Mars library displays gingerbread houses
MARS — For 9-year-old Josh Vargo of Seven Fields, the holidays reminded him of family, and because of that, the gingerbread house he worked on with his parents was designed to look like his grandma's house.
Nine-year-old Kate Spiro was maybe looking for a "little luck of the Irish" for a special holiday gift as she and her 8-year-old partner Mikayla Tiller, both of Gibsonia, built their green gingerbread house with the theme of St. Patrick's Day in mind.
At the Mars Area Public Library, among the books, is a little Christmas holiday gingerbread town. Seven gingerbread homes are on display through the Christmas season as part of the library's third annual Gingerbread House Contest.
The theme of this year's contest is The Holidays, and the gingerbread houses could be decorated to reflect any holiday. Some chose the traditional Christmas look while others could chose from any holiday, including St. Patrick's Day.
Those who submitted gingerbread homes in the youth division included Michael Palaski, 11, and Carolyn Palaski, 9.
In the group entry category, those who submitted entries included Vargo and his parents Mary and Jeff Vargo, Tiller and Spiro, Madison Caruso and Susan Roussey, Karen Schwab and family, and Emma and Tammy Maihle.
Grandmother Susan Roussey of Wexford and her granddaughter Madison Caruso of Mars continued their tradition of making a gingerbread house for the holidays. This was the fifth year the two worked on a holiday home, and they have participated in the Mars library contest for each of its three years.
"We wanted to do something different this year, so we decided on a church," Roussey said. It is complete with animals and Mary and Joseph, which were made out of Marzipan, a cookie-like dough.
Granddaughter Madison Caruso said the project took more than eight hours to complete, though it was fun working with her grandmother.
Karen Schwab of Mars also had family in mind when she constructed her unique gingerbread cottage. She and relatives from Montana and North Carolina, who visited for the Thanksgiving holidays, built a festival structure.
Each of the houses will be judged on the basis of originality, creativity and overall appearance. Ribbons and prizes will be awarded.
Joyce Pappert, the children's librarian, said this has been the largest participation in the contest and she hopes the annual event continues to grow.
The official judging will take place sometime before Christmas when a panel of "local celebrities" will pick the winners, Pappert said.
Patrons visiting the Mars library will be asked to vote on their favorite gingerbread house for the adult and children People's Choice Award.
"They all used something unique to build their houses," said Pappert, who added patrons will enjoy the originality of this year's gingerbread houses.
