With January rolling out and February fast on the approach, there can sometimes be a yearning for change that can coax people into a frame of mind to split from the monotonies that comprise their average day.

This sentiment can sometimes cause a person to rack their brain in search of something fun to do in their spare time.

If you count yourself amongst the aforementioned group, don’t get down in the gutter. The Niles Four Flags USBC and Joey Armadillo’s have announced a couple of events that will liven up your schedule and strike you out of your boredom.

The first of which, however, is not for the faint of heart. It is the ever famous and widely popular Stanley Open. It is sponsored by prominent business owner and hall of fame bowler Buddy Stanley (Stanley Appliances).

The Open (which has been a signature tournament of Niles bowling for the last 25-plus years) will be held Saturday and Sunday at noon. The entry fee is $50 with $500 guaranteed to the winner. Bowlers will bowl 12 games (six per day) in a scratch format with the highest accumulative score winning it all.

The tournament will also feature a 50/50 ball raffle this year.

The second event will see the mood on the lanes shift from heart pounding to heartwarming when Joey’s holds the Sixth Annual Bowl for the Cure Saturday, Feb. 18. Registration deadline is Sunday.

The event, in just six short years of existence has raised $47,865 towards curing breast cancer. Three years ago, the participation had grown so much that the event’s committee had to add a second shift to accommodate all of the bowlers.

All of the proceeds from the event are given to the Southwestern Michigan Affiliate of the Susan G. Komen Cure program.

Participants in this year’s event can look forward to bowling three games of nine-pin no-tap, (a player only needs to knock down nine pins to record a strike) having a disk jockey on hand to keep the place jamming all day and a dizzying array of prizes that can be won via raffle.

If all that is not enough, there will also be silent and live auctions for a couple of unique items.

The event is open to everyone over the age of 10. However, anyone under the age of 18 will have to be accompanied by an adult. If you pre-register for the event the cost is $20 per person. Everyone who pre-registers will also receive a free T-shirt. Registration on the day of the event will bring the cost to $30 per person. The first shift starts at 11 a.m., while the second shift starts at 3 p.m.. Registration starts one hour before each shift.

Anyone interested in registering for either tournament should contact Joey Armadillo’s (687-5555) to register. Those seeking to register for the Bowl for the Cure can also contact event organizer Chris Marlin (684-5482) to reserve a spot.