illes, fourth Beverly Dorsey - Millie Smith, fifth Don Howell - Wayne Holm. In C, first was Pat Foce - Lorna Goodman, second was Wootsie Stocton - Mary Stetson.
Caryn Villalon was elected to be on the board of Unit 531 to finish Marie Thome’s term.
Oceanside Monday, Ida Burcham
For such a short month we really had a long masterpoint report to send to ACBL. We awarded over 155 masterpoints this month. In our regular games Ted Applegate and Marty Segal were at the top of the list with 2.53 points. We started off the month with a Junior Fund Charity Game that was won by Jane Ann Felder and K. William (Bill) Hess with 4.83 points. We ended the month with an ACBL-wide Senior Pairs, and Kenneth Slagle and Jerry Woodworth walked away with first overall and 4.40 points. We are on to bigger and better games in April.
Oceanside Tuesday, Ida Burcham
February wasn’t very eventful for our Tuesday game, but I’ll make up for it in the coming months. We had four regular open games. Walter Malen was at the top of the masterpoint list with 3.90. There were two C strat players right behind him. Jim Sunderland, a new member, was second with 3.65 points, and Jim Gault was third with 3.30 points.
Solana Beach Monday p.m., Donna Wood
Solana Beach’s Esplanade Bridge Club held four games in February. Leading masterpoint winners in the open game are: Joan Kroener, Nick Krall, Ali Mahdavi, Jeff Leach, Marina Fomenkova, Scott Nelson, Herman Lin, Andy Loh, Spencer Emtage, and Michele Zuniga. Leading masterpoint winners in the I/N game are: Barbara and Charles Coffey, Nina Norden, Margie Blitz, Sheila Feurst, Linda Hahn, Mary VanAnda, Ginger Calvert and Sandy Kucha.
A special hats off to the following pairs for super games this month: Judd and Susan Halenza 72.35% on 2 Feb., Nick Krall and Ali Mahdavi 74.20% on 16 February, and Nina Norden and John Connolly 70.28% on 23 February.
Solana Beach Sunday, Donna Wood
During February, the North County Bridge by the Sea Bridge Club held two invitational games at the Lomas Santa Fe Country Club with a total of 30½ tables!
Leading masterpoint winners for February were Don Cooper, Carole Webb, Judy Gruenberger, Marilyn Kalabsa, Pat Astier, and Liz Nixon, Ethel Warner, Ginger Calvert and Judy Dveris. Reminder – if you wish to play at this game, you either need to be a member or get a member to sponsor you. Please e-mail Lee Erickson at lericks@adelphia.net if you need a sponsor. Don’t forget to check the web page at acbldistrict22.com/531/Lomas/info.html for the dates and times of scheduled games.
Cardiff Monday a.m., Harvey Goldstein
The event of the month at Harvey’s Bridge was an upgraded club championship game where we had record numbers of 100 players and 25 tables vying for the top award. It was won by Marilyn Kalabsa - Judy Gruenberg with a solid 65% game. For their efforts they were each awarded 5.83 masterpoints, which was another record for the club. In total 22 pairs received awards for their efforts.
Our regular games during the month also attracted 20+ tables each Monday morning. Our big winners for the month were the pairs of Wayne Holm - Don Howell, Richard Unger - Stu Gruber, Jan Buffo - Dave Kimball, Al Feldman - Art Loomstein, Cathy Staver - DeeDee Field, Dianne Sullivan - Jamie Detweiler, Izz Pommier - Mary Ratekin, Louise Warner - Maria Uhry, Pat Loh - Vy Breckenridge, Marlene Subel - Joan Gross, Bill Eblen - Bob LaForest, Jan Gallagher - Bonnie Nadler, Ruth Aronsohn - Harvey Scheifstein, Jag Bhola - Pat Stone, Meena Sethi - Susie Anson, Barbara Kantz - Penny Duncan, Judy Dveris - Ginger Calvert, Pat Stein - Nahid Mahdavi.
On tap for the club are the annual membership and the club championship games.
