COMMUNITY SPIRIT(S)

Higgins Wine and Spirits right here in Dover is the perfect blend of what all a local store offers in spirit and knowledge but with the selection you might find at a big store. They offer tastings and want the customer to be happy. Sometimes I think they can read minds. The other night, I ran in to grab a bottle of red wine and Tammy Lomenzo directed me to a new one they had in that she thought I might like. She also let me know that they had a limited supply and it was flying off the shelf so if I liked it to let her know and she’d set some aside for me. I loved it – as did those I shared it with – and called her the next day to secure more! Who else looks out for customers like that? Higgins has long supported of the Dover Library - they have helped us with fundraisers, donating their time to events such as Oktoberfest this past fall, and they are a presence on the Holiday House Tours, dispensing knowledge (and coupons!). And they are showing their support for us once again, with a $25 gift card for our Bee Tree. Whomever gets this item is lucky indeed; with the knowledgeable staff at Higgins to help you make a purchase, the only hard part will be narrowing down the choices of what great things to buy!

FAIR TRADE

Trader Joe’s in Needham has graciously agree to donate a $50 bag of groceries to our Bee Tree. Trader Joe’s is one of those gem stores – offering a variety of foods and always at a good price. Back in my college days in Southern California, where Trader Joe’s is based, it was the go to store for everything. Food was fresh and healthy and suited a college budget; it was also where you could get Vodka of the Gods, THE party mixer, which I believe, due to MA liquor laws in not available out here. But I digress … Nowadays, I stock up on cheese, yogurt, fresh fruit and veggies, organic milk (best non-sale price I’ve found), and the microwave hash browns that are the only thing my 4 year old will eat for breakfast. If they are out of them, it is because I usually buy all they have in stock – sorry! Due to my waistband, I try to avoid the frozen croissants (regular and chocolate!) but if you want ones that are bakery fresh, these are for you. I always leave with a full bag of goodies and a jingle in my pocket – who could ask for more?

NO INTRODUCTION NECESSARY

While we have lots of local donors to the Bee – and we are forever grateful for those! – we do have some big names that donated items to us, and they need no introduction. So without further ado, a big thanks to:

Bed Bath & Beyond for sending us a $10 gift card (www.bedbathandbeyond.com). No matter what you need for your home, you will find it there!

Costco for donating a $25 gift card (www.costco.com) so you can get more, for less.

The Boston Red Sox for sending us a signed picture of relief pitcher Hideki Okajima (www.redsox.mlb.com). Act now - this will soon be a collector’s item!

Taking a word out of play: Gonorhyncus is incorrect

Darn. It was a good word, too.

Thanks to Cliff Brown of the COD team for pointing out that the correct spelling for this type of fish is gonorhynchus--it has a second "h".

I proofread the word lists and check and double-check, but inevitably at least one word is published incorrectly. I apologize--it is entirely my error.

Thank you, Cliff, for finding it and pointing it out.

If you find any other misspellings, please bring them to my attention.

Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious

I can’t believe my spell checker did not highlight that! I wrote it because we need an especially magnificent word to describe our Top #1 Superdonor, Dover Automotive.

If you live in Dover, chances are Doug Wolfe changes your oil. He does a variety of repair work for us. Once the running board snapped off the side of my car, and the dealer wanted big bucks and a couple of weeks to replace it. Doug did it for a fraction of that cost, and faster than I could have gotten to and from a dealer. After that, there was no turning back for us—everything automotive goes to Doug. If he can’t fix it, he will tell you.

Doug recently made me look like a superhero, which is no mean feat. I was home one morning when the phone rang: my teenager had forgotten that it was school picture day and was wearing a t-shirt. We use those school photos for Christmas gifts, so I figured this was not the time for a “teachable moment”. I found an acceptable outfit and prepared to drive it to school, only to discover that my car battery had died.

The first line of defense was to call the 800 number on my windshield, so I did that. Got a jump start pretty quickly, but the driver did tell me that he thought my battery was stone dead and that I should drive right over to the dealer to get it replaced. Well, that was all very nice and good, but I had a shirt to deliver, so I did what any sensible person in my position would have done: called Doug.

Doug picked up on the first ring, and gave me these instructions: “Go to school and deliver the shirt, but do not turn the car off. When you have finished delivering, come directly here to the shop.” Off I ran, ignoring the “no idling” law in the school parking lot, and then back to Dover Automotive.

