CANTON – The Sugar & Spice gingerbread exhibit opened Saturday, Dec. 3, and Executive Director Jill Breit proclaimed it one of TAUNY's best gingerbread displays ever.

Prizes were awarded in three categories: Adult, Children, Family. The judges for the contest were Kasarian Dane, art professor at St. Lawrence University; Bethany Carrier, owner/baker, Red Button Bakery; Jackie Sauter, TAUNY Board president and program director at North Country Public Radio.

The first place winner in the Children’s category was Caroline Silver (Canton) for her Hansel & Gretel house; there was a second-place tie between Cinderella's Castle, by Laurel Whittier (Canton), and Kate and Clare Brownell’s (Potsdam) Hansel & Gretel Witch's House.

In the Adult category, Rebecca Weld’s (Potsdam) Sleeping Beauty took first prize and second place went to Rogerio Furtardo (Canton) for Down the Chimney He Goes.

In the Family category, the Sibley-Jenkins’ (Colton) Little Red Riding Hood took first place honors, second went to the Fullertons (North Lawrence) for Fairy Tales in Quarter Time, and third place went to the Pierces (Heuvelton) for their original fairy tale rendering of Remington’s Tavern.

The judges also gave a Special Award for Exuberance to Kira Molnar and Dulli Tengeler’s Canton The Wizard's Cave with Lollipop Forest Guarded by Deadly Snakes.

The 2011 Sugar & Spice contest and exhibit will remain open through Friday, Dec. 23. Be sure to stop in to The TAUNY Center and vote for your favorite. The People’s Choice Award will be announced on Thursday, Dec. 22.