The Grafton Little League team takes a stab at a word during last year's GEA Community Spelling Bee.
Photo credit: Jennifer Lord Paluzzi (file photo)

GRAFTON, Mass. - If your worst nightmare involves spelling complicated words in front of a crowd while dressed in a silly costume, the Grafton Education Alliance's 8th Annual Community Spelling Bee might not be for you.

But if you eschew spellcheck and wish Halloween came more than once a year, mark April 6 on your calendar and plan to form a team for the popular fundraiser, in which 24 teams will compete against each other for the bragging rights to the title of "Top Speller." The teams face off at 6 p.m. in the Grafton High School auditorium.

The GEA through March 16 is taking teams for the spelling bee. Registration is $150 per team of three and prizes will be awarded for most creative team name, most enthusiastic and most original/creative costumes.

Proceeds benefit the GEA Scholarship program and other educational inititatives and community building.

Contact Debne Marlette at 508-839-5880 or dmarlette4@charter.net. Additional information may be found at www.graftoneducation.org.