Hungry boys and girls were eager to enjoy slices of pizza. (Photo by D’Arcy Patrick Egan)

Casey Jessee, left, and Holly Boreman passed out slices of pizza for Bell’s Tavern. (Photo by D’Arcy Patrick Egan)

The Port Clinton Rotary Club lured another crowd of pizza lovers to the Gideon Owen Wine Company in Port Clinton on Monday, April 24, for this year’s 12th annual Rotary Pizza Challenge. This year’s popular event successfully raised funds to award college scholarships to graduating students of Danbury High School and Port Clinton High School.

“We welcomed almost 400 pizza eaters that tasted and voted on their favorite pizzas from various ovens around town,” said Chairman Duane Waite. “It was, as usual, a challenge to pick the favorites from among such outstanding local pizza emporiums as Bell’s Pizza, Cameo Pizza, Camp Runinmuck, Pisanello’s Pizza, Sloopy’s and Twin Oast.”

Best Pepperoni was voted by a panel of students, and the young judges awarded Camp Runinmuck the victory. The Best Specialty Piazza, according to a panel of celebrity judges, was awarded to Cameo Pizza. The People’s Choice winners were: 1. Camp Runinmuck:; 2. Sloopy’s; and 3. Cameo Pizza.

“We’re very grateful to the community for coming out for the Rotary Pizza Challenge and supporting the event. We also commend the proprietors of the various pizza shops and their volunteers; the staff of Gideon Owen Wine Company for their great support; and the Rotary volunteers who helped to make the Pizza Challenge smoothly handle the hungry crowd,” said Waite.

Sloopy’s Pizza in Port Clinton was one of the top shops in the People’s Choice Awards. (Photo by D’Arcy Patrick Egan)