The Racquet Club on Park Hill

Good news! Even though our country’s economic climate has been a bit unstable, we have voted to hold dues at the 2008 pricing level, and will not increase dues for the 2009 season. We are looking into other measures to ease the financial load on our members as well, including additional dues payment options.

About a dozen folks got together to attend our first Movie Night of the fall season. Although an outdoor venue was originally planned, wind and cold forced our guests into the members’ lounge for viewing “Butch Cassidy & the Sundance Kid” in honor of the late, great Paul Newman. We thank Patty & Paul Cecere for hosting the evening. Our next movie night will feature “Billy Elliott” on Friday, November 7th.

Our annual Mixed Doubles Tournament was finally held early in October, after some scheduling delays. A great turnout of teams made for a great tournament! First place: Claire Miko and Jon Wallen. Second place: Patty Cecere and Joe Harbeson. Congratulations! Our thanks go to Claire for organizing the event. Come to the Tennis Awards Breakfast on Sunday 11/9 to acknowledge all of our 2008 tournament winners. RSVP to Claire: clarabell711@aol.com.

Another fabulously decorated ballroom set the mood for our two Halloween Parties this year. The adult Halloween Ball gave some 40-odd guests a chance to show their creative chops. Our cast of characters included a scarecrow, a blind referee, some witches & cats – even Sarah Palin and Joe the Plumber stopped by. Our costume contest winners were Patty Cecere, as the Viking dream girl of “The Big Lebowski” (who was escorted by Paul, aka The Dude). Our other female winner was none other than Minnie Mouse, as portrayed by Bob Dominicus. A play list composed by Dave Steck and presented by Kieran Michael Brown kept the dance crowd on their feet. We thank Matt Krawiec for serving up his delicious hors d-oeuvres. Thanks also go to Robert Moment for providing much-needed assistance behind the bar.

The Children’s Halloween Party was especially well-attended with roughly 100 kids, parents and family members. Everyone enjoyed pizza and cupcakes, Sunny the Clown, holiday crafts, a parade around the block and were sent home happy – goody bags & mini pumpkins in hand. Karin White and a hearty crew spent the better part of a week bringing in props and decorations, stringing lights & providing a spooky atmosphere for both affairs. Others helped out with purchasing food, paper goods, pumpkins & crafts, food prep & service, running the children’s activities, hiring a clown, clean-up and take down too. Kristine Brower, Kathryn Buckley, Patty Cecere, Paul Cecere, Mairead Coffey, new members Anne Dechene & Bill Wagner, Hestia DeVries, Jill Feldman, Patty Gamba, Tom Harrington, Karen Lorence, Claire Miko (& her sister Mary!), Susanne & Steve Savard and Patty Schumann all made their unique contributions. Kudos to Gabriella & Chris Gamba for assembling all the goody bags. We are lucky to have Karin share her time and expertise with us. Thank you, Karin!

Our 2008-2009 Winter Bowling League has officially begun. With only two weeks under our belts, several new bowlers in our ranks, and averages to be ironed out, it is too soon to talk about the strengths & weaknesses of our teams. What we can tell you is that the vibes are good and all the bowlers are enjoying themselves. Here is this year’s lineup:

Blue Team
Paul Cecere
Ralph Farina
Karen Lorence
Ira Mack
Green Team
Fred Feldman
April Feldman
Dennis Lindsay
Deane Prouty
Brown Team
Jon Wallen
Jill Feldman
Todd Ruben
Steve Savard
Red Team
Joe Schwarz
John Cassidy
John Close
Tom Harrington

Our first installment of Ladies Night Bowling had a good turnout of gals last Thursday who came to sip some wine, chit chat and throw a couple of games. Even Deane Prouty was given temporary honorary membership in the group when he was allowed to join the girls in a round of Scotch bowling. We thank Karen Lorence (Bowlerina) for rounding everyone up for the evening. Our next session will be held on Thursday November 20th at 7:30 PM.

All adult members are welcome to stop by any Tuesday night to have a drink with us, watch a little bowling downstairs (or the game upstairs) and relax. The members’ lounge is open every Tuesday from 7:30 PM until bowling ends for the evening, usually around 11 PM. Our substitute bowlers list is open for any and all willing keglers (or wannabes) that can’t commit to a 25-week league, but would like to get out of the house on an occasional Tuesday when needed. You can brush-up on your skills any Sunday afternoon. The bartender will set you up for play. Lane fees are quite reasonable - $5/hour per person. Contact Jon Wallen for sub-list or other bowling information.

Need a party idea for your child’s birthday? Bring the kids to bowl! Order pizza, get some snacks & soft drinks & you’ve got a party. Price is $75 plus $5/child (includes use of snack kitchen, locker rooms & refrigerator, as well as two “bumpered” lanes). Guest of honor must be a current club member. Contact Jon Wallen to schedule: r jwall41@aol.com.

Our playgroup is enjoying steady participation this year! We welcome all members, nannies and children (0-6). Regular playgroup sessions in the ballroom are on Sundays and Wednesdays from 4 - 5 pm. Contact Hestia if you need more info: parkhillplaygroup@gmail.com. Additionally, parents of children (0-3) have begun hosting play dates on Monday mornings in their homes. Contact Mairead if you wish to join: casey445@yahoo.com.