Encinitas Thursday, Ida Burcham
This is the first full month of games for the Encinitas Senior Duplicate Bridge Club. I know it must be lonely at the top for Walter Malen, but this time he brought along one of his favorite partners, Ken Shorr. They topped the masterpoint list with 4.64 points. Second place was held by Janice Joerger with 3.11 points, and third place with 3.03 points went to Judy Litman and Keith Stinson who always play together.
Fallbrook Thursday, Fran White
Thursday Bridge Club in Fallbrook has a new name! After many suggestions, “Friendly Village Bridge Club” was chosen. Congrats and thank you Virginia Hoppe; winner of the contest. Marilyn Rumsey was the leading masterpoint winner this month. Betty Gilby also had a good month winning the B strat. May Chow and Audre Dagne were tops in the C strat. March 26 was a club championship – free plays for the winning team!
Fallbrook Monday, Deb Cameron
February was a great month in Fallbrook with attendance soaring. Rainy weather seems to bring everyone home to the card tables. Our President’s Day CC winners were: Allan Lasnover - Caryn Villalon 1st with 67%,Virginia Hoppe - Paul Cameron 2nd, Kemble Provose - Walt Zorich 3rd. First in C were Sarah Dungworth and Mary Wilt. Nice job.
February top ten: Caryn Villalon, Marilyn Rumsey, Paul Cameron, Allan Lasnover, Virginia Hoppe, Wicker Gamble, Fran White, Chuck Savage, Charlie Hurd, and Mary Wilt. Some of our “Cs” doing very well were Addie Matcham, Morris Cohen, Sarah Brown and Mike Schultz. Year 2009 has brought many blessings to Fallbrook in the way of new players. We hope you are enjoying us as much as we are you!
Leaders for masterpoints are: Caryn Villalon, Marilyn Rumsey, Paul Cameron, Alan Lasnover.
Our Spring Sectional will be May 1-3 at the Presbyterian Church in Oceanside. We look forward to seeing you there. Please contact John McCaffrey for more information. Jjmac1@cox.net , or 760 433-4466.
San Diego North County Inland
By Liz Nixon
Bob and Marcia Handleman celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary this month! Next time you’re over at one of the BobMar games in San Marcos, be sure to tell them congratulations, although you’ll have to repeat it since they don’t play at the table as partners (perhaps an indicator of what makes such a successful marriage?).
The Audrey Grant Festival drew 201 participants from all over the Southwest, and Audrey’s 2-over-1 workshop was a hit. The original Friday sold out in seven days, and a second day needed to be added.
The overwhelming response prompted Unit 549 to try to bring Audrey back next year, so stay tuned.
Our unit game over at the NCBC in February drew 22 tables, which wasn’t off much considering San Diego’s major sectional was the same weekend. Tim Flaherty and Patricia Watson came in 1st in the open crowd, followed by Tom Nolan and Ray Curtiss (2nd), Zelda Ettore and Marion “Mern” McDonald (3rd), Paul Foster and Donna Wood (4th) and Rex and Sheila Latus (5th). Michael Schultz and Sara Brown from Pauma Valley topped the 299er crowd, with Bonnie and Jacey Humes coming in a close 2nd - followed by Pam Thacker and Rose Genovese (3rd), Ron and Nancy Perkins (4th) and Shirley Malone and Pete Kaufman (5th). A special thanks goes to Romi Kerfoot, who made and served such a tasty luncheon - Dee-lish-us.
Awards were also handed out at the unit game this month, including three recent Life Masters: Jill Roberts, Minnie Williams, and Carol Turner. Congratulations to all three of you! The 2008 award winners for Ace of Clubs and Mini-McKenney included Doris Cubeisy, Janice Joerger, Pete Kaufman, Carolyn Scherni, Tim Flaherty, Bernard Figueiredo, Judy Dveris, Tom Nolan, Pete Kaufman, Rita Sorgi, Rima Sharron, and Trisha Kell.
Well done, all.
