The 42nd Annual Schenectady Junior Bonspiel

The 42nd annual Schenectady Junior Bonspiel was held on March 7-9th with an amazing 24 teams! The sole Canadian team from Brockville, Ontario (skipped by Rob Bushfield) tore through the GNCC rinks and won the John G. Green trophy by defeating Courtney Anderson's Philadelphia team in the main event finals. Here are the full results:

John G. Green Trophy (First event) Winner: Brockville, Ontario – Rob Bushfield(Skip), Matt Hone(Vice), Alex Coon(2nd), Andrew McCrae(Lead)
Finalist: Philadelphia 1 - Courtney Anderson(Skip), Emily Anderson(Vice), Catie MacKinlay(2nd), Chris Bradley(Lead)

Fink (Second Event) Winner: Utica - John Costello(Skip), Ryan Sunderlin(Vice/2nd), Brian Donovan(2nd/Lead)
Finalist: Pittsburgh - Ashley Lawreck(Skip), Tom Antolic(Vice), Brandon Gulish(2nd), Juliana Sheldon(Lead)

Munro (Third Event) Winner: Philadelphia 4 - Andrew MacKinlay(Skip), Joe Todd-Marrone(Vice), Brady Clark(2nd), Thomas Walsh(Lead)
Finalist: Rochester 2 - Brandon Corbett(Skip), Kevin French(Vice), Derek Corbett(2nd), Kell Orlando(Lead)

DeCrosta (Fourth Event) Winner: Broomstones 1 - Monica Walker(Skip), Laura Hallisey(Vice), Jillian Walker(2nd), Nikki Rossetti(Lead)
Finalist: Petersham - Eric Paul(Skip), Jessica Todd-Marrone(Vice/2nd) Lindsay Lawreck(2nd/Lead)

We had three Schenectady teams which all won their first game, but were eliminated during their next two games. They were Schenectady I (Sean Porter, Katy Hartman, Kris Navratil, Alex Navratil), Schenectady II (Amalia Rubin, Pat Russo, Kyle Labuda), and Schenectady III (Bill Culligan, Ryan Mayott, Zach Aragosa, Zach Frohne).

The event was very successful thanks to all of the help and support of the teen's parents and our members. Andrea and I would like to give our sincere thanks to the following: Diane O'Malley, The Porters, The Navratils, The Aragosas, The Hartmans, The Russos, The Labudas, The Rubins, Lee Musgrove, The Frohnes, Jeff Mayott, Pete Sheehan, Dave Spencer, Jim & Charlotte Colton, Jane Caruvana, Shirley Burgess, Marie Pletenik, Margaret Brennan, Charlie McCullough, Art Merkley, Al Doty, Dean Robbins, Dennis Quinn, Fred Mackintosh, Shaun-Paul Manore, Rebecca Carosella, Victor Rodriguez, Elizabeth Lansing, Bob Mulig, Hal Clements, Ruth Kerr, Rick Munro, Rick Strellrecht, Teb Beebe, Nick Beebe, and Brian Costello. Everyone give yourselves a HUGE pat on the back! If we have forgotten anyone that helped in any way, please know you were truly appreciated!

Thank you, Dion Warr

Kayser Memorial Bonspiel

This past weekend (March 13-16th) in Rochester was the Kayser Memorial Bonspiel for mixed 5-year and under curlers. Schenectady sent 1 team: Patrick Fitzgerald (Skip), Rebecca Carosella (Vice), Dion Warr (2nd), and Karen Hess (Lead). We had a 4-1 record and were the finalist in the main event. There were 24 teams and we defeated 2 Utica teams, Granite, and Rochester. We lost a close 10-end final to our friends in Albany. This is the best showing that any of us has had to date.

To Great Curling! Dion Warr

St. Patrick’s Day Dinner

Seventy hungry Irish men and women attended our annual St Pat's Dinner.

Among those was a table of 14 "Old Timers". The Spongbergs, Schells, Nixes, Dottie Graham, Fiedlers, Beelers, Holmes and Fran Steadwell.

Jane Caruvana took care of the decorating with leprechauns, "gold coins", shamrocks, and everything green. A lovely cocktail party preceded the dinner. Hors d' oeuvres were supplied by Fran Rinella, Donna Disch, Jane, Barb Holmes, MJ Miller and Betty Schell. Tom's special drinks included Bailey's Irish Cream and Irish coffee.

Dennis Quinn's Irish soda bread was wonderful as usual. He taped 10 Irish lottery tickets to chair bottoms and Andrea Warr won $4 and Curt Becker $7. Dennis also arranged for the Boland Dance Company to perform for us. Four delightful young women, dressed in gorgeous costumes danced several jigs and reels.

Joe McLisuzzo, done up like a leprechaun, provided Irish music and led a sing-along. Unfortunately we didn't know any of the songs, but he helped out by repeating the words after rather than before they were sung. Joe's rendition of the Irish Jig left something to be desired.

Charlotte had a great kitchen crew. John Holmes and George Curtis were reminded of KP duty as they peeled potatoes and Howard Fiedler turned out to be the best rutabaga man in Schenectady. Curt Becker peeled, chopped, bundled and boiled. "I couldn't have done it without him", said Char.

It was the final night of Social Curling and appropriately enough the McCullough’s won the event with Hal Clements and Ann Hartranft. Jim Colton's team with Dot Sheehan, Mary Ann and Gene White were the runners-up.

Thanks to All for a Wonderful Night, Jim Colton

Engagement Annoucement

Chrissy Fink, a return member to the Club this year, got engaged a couple weeks ago to Eric Haase. Eric Haase is my brother, so, Chrissy will soon be my sister-in-law! Congratulations!