Literacy Volunteers Scrabblefest on Saturday at Karpeles Manuscript Museum

Jukebox. This is an average, everyday, unsuspecting word. That is to say, to the average person. To a Scrabble player, jukebox means a whole lot more. If this word is picked tile by tile from the little black bag, it could mean 27 points. If the Scrabble gods are feeling generous and there is a triple word score space waiting to be used, this common word could yield 81 points or more. Earning so many points in one turn is a feat that the players in this year’s Scrabble Fest are trying to make a reality.

The Literacy Volunteers of Buffalo and Erie County have been holding the fest for four years as a way to get people excited about words and raise money for the organization. The group has been serving the Buffalo area since 1965 by working with individuals who need help improving their English speaking and reading skills. The volunteers work with immigrants and refugees, offer after-school programs at seven sites, and help 400 adult learners every year.

To beat the winter blues, the group asks individuals to open their homes to friends and family and host Scrabble parties throughout the month of February. Each participant in the game is asked to donate a certain amount of money to play, which in turn will be donated to the volunteer group. According to Tracy Diina, executive director of Literacy Volunteers, in some cases house parties raise more than $1,000 for the organization.

“We’re pretty much about having fun and supporting literacy,” Diina said.

A winner from each of these parties then has the opportunity to play in the final Scrabble tournament hosted by Literacy Volunteers. This year’s tournament takes place on March 7, 3-7pm, at Karpeles Manuscript Museum, 453 Porter Avenue. Winners from more than 55 house parties will come together to see who is the region’s ultimate Scrabble player.

Those who have not attended a Scrabble party to attend are also welcomed to this year’s event. There will be three games played at the event and prizes awarded to the winners. The winners of each house party will test their knowledge of words against each other, while walk-in Scrabble aficionados are afforded the opportunity to rack their brains while competing for the highest-scoring words.

The event is free for house party winners. For walk-ins who want to join the game, there is a $35 donation; for those who are not ready to test their Scrabble skills, but would like to take part in other games, there is a $20 donation.

Diina believes that Scrabble is the hot new thing, and according to the January 19 issue of the New Yorker, “Scrabble is enjoying a second heyday.” “This is Buffalo’s way of getting in with the ‘cool’ communities,” Diina said.

State Assembly member Sam Hoyt will also be in attendance to this year’s final event. His words did not fail him at a party held by Erie County Controller Mark Poloncarz and his wife Liz Smith; he came in first place. Hoyt also placed third at a party he co-hosted at Quaker Bonnet, an eatery at 175 Allen Street.

“I’ve played on and off most of my adult life. I’m not terribly good, but I’m pretty good,” Hoyt said. He also said that playing Scrabble along with doing crosswords are among his hobbies when he is not focusing on politics, and he could not pass up a chance to play a game he loves while helping a good cause.

The organization is always searching for literacy volunteers, and to find more information about this or Scrabble Fest 2009, visit literacybuffalo.org or call 876-8991.

—lindsay schwab