Pie makers, cupcake bakers and custom wheels come to Vinegar Hill

[September 12, 2011]  MOUNT PULASKI -- Sponsor Phyllis Become was pleased with the turnout at the Mount Pulaski Fall Festival Pie and Cupcake Contest on Saturday. Her downtown business, Salt Creek Attic, was one of the contest sponsors.

"I think it turned out well,"  Become said, "and they must have been good, because they're almost gone," she concluded, while looking over the tables that a short time before had held five fruit pies, four cream pies and nine plates of cupcakes. Indeed, someone liked the home-baked goodies.

Dual first-place awards in the pie division went to Judy Cooper for her coconut cream pie and an apple pie with pecans and caramel. It was Judy's third year in the contest.

The "Champion Baker-Mt. Pulaski Fall Festival, 2011" award went to Kamryn Aylesworth for her chocolate cupcakes with the cream cheese icing. The feature that won her the champion baker designation was the presentation. Aylesworth's cupcakes sat on a colorful stoneware plate decorated with fall leaves, and her cupcakes had Halloween-themed decorations. Style and flavor all wrapped up in one neat package.

Aylesworth is in eighth grade at Mount Pulaski Junior High. This was her first year as a contestant in the communitywide event.

"I baked for 4-H," said Aylesworth. "I made Rice Krispie treats for the competition at the Logan County Fair. I was fourth in the county, but I also was a state fair delegate." She plans to enter the baking contest next year at the fall festival.

Other sponsors for the contest were Jill and Mike Saulsberry, owners of Vintage Plus, and Debra Gellman, owner of Sadie's Secret Place.

Also on the square Saturday morning were antique tractors and vintage cars waiting for the parade to start at 1 p.m.

One recently restored tractor was owned by Matthew Johnson, of Elkhart. The 1963 Oliver 1600, with hydra-power drive, was causing Johnson some concern due to a leaking rear main seal, which he thought had been fixed. 

"It looked pretty rough when I got it," Johnson said about his shiny green machine. "I took it apart, cleaned and painted it, then re-assembled it. But that seal seems to still want to leak," he remarked as he noted a small oily puddle on the pavement under the tractor.

Two John Deeres and a 1950 Massey-Harris, owned by Hank Buckles, were waiting to enter the parade at 1 p.m., and vintage cars were also gathering on the square to take their place in the afternoon event.   

[By MARLA BLAIR]