Anaheim
By Marlys Haraden
First of all, I wish to acknowledge Stephen Sturm and Robbie Krause for filling in for me when my life was too busy; my sincere thanks for your help.
Having taken a break, I was remiss in remembering to acknowledge several of our unit members who accomplished a milestone. Be advised that new Life Masters include Eleth Fields, Steve Hirsh, Haroon Sorathia and Camden “Bud” Parish. Congratulations to all of you, and a special thanks for accomplishing this at our club in Anaheim.
To mention a few “Thou Shall Nots” we should all avoid:
1) Thinking out loud when you have a problem bidding. I was guilty of it last evening when I pulled out the 3♠ card rather than the 2♠ card. I gasped in horror, and it was un-cool. My action should have been expressionless.
2) “Mull over” the last board for more than two minutes.
3) Give lessons (unless you are paid to do so).
I have many more. Please be pleasant at the table to opponents and even nicer to your partner.
A big welcome to the many new faces we are seeing at the club; we so encourage this happening. It is so much more fun having more competition and larger games. Those newcomers remember bridge enhances one’s memory and the longevity of our minds.
A subtle reminder: if you haven’t joined the ACBL yet, now is the time! After January 1, 2010, requirements for attaining Life Master status will become more stringent, requiring 500 points versus 300, 50 gold versus 25, etc, etc.
Unit winners: 1st Wei Pei - Phil Hiestand, Eddie Rose - Lulu Mintor, 2nd Gladys Kirchner - Fred Soloman, Ron Lien - Jeff Strutzel, 3rd Alan Bell - Charlotte Sturm, Sam Wong - Wm Ng, 4th Tony and Jill Alvarez. Congratulations!
Swiss winners: Sheila Wolff, Marcella Lane, Jay Helekar and Paul Chung, 2nd Jim and Jan Ingham, John and Jo Bakulich.
Reminder: we have the opportunity of a lifetime! Eddie Kantar is coming Sunday Aug. 30, 10:30 lecture, wonderful lunch, signed book and game following lunch – all for $30! Call and make your reservations now ... there is a limited setting.
As a unit president, I’m putting out a request; I’m in need of board members who will participate in unit functions. Help!
Reminder: Swiss Teams play every 2nd Sunday. Win extra points. Call to be matched up with a comparable team, Marlys Haraden 714 397-0341.
Bakersfield
By Mimi Stull
It's that time again - to get a partner and a team for the fall Harvest Sectional tournament, which will be held from Thursday, Sept. 24 to Sunday, Sept. 27. Teri Atkinson is tournament chairman. Shirley Eide is in charge of partnerships and Connie Bruce is food chairman. More help will be needed, so please sign up for monetary and/or food donations.
There were many C players who came in first their way in the open game. Those players who were 1/A, 1/B, and 1/C were: Mary Reiss - Vivian Garton; Carl Romo - Joe Bruce; Henry Reape - DiAnn Lowder; Rene Debarros - Mary Reiss; Ed Curtis - Fred Carlisle; George Hollingsworth - Mike Pemberton; and Henry Reape - Katina Chan. You all did a great job!
There were eight tables at the July unit game. Winners included: 1/A Wafik Abdou - Bob Giragosian; Ann Miller - Gert Prejean; 1/B & C Carl Romo - Joe Bruce; Marj Robertson - GeorgeAnn Kerley; Frank Short - Lois Short; Sandy Piazza - Rich Wilson; Connie Bruce - George Hollingsworth; and Toni Poe - Sharon Cobb. Tom Rauterkus was food chairman, assisted by Connie Bruce.
It has been suggested that there be a telephone committee to remind players of our unit games, which are held on the third Saturday of the month. Anyone wishing to help on this committee please see Shirley E. or Tom R. Contrary to the Directory, the unit game on Saturday, Sept.19 will be an open game, not just for the 399ers.
Welcome to new member Donna Frank and to reinstated member Ron Rohlik. Congratulations to those who have moved up in rank - Joe Kirby, Jr. Master; Carolyn Colletto and Kathleen Knauf, Club Master; Sharon Cobb and Barbara Moore, NABC Master; and also to Jan Wickersham, Arcadia, partner of Teri A., who attends all our sectionals, Gold Life Master.
Lessons by Teri A. will begin on Tuesday, Sept .15 at 11:00 a.m. Take the lesson and stay to play bridge for $5 - a bargain!
Our condolences to the Bob King family on the death of his wife, Travis, 84. She died from complications following surgery. Travis was a founding member of the Bakersfield Junior League chapter. She and Bob were bridge partners who had been married for 62 years.
Reminder: Zero Tolerance applies to all players. This means there is no rudeness or berating of one's opponent and/or one's partner. If this occurs at your table, the director should be called.
For partners or further info please call Shirley E at 661 205 - 2439 or Tom R. at 661 663 - 7141 or check the web site at www.acblunit514.com
Balboa
By Phil Pearl
prp75@socal.rr.com
Dear unit members: The reason for my e-mail address at the top of the column each month is to try and get you to submit news and achievements for the column. I try to snoop around for items at the clubs and the Internet, but I need your help too.
Now for some real special news: Dorothy Handy and Dick Alguire eloped to Las Vegas and tied the knot July 12. When Dorothy broke the news to me at the July 16 game, she and Dick were sporting some very special smiles. Congratulations to this very lovely couple.
The July unit game had 18 tables in play. Event leaders were: Flight A: 1 Andy De Leon - Patricia Menefee, 70.93%. 2 Mary Singer - Nola Simon. 3 Eileen Niesen - Mary Lou Hughes. 4 Mei Yoost - Stan Kosowski. 5 Phil Pearl - Mary Lou Kiley. 6 Paul Cameron - Carrie Macmillin. In B, 1 Singer - Simon. 2 Yoost - Kosowski. 3 Cameron - Macmillin). 4 Renee Alpert - Cathy Bauer. 5 Maryanne Roode - Sofija Korff. 6 Barbara Gilgrest - Marcia Vaughn. In C: 1 Gilcrest - Vaughan. 2 Anthony Doria - Virginia Lee Paul. 3 Penny Wentworth - E. Mroz. 4 Vivian Boulos - Sydney Stephan.
