Briefs: Cupcake contest, poet laureate, more

Winners of Ithaca Cupcake Baking Contest announced

Megan Martinez won first place with her Tiramisu Bouquet Cupcakes (pictured) in the 7th Annual Ithaca Cupcake Baking Contest organized by The Sophie Fund on Oct. 15.

Martinez’s masterpiece consisted of ladyfinger cakes soaked with marsala and expresso syrup, topped with whipped mascarpone frosting dusted with cocoa powder and a hand-cut chocolate bouquet of flowers.

“Tiramisu is a dessert that everyone in my house can get on board with, so when it comes to making cupcakes that I think are the very best, this is one of the first places my mind goes,” Martinez said. “The syrup soak makes such a moist cupcake. Having this with a cup of coffee is like heaven to me.”

The judges awarded Akiko Cliteur second place with her Baked Cheesecake and Swan Cream Puff Cupcakes. She explained that she has loved making baked cheesecake with sour cream topping since discovering a recipe 15 years ago, and cream puffs are another of her go-to desserts.

“I thought about combining my favorite things together as a cupcake for the first time for this contest,” Cliteur said.

Ayumi Pereira took home third place with her Matcha Green Tea Cream-Filled Cupcakes. The treats consisted of matcha-flavored cakes with cream cheese filling, whipped vanilla cream frosting, topped with a white chocolate sakura, or cheery blossom.

“I’m from Japan, and I wanted to create cupcakes with something that represents my country,” Pereira said. “Matcha is a Japanese green tea powder, and it has an addictive, earthy, smooth green tea flavor.”

Katy Holloway received the Youth Award for the second year in a row, for her gluten-free S’more Cupcakes Please! Cupcakes. Her chocolate cakes had a honey graham cracker base and a chocolate ganache center and were topped with marshmallow frosting and marshmallow and Hershey’s bar decorations.

“S’mores are full of memories of friends and family around the campfire filled with summer fun,” said Holloway, who recalls with a smile the time her brother got some sticky white goo stuck in his hair while roasting marshmallows.

This year’s contest, held in the Ithaca Commons, drew 25 entries with a range of themes including chai latte and root beer floats, local honey and apple pies, gingerbread houses, pumpkin patches, family recipes, mental health awareness, the ‘70s rock band The Runaways, Day of the Dead traditions and the Onam harvest festival in India.

Judging the finalists were professionals from Ithaca’s culinary community: Yuko Jingu of Akemi Food; Ashley Case of Case Sera Sera; Racquel Riccardi of the Sinfully Delicious Baking Co.; Melissa Kenny of Sweet Melissa’s Ice Cream Shop; and Via Carpenter of Via’s Cookies.

The 7th Annual Ithaca Cupcake Baking Contest was sponsored by Visions Federal Credit Union, Cayuga Health, Greenstar Food Co+op and MindWell Center. Technical support was contributed by Well Said Media and Hickey’s Music Center. The contest was produced by Cara Nichols of CRN Events. Volunteers from student organizations at Cornell University supported the contest: Cornell Circle K, Alpha Phi Omega, Phi Sigma Pi, PATCH (Pre-Professional Association Toward Careers in Health), Cornell Health International and Cornell Minds Matter.

Also participating in the day-long event were organizations advancing mental health in the greater Ithaca community. They included: Be Kind Ithaca; Suicide Prevention & Crisis Service; Mental Health Association in Tompkins County; National Alliance on Mental Illness Finger Lakes; Family & Children’s Service of Ithaca; and the Advocacy Center of Tompkins County.

The Awards Ceremony was hosted by Carley Robinson of the Civic Ensemble and featured live musical performances by SingTrece & Kenneth McLaurin, Joe Gibson, Rachel Beverly, and the Maud Powell and Joachim Group Suzuki classes at Ithaca Talent Education.

The contest is organized every year by The Sophie Fund, which was established in 2016 in memory of Cornell University art student Sophie Hack MacLeod to support mental health initiatives aiding young people. Her passion for baking cupcakes inspired the launch of the first Ithaca Cupcake Baking Contest in 2016. At the time of her death by suicide at age 23, Sophie was on a medical leave of absence from Cornell and active in Ithaca’s culinary scene.

Learn more at thesophiefund.org.

 

CAP invites nominations for county poet laureate

The Community Arts Partnership (CAP) is now accepting nominations for the 2023 Tompkins County poet laureate. Nominations are due Nov. 2, and poet applications are due Nov. 27.

The position of Tompkins County poet laureate was established by the Tompkins County Legislature in 2001 to honor local outstanding poets, integrate poetry into the community, enrich the education of our young people and enhance the county’s position as a cultural center.  Since its establishment, CAP has administered the selection and announcement of the Tompkins County poet laureate.

Current Poet Laureate Christine Kitano (pictured) is completing her two-year term at the end of 2022. A notable list of local poets have served in this role, including Zee Zahava, who served as poet laureate in 2017 and 2018 and offered, “It was an incredible honor for me to serve as the poet laureate when I did. It brought me into contact with so many new people, helped me to focus my own writing and my outreach (through workshops and readings) and was actually a beautiful framework for my life. Anyone who is chosen to serve will be enriched by the experience!”

