North Springfield offers 'A taste of winter'

Spring might be right around the corner, but a local group is hoping to draw out the winter just a little longer with their upcoming annual Taste of Winter Market.
http://eagletimes.villagesoup.com/p/springfield-offers-a-taste-of-winter/1313534

Springfield offers 'A taste of winter' By Zach Matson | Mar 06, 2015 Share on print Share on facebook Share on tumblr Share on twitter More Sharing Services 0 SPRINGFIELD — Spring might be right around the corner, but a local Springfield group is hoping to draw out the winter just a little longer with their upcoming annual Taste of Winter Market. On Sunday, March 8, the Springfield Area Parent Child Center will be hosting the Third Annual Taste of Winter Market. The event will be at the center itself, located at 6 Main St. in North Springfield, Vermont, and will go from 2 to 4 p.m. One of the main attractions this year will be “The Best Ever Brownie Baking Contest.” King Arthur Flour is sponsoring the competition, and will be providing prizes to the winners. The first place winner will receive a $50 gift certificate to the Baker’s Catalogue and/or kingarthurflour.com, along with 36 ounces of King Arthur Flour Multigrain Pancake Mix. Second place will receive a $25 gift certificate and pancake mix; third, the King Arthur Flour Cookie Companion Cookbook and pancake mix. According to SAPCC administrative manager Jan Zona, the baking contest was brought back due to popular demand. “Last year was ‘The Ultimate Chocolate Chip Cookie Contest,’ and that was a great success,” Zona said. Bakers interested in competing in the contest will need to provide their recipe, at least a dozen brownies, and either the UPC or the flour bag from the King Arthur Flour used to bake the entry. For the official rules and entry form, entrants can visit the SAPCC website or contact Jan Zona. Judging the contest this year are several Springfield residents, including the Jenny Wren Café owner Jenevieve Johnson, SAPCC board director Sharon Laskevich, and local mailman Matthew Downing. Those who would rather sample the entries than bake them can purchase a tasting card for $5, which not only allows visitors to provide their vote in the public poll on the "Best Ever Brownie" but enters into a raffle entry for door prizes. Regular live music performances will ensure that visitors to the market won’t lack for entertainment. The Springfield Stringers, featuring George Ainley on fiddle, will return onstage after being a highlight of last year’s event. Along with the Stringers, singer-songwriter Elizabeth Rogers and cellist Eugene Friesen are planned to make an appearance. Rogers has performed internationally for 25 years and has recorded two CDs of her original folk music. Multi-Grammy award winner Friesen has been a longtime performer with the Paul Winter Consort, and is recognized for his innovative technique and musicality. For more information on these artists, visit www.elizabethrogers.com and www.eugenefriesenmusic.com. More interested in getting some shopping done? No problem: local vendors will be set up throughout the market to sell a variety of wares, ranging from baked goods, relish and jams, paper crafts, and handmade jewelry to knit goods, wooden bowls, fresh eggs, comfort foods and much more. To guarantee that there’s no shortage of fun for patrons of any age, plenty of free activities will be available to children throughout the center, including face painting by Mona from Body Art by Mona. “Staff will also be on hand to do crafts and facilitate play,” Zona told the Eagle Times. “Kids can make their own mini bird feeders, using pine cones and peanut butter and bird seed.” For those more curious about the center itself, SAPCC staff will be around to provide tours of the center and answer any questions regarding their services or facilities. “Our goal is to bring the community in to see what we’re doing,” Zona sayid “We’d love to have as many people come. Just come on down and join us for some food and fun!”