United Way to host annual Adult Spelling Bee

Have you registered your team for Tioga United Way’s second annual Adult Spelling Bee, which will be held at 7 p.m., on March 25 at the Owego Elks Lodge located at 223 Front St. in Owego?

This year’s Bee is sponsored by Lockheed Martin and Literacy Volunteers of Broome / Tioga Counties and will help raise money for the 30 partner agencies that depend, in part, on the Tioga United Way to fund their services and programs.

Just like last year, an online auction will feature seven “Celebrity Adventures” to include the following:

Kim Weitsman, owner of The Krebs restaurant, and Adam Weitsman, owner of Upstate Shredding, have offered to host a feast in their stunning home on Skaneateles Lake.  The highest bidder along with seven friends will dine at the Weitsman estate and enjoy a delectable meal prepared by The Krebs’ world-renowned Chef William Van Why. 

The highest bidder will enjoy lunch with Binghamton University President, Harvey Stenger, in his office on the Binghamton University campus. After lunch, and a most likely fascinating conversation, President Stenger will provide a private campus tour.  

The highest bidder and a friend will win the chance to release their inner artists on Wednesday, May 17 at a Wine & Paint with Carol Livermore, owner of Carol’s Coffee & Art Bar.  

The highest bidder and ninw of their closest friends will dine with Visions Federal Credit Union President & CEO, Ty Muse, at The Cellar Restaurant in downtown Owego. 

New York State Senator Fred Akshar is returning to the Celebrity Adventures circuit and will have lunch with the highest bidder in a local Tioga County hotspot. Perhaps the students in P.I.G. (Participation In Government) class would like to pool their pennies and enjoy lunch with their senator.

Do you have a future ornithologist in your family? Waterman Conservation and Education Center (a Tioga United Way agency) will provide the highest bidder and nine of their favorite friends a private, face-to-face, educational experience with one of the most common raptors in our area, Redmond, the Red-tailed hawk.  

The highest bidder and a friend will tour the historic Beekman Farm in Sharon Springs, N.Y. during the Garden Party (May 27) or Harvest Festival (Sept. 9). Visitors will tour the grounds, including the flower garden, the outside of the mansion, crypt and heirloom garden. Then the tour moves on to the barn, where guests will meet the famous goats. 

Online bidding is available March 1 through March 24 at tiogaunitedway.com. Bidding will then continue at the Spelling Bee. Bidding is open to the public and the winner will be announced at the closing ceremony (winner need not be present). 

Spelling Bee teams should include two to six people who will listen to the words and write the correct spellings on paper. All teams must register online at tiogaunitedway.com or by calling (607) 687-4028. To enter, each team will contribute $100.  

The proceeds from the event go towards the 30 partner agencies of the Tioga United Way.