Tasty tradition lives on at Pagan-Fletcher Restoration

Girl Scouts from Troop 2281 won this year’s annual gingerbread house contest at the Pagan-Fletcher Restoration, sponsored by the Valley Stream Historical Society. The girls have been participating in the contest for eight years, and this time their hard work paid off.

Ten girls from the troop worked on their project, “Gingerbread Fantasy,” in the days before the contest. Their design consisted of two gingerbread houses, several trees and even a gingerbread dog house and a dog made out of Tootsie Rolls. “Everything is edible,” said Girl Scout Shannon DePiola.

Troop leader Donna DePiola said that each girl contributed candy and icing to the building process, which took about six hours. The contest is an annual tradition that the girls love, she said, even as they get older.

Second place was a tie between 13-year-old Amanda Lee, and 86-year-old Fernande Calizaire. The gingerbread house contest was held last Sunday afternoon and residents were invited to stop by and vote for their favorite creation.

Pat Baldassare, of the village’s public safety department and a former baker, gave an icing demonstration that afternoon as well.