Utica Daily News - Local and national news for Utica, The Mohawk Valley and Central New York.: Staffworks Presents 6th Annual RiggieFest

Staffworks Presents 6th Annual RiggieFest
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Staff Reports on 03/08/2010 11:21:00 am
 
Staffworks sponsorship underwrites the majority of costs associated with hosting
this large community event, which draws thousands of riggie aficionados from
throughout Central New York.
“RiggieFest would not be possible without Staffworks committed and generous
support.” said Natalie L. Brown, YWCA Mohawk Valley Executive Director. 
“This is the YWCA’s largest fundraising event of the year and benefits all
of our programs, which serve Rome, Herkimer, Utica – all of Oneida and
Herkimer Counties.”
“By supporting RiggieFest, Staffworks and the community ensure the longevity
of the YWCA’s vital programs, including our domestic and sexual violence
crisis services, our drop-in child care centers in Rome and Utica courthouses,
our violence prevention education, our Herkimer-based child advocacy center, our
school-based leadership program for girls, and our fitness and aquatics
programming.”
As Central New York’s largest provider of staffing services, Staffworks has
eight locations, including Utica, Rome, Herkimer, Syracuse, Binghamton, Norwich,
Oneonta and Sydney, and provides a wide array of services to employers and job
seekers alike.
Held each April, RiggieFest serves to promote the Mohawk Valley region while
raising critical funds for the YWCA. As the largest chicken riggie cook-off
event in Upstate New York, RiggieFest features more than a dozen restaurants
competing each year for the coveted title of “Best Chicken Riggies” and the
prized “Riggie Cup.”  Besides the Cup, restaurants also vie for
Best-in-Service, Kids’ Pick, and Best Decorated Booth awards. Prize money is
awarded to the top three competitors.
This year, RiggieFest – scheduled for April 24 at the Utica Memorial
Auditorium – will once again feature a Children’s Area, Wine Tasting, and
live entertainment.
Also returning this year is the RiggieFest Home Cooking Competition, which
provides amateur chefs confident in their favorite riggie recipes with an
opportunity to show their stuff.  Deadline for the home cooking registration is
Tuesday, Mar. 23 at 4 p.m. Would-be participants should contact the YWCA for
registration forms. The winning recipe will be recreated at RiggieFest by the
Oneida-Herkimer-Madison BOCES’ Culinary Arts program
For more information, contact Shelly Northrup, 732-2159 x238 or
snorthrup@ywcamv.org.