OPTIMIST MONDAY NITE EUCHRE RESUMES JAN. 04TH AFTER TWO WEEK FESTIVE SHUTDOWN

January 3, 2010

OSHAWA. Jan04: Yes it’s a new year, Yes it’s a new decade and YES the Optimist Club of Oshawa sponsored weekly Monday Nite Progressive Euchre  Parties resume this Monday, January o4 at Johnny’s Original Eatery 850 King St. W. (905-576-7748). The first of ten scheduled  games starts at 7:00 pm sharp. After 5 games we’ll take our normal intermission break for a delicious prepared lunch and desert.

As usual the player recording the most collected individual points will receive a $20.00 reward of Opti-Cash for their effort. The most lone hands victor will claim the smooth tassting bottle of Opti-Napa Valley White Wine. See Marg Ross or Fay Graves for the opportunity to participate in the weekly 50/50 draw. Tickets are $2.00 each or 3 for $5.00. Admission remains at the econominal $10.00 for this import fund raiser to support Youth Projects within the City of Oshawa.

The only repeat YTD  50/50 winner has been Pat ‘Baba’Passfield – $60.50 (Sept 140) plus $51.50 (Nov 23) for a YTD total of $112.00. Other winners where John Zarowny $66.50, Norma Hubbell $75.00, Peter Pniauskas $72.50, Eric Goodwin $44.50, Ron (Batman) Hele $71.00, Shirley Robinson $68.00, Heather Paquette $41.50, David Stoliker $65.00, Margaret Conway $54.00, Gregory Brooks $65.00, Johnny Thexton $47.00, and the last winner prior to the Christmas/New Year’s  break, Optimist president Stephen Hambley on Dec. 14th of $60.00

Overall Y.T.D. our prize board has produced $3,057.00 in awards

OTHER IMPORTANT STATS

Top Percentage Player:………………….. David Conway 75.50% points per game

Most Points Individual Player………… Ron ‘Batman’ Hele   862

Most Lone Hands YTD.,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,   Bob ‘Dirt’ Burtinsky   39

NO STOPPING- OSHAWA VOLUNTEERS STILL FUNDRAISING

December 20, 2009

OSHAWA, Dec 21;- Fundraising never stops for members of the Optimist Club of Oshawa Inc. After completed a busy and successfull car raffle and the 26th annual Christmas Food Hamper & Toy deliveries over the weekend the fundraising beat continues serving our mandate of ‘Serving our communities Youth’

To-morrow nite Tues. Dec 22 at the Red Barn bingo hall  lead by president Stephen Hambley and his Optimist volunteers another Bingo will be held. Volunteers are requested to be in attendance at 9;00 pm . Joining Hambley will be Sybil Dewhurst, Ruth Lelone, Marjorie Ogden plus the husband/wife combo of Elizabeth and Sandy Crosibe.

To end off the 2009 Fundraising campaign, Jim Shaw takes over the reigns for the Dec. 30th late afternoon bingo at 3 pm. His helpers include Sandy Crosbie, Elizabeth Crosbie and Stephen Hambley.

BABA BOUNCES COMPETITION AT OPTIMIST EUCHRE – SCORES 88

December 17, 2009

OSHAWA, Dec 14: The final series of Optimist Progressive Monday Nite Euchre attracted another 10 tables of players for this favourite winter pastime. It was appreciation dinnerm Christmas Dollar gift exchange night ptoving again why this weekly event is so popular.

Optimist Euchre now takes off for a douple weeks for a festive break covering Christmas and New Years. This shutdown period permits our players to enjoy their family and friends durig the festive season. Action will resume on Monday Jan 4th at Johnnys Original Eatery with a start time of 7 pm

BABA YOUR THE BEST

Popular player Pat ‘Baba’ Passfield had the last laugh on her nephew and Optimist president Stephen Hambley.He stood waiting to collect his first money for recording the most points on the evening. it would have been his second payoff feeling his score of 82 points was good enough. Earlier he had to borrow $20.00 from his aunt claiming he left his wallet home. While waiting for the last table to play he was bragging to everyone in ear shot range he was the best.

When the tardy Passfield finally approached the scorers’ tasble with her chest stuck with pride shouted ‘Who can beat an 88′, Wow, head dropped about a foot in disbelief.

She did it the hardway to become champ failing to capture a single point entering intermission during game five while playing with Jay Kimble as her partner. “We couldn’t get nothing going’ remarked a cocky Boba.

