Above: 2019 contestants left to right: Mark Blandford; Captain Shawn Platt; Bob Mahoney; Wendy Lionetti; Will Harrison; Kim Bova; Basil Kolani; Karl Habib; Pamme Jones; Missing from photo: Katie Diamond, Brittny Howell, M.D.; Margaret Keane; Cybele Malone; Melissa Woodhouse; and our Ridgefield High School Mystery Student! (See Associations below.)
Who will it be? The Academic or the Artist? The Clerk or the Cop? The M.D. or the G.M.? Will the CEO show everybody who’s boss? Or is it all a moot point … because the lawyer will take the case?!
Find out on Wednesday, March 6 at 7:00pm at the Ridgefield Playhouse when our local literati go head to head, word for word, at the 8th annual RVNAhealth Spelling Bee.
The RVNAhealthhealth Spelling Bee is modeled after the famous National Scripps Spelling Bee — with a few twists to keep it interesting. Like Scripps, the RVNAhealth Bee includes a lineup of worthy competitors; a panel of illustrious judges; and an official moderator. Unlike Scripps, the RVNAhealth Bee contestants are not under the age of 15; and spelling a word correctly is not the only way to advance to the next round.
At the RVNAhealth Bee, each contestant can bring a Lifeline to bail them out in times of trouble; RVNAhealth contestants can also donate twice to the “honey pot,” sparing themselves the need to spell a particularly unappealing word; and, if an RVNAhealth contestant misspells a word, the audience can “buy them back” into the competition. All’s fair in love and fundraising!
Proceeds from the annual RVNAhealth Spelling Bee support the agency’s Nursing Education program, providing the training and development to keep the RVNAhealth nursing team top in the field. RVNAhealth spends roughly $40,000 annually on education for its more than 80 nurses, therapists and home health aides. Last year, the agency served more than 1,600 patients, making well over 50,000 home care visits in 28 Connecticut towns.
The 2019 RVNAhealth Spelling Bee contestant lineup includes:
- Mark Blandford – Ridgefield Historic District Commission
- Kim Bova – Ridgefield Chamber of Commerce
- Katie Diamond – ACT of Connecticut
- Karl Habib – Silver Spring Country Club
- Will Harrison – Reese, Hirsch, Shoults & Harrison
- Brittny Howell, MD – The Vascular Experts
- Pamme Jones – Ridgefield Theater Barn
- Margaret Keane – Synchrony Financial
- Basil Kolani – Ridgefield Academy
- Wendy Lionetti – Ridgefield Town Clerk
- Bob Mahoney – BMW of Ridgefield
- Cybele Maylone – The Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum
- Shawn Platt – Ridgefield Police Department
- Melissa Woodhouse – RVNAhealth
- RHS Mystery Student! – Ridgefield High School
Returning to emcee again this year is Daniela Sikora, creative director of the Ridgefield Chorale, who also made contestant appearances in the 2014 and 2015 Bees. The 2019 judges are Theresa Santoro, RVNAhealth president and CEO; Geoffrey Morris, editor and publisher, TownVibe and winner of the 1st RVNAhealth Spelling Bee in 2012; and Jonathan Winn, founder and co-artistic director of Thrown Stone and winner of the 2018 RVNAhealth Spelling Bee.
As in years past, the Spelling Bee victor wins the glory, fame, and the pride that accompanies any intellectual victory, as well as a special treat from BMW of Ridgefield.
Thank you to our extraordinary 2019 RVNAhealth Spelling Bee Sponsors
Title Sponsor: Fairfield County Bank
Queen Bee: BMW of Ridgefield
Honey Bees: Charter Investment Group; Reese, Hirsch, Shoults & Harrison; We Do Lines, Young’s of Ridgefield
Bumble Bees: Maida Design; Reynolds & Rowella; Ridgefield Academy; Ross Bread; Turner Mechanical Services, Inc.
Worker Bees: AR Kids; Study-Works Janie Larson; Blaine Langberg, DMD, MMSC, Orthodontist; Fairfield County Financial Services, Olley Court; Montanari Fuel Service Inc.; Ridgefield Conservatory of Dance; Sunburst Plumbing & Heating; Tiger Sports
The Buzz: HamletHub, The Ridgefield Press
