Voigt Park turned into un po’ d’Italia on April 30, when about two dozen Hillers — armed with their best Italian accents — came down to Rippon Road for the official opening of the Hollin Hills bocce court! It was a beautiful, dolce far niente Saturday afternoon — perfect for this fun, relaxed game — and aside from bocce itself there were Italian flags, Italian wines, Italian chocolates, your-name-in-Italian nametags, Italian gesturing, and Marianne Martz’s molto impressionante Italian language skills. There was maybe more socializing than actual bocce-ing, but tutto andò bene and the event stretched well into the early evening. Many thanks to Peter and Marianne Martz, Ron and Addison Ullrich, Gary Koopmann and Barbara Bogue, and the incomparable Italian-speaking, funny and very strict judge, Wendy Montanari (aided by her translator Marianne!) for bringing this wonderful new asset to Hollin Hills — and if you haven’t tried bocce yet, come to one of the regular bocce get-togethers to be held over the summer!

If you are interested in being on a bocce email distro about events or to initiate games, please let Barbara Bogue know by email (barbarabogue@gmail.com) with your name, email address and, if you have kids who would be interested in kids' events, their names and ages.