19 Dec ESSEX COUNTY EXECUTIVE DIVINCENZO PRESENTS AWARDS IN 13th ANNUAL SUSTAINABLE HOMES AND HABITATS GINGERBREAD CONTEST Holiday Contest Helps Raise Awareness about Nature and the Environment
Published on December 19, 2017
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 13th Annual Sustainable Homes and Habitats Gingerbread Contest on Monday, December 18th. There were 33 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: Aydan Sorrentino and Aidan Leifer from Roseland. Second Place: Cassandra Lopez and Levana Roy from Newark. Third Place: Ella, Ashlyn, Avery and Hayden McAdams from Montclair.
Individual Child Category: First Place: Mesgana Geberyesus from West Orange. Second Place: Laura Stairiker from Caldwell. Third Place: Madison Rossetti from Caldwell.
Non-Professional Adult Category: First Place: Aleah Colon-Alfonso from Caldwell. Second Place: Essex County North 13th Street Campus culinary arts students Gladys Perez, Kayla Salcedo and Kayla Ramirez and their teacher Eddie Encarnacion. Third Place: Essex County West Caldwell Campus culinary arts students Michael Leon, Ruby Sarpong, Ashely Cowan, Carlos Rodriguez and Khyle Lonon and their teacher Brett Boon.
Adult Professional Category: First Place: Palermo Bakery from Little Ferry. Second Place: Sunrise Bakery at the West Caldwell ShopRite. Third Place: Aramark at Essex County Turtle Back Zoo in West Orange.
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, The Towne Scoop in Verona, the Paper Mill Playhouse in Millburn, Trader Joe’s in Millburn, Kitchen a la Mode in South Orange, Essex County Codey Arena in West Orange, Mayo Performing Arts Center in Morristown, Manhattan Bagel in Roseland, Starbucks in Roseland, Green Point Juicery in Verona, Essex County Turtle Back Zoo in West Orange, Be Savvy Consignment in Roseland, The Messy Artist in Livingston and Rizzo’s Reptiles in Flanders.
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 23 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.