April 27, 2018 -- The 27th Reaching Heights Adult Community Spelling Bee went 8 rounds on the stage of the newly renovated Heights High School on Wednesday, April 18.  Dewey’s Decimators, representing the Friends of the Heights Library, correctly spelled “chiaroscurist” to win the fun but quite serious spelling competition. 

 

Spellers Victor Rosenberg, Susan Marshall, and Chris Mentrek were happy to bring home their team’s 4th victory. This win ties them with the OOPS team representing the Cleveland Orchestra musicians as the winningest team in the history of the Reaching Heights Bee.

 

View full photo gallery, courtesy Krista Hawthorne/Reaching Heights 

 

 

The winning team received the Big Plastic Bee trophy to display proudly at the Main Library for another year, and each of the team members took home gift certificates to the Blossom Music Festival and the Cleveland Running Company on Lee Road. The Fundraising Champion again this year for collecting more than $1,700 was Upper Case, the team representing Case Western Reserve University.

This Bee included a Pre-Bee Dinner, music from Drill, the Heights High Marching Band percussionists who led the parade of spellers into the auditorium, the Heights High Women Barbershoppers who sang at the 4th Round break, a generous raffle, and delicious bake sale.

Steve Presser celebrated his 23nd year as the Master of Ceremonies, Cynthia Booker, Instructor of Digital Video & Television Production at Heights High School served as Pronouncer, and Steve Titchenal projected the words for the audience for his 25th year. Nancy Levin, Director of Heights Libraries, Dr. Alisa Lawson-McKinnie, 11th Grade Principal at Heights High, and Robert Swaggard, Director of Curriculum & Instruction for the CHUH City School District served as Bee Judges.

 

 

 

 

 

Reaching Heights expressed gratitude to the school district for use of space in Heights High and the services provided by the Stage Crew and custodial staff.

Reaching Heights is a non-profit organization whose purpose is to mobilize community resources to foster highly valued public schools that provide all Cleveland Heights-University Heights students a successful education. For more information, visit reachingheights.org or call 216-932-5110.