Earlier News - 2008 through 2012 is available Here:
http://members.tripod.com/netta_ct/2008_2009_News_blog/
(Cut and paste into your browser if link isn't active)
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Earlier News - 2008 through 2012 is available Here:
http://members.tripod.com/netta_ct/2008_2009_News_blog/
(Cut and paste into your browser if link isn't active)
BETHANY TTC Holiday schedule and Gym News
UPDATE * Play now expected to resume January 26th but please confirm by phone at (203) 514-0757 *
Our last session for 2013 at the Bethany Town Hall Gym is scheduled for Sunday evening December 15th.
We expect to resume play in January after the holidays , beginning our 2nd year in our newest CT TTA club location, most likely on Sunday January 12th. (Schedule information will be updated on the info-line message listed at the homepage, as it is if severe weather impacts a playing date)
( As usual, Fairfield play will continue with our usual schedule of Thursday night and Saturday afternoon play throughout the Dec/Jan holidays. )
Contractors are scheduled to replace the Gym ceiling in Bethany and, more importantly for us, install new light fixtures, which should make our lighting brighter and more uniform, and eliminate the need for the supplemental portable lights we've used until now to improve lighting in the far end of the gym.
We've also added an additional table in the nearby gameroom this fall, bringing us up to 7 available tables when needed, nearly matching the 8 tables available at Fairfield.
Thanks again to the Bethany and Fairfield Recreation Departments, and the Fairfield Senior Center, for providing excellent facilities and partnering with us in providing, upgrading facilities and promoting year-round weekly play in safe spacious and well lit facilities, and for the many players who support our lifetime sport.
2013-2014 WINTER Schedule
Thanksgiving Week
As in previous years, our Thanksgiving Week schedule features a switch in our mid-week Fairfield Schedule from Thursday night play to the previous Tuesday evening.
Saturday afternoon play in Fairfield continues as normally scheduled on Thanksgiving weekend.
Bethany Sunday play is ON for the Sunday before Thanksgiving
The decision regarding Bethany play on the Sunday AFTER Thanksgiving will probably be finalized and announced during the previous Sunday session based on turnout that Sunday, and player interest expressed then, and IF cancelled, will be announced on the Bethany Club information message line recording by the following week, by Sunday afternoon at the latest..
As with possible winter severe storm cancellations, depending on when the decision is finalized, it might NOT be announced on the website or by e-mail. This is the reason the recorded message phone numbers supplement the website's information.
Christmas/New Years Eve/Day
With these holidays falling on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, play in both Fairfield and Bethany should not be affected this year.
Severe Winter Weather
While cancellations don't normally occur due to typical winter snow storms, Blizzard conditions or freezing rain storms can be the exception, including heavy snow occuring on the weekend or after rush hour when highway plowing may be delayed.
Decisions in those cases are often delayed to be sure any Weather report storm predictions are confirmed by actual weather and road conditons in or near southern or central Connecticut.
E-mails or website changes due to weather often can't be made in a timely manner, so please use the appropriate message phone lines for Fairfield or Bethany before leaving for a scheduled session if weather conditions seem questionable, and use your own judgement, even if the club IS open, based on weather and road conditions in your own town and neighborhood.
Please call from your cell phone if possible, so I can call you back after you've heard the message, should a later change occur, whether cancelling a session if conditions worsen, or restoring it if an expected storm doesn't hit the area with enough force to require a cancellation.
It would be helpful too, if you are a regular player, AND/OR drive a distance to play, to provide me with your full name and town via an instant message or voicemail from your cell number in case I need to contact you due to an unexpected cancellation due to issues such as localized Power failures or other facility issues that may not make the news in your area of the state.
(UPDATED JULY 30) CT TTA's most recent youth TT student, 14 year old Adam Sahar, has made great progress in less than a year and a half as a regular player at Fairfield and Bethany TTCs, reaching the U-1900 finals at a recent large NY tournament and earning a 1722 rating in the process.
