West Essex Residents Win at Essex County Environmental Center’s 14th Annual Gingerbread Contest – TAPinto.net
ROSELAND, NJ — Several West Essex-area residents, including Roseland youngsters JJ and Brody Rella and Brandon and Ryan Sivori, who received first place in the Group/Family Category, recently earned awards in the Essex County Environmental Center’s 14th Annual Sustainable Homes and Habitats Gingerbread Contest.
Among the other winners were Caldwell resident Laura Stairiker and West Caldwell resident Nicoletta Guerrieri, won second and third place, respectively, in the Individual Child Category, and North Caldwell resident Mary Pierson Farlie, who won second place in the Adult Non-Professional Category. In the Adult Professional Category, Sunrise Bakery at the West Caldwell ShopRite came in first place.
Additionally, students from the Essex County West Caldwell Campus and their culinary arts teacher Victoria Atfield won third place in the Adult Non-Professional Category.
According to Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo, Jr., who presented awards to the participating children and families, there were 35 entries in this year’s contest.
“Our Sustainable Homes and Habitats Gingerbread Contest is a wonderful project that incorporates our mission to raise awareness about nature with a holiday theme,” said DiVincenzo. “This hands-on, family-oriented contest lets people of all ages learn about the environment in a fun way. I am amazed at the creativeness and ingenuity of the entries each winter. Everyone who participated in this contest was a winner.”
Entries were judged on distinctiveness, creative use of a nature theme, use of “green” building design techniques and skill in decoration. Members of the Essex County Environmental Commission served as judges for this year’s competition. The gingerbread homes were on display at the Essex County Environmental Center during the first two weeks of December.
The public was invited to participate in four categories. A full list of the award winners is as follows:
Group/Family Category: (Children 14 and younger who worked as a group or had adult assistance on any aspect of their entry.)
First Place: JJ and Brody Rella and Brandon and Ryan Sivori from Roseland.
Second Place: Ella, Ashlyn, Avery, Hayden and Patrick McAdams from Montclair.
Third Place: Eva, Ella and Kyla from Girl Scout Troop 96185 from East Hanover.
Individual Child Category: (Children ages 14 or younger who worked independently on all aspects of their entry.)
First Place: Leonardo McCormick from West Orange.
Second Place: Laura Stairiker from Caldwell.
Third Place: Nicoletta Guerrieri from West Caldwell.
Non-Professional Adult Category: (Individuals or groups of people ages 15 and older who are students of the culinary arts or are not professional chefs.)
First Place: Essex County Donald M. Payne School of Technology culinary arts students Lizbeth Marte and Biatriz Diaz and their teacher Eddie Encarnacion.
Second Place: Mary Pierson Farlie from North Caldwell.
Third Place: Essex County West Caldwell Campus culinary arts students Angelina Lewis, Taina Lopez, Amiyah Portorreal, Waldina Villeda and Vanessa Williams; assistants Tiffany Coats, Olufunmilayo Oyefeso, Diane Richard, Laisha Rojas and James Davey; and their teacher Victoria Atfield.
Adult Professional Category: (Individuals or groups of people ages 15 and older who are professional chefs or are working in the culinary arts.)
First Place: Sunrise Bakery at the West Caldwell ShopRite.
Second Place: Gilbert Antero from Belleville.
Sponsors of this year’s contest included Mayo Performing Arts Center in Morristown, Metropolitan Plant Exchange in West Orange, Caldwell Nursery in West Caldwell, Fairchild’s Market in Roseland, Green Point Juicery in Verona, Essex County Turtle Back Zoo in West Orange, ShopRite in West Caldwell, Citiplex 12 Movie Theaters, Earth, Wind & Flowers in East Hanover, McLoone’s Boathouse Restaurant in West Orange, Starbucks in Roseland and RDWorks Woodturning in Budd Lake.