Masonic Lodge’s Gingerbread Contest Raises $850 For Local Charities

The Masonic Lodge announced the winners of its charity Gingerbread Contest held during the Dickens Festival over the weekend and were able to raise $850 for a regional food bank. The Masonic Lodge recruited three celebrity judges to decide in three categories and one category was reserved for most popular vote by festival attendees.

“Our second annual gingerbread contest helped us to raise a significant amount of money for Long Island Cares during a time of year when many of our neighbors are in need of nutritional assistance,” said Lodge Master Thomas Coleman. “Especially following so soon on the heels of Hurricane Sandy’s devastation, we’re all elated by the community’s response to our fundraiser.”

The lodge announced the winners of the contest at the temple on Sunday.

Adult

• Tommy Meehan won 1st Place for his version of Snoopy and his dog house.
• Janice Washburn was awarded 2nd Place for her gingerbread farm house, which also won First Place in the overall Viewer’s Choice competition.
• Andrea Salisova took home 3rd Place for her miniature Town Hall.

Youth

• Emma Kubek was awarded 1st Place for her log cabin
• Alexandra Weldon took home 2nd Place for her confectionary cottage
• Team Potter (Charlotte, Noah and Simon) was awarded 3rd Place for their lighthouse.

Professional

• Lori Ann Riekert of Logia’s Create-A-Cake was awarded 1st Place her rendition of the Port Jefferson Masonic Temple, which the lodge gave extra props to by calling it “magnificent and highly-appropriate” in a statement.

According to the Masonic Lodge, entries were judged by celebrity chef Heather West, winner of season two of Hell’s Kitchen, Broadway star Amy Justman and Dimitri Pittas, international opera star.

Viewer’s Choice

• Janice Washburn captured the overall Viewers’ Choice Award during the Dickens Festival for her gingerbread farmhouse in the popular vote.

Donations collected when the lodge opened its doors for the gingerbread contest and several shows including musical acts, magic shows, an 1850’s-style dance party, and a rendition of Dickens’ A Christmas Carol were donated to Long Island Cares, Inc. (The Harry Chapin Food Bank) and other community outreach projects.

The donations will be formally presented to Long Island Cares at a public ceremony at the Port Jefferson Masonic Temple on Thursday at 8 p.m.

Did your favorite gingerbread house win?