21 Dec ESSEX COUNTY EXECUTIVE DIVINCENZO PRESENTS AWARDS IN 12th ANNUAL SUSTAINABLE HOMES AND HABITATS GINGERBREAD CONTEST Holiday Contest Helps Raise Awareness about Nature and the Environment
Published on December 21, 2016
Roseland, NJ – Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr. presented awards to the children and families who participated in the Essex County Environmental Center’s 12th Annual Sustainable Homes and Habitats Gingerbread Contest on Tuesday, December 20th. There were 37 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. This hands-on, family-oriented contest lets people of all ages learn about the environment in a fun way,” DiVincenzo said. “I am amazed at the creativeness and ingenuity of the entries each winter. Everyone who participated in this contest was a winner,” he noted.
The public was invited to participate in four categories: Individual Child Category for children ages 14 or younger who worked independently on all aspects of their entry; Group/Family Category for children 14 and younger who worked as a group or had adult assistance on any aspect of their entry; Adult Non-Professional Category for individuals or groups of people ages 15 and older who are students of the culinary arts or are not professional chefs; and Adult Professional Category for individuals or groups of people ages 15 and older who are professional chefs or are working in the culinary arts. A list of the award winners is as follows:
Group/Family Category: First Place: Thea, Jeff, Dottie and Frank DeFrank from South Orange. Second Place: Ella, Ashlyn, Avery and Hayden McAdams from Montclair. Third Place: The Gaudiosi Family from Roseland.
Individual Child Category: First Place: Mesgana Geberyesus from West Orange. Second Place: Natalie Steele from Montclair. Third Place: Gabrielle King-Price from Newark.
Non-Professional Adult Category: First Place: Aleah Colon-Alfonso from Caldwell. Second Place: Patricia and Dylan Saraciniello from Fairfield. Third Place: Essex County West Caldwell Campus culinary arts students Dominique Thomas, Krystal Guevara, Ingrid Cruz, Azaria Agosto and Crystal Gonzalez and their teacher Victoria Atfield.
Adult Professional Category: First Place: Tamara and Alexandra Hon from Livingston. Second Place: Highlawn Pavilion from West Orange. Third Place: ShopRite in West Caldwell.
Entries were judged on distinctiveness, creative use of a nature theme, use of “green” building design techniques and skill in decoration. The gingerbread homes were on display at the Essex County Environmental Center during the month of December.
Sponsors of this year’s contest were McLoone’s Boathouse Restaurant in West Orange, Fairchild’s Market in Roseland, Aramark in West Orange, REI in East Hanover, the Paper Mill Playhouse in Millburn, ShopRite in West Caldwell, Trader Joe’s in Millburn, Kitchen a la Mode in South Orange, Mayo Performing Arts Center in Morristown, Manhattan Bagel in Roseland, Starbucks in Roseland, Essex County Codey Arena in West Orange, Green Point Juicery in Verona and Essex County Turtle Back Zoo in West Orange.
Classes and programs with nature themes are offered at the Essex County Environmental Center. Registration is required for all programs at the Essex County Environmental Center. For more information or to register, please call 973-228-8776. The Center is located at 621B Eagle Rock Avenue in Roseland.
The Essex County Park System was created in 1895 and is the first county park system established in the United States. The Park System consists of more than 6,000 acres and has 22 parks, five reservations, an environmental center, a zoo, Treetop Adventure Course, ice skating rink, roller skating rink, three public golf courses, golf driving range, two miniature golf courses, three off-leash dog facilities, a castle and the Presby Memorial Iris Gardens. The Environmental Center is located within Essex County West Essex Park, which is 1,360 acres of wetlands preserves.