5th Annual Larchmont Spelling Bee Sets Attendance Record

On Sunday afternoon, April 2, the Larchmont and Mamaroneck communities converged in the Social Hall at Larchmont Temple for what has become one of Larchmont’s premier traditions; that being the annual Larchmont Spelling Bee which just completed its fifth year before a record crowd of nearly 250 spectators in addition to 21 teams of three members each.

After several rounds, the competition was won by the team representing Larchmont Avenue Church calling themselves “the PCBees”, when they correctly spelled the word “Whippoorwill”. The “PCBees” team (Stephen Land, Marjorie Lindblom and David Morse) also won the competition in 2016. The adult competition was preceded by a competition between two high school teams; the “Lang Squad” and “Now I’m a BEEliever”. The “Now I’m a BEEliver” team (Ian Burks, Tyler Chimento, Justin Fiorillo) won with their correct spelling of the word “refrigerator”.

The original idea for the Spelling Bee had its genesis in a 2011 meeting of the Friends of the Larchmont Library when Friends member Jackie Pare brought the idea to the table. In the spring of 2012 the first Larchmont Spelling Bee was held, co-chaired by Jackie Pare and Ellie Fredston. Ms. Fredston has chaired the event ever since, though for 2017 Diane Abrams served as co-chair. The Bee was created as a way to bring families in the community together in a fun, vibrant, and educational way. Since then, the annual Bee has steadily grown from year to year and is now solidly one of Larchmont’s most popular annual traditions.

This year’s Master of Ceremonies was CBS-TV news personality Lou Young who also led the way through the Bee in previous years. The judging was handled by Mamaroneck Town Supervisor, Nancy Seligson, Village of Larchmont Mayor, Lorraine Walsh, and Larchmont Village Justice, Thea Beaver.

Prizes were provided by Anderson’s Book Shop, Stanz Café, Winegems and Trader Joes. The event was sponsored by Houlihan Lawrence and Ray Catena Lexus.