ALKE:
On Monday morning of this week the City of
Trail and the surrounding districts lost a good
friend and one of its top boosters in the per80ll of Al
Tognotti. His sudden passing and the way it ~
pened came as an awful shock to all who knew him.
When I came to Trail to work in the 4X Bakery, Al's
father, Happy, bad a butcher shop just above where
the Trail Hotel was situated and I guess I bought my
first hamburger steak from Happy. I was rlpt in
the middle of what was then known as Little Italy
and having spent almost a year in Italy during the
war I almost felt like I bad come heme.
I'm not sure what year Al started bis liU1e store
on Bay Avenue, but I do know that even then if
someone in some minor sport was looking for some
help to boost their team, Al's your Pal, was the
place to look. You know, I think be must have just
continued on from that time, because be became a
leader in the city in anything that was to benefit the
people and be was also quite a strong member of the
Colombo Lodge.
Yes, I think you can say in the loss of Al
Tognotti, Trail bas lost one of its greatest assets, be
was indeed a credit to bis community.
Now to a bit of curling news. The Rossland
Retirees went to Nelson last week to play some
games against their Nelson counterparts and as
usual we came out second best. We travelled in
style, leaving Rossland at 8:30 a.m. in a comfortable Dickens coach with "Butch" Bonin at the
wheel, and we started to curl at 10 a.m. We curled
five games in the morning draw, bad lunch and then
it was on to more curling. _Rossland bad three
winners in the morning but Nelson turned things
around in the afternoon, winning three with the
others ending in ties. I bad the pleasure of curling
against Len Bicknell and bis team. I needed four to
win but managed only three. They will visit us •ly
in the New Year.
As I write this we are anticipating joining the
Rossland Ladies club for a joint Christmas party
and mini-6J)ieL The ladies will have one member on
each of the four-man Retirees rinks. I understand 14
games will be played during the day plus some

partying.

Over the past few years there have been some
dandies. LiWe skits by the men and by the women
that show a wealth of acting talent among the ranks
of both clubs. It's just a chance to really let your
hair down for a few hours.
We have now started our second round of
competition in the Retirees. My boys got off on the
right foot as we edged Angus Popplewell when
Angus missed a takeout with bis last rock. Joe
Rosse is my third, while Jim Thompson is second,
EmieBrownleadandwuieTbompsonmyfifth
man. Competition continues on Thursday Dec. 18
and Dec. 23, before we break for Christmas. Then
we get back into it on Dec. 30 with another break for
New Years. Then back at it again on Jan. 8 and 7.
We received some good news in the club the
other day as we got news that Gordon Brennan, who
was one of our originals in the club along with a
couple o f ~ !J~ys made our coffee on,ame
da,nrheri we operated outofllie Wllrrlof1' ~unge.
He bas beeri in bOl!ll)ital in Vancouver suffering from
a bout with T.B. but the news at this time is be is
coming along very well in bis baWe with what used
to be a pretty bad problem. When I was a youngster
in the old COIDltry, my father's family were all
subject to that particular problem which was at that
time considered to be almost fatal. However, with
the advances of modem medicine we may be
looking at a brighter picture. Gordon, we shall look
,__ - '

..i-.-i..o

,.,

Id

continued OD from that time, because he became a
leader in the city in anything that was to benefit the
people and be was also quite a strong member of the
Colombo Lodge.
Yes, I think you can say in the loss of Al
Tognotti, Trail bas lost one of ita greatest assets, be
was indeed a credit to bis community.
Now to a bit of curling news. The R088land
Retirees went to Nelson last week to play some
games against their Nelson counterparts and as
usual we came out second best. We travelled in
style, leaving R088land at 8:30 a.m. in a comfortable Dickens coach with "Butch" Bonin at the
wheel, and we started to curl at 10 a.m. We curled
five games in the morning draw, bad lunch and then
it was on to more curling. _Rossland bad three
winners in the morning but Nelson turned things
around in the afternoon, winning three with the
others ending in ties. I bad the pleasure of curling
against Len Bicknell and bis team. I needed four to
win but managed only three. They will visit us ~ly
in the New Year.
As I write this we are anticipating joining the
Rossland Ladies club for a joint Christmas party
and mini-spiel. The ladies will have one member on
each of the four-man Retirees rinks. I understand 14
games will be played during the day plus some
partying.

Over the past few years there have been some
dandies. Little skits by the men and by the women
that show a wealth of acting talent among the ranks
of both clubs. It's just a chance to really let your
hair down for a few hours.
We have now started our second round of
competition in the Retirees. My boys got off on the
right foot as we edged Angus Popplewell when
Angus missed a takeout with bis last rock. Joe
Rosse is my third, while Jim Thompson is second,
Ernie Brown lead and Louie Thompson my fifth
Competition continues on Thursday Dec. 18
and Dec. 23, before we break for Cbrisbnas. 1ben
we get back into it on Dec. 30 with another break for
New Years. Then back atit again on Jan. 8 and 7.
We received some good news in the club the
other day as we got news that Gordon Brennan, who
was one of our originals in the club along with a
couple of ~ ~ y s made our coffee on,ame
dapwheri we
iiteil ourofllie Wllffiotlr Lounge.
He bas beeri in b09pital in Vancouver suffering from
a bout with T.B. but the news at this time is he is
coming along very well in bis battle with what used
to be a pretty bad problem. When I was a youngster
in the old COIDltry, my father's family were all

man:

subject to that particular problem which was at that
time considered to be almost fatal. However, with
the advances of modem medicine we may be
looking at a brighter picture. Gordon, we shall look
forward to welcoming you back to our midst, you
have been missed!
"Doc" Halladay bas bad to return to hospital
for further work on bis thigh and hip while Bernie
Ferrey is back in action again after bis rupture
operation. Al Besso and Bill Dobbs are off yet. Al's
knee is giving him trouble while Bill bad a back
problem. Hurry and get well, you guys!
The kiddies Christmas tree and party at the
Rossland·Legion is always a source of pleasure to
those who participate. Just to see the looks on the
wee ones faces is something to behold, great $bow
Bernie and ladies.
The Warriors lost a couple more close ·ones - to
the Rebels during the week and to Spokane over the
weekend. I see where Bob Whitlock bas decided to
call it a day so I assume that Rieb Cbobanuk will
now take over. The club can certainly use a couple
of big wins to get them beaded in the right direction.
Since the season began with such a good feeling
something bas to be done to get them back on the
right foot. One thing I always look forward to is a
Warriors vs. the Oldtimers at Christmas when the
boys come home.
.And I think with that I shall say,
'Til next time then!
And Merry Christmas to all.