September 2007 Vol. 26. No. 9

Published by the Humboldt Senior Resource Center in Eureka, California. HSRC is a non-profit community-based organization offering services for senior citizens, multi-generational families and caregivers.

New Alzheimer’s Center
Did California speak?
Senior Fraud Alert
Driver Safety fall schedule
Think About It, Show up, make a difference
Unsung heroes: Senior employees appreciated
Ferndale: Bocce court is shaping up

Pick up a copy today! Better yet, subscribe and never miss an issue!

Brought to you by

Ferndale
Bocce court is shaping up
by Richard Hooley

Ferndale bocce courts have taken a step closer to reality with
the ground breaking for the first of three lanes on Aug. 16.

A group of citizens started thinking bocce almost one year ago. Talk turned into action, and a Ferndale Bocce Committee was formed in May 2007, with a goal to install a tournament level court at Firemen’s Park at no cost to the city. The entire cost of the court will be financed by contributions and fundraisers over the next few months. Enough money and material donations have been received to start the construction of the three-lane court, and we expect that enough will be forthcoming to have the court playable by the end of September.

There will still be a lot of work to do after that. We will have a lot of landscaping and benches to install, but the courts can be used in parallel with this activity.

The game of bocce is making a comeback throughout the county. Locally courts are now available in Fieldbrook, Cutten and Rio Dell with a planned court in Trinidad.

Bocce courts vary in size and type of surface. They can be as small as 10-foot by 60-foot or as large as 13-foot by 91-foot. The playing surface is usually compacted clay, decomposed granite or crushed oyster or clam shell. Some even have a grass surface. The Ferndale court will be 13-feet by 91-feet with a concrete perimeter. The surface will be crushed oyster shell. When compacted and leveled the court is a hard surface that provides a smooth, true ball roll.

We are planning at least three major tournaments a year, and the court will be open to the general public at all other times. Bocce is a wonderful sport that can be enjoyed by all ages and is especially good for seniors since it is not a physically challenging activity. What it does do is provide an opportunity to be out in the fresh air, get moderate exercise and enjoy the company of fellow players.

The Ferndale community has gotten behind this project, but more help is needed. The committee is planning some fun fundraisers, and all contributions are welcome. Contributions can be dropped at Ferndale City Hall or given to any bocce committee member. You can be assured that 100 percent of your contribution will go towards the completion of the Ferndale bocce courts — so dig deep and help make this community an even better place to live.

Richard Hooley writes about Ferndale senior activities.