Game on at Island Falls Bridge Club

    ISLAND FALLS, Maine — Seventy-five years after he was first introduced to the game of contract bridge, Bev Rand says he is still learning the nuances of the game. When he was a student at the University Maine in Orono, a couple of his Phi Eta Kappa fraternity brothers took an interest in him “while waiting around for dinner.” And, thus, Rand was introduced to the popular centuries-old, trick-taking game in his youth.
    For the last eight years, Rand, now 95, has been a regular at the weekly Island Falls Bridge Club. Rand’s late wife, Cora, attended the weekly sessions for about 30 years. Although the games take place in Island Falls, players come from Sherman, Stacyville, Patten and the surrounding area. They meet every Tuesday in the Municipal Building.
According to Rand, the Island Falls club was started back in the ‘70s. “There was a lady, Florence Hartin, who came into town. There weren’t many who knew how to play bridge and she gave them lessons. They used to go around to the individual houses and play bridge. Finally, they migrated into the Municipal Building after it was built.”
The games begin around 10 a.m. and wrap up between 2:30-3 p.m. For Rand, “the biggest joy is winning. Bidding and making a grand slam only happens occasionally. It’s quite an honor. You get quite a kick out of it if you do it.” He added that “of course, there’s a sociability about it.”
Rand recounted the story of one time when he bid two hearts and his partner bid six hearts. But, when his partner started laying down his hand (the dummy), he didn’t have a single heart. Rand reprimanded the man saying: “Vaardis, how dare you to bid six hearts when you don’t have any hearts?” Then, as his partner continued laying down the rest of the dummy, he responded, “If you have the hearts, I have the rest of them.” Rand said the unorthodox bidding yielded the duo a grand slam — the rare feat that produces bonus points for winning the maximum number of tricks, especially if the bid is doubled, redoubled or vulnerable.
Usually there are three tables of four players who bring their own lunch and ante up 35 cents each. Of that, 10 cents goes for coffee and supplies; 25 cents for prize money. There are three prize levels. The third level is the booby prize — a whopping 25 cents.
When winter comes and the snow starts piling up, the games still go on according to Rand. “They’re under cover, in a warm place and they spend the day playing bridge. For senior citizens, it’s a great pastime. And, I’m not alone in thinking that. We have some quite loyal members. It’s not unusual to pick out one that’s been playing for 10 years or more.” Rand said up until about one year ago, Clara Hathaway, now 103, played with the group. “And, she was just as sharp and quick as any of us.” Hathaway now lives in Patten in an assisted-living facility.
When it comes to playing by the rules of the game, Rand’s engaging personality streamed through. He said bidding without the minimum number of points is “a no-no.” He added: “I don’t do it. Well, not very often. I read in the Bangor Daily News that rules are made to be broken. And, occasionally I’ll break a rule. I’ve let that be known.”
As for club rules and joining the group, Rand said when Tuesday rolls around: “Just come in.”