FRIDAY February 1, 2008

Lawrence (MA) District Chili Cookoff

Chili Cooks!

I'm writing to inform you about a NEW ICS Chili Cookoff!

The first annual Lawrence District Chili Cookoff in Lawrence,MA. will be June 8,2008! It will be a Back to Back CCO with the New Hampshire State June 7,2008.

This is six chances in one weekend for you to qualify for the 2008 WCCC! Lawrence,Ma is a short 30 minutes from the great NH State CCO!

The charity will be the Lawrence Rotary Club. Proceeds will be earmarked for the Community Service Fund.The Holiday Inn Express has agreed to be host hotel for the event offering reduced room rates for contestants.

Steve Falkowski (WCCC 1997) will be Chief Judge and Audrey Falkowski Chief Score Keeper!

The local support that this event is receiving is tremendous and this will be a killer event.

For more information and to sign up please go to http://www.chilicookoff.com/event/Event_Display.asp?EventID=2234 or contact Michael Sullivan mailto:sull33@aol.com%20

For information and to sign up for the NH State please go to http://www.chilicookoff.com/event/Event_Display.asp?EventID=2192 or contact Scott Wilson at mailto:scottwils@comcast.net%20

More information to follow as it becomes available.

Thanks so much and we look forward to seeing you for a beautiful spring Chili Cookoff weekend!

Warmly,
Mad Mike

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CENTRAL OHIO CHILI FESTIVAL

Formerly known as the Beulah Park Regional Chili Cookoff.

The best Chili Cookoff in Central Ohio will be again held this year on April 12 at beautiful Beulah Park Race Track in Grove City Ohio. It's a Regional qualifier with great prizes for Red, Verde & Salsa. Chief Judge and scorekeeper again this year will be Chuck & Kit Hoff. Cookoff Chairman Jessica Hamlin has obtained a block of 20 rooms at the Red Roof Inn. Rooms will be only held until April 1, 2008 because of Alumni weekend in Grove City so be sure you book early and mention the Beulah Park block of rooms to get the Cookoff rate of $59.99 + tax. That's the Red Roof Inn at the Intersection of I-71 and Stringtown Road, Grove City, OH. The Red Roof Inn is 3 miles from Beulah Park. BTW…There will be Para-Mutual betting on the ponies for those who feel lucky. Once again for your pleasure there will the fabulous Friday night Cooks Party at Rooster's in Grove City right by the Red Roof Inn sponsored by Beulah Park and Jessica. Those who attended the party last year know the chicken wings and libations kept coming and coming. The Party will start at 6:30 and last until when ever. The cookoff letter and applications should be in the mail in about a week. However, don't wait sign up on line to make sure you have a spot and when you get your application in the mail get it back to the Cookoff Chairman with your entry fees in a timely manner, DON'T DELAY. The Cookoff Chairmen and their people have a hard enough time as it is making sure everything at the Cookoff runs smoothly and everything is in place so you, the cook, will have a great place to cook your chili. So do your part, get your application and entry fees in on time so the Cookoff Chairmen can get all of their administrative work accomplished. See you at Beulah Park April 12 for some good time chili cooking at the Central Ohio Chili Festival. Don't forget Kit and I will see you Friday night, April 11, at Rooster's 6:30 sharp!

If you have any questions please contact.

Chuck Hoff

drgbreath@sbcglobal.net

614-231-0890

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Jessica Hamlin

jhamlin@beulahpark.com

614-871-9600 x1304

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Top of West Virginia Regional Chili Challenge

set for March 29, 2008

CHESTER, W.Va. — The Top of West Virginia Convention and Visitors Bureau has announced plans for the second "Top of West Virginia Chili Challenge" set for March 29, 2008, at Mountaineer Casino, Racetrack and Resort. The cookoff will be held indoors in a 70,000 square foot arena, perfect for a winter cookoff. This will be a great chance for cooks to qualify early for the worlds and find out about upcoming cookoffs in the region.

"Like last year, this event will showcase our area, bring in visitors and cooks from throughout the country and money raised will go toward good causes — everyone is a winner," Dan Greathouse, head of the Top of West Virginia CVB said. "This will be our second Chili Challenge held indoors at the Harv at Mountaineer, and the interest already generated guarantees it will be a fun event for the chili cooks and participants."

