2008 Woodie Awards
Drink safely for the holidays.
Zero-Proof Mix-Off returns to CC Mall
Paulanne Oakes
Issue date: 11/13/06 Section: Entertainment
- Page 1 of 1
Visitors to Lorain County Community College will wonder if they've walked into a Food Network Studio next month when amateur mixologists compete in the Lorain County Safe Community Coalition's fifth annual Zero-Proof Mix-Off, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., Thurs., Dec. 7, at the College Center Mall.
Nearly 20 teams will compete for prizes and bragging rights in the event that was designed to promote alternative non-alcoholic beverages for holiday celebrations. Last year's People Choice winner was a group representing the Elyria High School's Teen Institute. Their mousse-like concoction was called, "Chocolate-Strawberry Heaven." In the Judge's Choice category, the Ohio Highway Patrol took top honors with their "Flying Wheel Java Express" a espresso-laced chocolate drink.
The mix-off is part of the Safe Community Coalition's "You Drink & Drive, You Lose" campaign. The coalition is a group of community leaders and citizens from the private sector, government and education. Other co-sponsors are the Lorain County General Health District and Lorain County Community College.
Marilyn Hill, health educator for the Lorain County Greater Health District, said that the groups bring in their own recipes to the competition. "They really do a nice job," said Hill. "The teams are judged on several criteria, including cleverness of the name, presentation and taste."
Several of the service areas last year boasted candlelight, espresso bean-filled, crystal carafes, working train sets, costumed servers and more. Several law enforcement agencies participated, including such notable servers as Lorain County Sheriff Phil Stammitti and Sheriff's Capt. Rich Resendez.
So far teams from the Lorain County Sheriff's Dept., the Elyria and Lorain County Metro Parks, the Lorain County JVS, Catholic Charities, UMADOP, Elyria High School Teen Institute, the Lorain County Prosecutor's office, the Ohio Highway Patrol, the Sheffield Lake Police Dept., Big Brothers, Big Sisters of Lorain County, the LCCC Police Academy, Lorain City Health Dept., the Lorain County Greater Health District, Gamma Tau Sigma and the Alcohol and Drug Addiction Services Board have signed up to participate.
"The event is really beginning to grow," said Hill. " We see an increased interest in it every year."
In addition to the taste testing, there will be live entertainment by LCCC's Duck Radio, live dance demonstrations by dance classes, and the Oberlin Police Department will be on hand with a Sobriety Checkpoint simulation complete with fatal vision sobriety goggles. Last year, the salsa dancing demonstration and instruction were very popular.
The organizers also provide recipe books for anyone attending the free event. "We are printing more recipe books this year to be distributed at the event and also throughout the community," Hill said. "We are hoping to broaden the scope of the event and the message. The whole point is to promote alternative, non-alcoholic choices for the holidays and hopefully beyond."
Nearly 20 teams will compete for prizes and bragging rights in the event that was designed to promote alternative non-alcoholic beverages for holiday celebrations. Last year's People Choice winner was a group representing the Elyria High School's Teen Institute. Their mousse-like concoction was called, "Chocolate-Strawberry Heaven." In the Judge's Choice category, the Ohio Highway Patrol took top honors with their "Flying Wheel Java Express" a espresso-laced chocolate drink.
The mix-off is part of the Safe Community Coalition's "You Drink & Drive, You Lose" campaign. The coalition is a group of community leaders and citizens from the private sector, government and education. Other co-sponsors are the Lorain County General Health District and Lorain County Community College.
Marilyn Hill, health educator for the Lorain County Greater Health District, said that the groups bring in their own recipes to the competition. "They really do a nice job," said Hill. "The teams are judged on several criteria, including cleverness of the name, presentation and taste."
Several of the service areas last year boasted candlelight, espresso bean-filled, crystal carafes, working train sets, costumed servers and more. Several law enforcement agencies participated, including such notable servers as Lorain County Sheriff Phil Stammitti and Sheriff's Capt. Rich Resendez.
So far teams from the Lorain County Sheriff's Dept., the Elyria and Lorain County Metro Parks, the Lorain County JVS, Catholic Charities, UMADOP, Elyria High School Teen Institute, the Lorain County Prosecutor's office, the Ohio Highway Patrol, the Sheffield Lake Police Dept., Big Brothers, Big Sisters of Lorain County, the LCCC Police Academy, Lorain City Health Dept., the Lorain County Greater Health District, Gamma Tau Sigma and the Alcohol and Drug Addiction Services Board have signed up to participate.
"The event is really beginning to grow," said Hill. " We see an increased interest in it every year."
In addition to the taste testing, there will be live entertainment by LCCC's Duck Radio, live dance demonstrations by dance classes, and the Oberlin Police Department will be on hand with a Sobriety Checkpoint simulation complete with fatal vision sobriety goggles. Last year, the salsa dancing demonstration and instruction were very popular.
The organizers also provide recipe books for anyone attending the free event. "We are printing more recipe books this year to be distributed at the event and also throughout the community," Hill said. "We are hoping to broaden the scope of the event and the message. The whole point is to promote alternative, non-alcoholic choices for the holidays and hopefully beyond."
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