THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, November 18, 1994 TAG: 9411160151
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 03 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY SUSAN SMITH, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 81 lines
THE MONDAY morning special at the Burger King restaurant in Parkway Plaza Shopping Center is bingo.
A group of about 20, mostly senior citizens, meet for coffee, croissants and a chance to win a free salad or chicken sandwich playing bingo. Friendly chatter and the smell of fresh coffee and hot biscuits fill the room.
``Hosting bingo is our way of giving back to the community,'' said Kenny Morgan, manager of the store. ``It makes us feel good to provide a welcoming place for our customers and friends.''
As Cassie White, 80, waited for the game to begin one morning recently, she passed around needlepoint napkin holders she had made. At the next table, Jean Crowder set up a display of tiny, hand-carved ducks, dogs and bears. The women received a lot of compliments and even made a few sales of their craft items.
A quick blast of a whistle signaled game time
``Good morning, good morning,'' said Peggy Setzer. ``The first game is straight bingo. You must have a row filled in across, down or diagonally to win the game.''
Setzer was a longtime player until Morgan asked her to take charge of the game. Now she is the caller.
``O-68'' she began.
As number after number was called, the players scanned their cards. The room fell silent as players waited for their lucky numbers to come up.
``Bingo!'' Morris Young finally yelled.
A checker jumped up and called back the numbers from Young's card.
``It's a good bingo,'' said Setzer. ``The game's closed. We got a winner.''
``I got you this morning,'' Young remarked to his brother, Shorty. The prize was a coupon for a Whopper sandwich.
``I was doing good and almost winning until she quit calling my numbers,'' Shorty Young complained with a smile.
The next game was a ``Three-layer cake.'' The winner would have to cover the top, middle and bottom row of numbers on their cards.
``Will you repeat the directions?'' asked one player. ``We're over here talking and having so much fun we forgot to listen.''
``Bingo!'' yelled Shorty Young several games later. ``Now we can have lunch together,'' he told his brother as he reached for his Whopper coupon.
``Once in a while I get lucky and win,'' said Dolly Moyer. ``But I really just come for the enjoyment of getting out and mixing with people.''
Moyer and several of her friends usually ride to the game at Burger King together. The group of regulars includes Joyce and Frank Birnbeck, Phyllis Brown, Cassie White and Beth Marcum.
``We all go together to wherever we can find a bingo game,'' said Joyce Birnbeck. ``We start out here on Monday mornings and make our way throughout the week to the different games.''
Burger King is not the only business to host bingo games. The K mart at Kemp's River Crossing in Virginia Beach has a game every other Wednesday morning.
``We meet in the employees' lounge,'' said Joyce. ``They serve us refreshments, call bingo and offer prizes from the store. You can win candy, cleaning supplies, dishes, plants or lots of other goodies.''
The Wal-Mart store on Sam's Circle in Chesapeake has bingo in their snack bar from 8 to 10 a.m. on Thursday mornings.
``We like to do this in appreciation of our customers,'' said John Quinn, the manager at Wal-Mart.
``All this bingo keeps us off the streets.'' laughed Marcum. ``And we have such a good time.''
``It's a good feeling for us, too,'' said Darin Washington, assistant manager at Burger King. ``It's nice to see so many friendly faces on a Monday morning.'' ILLUSTRATION: Staff photos by STEVE EARLEY
Peggy Setzer, a longtime bingo player, calls game numbers each
Monday morning at the Burger King in Parkway Plaza Shopping Center.
Cordis Dudley and Beatrice McPherson, seated together, are game
regulars. Veneczia Beaufil, right, studies her card waiting to yell,
``Bingo!''.
by CNB