On the flip side, she and her team mates produced five double digit wins. Playing with Hambley  he twosome posted 13 abd 11 point games. Don Lyon and Jan Lynch where profitable partners with 11 points each while Ken ‘Story Teller’ Ferrill climax a successful night for Baba scoring 11 additional points.

Event Euchre chair Optimist Jim Shaw posted the night’s most lone hands with five. He donated his prize of a Opti-bottle of Napa Valley wine back to the club. He’s a non-drinker.

The reverse prize table saw Jay Kimble finish dead last with only 36 point placing 40th overall. For her effort Jay was awarded a mammoth Teddy Bear which will probably be passed along to of her grndchildren for Xmas.

Our club showed our appreciation to the administive staff Fay Graves (official punch lady, Margaret Ross the greeter and cashier, and those desert gals Margaret Conway and Pat Passfield with bouquet of assorted flowers.

Other player news, saw the return of Don Richardson who now seems completely recovered from knee replacement surgery while Gordie Johnston will become a retiree this Friday. He planning a trip to Arizonia in the near future

DECEMBER THE BUSIEST OPTIMIST MONTH OF THE YEAR

December 16, 2009

OSHAWA,Dec 06: Certainly December is the busiest month in 2009 for our overworked dedicated Optimist Club of Oshawa members and volunteers. We’re selling raffle tickets on a GM Pontiac Vibe which includes $1,500.00 in Walmart Groceries. We’re saluating two important events the Durham College Athletic Scholarship bursaries, the Wado Kai Karate Optimist Tournament for over 500 youths. To go with this we’ve inducted our 2010 executive. Monday Nite Euchre continues plus we’ve added Breakfast with Santa for 108 youth in North Oshawa.

HAMPER/TOY UPDATE.

December 20th is “D” day for the 26th annual Chrstmas Food Hamper and Toy deliveries for needy Oshawa families as selected and screened by the Salvation Army. The “Armys” staff head have supplied us with the official list of families who be receiving the Hampers/Toys.  Sales where conducted at Sobey’s Food (Wilson & Taunton Rd) on Dec. 5 & 6th. A profit of $1,042.00 was banked. Optimist volunteers included Eric Goodwin, Brian Tremblay, Marg Ross, Neil Metcalf, Elizabeth and Sandy Crosbie, Cybil Dewhurst, Brian Tremblay and raffle coordinator Jim Shaw..

MONDAY NITE OPTIMIST EUCHRE

Peter Pniuskas captured week 12 recording the most points accumulated with 83. He just returned from a well deserved two week golfing vacation in Myrtle Beach, S.C. Newcomer Andrew Wood placed second with 80 points. Jimmy Duval was third – 78 points. He and his lovely wife Sandi will be enjoying a spiral ham for the top prize reward. Gloria Logan won the official coin flip for the most lone hands for the evening outdwelling Optiist Jim Shaw. Logan took home the bottle of Opti-Napa Valley wine.

Bob ‘Dirt’ Burtinsky continues to dominate all percentage players with a nifty 70:18% mark. He’s immedately folowed by James Brooks at 69:80

DURHAM COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIP BURSARY

A huge crowd attended the 9th annual Optimist/Durham College atheltic scholarships buseries in memory of deceased Thomas A. Scero and Sydney H. Breland . Students receiving this presitigious  honour was Courtney Small )Varsity Basetball) and Courtney Small (Varsity Soccer). Both the players, their families and close friends where in attendance.  Soccer coaching legend at the college Stan Bombino received a special award for his longivity and dedication to the sport of soccer.

INDUCTIONS CERMONIES

Former Cenon Zone 8 Lt. Governor James ‘Jimmy D’ Dimitroff sworm in the 2010 Oshawa executive. Stephen Hambley will be our new president, president elect is Cybil Dewhurst. Treasurer will be Marjorie Ogden and veteran Jim Shaw takes over as secretary and special events. Ken “Story’ Ferrill did a superb job as MC.

OPTIMIST BREAKFAST WITH SANTA.

A last minute decison to the host a Optimist Breakfast with Santa Claus for 108 youths was a tremendous success. Working with Brenda Danson – pancakes, juice boxes, fruit, was served and enjoyed by the hungry kids from the North Oshawa area. It was a a special days for the youngsters. Jim Shaw was the liassion official for this event.

OPTIMIST WADO KAI KARATE TOURNAMENT

The largest attended crowd in the 19 year history of the Optimist Club of Oshawa-wado Kai Karate attended at the Y.W.C.A. Auditorum Dec. 5. Sixty four indiviudal trophies where donated by the Optimist Club plus bargian value Opti- hot-dogs and soda.

