Death by Chocolate raises $3,500 for Meyersdale Public Library

Sandra Lepley
Updated ·3 min read

MEYERSDALE ― Death by Chocolate raised $3,500 for the Meyersdale Library through the organizing efforts of the Friends of the Library on Friday evening at Amity United Church of Christ.

"It was a full house," said Pam Walukas, event coordinator for the Friends. "We had a big crowd and it was very well attended with an enthusiastic audience. It was an evening of fun and we appreciate each and every one who helped support this event once again and make it successful ― all the bakers, the bidders, the businesses, the volunteers and those who bought baked goods at the library, Amity church for hosting us, and Blake Henry for bringing his tray of chocolates for refreshments."

Miranda Durst's first-place tie cake called "OMG. It's a Library Cake" was sold for $190 to Glenda Shultz at the Death By Chocolate event in Meyersdale on Friday evening.
Miranda Durst's first-place tie cake called "OMG. It's a Library Cake" was sold for $190 to Glenda Shultz at the Death By Chocolate event in Meyersdale on Friday evening.

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Almeda Miller shows candy to bidder's row, Bev and Ken Warnick, John Smaila and Fred DiPasquale, all of whom come out to every Death By Chocolate event by buying many items to support the Meyersdale Public Library.
Almeda Miller shows candy to bidder's row, Bev and Ken Warnick, John Smaila and Fred DiPasquale, all of whom come out to every Death By Chocolate event by buying many items to support the Meyersdale Public Library.

The winners were:

  • Cakes and Pies ― tie for first with Stephanie Lambert and Have Your Cake and Cookies Too, Meyersdale 150th anniversary this year, also Best of Show overall, and Miranda Durst with OMG It's a Library Cake; Lindsay Baer, Dark Chocolate Espresso Tart, second place; and tied for third place in cakes, Patty Bittner with Chocolate Raspberry Cake and Pat Coberly with Chocolate Buttermilk Cake.

  • Cookies and Bars ― Carol Tressler, Chocolate Truffle Cookies, first; Mel Reckner, Snowman cookies, second; Fay Hajel, Deluxe Chocolate Marshmallow Bars, third.

  • Candy ― Joan Weaver, Bitter Sweet Fudge, first; Grace Oakes, Guinness Chocolate Truffles, second; tie for third place with Tarrah Cox and Chocolate Strawberry Cheesecake Bites, and Patty Bittner with Cherry Chip Creams.

  • The judges for the evening were: cookies and bars – Mark Albright, Melissa Friend Blocher, Dr. Roger Hanson; cakes and pies – Katie Billy, Willie Geiger and Denise Gehringer; candies – Ginny Knieriem, Marci Suder and Bobby Hartman.

  • Jesse and Karen Maust volunteered their time to conduct the auction. Jesse does the auctioneering, while Karen does the bookkeeping.

Winners at Death By Chocolate in Meyersdale on Friday evening were from left, front row: Carol Tressler, Chocolate Truffle Cookies, first in cookies division; tied first-place for cakes Miranda Durst with "OMG. It's a Library Cake" and Stephanie Lambert with Best of Show overall "Have Your Cake and Cookies Too" celebrating Meyersdale's 150th anniversary; and Joan Weaver, Bitter Sweet Fudge, first-place in candy. In back, Mel Reckner, Snowman cookies, second in cookies; Fay Hajel, Deluxe Chocolate Marshmallow Bars, third in cookies; Grace Oakes, Guinness Chocolate Truffles, second in candy division; tie for third place in candy with Tarrah Cox and Chocolate Strawberry Cheesecake Bites, and Patty Bittner with Cherry Chip Creams.

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The auction is a competition but the bake sale is supported by many who donate their baked goods for sale to raise more funds at the library during the day. The auction is held at the church but the bake sale goes on at the library.

The $3,500 raised was the combined total from both the auction and bake sale and donations.

Stephanie Lambert's first-place tie cake and Best of Show overall in honor of Meyersdale's 150th anniversary this year went for $145 to Nancy Griffith.

Almeda Miller shows candy to bidders as they vie for items in support of the Meyersdale Public Library.
Almeda Miller shows candy to bidders as they vie for items in support of the Meyersdale Public Library.

Miranda Durst's first-place tie cake "OMG It's a Library Cake" was bought by Glenda Shultz for $190. Her first-place cake Chocolate Buzz in 2020 and her first-place cake Zero Gravity in 2023 was purchased by Ken Warnick, who was bidding on this year's Durst cake.

Stephanie Lambert's first-place tie cake and Best of Show overall called "Have Your Cake and Cookies Too," celebrating Meyersdale's 150th sesquicentennial this year, was sold for $145 to Nancy Griffith at the Death By Chocolate auction in Meyersdale on Friday evening.
Stephanie Lambert's first-place tie cake and Best of Show overall called "Have Your Cake and Cookies Too," celebrating Meyersdale's 150th sesquicentennial this year, was sold for $145 to Nancy Griffith at the Death By Chocolate auction in Meyersdale on Friday evening.

Carol Tressler's first-place Chocolate Truffle Cookies went for $32 to Phil LaRue and Joan Weaver's first-place candy Bittersweet Fudge went for $50 to Ken Warnick.

Betty Christy's "Sailing Into Retirement" was bought for $105 by Martha Albright. Christy makes a special cake every year for the competition in honor of her late husband, Barry Christy, who also competed for several years in the event. She said this is her last year baking a cake for this event.

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"Some competitors are already planning for next year's auction by deciding what they are going to make for the competition," said Jan Stoner, Friends treasurer. "It was a well-attended event with good weather and we were thankful for everyone participating."

This article originally appeared on The Daily American: Death by Chocolate raises $3,500 for Meyersdale Public Library