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Freck’s strawberry rhubarb pie is tops at Youngstown picnic by Susan Mikula
Campbell
It was a Town of Lewiston resident who walked off with the prize for the best pie at the Youngstown Community Picnic last weekend. Joyce Freck’s tasty strawberry rhubarb pie won over the judges at the third annual picnic. Second place went to Stuart Comerford’s cherry cheese pie; third was Debby Coutts’ grape pie; and honorable mention went to Ruth Miner’s chocolate pecan pie. Freck has been cooking and baking most of her life and, as a former 4-H leader, taught baking and sewing. She also used to participate in cook-offs at the Niagara Falls Air Base, where she was a civilian employee for 26 years before retiring. Freck said she learned about the picnic and the pie contest from leaflets handed out at the weekly Friday night band summer band concerts in Youngstown’s Falkner Park. (The final concert of the season will be from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday, Aug. 25, with the Bob Volkman Band playing “Oldies, Rhythm & Blues.) Like the concerts, Freck enjoyed the community picnic and plans to return next year. “It’s a nice community; there’s a friendly feeling,” she said. That’s the image Mayor Neil Riordan wants to project. Participants were invited to bring a dish to pass and they ranged from the traditional macaroni salad to Freck’s homemade sweet rolls. Hamburgers and hot dogs (750 of each) were grilled by the Lions Club, and Youngstown Baptist Church members did the serving. Community members and organizations pitched in to organize and run other aspects of the event. “It ties the community together,” said Riordan, who noted that some people asked, “How much is this?” and were surprised to learn it was all free. No official count was taken, but Riordan estimates that more than 750 people came to enjoy the food, the music and the games. As an extra plus for the village, the picnic’s basket auction raised $1,200 for new playground equipment. “There was something for everyone, and it looked like everyone had a great time,” said Tina Oddy, picnic chairman and Youngstown Recreation Commission vice chairman. She added that many people were already making suggestions for new picnic events and volunteering to help out next year.
Fishing Fun Riordan praised the Niagara River Anglers who held a children’s fishing derby at the North Dock on Sunday morning before the picnic and made sure each of the 41 participants took home a small prize. Top winners took home fishing rods and tackle boxes. Top boys winners were: Kody Boos, first, with a 32-inch rock bass; Jacob Joseph, second, with a 28-inch rock bass; and Evan Waterstrat, third, with a 14-inch perch. Top girl winners: Eve Pacia, first, with an 18-inch perch; Amanda Hall, second, with a 14-inch perch; and Olivia Duke, third, with a 12-inch perch. “A lot of kids with their parents came up to me after the fishing derby and asked if they could come down here and fish on their own,” Riordan said. “I said, ‘You bet!’” Association with the Anglers may bring further benefits to Youngstown. Riordan said the village and the Anglers are hoping to attract the International Walleye Tournament to Youngstown next year. The Community Picnic also featured old-fashioned games. Winners of the potato sack race in the 6 and under division were: Jacob Thomason, first; John Cimino, second; Nick Acome, third. Winners in the 7 to 12 division were Kyra Johansson, Felicia Baugh and Deanna Parton. Over 12 winners were: Brandon Doring, Mary-Lyn Adkins and Johanna Parsnick. Winners of the wheelbarrow race were: James Oddy and Brandon Doring, first; Felicia Baugh and Julia Caserto, second; Rhiannon Schmidt and Jacob Thomason, third. Winners of the three-legged race were: Amanda Frizzell and Alicia Dunning, as well as Rhiannon Schmidt and Felicia Baugh, first; Jacob Thomason and Miranda Schmidt, second; Mary-Lyn Adkins and Abbi Adkins, third. The water balloon toss was won by Colin and Kevin Winkworth. Deanna Barto and her father won the egg toss. Miranda Schmidt and Nick Winslow won the watermelon-eating contest.
Special Thanks In addition to the Niagara River Anglers, among those receiving special thanks from the village for services to the picnic are: John MacArthur and the Youngstown Lions Club; Lori Battaglia; Sue Gentile; Kathy Rogers; Loretta Gibbs and the Youngstown Baptist Church; Carla Mackenna and the First Presbyterian Church Youth Group; Deputy Mayor Peggy Hanson; Sue MacNaughton and the Youngstown Business Association; Amy Reynolds and Wendy’s; Mike Smith and Asylum Productions; Cindy Lee Jolbert and Shenandoah Acres; DeFranco True Value Rental Sales and Services; Always a Party; Dave Clark and Fort Niagara State Park; Mickey Suitor and the Youngstown Volunteer Fire Department and Explorers; Kim Sembert and Youngstown Cub Scout Pack 829; Jodee Riordan; and the village DPW and police. RECIPE Joyce Freck was willing to share her recipe and secrets of the perfect pie. She makes her own crust, mixing together about 2 cups of flour, 1 teaspoon of salt, 2/3 cup of vegetable shortening and about 4 tablespoons of water. This makes enough for both a top and bottom crust. She rolls the dough out, spreads a thin layer of margarine over the top, folds it over, rolls it and coats it with margarine and folds again. “It’s a little extra work, but if you want it to be flakier, that’s the trick to doing it,” she said. Then, she rolls the dough out to fit her 9-inch pan. She cuts the top crust into strips to weave into a lattice top “because it always looks so pretty,” but a plain top with slits cut for venting is also fine. After adding the filling and top crust, trim the sides and pinch in a shell edge. For the filling, Freck uses 1 1/4 cup of sugar, 4 tablespoons of flour, 2 cups of cut up rhubarb, 2 cups of cut up strawberries, 1/2 cup of her own homemade strawberry (or raspberry) jam or preserves and 2 tablespoons of tapioca. Pour the filling over the bottom crust and dot with about 1 1/3 tablespoons of butter before adding the top crust. The tapioca should be soaked in the juice of the filling to soften it before baking. Freck also advises that more sugar may be needed if your rhubarb has thicker, greener stalks which aren’t as sweet. |
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