by Jeff Grotenhuis
I recently was invited out for a drink with a gentleman I gave a ride to. He told me he was meeting his “girlfriend” at the Salt Creek Grill. When I sat down with Bill Baxter and his gal, the waiter asked if Bill wanted his usual. He responded affirmatively and later the waiter arrived with iced tea. Bill is 96 years young and he was out dinner with his wife – and still his girlfriend – Jean.
Bill is daring and dangerous when sits down at a bridge table. He still bests most of the experienced local players.
During the drive to Salt Creek, Bill asked if there was anything he could do for me. I asked, “How would you like to be a guest speaker prior to one of my bridge games?” Bill responded, “Sure, but no morning games, I stay up too late for those.”
He finally settled on Playing the Hand in No Trump. He will speak on this topic 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, April 24 at the Hermosa Beach Kiwanis Club, on Valley Drive at the south end of Hermosa Valley Park. Bill’s lecture will precede the opening of the first sanctioned 49r game in Hermosa. The cost of the lecture and game, along with a light lunch, is $12.
Jeff Grotenhuis is a bridge teacher and an ambassador for bridge, a complex card game that researchers credit with exercising the minds of young and old.
For players with bridge experience or those returning to the game, there will be two games in April. Easybridge II games continue every Monday, from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. at the Hermosa Kiwanis Club. On Tuesday, April 24, from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m., a game for experienced duplicate players (with less than 50 master points) will commence, also at the Hermosa Kiwanis Club. Each game is $12. For information call Jeff Grotenhuis at 310-600-4275 or see www.agilebridgeclub.com. ER
