Three things:

1. In observance of the pagan holiday of All Hallow's Evening, shuffleboard is canceled this week.

2. We have lights! I spoke with the City this week and they believe they have a temporary lighting solution for us. We definitely have the lights, the only issue is that the lights are run by a loud generator. The plan is to have a test run next week wednesday and, if successful, use the lights for the rest of this season and that portion of next season that falls before daylight saving time begins.

3. If the lights prove successful, we need to decide when to end this season and when to begin next season. My inclination is to end this season the wednesday before thanksgiving, November 21st (with a thanksgiving potluck that last meeting), and to begin next season January 16th. Please weigh in on this matter by commenting to this article.

The Moyhers are destroyers. Jo-Anne and Tom are undefeated this season and now sit atop their respective divisions. Can anyone stop them? My darkhorses are the Smiths. Phil had far too strong a Season One campaign to think his team's early season slump will continue much longer. My prediction is that Nancy will soon come into her own under Phil's tutelage and the two will be a force by week 5. 

Speaking of tutelage, welcome Rebecca and Everett. The two entered this week as one of multiple newcomer students but left as instructors, picking up an upset win along the way. Congrats Rebecca and Everett.

One matter of import - I've heard from a few that the music is too loud on courts nearby the music player. We'll do our best to find a better location for the player next week.

Hope you all have a grand weekend. We'll be sure to keep track of Hurrican Isaac and provide updates as needed. The extended forecast predicts and nice wednesday with a 20% chance of rain. Hopefully that proves accurate.

Jay

Just wanted to say thanks to Ellen for allowing us to enjoy a playlist I suspect she's carefully culled over many years. Your tunes made week two for me and, I suspect, many more. You are now the most important person in the league, and your regular attendance is now of utmost importance. See you in week 3!

Jennifer Trefelner has an article in today's TCPalm about the upcoming season. Be sure to check it out!

For the unacquainted, there are two corrections/clarifications:

• The league has decided to meet on wednesdays, not tuesdays. Thus, our first meeting will be next week Wednesday, August the 8th, not August the 7th as stated in the article.
• I've been told by a new player that it was not clear whether the cost was $10/week or $10/season. Good news - it's $10/season!

The video below is on a small town in Ohio that regularly produces world champion shuffleboard players. After watching the video, I have two thoughts:

• It'd be great to get youth involved in our league and some day challenge the take on the Ohio town.
• The video's mention of singles tournaments is potentially something we should copy. If we had singles competitions, we'd not need to require constant team pairings or even regular attendance. We could simply award 2 points for a victory and 1 point for a loss, and create standings based on total season points. At the very least, I think we could add a singles component. An additional option is to have league participants play on teams but tally scores individually, meaning each player on a winning team gets 2 points while each player on a losing team gets 1 point.

Season 2 begins in 3 weeks (specific dates have been posted under "Schedule" above)! Be sure to mention the league to potential players and sponsors! The TCPalm has helped out yet again by mentioning the league in the weekly happenings column.  They're planning to do another large write-up on the league August 3rd, so keep an eye out for that as well.

From Hillary Copsey's happenings column this week:

"In April, St. Lucie County entertainment columnist Jennifer M. Trefelner let us all know about the Port Fierce Shuffleboard League. And no, that's not a typo.

The casual adult league plays once a week during 10-week seasons on the shuffleboard courts at Fort Pierce's River Walk Center. Co-founder and local lawyer Jay Hollenkamp dreamed up the idea in November 2010, but said interest in the league spiked after Trefelner's column.

What's not to like? For $10, you get 10 weeks of a fun, social gathering. The atmosphere is family-friendly and you don't have to know how to play before you join.

The next season starts Aug. 8.

For more information or to sign up, visit www.PortFierceShuffleboard.info."

Also, thanks to Charlie Hayek for sponsoring.  The brats and such were splendid.

We've confirmed that Season 2 will start the beginning of August.  Following last tuesday's event, an impromptu discussion between players brought out a few ideas for changes for Season 2.  Look for posts on this site related to those changes, because the posts will likely provide an opportunity for each of you to provide feedback.  With everyone's input, I suspect we can make Season 2 more fantasticker.

Jay Hollenkamp

Weather patterns appear favorable - 10% chance of rain until 8:00, 20% thereafter - so all systems are go for tonight's season finale!  Mayoral candidate Charlie Hayek is sponsoring the event; food and drinks are on him during the event.  Thanks in advance Charlie.

Hope to see you all shortly.

