Nights are getting cooler and longer as we head into the holiday season. Make a note that our unit’s holiday party is scheduled for Sunday, December 10. It’s a potluck with free play.

A unit game is scheduled, tentatively, for Sunday, November 5, at noon to celebrate the victory of Rose Meltzer-Johnson’s team in the Spingold. If you don’t know what that is, come out anyway, find out, and enjoy brunch and bridge.

Many newer players seek to improve their games by playing once a month with a more experienced player. Give something back to the game. Become a mentor.

To become a mentor or to play in our unit games, sign up at the club or contact Lynn Yokel at (408)374-4669.

Phyllis Vierra did a fine job in her debut as coordinator of our Santa Clara sectional. Clear signs, enough volunteers and snacks. Too bad attendance was down.

In the sectional’s Friday afternoon open game, Lynn Yokel & Stu Goodgold led the field. Bill Traver & Helen Mitchell had a strat top. In the under-200 game, strat tops went to Ray Lubow & Maxine Lubow, Joyce Sogg & Gabi Pani, Alexander Tampilang & Richard Jacobs, and Elizabeth Moley & Mickie Anderson. Topping the open game Friday night was Dianne Shannon, with strat tops by Jim Hayashi & George Humphrey and Lynn Yokel. In the under-200 game strat tops were earned by Ursula Gueldner, Jewel Schimke & Shirley Foreman, Robert & Joan Rouse, and Phyllis Reinhardt.

Bin Dai took first in Saturday’s two-session open pair game in a tough field. Ray Crist earned the trophy for the most masterpoints by an under-200 player. Strat tops in the open game were earned by Tania Moalem, , Bonnie Beardsley, Jim Hayashi & Anne Boboricken, Rose Meltzer-Johnson & Peter Weichsel. In the under 200 games, strat top winners were Sam Morley, Glenn Hudson & Joyce Sogg, Tammieh Vernon & Ayman Shahin, Joan & Robert Rouse, Laura Walters & Lorraine Rodich, Bill Barnes, Robert Elliott, Phyllis Vierra & Mike Sullivan. Jeff Hack & Louis Martin had a strat top in the side game.

A Swiss team including Jim Hayashi & Anne Boboricken was first in the open game. Winning the first session of 299er Swiss were Mike Braun & Joan Simpson, Joyce Sogg & Glenn Hudson. Leon Lee’s team was first in the second session.

Time marches on. Faye Parsons has taken over the Thursday night novice game, giving Lynn Yokel more family time. Those who play on Tuesday nights have seen what help Lynn’s two kids are with the snacks. Though the Thursday night open game has ended, a new open game has started on Friday nights.

Would you rather drive an hour to play in a local sectional starting at 10 a.m. or 1 p.m.? I, for one, am discouraged by the trend to earlier games. If you have an opinion, call your local unit board member, preferably at 9 a.m.

Corrections, comments and news are welcome at (408)379-7717 and rayyuenger@earthlink.net.