Bill Maffucci umpiring during break from playing BocceBrookE (Photo by KEvin Callahan)

Each year, Bill Maffucci organizes a bocce tournament in Voorhees.

He sends out e-mails to the teams to keep them informed. He umpires. He keeps the games moving with announcements over a megaphone. He changes the score on the board and updates the bracket taped to a minivan near all the food.

At the sixth annual bocce championship May 22 at the municipal bocce courts in Kirkwood Park, Maffucci did more. The champions of the 15-team, 75-player BocceBrookE tourney was Carriagebrooke Vino Puro with Ron Arculeo, Elaine Maffucci, Emily Maffucci and . . . Bill Maffucci.

"I could not have dreamed of a more perfect ending," said Maffucci.

Maffucci, 51, built a 12-by-60 court for the ancient Italian game of rolling balls in his backyard seven years ago at the suggestion of his wife, Elaine. Neighbors started to come over and play. They kept coming back.

So Maffucci started a backyard tournament. He called it BocceBrookE -- combining bocce and the Carriagebrooke Farm neighborhood where he lives.

Before last year, the tournament was open only to residents of Carriagebrooke. However, Maffucci opened the competition to any Voorhees neighborhood this year.

That's because Voorhees Township constructed two public courts last year.

This year, each team represented a Voorhees neighborhood, although it wasn't necessary for every player to live in that neighborhood.

Players were of both genders and of many ages.

"I like it," said Gabe Lebold, 11, who won most valuable player honors two years ago. "I didn't know what it was or what it was called."

Tradition dictated everyone bring at least one type of food or drink to contribute to the smorgasbord set up along the courts and shared by everyone all afternoon.

The tailgating spectators shared the fun, spreading out under canopies and sitting in lawn chairs.

The preliminary ceremony of BocceBrookE 2010 amused them, too.

The order of play was determined by the Running of the Provolone, a footrace inspired by the Il Palio (a twice-annual horse race in Siena, Italy), in which representatives from each team chased a pacesetter who ran while holding the BocceBrookE Cup.

"We have more players this year than ever," said Maffucci. "Although we have the same amount of teams, teams have more subs this year."

The event lasted all day, since the champions must win four games.

Carriagebrooke Vino Puro defeated the defending champion Carriagebrooke Hawks with Leon and Linda Trevito and Anthony and Diane Napoli.

"It is a great afternoon. It is so much fun," said Anthony Napoli, 47.

Napoli's wife, Diane, added: "It is fun, but I also like the competition. It is definitely competitive. Once you win, you want to keep going."

The husband-wife team of the Trevitos and the Napolis won BocceBrookE 2009, so they were the team to beat. But losing in the championship didn't take away from the fun of the day for them.

"I like it because I get to do this with my wife and friends," said Leon Trevito, 45.

The event attracted spectators who weren't just from Voorhees. Tara Bernardini of Marlton came to see her aunt Diane Napoli compete. It was Bernardini's 32nd birthday.

"I had never been to one before," Bernardini said. "I don't know what is going on, but I think I can figure it out."

In bocce, each team has four colored balls to throw or roll. The idea is to get their team ball closest to a little white ball for a point. Each game was played to 15 points.

"It takes concentration," Linda Trevito said about what it took to be successful in bocce.

"And confidence," added Diane Napoli.

"And cocktails," added Linda Trevito. "It takes the three Cs."

Geri and Donna

Geri Connelly-Feehan can't reciprocate and give her sister Donna Waltz a kidney, so she will compete in the upcoming Transplant Games this summer.

"It is my way of giving a little bit back," said Connelly-Feehan, who received the transplant almost two years ago.

Waltz, 61, isn't done giving, either. The Roebling resident will compete with Connelly-Feehan, 59, of Bensalem, Pa., in Madison, Wis., from July 30 to Aug. 4.

And Waltz, an athletic trainer, is training her younger sister for the event, where they will run a 5K and a 100-yard dash.

They work out twice a week.

Waltz has run 14 marathons, but she has never run in the Transplant Games with her sister.

"When I first learned that my sister Geri needed a kidney transplant, I did not think that the donor would be me," Waltz said. "She was on the list for a cadaver, but that usually takes about five years and by then she would be on dialysis, not living a good life."

