Briefs: Hero of the Month, cupcake contest

Karen Powers named the October Community Hero of the Month

Tompkins Trust Company, in partnership with the Tompkins County Chamber of Commerce, has named retired school teacher Karen Powers the October Community Hero of the Month for her extensive volunteerism, especially within the Trumansburg community. The Community Hero of the Month Award recognizes individuals from Tompkins County who have significantly impacted our community. Powers, a former school teacher, has served the Trumansburg community in many ways, notably as the organizer of Takin’ Care of T’burg since 2012. Takin’ Care of T’burg is a group of volunteers who work to beautify Trumansburg by maintaining flower planters and municipal garden beds in the village’s downtown, as well as ensuring the Children’s Village is clean and in good repair. Powers also serves as chairperson of Trumansburg’s Gemm Shop, which is a volunteer run nonprofit organization and thrift store that sells donated and consigned items including clothing, shoes, jewelry, domestic goods, books and much more. Money raised by the Gemm Shop is donated back into the community, supporting local events, organizations and area schools. Additionally, Powers serves on the Trumansburg Street Tree Advisory Committee, the Trumansburg Events and Tourism Committee, and the Trumansburg Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. Although the award recognizes Powers’ work, she would like to bring attention to the many other volunteers who also help make the village of Trumansburg a positive place to live and work. “I am truly honored to receive this award, but would like to add that Trumansburg is very much a giving-back community,” she said. “I am one of many people who give back and many of them do so under the radar. There are so many people doing positive things for our community.” To show the community’s appreciation for her work, Powers will be awarded a Community Hero of the Month plaque as well as a gift card for Downtown Ithaca from Tompkins Trust Company.

 

Rachel Allison wins grand prize in Ithaca Cupcake Baking Contest

Rachel Allison (above) won first place with her Finger Lakes Picnic Cupcakes on Oct. 23 in the 6th Annual Ithaca Cupcake Baking Contest organized by The Sophie Fund. Her intricately designed cupcakes, in the shape of a picnic basket packed with wine, cheese, salami, fruit and a baguette, were inspired by her love of sharing charcuterie boards and local vintages with friends. “One of my best memories from this year was when a friend and mentor came to town, and we spent the day visiting different wineries on Keuka and Seneca Lake,” said Allison, who won second place and an honorable mention in the 2020 and 2019 contests, respectively. “I baked a fresh loaf of bread that morning, and we had a picnic lunch, pairing different cheeses and charcuterie with the wines we picked up along the way!” Allison’s chocolate coffee cupcakes were filled with salted caramel ganache, brown butter almond cake and mascarpone mousse. The food products in the basket were made with white chocolate truffles (bread and cheese), cake balls/truffles (salami), vanilla candy (wine bottle) and caramelized white chocolate (cheese). The chocolate almond shortbread lid and cupcake basket are covered with chocolate buttercream basket weaving. The napkin and grapes are piped vanilla buttercream. This year’s contest, moved online due to continuing concerns about the coronavirus, drew cupcakes with diverse themes ranging from Upstate apple picking, Ithaca waterfalls, Finger Lakes wine country, fall harvest, sharks, Frodo and Bilbo, Tim Burton’s filmmaking, tropical Taiwan, Parisian desserts and a certain pet snail named “Pippi Long-Stalking.” The event celebrated the 24 contestants who baked cupcakes and then shared photos, stories and even some videos of their creations. For more information, visit thesophiefund.org.