In the May column, I advised my readers to stay tuned for further developments regarding the whereabouts of Yoko Yamaguchi. Well, she showed up at the club in late June for a game, and informed me that she now officially resides in Japan. When she needs a bridge fix or short vacation, she just hops on the fastest jet and voila! Yoko is playing in our clubs.
Advancement in rank: Junior Master, Sylvia Meyerowitz; Sectional Master, Kristin St. Clair; NABC Master, Michael Brooks.
The subject for this month's brief bio is our lovely unit secretary, Sue Foigelman. First, she wanted to comment on her “funny” accent. “No, it's not Australian or South African, it's English, as my license plate announces: 'Sue UK.' I was born and raised in Yorkshire, in the chilly North of England, close to where the Bronte sisters wrote their books. I attended a private Girl's School, and was determined to be a newspaper reporter, so I signed up at a commercial college. Later, I was introduced to recruitment, and was persuaded to join, of all things, an American company. I accepted the position with Manpower Staffing Services, a Fortune 500 company, which became my employer for the next 32 years. The company was based in Milwaukee, but during the first few years, part of my management training was at Ashridge Management College, in the UK, where I eventually graduated. In 1982 Manpower offered me a transfer to a branch of my choice, to undertake a special project. I chose Southern California (finally a nice warm climate). After the special project ended, I continued working for Manpower in Orange County, and for the last 15 years I was Regional Director for Orange County and South LA County, with 10 branches, 45 managers, and 3,000 employees. I retired in late 2004.”
In 1982, several months after Sue's transfer to Newport Beach, she attended a party at the Balboa Bay Club with some friends, who thought it would be amusing to introduce her to a local guy from Argentina. (This was during the war between England and Argentina over the Falkland Islands). She was quite horrified to find he was from Argentina, but strangely enough, he grew on her. They saw each other regularly for two years, and on Valentines Day, 1984, Norbert, Foigelman proposed, with a request to marry him on July 17, his birthday, so he would never forget their anniversary. Since then they have visited Argentina many times, and Sue has discovered that the Argentinians are quite civilized and a lot of fun.
Norbert has a PhD in both Electronic Engineering and Psychology. After some interesting endeavors, he went back to his practice in Psychology. There, he developed a technique for neuro feedback to help children with Attention Deficit Disorder. Norbert already had three children, so Sue was blessed with a ready-made family, which now also includes seven grandchildren.
Here, Sue talks about bridge and hobbies: “After retirement, learning bridge was on my list of things to do. I took lessons from Judy Elbogen and Chris Larsen, and began to really enjoy it and have been playing regularly ever since. My regular partners are Emily Lane, Marsie Hanen and Susan Powers. One of the highlights of my bridge career so far has been a Crystal cruise across the Atlantic, with lessons from Audrey Grant and play in her duplicate sessions. When Norbert and I travel, he has his computer books, and I have my bridge books. We support each other in whatever hobby we each have, and it works out very well. My pride and joy is my dark blue Mercedes SL550, which we picked up from the factory in Stuttgart last year. My hobbies include travel and collecting wine for our great wine cellar.”
Thank you, Sue, for an interesting biography. (Columnist's note: credit for part of this Brief Bio goes to Audrey Grant, who wrote an article on the Foigelmans in Better Bridge, Jan./Feb., 2008).
P.S.: Speaking of Susan, she showed up at the August unit game limping with a cane. It seems that she had a hip replacement just seven days earlier. And Mike Galante also made the August unit game after spending 57 days in the hospital and convalescence after spinal surgery. Welcome back to the bridge tables.
Bishop
By Lilla
The summer is in full force here in the High Sierra and all is going well. Our winners for this month of July were as follows: July 1: 1st, Higginbothum - Busby; 2nd, Imboden - Taylor; 3rd, Reeder - Mizrahi; and 4th, Abbott - Muth. On the 6th, Reeder - Mizrahi, Sheehan - Lohr, Muth - Hobbs.
On the 8th, Reeder - Mizrahi, Imboden - Hadeler, Taylor - Abbott; and on the 13th, Lohr and Sheehan, Reeder and Mizrahi, Hadeler and Greer.
The July 15th winners were Imboden - Hadeler, Berger - Thuman, Reeder - Mizrahi, Busby - Abbott, Greer - Menotti. This was a special day with six full tables, and thanks to Betsy for bringing many friends for the game. The 22nd winners were Haber - Taylor, Reeder - Mizrahi, Farmer - Knight. On the 27th: Kittinger - Crunk, Reeder - Mizrahi, Farmer - Taylor.
The 29th winners were Sparks - Criss, Habers, Reeder - Mizrahi, Bournes, and Higginbotham - Busby.
The unit game of the 12th was well attended with 5 ½ tables: winners were Hobbs - Muth, Reeder - Crunk, Bournes, Farmer - Higginbotham, and Kittinger - Taylor. Well done, winners.
It is beginning to look as though the heat will slow down, and more players will be comfortable getting out to play.
Coronado
By Jean Seager
We should have known that it was going to be a big month when there were two 70% games on the lucky day of 7/07. In Coronado, Marian Sullivan and Carol Brager scored 71.88% … the first time either player had ever scored above 70%. Marian was seen on her cell phone immediately after the game, so we hope she was calling her daughter Christine to share the news. On the same day, Jean and Bill Seager hit 71.43%.
Then, later in the month, three other pairs broke the 70% barrier in our unit … two at Coronado and one at Eastlake. Be sure to check the 70% roster elsewhere in this issue to find out who reached this pinnacle, and what their scores were!
More winners in Eastlake were Robert Shapley and Rusty Etzel, Lois Richards and Richard Keplinger, Fred Nimtz and Betty Birmingham, and Robert Shapley and Archa Glass. In Coronado, winners included Tatsumi Mercer and Saul Morantz, Sarah Venguer and Carol Brager, Dick Palmer and John Pizzato, and Normal Lyerly and Phil Akre.
Also victorious were Bill and Eleanor Kipperman, Leila and Marty Bloomberg, Dorothy Buck and Jean Scripps, Jean and Bill Seager, Phil Akre and Al Schuster, and Vicky and Larry Bamberger.
The Thursday game at the Coronado Community Center, 1845 Strand Way, has a new starting time: 12:30 instead of 1:00 p.m. The beautiful views of Glorietta Bay, however, remain the same.