(UPDATE: Adam reached 1881 at his next tournament, with wins over 3 1800+ rated including the club's owner, 1889 rated NY Times Crossword editor Will Shortz.)
Local club players aren't surprised, since Adam has also scored club match wins over a number of our 1900 and 2000+ level players in recent weeks, including a first ever duece in the 7th win over his Coach, 2070 rated Dave Strang in late June 2013.
Samuel Medina, who started a few years ago as a local College student has also recently reached his best rating ever, at 1768. (UPDATE: Sam is now 1817)
And long time 2100+ level player Adis Medunjanin broke through the 2200 barrier for the first time, and earned the 3rd highest rating among active CT. players with a recent NJ tournament result including a win over a 2300+ player, boosting Adis to a career best 2213 rating.
Congratulations to all our improving local players.
Periodically updated Top 10 and Top 20 Rating Lists for CT.TTA are located at: http://www.realtabletennis.com/Ratings/
Weekly updated USATT ratings are available at www.USATT.org
The New CT TTA club in South/Central CT meets Sundays - (6:30-10:30pm as of June 2013)
Distances to the Greater New Haven/Waterbury area TT Club at Bethany, CT:
New Haven 10 miles -via 63 north
Waterbury 12 miles - via 63 south from rte 8 or I-84
North Haven 15 miles - via Parkway south to exit 59 and 63 north
Bridgeport 24 miles- via Parkway north to exit 59 and 63 north
Meriden/ Middletown 19 / 25 miles - via 691 exit 3 rte 10 s - rte 42 west to 63 south OR take rte 691/84w to rte.8 south then 63 south - this is 10 miles longer but simpler & takes the same time -also about a 30 to 40 minute trip.
Fairfield 29 miles - via Parkway north to exit 59 and 63 north
Newtown 25 miles - via 34 (consult GPS) OR 30 miles via 84 to rte 8s to 63 south
Hartford 35 miles - via 84 sw to 8 south to 63 south
Danbury 39 miles - via 84 east to rte 8 south to 63 south
A modified Playing fee structure will start in mid-January for play at Fairfield and the new New Haven/Waterbury TTC at Bethany.
The new single playing session fee will be $10 per player, reflecting inflation, costs for other entertainment and recreational activities, and the current drop-in playing cost at other comparible quality table tennis clubs in the Tri-state area. (Clubs in NYC are often MUCH more expensive, sometimes even for smaller playing courts and shorter time periods)
Fairfield Club fees were originally established at $5 per visit in 1995 when that was a common Movie admission price, and of course, most other prices for necessities, or entertainment, were MUCH lower than they are today.
But regular players are encouraged to save time and money by pre-paying with options like 3 visits for $25, reducing the cost to slightly over $8 per session.
Other options are being considered as well, such as weekly or monthy payment options, which might reduce the the cost (somewhat) more for players who regularly play on consequetive club days the same week, or who consistantly play every week on the same day. or arrangements for family or short duration play, particularly for new, unrated players.
Participation levels, player ages and incomes and initial participation levels at the new club location in Bethany will help determine the possible variety of pre-payment discount options that might be offered either to everyone, or on a case-by-case basis, at Club director Strang's discretion.
But the '3 for $25' is recommended for most players at this time, though players are also welcome to 'pay as they go' at $10 per visit, hopefully with correct change as often as you can remember to bring it.
Earlier CT TTA NEWS - from 2008 through 2012 is available at the following page:
http://members.tripod.com/netta_ct/2008_2009_News_blog/
(Cut and Paste into your browser if link isn't active)
2006-2007 CT TTA NEWS -
http://netta_ct.tripod.com/news2006_2007.html?start=#imgAnch3
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Top 5 rated active FAIRFIELD TTC PLAYERS 11/01/2012:
1.Rich Dewitt 2219
2.Adis Medunajin 2132
3.David Strang 2070
4.Krzysztof Rydzik 2059
5.Christine Lockwood 2009
Top 10 and Top 20 Rating Lists for CT.TTA are located at: http://www.realtabletennis.com/Ratings/