So Waltz gave.

"I believe my sister Donna is one of those people that God put on Earth as one of his angels," Connelly-Feehan said. "She is forever helping people. You would be honored to have her as a friend or even know her."

Connelly-Feehan had the transplant Aug. 22, 2008. She said she was "one step from going on dialysis" before the transplant.

Connelly-Feehan tried to talk Waltz out of giving her kidney, but she kept saying, "Oh Geri, it's nothing, anyone would do it. And I would tell her, no, they would not, it is a big deal. And she would tell me to stop."

Waltz also organizes Eric's Ride out of Florence. She devised the bike ride 12 years ago to help their friend, Eric Potts, who was injured in a lacrosse game when he was 21 years old and is a quadriplegic.

"In our first few years the money raised went directly to Eric. There are many health costs that are not covered," Waltz said. "Eric's mother, Marie, started the Eric Potts Foundation. Now the money helps Eric and others."

Just like Donna helped her sister ... and still helps.

ON THE WEB

National Kidney Foundation

Transplant Games -- www.kidney.org

Pettit Farm

As part of its yearlong 50th anniversary celebration, New Jersey Conservation Foundation will hold a "Feast in the Field" on the preserved Pettit family farm off Marl Road from 2 - 6 p.m. on Saturday, June 26.

This "Day on the Farm" in Gloucester County will feature a gourmet meal prepared with freshly grown local ingredients, live bluegrass music by the band Sulley's Fortune, guided nature walks, a "sheep to shawl" wool demonstration, local produce and a native plant exhibit and sale.

"We're excited to hold this celebration on a preserved farm, since preserving farmland and the agricultural way of life in the Delaware Bay watershed is one of our top priorities," said Michele S. Byers, executive director of New Jersey Conservation Foundation.

The cost of the event is $30 for adults and $10 for children 12 and under. Advance reservations are required by contacting Kathleen Thayne at 908-234-1225 or Kathleen@njconservation.org.

Not sunning, but seining?

Seining  is a fishing technique dating back to the ancient Phoenicians who used nets weighted on the bottom and floating on top of the Mediterranean Sea.
Your child can learning seining during  summer camps at Palmyra Cove Nature Park, which specializes in offering fun-filled and educational ways for children to discover and explore the great outdoors.

During the weeks of July 5-9 and July 12-16, Cove campers will learn about the meadowlands, beaches and wetlands of Palmyra Cove through hands-on, interactive activities.

Children will learn seining and other programs like geology, interpretive hiking, wetland exploration, shelter building, stewardship lessons, nature-related arts and crafts and plant, animal, insect and reptile observation.

Palmyra Cove Summer Camps are best suited for students in grades 3 to 6 and run from 9 a.m. to noon.

Cost for participation is $115 per week for PCNP members and $155 per week for non-members. Registration is mandatory as camps fill up quickly. For more information, call PCNP at (856) 829-1900 x267.

Palmyra Cove Nature Park is a 250-acre nature preserve located under the Tacony-Palmyra Bridge in Palmyra open to the public year-round. Visitors can enjoy a variety of interactive exhibits in the Cove's 10,000 square foot Environmental Discovery Center. Hours are Monday - Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and weekends from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information on various nature hikes and activities visit HERE

Dennis Earl explaining his inspiration to 15 year old Moorestown High School student, Jennifer Pistor. (Dennie Earl's website is www.mdearlart.com)

Moorestown ArtWalk, which returns for a fifth season this summer, is enjoyed twice as much by Hala Al-Shawaf.

A business person and an artist, Al-Shawaf sees the benefit of both at ArtWalk.

"I think it is a mutually beneficial relationship," she said. "The artist benefit from being near the restaurants and the ice cream shops and places like that they naturally have foot traffic and for people who are looking for an evening out and an event, they might go to Main Street Moorestown instead of spending their principal dollars somewhere else."

Al-Shawaf is a banker in business development by day and an artist at night.

"I've seen in the last couple of years more media attention on giving back to the community and giving back to local businesses," said Al-Shawaf, 27, who attended Moorestown High School.

Over the last four years, more than 30 businesses and 40 local and regional artists have participated.

The summer, the dates are June 11, July 9, Aug. 13 and Sept. 10. The first ArtWalk of the season was on May 14.

