The first time Gloucester-Mathews Regional Spelling Bee, to be held next spring, will be a direct path to the Scripps National Spelling Bee, beginning in 2014.

Adult Literacy on the Middle Peninsula, Inc. has signed a contract to become part of the Scripps National Spelling Bee with a local speller definitely bound to participate in the national bee in Washington, D.C. in 2014, according to ALMP program manager Rhoda-Jo Stress.

The winner of the Gloucester-Mathews Regional Spelling Bee, which will be held on March 15, 2014 at the West Mathews Community League in Bohannon will, along with a parent, receive an expense-paid trip to the Scripps National Spelling Bee.

The "Prelude to Scripps National Spelling Bee" will begin with the traditional Mathews Market Days Spelling Bee during Mathews Market Days on Saturday, Sept. 7. Registration forms are available at all the local libraries, the Boys and Girls Clubs, and the Mathews Family YMCA, as well as on the web at www.almpva.org or ...