Club holds ‘P-A-R-T-Y’
Uniontown Scrabble Club sets up surprise for college-bound founder To show their gratitude for his hard work and dedication, Uniontown Scrabble Club members recently hosted a surprise going-away party for their founder who is heading off to college.
Mike Tony, son of Michael and Cindy Tony of Uniontown, walked through the door of the second-floor meeting room at the Uniontown Public Library to find it decorated with red and blue balloons and a “good luck” sign that featured a Scrabble board.
Mike Tony, who was dressed appropriately in a Scrabble T-shirt, greeted the smiles and good wishes with a smile of his own.
“It’s a blessing to have people willing to acknowledge me but it’s about them, really. They’re the club. It’s awesome. I love it,” he said of the party. “It’s a nice sendoff, that’s for sure.”
Mike Tony started the club at the Uniontown Public Library as his senior project. He graduated from Uniontown Area High School in the spring and will be leaving Fayette County to attend the University of Pennsylvania in September.
The club, which meets once a month, will continue under the leadership of Cindy Tony and Dr. Judith Taylor, two of the founding members. Mike Tony plans to attend club meetings when he’s home on school breaks.
“We enjoy it so much,” explained Cindy Tony. “We hate to give it up. He still wants to come when he’s on breaks. I’m excited he has this opportunity to go to Penn.”
Michael Tony said of his son, “I wasn’t sure when he first said he wanted to do this but it turned out better than anyone thought. He’s a great kid. We’re proud of him.”
Other members also had kind words for Mike Tony.
“He’s an extremely mature young man,” said Taylor.
“It’s remarkable that he started this club,” said Sister Karen Flaherty, who’s been a regular club member since February.
“His love of the game is contagious,” Taylor added.
Mike Tony developed an interest in Scrabble as a youth, and then played the game at Ben Franklin School as part of the gifted program. He also participated in tournaments at California University of Pennsylvania that were for students at the elementary and junior high levels.
“Scrabble is a good game. It teaches vocabulary, strategy, language and humanities,” he said.
Mike Tony started the club because he wanted to be able to continue his interest in Scrabble as he grew older and to share it with others. “It’s an outlet for Scrabble that wouldn’t otherwise exist,” he said of the club. “All ages can play and I’m glad to do it at the library. They’re great partners with us.”
The club started in September 2008 and meets from 6 to 7:30 p.m. the third Monday of each month. In January and February, the meeting dates are changed to the fourth Monday because of Martin Luther King Day and Presidents Day holidays.
The library has provided meeting space as well as Scrabble boards and a Scrabble dictionary. Mike Tony thanked director Lynne Tharan and children’s librarian Dianne McFeaters for their support.
Contacted later, Tharan also commended Mike Tony and said of the club, “I think it just shows that some things are universal and lasting – the fascination with words and a game that has been popular for generations and is intergenerational.”
“I’m fascinated by (the club),” she added. “I’m so glad it persisted and is still going on.”
The club attracts an average of 10 members a month but attendance has gone as high as 30. Anyone who comes is considered a member. Snacks are available. People sit around tables and play the game. Mike Tony has acted as referee when words are challenged and offered help by sharing handouts with word suggestions that range from seven-letter words, such as radioman (a radio operator) and movieola (a device for viewing and editing film) to two-letter words such as za, slang for pizza. The members talked about their interest in Scrabble.
Flaherty said, “I just love the game. In our family, we were always playing it and I was glad to see the notice about it on the front door of the library.
Melvin Lerch and Kyle Karwatski, who were members of Uniontown’s Hometown High Q quiz team with Mike Tony, are also regulars at Scrabble Club. Lerch and Karwatski are also recent graduates of Uniontown Area High School and will both be attending Rochester Institute of Technology this fall.
Karwatski said of the club, “We get to have fun as friends and play Scrabble and challenge each other.”
Lerch said, “We play with our friends and new people. Scrabble is still, by far, my favorite board game.”
Karwatski and Lerch came to the August meeting with Lauren Zuzak, another Uniontown grad who will attend Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus, this fall. She joined in July.
“I think it’s interesting to watch and play,” Zuzak said.
Earl Christopher, who is a freshman at Uniontown Area High School, came to his first meeting in August.
“I’ve been wanting to do this for a few months,” Christopher said. “It’s really good, really competitive and I’m determined to win.”
Mike Tony thanked everyone who’s come to the club over the past two years and said, “It’s exceeded my expectations. I didn’t think it would be a success and attract the different people that it has. I’m willing to keep it going and the library is, too.