Volunteers help make Chocolate Extravaganza happen
Everyone loves chocolate and the annual Pomerene Center for the Art’s Chocolate Extravaganza wouldn’t be a success without a group of volunteers who work tirelessly each year to bring this event together.
From local bakers to professional pastry chefs who provide a huge variety of cakes, tortes, cheesecakes, pies, cookies, candy and other chocolate treats for the event; it all comes together at the Coshocton County Career Center on Saturday, Feb. 15.
There will be plenty of tables and seating in the common area for guests to sit and indulge themselves, thanks to the organizational skills of Jill Baumgardner.
Entertainment throughout the afternoon and a raffle are included in the event as well.
Jenny Lahna mans the check-in table and makes cards for each dessert with information about the baker and their chocolate confection and Lori Robinson tends to guest at their tables.
Sheila McConnell, kitchen staff supervisor, named a couple of volunteers who have worked on the “kitchen crew” for 10 to 12 years, Renada Laaper and Rene Akers are the longest running volunteers so far. More volunteers include Karen Fry, Lori Regula, Rhonda Kurtz and Betty Maurer.
“Bakers will be bringing their desserts from 10 a.m. to noon and we’ll be taking pictures,” McConnell said. “‘Cutters’ come in at noon because it takes three hours to cut the desserts into serving size pieces.”
The ladies use a grid whenever possible to obtain a uniform size but sometimes the design is so pretty they don’t want to destroy it, so they compensate.
“It’s really a lot of fun,” McConnell said. “Sometimes crumbs fall off and if we see something that really looks good, we’ll say, we hope a big crumb falls off so we can taste it.”
Guests are given a box that can be filled with their choice of three treats and two cakes. Coffee and punch made by the ladies is provided, as well.
The 28th annual Pomerene Center Chocolate Extravaganza will be held from 3 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 15, at the Coshocton County Career Center. Tickets are $10 in advance and $12 at the door. Advanced tickets can be purchased at Medbery Market, Deans Jewelry, Mercantile on Main, Hannah Marie’s, Ridgewood General Store, and at the Pomerene Center or on their website or Facebook page.
Category: Arts & Entertainment
