A winning hand for Habitat [UPDATED]

Published 11:22am Monday, October 18, 2010 Updated 11:39am Monday, October 18, 2010
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Canasta, a card game of the rummy family played by people at the Senior Center in Elbow Lake, benefits more than just the card players themselves. For the past 15 years, on a weekly basis, each player has  tossed a dollar into the hat. This has resulted in over $6,000 going to Habitat for Humanity.
“Every Thursday, from eight players on the low side to a group of 21 players, we gather here for Canasta at 1 p.m.,” said co-founder Mae Coleman. “We have a lot of fun, and we take pride in money going to Habitat, for those who need dwellings.”
Coleman is retired from the Agricultural Stabilization Office in Elbow Lake. Her co-founder of Canasta playing at the senior Center, dating back to 1995, is Milly Tyberg. She’s a retired bank employee who also became a farmer’s wife.
Canasta has many variations for two, three, five or six players. However, the card game is most commonly played by four people, in two partnerships, with two standard decks of cards.
Players attempt to make melds of seven cards of the same rank and go out by playing all cards in their hand. It’s the only partnership member of the family of rummy games to achieve the status of what many refer to as “a classic.”
Polly Kube, 90, says she has fun each and every week.
“We play to win, but we also share a lot of laughs and good story telling,” said Kube. “This is one of my favorite times of the week.”
The group even has a sing-a-along:
“Pony tail, pony tail,
Come with me to Elbow Lake.
A little lunch, a little talk,
ride along with me.
Play canasta, play canasta,
1 o’clock to 4:00,
giddy up, giddy up, giddy up, go,
My pony tale.
Pony tail, pony tail,
Have to remember my pony tail.
Clean and dirty, 7′s and wilds,
Be sure to get them all.
Pony tail, pony tail,
Time to have some lunch.
Giddy up, giddy up, giddy up, go,
My pony tale.”

By Tom HintgenDaily JournalCanasta, a card game of the rummy family played by people at the Senior Center in Elbow Lake, benefits more than just the card players themselves. For the past 15 years, on a weekly basis, each player has  tossed a dollar into the hat. This has resulted in over $6,000 going to Habitat for Humanity.“Every Thursday, from eight players on the low side to a group of 21 players, we gather here for Canasta at 1 p.m.,” said co-founder Mae Coleman. “We have a lot of fun, and we take pride in money going to Habitat, for those who need dwellings.”Coleman is retired from the Agricultural Stabilization Office in Elbow Lake. Her co-founder of Canasta playing at the senior Center, dating back to 1995, is Milly Tyberg. She’s a retired bank employee who also became a farmer’s wife.Canasta has many variations for two, three, five or six players. However, the card game is most commonly played by four people, in two partnerships, with two standard decks of cards. Players attempt to make melds of seven cards of the same rank and go out by playing all cards in their hand. It’s the only partnership member of the family of rummy games to achieve the status of what many refer to as “a classic.”Polly Kube, 90, says she has fun each and every week.“We play to win, but we also share a lot of laughs and good story telling,” said Kube. “This is one of my favorite times of the week.”

The group even has a sing-a-along:“Pony tail, pony tail,Come with me to Elbow Lake.A little lunch, a little talk,ride along with me.Play canasta, play canasta,1 o’clock to 4:00,giddy up, giddy up, giddy up, go,My pony tale.Pony tail, pony tail,Have to remember my pony tail.Clean and dirty, 7′s and wilds,Be sure to get them all.Pony tail, pony tail,Time to have some lunch.Giddy up, giddy up, giddy up, go,My pony tale.”

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