Wanna REALLY learn about Curling

Message from the President: Dear Members; A few weeks ago I had a terrific experience that I must share with you. My primary job for the weekend was to drive a team of Juniors to the Utica Curling Club’s Junior Bonspiel. That same weekend the Kayuta Lake Curling Club, about 35 miles north of Utica, was having its one and only Curling Bonspiel of the year. You guessed it; they curl outside on the lake. I thought, what the heck, I’m going to be up there anyway, why not give this lake curling a try, so I signed up. When I arrived at Carl and Coleen Thomas’ house I was immediately taken in by the scenery. Their house sits high on the property and overlooks beautiful Lake Kayuta, its picture perfect. I was welcomed with open arms, as you would imagine because these folks are curlers. As I sipped on my coffee I glanced down at the shoveled off area on the ice and I began to wonder; how difficult could this be? As others arrived things started to happen. First we scribed a house on one end of the ice. Carl then hammered in one hack and then picked up one stone and hurled it down the ice and said “where the stone stops is the center of the other house”. I immediately thought he was kidding because the stone didn’t go very far, but that’s where we scribed the second house. Coleen provided water with green food coloring that we drizzled into our scribe marks, green rings, it was appropriate considering the setting. It’s game time; not the way you think, the men stand on the hack (no sliding) and just hurl the stones, kind of like bowling. The women place both feet in the hack and both hands on the stone and DIVE forward, their total body sliding on the ice and while sliding they then push with both hands to release the stone (some called this the two point delivery). I wish I had a movie camera, it was something to behold. I thought to my self; this can’t be that hard, the ice looked great to me, so I put on my curling shoes, they, the other curlers, just looked at me and didn’t say a word. As I slid out of the hack everything seemed normal, I released the stone which went about five feet and then it came to a screeching halt. Naturally I continued to slide onto the stone and burnt it. They all had a good laugh at this Cape Codder. While the games were in progress the observers and other players had a wonderful bonfire going and plenty of food and drink to indulge in from a nearby shed that was also heated. Following the Bonspiel we all went to this lovely local restaurant and enjoyed a fabulous meal. After eating I figured it was time I get back to the Juniors in Utica but the rest of the group continued on and went back to Carl’s house where the hot tub was waiting to sooth all those aching muscles. I can tell you now that next year I’m going back for more, are there seven others interested? It would be fantastic if we showed up with two teams from the Cape. Good Curling! Tony Colacchio Cape Cod Curling Club Newsletter – March 2006 Page 1 Annual Meeting Mark your calendars, our Annual Meeting and Auction will be held on April 12th at the Coonamessett Inn. More information will be sent to you on this via US MAIL shortly. Cape Cod Curler to Represent the United States on tour of Canada Our very own Cathy Offinger has been selected by the USWCA (United States Women’s Curling Association) to participate in the Senior Women’s Canadian Friendship tour. This tour is an on-going exchange of curling and friendship that takes place every 3 years. In November of 2003, the Canadian women traveled to the United States, visiting clubs within the GNCC and played here at Cape Cod. During that tour, Cathy had an opportunity to play in the game and host two Canadian curlers overnight at her home. Next fall, while we’re all still trying to remember how to slide, or put a handle on a stone, Cathy will be touring the numerous curling rinks of our neighbor to the north. As one of only 16 women from across the United States, she will travel with the USWCA to the province of Manitoba in November 2006. Dates are still being confirmed, uniforms will have to be fitted, skits and entertainment rehearsed and hostess gifts coordinated. Oh, and of course there will be some curling too! Hopefully she will find out her team soon, and they may even have an opportunity to play together before the end of this curling season. Maybe Russ or Dan & Justine, could help her learn the language and a few phrases before she hits the great white north. It’s about time, eh! Congratulations Cathy! Susan Verner to Represent Cape Cod in the GNCC I am pleased to announce that Susan Verner will be representing the Cape Cod Curling Club at the GNCC for the coming session. Susan has been a member of the Club