And we’d like to extend a hearty welcome to our friends from Arizona and from the deserts of California. It’s lovely to have you at our bridge tables for the summer.
Dana Harbor
By Jennifer Porter
The highlight this month was the launching of the club’s new dealing machine. Much appreciation goes to John Kissinger for being the driving force behind this endeavor, and to Jim Shapiro, Jacob Weisberg and Bill Thorp for their help in getting the process started. Initially, these pre-dealt hands will be featured twice a week at the Wednesday - Thursday pair events, and eventually extended to all pair events at the club.
Other noteworthy news is that the board has decided to increase the number of charity games held at our club. Charity games will now be held every Monday, Thursday, and Saturday afternoons and Wednesday and Friday nights. What a great opportunity to earn more master points!
Congratulations to the following club members who have attained new rankings: Junior Masters - Peggy Dakin, Jeffrey Rocklin, Elaine Rudin, Tom Snooks and Diane Starnes; Club Masters - Michael Cohen, Charles Estes, Ellen Hickoff and Nancy Patrick; Regional Masters - Judy Alvord and Pat Dolphin; NABC Masters - Helaine Feingold and Marcia Holland; Life Master - Myrna Silverman; Silver Life Master - Darlene White; and Gold Life Master - LaVern Fabrick. On attaining the coveted rank of Life Master, Myrna Silverman was heard to comment that she would no longer have to fear that her tombstone would read “She only needed 2.9 gold points!”
This month we welcome new members Jane Hagen, Mary Henisey, Sherrie Johanson, Joann Koperski, Lyla Rogers, Richard Smith and transfers Jeffrey Hecht and Richard Kasa.
At the Pasadena Regional, Jim and Gail Senter teamed up with John and Susan Kissinger for a very successful tournament. They came away winning two Swiss Teams events and the Tuesday Compact Knockouts. The Senters each won 37.82 points, and the Kissingers 33.95 points. Mark Itabashi was the top point winner with 51.23 points. Ginnie Blitzman and partner were 1st in Flight B and C in a side game on Friday and again on Saturday, Ginnie and Charles Messall took a 1st place in Flight C. Also in a side game, Richard Mackaig and partner were 1st in Flight B. In Open Pairs, Stanley Sirott was 1st in Flight C. Finally Judy Violick and Larry Hedge placed first in F of a 299er game.
Congratulations to all.
A number of Dana Point members attended the Oceanside Sectional. Congratulations to the following 1st place winners: Debbie Gailfus and partner in Open Pairs, Alan Federl and Michael Meyer with a 70.24% in 299er Pairs and Tom Snooks and partner in his flight of the 99er game.
STAC week was held July 20-24 and the following members placed 1st in their respective sections: in Open Pairs - Hadi Eissa and Ana McLean in Flights A and B, Charles Messall in Flight B, and Bob Wallin and Diana Seeb in Flight C. In 299 Pairs - Bobbie Fightlin and Barbara Weise were 1st in Flight A & B and also Rosalind Chasman and Carol Armstrong in Flight A. Barbara Pierce and Teresa McNeil in Flight B and Maureen and Randy Hadley in Flight C. In a NLM game, Delene Hoff and Mary Henisey were 1st in all three flights.
Dana Harbor celebrated July 4th with a unit game, and enjoyed hot dogs and ice-cream. Bob Kirkpatrick and Lionel Dreeban were the 1st place winners. On July 19 there was another unit game and the winners were Nancy Galloway, Charles Messall and their respective partners.
The leading masterpoint winners in the open game in July were Jacob Weisberg, Patricia Menefee and LaVerne Marano.
The top three 299ers were Jeff Rocklin, Jim Shapiro and Rosalind Chasman. The challenge is out to unseat Jacob, who seems to be making a habit of taking first place.
The 99ers and 199ers are obviously benefitting from Sally Pelmear’s classes, because a number of them had 70 % games this month. Congratulations to Nancy Patrick, Patricia Siegel, Charles Estes, David Estes, Lois Houlihan, Gery Houlihan, Delene Hoff, and Mary Henisey.
The 2009 Mentor/Mentee Program has concluded. It was a great success with a record number of participants.
A big thank you to Ann Cressman for organizing the program.
Finally, 299ers, mark your calendars for the upcoming sectional which will be held at our club August 29 and 30.
High Desert
By Steve Klein
In July, Big Bear said a mournful goodbye to Jim and Barbara Hale. They sold their house here and moved to Oceanside to be nearer to their grandchildren. We're happy for them because this is what they wanted, but we'll all miss them very much.
July saw two pairs post 70% games at Big Bear. On the 22nd, Mary Ann and Warren Wotring turned in a 72.69% result.
For the baseball fans among you, 70% from the Wotrings is sort of like a no-hitter by Nolan Ryan: it doesn't happen every time out, but we go into any given game half-expecting it. Then, on the final day of the month, Eiko Miller and Jack Swigart cleared the bar with a 70.83% showing.
Other winners in Big Bear for July: Jean Kuchta, Mary Ellen Zaske, Jim Matthews, Barbara Lasky, and Morton Fletcher. The list is so short because there were several repeat performances, especially by the 70% winners mentioned above.
No international visitors this month, but Big Bear did welcome back former regular Mary Ellen Zaske for the summer.
Unfortunately, she's going back to New Jersey in August. We also got a new player, Gerry Collier, who's in the process of moving into the area, so hopefully will become a regular.
From Joe Wilson in Victorville: This month, we saw the return of Gil Franklin and Bob Waite to our games. We missed you both and were all glad to see you back. We also are welcoming Gil back to directing the Monday game in Silver Lakes beginning in August. Bridge is really hopping in the area this summer. July saw some of our best attendance for all of our club games in years!
Congratulations to the winners of our July unit game - Jan Carmean and Rosie Erdelen! Other winners of club games in July are Stan Gabriel, Pat Bridgers, Rosemary Drake, Rose Giuntini, Rosie Erdelen, Jan Carmean, Fran Franklin, Gil Franklin, Jane Pace, Stan Pace, Jordan Pace, Luther Schliesser, Dee Pasque, Shirlee Hora, Taii Kalai, Ruth Allison, Jim Williams, John Ruffo, Steve Koller, Charlotte Phillips, Joan Kinney, Jack Belsher, David Bloom, Jerry Kinkade, and Joe Wilson.
