Annual Trivia Bee Generates Buzz and Funds

The (WFEE) held its Ninth annual Trivia Bee recently. was filled with tables of trivia buffs, while eager onlookers peered out from the balconies to see who would come away with the ultimate prize, a bee trophy. 

In the end, it was “The Local Bookies” from who nabbed the grand prize. Caren Connelly, Executive Director of WFEE, said she was particularly happy for Judy Manzo, owner of BookEnds. Manzo has played in WFEE’s spelling or trivia bees for 19 years straight, Connelly said, and despite getting to the final round multiple times, Manzo never won the bee until this year.

“She was pretty excited,” Connelly said, “so it was perfect to have them win.”

Teams of fifth grade students from each elementary school kicked off the night, competing in the initial round of trivia contests. The winning fifth grade team was from , comprised of Nicholas Forcione, Jason Lee, and Emily Zhang.

After that, the adults took the stage in teams ranging from “The –ism Busters” of the to the Board of Selectmen. Hosting the event were Brian Milauskas of Kidstock and Bill McAlduff, Superintendent of Schools.

WFEE donated nearly $140,000 to the Winchester public schools in 2011, including major funding for a Seed to Plate Garden Grant at Ambrose Elementary, iPads for music instruction at Winchester High School, and document cameras for second grade classrooms across the district.

Connelly doesn’t have numbers yet on how much money was raised by this year’s bee, but said “it will definitely be a financial success.”