E-dition No. 1,102 • Friday, March 27, 2020
Editor: Bob Johnson (bjibob@aol.com)
Frewing Scholarship Deadline Extended
The deadline to submit applications for the inaugural Daroll and Dee Frewing Scholarship has been extended to May 15.
The extension was implemented because students across the country are not attending classes as one part of the government’s response to fighting the coronavirus.
The International Bowling Museum and Hall of Fame continues to accept applications for what will be an annual $25,000 scholarship, created by Daroll Frewing, co-founder and CEO of US Bowling Corporation, and his wife, Dolores, as their way of giving back to the center owners with whom they have built relationships through the years. Daroll, who has been involved in the bowling industry for nearly six decades, serves on the Board of Trustees of the IBMHOF.
Applicants must be a son, daughter or grandchild of a Bowling Proprietors’ Association of America-member center owner and in their senior year of high school. The scholarship will be awarded to an applicant based on academic success and service to the community.
In addition to being a high school senior, an applicant must be maintaining a minimum 3.0 grade point average (on a 4-point scale), and will be asked to submit information on advanced placement classes, scholastic honors, extracurricular activities and community service.
They’ll also be required to submit an essay of no more than 500 words on the topic of their choice, as well as two letters of reference from a teacher, principal, employer, etc.
The launch of the scholarship, with a $250,000 donation by the Frewings, was announced at last year’s Bowl Expo. The scholarship recipient will be selected by the IBMHOF Board of Directors, along with a member of the Frewing family.
To download an application form, go to: https://www.bowlingmuseum.com/Get-Involved/Daroll-Dolores-Frewing-Scholarship
Senate Bill Provides Lifeline to Small Businesses
By a vote of 96-0, the United States Senate approved its largest emergency aid package in modern history on Wednesday. It will offer $2 trillion to help Americans, hospitals and businesses weather the effects of the coronavirus.
The bill now goes to the House for approval before it’s sent to President Donald Trump for his signature. The House is expected to call for a voice vote on Friday morning.
Among the provisions offered in the measure are:
* One-time $1,200 checks to individuals, something that will provide some relief to bowling center employees and other industry workers who have been laid off as centers across the country were forced to close their doors.
* $367 billion in loans and grants to small businesses, which should help proprietors and other businesses in the bowling industry weather the financial storm that the virus has caused. The Bowling Proprietors’ Association of America website details how the agreement will help bowling centers and their staff members in many ways. Go to: https://bpaa.com/cv19
* More than $130 billion for hospitals and community health centers.
* Financial help to airlines and other industries hit hard by the virus.
“The emergency aid package is the third Congress has taken up to offset the effects of the virus,” USA Today reported. “Wednesday’s vote capped off days of tense, round-the-clock negotiations between the Trump administration and leaders of the House and Senate.”
COVID-19 Updates from Around the Bowling World
With local and state governments mandating the closing of “non-essential” businesses and strongly suggesting that citizens practice “social distancing” as a way of combatting the spread of COVID-19, you might think that there’s not a lot of bowling business news to report.
But there is. Here’s a look at the latest coronavirus-related news from our industry…
* U.S. Polychemical, a longtime manufacturer of bowling lane care products, is providing a bright spot amid the gloom to the most distressed and vulnerable people and facilities within Rockland County, N.Y., where the company is headquartered. “We realized that there was a shortage of sanitizer locally here in Rockland County,” said Polychem’s Chief Operating Officer, Bruce Gebhardt. “The county purchasing department had 20 people on the phones calling every corner of the county to find the sanitizer. Once we announced that we were making it, the phones rang off the hook.” Read more here: https://www.bowlersjournal.com/polychem-providing-custom-made-hand-sanitizer-to-local-nursing-homes-hospitals-first-responders/
* Members of the youth team at the International Bowling Campus are taking the pulse of the Junior Gold Championships community — reaching out to youth coordinators, parents and others — to gain input on whether the 2020 event should be conducted as scheduled, and if conditions permit.
* USBC Executive Director Chad Murphy takes part in an extended interview with Mike Flanagan that includes updates on USBC events. It’s available for viewing on Bowl.com.
* Punch Bowl Social closed all 19 of its locations and laid off “substantially all” of its staff in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak, and its future is in doubt after creditors provided notice to its parent company, PBS Holdco, declaring a default on its credit facility. Cracker Barrel, the restaurant chain known for its lumberjack-sized portions and merchandise stores, owns 58.6% of PBS Holdco, and has stated that it is walking away from its investment in Punch Bowl Social. The so-called “restaurant experience brand” features a number of attractions, including bowling, to create a social environment that drives food-and-beverage sales. According to Market Watch, Cracker Barrel expects to record a $133 million impairment charge in the coming quarter resulting from its Punch Bowl Social exit.
