July/August 2022 Membership Update | | |
I'm writing this email on a Tuesday night at our Club -- and it's hopping! The women's Tuesday night league is finishing up, a friendly group of players is here practicing for the Club tourney, another game is going on for the club tourney, card players are holding their own in the card room, there's a lot of talking, gossiping, and maybe a little arguing -- in both Italian and English. The bar is open, music is playing, and people are having a great time.
This is what our Club is about. Competition and the opportunity to connect with friends old and new -- just about any night of the week. Tonight, there are three generations of women from the same family here to play bocce and enjoy the club. As COVID fades, our vibrancy grows and we are welcoming back record numbers of members.
Fifteen member events in three months mean a busy fall is ahead for our Club. As our membership has expanded so have our interests and when you look at our calendar of upcoming events, it's not an exaggeration to say there's something for everyone in the weeks ahead. I want to thank all of the volunteers who have stepped up to make these events and our calendar possible. We are a volunteer organization and all of your work makes this possible. I am so proud of what we have built and It's an honor to serve as your president. Spero di vedervi tutti questo Autunno.
Tom Holleman
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2022 Club Championship Underway
Our annual tournament to determine the best men's and women's singles open-bocce player is underway! Brackets are below and will be updated at the Club as games progress. Seeding was based on past Club Champion Tourney success as well as USBF Nationals and HBC Tournament performance. Matches are scheduled by players until the semi-finals and finals, at which point we will schedule and publicize to our membership.
Best of luck to all our competitors!
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Fall Events Calendar
We have a busy fall calendar with many events and activities. You can find a complete listing on our website -- but here's an overview:
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September
5 12:00 p.m. | Labor Day Member's Picnic
11 11:30 | HBC Golf Tourney at Foss Park & Dinner at the HBC
18 10:00 a.m. | Pancake Breakfast Fundraiser for International Tournament
21 6:30 p.m. | History of the HBC
22 3:00 p.m. Italian Team visit - Bocce followed by Dinner followed by more Bocce
30 6:30 p.m. | Member dinner followed by Bingo!
October
14 6:30 p.m. | Member Fish Fry Dinner
15 8:00 a.m. | Two-Person Tournament
16 3:30 p.m. | General Membership Meeting
29 6:30 p.m. | Member's Dinner with entertainer Tony Ocean
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November
11 6:30 p.m. | Entertainer Bonnie Bridges and Member Dinner
13 12:00 p.m. | Elections
December
9 Christmas Dinner
11 Children's Christmas Party
31 7:00pm | New Year's Eve Gala Dinner
| Try something a little different with dinner and Bingo on September 30th! | | |
Breakfast of Champions
Pancakes and Mimosas @ HBC
| | The HBC will host a pancake breakfast on Sunday, September 18th from 9:00-11:30. Proceeds will help fund HBC players competing in international tournaments, including supporting our National Champions Miles Russell and Amy Lazzaretti who will represent the United States in the World Bocce Championship in Mersin, Turkey, this November. | | |
Miles Russell and his crew will be flipping pancakes. Breakfast includes pancakes with toppings, sausage, bacon, fruit, and bagels.
Kids 12 & under ONLY $5
Adults $15
Raffle tickets and great prizes.
Non-member guests are welcome!
Special guest bartenders Tom Garrity and Amy Lazzaretti will be making Bloody Mary's, screwdrivers, and mimosas.
Please RSVP to Gordon Gruenes at gordon.gruenes@nm.com
Donations are welcome. If you wish to donate but are unable to attend, checks can be made out to the Highwood Bocce Club.
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General Membership Meeting
All members are invited to the quarterly general membership meeting,
October 16, 3:30 p.m. in the dining room.
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Club News and Announcements | |
Acclaimed Tenor Returns
Gianni Coletta, acclaimed tenor from Modena, Italy, returned to the Highwood Bocce Club for a brief visit and dazzled our members with an impromptu 30 minute performance. Thanks to Highland Park Sister Cities for sponsoring Gianni and the Modenese Society for joining us in our welcome of this amazing performer!
| | | | | August 6 our members enjoyed a fabulous outdoor tournament followed by a barbecue bash! The event was organized by Maurizio Perrelli and included a BBQ by Guilty Pig and music by Dave Hiltebrand. Thanks to Lenny Innocenzi and the always delicious Buffo's pizza provided lunch during the tourney, and Larry Divito and his wine truck serving many delicious Pazzo di Vino wines throughout the day. We thank the many volunteers who made the event a huge success. Congrats to Miles Russel, Gordon Gruenes, Travis Hoyne and Danko Dykyj winning a tight championship game. | | | |
Bar Expands Offerings
The HBC Bar is pleased to announce expanded offerings with premium wines from Pazzo di Vino, Highwood's very own micro-winery and wine bar, owned by Club Member Larry DiVito. A Cabernet and Zinfandel are now available at $5 per glass or $24 per bottle. The bar will also feature Truly hard seltzers.