Many thanks to Lee Hofacre for putting together such a nice tribute this month to Unit 549’s Lacy Jennings, who passed away several weeks ago. The tribute was wonderful, and well-attended, and our best wishes and prayers continue to go to Patsy. We’re all very sad to have lost Lacy, but the spirit of his good-natured attitude and well-liked teaching manner will continue in all of us that knew him.
Unit 549 is having a last-minute opportunity for your Swiss team to qualify for the GNT finals at the San Diego Regional this month. We’re having a red-point team game on Saturday, April 4 at 12:30 p.m. Contact the North County Bridge Center for more information (760 747-6092), but in addition to paying red points there’s a separate section for Non-Life Masters. So get your team together and bring it!
Unit 549 made a donation to the Assistance League of Inland North County this month. Our check for five hundred dollars was matching, in part, to the donation made by the Lake San Marcos club of three hundred dollars last month. The San Marcos players also supported the San Marcos Kiwanis, the San Marcos Senior Center, and of course the ACBL Junior Fund. Unit 549 is also donating four new card tables to be used over at Oasis, where 549’s own Bill Butler is teaching 2-over-1 classes.
The Lake San Marcos Bridge Club also had a nice Mardi Gras party, with twelve tables of players all sharing wonderful food. Top winners for February were Nina Laughbum, Pete Kaufman, Judy Veljovich, Paul Van Middlesworth, Donna Wood, and Paul Foster.
Good luck to all participants in the upcoming San Diego Regional!
San Luis Obispo
By Lynn Crawford
Before the sectional winners and news are enumerated, we wanted to wish Bob Kakuske and Midge Schulkin the very best after their recent hospital stints. Hope you are back at the bridge table soon.
Also, we were sorry to hear of the passing of Paso Robles’ wonderful Silver Life Master, Ellie Rice, recently. She was so very active both with the San Luis bridge chapter and also with her church and several charitable organizations. She will be missed.
The February sectional in Arroyo Grande was a huge success: people from Arizona, Colorado, Minnesota and Nevada were represented, but the big masterpoint winners were Californians Mun Takeda and Gerard Laguerriere from the Fresno area. Avis Morse from Visalia got the 3rd spot, but the next six winners were all from our unit: 4th and 5th were Bill Ringbom and Kandi Osborne, 6th and 7th were Anne Harrington and Ed Martinaitis followed closely by 8th and 9th, Betty Hsu and Floyd Redman.
During the Friday afternoon game, some noteworthy winners were: Anne Harrington and Ed Martinaitis coming in First in B and second in A. That evening they came in the overalls with a second in B and a third in A (first in their section in A and B). The next day they came in first in B, second in A in both the section and the overalls.
Noteworthy wins from the Friday afternoon game were Mike Shipsey and Sonia Arsene, first overall in C, fourth overall in B, and fifth overall in A. Janine Davison and Cass Schwartz placed third overall in B and fourth overall in A. Helen Seavey and Adele Stern finished first in C.
Also, first in C and in B, second in A and fourth overall in C were Dolores Soll and Jack Wolff. Dolores also took first in C and third in B and 4/5 overall in C with Gene Edgerton on Saturday morning.
On Friday evening Gordon North and Gina Kirk took first in C and B, fourth in A and fifth overall in C. These two also took first in C on Saturday morning. Gary Yant and Joyce Gehlhaar took second in A and fourth overall in A. Barbara Hardin and Louise Abbott placed second in A and third overall in A while Ed Schertz and Kathleen Harrington took first in A and second overall in A. These same two took another first in A and sixth overall in A on Saturday morning.
During the Friday evening also placing were Lynn Bird and Clint Rylee (first in C and B, third in A, first overall in B and in C and fifth overall in A. Robert Clark and Eli Lawrence took a first in C. Saturday morning saw Ron Schwarer and H. Lyle Supp winning first in B and third in A with Alice Lewitter and Louise Wang taking first in A and fifth overall. Also winning were Bill Ringbom and Kandi Osborne with first in B and A, first in B overall and second in A overall. Howard York and Dave Simpson captured a first in C and a third overall in C. Barbara and Dick Weiss garnered a second in B and A with a third overall in B and a fourth overall in the A category. Coming in first in C, second in B, fourth in A and first overall in C were Jean Wilson and Constance Thomas. Gene Hershberger and Ellen Wu took a second in A.