Reverend Margaret Howland marked her 50th year as a Presbyterian minister this past month. Peggy was ordained in 1958, several years before the women’s liberation movement. What a great accomplishment! You can read more about Peg’s story in the Journal News article, as well as watch a video interview on www.lohud.com.

Please join us in showing our appreciation of staff members in 2008. If you would like to participate, please return a check made out to the Racquet Club, along with a note indicatig your name, check # and amount. Note “Holiday Fund” in the comments section. Thank you for your generosity!

Everyone should agree that August 2008 had the most fabulous weather in recent history. Mid 80s - little rain - who could ask for more? It was a great time to just relax and enjoy! We had a few events in-between all that relaxation. The month started out with another fun-filled installment of Karaoke , thanks to Patty Gamba . About 20 folks attended a mid-week Wine Tasting , arranged by Robert Moment . A good number also enjoyed the Opening Ceremonies of the Beijing Olympics on our big screen. The remainder of the month was very quiet with many club members away on vacation.

Labor Day was enjoyed by about 60 picnic-attenders this year. Great weather highlighted a great day of tennis (tournament winners listed in 'tennis'), swimming & general lollygagging. Angela Chen took reservations for us. Jennifer Ringstad & Susan Moscou picked up all the food. Paul Meissner, Jim Beirne, Patty Cecere & Joe Gamba all took turns at the grill. Joe Harbeson provided an afternoon of music. Thanks go to everyone who pitched-in!

Now that the summer has just about ended, we would like to thank those volunteers who took care of all the pool operations: Maura Laverty , Pat Buono and - especially - Toni Buono . Toni's proverbial "whip cracking" made sure that the water was pristine, the decks immaculate, the pump room tidy, and the swimmers safe. Under her tutelage, our lifeguards Kimberly Buono, Andrew James, Clark Sacktor, and Jimmy Socha did a terrific job.

Our pool season has been extended one week. We hope that our members appreciate this "bonus" on the season, take advantage & stop by for a swim! Daily emails provide details on pool hours.

Thank you, Paul Cecere, for all your volunteer efforts, time, physical labor (watering, rolling, raking) and expertise to make our courts The Best Red Clay Courts in Westchester County! We especially note that, under your direction, we changed our drainage pipes this spring. This measure accommodated some fierce rains; in previous years we would be left with cracks & craters by this time of the season. Not anymore. Additional drainage measures are planned in preparation for next season. We also thank those members, including Deane Prouty, who helped out in a pinch. Our Tennis Attendants - Colette Dominicus & Janine Socha - did a fine job this season.

The Labor Day Fun Tournament had a good turnout of 13 teams who played in the Round Robin. In the finals Paul Koors and Susan Moscou took 1 st Place by defeating Paul Meissner and Karen Lorence . Congratulations to all the winners! Thanks go to Patty Cecere for running the tournament.

Join us this Saturday, September 6 th for a day of tennis. We will start with our annual Mixed Doubles Tournament at 9 AM. Grab your partner and sign up now! Convene with us at noon in the member's lounge to watch the Men's Semi-Finals of the U.S. Open . We'll serve lunch too: $12 for adults, $6 for children under 12 years. See attached flyer for details & RSVP information

We have a new ball machine ! Our tennis committee is just getting the hang of using it & plans to show everyone how to operate it. Come this weekend and learn how. Committee members will be around to help. It's a great addition to lessons for honing your skills!

It's time again to dust off your bowling ball & shoes, take a few practice sessions, and sign up for the Winter Coed Bowling League . Bowlers of all abilities are invited to join us for a weekly 3-game session each Tuesday night at 7:30 PM. Combine a little relaxation with a little friendly competition. Organizational practice will be held on Tuesday, October 14 th . League play will start on October 21st. and finish on April 7, 2009. Season league fees total $250 for 25 weeks, which are billed in full at the beginning of the season. (Bowlers have the option of paying these fees in 6 monthly installments.) Contact our Bowling Chair, Jon Wallen: jwall41@aol.com or 914-476-8675 to sign up.

Got a party to plan for your child's autumn or winter birthday? Bring the kids to bowl! It's a great alternative at a sensible price. Order pizza, get some snacks & soft drinks & you've got a party. Price is $75 plus $5/child (includes use of snack kitchen & refrigerator, as well as two "bumpered" lanes). Guest of honor must be a current club member. Contact Jon Wallen to schedule: 914-476-8675 or jwall41@aol.com .

Our annual Children's Halloween Party is always a special event. This year will also include our biennial Adult Halloween Party too! A lot of hard work is what makes these parties so special. Weeks of planning and several days of decorating will transform our ballroom into a gothic haunted house - not to be missed! But WE NEED YOUR HELP. We accept any assistance - a few hours' decorating, purchasing, tables set up, supervising the kids' party - whatever. Karin White is forming our committee right now. See attached flyer for RSVP information.

Bob R.: for arranging the cleaning & changeover of our heating/air-conditioning unit

The "Watering Committee": Jill F., Patty G., Dot H., Geraldine C., Laura W., Jennifer R., Patty C. - for each taking a week's responsibility over the summer to keep all the potted plants wet and happy.

