LSPOA Bocce Ball Resurrected

 

Anne Essner launches a bocce ball on the refreshed Bocce Court at the Pav parking area

Editors Note:  Ten-years ago now, LSPOA members Bob Essner and Dr. Bob Lifeso had a relatively unorthodox idea.  Let's build a Bocce Court in the Pavilion parking area.  Lot's of research and brainstorming followed. Would it follow coastal regulations?  What is the correct surface topping? Turned out to be imported crushed oyster shells.  Who would build it?  Former neighbor Richard LaBrie volunteered, along with Elliott Himelfarb.

And in December, 2013, the first official Bocce Tournament was held.  Like anything else, interest waned.  The court essentially has remained intact, but little used over the years.  Until last Thursday, March 29th.

The court has been refreshed and is now back in use.  Carol Fuoco and Laura Muth are spearheading the effort to get the games rolling again.  

For the uninitiated, Bocce is an ancient game played with eight weighted balls aimed at a smaller target ball, or pallino.  The object of the game is to earn points by getting your balls closer to the pallino that your opponent.  The "bocce" in bocce ball is the plural for the Italian word that means "bowl," and the sport is similar to British lawn bowling.  

Cathy Voigts

Here's Carol with more:

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This is an amazing neighborhood,  as we all so proudly shout to anyone who will listen.  Think about all of the things that this tiny group of neighbors has accomplished:  Book group, Pickle ball, Potlucks, Beach concerts, Fourth of July celebrations, a fabulous Pavilion (soon to get a new roof) and now, Bocce.  

Last week, more than a dozen neighbors gathered to learn and play on our very own bocce court.  Some folks knew how to play and some had never rolled a bocce ball.  But it didn’t matter.  There were lots of laughs and competition. 

Now we seek more players to come and hang out at the bocce court.  The second gathering will be Thursday, April 20 at 4:30 PM so mark your calendars, grab you drink and a snack to share and come play with us. 

LSPOA has all of the equipment right at the court and you are free to use it anytime you’d like.  

Please let Laura Muth (lauracmuthcpa@gmail.com) or Carol Fuoco (carolfuoco@me.com) know if you can play.  

~Carol Fuoco

Laura Muth, Bill Kling in background

Denis Bischoff & Mark Baumgarten

Phil Fuoco

Cathy Voigts & Sandra Appignani

Sandra Appignani