By Tereasa Nims
REED CITY – A long winter two years ago inspired Twila Betzing to start a Scrabble group at her local library. Getting out of the house, making friends and playing Scrabble was on the agenda.
Now the Reed City Area District Library has a group of Scrabble players that meets twice a month and is encouraging more members.
‘It’ a misconception, said Patricia Glazier, ‘that one has to know how to spell to play Scrabble.’
The group talks about what’ going on in their lives, grandchildren and new businesses in town while searching for the perfect way to play their letters.
‘We just play the board,’ Glazier said, noting that it is about getting the most points.
The Scrabble group meets at 3 p.m. every second and fourth Monday at the Reed City Area District Library.
‘They are such a great group,’ said Librarian Heather Symon Bassett. ‘They are some characters.’
The members said they like to win, but more importantly they like spending time with each other.
‘We like to play,’ Glazier said. ‘It’ a lot about the fellowship and friendship.’
Anna Hradel said they all met each other via Scrabble at the library and have become friends. She said she grew up playing Scrabble with her parents and enjoys the game.
‘It was a long winter. And I’m widowed,’ Betzing said of why she started the group.
‘It’ a good mental exercise,’ Betzing said of the popular board game where players strive to forge words building on other players’ words.
At first there were three players attending; now Betzing said it is at six and they would love to have more join. It is open to men and women of all ages. The group jokes no spelling tests are required.
Bonnie Dalman grew up playing the game with her mother and still loves to play. Dalman started coming to the group more than a year ago after she saw the event posted on the library calendar.
Glazier said the members don’t challenge many words, because if they are wrong, the challenger misses a turn.
Players strive to make seven-letter words. One of the regulars and the oldest member of the group, Elaine LaPorte, 88, has gotten the most seven-letter words of any of the group members.
According to the National Scrabble Association, the game was designed by architect Alfred Mosher Butts. In the early 1930s, he reportedly designed a board game combining elements of anagrams and crossword puzzles. Players draw seven letters and form words. As they use their letters they draw new one, not to exceed seven letters at a time.
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