These are just a few of the many acts of kindness, generosity & club spirit performed by various club members throughout each month without fanfare. If your name has been left out, it is certainly unintentional! We appreciate everyone's team efforts.

On Sunday, June 22 nd , an additional Open House was offered by the Membership Committee for neighborhood folks. We thank Robert Moment, Patty Gamba and Rosemary Beirne for greeting families and giving tours. As always, Rosemary came through with some tasty snacks. Special thanks go to Toby McAfee for helping to promote our club by emailing Park Hill Residents Association members for us.

We had a very nice turnout (approx. 10 children) for the first Wii Games Party . Mario Brothers, Guitar Hero, pizza and snacks were enjoyed by all. Thank you, Robert, for hosting the event!

The inaugural Friday Night BBQ had a great turnout of 35-40 people. Steven S. ran the grill and everyone brought their own donations, everything from hotdogs to shish kabob, cornbread to fancy pastries. A few people enjoyed the pool's extended hours, but mostly the kids played in the playground and the parents raised a glass to toast the onset of summer. It was a great evening for all. We will pick up the Friday Night BBQs on Friday July 11 th from 5-8 PM with a surprise guest grill master (TBD). This will be repeated (roughly) every other Friday in July and August and will feature guest grillers and summer drink specials. Any ideas for a fun, easy soiree are welcome. Please contact me with ideas or questions: pattynumeric@aol.com . Patty Schumann We thank Patty for getting it all organized! If you'd like to volunteer to grill, please drop her a line.

Our first of four Vinyl Nights brought a baker's dozen who shared some vintage tunes, ordered pizza and threw back (or sipped) a few cold ones. Paul C. kept busy cueing up tunes on a pair of turntables for us in between a few stiff games of darts! Thank you, Paul, for a fine set of fun evenings. Our next Vinyl Night will be this Thursday, July 3 rd at around 7:30 PM. Join us!

This year's New Members' Cocktail Party may prove to have been the best ever! Fifty or more guests, both "old" members and new, came armed with delectable noshes, nibbles, tidbits and treats. Early on, the bar was teeming with patrons cooling off from the day's residual heat, but the setting sun and alfresco smorgasbord extended the party outdoors. Nametags eased the way for everyone to get acquainted; the club was alive with good vibes and a buzz of conversation. We thank everyone for their cuisine contributions. Special thanks go to the Membership Committee for organizing the event: Rosemary B, Patty C., Jill F. and especially Patty G. for hopping behind the bar to help Patricia with the initial crush of partygoers. Thank you Robert M. and Mary L. for your assistance as well.

Our MITL Women's Tennis Team finished their season strong in 4 th place (of 8 teams) in Flight C-3 with a record of 17 wins/11 losses. We thank Daphne R, for her leadership and for making the tough calls on who to pair with whom each week!

The Competitive Doubles Tournament was held on a hot, muggy morning which extended into an even hotter afternoon. Six men's teams and seven women's teams played 10 game pro sets for the first two elimination rounds. The finals were held under a baking sun; both were hard-fought. The team of Fred F. & Dean P. split sets with 2007 winners, Jon W. & Paul K.. A tiebreaker determined Jon & Paul to be this year's winners as well! Mother-Daughter team Claire M. & Colette D. took a two-set win over April F. & Wendy B.; it was an extremely hard hitting, exciting match with excellent shots by all four players. We congratulate all the winners! Our remaining competitive tournaments will be Singles on July 26 th and Mixed Doubles on September 6 th . Sign-up details will follow by email.

Kirill Kasyanov is available for Private or Semi-Private Tennis Lessons. Please contact him for pricing and available times: kkasyanov@yahoo.com or call 917-207-6332.

Sanae Oyama is offering a host of summer activities including Adult Clinics, Tots Clinics, Cardio Tennis, Private/Semi-Private Lessons and the Summer Junior Tennis Camp; these are offered for all members , regardless of their membership classification. Flyer enclosed.

Come to Sunday Round Robins at noon or Tuesday and Thursday Pick Up Games at 6 PM.

Tennis Guest Policy : $12 for each adult (16 & over) or $8 for each child (15 & under) to be issued on your next club bill. No individual may be guested more than twice/month. Our Combination Tennis/Pool fee: $20/$10 respectively.

Make sure that a neighboring court has finished playing a point before retrieving your ball.

Running shoes, basketball shoes, etc. are not "good enough". They tear up the courts!

Zoë K., daughter of Therese S., who has just completed her junior year at Oakwood Friends School in Poughkeepsie, will finish her high school career early and attend Oberlin College in the fall. What a shining achievement!

Dean T., son of Donna and Tariq T., has graduated from Saunders Trades & Technical High School and will be attending Manhattanville College in the fall.

Our condolences go to Ken J. & Maura L. and sons on the passing of Ken's mother.

Citizen of the World. Man of Peace. An American Midwesterner who had adopted Ghana as a second country. All of these phrases have been used to describe John Randall.

Those privileged enough to know him in Park Hill called him, simply, Neighbor. We will miss our neighbor John, who died suddenly at his home April 29. We will miss seeing him meandering along the streets of Park Hill, often with his granddaughter in tow and a pipe in his mouth. We will miss hearing his stories at the Racquet Club, where he and his family were long-time members. He spoke about life here and in the distant places he’d visited.