Founded in the Spring of 2006, the goal of Moorestown ArtWalk was to unite organizations in this historic leafy town who shared a common mission of bringing cultural events, music, performance and fine art tothe downtown area.

"I think people have always really appreciated Moorestown and that we are a close-knit community and that we like to support our local businesses," Al-Shawaf said.

ArtWalk really shares a dual purpose of not only promoting the small businesses and restaurants on tree-lined Main Street. but to also generate exposure in the marketplace for local and regional artists and makers.

"I think people are also looking at spending their money on things that are individual, that are hand-made and not mass produced, maybe it is a reaction to the big box store mentality," she said.

ArtWalk premiered with only five participating sites, but Moorestown business owners have continued their pledge to stay open and support the artist in what is a festive atmosphere filled with live music and food.

"It has grown, people have heard about it and offered to get involved," Al-Shawaf said.

The event is sponsored by the Moorestown Business Association and is free to the public. Visitors are encouraged to walk Main Street and stroll from one exhibit to the next.

ArtWalk happens from 6 to 9 p.m., rain or shine.

Al-Shawaf, an assistant branch manager at the Moorestown office of Sus

quehanna Bank, began her involvement as an artist and organizer/volunteer with ArtWalk in 2007, which was the second season.

Midway through last year's season, the Moorestown Business Associationofficially adopted the Moorestown ArtWalk as one of its events. Before, ArtWalk was run by the Moorestown Arts Association, which Al-Shawaf explained "was essentially a small group of artists, business people and local citizens who wanted to create a fun cultural activity while promoting our Main Street businesses."

Al-Shawaf, a metalsmith and a textile artist, presents small sculptures and wearable art and jewelry at her table along Main Street.

"You can take them off each day and feel great about them," she said of her work.

The graduate of the Moore College of Art and Design in Philadelphia has showed her work in other street fairs and galleries, but the Moorestown ArtWalk is her primary showcase.

"The thing that I love the most is being outside and doing all the people watching," Al-Shawaf said. "I see folks I know and meet new people."

If you have never been to the Pine Barrens, you don't have to go alone.

Unless you plan to meet the Jersey Devil, you can join South Jersey Land and Water Trust staff member Michael Hogan for a special guided tour to see the Pine Barrens early summer wildflowers at the New Jersey Conservation Foundation's Franklin Parker Preserve in Chatsworth, Burlington County, on Saturday, June 19 at 11:00 a.m.

The 9,400 acre Franklin Parker Preserve is a former cranberry/blueberry farm located in the heart of the New Jersey Pine Barrens. It contains many sand roads and trails that wind through pitch pine forests, cedar swamps, streams, ponds, and former blueberry fields and cranberry bogs. It contains habitat for more than 50 rare, threatened and endangered species including native orchids and a pair of nesting bald eagles. It is also a premier birding location and many species of migratory songs birds and raptors pass through and nest in the preserve.

Expect to hike about 3-4 miles.

Michael Hogan will explore the middle of the preserve, west of Rt. 563, including the ongoing Atlantic white cedar restoration. You will be able to view the many early summer blooming flowers including sundews, bladderworts, rose pogonia orchid and the rare bog asphodel.

There should be many Pine Barrens warblers and other migratory song birds to view.

The trip will include a one-hour lunch break, so pack some food. The trail may be wet, so wear appropriate foot ware.

Bring insect repellant, camera and binoculars.

The hike is free for SJLWT members and $3,00 for non-members. RSVP is asked.

For more information, directions and a map, contact Michael Hogan at 609-476-2086 or hoganphoto@verizon.net.

Kelly

You can still join the Fifth and Final Kelly's Ride tomorrow (Saturday, June 5) for a bike ride down the shore of 65, 40 or 25 miles.

The mission of Kelly's Ride is to raise money for specific agencies dedicated to improving the quality of life for disadvantaged girls and young women physically, academically, emotionally and spiritually, in tribute to Kelly Marie Vogdes.

Kelly was 25 years old and a remarkable young woman. With her exuberant energy, genuine warmth and gregarious nature, she stood out in a crowd. She displayed her love for life, family and friends with wide open eyes, dimpled smiles, kindness and compassion.