Proceeding to Saturday afternoon, Michael Carroll and Judy Obermeier took first in C and B, fourth in A and first overall in C and third overall in B. Floyd Redman and Betty Hsu walked in from their Yosemite trip to round out the table numbers and walked out with a first in A and a third overall in A.
Sunday offered up the Swiss Teams. While the Santa Barbara group took first in A, Betty Hsu and Floyd Redman teamed up with Mun Takeda and Gerard Laquerriere from Fresno to take second in A. First in B and C were the team of Fred Strong, Lynn Crawford, Anita Williamson, and Carolyn Bell. Second in B was the team of H. Lyle Supp, Ron Schwarer paired with Kandi Osborne and Bill Ringbom. Second in C and third in B were the team of Patricia Aldred, Lee Kanehl and Mary Beigel and Doris Dunn. Third in A was the team of Robert and Jean Allen-Faust and Grant and Sue Morgan. Dave White, George Sheffield with John and Donna Nesser took fourth in A. Taking third in C and fourth in B were Dolores Soll, Gene Edgerton and Judy Obermeier and Michael Carroll.
I hope I have not inadvertently left any of you winners out. Wading through all the data gives me a headache. Great job all who worked so hard to make this sectional a huge success and, for those of you contemplating attendance next year, the food brought was plentiful and yummy and there was enough to feed a small army!
March on, and congrats to all.
Santa Ana
By Joe Chaikin
The Santa Ana Unit hosted its IMP League for the third year, the first year in a compact format. Over the last two weekends, eight teams played two sets of 16 board round robin matches, a total of 224 boards. Scoring was based on a modified 30 victory point scale, with a maximum of 25 VPs available each match (bigger margins reducing the loser’s VPs below five), and IMP handicaps based on team members’ masterpoints. A Santa Ana Unit team emerged as the clear winner with a total of 289 VPs, an average of over 20 per match. The team was captained by Sheila Wolfe, and included Bill Clark, Jay Helekar, Marcella Lane, Bill Skupen and Mike Ventri. Following the Nationals, a playoffs will be held, starting with a 48 board round robin between the 3, 4, and 5 finishers. The two survivors of that round robin will play 48 board matches against the one and two finishers of the initial round robin. Then, the semifinal winners will play a 64 board IMP League championship match. Though it was a lot of bridge packed into a Friday evening and all day and evening Saturday, it was an enjoyable day with a free lunch. I think more units should have these leagues. Then maybe we can have matches between unit champions, from Dana Point to Long Beach and beyond.
Santa Barbara
By Norma Zuchowicz & Ronnie Morris
Initially we must report the very dissonant, tragic death of Mary Ostrand in a home fire. Mary played bridge at our club for many years, always accompanied by her beloved dogs. A math tutor, she often played with younger players.
Our condolences to her friends and family.
Another Pro-Am game on February 8 resulted in John Whittlesy (Pro) and Diana Beeks (Am) coming in 1st overall with a 70.34% game; Debbie Bolduc (Pro) and Debbie Steffen (Am) were 2nd; Leny Van Wingerden (Pro) and Ginny Trautwein (Am) were 3rd; Kathy Denlinger (Am) and Rand Franklin (Pro) were 4th; Inez Kincannon (Am) and Pat Korfas (Am) were 5th; Norma Zuchowicz (Pro) and Tish Gainey (Am) were 6th.
Traveling to the Thousand Oaks Sectional, Debbie Bolduc, Mollie Love, Candace Dauphinot and Margaret Wahlborg won 1st place in the Flight B/C/D Swiss Teams; Mark Bartusek’s team won 1st place in the Flight A/X Swiss Teams. Al and Judy Bongarzone, Jo Ann Jackson and Bill Todd were 3rd in Flight B/C/D.