Talking to John Randall was never just a conversation. It was as likely to be an education – about art, travel, teaching, and experiences he’d had in his all too short life. I once emailed him that I was leaving for Scotland the next day, to which he’d responded by giving me hints about the best places to see while I was there. “We used to go to Lochalsh,” he told me, “across from the Isle of Skye each summer - what a great place and friendly people. I love the civilized trespassing laws (e.g. close the gate behind you).” I’m sure he was smiling when he wrote that. For John often was smiling.

John Little Randall was born in Elgin, Illinois on Sept. 20, 1947, but he was destined to travel far beyond the Midwest. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Mathematics at Ohio State University and a Master’s from Stony Brook University. He later earned a second Master’s in Computer Science at the SUNY Graduate Center in New York.

He spent many years teaching math and computer science at Hostos Community College. Even in his retirement, education remained very dear to him. He and his wife Nana continued to support the John William Montessori School in Kumasi, Ghana, the education center they had founded in Nana’s homeland. Every year, they traveled there, and spent much of their time raising funds and supplying computers and other technology to the school, assuring that its students had the best education possible. It is not surprising, then, that John’s family has decided to collect donations in his memory for the school.

John was committed to peace, not just in words but in all of his actions. Four decades ago, he worked in Liberia, West Africa in the Peace Corps. A devout Quaker, he was active in the Scarsdale Meeting House and labeled himself “a humble student in the School of Christ, A Christian Universalist.” As a Quaker, John was committed to non-violence in all things. He served on the Peace Tax Fund Board for a decade, and was a member of Conscience and Peace Tax International.

Yet those who knew him always said that none of this noble work was as important to him as his family. He and his wife, Nana had been together 39 years, since meeting on a plane to New York. And their friends could forgive his well-deserved bragging rights over his children – Kachina and William Randall, and his grandchildren, Yaminah, Elijah, Sophia and Malik. At his memorial service, his daughter Kachina challenged the audience to “celebrate my father’s life” by helping others as he had made it his life’s work to help.

Any donations in John’s memory should be sent to Friends of John William Education Center, 13 Glenbrook Ave, Yonkers, NY 10705.
Rosemary and Jim Beirne

Early in May we had our first “official” get-together for the 2008 season. The Pot Luck Brunch had a good turnout of people who came by to share both food and a fine spring day. Our thanks go to Rosemary Beirne and the rest of our Membership Committee who hosted both the brunch and the three Open Houses that were held to bring in new members. We also thank those Board of Governors members who assisted in giving tours.

Fiesta Night kicked off our start to the Memorial Day weekend with a gathering of about 55 members of all ages to eat, drink, and relax. Take-out food was ordered twice during the evening from "Frescos" on South Broadway. The dishes included some of the basics for Tex-Mex cuisine with chicken & steak fajitas, several types of quesadillas, guacamole, chips, black beans and rice. The kids had fun running all around the clubhouse and porch while the adults quenched their thirsts with margaritas and other beverages from the bar. Thanks go to Patty Cecere and Patty Gamba for organizing and setting up and Paul Cecere for providing some Mexican themed music in the background. Patty Cecere

The Memorial Day Picnic and Fun Tournament were both wildly successful, with 15 teams entering the tournament and more than 90 adults and children participating in the picnic. Finalists in the tournament were Jim Beirne and Lyrica Leon vs. Paul Meissner and Susan Moscou. It was great to see two new members make it to the finals.

The grounds were filled with members and their guests with more toddlers than in most recent years - hopefully future tennis stars! The weather was simply beautiful, albeit the pool water a little chilly. The water temperature certainly didn't stop folks from taking a quick dip and sunning on our new lounge chairs. Everyone enjoyed a picnic lunch consisting of the standard fare of hot dogs, hamburgers, grilled chicken, corn on the cob, a multitude of salads, several different desserts, and watermelon. No one left hungry! Thanks to all those who pitched in, especially to: Jill Feldman for helping with the “Costco run”, Scotty McCambridge for arranging a “grill man”, Robert Moment for getting the fire going, Rosemary Beirne for helping with set up, and, of course, Patty Gamba for running the whole show. Overall, this was one of the best Memorial Days in years! Patty Gamba

Several parents turned out for the 'rejuvenation' of the playground. Armed with 2 belt sanders, rakes, a saw, a weed-wacker and dust masks, Dave Steck, Bill Coffey, John Palacio, Mark Maier and Hestia DeVries 'attacked' splinters, dead branches, and weeds. Special thanks to Luz Montez who weeded the flower beds and discovered many hidden perennials.

The wooden play structure is still in very good shape; the hardwood is holding up well. It is mostly the small parts made out of a different wood that are 'splintering'. We hope to add fresh sand later this month. Some parts of the jungle gym still need more sanding, but we need to wait until the wood is thoroughly dried. Later this season we should also apply the waterproofing stain. So please keep your eyes on your email inbox for further announcements! Hestia DeVries

Aodhan, son of Rosemary and Jim, is graduating from Fordham Preparatory School and will be attending Georgetown University in the fall.

