Hollenback Family Dentistry - Kent Hollenback DDS, Kelsey Hollenback and Dr. Catarina Castaneda - extracted another win and showed that “parapet” couldn’t keep them from falling on victory at the 22nd Annual Santa Paula Times Executive Spelling Bee. Above, left to right are Pronoucer Leslie Nichols, Kent Hollenback DDS, Debbie Johnson (Santa Paula Times), Kelsey Hollenback, Catarina Castenada, Kathryn Bornhauser (FLAIR) and FLAIR Bee Ricardo.

Spelling Bee: Hollenback Family Dentistry extracts another championship

June 06, 2012
Santa Paula News

Hollenback Family Dentistry - Kent Hollenback DDS, Kelsey Hollenback and Dr. Catarina Castaneda - extracted another win and showed that “parapet” couldn’t keep them from falling on victory at the 22nd Annual Santa Paula Times Executive Spelling Bee for FLAIR (Family Literacy Aid In Reading). The highly contested Bee was held May 30 at First United Methodist Church’s Wesley Hall, where contestants and supporters took part in Cake Walks, opportunity drawings and finding prizes in Lucky Eggs.

FLAIR Executive Coordinator Kathryn Bornhauser said the program - which offers literacy programs at Blanchard Community Library for individuals as well as whole families - is facing funding challenges from the state that is again slashing library and special program budgets. Better news, said Bornhauser, is alternate funding is being sought, but expectations are it would only be one-third of the funding the program had been receiving from the state.

But there is strong community support for the program from various service clubs including Rotary and Lions, as well private donors and volunteers, “those who come in and donate time and money.... The good news,” added Bornhauser, “is we’re still here,” offering better lives through literacy.

Spellers were soothed by pre-Bee musical entertainment offered by guitarist Barry Cooper, and then Master of Ceremonies Don Johnson of the Bee-sponsoring Santa Paula Times took to the stage to explain the rules of the spelling game. Johnson introduced VIP - Very Important Pronouncer - Leslie Nichols, whose perfect way with words and soothing voice helped the players as they strived to spell contest words, even those never heard of before.

Bee Ricardo Chavez was kept busy as a - well, you know - bee with the gavel, as Judges Richard Halpin and Blanchard Community Library Trustee Brenda de Jamaer listened carefully as each team was put to the spelling test and Santa Paula Times Publisher Debbie Johnson kept careful notes of words tackled by the teams.

Rotarians John Nichols, Nils Rueckert and Judy Triem were ravenous for success, but “ravioli” wasn’t on the service club’s menu when they became “toast” and were the first team out. The combined talents of mighty Santa Paula Times Team - Peggy Kelly, Marianne Ratcliff and Blanchard Community Library Trustee Suzi Skutley - proved not enough to tackle “anthology,” and the reigning champion became the second team out.

The Kiwanis Kickers had only one kicker to begin with, but volunteers Larry Cossid and Mario Garcia joined Cindi Mathieu to form one team; in the end “trichotomy” eluded them. The victors - Kent and Kelsey Hollenback and Castaneda - were teetering on the edge of recapturing the championship and the winning word - “parapet” - didn’t stop the trophy from falling into their laps.





Site Search

E-Subscribe

Subscribe

E-SUBSCRIBE
Call 805 525 1890 to receive the entire paper early. $50.00 for one year.

webmaster