In Arroyo Grande, Mark Bartusek, Stan Spink, Rick Panter and Jack Yeasley were 1st overall in the Swiss Teams event. Tied for 5th in Flight B were the team of Leny Van Wingerden, Donald Schroeder, Virginia Trautwein and Rand Franklin and the team of Phil Kaiser, Debbie Bolduc, Candace Dauphinot and Norma Zuchowicz. In addition, Norma Zuchowicz and Phil Kaiser received a section top and 4th overall in Flight B Pairs.
A 299er game has started on Thursday afternoons at 1:00 p.m. Any questions, please contact Jim Edmondson, the director. A good opportunity for newer players.
Don’t forget the Fast Pairs game on the first Friday evening of the month at 7:00 p.m.
The “Ace of Clubs” winners are: 0-5 Paul Mershon; 5-20 Tish Gainey; 20-50 Paul Murphy; 50-100 Fred Anson; 100-200 Carole Leiff; 200-300 Barry Kitnick; 300-500 Mickey Plaut; 500-1000 Norma Zuchowicz; 1000-2500 Bob Bigoni; 2500-5000 Fran Pangburn and 5000-7500 Mark Bartusek.
The Mini-McKenney winners are: 0-5 Paul Mershon; 5-20 Fumie Parish; 20-50 Paul Murphy; 50-100 Rand Franklin; 100-200 Carole Leiff; 200-300 John Chere; 300-500 Mickey Plaut; 500-1000 Norma Zuchowicz; 1000-2500 Tom McCrackin; 2500-5000 Bob Hollman and 5000-7500 Mark Bartusek. ‘Til next month …
Santa Maria
By Joe Cohan
First, the great news. The Jo Boyd Santa Maria Strawberry Sectional will be on May1-3 at the Masonic Temple, 700 E. Lakeview Road, Santa Maria. Going north or south on 101, take the Santa Maria off ramp and turn at the first left onto Bradley Rd. Then turn at the first right onto Lakewood. Masonic Temple is on the left. Great bridge, great food and wonderful door prizes.
Unhappy news. Two members took a beating this last month. Judy English fell down and broke her right arm in three places and now clanks a bit because of the metallic inserts. Betty Brown fell and broke her shoulder. Fortunately, she didn’t require surgery and both are feeling a lot better compared to two weeks ago. Hurry back, you two.
Special congratulations to February overall winners: two C partnerships ... Sue Barrett - Gerry Stoll and Genet Fenenga - William Torpey. Others scoring overall were CarolAnne Edie, Robert Faust, Margaret Arbogast, (3), Jean Allen Faust, Criscza Goodrich, Judy English, Diane Bouquet, Carroll Gilbertson (2) Robert Bullock, Vi Dallessandro, Me, Dave Hickey, Barbara Basila, Al Goldwyn, John Arbogast, Jerry Riezebos, Diana Jackson (1).
High scorers in C Chuck Scheithauer (3) Judy Scheithauer, Bill Allen (2) Peggy Johnson, Karen Trapp, Al Quad, Hal Pray, Peggy Johnsen, Barbara Lohman, Betty Hickman, Mary Goodspeed.
Southern Gold Coast
By Sue Munday
Once again Joe Conti and our unit board members staged an awesome sectional tournament. A whopping 282 tables in play represents an almost 30 percent increase over our fall, best-ever showing of 203 tables. That’s an incredible attendance spike in any economy!
Unit members not only showed up in droves - they came to play. Scoring event wins on Friday were: James McKay and Connie McMillan (morning Flight C), Len and Dora D. Amato (morning Flights D/E), Jack Matlin and Frank Covely (afternoon Flights B/C), Beverly Barr and Rosemary Cruser (afternoon Flights D/E), Larry Brasler, Bill Hall and Jim Munday (Compact KO), Craig Kavin and Jim Munday (evening Flight A), Donna Bell and Alan Curtis (evening Flight B).
