The Lewis County Hospital Foundation’s first “Cookies and Milk” Family Fun Event was held at the Maple Ridge Center, Lowville, Tuesday, May 26.

Roy Hammecker, Event Chair, and Foundation Board member reported that well over 100 kids, grand kids and interested cookie eaters sampled over 30 different varieties of cookies from throughout the area from Utica to Watertown.

Jim Randall, who coordinated the volunteer judging, announced that in the ever-so-close “celebrity cookie judging,” Sue Doyle Makuch’s “Raspberry Bar Filled Cookie” was the First Choice of the panel of judges. The light pastry surrounded a special berry filling, known only to Sue. Placing Second was a “Rich Pecan Square” - that has been compared to a pecan pie - prepared by Anne Merrill. Our third place, was a “Maple Pecan Cookie” with a maple-cream cheese frosting. Rebekah Zehr said “she couldn’t let her cookies out of the house without including cream cheese!”

Lewis County Dairy Princess, Kelsey Lyndaker, and Dairy Ambassador, Hunter Zehr were on hand to pour milk to go with the excellent cookies.

The Hospital Foundation will present certificates to all of this year’s cookie masters. Some of the competitors commented that they are already planning for next year.

Event pictures and a complete list of this year’s entries will appear shortly on the foundation’s website: www.lchfoundation.org.

The Foundation would like to thank the Adirondack Mennonite Camping Association, Climax Manufacturing Co., Countryside Veterinary Clinic, Kraft-Lowville, Lowville Producers, Stewart’s Shoppes, Byrne Dairy, Otis Technology, Upstate Milk, WWNY NEWS 7, WLLG Radio, and the LCGH Staff for their assistance.