CAP Executive Director Megan Barber is looking forward to receiving nominations for a wide variety of local community-minded poets eager to share the power of poetry with people across the county.

“We are seeking poets with a substantial body of work that’s been published (digitally or print) or performed; who are eager and willing to connect with and support our communities through poetry and to create and engage in a community-oriented poetry project; and whose work helps people make collective meaning and touches both the heart and the mind,” she said.

Anyone can nominate a poet, and poets interested in being considered for the position may apply directly. Full guidelines including poet laureate duties, selection criteria and the nomination and application process can be found at artspartner.org/content/view/poet-laureate.html or on the CAP home page at artspartner.org.

 

Cayuga Medical Center receives ACC accreditation

The American College of Cardiology (ACC) has recognized Cayuga Medical Center for its demonstrated expertise and commitment in treating patients with chest pain.

Cayuga Medical Center, a member of Cayuga Health, was recently awarded Chest Pain Center Accreditation with Primary PCI and Resuscitation based on rigorous onsite evaluation of the staff’s ability to evaluate, diagnose and treat patients who may be experiencing a heart attack.

“When patients come to us with heart attack symptoms, regardless of day or night, at any time, they can feel assured that we can provide the care they need,” stated Dr. Martin Stallone, president and CEO of Cayuga Health. “Accreditation by the American College of Cardiology is a credit to the dedicated staff of the Cayuga Heart and Vascular Center and all the departments that support them.”

According to the CDC, more than 730,000 Americans suffer a heart attack each year. The most common symptom of a heart attack for people of any gender is discomfort. However, women are more likely to have atypical symptoms. Other heart attack symptoms include, but are not limited to, tingling or discomfort in one or both arms, back, shoulder, neck or jaw, shortness of breath, cold sweat, unusual tiredness, heartburn-like feeling, nausea or vomiting, sudden dizziness and fainting.

Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is also known as coronary angioplasty. It is a non-surgical procedure that opens narrowed or blocked coronary arteries with a balloon to relieve symptoms of heart disease or reduce heart damage during or after a heart attack.

“We are very proud to have earned this high level of accreditation, as it speaks to the excellent level of care that we offer day and night, and we are the only hospital in this region to achieve this level of accreditation,” said Dr. Amit K. Singh, MD, medical director of Cayuga Heart and Vascular Center. “What’s most important to know is that, if you are having chest pain or heart attack symptoms, don’t wait. Call 911 to come to Cayuga Medical Center and allow our highly trained, expert and compassionate team to give you the care you need.”

Hospitals that have earned ACC Chest Pain Center with Primary PCI and Resuscitation Accreditation have proven exceptional competency in treating patients with heart attack symptoms and have primary PCI available 24/7 every day of the year. As required to meet the criteria of the accreditation designation, they comply with standard Chest Pain Center protocols and are equipped with a robust hypothermia program for post-cardiac arrest treatment. These facilities also maintain a “No Diversion Policy” for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients.

 

Legislator Henry Granison to step down Oct. 31

Tompkins County Legislator Henry Granison, who represents the Third District, has announced that he is resigning his position, effective Oct. 31.

Granison shared in the Legislature meeting on Oct. 18 that he is stepping down due to intensive treatment for cancer.

Granison has served on the Legislature since January 2018. Among other activities, he serves as the chair of the county’s Workforce Diversity and Inclusion Committee and has overseen progress in the organization’s internal commitments to equity, as well as leadership to the broader community on those topics. Granison also served on the public safety committee, which helped assess and deliver recommendations for Reimagining Public Safety.

Granison is known amongst legislators and constituents as being committed to addressing issues of poverty, affordable housing and environmental protections and as a steadfast supporter of union members.

As constituent Sheila McEnery noted, “Henry is impressive on so many levels. He is passionate, and it shows. He researches issues carefully, seeks input from the constituents and votes based on the best interests of the community. The Third District has been well served by Henry, and we will miss him.”

The Third District represented by Granison is in the city of Ithaca and represents the Belle Sherman neighborhood, parts of Cornell University’s north campus and upper Collegetown and areas of the South Hill neighborhood.

Submitting his resignation, Granison stated, “It has been an honor serving on this Legislature. My colleagues are smart, caring and dedicated. I am proud of the work that we’ve been able to do and of my participation in many of the important issues that we’ve faced. The constituents in District Three are smart and thoughtful; I love learning from them and serving them. While my cancer treatment prevents me from completing my term, I am grateful that the good work will continue, both because of my colleagues and my constituents.”

Chairwoman of the Tompkins County Legislature Shawna Black honored Granison and thanked him for his achievements as a Legislator.

“Henry has been a caring and decisive legislator, always taking the stand for what he believes and what he feels will be best for both his district and the county as a whole,” she said. “The county has made progress in many areas due to Henry’s love of community and commitment to equity. I know I speak for the entire Legislature when I say that we will miss Henry’s presence and that his will be big shoes to fill.”

There will be a special election for the remaining three years of his term within 85 days of the resignation; more information will be forthcoming from the Tompkins County Board of Elections.