Stellar Spellers Saluted

Community was the word of the evening as teams from Grafton businesses, organizations and government agencies matched wits with the dictionary during the Grafton Education Alliance Community Spelling Bee and Silent Auction.

The P.h. Bees outspelled the competition to win the grand prize. The team, billed as Agnes Moorehead, Ernest Borgnine and Wheezie Jefferson, actually included School Committee member Daryl Rynning, Assistant Town Planner Ann Morgan and Town Moderator Roger Trahan.

The team edged out last year's winners from the Grafton Soccer Club, the Bee-Hama Mamas. 

But the night's ultimate winner was the Grafton Education Alliance, which uses the proceeds to fund school programs and provide other support for the town's education system.

The other teams that participated were:

South Grafton Elementary School Parent-Teacher Group: The Three Spellateers: Lisa Rice, Sera Thompson and Leslie Diamandis.

Tufts Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine: The Doktor Beas: Cynthia Webster, Lisa Barber and Dominique Penninck.

Grafton High School Honor Society: Gotta Spell 'Em All: Noah Collins, Catherine Cattley and Corey Leonardi.

Grafton Recycling Committee: The Waste Watchers: Betsy Ryer, Stephanie Collins-Rankin and Jennifer Cray.

Grafton Lions Club: Between the Lions: Deb Danig, Mike Ponting and Dave Robbins.

South Grafton Elementary School Parent Teacher Group: Jim Schofield, Jocelyn Ethier and Kathy Heffernan.

Grafton Board of Selectmen: Pay As You Spell: Dave Ross, Brook Padgett, Mary Ann Cotton.

Grafton Soccer Club: The Bee-Hama Mamas: Siobhan Toscano, Jill Recchia and Shelly Dwyer.

Grafton Pop Warner: Gridiron Girls: Nancy Sanfacon, Alexandria Chiuchiolo and Faith Cameron.

Grafton Elementary School Parent Teacher Group: Ms. Spellers: Michelle Kelly, Hilary Kreisberg and Gina Baldassarre.

Grafton Elementary School: The Stellar Spellers: Katie Cederberg, Tracy Estaphan and Heidi Shoor.

Apple Tree Arts: Apple Tree Ahts: Donna Blanchard, Dave Coleman, Steve Lotterman.

Grafton Youth Lacrosse Association: Lax Speling Skilz: Carl Donadio,Nancy Rotatori and A.J. Fedor.

Grafton School Committee: The Superintendents: Teri Turgeon, Kathleen Halloran and Peter Carlson.

Grafton Middle School Parent-Teacher Group: Gnomes of Gnowledge: Tiffany Beausoleil, Karen Miele and Sue Howell.

Grafton Girls Softball Association: The Sparking Diamonds: Sara Uppstrom, Carrie Fleming and Mary Romaniec.

Gaudette Insurance: GIA CIA: Lee Gaudette, James DeCaire and Helen Scott.

Grafton Little League: The Boys of Summah: Bill Keeler, Chris Rogers and Mike O'Toole.

Grafton High School National Honor Society: Rocco Praderio, Catherine Bresnahan and Amber Litterer.

The Daily Grafton.com: Daily Grafton.com Newshounds: Jennifer Paluzzi, Michelle Debatis and Becky Weinberg.

North Grafton Elementary School Parent Teacher Group: Souper Spellers: Donna Poitras, Beth Thulin and Joanne Ouellet.

Grafton Suburban Credit Union: Grafton Spell Check Unit: Beth Woodruff, Jessica True and Pam Ferrara.

And oh yes, Grafton.Patch.com: Patch Pundits, Susan Manning, Steve Balestrieri and Sandy Quadros Bowles.

Other awards went to The Superintendents for best costume; The Stellar Spellers for most enthusiastic and the Gnomes of Gnowledge for best name.