Local O.H.L. fans still  attempting to get over the departure of team leader and  captain John Travaras who was dealt to the London Knights Thursday in a mammoth nine player swap.  Travaras will  probably be the N.H.L.’s first draft selection this spring

Winning ticket holder Sue Kuczkowski and her immediate family comprises of  husband Dan, daughter Kathryn and son Michael  backed off on game day.The Kuckowski had just  returned from their annual  Dominican Republic vacation  Saturday. They  had a family crisis as one of their favourite pets had to be put to sleep. At a special family meeting the group collectively they decided not to attend. The  entire family was upset over the bad news.

The quartet was replaced by Michael Garcia, Victor Kobic, Brock Buntsma  and Adam Przybyiski. Mrs. Kuczkowski officially apologized for her family’s absence stating “if the circumstances were different we would have attended, but life plays it’s funny hand”. Oddity was whenthe winning ticket was announced on December 21st, 2008 at the 25th annual Optimist Food Hamper/Toys Deliveries for 100 needy local families she missed that announcement. After delivering her alloted hampers, her husband Dan was dispatched to emergency suffering servere pain that  required immediately medicial attention.

Included for this special occassion package were long time friend Kim Ellis, Alex Munr0, Keith Munro, Jose Carlos Garcia, Myrna Garcia and the Virgin family Theresa, Ted and Jennifer.

Prior to the game, the group was treated to a special pre-game dinner at Johnny’s Orginal Eatery. Oshawa Optimist Club reresentives where immediate past president Stephen Hambley, the director of ticket sales Greg Bamber and Jim Shaw.

The tickets were donated by Peggy Kohls representing the City of Oshawa Community Service department. Profits from the raffle went directly the 2008 Christmas Food Hampers/Toy deliveries. A profit of $1,200,00 was raised after expenses.

Our second raffle is unique and has nothing to do with sports. Four prizes will be awarded including a lst price of a Hand Knitted Quilt with a retail value of $500.00, a set of T-Fal  of assorted pots and pans, three different sizes of stick free frying pans. This package has retail of $150.00. Third and Four prize is a Dinning Out package from the Tickled Toad Pub & Grill with Ten dinner, ten lunches and five deserts. This VIP package has a value in savings of $450.00 for 3rd and 4th prize respectively.

We generated $173.00 in first day sales. Only 297 tickets are printed and are sold in squares. Entering Sat. Nov 22 sales only 210 squares remain. As an added bonus Walmart Canada Stevenson Road general manager Howard  Kerr has promise to match every sale dollar for dollar.

Sales continue this weekend at the 5-Point mall. Sat. Nov 22 from 10:00 am till 6:00 pm and Sun.Nov 23 from 12 noon till 5:00 pm. The sales is located outside  Dollarama and the inside entrance to Zellers. It’s busy area.  Our roving sales team will finalize all raffle sales on Sat. Dec. 13 at the Stevenson Road- Walmart location from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm.

Bamber has high praise for his dedicated workers handling the raffle to-date. Marg Ross, Neil Metcalfe, Kenny Ferrill, Stephen Hambley and Jim Shaw have excelled in sales skills.

All proceeds go directly to the 2008-25th Annual Food Hamper/Toy deliveries on Sun. Dec 21. Lucky winners for both raffles will be announced that same day.  This is one of the busiest time of the year for our volunteer organization and any “Friend of the Optimist”  wishing to help may contact raffle ticket coordinator Greg Bamber 905-723-7817 or email fundraisers@oshawaoptimist.ca or Jim Shaw 905-576-6919 or email at treasurer@oshawaoptimist.ca

On Sat 22nd  the Oshawa  Optimist bi-monthly Sat. Nite Bingo goes at the Hideway Bingo Hall in Whitby. This is another fundraiser with profits exclusive set aside for the 2008 Food Hampers and Toys

The raffle draw will be held on December 21st at the 25tth annual delivery of Food Hamper/Toys for 100 needy Oshawa families as selected and screened by the local Salvation Army.

The announced winner will received twelve (12) game day tickets for the January 11th OHL game with a puck drop time at 6:05 pm pitting the host Oshawa Generals against their arch rivals the Peterborough “Petes”: Prior to the game, this winning group will  have a post game 4 course meal at Johnny’s Orginal Eatery. For this the forks and knives go to work at 4:30 pm.

Tickets where sold at $2.00 each or 3 for $5.00 with all proceeds being donated to the 2008 Optimist Club members Food Hampers and Toy Drive. Yhis was accomplished in just 4 days at the Five Points Mall 3 days ahead of schedule. Advance sales helped.

Are We The Winners?

OSHAWA, Oct 26: Chair person Greg Bamber and his committee of raffle ticket sellers did a outstanding job on the weekend. It’s for our 2nd Annual Optimist Club of Oshawa members Hockey Nite raffle featuring the OHL east division arch rivals on Jan.11th with the Peterborough Petes vs  our Oshawa Generals at the GM Centre. His group of dedicated volunteers produced a successful weekend of sales.Three Hundred and Forty four tickets were sold by his committee comprised of Margaret Ross (worked 4 hours), Petrina Perrineau (worked 4 hours),Neil Metcalfe (worked 4 hours), Donald Webb (worked 2 hours), Jim Shaw worked 14 hours and Greg Bamber (worked 15 hours). Include in this sales figure where the 25 outside sale performed “Friend Of Optimist” John Brooks.

Optimist volunteers will return to the North Oshawa 5-Point Mall Dollarama/Zellers again from Nov 20th thru the 23rd (during mall hours) and we are anticipating the 700  printed tickets will be a sell out. We’ve arranged for another sales outlet on Sat. Dec 3rd within the Walmart Food Stores located within the Stevenson Road South Plaza from 9 am till 4 pm.

The hockey raffle prize donated by the City of Oshawa includes 12 seats plus a delicious pre-game meal at Johnny’s Eatery located at 855 King St. West, Oshawa (King/Thornton) Plaza at 4:30 pm. on Jan. 11th. Estimated prize value is $500.00.

Profits from this raffle goes directly to-wards our 25th annual Optimist Food Hampers & Toys with a delivery on Sun, Dec/21st direct to 100 needy Oshawa families.

Your Oshawa Generals will be hosting their east division OHL rivals the Peterborough “Petes” at the General Motors Centre. Game time is 6:05 pm.

The winner of this draw under Lottery License No. 567678 will receive 12 game day tickets and a pre-game supper at Johnny’s Orginal Eatery located in the King/Thornton Plaza, 850 King St. West Oshawa Tele No. 905-576-7748, reports Optimist event chair Greg Bamber.

Bamber hopes to top last year’s profits of $1,100.00. Price per ticket is only $2.00 each or 3 for $5.00. Only 700 tickets are being printed.  Again all profits will be turned over to help purchase Xmas Food Hampers and Toys scheduled to be deliveried on Dec.21 to 100 needy families and children.  This marks the 25th consecutive year, the Optimist Club of Oshawa Inc membership have held this event.

This marks the second consecutive year the Optimist Club of Oshawa have been awarded ducats to be used as a fundraiser with profits being directed towards the 25th annual Optimist Christmas Hamper and Toy Deliveries scheduled for December 21st to 100 needy Oshawa families. For the past quarter of a century the Optimist in conjunction with Salvation Army have supplied food and toys for our community.

The ducats include twelve (12) for the Sunday, January 11th tilt featuring east division arch rivals the Peterborough “Petes” followed up by another eight (8) tickets for the Sunday, January 25th matchup against the 2008 Memorial Cup participates the Belleville Bulls. Both games have a faceoff time of 6:05 pm.
Raffle details are expected to be announced before month’s end.