La Jolla/Beach
By Alice Leicht
Some people believe that when the sun sits high and hot above us, it’s time to sit ourselves on the beach and occasionally put a toe or two into the water ... thinking of nothing.
There are other people who sit themselves out of the sun’s glare, finding their satisfaction in developing winning lines of play at bridge. And as the hot afternoon wends its way to cool evening, which person do you identify with?
Janice Hawley and Heidi Mosher are new unit members. Hearty welcome calls to you. We also have a group of transferees into 526: Mimi Anderson, Maureen Bear, and Dr. Alan Mannheimer. On behalf of the unit I am shouting “Hurrah!” and “Welcome” to all.
Our up-and-coming players include new Junior Master Maureen Wallace, new Club Master Patricia Lester, and new NABC Master Theresa Hayes. Join me in applause for these great players.
New requirements for Life Master status go into place in January, 2010. If you know anyone who is only thinking about joining the ACBL, be a friend and advise him/her to start down that road now, before it becomes tougher to achieve that status.
Our July 12 game was an NAOP (North American Open Pairs) qualifier. It was necessary to be in the group above average to “Q.” Here are the top of the qualifiers for both A and B rank: Freda Anderson and Gail Dunham, David Oakley and David Walters, Laura Chaffee and Mark Matz, Joyce Bailey and Barbara Blake, Robert Walters and Gary Mollenkopf, Janet Ansfield and Joe Pennario. See the Forum NAP articles for further information on advancing to a higher level in this event.
Winners of the July 26 tournament were Steve Johnson with Diana Marquardt for the A flight. David Oakley with David Walters were 2nd. In the B flight Barry and Emily Berkov were 1st and Freda Anderson with Gail Dunham were 2nd.
The C flight ended with Cyndi Baze and Steve Boehm in 1st, followed by Pat and Jean Louis Astier 2nd.
The Bulletin (our magazine) and the Forum (this paper) have loads of information about the National tournament coming in November. Keep current, keep reading.
Lompoc
By Don Kerr
We have an unusually wide number of winners to report this month. Leading the pack, with three wins apiece, were Joyce Gehlhaar and Sue Helmuth. Following with two triumphs each were Jo Gowenlock, Maralynn Haney, Hope Howard, James Kelly, Nelson Owens, and Kay Rowland. And ... not to be denied ... single victories went to John Arborgast, Darlene Frazer, Barbara Gustitus, Patricia Hodges, Barbara Holt, Robert Jurgensen, Don Kerr, and Robert Lindquist.
Palm Springs /Coachella Valley
By Nancy Erickson
We continue to offer competitive friendly bridge games seven days a week in the valley.
Escape the cold and rain and come bask in the desert sun and enjoy our 115 degree temperatures!
The August unit game marked the return of Mick Riccio to the directors’ rotation. Congratulations to Jim Darvey and Jane Leigh, open overall winners playing East/West and Bill Lewis and Tom Cody placing first North/South. Tom and Jeanne Whitehurst were top in the 299ers. Thanks to Mick and Bill Dani (unit game chair,) and Louise and Charles Rhea for providing a terrific afternoon. Special kudos go out to Dan Hudson for recruiting his niece Hannah to caddie.
Please join us September 13 for our next unit game at Cathedral City Senior Center. Our calendar for the balance of 2009 is October 4 unit game and unit NAOP qualifier. All remaining unit games will be held at Mizell Senior Center on November 1 and December 6, respectively. Please mark your calendar for January 10, for the annual membership meeting, also at Mizell.
We are in the planning stages for the sectional to be held in February 2010; please contact Dewey Green, sectional tournament chair, at dgreen@dc.rr.com to volunteer to assist the unit with this annual event.
Unit 533 members should monitor the web site for pertinent announcements on the nominating process to fill open positions on the unit board for 2010.
We welcome new members John Beckendorf, Richard Cameron, Marilyn Feher, Dick Griffith, Celene Howard, Mark Marontate, James McEachern, Nancy Peckham, and Roberta Wolff to Unit 533!
Congratulations to the following members on their promotions: David Lodge, Life Master; Beverly Hartin, Bronze Life Master; Richard Hendrick and Bob McConnell, Silver Life Masters.
Ridgecrest
By Tony Miller
As I write this we are in the dog days of summer. Many players are on hiatus before school starts August 18. We have had to cancel half of our Wednesday evening games. Margaret O'Neill and I won the unit game with a tie for second between Roy Cole and Dave Flatman and the partnership of Yasuko Mullen and Sarah Carter. Betty Doig and Esther Sires also scratched.
The highlight of the regular games was an 80%+ game scored by Esther and Sarah on a Wednesday evening. This is two consecutive months which I've reported 80% games. I don't remember ever having even one since I've been reporting.
The masterpoint list for the Wednesday COM bridge games was headed by Esther Hart, followed by Yvonne Chilina, Sarah, Esther Sires, Greg Vernon, myself, and Astrid Parkinson. For the TGiF clubs I led the list followed by Sarah, Margaret, Esther Sires, Charlie Wright, Greg, Betty, Yasuko, and Yvonne.
Riverside
By Les Moore
It is the purpose of this column to inform the members of outstanding performances of club members. During July we had four pairs who had five games above 70%. There were two pairs who had 75% game sessions: Lavonne Morrison - Nancy Kulak on July13, and Peggy and Gene Green on July 28. Delores and Marshall Miles had 73.8% on July 26 and 73.75% on July 15. Lavonne Morrison and David Ruoff had a 71.37% on July 22.
We have two of our members who advanced to the rank of Silver Life Master: Yvonne Zoco and Dagmar Welker. Also, it was reported to me that Marshall Miles earned 126 masterpoints at the Pasadena tournament during L.A. Bridge Week.
That's a lot of masterpoints, Marshall!
Our accolades and sincere best wishes to all of these members for their accomplishments. Can we top this next month? Probably not, but enjoy your bridge and keep playing for enjoyment as well as masterpoints ... which are only the bonus!
