By Susan Ellis/Correspondent

Bedford Minuteman

Posted Jul 14, 2010 @ 11:09 AM

Bedford, Mass. —

The Bedford Council on Aging (COA) came alive last Thursday for a pie-eating contest with an influx of visitors from area nursing homes, assisted living communities and town departments. 

The rules were simple:  Eat one pie as fast as you can without stopping until the judges ruled you were done.  Volunteers stood behind each contestant, cell phones in hand, to get official times that they then passed on to the judge. Attorney Barb Santiago, who dressed in robes of the court, announced the final decisions.

“You just keep going,” said Carol Woolston of Comfort Keepers in Winchester.

“I have an advantage,” said 11-year-old Jacob Lords, “because I’m 11 and 11-year-olds have a smaller uvula.”

His uvula did serve him well it seems as he coasted to victory just behind Woolston, who insisted that perhaps he really had taken first.

Town Nurse Judi Jelloe was on hand, but also competed, munching her way to a close third in the same group.

One contestant, Bayberry Executive Director Shawn Bertram, even brought his own cheerleaders complete with pompoms and matching T-shirts. 

“Our Director of Activities Lynn Murphy set it up,” Bayberry Resident and Cheerleader Marjorie Kennedy said.  “But we’ll do anything for Shawn.  He’s great.”

Despite their energy, though, the cheerleaders did not ensure victory for Bertram, who was edged out by Executive Director of Billerica Crossing Adam Manchester. 

“Our residents were actually out on another trip,” said Manchester. “Plus they thought it would be disgusting. This is a great idea and something I really wanted to support. Plus it is really fun.”

Other winners included local business owner Karen Kenney of Organizing Works and Bedford Firefighter Christian Dispena, who won Red Sox tickets, but decided to pass them onto Jake Lords for his efforts.

Other prizes included:  barbeque sets, gift certificates and baskets of goodies from local area businesses.

Firefighter Dispena	Lieutenant Scott Ricker

The Bedford Fire Department was well represented by four members

Captain Mark Sullivan, Lieutenant Scott Ricker and Firefighters Kevin Lorrey and the Champion, with the fastest pie consumption time, Christian Dispena