Sarah Gilmore is truly a unique young lady.
Sam Tenney / The Citizen
Susan Harris, director of the Cayuga County Arts Council, hopes to make the Auburn Schine's Theater shine once again.
Susan Harris, director of the Cayuga County Arts Council, hopes to make the Auburn Schine's Theater shine once again.
The 20-year-old Throop native, who is currently majoring in business at Cayuga Community College, suffers from scoliosis, or curvature of the spine.
Diagnosed at birth, Gilmore sometimes has difficulty breathing due to the severity of her condition. And like millions of others, she finds solace in a seductively sweet sensation: chocolate.
But unlike millions, she doesn't eat it - she makes it.
From peanut butter balls to nonpareils and fudge - and even chocolate-covered potato chips - Gilmore's “Le Chocolat” company sees her prepare, package and sell the luscious sweets at yard sales and church functions throughout the area.
A 2006 graduate of Port Byron High School, Gilmore said that the idea to share her chocolate creations with the public just dawned on her one day.
“First I thought about it on my own, then I tried it, and it turned out pretty good,” she said from her Throop home in a telephone interview.
“I thought (selling chocolate) would be a good way to make some money.”
After conceiving the idea several months ago, Gilmore began soliciting churches and community organizations to let her sell her products at bake sales and other functions.
“I go to lots of places: churches, nursing homes, places like that,” she said.
And which of her delights sells the best?
“Peanut butter balls,” she answered.
“Those are my personal favorites, and I think they're everybody else's favorites too,” she added.
One drawback of being in the public eye, Gilmore continued, is the stigma that sometimes accompanies her handicap.
Some people believe that since she suffers from a physical disability, she explained, they think she is also mentally or emotionally challenged.
Gilmore said that people's misconceptions about her capabilities “happen sometimes. But what can you do? You just deal with it,” she said. This past December, Gilmore had her creations spread on a table in the fellowship hall of St. Andrews United Methodist Church in Mottville where she took part in the church's annual Sweet Tooth and Crafts Sale.
Guests snapped up nonpareils, fudge and peanut butter balls as if there were an impending chocolate shortage, much to the delight of Gilmore, who was accompanied by her mother, Barb.
Gilmore was asked where she came up with the zany idea of making chocolate-covered potato chips.
“It's pretty easy, actually,” she said. “I have a melting pot, and I just dip (the chips) in melted chocolate ... pretty simple,” she said with a laugh.
To learn more
Find out about Sarah Gilmore and Le Chocolat, by calling 406-1960 or e-mail her at sarahg009@yahoo.com
Diagnosed at birth, Gilmore sometimes has difficulty breathing due to the severity of her condition. And like millions of others, she finds solace in a seductively sweet sensation: chocolate.
But unlike millions, she doesn't eat it - she makes it.
From peanut butter balls to nonpareils and fudge - and even chocolate-covered potato chips - Gilmore's “Le Chocolat” company sees her prepare, package and sell the luscious sweets at yard sales and church functions throughout the area.
A 2006 graduate of Port Byron High School, Gilmore said that the idea to share her chocolate creations with the public just dawned on her one day.
“First I thought about it on my own, then I tried it, and it turned out pretty good,” she said from her Throop home in a telephone interview.
“I thought (selling chocolate) would be a good way to make some money.”
After conceiving the idea several months ago, Gilmore began soliciting churches and community organizations to let her sell her products at bake sales and other functions.
“I go to lots of places: churches, nursing homes, places like that,” she said.
And which of her delights sells the best?
“Peanut butter balls,” she answered.
“Those are my personal favorites, and I think they're everybody else's favorites too,” she added.
One drawback of being in the public eye, Gilmore continued, is the stigma that sometimes accompanies her handicap.
Some people believe that since she suffers from a physical disability, she explained, they think she is also mentally or emotionally challenged.
Gilmore said that people's misconceptions about her capabilities “happen sometimes. But what can you do? You just deal with it,” she said. This past December, Gilmore had her creations spread on a table in the fellowship hall of St. Andrews United Methodist Church in Mottville where she took part in the church's annual Sweet Tooth and Crafts Sale.
Guests snapped up nonpareils, fudge and peanut butter balls as if there were an impending chocolate shortage, much to the delight of Gilmore, who was accompanied by her mother, Barb.
Gilmore was asked where she came up with the zany idea of making chocolate-covered potato chips.
“It's pretty easy, actually,” she said. “I have a melting pot, and I just dip (the chips) in melted chocolate ... pretty simple,” she said with a laugh.
To learn more
Find out about Sarah Gilmore and Le Chocolat, by calling 406-1960 or e-mail her at sarahg009@yahoo.com
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