Boring But Informative

This is going to be a short, fairly dull issue since not much except the Achilles is going on this week and not much went on last week. There are a number of sign-up sheets on various bulletin boards that need your attention. however. New curlers - look them all over and sign up for everything you can. That also goes for all of you have been around for a while.

Coming Events

Nov. 18 Women's Griffin League will start at 6:00 instead of 6:30

Nov. 18-20 Achilles Men's Bonspiel (see details below)

Nov. 21 There will be NO Sunday Brunch

Achilles Men's Bonspiel

Bob Mulig reports that 20 teams are now set to participate in the Achilles, including four rinks from Canada and Defending Champions, Rick Fink and his Granite rink trying to make it two in a row. Four SCC teams also will be involved - skipped by Jack Stopera, Sr., Bob Mullg, Fred Freedman and Shane Longley.

Play starts with a draw on Thursday night following the women's Griffin league and will continue Friday starting at 8:00 AM. The last draw of the day will be at 7:15 PM. A buffet dinner that evening is open to club members. The sign-up sheet is posted on the bulletin board for those interested in attending. And that's not the end of the day's activities. There's even more because, after the curling competition and dinner are over, Mike Purcell, a crowd-pleaser if there ever was one, will be on hand to round off a day of fun for visitors and SCC members alike.

Curling starts on Saturday at 10:15 AM and goes through to the four-event finals which begin at 7:30 PM. There is yet another dinner, this one a sit-down affair, and an awards ceremony. Awards are given for a couple of more events than the usual four, the winners of the latter two decided in ways that slip our mind. The highlight of the evening is the awarding of the coveted Horse's Ass Trophy which goes to the curler who, by his actions during the bonspiel, best exemplifies the qualities implicit in the trophy's name. A jolly time is guaranteed so it's well worth attending. Look for the sign-up sheet on the bulletin board and add your name.

Women's Curling Stuff

Dorothy Szymaszek, Store Manager AND U.S. Women's Curling Association rep, has this to report:

The women's Empire State Bonspiel will be held in Utica Jan. 20-23. Anyone wishing to enter a team should sign up on the sheet in the women's locker room by Nov. 26.

The USWCA National Bonspiel is being held Feb. 10-13 in Seattle. Anyone interested in attending should see Dorothy before Dec. 13.

The USWCA is also organizing a senior (50+ years old) Women's Friendship Tour to various clubs in Ontario for Nov. 2000. Cost will be $1,000 -$1,500. Sign-up is as individuals and not by rinks. Participants are chosen by some sort of a lottery-type system. So, if you are getting on, have money to bum and are feeling lucky, Dorothy is the one to see for details.

THE FOLLOWING ARTICLES WERE SUBMITTED BY JANE CARUVANA WHO ALSO SUPPLIED THE ILLUSTRATIONS. THE T LINE STAFF THINKS SHE'S GETTING JUST A LITTLE TOO SMART FOR HER OWN GOOD!

New Brooms Sweep Clean

So the old adage says and I hope hope it is true. This year we have engaged a new cleaning service, top to bottom, to keep our club looking great. The cleaners are here Tuesday and Friday in the AM.

If you are aware of something that needs their attention, please let me know so I can make sure it gets done.

They're Back!

YES we do have mice in the kitchen pantry. I have set two "Super" traps and expect to have things under control soon. But you can help. If there are loose crackers, chips, snacks, etc., please bag them and place the bags in the large tin storage container that is on the counter near the coffee machine.

For Sale

1 BALE OF STRAW

$4.00 PAYABLE TO CLUB

Available anytime Sunday, November 21st when all Fall decorations are coming down.

What's in a Name?

Sign up sheet for name tags is posted. Please make sure you write your name as you wish it to appear. Deadline is Dec., so hop to it.