Gregory, son of Dana and Tom (and grandson of Mary) graduated from Iona Preparatory School and will be attending Assumption College in Worcester, MA in the fall.

Gregory will be graduating on June 15 th from Lawrence University in Appleton, WI. He also came in 4 th in the 400 meter hurdles in the Wisconsin Private School Conference Championships (1.00.93) - a tremendous feat since he only took up track last year!

Our tennis shed has arrived! It was two years in the making, but we finally figured out the best place to put it, figured out the right size & material, got a slab poured, & got a lovely little shed that fits in well with our club. Our Tennis Committee, especially Claire Miko, did the research and made it happen. Thanks go to Toni & Pat Buono for arranging for the concrete slab. We also must thank the Feldman Boys (Fred & Larry), who designed, fabricated, and donated a metal ramp so that we can get the 600 lb. roller up the 10-or-so inches from the court into the shed! Our next plan (with the help of our Grounds Committee) is to purchase or build long planters along the sides of the shed to protect it from cars.

Round Robin Sundays have begun! Every week at noon. All interested adults should just show up with racquet in hand. The Tennis Committee will do the rest! Groups of four will be put together to each play a set, come off the court & mix it up again.

A special note of thanks goes to our Grounds Committee, including Jennifer Ringstad, Geraldine and Chris Canty, Dot Hackett and others who have contributed several hours over several weeks to mulch, weed, plant and plan. Our club has a lot of land, much of which has gone fallow, but which has a tremendous potential to provide a tranquil, spacious and beautiful backdrop for our enjoyment. Keep up the good work, gang! If you’d like to help, contact Jennifer Ringstad at jringstad@hotmail.com. She can “put you in the loop” of email discussions, planned work days, and plant watering schedules.

Our annual Doubles Bowling Tournament had a small turnout of keglers with 5 teams competing. Eight games (two 4-game sessions) were bowled with total pin count (including handicaps) determining the winning team. The “Dos Equis” team of Karen (Bowlerina) Lorence and Jill (Twinkletoes) Feldman lead the pack after session number one, but were out-bowled the following week by Bob Reape & Jim Corbett, whose strings of turkeys & quads left the competition in their dust! Congratulations, men!

The annual Bowling Awards Dinner was held last month, as well. The usual suspects gathered for some basic provisions – heroes, salads, cake & beer – to celebrate their season & to collect their winnings! Our thanks go to Bowling Chairman Jon Wallen for hosting the night (as well as running the league), to Toni Buono for collecting & keeping track of dues over the season, to Bob Reape for running the Bowling Tournament and divvying up the prizes for us, and to Joe Gamba who maintained all our records – scores, high games & series, etc. – throughout the season. Finally, we thank several bowlers who generously donated their prizes back to the club: Paul Cecere, Jill Feldman, Joe Gamba, Karen Lorence, Paul Meissner, and Jon Wallen. This income will be used to further refurbish our bowling lanes for next season!

Bowlerina reports: Ladies Bowling will return soon. Weekend afternoons might be good. Let me know what you think. Men invited, as long as they wear at least one article of ladies clothing... pink, if you please! Call Karen Lorence at 914-479-7264 or e-mail her at Karen@gs-america.com if you’re interested in the Ladies’ Laid-Back League.

Everyone can bowl any weekend at the club. Just stop by anytime the bar is open (after noon). The bartender will let you into the alley and issue a chit for you when you’re done. It’s just $5 per person per hour (one hour minimum). Children MUST be supervised. Bowling Parties can be arranged through our Bowling Chair, Jon Wallen (914-476-8675). Price is $75 plus $2/child per game. Bowling parties are offered to members only; the guest of honor must be a club member.

We thank Pat & Toni Buono for their tireless dedication to our pool. Toni personally prepped, sanded and painted picnic tables, doors, fencing – you name it, she did it!! We never have to worry about it with Toni around. We also thank Dot Hackett & Kevin McInerney for their generous donation of pool ‘noodles’ and other toys.

On the first open house day, May 4 th , the club will be having our annual Pot Luck Brunch from 11 AM to 1 PM to reunite members for the new season. Bring a dish to share. See attached flyer.

The 2007-2008 bowling season has come an end. And what an end it was! The last night of the season had The Green Team and The Blue Team in first and second place respectively, with The Green Team ahead by a single point. Very exciting! As the match began, we saw that both teams were determined to be champions but only one would prevail. As tough as The Green Team was, it seems that The Blue Team must have prayed much more diligently to Gus, The God of Bowling because they proceeded to take the match decisively, bowling as they never had before! It was a terrific display and all of the bowlers on all teams had a great night! Congratulations to The Blue Team for winning first place and to all of the bowlers in the league for coming out each week. See you next season...

As of this writing, our annual Doubles Bowling Tournament is half over. Spectators are invited to come to the Finals next Tuesday at 7 PM and root for your favorite team. The bar will certainly be open! Join us as we celebrate our winter league victories at the annual Bowling Awards Dinner on Friday, May 16 th at 7 PM in the lower bar. Price: $15. Details on attached flyer. One last note on bowling: Thank you, Paul Cecere for painstakingly cleaning & polishing the linoleum floor in the bowling alley. It sparkles like brand new!

