Local businesses sponsor contest at library in honor of former librarian

Published 11:14 am Thursday, December 21, 2017

A contest at the Clark County Public Library is offering free cupcakes and coffee from two sponsoring businesses.

Just inside the library’s doors sits a large dollhouse decorated with miniature characters to resemble a baker. The set was designed by CCPL Director Julie Maruskin, who said it took 68 hours to piece together.

The house is scattered with hundreds of small gingerbread cookies, and visitors are encouraged to make a guess at how many there are total. The contest will end when the library closes tonight.

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The winner of the contest will walk away with a free set of cupcakes from The Banery, a new bakery in Winchester located at 220 Frontier Way. The second-closest guess will get a $10 gift card to local coffee shop The Daily Grind.

Maruskin said this is the third year the library has done a miniature contest, and each year it is sponsored by a local business.

She said she has been making miniatures since she was a young girl, and she likes to get creative when making the scenes.

“The bears in the house are all refurbished toys that I found,” Maruskin said. “The sheep I made myself with pipe cleaners and wool.”

The house is also decorated with homemade furniture and antiques Maruskin collected from different stores.

In addition to being a fun, holiday-themed game for the community, Maruskin said the miniatures also are a way to honor former librarian Lynne Ammerman Boxley.

Boxley was Clark County’s librarian for many years, but when she wasn’t cataloging and organizing books, she was building miniature houses and fully furnishing them.

“She made everything with just a small knife and Philadelphia Cream Cheese boxes,” Maruskin said.

Through the years, Boxley became well known throughout the state and beyond for her abilities. She even completed a detailed miniature of downtown Winchester that was put on display in Louisville.

“Doing these contests is fun, but its also a way for us to remember her,” Maruskin said.

There is still time to submit a guess for the competition. Entries will be taken until closing time today and the winner will be announced Friday, Maruskin said.