Aces , Places, and Faces

 

Volume LXVIII No. 4
SEVENTH ANNIVERSARY PARTY
Sunday April 10, 2016
      After spending nearly fifty years playing bridge on Clinton Avenue, we moved to Shaw Avenue in April 2009 and had a big party to celebrate. We’re still here and celebrating after seven years. Come join us. We’ll have lunch at noon, and a charity championship game at 1 pm. The charity again is the March of Babies, which has a two mile walk at Woodward Park on Saturday April 9 at 9 am. March for Babies funds research and programs to help babies’ health through the March of Dimes. Mary Lou Pease will be walking on Saturday. You can join her or make a contribution here.  
       We’re planning to have two sections - open and 499er.  We're only charging $5 plus $1 contribution for March of Babies. Please come, have fun, enjoy the hot dogs and ice cream social, and the bridge game to follow.

PLACES AND FACES
We had a big contingent of players at the NABC in Reno. The NABC is always a great tournament, with free lessons every day, seminars for teachers and club directors, prizes, and different games every day for players at every level. Players come from all over the world to play in our NABC tournaments because they believe the NABC tournament is the best in the world. The next NABC tournament in California is in San Diego next year, starting right after Thanksgiving. Plan to attend.
            Jay Roll was third and sixth in side games, second in the side series, and second in Flight X of the A/X Swiss teams. Al Crane was third in bracket 4  of the knockout (KO) teams and second in flight C of the daylight Swiss teams. Deb Petersen, Barbara Wiedel, Jane Bragg and Cynthia Tingey won the limited Swiss teams and were second in another limited Swiss teams. Angie Heisdorf and Judy Nibler were 23rd in the gold rush pairs. Rick Whitworth was 43rd in the Silver Ribbon Pairs. Bob Durbrow and Belva Quattrin were 14th in the daylight pairs; Richard Meffley was 28th. Blake Rundquist and Steve McConnell were third in the open pairs. Dick Powell, Avis Morse, Susan Vildosola, and Peter Weber won bracket 2 of the morning KO teams. Also winning master points in Reno were John and Della Schnell, Mary Lou Pease, Don and Marion Austin, Roger Moon, Sue Comporato, Marilyn Kendall, Barbara Thacker, and John and Pat Simpson. Congratulation to all!
            At the San Diego regional, former Fresnan Norman Woo was second in flight B of one open pairs and sixth in flight B of another, Corey Cole was fourth in flight B IMP pairs, sixth in flight B of the open pairs, and third in flight X of the A/X Swiss teams. Jay Roll won the Swiss teams, and took sixth in the IMP pairs. Congratulations to our San Diego winners.

     Joan Fritz , Jonel Mueller, Frances Beazley, and Rita Gladding are now Junior Masters. Victor Greener and Bill Glass are now Gold Life Masters. Sally Eatherly is now a Bronze Life Master. Renee Laquerriere and Judy Shuster are now a NABC Master. Linda Town and William Wilson are now Club Masters. Congratulations on the rank changes.

            Get well wishes go to Andrew Graves and Verlee O’Neill, who had surgery recently.
     Our condolences go to Dora Gostanian, whose mother recently passed away, to Sheila Smith, whose mother recently passed away, and to Rob Rouch, whose father Robert Rouch recently passed away. Robert was a Life Master member of the Visalia unit, who attended our sectionals on occasion. Our condolences go to the family of Ruth Rowe, who played in the Madera game for many years.


 

WINNERS

UNIT CHAMPIONSHIP
 
1AB        John Barrere - James Sweet
2AB        Margaret Mahaffey - Steve Sharp
3A           Laura Neville - Judy Jessick
 
PRO-AM TEAMS
1AB        Margaret Mahaffey - Laura Da Costa - Deb Petersen - Nancy Jones
2A           Robert Durbrow - Avis Morse - Gloria Durbrow - Don Austin
3A2B     Barbara Thacker - Anthony Toto - Judy Shuster - Andrea Wheeless
1C           Steve Sharp - Jackie Zayac - Mary Lou Pease - June E. Weber
  
CHARITY CHAMPIONSHIP
1A                           Belva Quattrin - Robert Durbrow
2A                          Jay Roll - Richard Meffley
3A1B                     Anthony Toto - Byron Steinert
2/3B                       Mark Stern - Victor Greener
2/3B1C  Dora Gostanian - Sandy Richardson
2C                           Cynthia Tingey - Robert Cherry
  
LEAP DAY MEMBERSHIP
1A           Mark Stern - Margaret Mahaffey
2A           Monique Irion - Carolyn Lofton
3A           John Schnell - Skip Miller
`
1A           Ray April - Steve Sharp
 2/3A      Irene Whelchel - Margaret Mahaffey
 2/3A1B Pat Simpson - Dora Gostanian
2B           Judy Nicholson - Bettylee Wapner
3B           Delia Green - Jay Shapiro
  
CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP
1              Steve Sharp - Laura Da Costa
2              Victor Greener - Skip Miller
  
 
 BAROMETER CHAMPIONSHIP
 1AB       Mark Stern - Sally Anne Eatherly
 2/3A2B  Robert Durbrow - Mary Lou Pease
 2/3A       Victor Greener - Richard Meffley
 