* Following protocols outlined in Emergency Order #12 by Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers, the Bowling Centers Association of Wisconsin has cancelled the Wisconsin Adult-Youth Scholarship Tournament, scheduled to have been held in mid-April at Chalet Lanes in Wisconsin Dells. The BCAW also has cancelled the next Wisconsin Vintage Alleys Tour, scheduled for April 26. “We will be processing refunds this week for all registrations received and processed,” said BCAW Executive Director Yvonne Bennett.
* The International Bowling Museum and Hall of Fame in Arlington, Texas, is closed at least through March 31 in an effort to prevent the spread of the virus. Many staff members at the International Bowling Campus also are working from home as part of the social-distancing effort there.
* The South Dakota USBC Association has cancelled all three of its State Championships (Open, Women’s and Youth) for 2020. More: https://www.capjournal.com/sports/sdsusbc-announces-state-bowling-cancellation/article_0f420168-6edb-11ea-9b81-578d937b799c.html
* Some centers around the country have shut down bowling operations for the time being, but are keeping their restaurants open for pick-up and/or take-out service. As an example, Alley Gators Pizza & Grill at Limerick Bowl in Limerick, Pa., presently is open for delivery and take-out only on Wednesdays through Sundays from 4-8 p.m.
* Don Carter Lanes in Rockford, Ill., on Wednesday hosted a cookout for essential workers such as first responders and grocery store employees who remain on the job to serve others. Those folks received free hamburgers and hot dogs from Shooter’s Bar and Grill, and the business said it hopes to host additional cookouts in the future. Read more here: https://wrex.com/2020/03/25/rockford-bowling-alley-spares-food-for-those-in-need/
* Have a tip about something a bowling center proprietor or bowling company is doing to help out during the COVID-19 pandemic? Please drop a note to bjibob@aol.com.
Other News You Can Use…
* Courtney Morelli of Selden, N.Y., and Tanner Ausec of Colorado Springs, Colo., have been selected as the United States Bowling Congress Youth Ambassadors of the Year. The award recognizes a male and a female USBC Youth bowler for exemplary contributions in the sport outside of league or tournament play, along with academic accomplishments and community involvement. Morelli and Ausec each will receive a $1,500 scholarship. Read more here: https://www.bowlersjournal.com/new-york-colorado-bowlers-selected-as-youth-ambassadors-of-the-year/
* USBC Hall of Famer Bob Hanson died Tuesday morning at a hospital in West Palm Beach, Fla., following a short illness. He was 93. Hanson, selected to the USBC Hall of Fame in 2004 in the Veterans category, was born Feb. 2, 1927, and didn’t start bowling until he was in his 20s. Despite the late start, he quickly became one of the most prolific performers in the Minneapolis area. He found the national spotlight as part of the famed Hamm’s Beer team, collecting three titles at the American Bowling Congress Tournament: Team All-Events in 1965, and Regular Team in 1970 and 1972. He participated in the tournament 45 times from 1962 to 2008. Funeral services will be held later this year at Fort Snelling National Cemetery in Minneapolis. More: https://bowl.com/News/NewsDetails.aspx?id=23622334355
* World Bowling has appointed former Paralympian and World Champion athlete Mark E. Shepherd Sr. as Chairman of World ParaBowling. Shepherd has vast experience in Paralympic sport activity based on his time with the U.S. Olympic Committee, International Wheelchair Bowling Federation and American Wheelchair Bowling Association. He was inducted into the AWBA Hall of Fame in 2018. More: http://aroundtherings.com/site/A__89452/Title__World-Bowling-Confirms-Mark-E-Shepherd-Sr-as-ParaBowling-Chairman/292/Articles
* Bob Allison, host of “Bowling for Dollars” in the Detroit market during the 1970s and a radio personality whose career spanned seven decades, passed away on Wednesday. He was 87. Thunderbowl Lanes in Allen Park, Mich., was the Detroit home of “Bowling for Dollars,” which was briefly resurrected in 2013. Report: https://www.detroitnews.com/story/entertainment/2020/03/25/bob-allison-detroit-radio-staple-bowling-dollars-host-dies-87/2913913001/
* A quarterfinal round match in the ongoing Phantom Radio trivia contest features long-time BJI correspondent Lyle Zikes, who authors the magazine’s “Pro Bowling Insider” column and “Regional Round-up” report. How did he do? Listen here:
https://kegel.squarespace.com/phantomblog/2020/3/25/lyle-zikes-phantom-radio
* CONTACT: Please send business news, event information, etc. to Bob Johnson at bjibob@aol.com. For breaking business news, visit bcmmag.com or bowlersjournal.com, and “Like” Bowling Center Management and Bowlers Journal International on Facebook. BJI Cyber Reports are now archived at bcmmag.com. Please remember that the Cyber Report is a B-to-B publication and not intended for consumers.
Bowling Center Management Online 
Leave a Reply