Independence book club bee raises $1,000 for Lewes library

For the third consecutive year, the Independence community's book club has sponsored a spelling bee competition to raise funds for Lewes Public Library children’s literacy programs.

Nine teams of Independence residents and a team of four library staff members faced off for the title of best spellers. The competition consisted of four rounds of five words each, plus a bonus round. The Honey Bees, comprising Arlene Gordon, Jeff Gordon, Phyllis Bloom and Joni LeVine, emerged victorious after being the only team to achieve the correct spelling of the bonus word, onomatopoeia.

Team registration fees and donations totaled $1,000 in proceeds for the library, for a three-year total of $3,000 raised. As an independent library, the Lewes facility must raise about half of its total operating funds. Library staff will use their bee contribution toward the summer reading program.