The Northern Hancock County Rotary is putting its resources behind the event as well. Some of the proceeds will go back to the club and assist with club events, charities and scholarships.

"This is the kind of event that brings people together for a lot of fun and for a very good reason," Robert Milner, Northern Hancock County Rotary president said. "We are proud to be a part of the event and money raised will go back into the local community for a variety of good causes."

Fully sanctioned by the International Chili Society, the Top of West Virginia Chili Challenge is the place where cooks can compete in three categories including traditional red chili, chili verde and salsa.

The cookoff has been granted regional status by the ICS and winners in all three categories will compete in the World Championships later this year. A top prize of $1,000 in the red chili, $250 for the chili verde and $100 in the salsa categories will be awarded. Other prizes and trophies will be given throughout the day. There will also an opportunity for event chairman from other events to distribute their cookoff information to the attending cooks. A special area will be set up for any cookoff to provide information and to promote their event.

Cooks will be able to come to The Harv auditorium complex the night before the Chili Challenge to check out the facility, which is perfect for an indoor cookoff. The Chili Challenge officially begins at 11 a.m. on March 29, and will last until 4 p.m.

"We want everyone to have a good time — that's important to us as well," Greathouse said.

Along with the Northern Hancock Rotary, the event will also benefit the Hancock County Animal Shelter, the Hancock County Child Advocacy Center and the Gabriel Project.

It's time for cooks to register to join the fun. To request a brochure or for more information, check out the Top of West Virginia CVB website at www.topofwvcvb.com or contact the organization at (877) 723-7114 or (304) 797-7001.

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Joe Stevens

Director, Communications & Development

The Media Center

Phone: 304.720.5466

Cell: 304.382.1133

Email: jstevens@themediacenter222.com

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KEY LARGO BACK-TO-BACK REGIONALS

NEED RED COOKS

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Hi Everybody,

Next weekend, February 9^th & 10^th, we will be having our annual South Florida back-to-back Regional Cookoffs in Key Largo.

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Unfortunately (for the cookoff), a whole bunch of our "regular" cooks from years past, HAVE ALREADY QUALIFIED IN RED; pretty incredible, considering it is this early in the "Chili Year", but indicative of the level of cooks we get down this way for the events. Needless to say, this is fortunate for the cooks (and congratulations are in order), but unfortunate for the cookoff.

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Thus far (and yes, we still have a week to go), we are short of the 20 Red cooks required to remain a Regional for 2009. Therefore, this is a PLEA FOR HELP in getting us up to the required 20; as a matter of fact, with this group of very high level cooks not doing Red, think of how that improves everybody else's shot AT TWO OPPORTUNITIES TO QUALIFY FOR THE WCCC!

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By the way, if you had not yet heard, something new this year. The Rotaries in Key Largo informed me that they will host a Cook's Party, at the site, on Friday evening.

If you had not yet decided to come down, hope you will rethink it and join us; if you know somebody that was "thinking about it", help to convince them. The long range forecast is for sunny skies both days, high in the low 70s, low in the high 60s; South Florida "Chamber of Commerce" for February…not to mention the beautiful and unique Florida Keys.

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Additionally, for those that have never been, tent/tables/chairs provided. Just need your cooking "stuff"; supermarkets (Winn Dixie and Publix) nearby.

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Looking forward to seeing everybody here,

Sergei Kowalchik

Chief Judge

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TUESDAY - January 29, 2008

99.9 KISS COUNTRY REGIONAL CHILI COOKOFF

How do you get tens of thousands of people to a chili cookoff? Well, if you are 99.9 KISS COUNTRY – FM, you try adding "a little entertainment".

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How about: BIG & RICH with COWBOY TROY, GRETCHEN WILSON, TAYLOR SWIFT, JOE NICHOLS, SAWYER BROWN, CHRIS YOUNG, CAROLYN DAWN JOHNSON, PHIL STACEY and RISSI PALMER…with Guest Host – JEWEL.

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The 23^rd Annual 99.9 KISS COUNTRY CHILI COOKOFF was held on January 27^th, at CB Smith Park in Pembroke Pines, Florida (this is in Broward County, directly north of Miami Dade County and better known for Ft. Lauderdale to the east). Although the gates/parking opened for the crowd at 8:30 AM (chili teams allowed in at 6:30), some folks in the large crowd began "tailgating" the previous evening, in order to insure being at the head of the line…I guess some people just simply love chili.