since the 2003-4 season and has been the Cape Cod Liaison with the World Curling Championships. During this past season, Susan has been the Invitational League Manager for the Sunday Night League. In addition to attending the GNCC Meetings, Susan will help to promote the Cape Cod Curling Club within the GNCC as well as assist in informing our membership of Bonspiels and events within the GNCC. We have been very fortunate with the individuals who have represented us at the GNCC and Susan will continue this tradition. Please join me in congratulating Susan. Submitted by: Frank Geishecker FINAL OPPORTUNITIES TO GET FRIENDLY The final Friendlies of this year will be held on March 4th when Cape Cod hosts Broomstones for afternoon curling and dinner and on March 19th when Cape Cod hosts The Country Club (TCC) for curling and Sunday Brunch. Please put your name on the signup sheets in the entryway to participate with our friends from Broomstones and TCC. For Up-to-date Club News check out www.capecodcurling.org Cape Cod Curling Club Newsletter – March 2006 Page 2 We'll be on TV!! If you get UPN38 out of Boston, tune in at 8 AM for 1/2 hour on Tuesday, March 14. "Robie on the Road" will be doing a live interview at the club and showing footage they recently taped. In-House Goings On There has been a lot happening since the last newsletter went to press. So let’s catch you up in case you haven’t heard. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Mardi-Gras themed Superspiel was held on Saturday, February 18th at the club. The 'spiel was cut down to a one-day event because we were only able to muster 6 teams. After the morning draw, lunch featured po'boys assembled by Lorene Rugg and Gloria Quegan. The rinks’ returned for the late afternoon draw and the Krewe of Saturn, skipped by Bob Ottaviano narrowly defeated the Krewe of Orpheus, skipped by Dave Dewees, in a center-sheet thriller. Congratulations to Bob O., Jim Ross, Peter Partridge and Trudi Bruce on their victory. Trudi continued her special night by being named "Queen of the Mardi Gras", and the partying continued on well into the evening, with music and a (brief, but entertaining) conga line. Thanks to Virginia Bristol and her kitchen staff for providing a stellar dinner and thanks also to Al Duester for raising everyone's cholesterol level with that most excellent toffee cake. [By Jim Rogers King of Mardi Gras] The Valentine’s Social was held on February 11th. Fifty members of the club gathered for a little pickup curling and to partake in a dinner of rosemary encrusted chicken with apple crisp ala-mode for dessert. Cupid was rumored to be in attendance but he left his arrows home. This was a wonderful mid-winter break with social interaction the focus. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Kalleane Rink Wins the Women’s All-American! Over the weekend of February 2 – 4, the Cape Cod Curling Club hosted our largest Women’s AllAmerican bonspiel ever! We had 8 rinks, yes that’s 32 women, participate in this USWCA (United States Women’s Curling Association) sanctioned event. The competition began Thursday night with 6 teams taking to the ice in very close games. All games were played for points and at the end of the night, Elaine Scherocman’s “Star-Spangled Banner” rink was leading the pack. Friday evening’s second draw saw another round of great competition, with, Cathy Offinger’s “Yankee Doodle Dandy’s” tied with Karen Von Haam’s “America the Beautiful” rink for the top spot at 22 ¼ points. After the tightly contested games, everyone relaxed and enjoyed a fabulous post-game cocktail party in the warm-room. The final two draws took place on Saturday. When all was said and done, it was “Katie” Beth Kalleane, and her “When the Saints Go Marching In” rink of Katie White, Katie Murphy and Kate Buckman who finished first with 29 ½ points and the coveted USWCA All-American pins. In addition, “Katie” Beth and her team will have their names published in the USCA Curling News summer edition! Cape Cod Curling Club Newsletter – March 2006 Page 3 Second place pins went to Mary Colacchio and her “Marine Corps Hymn” rink of Joanne Coleman, Claire Averil and Annette Hynes with a total of 28 ¼ points. Karen Von Haam and her team of Beverly Gigliotti, Sharon Williams and Shirley Scholes were awarded the third place pins with a total of 26 ¼ points. Thank you also to everyone who helped make this event a success…ice scrapers, pebblers, spectators and of course the participants. Without each and every one of you we wouldn’t have an All-American. [submitted by Liz Abeltin] --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Olympic Festival - Providence RI by Phyllis Welby Cape Cod Curlers were invited by Bank of America, Olympic