Club Directory
Please take the time to check your entry in the club directory to make sure it will appear correctly. The entire list of members is/will be posted on the you-know-what in the you-know-where. Dot Sheehan, who is in charge of the directory, does not want to hear to hear any complaining about mistakes after it's printed if you haven't bothered to check for errors before publication. Also, if you have an e-mail address and it isn't listed, include that.

On The Road

Results of the Ross Tarlton held this past weekend in Toronto were just about what might he expected. The Canadians won. The margin of victory was a little larger than usual - 386 to 304 in favor of our neighbors to the north. They won 39 games, lost 23 and lied us twice. The team of Don Beeler, Dave Spencer, Pete Sheehan and Dean Robbins won all four of their games. No word from the other rink that participated. The annoying thing about the Canadians is that they not only consistently beat us on the ice but they also usually win the party as well.

Youth Curling

The first practice for the Little Rockers and Teenage curlers took place this past Sunday. Wayne Penn is in charge of the older group of which there were six returning curlers and one new member. The Little Rockers are being coached by Matt Staccone and they numbered five returnees and four first-timers. Two more are expected next week. Both will continue to meet most Sundays at 3:00 pm and welcome new members at any time of the year. So bring on those younger people in your circle of relatives or acquaintances and show them what fun can be had in an activity that doesn't involve video games or computers.

Friday Night Mixed

A cry for help comes from Dot Sheehan who heads Friday night mixed curling. Seems there is a need for more curlers to fill out the roster and she wants you! There are eight nights available for the event - six will be on Friday and two on Sunday. The Sunday ones will include dinner which makes it even more fun. If you're interrested in curling/substituting/or just need more information, get in touch with Dot.

Sunday Morning Breakfast

The first meeting of the Breakfast Club will be on December 12. Head chef, Don Beeler, has a busy schedule this fall and it's meant canceling some of the earlier ones listed on the calendar. This is such a pleasant event that he feels badly that it has to start so late in the season but we're happy to have him do it at all. What the club needs is a substitute chef who can take over when Don isn't available. Any suggestions?

Mixed Invitational Playdowns

Another sign-up sheet heard from. The Mixed Invitational playdowns are being held on Dec. 10-11. So far there's a lot of blank space where there should be a lot of names. This is an opportunity for some good competition as well as a good time so get a team together and sign up. If there are only two of you, sign up and indicate whether you want to play uprink or downrink. If there is only one of you, sign up and you'll be hooked up with other curlers to make a complete rink. The winners of the event are automatically in the Mixed Invitational itself which will be held in early February. In fact, it has happened in the past that most or all of the teams participating in the playdowns had an opportunity to be in the event they're playing down for.* NEW CURLERS: HERE'S A CHANCE TO GET TOGETHER WITH OTHER CLUB MEMBERS AND ENJOY THE THRILL OF VICTORY - OR WHATEVER. If you'd like to attend the Saturday night dinner without the exertion of actually taking to the ice there's a sign-up sheet for that also. Direct questions to Charlene Fitzgerald.

ANOTHER FORMER MEMBER HAS RETURNED TO THE FOLD SO WE'D LIKE TO SAY WELCOME BACK TO BOB BURGESS. NICE TO SEE YOU ON THE ICE AGAIN.

Women's Challenge

SCC will be hosting the above on the weekend of March 17-19. It's an opportunity sponsored by the Grand National for women who have been curling five years or less to form teams and compete against each other. The committee would like eligible curlers to start mustering their forces and come up with at least one rink. Doing it early in the season will give you an opportunity to set up matches and curl together as a team. If you have any questions or need any help see Evie Blackhall or Judy McCullough who are co-chair of the event. It should be a wonderful experience - a great opportunity to meet curlers from other clubs.

We Were Only Half Right

This issue turned out to be not as short as we thought it would be but, as promised, it was full of things to sign up for so we'll give ourselves 50%. Also, it probably wasn't all that exciting. Sorry about that but we can only report what's going on. If you want exciting, somebody please do something wild and wonderful.

*We know. Dangling participle. Sounds less stilted than "for which they're playing down." So sue us.