Day of Caring, football competition in the works for bicentennial

Among the upcoming Concord Bicentennial events is the Aug. 15 “Day of Caring” at the Trading Post on Franklin Street in Springville.

Beginning at 9 a.m. with registration for an old-fashioned pie-baking contest, and lasting through the mid-afternoon distribution of free food goods by the WNY Food Bank food truck, the Trading Post will be the center of CEO Linette Crelly’s expressed desire to “offer friends and neighbors a simple act of kindness.” The post will be accepting gently-used clothing throughout the day’s festivities for distribution to those in need.

Judging for the pie-baking contest will begin at 10 a.m. Winning entries will be selected on the basis of appearance, taste and creativity. Springville resident George Richter of Channel 4 will serve as one of the judges.

Each entrant is required to submit two pies from the same recipe: one for judging and tasting and the second for auctioning off to the highest bidder, in a contest that will benefit the community kitchen, located at the Trading Post. Winning entries will receive prizes and ribbons, with the grand winner’s being eligible to have his or her recipe buried in the town’s time capsule on Oct. 7.

The pie auction, which will feature Carolyn Stenzel as guest auctioneer, will start at noon. While Stenzel determines the high bidder on each pie, the community kitchen will fire up the grill for a lunch-time hot dog roast.

The Trading Post, in conjunction with Stitches of Love, will present the 2012 Hometown Hero Award. The honoree will be a Concord resident, a person who has “demonstrated leadership and creativity. The recipient will be an individual who has given selflessly to the community,” Crelly said.

Hank Dylong and his wife will present a bicentennial quilt, created by Charlotte Ash and stitched by Pat Goodman, to the 2012 hero. The nomination period has been extended to Aug. 4, with those wishing to have an individual considered asked to contact the Trading Post at 592-4455.

Recently added to the growing list of bicentennial events is the official National Football League sponsored Punt, Pass and Kick competition. The Springville Little League Football organization will stage the event on Aug. 11 at the Springville-Griffith Institute High School football field, starting 11 a.m.

This competition is opened to boys and girls aged 6 – 15. Participants do not need to be registered for league play and there is no fee required to compete. Local winners may be eligible to advance to sectional competition.

For more information, contact local liaison Kelly Baker at 560-7526.