Doug took a look under the hood and said “Do you have to be anywhere in the next 15 minutes?” Well, I had a school pickup for a tennis lesson in 20 minutes, but I did have 15 minutes. “Wait right there” said Doug, and off he went, phone ringing in his hand.

In twelve minutes I was driving out of Whiting Road with a brand new battery. Picked up my carpool, off to tennis, and then made the other carpool. Looked like an absolute hero. (Not that anyone in my car noticed, but that’s a different story.)

Where else can this happen but Dover Automotive?

(Oh, and the school picture came out great.)

Thanks, Doug! Your generous contribution makes the Bee run smoothly, just like the cars.

That's STATIONERY, not stationary...

This year the word list features a section called "The Elements of Style", named for William Strunk, junior's 1918 classic.  You might glance at this section and dismiss it as being full of easy words, but look more closely--this is where I hid all the homophones that trip up the casual speller.  You will find complement as well as compliment, and stationery and stationary.  You had better know the difference, if you want to win!

Now that I have gotten your attention and raised your anxiety level, let me pay a compliment (or several) to our friends at Taylor's Stationery on Highland Avenue in Needham.  I am a die-hard stationery and fountain pen snob, and Taylor's is best place around for these two of my favorite obsessions.  They carry a number of quality stationery lines, including Vera Bradley and Crane's, and they know how to run a good sale. (They are running a special on Crane's right now: purchase 100 pieces or more of engraved or letterpress stationery sets from the selection shown and receive free dies, or purchase 100 pieces or more of thermographed or flat printed stationery sets and receive the printed address on the envelope free.  You're going to save between $58 and $96 on your purchase, which makes it extremely hard to justify NOT placing an order.  Especially if you go the engraving route: free dies will make your next order even less expensive.)  They also have a terrific selection of "nifty gifties" for every occasion, and a clever and well-curated collection of greeting cards.  I would tip you off to their excellent holiday cards (and the fact that they sometimes publish sale coupons for them in the Dover-Sherborn Press), but Taylor's made my family Christmas card photo look so good last year that I don't want to give away that secret....so, never mind.   

One tidbit I will share with you is Taylor Stationery's generosity to the Bee Tree.  The last time I went by, they had an envelope for the Bee containing a $50 gift card.  Pluck that off the Tree and you are well on your way to something fabulous.  (But go early--I know of three people already who are scheming to buy that Word Bee and reap the benefits!)

I could (and do) spend hours getting lost in Taylor's--the more you look, the more you find.  I suppose that means that stationery can make one stationary... Go, find out for yourself. And while you are there, thank Jack and his helpful team for their support of your Library.

Le mot juste

The Bee is always happy to welcome back returning players—it’s like seeing old friends again. But we are also glad to welcome new players into the event, to mix things up a bit. This year we are delighted to welcome a group that is not only new to the Bee, but comprised of players who do not even live in Dover.


The COD team was one of our first entrants this year. COD, you ask? Like the Cape? The fish? Call of Duty? (That one came from my teenager-in-residence.) Cash on Delivery? (That last one is getting pretty close.) No, the Bee’s COD team stands for Crack O’ Dawn—the early-morning bicycle-riding fund-raising powerhouses.

You might remember an article the Boston Globe carried this fall about this biking group. They have their own website, http://www.crackodawn.com/, which shows their routes, their stats, and their sense of humor (go on, have a look). You may even have heard them riding down the road outside of your bedroom window when most people you know still think it’s nighttime.

What you probably have NOT heard about is their charitable bent. The people affiliated with COD have raised, they estimate, nearly $2 million for the Pan Mass Challenge. Imagine how many miles they’ve logged to raise that kind of money.

And now, three of the COD cyclists are raising money for your Library. They figure that they enjoy riding through Dover, and want to give back to the community. How cool is that?

On March 25th we will say hello and welcome to COD riders Cliff Brown, Rich Polt and Bruce Cohen. This summer Cliff expects to surpass the $250,000 mark for PMC fundraising (he has been riding for PMC since 1999). Cliff and his family are great supporters of their local library in Brookline, and he brings his love of reading and Scrabble-playing skills to Dover. Rich Polt is the founder of Louder than Words, a public relations firm which supports philanthropic organizations and activities (check out his blog—you will like it). Bruce Cohen, who has completed nine marathons and earned a place in the United States Lacrosse Hall of Fame, has already passed the $250,000 fundraising mark for the PMC, and is looking forward to celebrating his 42nd wedding anniversary with his wife.