Starting later this month, the Racquet Club will be providing wireless internet service for the convenience of our members and their guests.

Several more impromptu evenings were enjoyed last month. Movie Night paid homage to the late, great Charlton Heston with a presentation of "Ben Hur". We thank Patty & Paul Cecere for hosting the evening, as well as promoting the Final Four of the NCAA Basketball Tournament. The club was also faced with the dilemma of selecting white house wines for the year. A mid-week Wine Tasting , hosted by April Feldman & Patty Cecere brought a dozen-or-so discerning palates to post their ballots.

We thank Robert Moment, who hatched the idea of an adult Wii Party. Although it wasn't as well-attended as we had hoped, we did learn that our tweens & teens might like it a lot more! If anyone wants to host a Wii party for them...

The much-anticipated Disco Party Day was well worth the wait! DJ "Twin Daddy" pulled double duty as we inaugurated the Racquet Club's new PA system. Twin Daddy, AKA Dave Steck, threw down some serious Jams for the junior set pumping up the late, late afternoon's Baby Disco . It was "bedtime be damned" as about thirty children under the age of seven got their first real taste of the night life. The little kids rocked the house, as the ballroom was converted into...well a ballroom, replete with an over the top assortment of stage and disco lights all synched up and hooked up to computers, projectors and sound sensors. Gabriella and Nora provided face painting and hand stamping services. The kids played a game of "Freeze Dancing", a Hula Hoop game, stomped on bubble wrap, and tumbled on mats. Juice boxes and snacks were served to the children. About 30 parents relaxed and enjoyed beverages in our upper bar while keeping a close eye on their children. A very generous friend of Hestia ordered huge cupcakes which were delivered right to the party. We thank Hestia DeVries for her assistance, as well as Robert Moment and Patty Gamba, who offered their bartending skills. What a success! We heartily thank Dave Steck for selecting, purchasing, installing and operating a great a sound system for our club!

As the day turned to night it was the adults' turn. The small yet appreciative crowd was treated to what was one of the finest DJ experiences this club has ever seen at the Adult Disco . Augmented by some period costume, the music and dancing went on till well after the witching hour. Special bartending props go to Patty Schumann, who after safely seeing that their kids were in bed, returned to the club and took a spell behind the bar mixing specialty drinks and shooters to everyone's surprise and delight. At the end of the evening the ceremonial bottle of Goldschlagger was bestowed upon our very own disco diva, Claire Miko, for best dressed, best dancer and best attitude. We all revisited with Claire's help on how to do the Hustle...so, like, where is Tony Manero when you really need him? Special mention goes Robert Moment for wearing more gold chains than Mr. T, and to Patty Cecere for braving an ancient set of hot rollers to get her hair to look just like Farrah Fawcett's classic 'do. Extra special mention for the all those sporting the Mad Threads and Bad Lids! General consensus was we got ourselves one hot dance spot up on the hill.

On Saturday May 31 st (rain date 6/1), the Racquet Club's Playgroup will be hosting our Third Annual Tag Sale (in conjunction with the PHRA Tag Sale). We will have a concession stand, lemonade stand, face painting & other activities to amuse the children. A portion of the proceeds will go towards funding specific playgroup projects. If you would like to participate, please contact Patty Schumann: parkhillplaygroup@gmail.com or call her at 914-968-9645. Details will follow soon by e-mail.

Almost ready - Several maintenance items have been attended to get our courts open this spring. Paul Meissner & friends helped dig up and repair an underground pipe on court 4 as well as doing the annual cleaning of our drainage ditches. A concrete slab has been laid down at the end of the parking lot; our new tennis shed will be delivered soon. Oval Tennis has begun court preparation. Once the courts are rolled & the tapes laid down we will be ready to start. Keep checking your e-mail for the announcement.

Guests are welcome on our tennis courts. When bringing a guest to play, fill out one of the little Tennis Guest slips on the front porch & place it into the box. A guest fee of $12 for each adult (16 & over) or $8 for each child (15 & under) will be issued on your next club bill. No individual may be guested more than twice/month. Please indicate the child's age to assure proper billing. You can bring your guests to the pool for a swim afterwards. Our Combination Tennis/Pool fee is just $20 per day for adults or $10 per day for children.

To promote new membership tennis guest fees for the month of May thru June 1 st have been waived. Bring all the tennis guests you want in May. It's free! (The only exclusion is for Memorial Day Tournament play. Appropriate entry fees apply.)

Our pro, Kirill Kasyanov, will return this year to give private lessons at very reasonable rates. He also gives semi-private lessons. Please contact him for pricing and available times: kkasyanov@yahoo.com or call 917-207-6332. We welcome the addition of Pat Rogers, who comes to us through the Yonkers Tennis Center. Pat boasts many years' experience as a tennis instructor, and will be available for weekdays & evenings for lessons. He can be reached at YTC: 914-968-6918. Clinics for adults and children will be announced soon.