Saddleback
By Bob Destino
Our unit is fortunate to have so many excellent playing opportunities every week. We have the Laguna Woods Bridge Club, which holds multi-section games seven days a week, as well as pair or team games most evenings. All these events are in the spacious and comfortable bridge room at Clubhouse #7 off Moulton Parkway. For complete schedules and other information, please visit www.lagunabridge.com
In addition to the Laguna Woods games, we have games at two local Senior Centers each week. These are the “friendliest” games around and are hosted by John Adams, Ralph Pagter and Mary Scott. On Mondays we play at the completely remodeled Norman Murray Center in Mission Viejo. On Thursdays the game is at the being-remodeled Sea Country Senior Center in Laguna Niguel. Both games start at 12:30 and cost only $6.00. Try them; you'll enjoy yourself!
While you are making your plans, please note the dates of our upcoming monthly unit games Sundays at 1:00 at the Laguna Woods Bridge Club; they are Sept. 13, Oct. 11 and Nov. 8. At the November game Veterans play free in observance of Veterans Day.
Winners at our July unit game included David and Rita Wakeman, Andy DeLeon - Connie Brogan, Ginnie Johnson - Marge Geyer, Judy Elbogen - Xiaoxue Walker, LaRue and Lowell Bowman, and Joan and Bob Kulpa. Congratulations to all these winners as well as to our new Masters: Denny Roe (Sectional Master), Raymond Burckholter (Regional Master), Lucie Teulecke (Life Master) and Olivia Malyn (Silver Life Master).
San Diego
By Vicki Creamer
Have you ever forgotten to return your partner’s suit? Forgot a system? Misplayed a cold hand? That’s how I feel after, in my haste, I left out a name in our list of board members in last month’s column. Barb Holles is our treasurer, savvy with numbers, computer spread sheets and always on the job. Sorry, Barb!
Also, a special thanks to John McCright for his help in running our sectionals. Add Mary and Ron Huffaker, thank you for helping in our regular unit games, plus the sectional. And thanks to Deborah Ives for stepping in to help with partnerships, Jon Wright for a great job on our web site. Finally, thanks to Wirt Gilliam and AIB for helping our unit on a daily basis.
Our First Sunday 499er game was won by Joan Maden - Carolyn Crabtree; #2, Harold Simon - Majid Aalom; #3, Jackie Ives - Doris Philamalee; and #4, Dean Altschuler - Val McWhorter. This game is now a 599er Strat. Open Pairs winners were Ronald Kay - Maritha Pottenger; #2, Fumie Graves - Joel Hoersch; #3, Hanan Deeby - Bernard Figueiredo; #4 Laura Chaffee - Sandra Schumsky.
Third Sunday combined Open Pairs with 599er Strat with attendance down due to the Nationals. Winners were: #1, Fumie Graves - Joel Hoersch; #2, John Adams - Michael Weber; #3, Hanan Deeby - Bernard Figueiredo; #4, Leila and Marty Bloomberg. Notice how the same names keep showing up?
The Fifth Sunday game will be hosted by 539. On August 30 we will be holding a Great Western STAC competition where the winners will be showered with silver points! Mark your calendar.
August First Sunday Open Strat was won by Steve Clark - Ivar Stakgold; #2, Hanan Deeby – Bernard Figueiredo; #3, John Adams - Michel Weber; and #4, Freda Anderson - Gail Dunham. Our new 599er Strat was won by Bill Christian - Francis Radford; #2, Dean Altschuler - Val McWhorter; #3, Ann Lehrer - Saul Morantz; and #4, Patti and Jerry Bischoff.
This month your donated Bridge Bulletins were taken to Kaiser in Rancho San Diego. 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.
Milestones: Club Master: Lynn S. Newman. Regional Master: John Evans. NABC Master: Judy Wasco. Bronze Life Masters: Benjamin Domurat, Gail Greene.
San Diego North County Coastal
By Iris Allyn
Last-minute report from Fran White: leading masterpoint winners were Hanan Deeby and Bernard Figueiredo with three first place finishes for the month. Lucy Lockwood and Carol Diwell followed the leaders. The B & S team of Barb Anderson and Shelia Reilly were the B leaders and Audrey Dagne was the leading masterpoint winner in Cs.
Club championship coming up August 27!
Oceanside Monday Ida Burcham
We had our usual two charity games this month. The first charity game was won by John and Rima Sharron, the second by Betsy Illes and Ruth Wilner.
Oceanside Tuesday Ida Burcham
We have new names at the top of our masterpoint list for the month of July. Herschel Frey and Jerry Woodworth led the pack with 2.90 points; Ian Collins was just barely second with 2.70 points; and Dan Beck was third with 2.25 points. We had a charity game this month, too, and Jane Felder and Lynette Martin won it. They won 4.33 points. All in all we handed out a little over 102 points this month.
Encinitas Thursday Paul Landrum
This was a big month for the Encinitas Senior Duplicate Bridge Club. We had 114.5 tables this month, and we gave out 125.02 masterpoints. This may be our last big month because ACBL has sanctioned another game in Oceanside in competition with our club. At the top of the masterpoint list for this month are Wayne Holm and Gene Katz with 5.79 points. These two had two games over 70 percent this month. One was 71.56 and the other was 72.54. The next two players on the list were consistent partners all month. One was Walter Malen. Big Surprise! The other was Walter's friend from back east, Ken Shorr. They got 4.35 points, and they had a 70.14 percent game this month.
Cardiff Monday Harvey Goldstein
Harvey’s Bridge had four Monday morning games this past month. We were delighted and most appreciative to have Donna Wood and Paul Foster run two of the games while Harvey and Marilyn traveled overseas. We had the unusual occurrence of having two pairs win two weeks in a row. The distinction went to Leon and Sandy Parish and Patricia Prahm - John Steen. They each had powerful games both weeks. Our other big winners with first place standing were the pairs of Sandy Kucha - Kay Childs, Janice Joerger - Marilyn Kalabsa, Nahid Mahdavi - Pat Stein, Sheila Slayton - Paula Alexander, Judy Dveris - Ginger Calvert, Pat Astier - Anne Scott, Angie Smith - Dolores Cardinal, Rita Pearlman - Harry Rotenberg, Gene Katz - Wayne Holm.
