By Audrey Anderson
Hometown Weekly Reporter
In 2025, Fox Hill Village celebrated 35 years as a cooperative-model, independent-living facility for seniors. Residents have served on the governing board, enjoyed learning through courses and discussion groups, and enriched their lives with offsite cultural activities, game groups, gardening, and walking and hiking trails, among other options.
The finals of the Fox Hill Village Resident/Staff Pool Tournament were held in the village’s new Games Room. The tournament has provided challenge, excitement, and fun in the community for over two decades.
According to Brian Patton, Community Programs & Cultural Arts Manager at Fox Hill, the new Games Room opened about a year ago with an upgraded billiards experience. In the former room, it was difficult to include more than just a handful of spectators. Happily, the new room can fit all those who want to attend. On the day of the finals this year, 74 spectators watched the games, seated in rows of folding chairs.
The tournament began on February 8 this year, and it proceeded through 15 rounds to the finals, bringing fun to the months of later winter and early spring. Shannon Hurteau, an employee of Fox Hill’s Health & Wellness Center, and resident Bill Tragakis were dedicated, skilled teammates. They played against the talented Joe Falcino, a sous chef at Fox Hill, and the crowd’s favorite, 99-year-old resident Jean Stanbury.
Both teams took time to discuss their approach to each shot, and they encouraged their teammates as they played. Every shot was called in advance, according to pool rules. An official ruled on any questions that arose.
The winners of this year’s tournament were Hurteau and Tagakis, but the village was also a winner, as the game of pool in the expanded Games Room provided much entertainment for residents and staff alike.