I can’t wait to meet these guys. And I have JUST the right word for them: eleemosynary. It means “relating to charity”. If anyone can relate to charity, I think it’s the COD team.

Welcome, and thank you for playing!

Corporate Donations

The Bee has grown larger over the years, with the addition of the Bee Tree and Bee Cafe a few years ago. This year we decided to take our fundraising a step further and approached local businesses to be sponsors of the Bee at various levels. We do not have many expenses, but those that we do incur take away from the total amount that will benefit the library - and that is where we want all the money to go. In order to maximize fundraising efforts, we sent a letter to businesses in Dover and those with a Dover connection. And already, we have had wonderful members of community answer our call. Read all about them below, but a special thanks to Chestnut Street Animal Hospital, Miss Erin's School of Dance, Dr. Mark Manikian, DDS, and Roche Bros. supermarkets.

PET FRIENDLY

Who can be nicer than people who help animals? It's hard to think of anyone, and no one is a greater friend of my cat than Dr. Holly Kelsey and the team at Chestnut Street Animal Hospital - just up the road on Chestnut Street in Needham. I won't go as far to say he likes to get in the carrier to go to the vet, but once he arrives and sees where he is, he does relax a bit! When we moved here, several people referred me to them, and they take excellent car of Smokey. They also take care of the community, and this year are "Busy Bee" donors to the Bee. Now that's something we can all purr about!

GROCERIES ON THE GO

If you read these entries, you'll find I am a fan of places that deliver. And Roche Bros. is a great delivery store. They have all the things I need, and my groceries come to me! But it is also fun to go to the store in Wellesley, where I can peruse the aisles and ogle the ready-made cases. They have kid-sized carts, much to my kids' delight. The upside is that each child gets a cart to push and stays happy; the downside is it can take 45 minutes to get 20 things! But what we lack in speed we make up in fun. The folks at Roche Bros. are friendly and helpful, and they are also supporters of the Dover Library. They have given gift cards and products to past events, and this year, they are "Honey Bee" donors. Quality service indeed! Check out their locations and delivery options at www.rochebros.com.

GRIN AND BEAR IT

With no offense to the profession, it is rare to find a dentist that kids actually want to go see. However, such is the case with Dr. Mark Manikian, DDS, on Centre Street. Both my son and I see him, and my son loves to go show off his teeth and get his clean teeth certificate from Dr. Manikian. Each night while brushing, my son proudly says he is doing a good job - "just like Dr. Manikian said to." A longtime resident, Dr. Manikian is another person who gives back to our town's resources, donating as a "Busy Bee" to our Bee. We appreciate his support of the library and, thanks to his skills, can flash our pearly whites with confidence!

DANCE TIME!

My daughter is too young for dance lessons and ballet is not up my son's alley, but as I hear from kids and moms alike, Miss Erin's School of Dance is the place to go. I have been regaled with tales of costumes and recitals and most importantly, fun - all the excitement I remember when as a child I took dance. Miss Erin's is right here in Dover at the Caryl School, and as part of the community, owner/teacher Erin McParkland-McCann gives back to community, such as her school's support of the Bee. By donating as a "Busy Bee," Miss Erin's is making sure that after class, her students have a sound place to research dance history and learn more about their moves.

DOVER MARKET TO THE RESCUE!

It is rare that you can say a grocery store actually saved the day, but in the case of Dover Market, it is true. It was my mother-in-law's birthday and I was making dinner and my 4 year old wanted to make the cake. As the day wore on, it became increasingly clear that there was no way this was all going to come together. Enter Dover Market. I called and got Chef Cindy and she set aside for us some amazing chicken - far better than what I was attempting to cook - and some beautiful flowers from Lovell's that they had right there in the front. With that taken care of, and the sides already made, we could focus on bigger issues - like exactly how many sprinkles will fit on a cake! But whether it is a dinner emergency, high end meats, catering, daily groceries or just a milk run, Dover Market has you covered. Dover Market also is a long supporter of the library - did you have the amazing sausages Dave Felleman made for the Friends' Oktoberfest? Or Chef Cindy's soup and pastry puffs at the Holiday House Tour? If you did not have either, stop by today to see what you are missing. And the Dover Market has come through again, donating a $50 gift card to the Bee Tree. Thank you!

GO PAW SOX!