Solana Beach Donna Wood
During July, Solana Beach’s Esplanade Bridge held 28 games, including a North American Pairs qualifier. The top ten-masterpoint winners for the month were: Marilyn Kalabsa, Sandy Kucha, Nick Krall, Ali Mahdavi, Larry Erickson, Chuck Siggins, Paul Alesu, Pat Matsumoto, Herman Lin, Rosie Zakarian. Congratulations to all! And a special hats-off to Dan and Mary Lou Denison, Mary Van Anda - Linda Hahn, Wootsie Stockston - Mary Stetson, and Judy Dveris - Marilyn Kalabsa. These four pairs had games over 70% this month!
Each week there are two evening games (Tues./Thurs.), four afternoon games (Wed./Fri./Sat./Sun.), and two morning games. (Thurs./Fri.). The evening games start at 6:30 p.m., the afternoon games begin at 12:30 p.m. The Thursday morning game is directed by Debbie Gailfus and begins at 11:00 a.m. The Friday morning game begins at 9:00 a.m. and is a limited game (less than 300 masterpoints) with a review of the hands immediately following the game. Coffee, tea, water, soda, and snacks are provided. All guests must park in the covered garage on South Sierra [go west 1 block on Dahlia from 101, turn left (south) on Sierra, take the second driveway on left into the garage]. Hope to see you soon!
Solana Beach Sunday Donna Wood
During July the North County Bridge by the Sea Bridge Club held two invitational games. Leading masterpoint winners Dave Kimball, Dennis and Diana Cleary, Ginger Calvert, Judy Dveris, Dave Nicol, Jeanette Proctor, John and Marcia Trombold, Ray and Wilma Wilhelm, Suzie Anson, Kay Childs, and Barb and Sully Farfel. Games are held on the second and fourth Sunday of each month at the Esplanade Bridge Center. Reminder - if you wish to play at this game, you either need to be a member or get a member to sponsor you. Please email 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.
The Fall Sectional will take place at the Presbyterian Church (with new fans for your comfort) on October 2, 3, 4. See the ad in this paper or on the web site. Remember, we are Unit 531.
Unit game results: N/S Alan and Debbie Gailfus, E/W John and Judy McCaffrey. N/S 2nd Betty Wallace - Alden Seifried, E/W 2nd Sam and Barbara Reed.
Congratulations to Pat Stein for becoming a new Bronze Life Member and Mary Fenton a new Life Master.
San Diego North County Inland
By Liz Nixon
All 299er’s mark your calendar for Unit 549’s Fall Silver Splash event, Sept. 18 and 19. New location, Meadowlark Community Church, 1918 Redwing St., San Marcos 92078. More details coming, watch the web site www.sdbridge.com, or pick up a flyer at your local club.
Additional upcoming unit events are the unit games Sept. 26 and Oct. 24. Also, North American Pairs Final October 10 - Mark the Dates! All unit games are held at North County Bridge Center, 2427 South Centre City Parkway, Escondido, 760 747-6092.
Congratulations to the four Unit 549 pairs who broke the 70% game barrier in July at North County Bridge Center. Check the listings below from throughout the district to discover who they were. And, special congratulations to our members who reached new levels of achievement in July: new Junior Masters Georgia Lohman and Nancy Scott; Sectional Master Sara Brown; Regional Master Donna Wolfe; NABC Masters Arleen Gimbel and Marianne Kuzma. Our new Bronze Life Masters are Carol Turner and Unit 549 vice president Minnie Williams. Well done, all!
New members to Unit 549 are Kay Galyean, Angela Jaraicie, Carole Goldfeder and Jeanne Norling. And welcome back to returning members BJ Amini and Mary Loucke. The unit hopes you will all join in our club and unit events.
Top achievers in our annual July sectional held at the First Presbyterian Church in Oceanside were: July 17 Open Strat - David Anding and Suzanne Lebendig ; 299er Strat Lee Johnson and Layne Onufer; and 99er top achievers were Cynthia Hanson and Judy Winter. July 18 Debbie Gailfus and Tim Flaherty took #1 in the open game, top 299ers were Alan Federl and Mike Meyer with a 70.24% game and Witold Modinski and Mary Baer took tops in the 99ers. Sunday the 19th the team of Dayou Zhou, Ivar Stakgold, Jon Wright, and David Chechelashvili took top in the A/X flight, while the team of Bill and Nancy Sperry and Chuck and Madonna Donaldson took #1 in the B/C/D flight.
A big Wow to all.
Overall winners in Strat A at the July 25 unit game were Tom Nolan and Nikki Gilberg followed by Bill and Nancy Sperry, Doris Cashman and Jean Jantz, Chuck and Madonna Donaldson, Alan and Debbie Gailfus and Jeri Adams and Marilyn. In the 299er section the big winners were Linda Iredale and Dan Howard followed by David Goldfarb and Ray Gogolewski with a tie for third between Dan Read and Bill Miller and Pam Thacker and Alan Van Sinden. Congrats to All! Go to:
www.sdbridge.com for unit events.
Top Achievers at North County Bridge Center for June in the following categories are: Open - Tim Flaherty; 0-1500 - Chuck Donaldson; 0-750 - Bill Sperry; 0-300 -Howard Katz; 0-100 - Angela Jaraicie and Future - Ann Mack. Congratulations to the players of the month.
Mark the date for the next Barometer Game, September 19 at 12:30 p.m. at North County Bridge Center. This is a fun and exciting format. Try it, You’ll like it!
The 20-399er game on Monday afternoons starting at 12:30 p.m. is growing. Charity points will be given. Sign-up in advance and get a dollar off the regular price. Play Monday afternoon and Monday night and get 50% off the second game in the same day! Such a deal!
Labor Day Pot Luck Sept. 7. Call Cathy or Lee to sign-up and let them know what dish you are bringing. Find out more about the NCBC’s schedule at the club or by contacting Cathy or Lee @ 760 747-6092.
Over at Lake San Marcos Senior Center, the LSMDBC’s charity games supported Faternity House, Environmental Traveling Companions and the San Marcos Senior Center.
Director Jean Holt is starting a 4-week Beginning Bridge course based on Audrey Grant’s Basic Bridge 1 on Sept. 14. Call Jean if you know someone that wants to learn how to play bridge. 760 734-4518.
