The 5th Bocce for Bus Tournament rolled into the record books on June 25. Crest Hardware won a hard-fought victory on the bocce courts at Domino Park and added a third trophy to their mantle. Crest Hardware also won the 1st and 3rd Bocce for Bus tournaments.
Indeed, a trophy is a true victory, but the main winners of this annual bocce beatdown are community seniors. The Bocce for Bus Tournament raises operating funds for the Swinging Sixties Senior Bus, which transports seniors from their homes to the Swinging Sixties Senior Center (211 Ainslie Street) for wellness, creative, and entertainment activities in addition to weekday lunches and trips.
Jane Irvine, a longtime member of the center isn’t steady on her feet due to a stroke. She regularly rides the Swinging Sixties Bus. “Coming to Swinging Sixties and having meals, where I have a good balance of fruit, vegetables, and good carbs, is very important but so is the socializing,” said Jane.
This bocce tournament is an act of love from local businesses whose team sponsorships raise funds for the bus. Joe Franquinha of Crest Hardware and Brent Young of The Meat Hook spearhead the engagement with the other businesses to join in the fun. The Conselyea Street Block Association (CSBA) organizes this event supported by St. Nicks Alliance.
The eight teams that played this year were from: Crest Hardware, Pete’s Candy Store, Variety Coffee Roasters, An Honest Living – Alameda, Basik, The Meat Hook, Bitesize Pediatric Dentistry, and St. Nicks Alliance. Phil Caponegro, president of the CSBA officiated as referee. Organizers offer a sincere thank you to Two Trees Management’s Domino Park for hosting and supporting the event!
The Greenline 