Quincy centennial battles begin

QUINCY — As the town of Quincy celebrates its 100th birthday this year, it's keeping the competitive spirit alive each month.

The year long Battle of the Biz program kicks off Saturday at 6 p.m. with a pingpong tournament at the Quincy Community Center.

"There's 11 different semi-competitive, non-competitive, competitive — it depends on what the teams decide they're going to be — events going on throughout the course of the spring and summer," coordinator Russ Harrington said. "Anywhere from basketball to croquet to Frisbee golf to softball tournaments."

The event encourages businesses, church groups, community groups, youth groups and farm groups, among others, to put together a team, with half the teammates consisting of their group members. It provides an opportunity for community-wide competition, fun and enjoyment.

The concept was originally for a one-time event in conjunction with the centennial celebration, but Harrington suggested something for every month to extend the celebration.

"Every month, we know there's some sort of centennial activity going on, whether it's only the Battle of the Biz or if it's Battle of the Biz and any number of different things," Harrington said.

Pingpong is the first event because Harrington thought it would be the easiest event to get going. About 20 teams have signed up for the tournament.

"I honestly didn't know what kind of response I was going to get from everything right off the bat, in the middle of winter, so pingpong sounded like an easy one to start with, get the feelers out, see how things were going to go," he said. "All of a sudden, with 20-some teams, I'm looking at it going, 'Wow, this has potential to be pretty big.' Some of these events could get rather large."

Other events include a historical scavenger hunt/poker run, including 52 questions of different locations in Quincy.

"You have to answer the question and at that location, there's going to be an envelope with some cards in them," Harrington explained. "After a team gets the first prize card, they come back and give them to us at the main location, and the team with the best hand wins."

Questions are specifically designed to allow competitors to visit every part of town, and not just those parts of town they frequent, he added.

Events take place at different locations throughout Quincy.

"Trying to spread things out and get people to different areas," Harrington said. "Just going to be a lot of fun this year, all summer long with all the different events. Audience participation is always welcome. If somebody happens to be driving through town on a weekend and wants to come watch something, we're trying to encourage as many people from town and anywhere else that isn't involved, you can just come and watch the centennial spirit."