Last chance to sign-up for the Halloween & Charity Bridge Cruise with director Jean Holt. Join Jean, director on the Radiance of the Seas, Oct. 29-Nov. 2 for a 4-day cruise to Cabo San Lucas. This mini-bridge camp will focus on defense! We will have lessons and sanctioned bridge on the days at sea and a fun day in Cabo San Lucas. The cruise will support the Boys & Girls Club of San Marcos and masterpoints will be awarded. Call Liz Nixon for a flyer, 760 510-8291 or e-mail:
cruzqueen@sbcglobal.net
Top five MP winners for June were Rima Sharron, Magdalene Krish, Jean Holt, Barbara Pehlke and Dennis Cleary. Way to Go Top Five!
The Lake San Marcos DBC hosts open games on Tuesday night at 6:30 p.m., Wednesday at 12:30 p.m., and Friday night at 6:30 p.m. For information call Jean at 760 734-4518 or Nina at 760 736-9386.
BobMar Bridge Center at Grandon held two games in July. Josephine Smith and Toshi Yasutake were #1 July 12 and Rima NS John Sharron took #1 in the STAC game July 26. BobMar will continue to hold its weekly Sunday game at 1:00 p.m. Hope to see you all on Sundays! Call Marcia Handelman at 760 918-2424 and let her know you want to play.
Did you know that you can get all of the latest Unit 549 news at www.sdbridge.com including the Unit 549 Calendar of Events, Unit Newsletter and game results?
Santa Barbara
By Carole Lieff
Well, boys and girls, I’m pleased to report no sightings of infamous lady-killers, The Glimmer Twins, in two weeks. Have sighted half of the notorious pair (using deceivingly innocuous alias Dr. White when flying solo), but have reliable intelligence his better half (aka: Ronald Morris) is doing some accounting for Prime Minister Gordon somewhere in the South Pacific. So we are safe from the charms of this rogue pair.
At least for now!
Meanwhile, back at Hope Ranch, time for some much-deserved ego-stroking in Paradise:
Overheard at the Ventura Regional (dear God please have it on the ocean twenty minutes away next year:) Card-shark Brian Berglund swears on his stack of Bibles that with a 2010 Ventura encore, pre-game Manhattans and Mai-Tais are compliments of Unit 542 for all opponents; Berglund further avers Prof. Klimko will be forced to bake his famous post-game sand cookies for any enemy inebriated enough to win. How’s that for a deal?
Santa Barbara was a tour de force in Ventura: dictating winners chronologically – 1st, 2nd, 3rd, Scratchers : 1st place event winners: Judy and Jim Edmondson - Art Levine - Carole Lieff; Paul Mershon - Nancy Hofbauer; Brian Berglund - Candace Dauphinot - Norma Zuchowicz - Mollie Love; Al & Judy Bongarzone - Debbie Bolduc - Norma Shaw; Love - Dauphinot - Zuchowicz - Bolduc. 2nds: Carl Michelet - Richard Boyce; Stan Spink - Rick Panter; Lieff-Mike Gritz; Debbie Steffan - Roberta Solodkin; Don Schroeder - Joann Scala; Bongarzones - John Whittlesey - Bill Schultz. 3rds: Rand Franklin - Ginny Trautwein; Panter; Gennelle Linville-Solodkin; Will Beall; Tom McCrackin - Kalon Kelley; Berglund - Rawlings - Schultz; Larry Klimko - Gail Steffan; Mershon - Hofbauer; Connie Sommer - Anna Weiss; Michelet - Boyce. Scratchers: Nancy Curry - Elis. Lang; Christine Pinkerton; Judy Piper - Laura Kuhn; Sam and Marguerite Amer.
The Los Angeles Regional (swimming pools, movie stars) yielded a show-stopping number of points for our people: 32.58, Mark Bartusek; 26.20, Brian Berglund; 13.16, Norma Shaw; 13.16, Mollie Love; 7.82, Gail Kahan; 7.82, John Kahan; 6.86, Judy Bongarzone; 6.86, Al Bongarzone; 6.18, Rick Panter; 2.83, Scott Denison; 2.83, George Sturman; 2.45, Evelyn Shafer; 2.45, Cheryl Mille.
And last (but by no means least:) Agent N. Zuchowicz (first names being verboten in espionage) employing questionable, but CIA-approved tactics, finally got a GPS on aka: Ronald Morris in the counter-intelligence capital of the world, Washington, D.C., where Phil Kaiserwilhem’s Robin, playing handmaiden to the Morris Batman, racked up 11 (count ‘em, 11) smackers in the Nationals. And this, after making Prime Rib of the Prime Minister’s tax return.
All in a day’s work at America’s Riviera. Congratulations, mates!
Santa Maria
By Joe Cohan
First the good news: Judy Scheithauer, Margaret Arbogast and Robert Faust have all returned home from medical problems requiring medical or surgical intervention - i.e., not minor problems. Now we simply have to wait until they’re back at the bridge table trying again to do the rest of us in. Still, they are remarkably gentle people, so we’ll probably be left unscarred.
This month’s A winners are Joyce Ghelhaar, Pat Hodges, Bonnie Hales, (4) Carol- Anne Edie, Diane Bouquet, (3) June and Keido Shimizu, Judith English, Me, Diana Jackson, (2) Lynn Porter, Jo Gowenlock, Margaret Arbogast, Vi Dallessandro, Susan Barrett, Robert and Jean Faust, Marilyn Bullock Jan Pettis, Richard Ristine, Don Kerr, Irene Schlekau, Barbara Basila, Jerry Riezebos (1).
Plus C winners Barbara Lohman - James Petrella, who had a 60+% game.
Other high C non-winners were Pauline and Cecil Ward, Mary Goodspeed, Ervin Poteat, (3) Betty Hickman, Gerit Fenenga, William Torpey, Karen Bogard, Dave Hickey, (2) Bill Allen, Sue Barrett, Harold Pray, Jan Scott, Rita Eppard, Wayne Johnson, Richard Sherman, Pat Aldred, Judy and Chuck Scheithauer, Karen Trapp, Al Quod, Joe Boucher, (1).
Southern Gold Coast
By Sue Munday
Lots of results to report, so forget the clever hello and let’s get right to it. Wow! Huge congratulations to John Clark and Tom Wylie, who turned in a monster 80+% game to win the Tuesday afternoon STAC game. Almost 12 full percentage points separated them from second place. No doubt - if you ask them - they could go on and on about the matchpoint or two they left on the table. Right, guys?