A small but industrious Grounds Committee has begun their springtime work. Geraldine Canty made arrangements with Robert Whitney Tree Service to have a free truckload of mulch delivered to our parking lot. Both she and her husband, Chris, put in over two hours of time last Sunday, weeding and heavily mulching the beds in front of the fence where the hosta, daylilies and bulbs were planted last year. They also finished pruning the dead parts out of the arborvitae. Jennifer Ringstad, who has been organizing the committee's efforts, also worked for about two hours weeding and mulching. There's a lot more to do. If you want to lend a hand - weeding, pruning, planting, watering - whatever - contact Jennifer at jringstad@hotmail.com .

General repairs have been done in and around the pool this spring in preparation for opening: concrete work & resetting of pool area entry steps as well as replacement of pool tiles are all crucial details that have been taken care of by Toni Buono. Toni has also taken it upon herself to personally do some much-needed painting: doors to both the locker room & pump room, lattice panels, benches and picnic tables - including sanding. Lastly, Toni has just announced that the new chaise lounges have arrived. See you all soon!

Guests are welcome at the pool, but are limited to four times per month for any one guest. Fees are $12 for adults and $8 for children 15 years and under. Members must sign-in with the lifeguard upon arrival and must include names of any guests. (Make sure to note whether adult or child.) A full listing of Pool Rules will be sent in the next few weeks by e-mail . Please take the time to review them.

We offer our belated condolences to Nancy Sarmast on the loss of her sister, Lee , who passed away December 20, 2007. Lee belonged to the Racquet Club long ago to establish a notable 30 year tennis career. She was a well-respected and loved tennis umpire, held in the highest regard and admired by all. She was honored at the Family Circle Cup in Charleston, SC last month.

Please note that payments are due by the last day of each month. A late charge of $15 per month will be applied to all accounts for which payment has not been received. If you have any questions, please contact our Treasurer, Patty Cecere, at patriciacecere@yahoo.com or (914) 376-0466. Thank you.

The Green Team has exhibited grace under pressure by forging into the first place position in a late season surge. They have pulled ahead of the Blue Team which held the first place spot since Week 2. The excitement and tension mounts to make the last few weeks of the season a real keglers' duel between these two dynamic power houses of the lanes!

The high game so far belongs to Fred Feldman who posted an impressive 234 in Week 16. The high average to date is 166, shared by Fred Feldman and Jim Corbett. Jim also holds the high series mark of 601.

Last but not least, the Karen Lorence watch continues as Ms. Lorence, aka Bowlerina, has raised her average 23 points from last season's 93. She now stands proudly at a whopping 116! Nice rolling. Very nice rolling. Very, very nice rolling...

Save the date for the annual Bowling Awards Dinner on Friday, May 16 th at 7 PM in the lower bar. Details will follow in May .

Last month's Movie Night brought another cozy crowd to the lower bar, this time to see a couple of new films: Across the Universe , and No Reservations . We thank Claire Miko for picking up the flicks & organizing the night.

Our annual St. Patrick's Day Celebration was a smaller affair than usual; several of our regulars we not able to attend this year, including Rosemary Beirne! Rosemary still found the time to arrange purchase of the food (all delicious!) and to line up the highly-talented Irish Step Dancers and live Irish Band for everyone's entertainment. She also coordinated and assembled the lovely gift baskets (donated by Patty & Joe Gamba, Mary Liberatore, Daphne Romeo, and Jill & Larry Feldman), which were raffled off to some lucky guests. Laura Weinfield, Dot Hackett & Kevin McInerney graciously stepped in to help Jim Beirne run the event. Aodhan Beirne was a great help, as well. Thank you all for your hard work!

Sixty-five guests were transported back in time to Rick's Café Americain et this year's "Casablanca" -themed Governors' Ball . It all started with an idea dreamed up by Karin White. Her creativity provided the catalyst for a full-week's flurry of decorating. The plan could not have been pulled off without the artistic vision, direction, and round-the-clock toil by Paul Cecere. His impeccable attention to detail - especially lighting - accomplished a special mood for the evening. Karin and Paul were assisted by a few "elves" (Jill Feldman, Karen Lorence and Claire Miko), who sewed reams of fabric and generally helped hang, tape, staple-gun, cut, paste, arrange, and schlep. Thank you, Dennis Lindsay, for donating several lanterns, oil lamps, etc. to complete the setting. It was absolutely wonderful!

Plenty of other tasks were carried out by other members of our Board of Governors: Patty Cecere (our self-professed "worker bee") rolled up her sleeves and washed dishes and glassware the night before the event. She, Maura Laverty, and Patty Gamba led the crew to get all the tables set. Maura also arranged for a delicious meal to be catered by An American Bistro. Everyone agreed that the food was flavorful and perfectly prepared - a difficult feat when pre-cooked food is delivered! (She also whipped up a batch of homemade chocolate-covered strawberries for us.) Thanks go to all those board members and guests who donated scrumptious hors d'oeuvres for the cocktail hour. We must thank Gabriella Gamba for her assistance too - including washing out centerpiece bowls & salt/pepper shakers!

Lastly, we have to thank Patty Gamba - in particular - who took all the RSVP's (including entrée choices), arranged for the DJ, purchased hors d'oeuvres, dessert & other odd & ends, figured out table seating, filled out place cards...and covered all the other details that everyone else would forget! Thank you so much, Patty.

