Northampton Education Foundation (NEF) will hold the 21st Annual Adult Spelling Bee on Wednesday, October 25 at BOMBYX Center for Arts & Equity. Doors open and food sales start at 5:00 p.m. and the Bee begins at 6:00 p.m. This family-friendly event is free, but attendees should register in advance at bombyx.live/events/nef-adult-spelling-bee. Walk-up entry will be available if we haven’t reached capacity. NEF’s Spelling Bee raises money to support the Small Grants to Educators program. Small Grants to Educators fund the development of creative and innovative teaching and learning initiatives in Northampton Public Schools and Smith Vocational and Agricultural High School. Last year’s Spelling Bee raised over $13,000 and NEF awarded over $28,000 in Small Grants across grade levels and content areas.  Up to forty teams of three adults will compete for awards in spelling, costume, and humor.  Local businesses, organizations, and individuals are encouraged to sponsor the event and enter teams to compete. NEF can also match teams with sponsors for those who have formed a team and need a sponsor. Sign up to sponsor and/or register a team at northamptoneducation.org/spelling-bee. WHMP will return to broadcast a live play-by-play of the Bee and Northampton Open Media will livestream the event. Food will be available for purchase from Cooper’s Corner/State Street Fruit Store. Homemade bake sale treats and Herrell’s ice cream will also be available for purchase. NEF’s generous major sponsors are Friends of Marcia Burick, D.A. Sullivan & Sons, PeoplesBank, Greenfield Savings Bank, Valley Home Improvement, and Fierst Bloomberg Ohm LLP.