Sponsors, to demonstrate curling, center ice, at their facility in Providence in conjunction with their Olympic Festival on Saturday, February 18th. Although the ice crew spent all night putting in houses and lines, and Doc Dunkley pebbled, the stones just would not cooperate. The ice was Zambonied, then Fred Flynn gave it a double-pebble – much better but still not playable. Nevertheless, the public enjoyed asking questions and asking about the stones, shoes and brooms. A few people even got in the hack and gave it a try. Truman & Griffin Dunkley showed how all ages can participate, while mom, Jan cheered them on. Paula-Jeanne Ellis and Kathy Colgan rounded out the CCCC contingent. ABC-TV news covered the event for the Saturday evening news with good footage of the Dunkley boys. Thornton Cup Championship The Thornton Cup will be played on Saturday, March 25th at 4:00pm. A dinner will follow and all are invited and encouraged to attend. The event is named in honor of Nina and Dick Thornton, who were early supporters of the Cape Cod Curling Club. During those “lean years” Nina and Dick were part of the core crew that “kept us afloat” Dave Dewees remembered. It might surprise some of you that before the club had the property on Highfield; the Summer Bonspiel was played at the Ice Arena with different non curling events hosted at different member’s homes. The Thornton’s had a Lawn Bowling Green and would host bowling and Jarts at their home. The Curling Committee would like to congratulate all teams competing in the Championship and would like to remind everyone of the people behind the Shield and the vital role so many played in establishing the Club. Submitted by: Frank Geishecker Club Expansion Ground Breaking - Russ Lemcke Well, nobody said you couldn't have a ground breaking after you had broken the ground. So that is what we are doing - at 1 PM on Saturday, March 11. We've invited town and state officials as well as recipients of our Charity Event Fund Raisers. Please plan on coming out and joining the celebration. We hope through this publicity to increase community awareness which can also lead to more funding. Now don't panic - when you see a new fund raising target of $460,000 in the warm room that day. When one starts going outside for funds, one doesn't use a smaller number and this higher target would permit us to contract out what has been planned as internal work and even add some frills. Check the club’s website for the latest photos on the progress of the construction. Cape Cod Curling Club Newsletter – March 2006 Page 4 Help, Help!!! The volunteer sheet is up for the summer bonspiel and is short only your name. This event is a huge part of our financial well being. So please, please get your name up there. CAPE CURLERS ON THE ROAD More Bonspiels - Russ Lemcke It is great to see so many going away to bonspiels. We understand 4 women's teams went to Belfast ME recently and others to Broomstones and elsewhere. Bob and Barbara Enos, Meg and I went to the Marie Cobb in Utica (see gangster photo on the web site) and had "a great time." You know what that means! That is one super bonspiel, maybe the most fun of all (other than Cape Cod). I guess one downside is so many are going away that we are having difficulty doing internal tournaments. Nice problem. Dave Dewees can tell you that for years we were rarely represented at other clubs. Not so now. And Glen Amaral, Fred Flynn, Henrik Gulmann and I are going to bring a big trophy back from the Granite in Nashua first week of March even if we have to steal it. Pine Tree @ Belfast, Maine (10-12 February) – 16 of our Ladies journeyed north which explains why there were a few missing from our Valentines’ Social dinner. From what I have heard, they got snowed in and had to extend their stay until the Monday the 13th for a safe drive home. Bay State Ladies – I hear through the grapevine that some of our Ladies went and they won a couple of games. Maybe they will share some of the details with us for next month’s issue. McKay-Douglas International @ Ardsley (24-26 February) - The always loveable Paul Mort headed west with Scott Tynell, Keith Richardson and Frank Balas. I understand from Frank that our foursome made it into the finals of the fourth (out of six) event where they lost on the last rock in the tenth end. Frank never mentioned whether Cape Cod had the hammer or not in the tenth. Nevertheless, they received the Saint Andrew's Williamson medal for their efforts. As Frank said - we did not come home empty handed. Dutch Shoe @ Albany (24 – 26 February) Our Ladies journeyed to NY to try to repeat last year’s first event success. Unfortunately, the competition showed up to take it away so they only came home with Third Event