The Racquet Club is a member of the Women's MITL (Metropolitan Interclub Tennis League). We are in the "C" Division. We are looking for additional women players to get involved, practice with us and compete when needed. Four doubles teams play each week. C Division matches are held each Tuesday (rain date Thursday) for the months of May & June. The matches begin at 10 AM, and are played either at home or at the opposing club, depending on the schedule. Interested? We'd love to have you join us! Contact our captain, Daphne Romeo , at daphneromeo@aol.com , or call her at 914-591-8250.

Both the tennis and pool committees are busy with pre-season preparations. A new shed for holding the tennis roller & other court equipment will be installed soon. Toni Buono has been seen poolside pumping out the winter rainwater & checking for any weather-related damage. She has also arranged for some concrete repairs on the pool deck and entrance steps. We thank her for her diligence, as well as Claire Miko for researching the shed. We anticipate a May 1 st opening of the courts (weather permitting). Of course, Memorial Day and our pool season are right around the corner too!

Please note that payments are due by the last day of each month. Beginning May 1, 2008 a late charge of $15 per month will be applied to all accounts for which payment has not been received. If you have any questions, please contact our Treasurer, Patty Cecere, at patriciacecere@yahoo.com or (914) 376-0466. Thank you.

We express out deepest sympathy to Ira and Rose M. & Family on the death of Ira's father. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all.

Our dearest Mary C. has been going through a difficult health struggle these past months. We all want her and John to know that we are rooting for her. We love you, Mary!

A quick "thanks a lot" goes to Claire M., Dot H. & Jennifer R. for doing an odd-job for the club - painting some ceiling tiles black for our upstairs bar. That's the club spirit, gals!

The Racquet Club's Annual General Membership Meeting was held on February 6 th 2008. A small turnout of members listened to a recap of our club's accomplishments in 2007, a financial report, and our plans for the coming year, as explained by our directors Jill Feldman and Patty Gamba. A 5% dues increase and the 2008 slate for the Board of Governors were voted upon and approved. The floor was then open for general discussion.

As everyone knows, our club is always on the lookout for new members. We encourage everyone to become a Racquet Club advocate. Bring a friend or neighbor to the club! We are hosting three open houses this May, afternoons from 1 PM till 4 PM:

Sunday, May 18 th

Bowling League Standings

As of February 19th, team placements remain steady with Paul Cecere's Blue Team holding first place with a 71 wins/41 losses record. Fred Feldman's Green Team holds second with 62 wins & 50 losses. Jim Corbett's Red Team now has 55 & 57 and Jon Wallen's Brown Team is in fourth with 36/76.

Governors' Ball

This year's Governors' Ball will be held on Saturday, March 29 th . This is the once-a-year time for everyone to dust off their suits, tuxedoes & gowns and enjoy a fabulous catered meal from An American Bistro. The decorations ante was upped last year with a breathtaking display of Japanese lanterns, tabletop Zen gardens and suspended parasols for an Asian Garden theme. This year we'll try to top it by taking a trip back to the days of Bogie & Bergman with our Casablanca theme. A cocktail hour, scrumptious desserts and dancing (powered by DJ Justine) will guarantee an enjoyable evening. Come join us! See flyer for details. Invitation to follow by mail.

February Event Recap

A full house of football fans came and enjoyed Super Bowl Sunday on the big screen this year. Pot-luck fare and a steady flow of drinks (served up by new Head Bartender, Dawn) kept everyone happy - although it was one of the most exciting games in Super Bowl history! Go Giants! We thank members of the bar committee, including Laura Weinfield & Dot Hackett, who set up the spread and cleaned up afterwards.

Forty-or-so people cozied into the bar for another round of Adult Karaoke last month. The "usual suspects" entertained us with a couple of new additions to the mix, including Robert 'I Hate Karaoke' Moment doing a great rendition of "Brick House". Now that he's got the bug, we're hard-pressed to wrench the mike from his hand! Karin White was also new on the scene. "To Sir with Love" and "Cabaret" were made memorable with her sultry voice. Other notable performances were Claire Miko & gals doing "At The Hop", Paul Cecere singing that he can't be with a woman who gets "Drunker Than Me" as well as "I'm Your Vehicle", and Phyllis Cavaliere & friend Ellen doing "Mambo Italiano". Thanks go to Paul Cecere for setting up our stage. And thanks, once again, to Patty Gamba for arranging the gig, buying the food, cleaning up & doing whatever else that needed doing. It always proves to be a fun night!

The latest installment of our Friday Night Movie had a small gathering of movie-lovers. The romantic comedy "Moonstruck" was chosen in conjunction with Valentine's Day. Thank you, Maura Laverty, for hosting this session.

Close to 30 people attended our combination Bonfire Night/Chili Cookoff, making it a great success. Our three chili winners: Dave Steck in 1 st place, Mary Kay Moment in 2 nd place and Matt Kraweic in 3 rd . Honorable mention goes to William Kraweic who also made his own batch, and to Jennifer Ringstad for her delicious cherry cobbler! We thank Mike Smith & Anne Marie O'Keefe as well as Charles Baker for their wood donations. Hestia DeVries and Patty Schumann deserve praise for organizing the children's activities. We appreciate all those families who came and supported our efforts. Thanks go to Robert Moment and especially to Karin White for organizing the chili event.