Saturday’s winners included: Mary Jo Isaacs and Phyllis Zerg (morning, Flights B/C), Diane and John Gunther (afternoon Flight B), and Jim Munday (Compact KO). In the Sunday Swiss Teams, Diane and John Gunther topped the Flight C field, while Frank Covely, Jack Matlin, Jerome Serling and Bernard Scherer brought home the bacon in Flight D. Marvin and Judy Rifkin won Flights A, B, & C of the Sunday morning pairs game.
Our neighbors to the north are hosting a sectional April 17-19 at the Oxnard Performing Arts Center. They always put together a fun tournament with lots of good eats; let’s get out there and support them.
Speaking of Ventura, we have our first-ever regional coming up June 8 through 14. You’ll find the tournament schedule online at venturaregional.com Get your teams and partnerships lined up now so you don’t miss a minute of playing time.
Plan to play in these upcoming Sunday unit games: April 26, May 17, May 31 and June 28. Lunch will be served at 12:00 noon and game time is 12:30 p.m. Bring a dessert or salad/side dish to add to the feast.
The February unit game was won by Jim and Sue Munday (Flight A) and Judy and Marvin Rifkin (Flights B/C).
Congratulations to Sarah Fenzke, who has just attained the masterpoint level of Sectional Master.
Stay connected with the unit via the web. You can find calendars, club recaps and tournament results online at:
Ventura
By Evelyn Fox
Unit 547’s big news for February is that our new dealing machine has been put into action with the software, Dealmaster Pro that is used with it. With this software, hand records are printed with a recap of the hands dealt and an analysis of makeable contracts. It has been requested, by the directors, that players no longer turn over a card in each board at the end of a session. This will save the director having to check each board.
So, instead of “shuffle deal and play,” all we have to do is show up, pay our card fees and play. And don’t forget to pick up hand records after the games.
In honor of Valentine’s Day, the unit hosted a lunch on February 12 for the members. Delicious food was served and “Happy Birthday” was sung to JoAnn Bowen.
Thousand Oaks, our neighbors to the south, held their sectional tournament February 13-15. Many of our unit members attended and earned lots of masterpoints. Among those who scored were: Bob Bradish - Charles Clark, Dagmar Ragnow - Gary Morgan, Bob and Linda Gruber, Barbara Baxter - Ruth Tracy, Donna Bennett - Don Daly, Dennis Charles - Frederick Howell, Mary Anita Hill - Nina Orloff, Ellie Hood - Ken Ellenberger, Joe Conti - John Leming, Barbara Baxter - Kitty Meck, Joseph Gaynor - Ken Ellenberger. Also scoring was the Swiss team composed of Dagmar Ragnow, Gary Morgan, Donald Glynn and Joe Conti. In the Knockouts, the teams of Ken Ellenberger - Joseph Gaynor - Mary Anita Hill - Ellie Hood; Mike Gaddis - Arlene Benzien - Anita Roll - Judy Kupperman and Mary Anita Hill - Nina Orloff - Ken Ellenberger - Ellie Hood all scored.
Congratulations for doing Unit 547 proud.
Pairs scoring 70% or over in unit games were John Eliason - Peter Klopp with 70.03%, Jean Matthews - Molly Maurette with a 71.88% and Russell Leary and Patricia Riedy with a 72.08%. That’s the way to play the game.
