Zoe Dubrow won the Grand Prize in the 3rd Annual Ithaca Cupcake Baking Content held in the Ithaca Commons Saturday October 13. Her 'Strawberry Surprise Cupcakes' contained a cored whole strawberry filled with salted butterscotch. The concoctions were topped by a brown sugar cream cheese frosting, decorated with a chocolate fan, sliced strawberry, mint leaves, and a mini chocolate strawberry macaron.

Jennifer Dobmeier won 2nd Place with 'Key Lime Pie Cupcake', a Key lime-scented vanilla cake with a lime curd filling was topped with a Key lime buttercream frosting. Erin Morris won 3rd Place with German chocolate cupcakes topped by a swirl of pink icing made from homemade jam using local farmer's market strawberries. Kyra O'Toole won the Youth Award for 18s & Under. She overcame tough competition with a set of chocolate cheesecake cupcakes, with an Oreo crust, chocolate cream filling, chocolate cream frosting.

Damien Connolly & Jerry O’Sullivan will present a house concert at The Canaan Institute on Friday October 26th 2018 beginning at 7:00 pm followed by a jam session.

Damien Connolly hails from Co. Clare, Ireland. He began learning the accordion when he was 11 years old, taught by his father Martin, renowned manufacturer of the Kincora Accordion. He competed in the Fleadhanna (Irish Music Competitions) throughout his teenage years, taking first place both locally and regionally. In 1997, Damien took first place in both the Under-18 All Ireland accordion and melodeon competition held in Ballina, Co. Mayo. In 2003 Damien moved to the US where he is highly sought after as a music teacher and performer. He has taught and performed at the Catskills Irish Arts Festival, the Swannanoah Gathering and the Augusta Irish Festival, to name but a few.