Pie Weekend at the Apple Shed
Story and photos by Beth Hoad

Fourteen hopeful contestants presented their culinary creations at the Apple Shed's Second Annual Fruit Pie Baking contest last Saturday.

Contest sponsors and judges Dick Wheaton, of Arcadia Sports and Awards, Greg Viola, and Barb Viola of Community Bank in Newark, scored the pies on taste, appearance and consistency.

Michele Blair of Newark won first place honors and $50 with her Apple Pie. Ellie Conklin, also of Newark, was presented with $25 as second-place winner with her Cherry and Pineapple Pie.

Other winners were: Margaret Cepulo, third place - $15, Julianna Everdyke, fourth place - $10, and Nancy Palmer, fifth place - $5.

Nancy Palmer, Margaret Cepulo, Apple Shed Fruit Pie Contest winner Michelle Blair, Ellie Conklin and Julianna Everdyke are shown with judges (back row) Greg Viola, Dick Wheaton and Barb Viola.

Walter Crum of Clifton Springs, presented a special award to the winner. He created an apple crown from balloons - on special request of Event Coordinator Becky Haltiner. Crum said after seeing the 'Flying Octopus' created by Larry Moss last year at Sodus Point, he decided to take Moss's class in balloon sculpture.

He will assist Moss in making a balloon castle at South Town Plaza October 22-26. The project is a charitable fundraiser (for Wilmot Cancer Center at Strong Memorial) and will be open to the public beginning October 27.

He plans to create a balloon fire truck to help celebrate Fairville Fire Department's 50th anniversary in 2006.

On Sunday, 38 contestants participated in pie eating contests. In the over 12 class with 17 contestants, 15-year old John Gardner of Lyons garnered first place and an Apple Shed gift certificate. Using a fork, he ate an entire eight-inch apple pie, crust included, in less than 10 minutes.

John said his strategy was to 'eat fast before he started feeling full.' His father competed against him, and his younger sister and brother competed in the younger class.

The 11 and under class had different pies and rules. The 21 contestants were to eat as much of their chocolate pudding pies as they could in two minutes, with their hands held behind their backs. Maria Denisi of Phelps is shown eating her chocolate pudding pie.

Eight-year old Ben Boyd of Newark won an Apple Shed gift certificate as the winner using the slurp and swallow method.

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