750 CHAMPIONSHIP
1AB        Angelina Heisdorf - Sue Gearhart
2AB1C    Cheryl Hiney - Marsha Infausto
3A           John Oakshott - Peggy Oakshott
3B2C       Joan James - Walt Kelso
3C           Bill Rogers - Chris Rogers
 
750 CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP
1AB        Mary Ann Clark - Beverly Little
2AB        Karin Blanchard - Ron Vieira
3AB1C    Marilyn J. Kendall - Ruby Buttereck
2C           Denny Tweed - Cathleen Burden
3C           Sandra Beebe - Judy Pardun
 

 LUNCH IN MEMORY OF MARY LOU DA COSTA
11 am April 15, 2016
From Laura
     My sisters and brother very much wanted Mom’s second family (all of you) to have a time to celebrate our mother’s life. She treasured the games, the partnerships, and the friendships she shared with you. We will have a lunch to celebrate mom’s life at 11am on Friday, April 15th.  We hope you can attend. Though you do not have to RSVP, it would be helpful if you let Laura know if you are thinking of coming as it would help the wonderful set of volunteers preparing the lunch.

      For those who wish to play bridge, the Friday afternoon game will be held at 12:45 as usual.
Please come and celebrate the life of Mary Lou, who spent over thirty years directing bridge games for us. You don’t need to stay for bridge, but come for lunch.

CLUB NEWS
ACBLwide Charity Game
Thursday Morning April 14
 
            The ACBLwide charity game is held this year on Thursday morning, April 14. The game comes with hand records and analyses by experts. Thursday morning games all over the country will be playing the same hands. The top pair in District 21 wins 10 master points. The top pair in the country wins 20 master points. Play Thursday morning April 14, make a donation to the ACBL Charity Foundation, and see if you can get some of the master points.
            The top players in Oakhurst for March were Karen McCartin, Burke Zane, Jim Luther, and Keith and Nancy Sutherland. The top players in Madera were Carol Kaufman, followed by Gary Nelson, Mary Gullo, and Barbara Diebert. Gary leads for 2016, followed by Carol, Mary, and Larry and Gay Slates.
            The top players at the Fresno Bridge Center for February were Maggie Mahaffey, followed by Mark Stern, Skip Miller, Steve Sharp, John Schnell, and Sally Eatherly. Leaders for 2016 are Maggie, followed by Steve, Skip, Ray April, and John Schnell. The top 99ers for February were Doris and Don Myers and Cheryl Hiney, followed by Nancy Jones. The Myers lead for 2016, followed by Andrea Wheeless, Beverly Little, and Cheryl Hiney. March results are posted on the website.

PHONE NUMBERS
Judy Dodd’s phone number is 559-433-9268
Joyce Kauder cell 559-652-7952 (Home 559-449-1044)
Laura Da Costa is moving and may change her phone number. Her cell phone is 999-2825.
 
 
LESSONS
Beginning lessons on defense start on Saturday April 2, 2016 at 9 am. There will be a lesson each week for about eight weeks. Come to as many as you can. Invite all your friends who are just starting bridge. Easybridge lessons continue, also Saturday at 9 am, on a different topic each week, followed by several hands to play.
 

 

 

OAKHURST WINNERS
Ken Doig - Claire Molnar
Annette Calhoun - Jim Luther
Jimmy Moore - Bill Carroll
Clem Bingham - Blake Fuessenich
Annette Calhoun- Nancy Kyle
Burke Zane - T. Srinivasan
Keith & Nancy Sutherland (2)
Burke Zane - Joe Fox
Ellie Withee - Sharon McCoy
Joe Fox- Corey Cole (2)
Karen McCartin - Paul Mertens
 
 
 
BAROMETER PAIRS
1              Don Austin - Marion Austin
2              Mary Lou Pease - James Sweet
 
INDIVIDUAL
1              Richard Meffley
2              Debbie Kemp
3              James Bushman
4              William Glass
5              Carol Kaufman
 
SPECIAL
Jay Shapiro - Irene Whelchel
Skip Miller - Byron Steinert
Della Schnell - John Schnell
Anthony Toto - Andrea Wheeless
Skip Miller - Barbara Thacker
John Oakshott - Peggy Oakshott
Bob Cross - Robert Durbrow
Barbara Thacker - Bob Cross
Robert Cherry - Stephen Blumberg
Margaret Mahaffey - Skip Miller
Patrick Carroll - John McGregor[B]
Dick Powell - Avis Morse[B]
Avis Morse - Judy Jessick[B]
Kay Chrisman - Steve Sharp[B]
Mark Stern - Victor Greener[B]
Andrew Graves - James Sweet[C]
Carol Miller - Larry Miller[C]
Gloria Durbrow - Jason Mcalexander[C]
Jay Shapiro - Kent Billeter[C]
Irene Whelchel - Jay Shapiro[C]
 
 
750 SPECIAL
Pat Huston - Nancy Holley
Renee Laquerriere - Rhonda Hampton
Mary Ann Clark - Beverly Little
Jerry F. Noga - John Hempel
Mark Stern - Victor Greener[B]
Andrew Graves - James Sweet[C]
Joan De Yager - Marsha Infausto[C]
 
99er SPECIAL
Walt Kelso - Ann Keag
Donna Rayburn - Ronald Rayburn[C]
 
 
99ER
Walter Kelso - Brenda Ward
Gary Pigg - Pamela Pigg
Walt Kelso - Brenda Ward
Susan Shaver - Carol Fiorentino[B]