THE BLACK AND GOLD POST

As you can well imagine, without a newsletter for almost a year, there are numerous news items and tidbits that bear mentioning. Everyone enjoys birth announcements so it seems like a good place to start. And I can't think of a better place to start than with MY OWN DAUGHTER !!! That's right. Our first child, Rachel Anna Chiurazzi, entered the lives of my wife Patti and I on September 24, 1999 at 5:21PM and things haven't been the same since. This 7 pound, 11 ounce, 21 inch bundle of blue eyed huggable stuff is everything my wife and I had hoped for and more. Little Rachel was wearing Steeler Black 'n Gold within hours of being born and still does to this very day. And, if she doesn't want to break Daddy's heart, she'll continue to do so for a long time to come.

- Other new additions include:

* - Joan Kathryn Bachar born to Jay and Mary Bachar on 5/12/99. 8 lbs, 6 oz.

* - Michael Dean Koval born to Mike and Amy Koval on 8/7/99. 7 lbs, 8 oz.

* - Dawson Richard Baus born to Dave and Kristie Baus on 9/6/99. 8 lbs, 10 oz., 21 inches.

* - Matthew Lemieux White born to Bob and Leslie White on 10/7/99. 7 lbs, 15 oz., 21 inches. Wonder where the "Lemieux" comes from?

* - Skyler Jane McLamb born to Corey and Kristy McLamb on 4/26/00. 7 lbs, 8 oz., 21 inches.

* - John Matthew Joyce born to Kerry (#0001) and Jen Joyce on 5/20/00. High fives and congrats to all the new parents and little fans from all your friends in the PSFCOB.

- If you're looking for a great way to spend a few days this summer, think about a journey to Steeler Training Camp at St. Vincent College in beautiful Latrobe, PA. Rookies report on July 16 and veterans will arrive a few days later. The morning practice sessions are closed to the public but the afternoon practices offer an exciting opportunity to see your favorite players up close and personal. They start around 3:00 PM. It's easy to make this a family outing as you can use your mornings to explore the woodlands surrounding the area or get some fun and excitement at Idylwild park just up the road in Ligonier. Personally, a morning tour of the Rolling Rock Brewery and an afternoon of sitting in the sun watching the Mighty Steelers suits me just fine. After practice or after the players shower is a good time to try and secure some autographs and, if you're lucky, you may see some players or coaches at one of the local restaurants or bars in the evening hours. If Training Camp is something that you've never done, I suggest you make the trip. You won't be disappointed.

* - It's very apparent that a lot of the Fan Club Bars were busy helping the community while cheering on the Steelers. The Purple Goose Saloon held its annual toy and food drives with the collections being donated to the Southwest Baltimore Emergency Services fund as well as the Vietnam Veterans of America, Baltimore Chapter 451 Food Bank. The Calgary Cattle Company held their yearly Toy Drive and those members gave their generosity to the House of Ruth and Krugs out in Frederick was able to donate $385.00 to the Feed the Children fund. Special thanks go out to PSFCOBers Carole Binaut, Pat and Diane Varricchio and Scott and Carrie Demers for organizing these events as well as all those Club members who found it within themselves to give to such worthy causes. It just goes to show that once again, there is no Fan like a Pittsburgh Steeler fan.

* - The Club lost a valuable member earlier this year with the passing of Dominic DeGeorge. I personally had spoken with Dom on numerous occasions via phone and e-mail about the Steelers and things in general and found the gentleman to be a truly delightful person. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his son David and the rest of the DeGeorge family.

* - The local chapter of the Penn State Alumni Association is holding a raffle for 3 tickets to the Steeler-Redskin exhibition game on August 25 down in D.C. The 3 tickets are on the 45 yard line and the prize also includes a parking pass. The raffle is to benefit the local scholarship fund. The raffle tickets cost $10.00 per chance and include 2 chances to be a winner. Tickets will be available at Shooters Sports bar in Severna Park or by mailing a check to the Alumni Association. Checks should be made payable to "ACPSAA" and mailed to P.O. Box 693, Arnold, MD, 21012. The drawing for the raffle will be held at Shooters on August 1 at 7:00 PM but the winner need not be present to win so take a chance and possibly treat yourself to some summer football.

* - This is just my opinion but the snowflakes that fell in Pittsburgh during the Carolina game last December 26 gave me a real good feeling that everything with the Black 'n Gold would be all right. I hope it had the same effect on you (not to mention the Steelers themselves).

Return to the Black AND GOLD POST TABLE OF CONTENTS