Sweet Home

Newton - Andre’s Restaurant was transformed into a winter wonderland during the annual holiday gingerbread castle contest. White iced houses with gumdrop roofs lined the sugary village, where candy-cane street lamps lit the way for marshmallow snowmen and gingerbread elves. Over a dozen creative confections competed for prizes from local merchants. The grand prize winner for Best Gingerbread House by an adult was Lori Goldsmith of Blairstown, who had some help from her six-year-old daughter, Amanda. Her intricately detailed creation was completely edible, except for the working mini-lights on an evergreen tree. Goldsmith was tired but elated after a late night spent putting the finishing touches on her house. She won a $100 gift certificate to Andre’s Restaurant and Wine Boutique. Best Family prize was awarded to the Hill/Griffin family of Vernon, which teamed up to create Santa’s workshop, complete with two dogs and two cats, just like at their own home. Cheryl Avino-Griffin, Marissa Avino Hill, Don Hill and Paul Griffin all participated in the project. According to Cheryl, “Don baked everything and put it all together, Marissa and I decorated and Paul made sure it got here in one piece.” The family won a $50 gift certificate to the Spring House Restaurant. Children were also given prizes for their best efforts. Ten-year-old Daniel Schmucker of Fredon concocted a cottage with a back porch and a candy-cane lane for first place in the “10 and up” category. Sisters Emily and Ellie Lacascio of Stillwater won in the six- to nine-year-old category. They recreated their Paulinskill Lake home, complete with its own lake and fish. In the “five years and younger” category, the winner was five-year-old Marley Cameron of Crandon Lakes, with her “Mouse House,” featuring toy mice around a gingerbread mini-house. The children received stuffed animals from Flowers in the Attic and chocolate Santa lollipops, courtesy of the Chocolaterie European Chocolate Shop. Andre’s Restaurant & Wine Boutique hosted the event, which was sponsored by the Merchants of Spring Street. “We had a really great turn out,” said Tracey De Waal of Andre’s, contest coordinator. “It was so hard to judge because they were all so beautiful. Everybody worked really hard.” For more pictures of the gingerbread houses, visit online at andresrestaurant.com.