Albion embraces caroling and cookie contest to celebrate holidays
Photo by Tom Rivers
ALBION – A group of Christmas carolers sang from the Orleans County Courthouse lawn in Albion on Monday evening. Karen Conn, an Albion music teacher and owner of a real estate business, has been leading the carolers.
They first met on Dec. 6 in Meadowbrook Drive and went down South Main Street. Last Tuesday on Dec. 12, they sang at Hazard Parkway, South Clinton Street and other busy corners in the village.
They will have one more caroling outing before Christmas. They welcome singers on Saturday at 11 a.m. at Hospice of Orleans in Albion.
The caroling is part of an effort to “Bring Christmas Back to Albion.” Many local residents and businesses have decorated about 40 street poles on Main Street and in the downtown. There also are a dozen Christmas trees lighted up on the Courthouse lawn by the group.
Lori Laine, one of the group’s leaders, said they are planning more activities next year.
Provided photo: These cookie bakers are shown from left: Caitlyn Elliott, Tabitha Howes and Debbie Thies.
The “Bring Christmas Back to Albion” group also had a holiday bakeoff on Saturday at the Orleans Koinonia Kitchen. The event was organized by Karen Conn and Faith Smith.
There were six contestants in the contest. Tabitha Howes won first place and $100 for her red velvet chocolate chip cookies.
Each baker had one hour to make, bake and plate their creations. The judges included Sarah Brigham and her husband Tim from SnL Sweet Escapes, Brian and Dawn Ettinger from Country Punkin’ Bakery and Lori Laine, organizer of Bring Christmas Back to Albion.
The following people participated: Debbie Thies with a peppermint sugar cookie, Madelyn Elliot with a honeybun cookie, Caitlyn Elliott with a chocolate peanut butter snickerdoodle cookie, Kim Martillotta Muscarella with Meltaway drops, Josey Conn with a chocolate toffee chunk cookie, and Tabitha Howes with a red velvet chocolate chip cookie.
The bakers were judged on taste and presentation. The contestants donated $80 with entry fees to the OK Kitchen. Conn said the group wants to make the bakeoff a yearly tradition.