Special acknowledgement were presented by the Optiimist to Theresa Virgin, susan Kucakowaki, Kim Ellias and John ‘Janusz’ Galant for their longivity and loyal service to the Wado Kai Club.

Ronald ‘Batman’ Hele, Lori Hambley, Peter Pniauska, and Jim Shaw represented the Optimist club.

MAYOR JOHN GRAY & OPTIMIST GOVERNOR TOM McNAUGHT TO LEAD 26th ANNUAL XMAS FOOD HAMPER & TOY CAVALCADE

December 7, 2009

OSHAWA, Dec 6th: An all-star cavalcade featuring over 100 vehicles will be lead by Oshawa Mayor John Gray and Cenon Optimist Govenor Tom McNaught from Oakville at the 26th annual Optimist Club of Oshawa members sponsored Christmas Food Hamper and Toy deliveries on December 20th. The local Oshawa club where formed and chartered on July 22nd, 1982.

The Oshawa nearly folded this past spring due to lack of funds to operate. Their main fund raiser weekly Bingo’s ceased on January 31st in Whitby when the business went into receivership. The Oshawa club was the mainstay for Zone 8 (Durham Region) with clubs operating in Ajax, Brooklin, Uxbridge and Whitby. When the local ecomony suffering a severe downfall from the closures of the GM giant auto plant closures, layoffs and forced retirements the future was bleak at best for a Optimist recovery.

Starting with a lowly bank balance of $2.86 and a commented budgeted items the membership decided to roll the dice for a comeback. Using the recycled fund raiser the group decided to raffle off a 2009 General Motors produced Pontiac Vibe commencing sales last spring in mid-May during Victoria Day weekend as first prize. Wal*Mart SuperCentre added to the first price take donating $1,500.00 in groceries to the winning ticket holder. Despite unwanted problems and growing pains this project has seen a new attitude develop, has incourage new members in supporting the Optimist mandate of being a “Friend Of Youth and our Community”

Devoted volunteers and members have logged over 9,000 hours in making this turn-a-about possible. Certainly a Cinderella Story” with a anticipated happy ending. Newly elected Optimist president Stephen Hambley said “our volunteers have been remarkable, when we originally printed 10,000 tickets it seemed receiving that figure was only a dream”. Local citizens have responded to the marketing strategy making believers  in purchasing of tickets at $5.00 each or the bargin basement price of 5 tickets for $20.00. Many business firms and fellow Ontario Optimist Club purchased $100.00 packages in boosting  ticket sold to  12,000.With two weeks remaining to the December 20th draw date 15,000 tickets seemed to be a reachable amount. This weekend our raffle gang are selling tickets in Bowmanville at the Metro Food Store on Dec 11,12,13 from 11:00 am to 06:00 pm The final sales weekend will be held at the Wal*Mart SuperCentre on Dec 17,18,19 from 11:00 am to 06:00 pm.

Optimist ticket sellers have been pro-active with in high traffic chain stores plus the Oshawa Centre, Auto Fest, Downtown Oshawa Sidewalk sale and the Five Points Mall.  The bulk of sales conducted every weekend for the past 31 weeks. The largest ever one day sale was conducted in Cobourg during the summer securing $1,700.00 in sales.

On Dec. 20th after the hampers/toys have been delivered a special cermony will be conducted within the R.S.McLaughlin Oshawa Armouries located at 53 Simcoe St. N. To-date over 9,000 volunteer hours have been accumulated by the Optimist and volunteers.  The volunteers are deeply committed. On numerous occassions tickets have been sold at three different locations on the same day. No one is paid for their efforts with all profits going to help the needy families and other Oshawa Optimist Youth events during the calendar year.

GENERALS SHUTOUT THE OPTIMIST

Originally it was felt – the announcement of winning ticket holder would be conducted at the multi-million GM Centre build by citizen of Oshawa. The Optimist where in contract with OHL club in early June and their management seemed very interesting in out suggestion in our face to face meeting. After 18 telephone calls/emails with no reply’s afterwards the anticipated love affair never happened. The “GO turn into a NO GO” for this no-brainer community project. The OHL Generals rent the GM Centre from the City of Oshawa. High profile individuals including elected City of Oshawa elected officials, Chambers and Commerce, GM Centre management and even super fan himself Terry Kelly a mainstay in the errection of the Civic Auditorium couldn’t convince the Generals Management team permitting the announcment. Plans called for a local soldier who served in Afghanistan to draw the winning ticket. The Optimist club wanted to saluate our armforces serving to protect our freedom for Canada. The Optimist membership offered to fill the unsold GM Centre  tickets and donating them to Oshawa’s youth for the Owen Sound vs Oshawa Generals game on Dec. 20th. Again the Generals never responded.

