Annual Adult Spelling Bee raises money for educational grants
Published on March 27th, 2002
STONEHAM, MA – How do you spell a winner? The R-O-A-D-B-E-E-S of Lawndale, a team of Lawndale Road residents, were victorious last week as they trounced the competition in the Annual Stoneham Spelling Bee.
This is the seventh year that Stoneham residents and friends have converged on the Town Hall in an attempt to outspell each other and raise a little money for the Stoneham Business and Community Educational Foundation.
The Foundation raises money to provide schools and organizations with youth programs. The annual Spelling Bee is the Foundation’s largest fund-raiser each year.
“All the money is used to provide grants for school and community programs in town to enhance the educational and creative opportunities for youth,” said Foundation Chairman Bev Mattatall.
Mattatall pulled double duty this year, filling in as both Mistress of Ceremonies and Beekeeper on Friday night. She told the crowd that since 1993, the Foundation has raised over $43,000 to provide funding for programs in the community, including Stoneham’s public and private schools, Stoneham Library, Our Place/M.E.L.D., and Safe at Our Place.
The Spelling Bee is a cooperative effort, made possible by sponsors, patrons, friends and nearly 80 spellers.
Team sponsors included A.W. Chesterton, StonehamBank, Marconi Club, State Representatives Mike Festa and Paul Casey, Dr. Jonathan Chase, Stoneham Savings Bank, Barile Funeral Home, Rotondi Travel Service, Symes Associates, Dr. Howard Seplowiz, Coldwell Banker Hunneman Celli, ERA-Andrew/Schmid Realty, Gutierrez Company / Fellsway Development LLC, The Stoneham Independent, Rotary Club, Attorney Charles Houghton, Dr. Eugene Mickey, Flansburgh Associates, Stoneham Teachers Association, Stoneham Ford, Lawndale Road families, Jack English, Kathy Bray and Annamae Arsenault.
Other donations for a fun-filled night came from Stoneham Theatre & Ensemble, Rejuvenation Day Spa, Tiny Enterprizes, Inc., The Learning Tree, Blossom Shop, Dairy Dome, Denny’s Restaurant in Lexington, Community Connections Yellow Pages, NStar and the NCECP.
Spellmasters Annamae Arsenault and Assistant School Superintendent Joseph Casey donated their time and energy to the event, as did Judges Al Conti, a former Selectman, and School Superintendent Joseph Connelly and the Spelling Bee Committee chaired by Marie Christie.
The winning team was made up of Ira Krakow, Ann Thibodeau, Kris Toomey and Marilyn Wild.
This year’s win marked the Roadbees of Lawndale’s second consecutive win and third overall.
But the real winners are Stoneham children who benefit from the many exciting programs made possible by the Stoneham Business and Community Educational Foundation.
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