Other top-two STAC finishes I spotted in the lists include John Eliason and Judy Connell (Flight A 1st, Saturday afternoon); John Clark (Flight A 2nd, Monday morning); Hal and Gerri Knilans (Flight A 2nd, Thursday afternoon); Tom Te Maat and Gary Ansok (Flight B 2nd, Thursday evening); and Jim Rupp and Ocki Krogfoss (Flight A 2nd, Friday morning).
Unit game attendance continues to be solid despite scheduling events that conflict with local regionals and sectionals. Winners of the July 12 (a/k/a final Sunday of Bridge Week Regional) unit game were Mary Reyna and Judy Clemenson (Flight A), Pat Riedy and Russ Leary (Flight B tie), and Pat Barnfield and Gladys Honigsberg (Flight B tie and Flight C).
Winners of the August 2 (aka Pasadena Sectional) unit game were Rick Weiss and Marty Blain (Flight A), and Leighton Wells and Carol Rand (Flight B).
I feel fairly certain there will be at least one unit game in September - however, I have no idea of the date or date (s). Given the local tournament schedule, I could hazard a guess, but I won’t. Keep an ear and an eye out at the club for announcements.
Speaking of Bridge Week (three paragraphs earlier) - many members came ... and a few even conquered. Among those notching victories were: Ellen Anten and Steve Gross, 1st, Compact KO Bracket I and 1st, Thursday-Friday Swiss and 1st, Sunday A/X Swiss and 2nd, Compact KO Bracket I; Bill Hall and Jim Munday, 2nd, Compact KO Bracket I; Gerri and Hal Knilans, 2nd, Knockout Bracket I; John Clark, 2nd, single-session Swiss--twice; Dawn Kowalski, 1C, single-session Swiss; Michael Zieper and Gary Comer, 1C/D, Strat B/C/D Pairs; Ann Dupont, 1C, Open Pairs; Jim and Sue Munday, 2nd, Fast Pairs; Rosemary Cruser and Beverly Barr, 2nd, Side Game and 2E, 299er Pairs; Gary Ansock, 2nd, 299er Pairs.
Given our unit members’ voracious and successful play in recent months, it should be no surprise that there has been considerable movement in the ranks. Congratulations to new Silver Life Master Pat Blasingame; new Bronze Life Master Jean Jolin; new Regional Master Michael Zieper, new Sectional Master Jeanne Sherwin; and new Junior Masters Judy Byrd, Shirley James and Martha Mutz.
Looking ahead: make your game dates now for the Thousand Oaks Fall Sectional, October 23-25. There will be pairs games at 10:00 a.m., 2:30 and 7:00 p.m. on Friday and Saturday; Compact KO Teams games on Friday and Saturday; and a Strati-flighted Swiss Teams game on Sunday. The Sunday card fees of $25 per team member include a scrumptious buffet.
Whew! I think this month might be among the record-holders for how many different unit members’ names appear in one column. Congratulations everyone!
Ventura
Editor’s Note: This month’s column is an informal history of the Ojai Valley Bridge Club, submitted by Mike Gaddis and Alan Greenberg.
It is believed that the Ojai Valley Bridge Club was started in the early 1960s on an informal basis. The catalysts were Pauline and Otto Heidelberger. Pauline was the bridge “guru,” and Otto ran the games. The average size of the games was six tables.
At first, the games took place in the conference room of the Security First National Bank on Ojai Avenue (now the Bank of America). Then it moved to another bank next to the Ojai Library. The games were generally held on Saturday afternoon.
When Otto and Pauline moved to Santa Barbara, others stepped up to fill in, including Carl Zechner, Nina Mussat, and Wanda Ulaski. During this period, further changes of location occurred when the move was made to Chaparral High School and World University.
Hank Reisner and Tom and Patson Walbridge held the club together in the 1970s, and also moved the game to Carrows Restaurant. The size of the games ranged from 6 to 12 tables.
In the 1980s, the club made its final location move to the Ojai Methodist Church, and the games were eventually scheduled on Monday and Friday afternoons. Ken Pembroke, Tom Ciacio, Al Hall, Nancy Hall, and Jack Hellner were some of the directors who worked the club's games.
The current directors are Dick Wagner and Louise Shaffer, one of our own who took it upon herself to qualify as a director.
Past presidents of the Ojai Valley B.C. included Afra Mattrau, Marvel Cheek Dickason (1990-1998), and Richard Dickason (1998-2008).
Last year newcomer Alan Greenberg was elected as president, while Richard Dickason continues with the responsibilities of the club manager.
Visalia
By Robbie Rouch
No summer doldrums at the Visalia Unit, as the average table count broke 10, with 133 foursomes competing in 13 contests. The lofty turnout was brought about in part by Allyson Farrell’s diligent anti-Howell phone campaign which succeeded magnificently. At least seven tables were filled at all five Thursday night games, including an individual event where each player had opportunity to sample 22 different partners. Bob Farrell was the most adept at adaptation, topping the field, a full six hundredths of a point ahead of Keith Lindersmith. Of the other 48 top spots for the month, the Cederborgs garnered 14, (Warren 8 and Suzi 6) including two with scores north of 70%. Their 70.96 in the Friday STAC game earned 2nd place in the district. Allyson Farrell was the only triple winner, followed by doublers, Alice Pickens, Fran Prins, Howard Arquette, Lorna Cheng, Pam Wood, Paul Schommer, Robbie Rouch, and Villa Vejvoda. Also victorious were Bob Loudermilk, Bonnie Chan, Carol Carr, Gerard Laquerriere, Janice Crossland, Larry Cavanaugh, Mary and Mike Florio, Mike Frank, Maudmarie Calhoun, Nancy Crowe, Pat DelaMontanya, Vincent Cheng, Lois Parman, and Betty Hagopian. It may have been Betty’s first time to play with us, but she obviously wasn’t intimidated. Thanks, Lois, for bringing her, and we are looking forward to an encore performance. Also, a note of thanks to Avis and Lorna for keeping the Tuesday game going, as well as to Larry Cavanaugh for many years of service, plus his efforts to help make the transition smooth as silk.