Jim Shaw – Car Raffle coordinator is disappointed with Oshawa Generals. A noted sports broadcaster, reporter he has aided the Generals for over 40 years however with new management they seemed non-interested in local community efforts.

As it now stands, the Optimist will employ the R.S.McLaughlin Armouries located at 53 Simcoe St. North for their Dec. 20th showcase.

Upwards to 150 volunteers will meet within the north parking lot north of armouries (off Richmond St) at 12 noon for  deliver for the 26th consecutive year of Food Hampers/Toys. Each vehicle are requested to deliver to two families each.

Each family will be supplied for two weeks (14 days) of groceries containing two boxes of staple food, one box of meats including a 15 pound average festive turkey with the fourth box jammed full or produce products Family members will be allotted three new toys each for children ages 14 and under. Toys are supplied by the Martin Chiropractic Clinic (19th year) and the Nursing Staff located on the 4th main floor at Lakeridge Health at OGH. The toys are sorted by gender and age for Optimist delivery. Last year the outlets collected 1,208 toys including 108 build a bears.

Kasey McBride 19 a Oshawa Cadet graduate will make the draw. He joined the arm forces this past spring . Prior he trained under deceased Jerry Kehoe whose wife is a super active volunteer with the Optimist Club. He be escorted by the Oshawa 1933 Cadet Band to make the official announcement.

The winning ticket holder name will be published in the local media, advise via telephone or email and his/her name will be published on the Optimist web site www.oshawaoptimist.ca

Anyone wishing to help delivery can contact Optimist event coordinator Jim Shaw at 905-576-6919 or via email at jimshaw15@rogers.com

CAR RAFFLE SALES STAFF FINALLY RECEIVE A SUNDAY OFF

November 21, 2009

OSHAWA, Nov 22; Finally the hard working Optimist Club of Oshawa sales team has been granted a Sunday off from their gruing sales schedule. Since mid-May our crack sales team has clocked every  Friday, Saturday and Sunday raising important funds for the 26th annual Optimist Christmas Food Hamper and Toys deliveries on Sunday, December 20th.

Car raffle chair Jim Shaw says it’s about time. Every member have  been taxed to limit yet never complain as a group they support this mighty project with zealous and committment. With four busy weeks ahead  our team requires a needy break away from selling.  On the weekend Fri, Nov 20 and Sat. sales amounted to $1,350.00 at the 24 hour Metro Food Store in Bowmanville.

Hats off to Fay and Kenny Graves, Stephen Hambley, Eric Goodwin, Tyler MacDonald and Jimmy Shaw for a job well done in producing another $1K plus week of sales.

This coming weekend we make our final appearance at Price Chopper located on the corner of Wentworth and Cedar Streets starting Fri. Nov 27th, Sat. Nov 28 from 11 am to 6 pm and Sun. Nov 29 from 11 am till 5 pm.  To complete the hectic 31 consecutive weeks of raffle sales we will be employing the following location before the 2009 GM Vibe loaded down with $1,500.00 in grocery  is drawn on December 20th.

On Dec. 4-5-6 it’s our final appearance at Sobey’s Food North on Wilson & Taunton, Week 30 we will appear at Metro Bowmaville Foods on Dec. 11,12,13 for the final time than wrap out scheduled showcasing ourselves at Walmart SuperCentre from Dec 17,18, 19th. As it now stands we start and finish our sales from the Walmart location located on the corner of Laval and Stevenson Road just moment from the MacDonald/Chartier (401) Freewa. Shaw plans to have  Scott Dairge and his D.R.P.S. rock band in attendance plus numerous clowns, the lolly pop singers and naturdally  Mr. & Mrs. Santa Claus.

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OPTIMIST FINALLY GETTING USE TO LATE NIGHT BINGO’s AT THE BARN

November 21, 2009

OSHAWA, Nov. 19th; An adjustment period seems to have been adopted by the Optimist Club of Oshawa members monthly Bingo team  at the Red Barn location in Oshawa. After almost 30 years working bingo’s at the Whitby Hideawayduring   prime time Saturday evenings (7pm to 10 pm) it has taken a few months to adjust to the late night sessions at the Red Barn in Oshawa.  The Optimist Club saw the their previous venue close it’s doors January 31 going into receivership have slowly but surely adjust to the late nights. It took six months to receive permission to operate Bingo’s in Oshawa an our bank account had shrunk to $2.68.

