Last year’s Lou Progar Memorial doubles partners [left to right] Donnie Bywaters and Johnny Petraglia, and Dennis Reale and Tommy Sedora.

STRABANE, Pa. — SNPJ Lodge 138 will host the fifth annual Lou Progar Memorial Scholarship fund-raiser Saturday, March 21. The scholarship program was established in 2005, and this year we will award our fourth group of students. The Lou Progar Memorial Scholarship is available to Lodge 138 youth members as a supplement to the general SNPJ scholarship for first-year college students. All scholarship recipients will receive their scholarship in the amount of $300 in memory of the late Lou “BLP” Progar. Congratulations to last year’s recipient, Lodge 138 member Jason Banish.

PBA Hall of Famer Johnny Petraglia has been a part of this event from day one. Last year I was privileged to award him with a lifetime membership to the American Slovene Society Lodge 138. Johnny will hold a youth bowling clinic starting at 2 p.m. To participate in the clinic, children between the ages of 8 and 18 must register with Youth Circle 19 Director Karen Brumbaugh. While we welcome all children, Youth Circle 19 members will take precedence in filling the available positions.

The children will bowl one game with Petraglia on hand to offer tips and advice. When the bowling concludes, Petraglia will hold a clinic for everyone to attend. He will also perform a few trick shots following the clinic.

In addition to Petraglia, two-time Stanley Cup champion Greg Malone, father of Tampa Bay Lightning forward Ryan Malone, and three-time Super Bowl champion John Banaszak will appear at 5 p.m. A spaghetti dinner will be served from 2 to 6 p.m. in the downstairs club room for a cost of $6 for adults and $3 for children. Circle 19 will also be hosting a bake sale.

And, of course, we want to thank Petraglia for his presence and participation since the inception of this program. Special thanks to Tony Mendiola for all of his help coordinating Johnny’s appearances with Brunswick Bowling throughout the years. No longer with Brunswick, Tony has formed On The Ball Bowling which manufactures four-color personalized bowling balls and pins. Tony and I have completed the design on the official SNPJ logo bowling ball, which will be available for purchase soon.

Last year’s doubles partners were Tommy Sedora and Dennis Reale, and Donnie Bywaters and Johnny Petraglia. The final match came down to last frame. The proud winners were Sedora and Reale.

Details on the adult bowling event are still being worked out. Look for more information in a future issue.