Winners in unit games in February are: Marie Offerman, Joan Glenn, Carol Myers, John Leming, Mike Halprin, Bob Bradish, Harold Simon, Ellie Hood, Christy Kadin, Peter Klopp, Maurine Moore, Richard Daskiais, Ilona Smith, Gary Morgan, Charles Clark, John Eliason, Bob Gruber, Ruth Tracy, Ocki Krogfoss, Jim Rupp, Diana Barker, Louise Shaffer, Martha Snyder, Dick Zizic, Ken Ellenberger, Tom Real, Rosemary Reitz, Flo Haney, Arlene Benzien, Mike Gaddis, Lee Brown, Mary Carlson, Harry Nishi, Kitty Meck, Terry Doebler, James Gay, Hal Daniels, Tom Ciacio, Edward Rundle, Annabelle Hurless, Nancy Wood, Anita Flood, Jean Matthews, Molly Maurette, Ronald Landgraff, Kent Jones, Helen Elardo, Gwen Wagner, JoAnn Bowen, Randy and Robert Hromadik, Anthony and Barbara Hirsch, Dan Daly, Donna Bennett, John Funk, Donald Kauppi, Cynthia and Marvin Bates, Russell Leary, Patricia Riedy, Judy Kupperman, Anita Roll, Eleanor Crawshaw and Aileen Pembroke.
Don’t forget to mark on your calendars the dates for our unit sectional, which will be held on April 17-19 at the Oxnard Performing Arts Center. Also the upcoming regional tournament held June 8-14 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel. We hope to see many of you at both events.
And remember: a bad day at bridge is better than having your taxes audited!
Visalia
By Robbie Rouch
Congrats to Erika Hunyady for returning from the Riverside Regional as our newest Life Master. Speaking of “returning,” it was great to see Larry Cavanaugh looking healthy after successful heart surgery, and Matt Villard obviously hasn’t forgotten his bridge skills, as he and his dad, Chris, won handily in his first game after a long hiatus.
On the “wow” list were big games by Howard Arquette - Avis Morse (71.43%) and Esther Perrotta - Gerry Tipton (75%). Accolades also to Paul Schommer w/ teammates Gerard, Farid and Ed for the KO victory over Rose Meltzer’s team at the Monterey Regional. Donny Graham and Keith Lindersmith were also part of a winning KO team, and at least a dozen Visalia Unit members got their bridge year off to a good start at the “Clambake” tournament.
Elsewhere on the tournament trail, the unit was well represented in Fresno. Suzi Cederborg got two wins (w/ Richard and Gerard) and placed 3rd in total points for the tournament, well ahead of husband Warren, who did manage one win. Paul Schommer chalked up two wins, one with Gerard and one with yours truly, while Andi Sigmund and Pat DeLaMontanya were also twice victorious, including a Swiss win with teammates Bob Loudermilk and Gerry Tipton. Gerry found out she still has what it takes to stay sharp for two sessions.In Arroyo Grande, Vincent Cheng and Avis Morse won the first event, but Gerard and Mun monopolized things after that, finishing the three days with more than twice as many points as the 3rd place finisher.
On the home front, 28 contests have transpired since my last report. As penance for missing the March Forum deadline, I will type out a double list of winners. Hopefully our editor will have enough space.
By the way, thank you to the whole Forum team for the good work in keeping the paper going - only one left in the ACBL.
With 244½ tables in play we averaged nearly nine tables per session. Wins were somewhat concentrated, but 44 different players are due recognition for 1st-place finishes: Warren Cederborg (9), Suzie Cederborg (8), Alice Pickens (6), Avis Morse (6), Gerry Tipton (5), Esther Perrotta (4), Howard Arquette (4), Vincent Cheng (4) (despite time off for a “Down Under Cruz where he and Lorna had to get familiar with ACOL), Allyson Farrell (3), Lorna Cheng (3), Mike and Mary Florio (3).
Double winners were Andi Sigmund, Betty Smith, Donny Graham, Erika Hunyady, Fran Prinz, Kay Blair, Kay Link, Larry Cavanaugh, Maudmarie Calhoun, and Villa Vejvoda. Rounding out the winners list were Betty Coates, Bob Loudermilk, Carol Carr, Chris Villard, Frank Bell, Gary Spaberg, Gerard Laquerriere, Harland Ellis, Helen Davidson, Janice Crossland, Janne Krant, Jay Roll, Lila Galloway, Marcie Buford, Matt Villard, Mike Frank, Mike Zvonar, Piri Komar, Pat DeLaMontanya, Phyl Shackelford, Piri Komar, Robbie Rouch, and Susan Spears.