The audience at the second annual Adult Spelling Bee listens to Sheila Vertino, of Shepherdstown, win second place at the Shepherdstown Public Library on Saturday night. Photo by Tabitha Johnston

SHEPHERDSTOWN — The crowd cheered, as Rachel Hally was named the winner of the second annual Adult Spelling Bee at Shepherdstown Public Library on Saturday night. Her winning word was the verb, “exculpate,” meaning “to remove blame from someone,” according to Cambridge Dictionary.

Second place winner Sheila Vertino and third place winner Charity Riley cheerfully acknowledged their defeat, noting they would be back for a rematch, when the spelling bee returns in 2026.

“I feel like I should have done better, but it was a game of editor against librarian — a very close race,” Vertino said.

This was the first time Vertino had participated in a spelling bee since childhood, but she felt ready for it, because of her career path and her hobby as an avid reader.

“I’m one of those people who, you give me a menu in a restaurant, and I’m proofreading it,” Vertino said. “I was a publisher and editor-in-chief for a magazine. I’ve made a career out of words, working in public relations and marketing, so this was great fun for me.”

Adult Spelling Bee champion Rachel Hally, center, holds the winning trophy, as second place winner Sheila Vertino, left, and third place winner Charity Riley stand beside her in Shepherdstown Public Library on Saturday. Photo by Tabitha Johnston

This was the second year Hally had participated in the spelling bee, which serves as a fundraiser for the Friends of Shepherdstown Library (FOSL). As a librarian at the Scarborough Library and secretary of the FOSL board, Hally had a thorough understanding of the essential role events like this could play, in ensuring the Shepherdstown Public Library has the funding it needs for programming and improvements.

“It’s always great to come and rally around the library,” Hally said, “And it’s such a fun way to do so.”

What made it all the more enjoyable for contestants and viewers alike, was the addition of a cart from Amy & Alex’s Homemade Ice Cream & Coffee to the wine and snacks, which were previously available at last year’s spelling bee. Attendees also got to participate in a raffle of items donated to the event by 20 different Shepherdstown businesses, including: a treat basket from Community Garden Market, a bucket of spa items and gift certificate from TD Nails & Spa and a date night package, with gift certificates from Christian Caine, the Bavarian Inn and Grapes & Grains Gourmet.

Another change to this year’s event, according to FOSL Program Committee Chair Kaitlyn Fydenkevez, could be seen in the word selection.

“We fine-tuned things from last year,” Fydenkevez said. “Doing it for the first year, the feedback we got was that we had included too many easy words. So, this year, we organized things a little more carefully, so that everyone would get the chance to spell a word or two, before we ratcheted the heat up a little more. It quickly went from playing in the kiddy pool to being thrown in the deep end.”

Friends of Shepherdstown Library Program Committee Chair Kaitlyn Fydenkevez, left, checks the spelling of an answer, as Shepherdstown Public Library Adult Services Librarian Lance Dom calls out a new word for a contestant to spell at the second annual Adult Spelling Bee on Saturday night. Photo by Tabitha Johnston