For once, printing B2 in a newspaper article has nothing to do with what page to read.
Anyone who knows the difference between B2 and O55, the difference between a dauber and a strip ticket, or the difference between an early bird and a crazy T, knows this is a story about bingo.
Modern bingo can be traced back to a game called lotto, played in Italy in 1530.
The bingo name comes from "beano," the name of a form of bingo played in the United States in the 1920s. Beano players used beans to cover the numbers at games local fairs and carnivals.
The history of local bingo at New Haven Hose Fire Co. in Connellsville can be traced back more than 60 years to when the game was first played at the Slovak Club. It moved to the Elks and moved to its current location at the company's social hall when it was built in 1974.
Joe Alesantrino and Charles Matthews, both of whom help run the Thursday night bingo games at social hall, agreed that attendance has significantly declined over the years. An average of about 130 players attend on either Thursday or Saturday every month, down from an average of 208 players 10 years ago.
There are several reasons for the decline, members say.
First, the older generation of players were dedicated regulars.
"We've seen a lot of our regulars pass away," Matthews said.
Second, young people who attend bingo may come once or twice but then lose interest and don't return.
Low attendance also means less money for the volunteer fire company.
Once upon a time, bingo annually grossed $50,000 years ago, but it takes a good bit of luck to generate even half that amount.
"This is not the fundraiser or moneymaker it used to be," Alesantrino said, noting the bingo games still help cover expenses for the fire company.
It takes about a dozen volunteers to run the show from 5 to 11 p.m. every game night. They need cooks for the hot dog and hamburger sales; money collectors at the door; people selling instant cash tickets and paper cards on the floor; and the bingo announcer to capture everyone's attentions for a few hours.
The crowd will go through 25 regular games, including extra games such as the early bird specials (the first game played before the regular games), the quickies (the fast-paced games between the regular games) and the letter "X", crazy "T" and crazy "L" games (players must form all those letters on their cards to win).
With so many gaming options from which to choose, the regular players are never bored.
Kelly McKeel, of Dunbar, has been attending bingo games for seven years.
"It's just something to do," she said. "Something to get you out of the house."
McKeel said some people attend bingo so they can meet other people -- those who arrive from different towns and even those in their own neighborhood. In McKeel's case, even people from her own family.
"I met my cousins here that I never knew existed," McKeel said after overhearing two women's conversation about their family, which just happened to be the same members of McKeel's family.
The one cousin is Patty Polanovsky, of Connellsville, who has been attending bingos for 40 years.
"I just like to play bingo and win the money," Polanovsky said.
When it comes to winning, the most Polanovsky said she ever won on a single night of bingo was $1,400.
The most McKeel ever won in a single night was $500. The same goes for Hazel Hough, of Connellsville, and Lenoria Montague, of Dickerson Run.
"My sisters got me started," Hough said. "The money kept me going. The money is the best thing in bingo."
"Bingo is my favorite hobby," Montague said, "next to crossword puzzles."
The most that Janice Jacobs, of Connellsville, ever won in a single night was $200.
"I'm not as lucky as them," Jacobs said of her "bingo buddies" Polanovsky and McKeel. "I don't go out as much as they do, either."
Even though luck has a lot to do with winning, Jacobs said the lucky charms, like the rabbit's foot, stuffed toy dog and a rubber four-leaf clover she has attached to her purse, don't give her luck.
"My daughter put them on my purse," Jacobs said.
To some, it's about money. To others, it's a chance to get to know their neighbor. And to a few like Jacobs, it's a chance to relieve stress.
But to many regular bingo players, it's about the excitement of making the play and, of course, yelling out "BINGO!"
