December 2022 Membership Update | |
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Highwood Bocce Club Cookbook Published
Food Is Life! | Cibo É la Vita! Now Available on Demand at Amazon
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One of the goals listed in our Club mission statement is to Create awareness of Italian Heritage and Culture. Obviously the sport of bocce is one very important part of this and is always a focus for us through our leagues, tournaments, and recreational play. Our social events like the Easter Coccetto and Christmas celebrations ensure holiday traditions continue and are passed along to younger generations. Of course it's impossible to overstate the importance of food to the Italian heritage and culture. Our member Italian families have proudly passed recipes down over multiple generations to preserve this remarkable part of their heritage. | |
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Until now, this sharing of recipes has been mostly within families. I am thrilled to share we now have a Highwood Bocce Club cookbook, Food Is Life! | Cibo É la Vita! that brings together the treasured recipes from dozens of these families. The cookbook includes more than 100 pages with recipes for many dishes including antipasto, salads, pasta, veggie and side dishes, main courses, and deserts. Just a few examples of the recipes included are bruschetta, pepperonata, polenta, agnello con patate (lamb and potatoes), and biscotti.
To order your copy for just $25 click https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BMT439K8 or go to amazon.com and search on the book title of Food Is Life! | Cibo É la Vita! Limited copies will also be sold at the Club during events and gatherings (and they make great holiday gifts).
Thank you to Judy Amidei and Emma Kowalenko for their hard work and perseverance to assemble this amazing creation, to Joe Teslik for handling the book publishing, and to all the contributors who provided recipes and photos to share with our Highwood Bocce community. Buon appetito!
- Tom Holleman, President
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2022 Election Results
On November 13, 2022, the HBC held elections for several Board positions. Congratulations to:
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Vice President: Mary Ann Pedersen
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Treasurer: Heidi Peddle
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Trustees: Frank Bacci, Amy Lazzaretti, Frank Lomoro, and Peter Pieracci
Thank you to Election Supervisor DeeDee Niebling, everyone who came out to vote and a special thank you to our outgoing Board Members Tony Biondi and Paolo Giannetti for their long dedication to our Club.
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December Events Calendar
We close out the year with several fun events:
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2 v 2 Mixed Tourney
The tournament is full and the drawings for the mixed teams are complete. Even if you're not playing, we encourage you to join in the fun and stop by the club to watch on December 3. Play begins at 9:00 a.m. and will continue through the day.
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Delightful Christmas Dinner
Join us for a fun evening on Friday December 9, 2022, at 6:30 p.m. for a spectacular holiday dinner prepared by Donna Pieracci and team.
The menu includes favorites like Chef's Chicken in sherry wine sauce, cod fish, and farfalle pasta with meat sauce. The cost is $25 per person and guests are welcome.
The festivities will include a sing along with Bruce Bertucci featuring Christmas Carols and other crowd favorites. RSVP to Bruce at 847-910-9011 or [email protected].
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Children's Holiday Party
We are excited to announce that the Highwood Bocce Club will once again partner with the Modenese Society to hold our Children's Christmas Party on Sunday, December 11, from 1-3 p.m.
Saint Nick himself will make an appearance! Santa of course has a very busy schedule, but we expect him to be spreading cheer and handing out Christmas stockings to children between 1-2 p.m.. He's a tough act to follow, but a magician will do his best with tricks and entertainment from 2-3 PM.
Fresh roasted chestnuts will be offered along with juice and snacks for the kids and a welcoming bar for the adults.
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New Year's Eve Gala Dinner & Dance
Ring in 2023 with your friends at the Highwood Bocce Club. A fantastic dinner and dancing are planned at this annual special event. Watch your email for details.
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Club News and Announcements | |
Gordon Gruenes Represents USA in Uruguay | | |
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USA teammates Jorge Moreno, Gordon Gruenes, Alan Knox, and Paolo Pro | |
Congratulations to our own Gordon Gruenes for representing Team USA at the 1st Pan American Club Championship tournament held at Club Esparta in Colonia Valdense, Uruguay. Held from November 15-20, 2022, Gordon competed with USA teammates Jorge Moreno, Alan Knox, and Paolo Pro against the best players from Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Peru and Uruguay. Although Team USA did not take home any medals they did compete gallantly and took away new friendships and experiences. | |
2022 Club Champions Crowned | |
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Congratulations to Miles Russell and Lauren McDermott (pictured center with Vanessa Garippo and Todd Mikell above) our Men's and Women's 2022 Club Champions!
Miles outlasted Todd Mikell in two thrilling 12-11 matches and Vanessa Garippo battled to a 3rd match before Lauren secured the final game and championship.
This year, 62 members participated this year's Club Championships and the play level was better than ever. Thanks to all who participated. Special thanks to Gordon Gruenes for leading this year's running of the tournament. As we say often, events like this don't happen without the leadership and time of our volunteers.
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Highwood Team wins
Della Croce Tournament
Congratulations to our Highwood Bocce Club team of Rob Bertoncini, Lio Giannotti, Anthony LaBarbera, and Maurizio Perrelli for winning the men's division championship and to Frank DeLuca, Danko Dykyj, Vanessa Garippo, and Milan Tomic for tying for 3rd place in the annual Aldo Della Croce Tournament.
The annual contest was held in November at the Italia-America Bocce Club in St. Louis, and attracted teams from across the country. The Highwood Team beat 27 teams and won the final 12-2 over the Sons of Columbus team from Kansas City.
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Our Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday winter leagues are off to a great start and will run into March and Thursday night into April. Also, our Tuesday mixed league will finish in December with a new mixed league beginning in January.
While those leagues play on, we are adding some league offerings to give our members even more opportunities to play.
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Our Wednesday afternoon Pick-Up League is a couple weeks in and continues on every Wednesday. No need to commit to playing every week. Just show up, pay $5, and teams are formed with whomever wants to play! Check-in at noon and games start at 12:30. Food and snacks will be offered periodically as well. For more info call or text Bruce Bertucci at (847) 910-9011.
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Join our new Sunday Evening Mixed League starting December 4th. League starts at 5 p.m. Participation is on a first come, first serve basis. There will be 2 pizza nights, snacks, maybe a mulled wine or Milk Punch and themes starting on December 11 with an ugly holiday sweater/shirt contest. We will have fun and laughs so bring your enthusiasm and be ready to roll!
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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. 3Q 2022 financials as well as updated membership numbers were just added at the end of October.
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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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The Club recently welcomed the following new members:
John Berkley
Doug Barnhart
Louie Diaz
Mary Giarelli
Elaine Hagedorn
Demetre Lambropoulos
Guido Oliverii
Linda Saslow
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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.
Leonora Clothilde (Parenti) Cervac
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Officers
President
Tom Holleman
Vice President
Mary Ann Pedersen
Treasurer
Heidi Peddle
Recording Secretary
Tim Tolari
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Trustees
Frank Bacci
Bruce Bertucci
Tony Biondi
Paolo Giannetti
Lenny Innocenzi
Peter Pieracci
Miles Russell
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