Runner-up honors. Great try - Mary Colacchio, Cathy Offinger, Liz Abeltin and Wendy Scholes. Speaking of Wendy – do you know that she came within inches of being the best lead at the spiel. Alas she came in second – still a noteworthy achievement. I did hear that Mary was over sweeping Wendy’s stones during their games – guess we’ll have to have a clinic on what a guard means. A little late but…. Two Cape Cod Women’s teams traveled to Schenectady for the 3rd Annual Carosella Memorial Ladies Bonspiel the first weekend of November (2005). Matina Heisler skipped the second event winners as they claimed the Melaugh Trophy and pins. Matina’s team included Liz Abeltin as Vice, Cathy Offinger as 2nd and Katie White as Lead. Cape Cod also claimed the 3rd Event – the Chu trophy at the Carosella with Barbara Sylvia skipping in her debut using a stick, Mary Colacchio as Vice, Jean Tuleja as 2nd and Bev Gigliotti as Lead. Editor’s Note: Either the men are extremely modest or the women representing our club are extremely competitive bringing home the awards from the various spiels they attend. I don’t think it’s a modesty thing for the men. So the challenge for next year is to see who gets the most recognition and bragging rights! Cape Cod Curling Club Newsletter – March 2006 Page 5 Did you know that? Every year the general membership votes for the Most Improved Curler. The vote will take place during the last three weeks of the curling season. Watch for the ballot box in the warm room. Mike’s World All it takes is a little communication. Yes it’s true. We’ve come along way since last month. For instance, suggestions for a name for the newsletter have been coming in at a furious pace and we hope to have selected a name in time to be announced in the April newsletter. On top of that, there have probably been a zillion e-mails going around and a few phone calls (remember that thing that rings I mentioned last month?) – it’s amazing how our club members are now talking about subjects that are important to them. Who knows – soon we will even find out that not everyone who had been approached turned down the opportunity to be the next club vice-president. NEWSFLASH: There’s no turning back now! The hole is being dug (the “official groundbreaking scheduled – did I tell you I was able to borrow a shiny chrome shovel for this noteworthy event), plus the building pieces are sitting where the hill used to be (really check it out for yourself) and with any luck we should have the expansion construction completed in time for the start of the 2006-2007 curling season in October. Remember – Rome wasn’t built in a day otherwise we would have hired their contractor. SCROD Bonspiel - March 10 – 11 – 12 The SCROD Bonspiel signup sheet has been posted in the club entryway. The SCROD is our inhouse spiel for club members with 5 years or less experience. Imagine having the opportunity to play in a game without having to compete with those crafty skips in our club who have been curling for what seems like a hundred years! The rink fee is only $20 per curler and includes a fantastic dinner on Saturday night. The winners of the first event each receive the "John Burkett SCROD" pin. A must have for your pin collection - you can only get it by being on the winning team. So please check your calender and sign up quick for a real fun time. If you only want to attend the dinner on the 11th the charge is $12 and a signup sheet is also posted for that. [Editor’s note: Rumor has it that the lady with the most SCROD pins is going to have to skip her own team this year – did I get that right Virginia?] Olympic Open House WOW! We could have used the new addition on Sunday February 26th. We had over 260 sign-up for notification of our October open house. Since many were couples or families, I’m sure 300+ is a conservative estimate. Many thanks to the numerous volunteers who spoke with our guests in the warm room and, especially those who spent several hours on the ice with prospective new curlers – Beth Kallaene, Fred Flynn, Paula-Jean Ellis, Glenn Amaral, John McCarthy, Ginger Rabesa, Tony Colacchio, Alex Colacchio, Gretchen & Peter Partridge. Also Philip Baybutt on the bar and our biggest club promoter Russ Lemcke helped make the day a huge success. NOTE: Deadline for submittal of articles for the April (final) issue of the newsletter for this curling year is March 22nd. Cape Cod Curling Club Newsletter – March 2006 Page 6 SCHEDULE AT A GLANCE March – April 2006 Mar 4 Mar 10-12 Mar 19 Mar 25 Mar 29 Apr 12 Cape Cod hosts Friendly with Broomstones Scrod Bonspiel Cape Cod hosts Friendly with TCC Thornton Cup & Dinner Scots on Cape Cod Annual Meeting and Dinner @ Coonamessett Inn Cape Cod Curling Club Newsletter – March 2006 Page 7