Did you catch any of the national spelling bee on TV last night? Now you know what it's like at the Freeman's regional bee each year at Ulster County Community College -- minus the network TV cameras, of course.

We've been sponsoring the regionals for a couple of decades and I've MC'd all but one, marveling each year at the poise, maturity and smarts displayed by nearly all of the youngsters who have qualified for the competition.

From my perch off-stage, I also look into the eyes of proud parents, brothers and sisters, aunts and uncles, grandmothers and grandfathers who fill the Quimby Theater and live and die with each word.

You really ought to catch next year's bee in person. It's usually held on the third Thursday of the March. (2008's exact date isn't yet confirmed.) We've not yet produced a national champion from our regional competition. A few have been relatively close, however, so it could happen.

Win or lose, these young people are among our region's best. They're worth supporting and encouraging.

Meantime, congratulations again to Seher Sethi, a fifth-grader at Mill Road Elementary School in Red Hook, who represented us this year in the nationals in Washington. Job well done.