PA Billiards Event Benefits Hospice

By Bill Rosenberger

The Fourth Annual Billiards for Benefits was held February 26-27 at Hotel Carlisle in Carlisle, PA.  Each year, Tracee Clepper and co-founder Lisa Kochenour, along with their staff, choose a charity, and this year, the Hospice of Central PA will be receiving a generous donation.

The benefit tournament was started in 2002 not o­nly to raise awareness for the charities involved but to also shine a more positive light o­n the billiards industry in the Carlisle area.  "The community needed a better image of pool, and pool needed to do something for the community," explained Clepper.  Each year, they select a different charity, and it was a pool player that recommended Hospice for the 2005 event. 

Hospice of Central PA is a non-profit organization that offers bereavement, support groups, equipment, medication, chaplains, and a unique feature called the Caroline Croxton Slane Residence.  The residence houses terminally ill patients who are consistently monitored by staff and volunteers.  "Their motto is 'a hand to hold and a heart to listen,'" said Clepper.  "They don't turn anyone away."

In the past four years, over $15,000 has been raised for various charities and foundations, including $5,400 in 2004 and $4,000 this year.  The attendance wasn't as high as last year, but the amount of money raised was still inspiring.  Clepper said they haven't decided o­n next year's charity, but preliminary planning for the 2006 event is already underway.

The two-day 8-ball tournament consisted of five separate events, including divisions for men, women, juniors, seniors, and mixed doubles.  In the men's division, Donald Boyer came in first with a win over Lou Steflow, while Randy Clepper and Bill Troutman filled out the top four spots. 

Seventeen-year-old Julliette Houtz won the women's division, with Nancy Kuhn, Peg Lloyd, and Dawn Dewalt rounding out the top four.  Houtz also placed second with her partner John Kim in the scotch doubles event, which was won by Beth Tully and Randy Clepper.  Teresa Diller and Ken Hess came in third. 

The juniors were led by Glen Byers, followed by Robert Miske, and Michael Wolfe.  Finally, the top three in the senior division were Bob Bosler, Bob Deibert, and Francis Boone.
 

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