Rizer offers palate to Taste of the Town

A 5-foot-9-inch supermodel strutted into Watertown on Saturday in 5-inch red stiletto heels and became a superhero to many at the Victims Assistance Center.

“I want to be able to give back to this community because this is where I grew up,” said Margaret Mary “Maggie” Rizer, who, due to a delayed flight, arrived fashionably late to Saturday’s seventh annual Taste of the Town at the Dulles State Office. “I help a lot of organizations but being able to come back to Watertown and help this area — it’s very satisfying for me to help this community.”

Ms. Rizer graduated from Watertown High School in 1996 and has since become a major player in the fashion industry. She has been a fashion model since the 1990s and has appeared in an episode of HBO’s “Sex and the City” and several episodes of “America’s Next Top Model.” Ms. Rizer told Times reporters Saturday that she has also begun shooting a new television show. She said she couldn’t divulge any details.

While keeping her finger on the pulse of fashion, Ms. Rizer has also donated much of her time toward several charitable organizations.

Ms. Rizer’s father died of AIDS when she was 14 years old, and since then she has reached out to many foundations dedicated to finding a cure for the disease.

Ms. Rizer, who now lives in Manhattan, supports American Foundation for AIDS Research, or amfAR, Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS, or DIFFA, The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, or the ASPCA, New Yorkers for Children and Operation Smile.

“I’ve been so lucky in my career and had a lot of amazing opportunities, so it’s the least I can do to help these different organizations,” she said. “If my face and name can help other people, I’d be foolish not to help.”

And help she did.

Ms. Rizer was one of the celebrity judges at the Taste of the Town event that benefited the Victims Assistance Center of Jefferson County.

“I’ve learned a lot in the last year about how the Victims Assistance Center has helped the victims of violent crimes and sexual assault,” Ms. Rizer said. “I get 18,000 e-mails a day asking for charitable contributions and this was one of the first yeses I gave.”

Every year Taste of the Town brings out hundreds of people in support of the center.

This year there were 35 vendors, including Tin Pan Galley, Cavallario’s Cucina, Starbucks, Wise Guys Pizza, Clipper Inn, Johnny D’s and Ryan’s Lookout.

“It’s a giant community event that brings people together for a good cause,” said Elaina F. Marra, executive director of the Victims Assistance Center. “We have so many vendors, you can get a whole meal just walking around. We have magicians and entertainment, too. It’s a real family event.”

Entertainment included the River Rat Rhythm Project steel drums; Mark Mason, Howard Brinson and Tim Martuzas, and the In Motion School of Dance.

Even though Ms. Rizer was late to the event and was able only to present awards, the rest of the celebrity judges picked their favorites.

The judge panel included Mark Gaines from Stevens Media Group, John B. Johnson, advertising director of the Watertown Daily Times, Chris Onorato from WWNY TV Channel 8 and Carole McCoy, president of Jefferson Community College.

The judge’s picks were:

■ Wise Guys Pizza for Best Taste.

■ Cavallario’s Cucina as runner up for Best Taste.

■ Tin Pan Galley for Best Presentation.

■ North Country Farms for Honorable Mention.