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Tuesday Night Women's League
The Tuesday night women's league just wrapped up. Congratulations to the league champions pictured right, Paola Perrelli, Heidi Peddle, DeeDee Niebling, and Lily Horowitz and Grace Perrelli (not pictured). Pictured below, the entire women's league.
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Upcoming Leagues & Bocce
With the summer leagues coming to a close the fall/winter leagues are about to start. See below for what's starting up in September.
Tuesday Mixed League Starts 9/20
Tuesday 9/20 a new Mixed League will begin. Contact Paula Perrelli at paolaperrelli@gmail.com to be included or for more information.
Thursday Pick-Up Game Bocce
Runs each Thursday until November. Show up at 7:00 p.m., pay $5, be put on a team with others, and play some games. No advanced commitment needed! Contact Steve Thornberry at stevethornberry@comcast.net for more information.
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Club Events Calendar Online
A comprehensive club calendar showing all member events and league dates is now available on the website. The calendar also shows when private events are scheduled so members can understand court and club availability.
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Operating Hours
All members have access to the
Club via their key fob from
6 a.m. to 10 p.m., 7 days a week.
Bar Hours
The bar welcomes members from 6:30 p.m. to closing (usually between 10-12 p.m.) Monday - Saturday, Sunday hours 12-6 p.m.
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Stay Up-to-Date
The bulletin board in the cardroom and the digital display in the court area are updated regularly with membership, financial, memorial, and business information.
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Plan Your Event
The Club is a great place to host a party with excellent food, reasonable rates, and attentive service. The Banquet Room has recently been repainted and is ready to welcome your group.
Donna Pieracci is the primary point of contact for booking parties. She and her staff handle all aspects of party planning, menu selection,
set-up, etc.
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Contact Donna at 847-946-7838 or dmpieracci16@gmail.com.
| | | HBC Member-Owned Business Spotlight | |
A core priority for the Club is to support Member-Owned/Operated businesses. Each issue of Le Notizie will highlight a business owned/operated by a club member. | | A Family Tradition: Giannetti Artisans | | |
Sally Giannetti grew up in Highland Park, the child of Paolo born in Lucca, and Adalia born in Pisa, surrounded by the food and culture of her parent’s homeland. While she always understood that she lived the “best of both worlds,” as a first-generation child, never did she imagine that she would one day turn her love of food and family into a business uniting her countries and cultures.
Living and traveling in Italy gave Sally the opportunity to discover the various culinary secrets of true Made in Italy excellence. When she returned home, bearing gifts from her travels, she witnessed time and time again how her family was profoundly thrilled to receive food from their home country.
Eventually, she found a way to share her passion for Italian food with others. She formed an import business, Giannetti Artisans, to bring the best of Italy to the USA. Founded on the concept of bringing back the culinary tastes and traditions of old Italy, she personally searches for the very highest quality Italian ingredients guaranteeing their authenticity, quality, and origin.
Products are sold through the website, giannettiartisans.com, and delivered throughout the USA.
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In the process of building her business, the company became a family affair, with her father, Paolo helping with the import processing and managing the delivery operations. During the busy holiday season, the whole family is involved in packaging and processing orders.
| | “We feel that the best part of what we do is allowing the world to taste and savor what our beautiful and enchanting Italy offers,” says Sally. “Italians have a passion for the culinary tastes and traditions, and it’s our honor to help preserve and promote both. Grazie e Buon Appetito a Tutti!” | | The Club recently welcomed the following new members: | | |
Ellie Ambuehl
Jamee Bosarge
Brian DeNicholo
Patric Gerstmayr
Kristin Hallberg
Dave Hiltebrand
Bob Kappus
Diane Kappus
Ninette Lustig
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John Psathas
Julie Pfeffer
Brigid Reidy
Adrienne Sassaman
Allyson Scopelliti
Tim Siebert
Tom Tolari
Kris Walker
| | The Club honors the memories of our members and their loved ones. The bulletin board in the card room has space to place memorial cards, and news of a loss can be shared with Peter Pieracci who will share the information with our members. | |
Officers
President
Tom Holleman
Vice President
Peter Pieracci
Treasurer
Heidi Peddle
Recording Secretary
Tim Tolari
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Trustees
Frank Bacci
Tony Biondi
Bruce Bertucci
Paolo Giannetti
Lenny Innocenzi
Mary Ann Pedersen
Miles Russell
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