North Shore Living
April 2025 Newsletter
- Jean Marie Modl
There was a farmer had a dog and Bingo was his name-o!
B-I-N-G-O, B-I-N-G-O, B-I-N-G-O, and Bingo was his name.
The game of BINGO began in the year 1530 and is descended from the Italian national lottery. In the early 1920s, Hugh J. Ward hosted the game at Carnivals around Pennsylvania. In 1929, a New York toy salesman, Edwin S. Lowe, discovered the game being played and distributed standard versions of the game upon his return to New York.
In the United States, Bingo was originally called “BEANO.” During a country fair game, the dealer would select numbered discs from a cigar box and players would mark their cards with dry beans. They yelled “BEANO!” when they won. As Lowe was developing standard versions of the game, the name changed to BINGO.
The BINGO tent is one of the first lively events at our Fisherman’s Picnic each summer. It is also the last event of the big weekend. From the tent in town, a gentle summer wind can carry the sound of the numbers being called out on a quiet Sunday evening.
When I worked at the school in Grand Portage, there were community BINGO events where meat was the prize. You could win hot dogs, hamburger, and steaks, and other products too. It was fun and people talked about their winnings over the next few days.
We play BINGO twice a week here at the care center, Monday and Thursday afternoons. We also have a POKENO Club on Tuesday evenings; POKENO is a version of BINGO that uses playing cards instead of numbers. We call it a Club because we all enjoy supper together before we play the game. It is a wonderful group and one of my favorite evenings each week.
BINGO is a game of chance. The random drawing of the numbers means that everyone has the same chance to win. Some of us look for lucky numbers or have favorite BINGO cards, but a fair game can be won by anyone. Listening for the numbers and then searching for the numbers on the cards challenges our hearing, vision, and even other parts of our brains.
A good BINGO game creates a chance to be kind and patient with yourself and with another person. You might help your friend find a number on their card or repeat the number called for them. Maybe you heard the number more clearly than they did, or your vision is a little sharper. You may see their BINGO on the card before they do. I observe small gestures of kindness all the time during our BINGO games. People help each other win.
April is more than BINGO around here. We celebrated Easter Sunday with family visits and a special lunch. Earth Day and Arbor Day are in April. Residents have started to plan our spring gardens. We discovered favorite colors and plants, from pink phlox to our beautiful common lilac bushes. It is challenging for most of the residents to work outdoors so we will also be planting pots indoors and bringing them outside. We plan to add some colorful flowers to the patio area this year.
On Wednesday afternoon, April 30th, from 2-4pm, North Shore Living Activities Staff will be hosting a special Tea Party Open House to honor our dedicated Volunteers. It will be at the care center on WAVES. We promise pretty linens, pretty dishes, good company, and special treats. Please stop by if you can. All are Welcome.
Our Volunteers’ contributions bring heart and joy to our care center community. They share music, flowers, special treats, laughter, smiles, stories, Bible verses, and even invite us to dance and sing along with favorite songs. They are important members of our care center family and we appreciate them very much.