Cupcake judges include YSU faculty

Staff report

BOARDMAN

A panel of celebrity judges will evaluate the best-looking, best-tasting cupcakes created by professional and amateur bakers from Mahoning and surrounding counties at the Sweet Life Cupcake Competition.

The events runs from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at The Georgetown, South Avenue, and will benefit Friends of the Mahoning Valley Birth Center.

Attendees can check out the displays, sample cupcakes, vote for their favorites, take some home and create their own cupcake masterpiece at the Cupcake Creation Station for kids. A bag auction, silent auction and 50/50 cash bar also are part of the festivities.

Celebrity judges include Annette M. Burden, Youngstown State University professor of mathematics and statistics and president of the YSU-Ohio Education Association faculty union; Joy Erb, associate professor of art; Chris Barzak, associate professor of English; The Rev. Dr. Lewis Macklin, pastor of Holy Trinity Missionary Baptist Church; Jack Kravitz, owner of Kravitz Deli; several bakery owners and local news media.

Friends of the Mahoning Valley Birth Center is a nonprofit group formed in 2012 to give support to pregnant women and new moms in the Mahoning Valley. The purpose is to help families have healthy pregnancies and birth experiences as well as support mothers in caring for themselves and their children after birth.

Activities are at the Mahoning Valley Birth Center and are designed to help educate and enhance the families’ experience of pregnancy and birth.

Tickets are available at www.eventbrite.com/e/sweet-life-cupcake-competition-tickets-13120119631.