The cookie project at Chautauqua Lake began over 24 years ago by former teacher Ed Carutis. Eventually, Margie Weise took over and students from the Culinary Arts program began making the cookies on an annual basis.

Morrison has since taken on the project. He noted that the cookies have become a staple for the fourth-grade social studies curriculum in which students learn about major rivers, mountains, lakes, and cities in sprawling New York state.

Under the guidance of Chef David Caccamise, students enrolled in the Culinary Arts program at the LoGuidice Educational Center baked 50 sugar cookies for this year’s effort.

Just before Thanksgiving, the cookies were delivered to Morrison’s fourth-grade class. Students decorated their cookies with frosting and candy pieces to identify the different rivers and cities.

Pictured is Elicia Dorman, a student in Denny Morrison’s fourth-grade class at Chautauqua Lake Central School.

Caccamise said the annual project is a way for Culinary Arts students to give back.

“It’s kind of our way of helping the community,” he said. “All of these students (in the Culinary Arts program) were fourth graders themselves at one point. It’s nice to have my class make the cookies and then have the fourth-grade students finish them.”

Morrison thanked Caccamise and his students for again providing the cookies to his class.

Participation in the New York State Cookies Project between E2CCB and Chautauqua Lake was made possible by a grant from the Northern Chautauqua Community Foundation.

For more information about Career & Technical Education programs at E2CCB, visit e2ccb.org/programs/career-technical-education/.

Pictured is Nico Pendl, a fourth-grader at Chautauqua Lake Central School.