Just down the road a bit is a Red Sox farm team, the Pawtucket Red Sox. A great place to take kids to games, you avoid the lines and cost of Fenway but get all of the action and can see up and coming Sox players take the field. And thanks to their donation to the Bee Tree, 4 tickets to a game can be yours for the taking. A great way for the family to spend a summer afternoon! Check out team info at www.pawsox.com.

PICTURE PERFECT

The holiday card photo - more trying to get a good picture of the kids - always adds to the holiday stress. So why not leave it to the pros? Portrait Simple has offered a solution by donating a free sitting and 6 sheet package to the Bee Tree. With their pros taking the shots and plenty of poses to choose from, that holiday gem has to be in there. And with the six sheets of pics, there will be plenty for you to share pics of the kids (or mom and dad too!). Who knew it could be so easy to be picture perfect?! For more info, visit www.portraitsimple.com.

TALK TO THE ANIMALS

What is cuter than baby animals? Maybe your kids communing with the baby animals? Well if you are looking to channel Dr. Doolittle and take cuteness to the nth degree, you'll have your chance thanks to Zoo New England donating 4 passes to the Bee Tree. Good for use at the Franklin Park Zoo in Boston or the Stone Zoo in Stoneham, these passes will make for a fun, and educational, day out. Read all about the zoos and their programs (including animal birth announcements!) at www.zoonewengland.com.

A FAIRY TALE COME TO LIFE

I have not yet made the trip up to Story Land, but if my friends experiences and the buzz on the Dover Moms' site are even half true, it is the perfect place to take little ones for an amusement park adventure. Repeat visits are the norm - seems like kids and parents love this place! Rides are the right scale and speed, prices are reasonable and with its close proximity, it makes for an easy mini-vacation. The kind people at Story Land also are helping with our Bee, donating 2 passes to the Bee Tree. So you can have a fun weekend and help the library! See what all is there at www.storylandnh.com.

HO! HO! HO!

While my son points out things to ask Santa for weekly, he does not yet know there is a place where it is all Santa, all the time. I kind of dread the day he learns about Santa's Village in Jefferson, NH, because I know then anytime we talk of taking a trip, that will be his #1 destination choice! Just a hop skip and a jump away, this is a place where it is holiday magic, regardless of the calendar date (well, as long as it is May-December - Santa needs a vacation too!). With rides, festivities, reindeer and Santa himself, Santa's Village makes for a great weekend getaway. And if you purchase the 2 passes they donated to the Bee Tree, you'll be that much closer to having a holly, jolly day! Check it out at www.santasvillage.com.

They're BAAAAACK: The Defending Champions return!

We have just received the paperwork for the Spellunkers, the 2009 Bee champions.  This team, most recently consisting of Dr. Pamela Mok, attorney Lori Krusell, and author Tod Dimmick, has been playing in the Bee for several years, in varying compositions.  Their two consistent features from year to year are their fabulous headgear and--of course--their spelling acumen.  They will be a tough team to beat (for you AND for me).  Come out to the Bee on March 25th and cheer them on, or take them on.

The Teams are rolling in!

Now that the words are published, the pressure is on for teams to form and start preparing.  I'm delighted to report that we have several teams--new and returning--emerging to play in the 2010 Bee.

So far, Ms Wood's Chickering class wins the prize for the most Bee participants.  The class voted on the name for the team of parents representing the class: Wood's Word Wizards (you cannot say that 10 times fast--unless you are in the 3rd grade) consists of two-time Bee veteran Sara Muckstadt, joined by newbies (new-bees?) Laura Rinaldi and Dick Greene.  Watch out for this team; I suspect they're going to be very good.  And I know that their cheering section will be very loud...

Ms Wood's class can also claim bragging rights for part of the Bee List Celebrities, constituted by Greg Kahoun and Chickering parents Will Bleakley (Ms Wood's class) and Paul Fiore.  These three won the round that sent me scrambling for the dictionary last year--they ran me out of words.  Watching how fluidly they responded to the difficult words read by MC George Doherty last spring, I had the sudden and alarming impression that they must use words like terpsichorean and immiserate in everyday speech. I'm glad that my high-schooler is not taking the SATs alongside of these guys--they'd blow the curve.

Talk to the parents of your children's friends and classmates, and form a team. The Dear Friend letter makes it easy to get a wide base of support relatively quickly, and puts you in the game.  Your kids will be so proud of you for playing (and they might even help you study!), and you will be doing a very good deed for your library and your community.

We will continue to update you on the teams, the words, the donors and all things Bee '10. Stay tuned!