BUCKLAND – The Pothole Pixies ruled the 13th annual Community Spelling Bee this week, winning their championship bout with the proper spelling of “muliebrity,” a word with Latin roots that means “womanliness.”

This year’s bee, sponsored by the Mary Lyon Foundation, brought out 29 teams to compete for spelling perfection and “best costume.” In the costume category, the Shelburne Arts Co-op’s Art for a Spell team members Cheryl Denton, Nancy Baker and Denny Baker won first place for their three-dimensional “framed” paintings. The Robert Strong Woodward team, Picture Perfect Spellers, also dressed as oil paintings. The Spellebrities (including “Tori Spelling”) shined with sparkling costumes, as did the Transylvanian Trimmers, the Fantasy Book Club and Steampunks in the Snow. The latter team featured Mohawk C0-Principal Lynn Dole, and teachers Drue Johnson and Travis Minnick.

But beyond the spelling fun, the musical interludes by Creek House Quagmire and the Mohawk music department, and the raffles of donated goods and prizes, the spelling bee raises at least $7,000 each year for educational programs and classroom mini grants for schools and students throughout western Franklin County.

“This is the most we’ve ever raised in the 13 years,”  Mary Lyon Foundation co-chair Sheila Damkoehler said Friday afternoon. While the calculations were still being made, she said the turnout was great, despite the earlier postponement of the event.

“We very much appreciate the community support, and our volunteers,” she said. “We’re also supported by United Way, and we try to match their support.”

Here are the winners in each spelling bee round:

Round 1: Pothole Pixies – Jim Kessler, Jackie Walsh and Rick Leskowitz.

Round 2: Senior Wise – Dale Moss, Helen Boyden and John Strickland.

Round 3: Transylvanian Trimmers – Marilyn McArthur, John Crowley and Sarah Doyle.

Round 4: Word Builders – Dena Willmore, Peter Steven and Phil Bragdon.

Round 5: Chesslazy – Kayla Haskins, Izzy Brenizer and Francesca Ruggiero-Corliss.