<!--Caitlin Murray--><table width="234" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" background="http://static.cnhi.zope.net/flashpromo/niagaragazette/images/byline_234x60.jpg" height="60"><tr><td><div align="center"><font size="3" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">By Caitlin Murray</font><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br /></font><font size="1" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><a href="mailto:murrayc@gnnewspaper.com">murrayc@gnnewspaper.com</a></font></div></td></tr></table>
Calling all wordsmiths: It’s time to get your Scrabble on.
The Hard Rock Café is teaming up with Literacy Volunteers to host the city’s first Scrabblefest, a competition devoted to triple-word scores and raising money for programming that helps adults and children read.
The Niagara Falls Hard Rock will host Scrabblefest on Wednesday, a kick-off party for Literacy Volunteers’ annual fundraising event, where sponsors host their own Scrabble parties.
The Hard Rock, normally not the kind of place that conjures up images of wordy board games, will be ready with Scrabble boards ... and dictionaries to ensure no cheaters are allowed.
“We do a lot of rock and rolling, so this time we can turn down the music a bit and do some spelling,” said Hard Rock marketing manager Sue Swiatkowski with a laugh.
No registration is needed and friends can come in groups to play or interested gamers can join an open game and make new friends, Swiatkowski said. Scrabble experience isn’t a necessity, but hardcore Scrabblers are welcome.
“Some people are very into Scrabble so if they want to bring their own boards, they may,” she said. “But we’ll have some here.”
The winner at Wednesday’s Scrabblefest will go on to compete in a final Scrabble-Off tournament March 7 to win prizes.
The other competitors for the final round will be determined through a month-long campaign where Literacy Volunteers encourages people to host Scrabble nights at their home. Each player will pay a fee to join a game and proceeds will go toward Literacy Volunteers.
“The host essentially charges per person on friends coming over,” said Tracy Diina of Literacy Volunteers. “They’ll prepare some type of a meal or order pizza. I’ve charged $20 and cooked. Some people go elaborate and do a $75 per-person brunch. But they play Scrabble, write a check and have fun for a good cause.”
Literacy Volunteers, which has offices for both Niagara and Erie counties, offers programs improving child and adult literacy. Nearly half of adults with the lowest literacy skills live in poverty, 85 percent of juvenile offenders have reading difficulties and three-fourths of adults on public assistance are functionally literate, according to the organization. Illiteracy is a curable problem, Diina said. To get involved, visit www.niagarareads.org or www.literacybuffalo.org.
Contact reporter Caitlin Murray
at 282-2311, ext. 2251.
If you go:
WHAT: Scrabblefest board game competition and buffet
WHERE: Hard Rock Café, 333 Prospect Street
WHEN: 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday
COST: $20 admission, which includes buffet
MORE INFO: Call Literacy Volunteers at 876-8991.
