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January 26, 2008

Building competition is just for fun

By Courtney Anderson

HERMITAGE — The sound of clacking plastic blocks carried over the crowd gathered Saturday afternoon for the Mercer County Builders Association annual LEGO and Lincoln Log building contest.

Children seated at tables piled with the plastic and wooden blocks were mostly silent and focused on the project in front of them.

Michael Hoffman, 5, quickly built a cabin — complete with a basement, he said — and garage out of Lincoln Logs during the competition. He spent most of the hour expanding the spread of his ranch with a log fence.

“Papa, look!” Michael called to his grandfather, Richard Rossi. It was one of the few things the intent little architect said while he worked.

He did note a ladder on the back of the cabin that allowed a plastic cowboy access to the roof and showed off the size of the spread by trotting a toy horse around the building table before putting it in a corral.

Michael said he did some planning leading up to the contest; he practiced some at home and then at his grandparents house Saturday morning. His mom Julie Hoffman said he plays with the wooden toys a lot at home.

Building blocks are “too fun,” Michael said.

“He’s full of ideas,” Rossi said of Michael. “He’s got a great imagination.”

Richard and Paula Rossi brought their grandson Michael and great nephew Austin Mathieson to the contest because Mrs. Rossi saw last year’s event, she said. The Rossis live in Hermitage, Michael’s family lives in Pulaski and Austin, the son of Amanda Reed and Michael Mathieson, lives in Mercer.

Organizer Dot Hillman said 44 children signed up for the competition, which had kids ages 9-12 and 8 and under building either an “out of this world” LEGO house or a “get away” cabin from the classic Lincoln Logs.

Winners in the LEGO category ages 9-12 were Zachary Lightner, first place, and J.T. Herwald, second; in the younger age bracket, Nathan Martin won first place and Danica Barry came in second.

Lincoln Log contest winners were Wesly Van Pelt, first place, and Ryan Patton, second, in the oldest age bracket. Jessica Buff came in first in the youngest group and Michael Hoffman placed second.

Building kits were sponsored by area businesses, contest coordinator Anastasia Surrena said.

“I think they need to have this for adults, too,” said a woman who watched the kids work.

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