Born and raised in South Jersey, Kelly graduated from Camden Catholic High School and went on to complete her B.A. in Fashion Merchandising at Philadelphia University. Upon graduation, she was hired by the Jones Apparel Group. Pursuing an executive track position, her job site moved to New York, but her heart and home remained in South Jersey.

And, South Jersey will always remember Kelly and her parents Joe and Kathy. They have saved lives of young women here and around the world.

Kelly’s Ride Beneficiaries:

* Amigos de Jesus Orphanage, Honduras (www.amigosdejesus.org) - an orphanage facilities to accommodate little girls

* Robins’ Nest, Inc., New Jersey (www.robinsnestinc.org) - “Life Link” Homes for youth aging out of the child welfare system

* Philadelphia University (www.philau.edu/development/kellysride.html) - The Kelly Marie Vogdes Scholarship Fund. Their second scholar is entering her junior year studying fashion merchandising and design

And, Kelly's Ride will expand and help even more ... since the earthquake hit Haiti on January 21, over 300,000 little children have been orphaned, abandoned, or seriously injured.

So, Kelly's Ride is including the Fr. Wasson Baby House in Haiti as one of beneficiary agencies in 2010. This baby house will be dedicated especially to serving the needs of newborn to children aged 6.

Representatives from all of Kelly's Ride's helping partners, (Amigos de Jesus Orphanage; The Kelly Marie Vogdes Scholarship Fund at Philadelphia University; Robins' Nest, Inc. Life Links Homes and The Father Wasson Baby House in Haiti) will be on hand to show you how your support literally saves the lives of little girls and young women in need, at risk, or in danger, in New Jersey and beyond.

Last year, more than 500 riders, volunteers, sponsors and corporate donors raised thousands of dollars. Now you can help too - it is not to late to register on-site.

You can join up and ride along the Pennsauken Phalling Phive - just be careful, they fall down a lot!

Kevin Callahan, Billy Decker, Perry DiDomenico and the great Joe Cuzzupe

For more information, click HERE

Of course, some rules for the ride:

• All riders must wear a performance certified helmet

• All bikes must be in performance shape for the ride. Keswick Cycle will be on hand to help fill tires, etc., but it is the responsibility of each individual rider to make sure his or her bike can take them the distance they have chosen. It is recommended that all riders carry an extra tire, and a bike pump with them.

• It is illegal in the state of NJ to ride with an Ipod, or even a cell phone jack into your ear.

• Ride single file. No exceptions

.• Stay hydrated. All of the launch sites, and the rest stops will have plenty of plain water and three flavors of vitamin enriched Skinny Water.

• Keep the emergency card number with you at all times. If you become disabled, or if you see someone who has taken themselves off the road, be sure the incident has been called into the central emergency manager, Dan Vogdes.

After you cross the finish line in Ocean City, food will be provided by Mack and Manco Pizza; Seafood recipes and samplings from Island Grill, Spadafora and Rastelli's; Isgro's cannoli; soft pretzels; three flavors of skinnywater; and your choice of premium turkey or beef wrap sandwhiches courtesy of Island Grill.

Four fine masseuses will be ready to make your tired muscles relax...all complimentary.

Kelly's Ride 5 signature hats, a goody bags, including men's shaving kits from Gilette, and other assorted gifts will be waiting for all riders.

Photographer Tom Camp has been snapping photos of Kelly's Ride participants and venues for the past four years. In 2010, be sure to stop by our photo tent to see if you or your friends have been captured by the camera. Digital prints, 5x7 will be available for you to take home for a $5 donation to Kelly's Ride. Payment by cash or check only please.

Or pose with your friends for a snapshot for a $10 donation!

The five years of Kelly's Ride has been a snap shot of Kelly's life and her parents Joe and Kathy - all lives that continue to give ... and live!

Check OUT Saddler's Woods at www.saddlerswoods.org.

There is really no better way to celebrate National Trails Day tomorrow then to help OUT and clean up a trail ...

Right here in sOUTh Jersey, Saddler’s Woods Conservation Association is looking for a few forest friendly volunteers to help nurture Saddler’s Woods on National Trails Day on Saturday.

Volunteers are invited to remove invasive species, pick up litter and maintain trails.