Club president elect Stephen Hambley stated for him Bingo’s have been a trying experience suffering from the lack of sleep the following . He must get up at 4:30 am to start his day shift regular work schedule  at General Motors by 600 am. You don’t leave the hall until about 1:30 am and it makes for a long next work day having less than 3 hours sleep.

The money raised is the best part says Hambley. Certainly the monthly windfall payoff helps with our Youth and Community projects. Operating  once a month compared to weekly event prior at the Whitby location does produce more time off than previously.

This past week (Nov 19) Bingo was conducted with 81 patrons. Hambley was joined by his trusty side kick Optimist Jimmy Shaw while new Optimist Marjorie Ogden and Sybil Dewhurst worked their first ever Bingo. Mext scheduled Oshawa Optimist bingo  session is set for Dec. 22. Yes it’s another 9:00 pm start time for our loyal volunteers.

2010 EXECUTIVE INDUCTION NITE DEC. 02 – HAMBLEY RETURNS AS PRESIDENT

November 21, 2009

OSHAWA, Nov 19th – Stephen Hambley will commence his 3rd term as president of the Optimist Club of Oshawa Inc effective January lst, 2010. He and his new board will officially be inducted on Wednesday, December 02nd at Optimist Headquarters – Johnny’s Original Eatery located within the King/Thornton Plaza 850 King St. West. Hambley now ties Donald Webb who sat in president’s post for a trio of separate terms. Hambley replaces Petrina Perrineau who has step down from her one year term for health reasons and her busy and demanding  work schedule.

Joining the “Hambley Team” will be president elect Sybil Dewhurst,new treasurer Marjorie Ogden and secretary Jim Shaw.

In asccepting another engagement as president he stated ‘Our club was on the verge of  folding as  the lack of funds was drying up to  support our community and youth projects. The Oshawa’s club  main fundraiser since they where  founded on July 22nd, 1982  was Bingo . The Whitby based bingo hall closed it’s doors on January 31st,2009 going into receivership.  Hambley continued to say, with no revenue in-coming in  and with prior committment expenses directed towards  to our youth and  community plus a reduced membership to  seven the outlook forcast looked glime at best.

Our city suffering from finanical woes due to General Motors and their feeder plants occuring heavy layof eliminations of jobs, early retirements The outlook seemed impossible to repair.

Employing an  Optimistic outlook,  Hambley using strong support from our Monday Nite euchre volunteer support group started with  $2.86 in their bank account. It  now appears the Hambley group are on thr rack track to recovery. His new 2010 executive members will include president elect Sybil Dewhurst a Optimist veteran who has joined the Oshawa organization serving for years in the Caribean, treasurer Marjorie Ogden and secretary Jim Shaw.

James Dimitroff a former Cenon Lt. Governor will officially welcome the new exeuctive on board.

BUSHWACKER TOPS WITH 85 POINTS – BUT ‘DIRT BURTINSKY’ TAKES THE SPOTLIGHT AT OPTIMIST EUCHRE

November 17, 2009

OSHAWA, Nov 16: Eric ‘Bushwacker” Goodwin may be the top player scoring 85 points nailing down top honours at the Monday Nite Optimist Club of Oshawa sponsored Euchre held at Johnny’s Eatery. But the real story is the steady play of Bob ‘Dirt’ Burtinsky who sets the pace in almost every individual category.

The Whitby born classy player has himself oa mission this campaign to be the best of the best. Currently he trops the weekly percentage average boasting a nifty 72:00 percentage per game mark. He tops the everyone in the YTD recorded points collected with 648. He’s the best in recorded lone hands YTD with 28. He placed a nearby 5 points behind Goodwin with 80 points compasred to ‘Bushwacker’s’ 85.

Meanwhile the man with the walking caine, Goodwin enjoyed success sporting four double digits triumphs in his ten games played including a brilliant 19 points toiling with Garver Junior as his side-kick. With Ron ‘Batman’ Hele this twosome produced 14 poinyd while eleven point games came about playing with Margaret Conway and Jimmy Brooks.

Euchre resumes next Monday,Nov 23  at Johnny’s Eatery.

HOCKEY VS EUCHRE – IT’S SHIRLEY RICHARDSON CHOICE

November 10, 2009

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