Jay

We've added a photograph section to the website.  If you have a photo or two you'd like posted on the site, please email them to info@portfierceshuffleboard.info.

As it stands, June 19th will be the last week of the season (to those of you that asked if we can extend the season, I'm looking into it).  We're going to rock it our final week, and Charlie Hayek, candidate in this year's mayoral race, is sponsoring the awesome.  Expect plenty of grilled food, melodic tunes, and sweet sweet gift certificates.  Thanks Charlie for sponsoring.  And to any of you who'd like a tune-up before our June 19th jam, see you next Tuesday at 6:00.

A few sponsors have requested that gift certificates not be given to just one or two individuals.  Thus, going forward, please play on courts you have yet to conquer.

We maybe could have timed the season better.  This weather is draining (pun intended).  The good news is that last week the chance of rain was 50% and weather ended up the best yet.  Anyways, as usual, I'll check forecasts around 4:30 and let you all know if we need to cancel.  If weather does cooperate, be sure to come out! Our court sponsors this week are Yellowtail Restaurant, Buckshot Bay, Pelican Seafood, Pot Belli Deli, On the Edge, and Granny's Kitchen (our newest sponsor!).

Hope to see you all soon.

Brick Tamland

As usual, our meeting tonight is touch and go.  I'll keep a close eye on the weather and communicate if a change in plans if needed.

Jay

There's a 20% chance of rain tonight.  Assuming the odds hold up, we'll be shuffling at 6:00.  Five of our sponsorships have finalized - Yellowtail, Pelican Seafood, Buckshot Bay, On the Edge, and Pot Belli Deli - so gift certificates for those sponsors will be up for grabs.  We'll have the sponsored lanes designated upon arrival.  Assignments will be first come first served on the sponsored courts.Once again, we'll have a hot grill for anyone who'd like to bring hamburgers, hotdogs, rack of lamb.Hope to see you all at 6:00.

Jay Thomas Hollenkamp

Rinelli's Yellow Tail.  Pelican Seafood Company. Buckshot Bay. Signature Signs-N-Lettering.  Granny's Kitchen. The Pot Belli Deli. On the Edge Bar and Grill. And Archie's Seabreeze.  Here's why you will care - each of our sponsors are sponsoring one court and awarding a $10 gift certificate every week to the team that's victorious on their respective court.  Courts will be assigned on a first-come-first-served basis, so to those of you interested in competing for sweet gift certificates, be sure to arrive on-time.  

[If any of you have a potential sponsor you think might be interested, feel free to approach them on the league's behalf.  The cost is only the $10/week gift certificate, and the league places the sponsor's sign on their sponsored court at no extra cost.]
 
Tuesday! Tuesday! Tuesday!

Jay

We had a great turn-out for week 2.  I think we passed the 30 player threshold.  Things seemed to run more smoothly.  Thanks to Ted for all the work he does each week setting everyone up.  Your efforts are appreciated.  

Jenny Trefelner wrote a great article about the league in today's paper (click on picture of James and Megan to read article). The picture Jenny chose is a perfect representation of our league - a novice player learning from an experienced player at sunset.

The article has caused a great spike in registrations, so expect that next week we'll see our biggest group yet!

We're instituting a "solo-cup rule" for week 3. No more glass of any kind on the courts.  I'll be sure to have solo cups on hand for anyone who forgets.

Until tuesday . . . 
Jay

Thanks to the 30 or so who came out (as well as the TCPalm photographer who snapped shots throughout most of the games).  We're still getting the hang of things, organizationally speaking, so thanks to those patient souls who remained tight-lipped as we worked out the kinks.

Week 1 was a test run.  Most of the time was spent on organization and instruction.  That said, the late sun set provided plenty of time for 3 or so games, grilled hot dogs, and an adult beverage or two.  A photographer from TCPalm dropped by for the majority of the games.  

From what I could tell, the experienced players (specifically, James and Sue) routed the inexperienced players (specifically, Megan and Daniel).  However, in so doing, they showed a chink in their armor (specifically, trash talking).  Since trash-talking and other etiquette violations are specifically encouraged in the home court rules for Port Fierce Shuffleboard, I expect the inexperienced players to use this weakness to their advantage in future matches.

For Week 2, we're going to start at 6:00pm, instead of 5:30.  Hopefully, the extra 30 minutes will alleviate any commuting strain.  Also, going forward, players can expect a hot charcoal grill each week, so be sure to include grilling food in your coolers.

Thanks to everyone once more for a great first week.


Jay