The organizers of this happening and happy event which is  sponsored by REI Marlton and supported by Suburu America, Cherry Hill, will meet at the woods’ welcome area across from the Haddon View apartments at 250  MacArthur Blvd., Haddon Township.

Refreshments will be provided but they ask to bring your own reusable cup to reduce the use of disposable plastic bottles.

Pre-registration is appreciated.

For more information or to register, contact Donna at 856-869-7372 or donna@saddlerswoods.org.  Directions and information are available HERE

Jesus Castro, director of Urban BoatWorks, christens the boats with Sparkling Cider. (Photo by Al Schell/Courier-Post)

Under a steamy mid-morning sun, Jenise Rivera enjoyed a boat ride with some of her classmates Wednesday.

The eighth-grader, however, wasn't part of a school trip to the Cooper River to sail on rented boats. Rivera helped build the two 15-foot wooden boats she and her classmates sailed for the first time.

"It was cool, very nice," said Rivera, wearing a red life jacket after stepping onto the floating pier at the Cooper River Yacht Club. "It is kind of amazing we actually built them and now are sailing on them."

Rivera, who lives in Westville, and seven other middle school students from the UrbanPromise School in East Camden participated in the Urban BoatWorks program. They spent the winter sanding, stitching, epoxying and painting the double-ended, single sailboats made of marine mahogany plywood.

"I can't believe they had the ability to learn something like this," said Denise Rivera, the mother of Jenise. "It is amazing they can do this."

They built the sailboats from kits in the basement of the Camden Seaport and Maritime Museum in South Camden.

"We have a new $40,000 boat shop at the museum," said Michael Lang, the director of the museum, "so this is a long-term commitment to this type of program for city kids."

The project is part of UrbanPromise's mission to equip children and young adults with skills needed for academic achievement and life management. Urban BoatWorks is an extension of the expeditionary learning promoted by the Urban Trekkers, an outdoor program of UrbanPromise.

"I would love to be a doctor. I love to work with people," said Jenise Rivera. "And when you are a doctor, you use your hands and building the boats helps you to sharpen your skills using your hands."

The Urban BoatWorks program set sail in August when the after-school program built three 12-foot-long wooden rowboats. Faith, Hope and Promise were launched into the Cooper River, setting new horizons for a new group of students to build the sailboats Monarch and Journey, which they sailed Wednesday.

"A lot of kids in Camden want to be engaged in their education," said Jesus Castro, the director of Urban BoatWorks. "To be in a program to widen the scope of what they can learn is insanely rewarding."

These students started the latest project in early October. They worked in split shifts with four students building on Mondays and the other four constructing on Wednesdays. They put in more than 100 hours.

Throughout the winter, the students attended classroom sessions on sailing. They also received sailing lessons from the Cooper River Yacht Club.

"We are really hoping some of the students continue with lessons throughout the summer," said Jim Cummings, director of Urban Trekkers. "A big part of this is developing an on-water program. It is great to build boats, but the objective is to get on the water and enjoy what you built."

The boats are scheduled to be launched officially on July 10 at the Cooper River Yacht Club, after which children from the program plan to sail them regularly.

"It was a great experience," Charleston Clark, a seventh-grader from Pennsauken, said of building the boats. "I would do it again."

Motorcycle enthusiasts are invited to join this 125-mile ride to raise money and awareness for the YMCA of Burlington County's Strong Kids Campaign.

Riders will leave from the YMCA of Burlington County in Mt. Laurel for a scenic motorcycle tour through Burlington, Ocean and Atlantic counties. The run ends at The Flying W Airport Resort in Medford where there will be a special performance by The Junk Yard Dogs and prizes for winning poker card hands.

Approximately $8,000 was collected at last year's event through the support of participants and sponsors.

Sponsorship opportunities are still available.

The cost to participate is $25 per rider and $15 per passenger.

Breakfast, lunch and a commemorative T-Shirt will be provided at no cost to riders.

Riders can pre-register prior to the event date by contacting Nicole Albrecht at nalbrecht@evergreens.org or 856-439-2090, or may sign up the morning of the event.

No rain date, no refunds, no "colors."

For additional information or questions, contact The Evergreens Director of Recreation and Wellness, Amanda Fina, at 856-439-2052 or at afina@evergreens.org.