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34 Salsa Teams and 86 Red Chili Teams were entered, showed up and cooked. However, only 30 Salsas and 80 Red Chilis were actually turned in…which may be some sort of an indicator as to the "level of partying" involved.

As an aside; in Marshall's and my humble opinions, there isn't another cookoff in the country (that we are aware of), which matches the level of "Booth & Showmanship" at this event. It would bring back many memories to long time ICS members…"real long time" members.

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Now for the results:

Booth & Showmanship

5. Bunker Boobs Foxy Chili II

4. Die Hard Dolphin Fan

3. Farmer Rich and the Share Croppin Chili Cookers

2. Colorado Chili Cowboys

1. Gator Done Chili, Featuring the Swamp Sisters

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Salsa

Finals Table (12 Salsas)

The Hurricane Chili Machine – John Francioni; Tequila Makes Her Clothes Fall Off – Shelley Sarros; Three Guys Chili – Adam Berman; Fire House # 5 – Carlos Galera; Dynamic Chili Cooks –Karen Cooper; It's In There! 2 – Lori Sorenson; General Banshee's Chili – Ellen Devito; Let It Rip – Timothy Phelps; 4 of a Kind – Karen Edwards; Farmer Rich and the Share Croppin Chili Cookers – Chelsea Doole; Rick and the Chili Chicks – Rick Pinard; Colorado Chili – Chris Everhart

3. Rick Pinard

2. Shelley Sarros

1. Chris Everhart – will represent 99.9 KISS COUNTRY at the 2008 WCCC

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Traditional Red Chili

Finals Table (23 Chilis)

All In the Family – Shana Pender; Slack Attack –Jon Slack; Sunset Chili – Brian Cigalotti; Tropical Fins – Lynea Jones; Tailgators Get-R-Done Chili - Mike Molloy; Maggot's Revenge – Wayne Lambert; Tequila Makes Her Clothes Fall Off – Shelley Sarros; Trailer Park Chili – Brian Gibbs; Team Thermal – Neil Caporale; Pics Place – Tim Pickering; Hudson Hurricanes – Chris Hudson; Fire in the Hole – Nick Lee; Girls Soccer Rules I – Alexandra Jacques; Rick and the Chili Chicks – Rick Pinard; Chemical Hazard – Mark Khayala; Chili Champs – Stacey Christianson; Roadkill Chili – Ed Lally; Passing Time Chili Team – Jose Hernandez; Spice It Up – Elizabeth Phelps; Miller's Ale House – Carlos Navas; Young Hot Chili Chicks – Debra Barron; Bunker Boobs Foxy Chili - Tim Sullivan; The Swedes – Ed LaPlante

5. Shelly Sarros

4. Nick Lee

3. Jose Hernandez

2. Lynea Jones (defending champion)

1. Shana Pender – will represent 99.9 KISS COUNTRY at the 2008 WCCC

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Congratulations to all the winners!

Additional congratulations and thanks to 99.9 KISS COUNTRY – FM for putting on this great event; as well as to Show Management, the group in charge of managing and overseeing all the "nitty gritty" of this huge event.

However; the biggest winner of the day was, by far, THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF BROWARD COUNTY!

Sergei Kowalchik

Chief Judge

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P.S. Please remember the South Florida back-to-back Regional Cookoffs in Key Largo, on February 9^th and 10^th - that is the weekend after the Super Bowl. We hope to see lots of you there.

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Maria Austin's recovery update 1-29-08

Maria has had a setback in her recovery. The doctors had removed her vent tubes two days ago, and she had to be revented last night. Maria did get her Pepsi while the vent tubes were out. She was delighted to say the least. She even had a little food by mouth. She was really struggling to make it on her own. They even tried the cpap. When I left there last night she was being sedated and finally getting some rest. She had really labored to keep up. I'm going to see her as soon as I finish this note and have a cup of coffee. Keep the prayers coming and thank you all for the cards and calls. We all love her so much and want a speedy recovery, but I think this is going to be a slow process.

Thanks from the Fam-Lee

Mike

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SUNDAY - January 27, 2008

BILL DONOVAN

Update on the Donovans.
Bill's biopsy came back today clean. He will be undergoing chemo starting Monday to ensure the "clean" results. He appreciates your prayers, calls and cards. Please keep Gail in your prayers. God's hands are on this couple. It will be one day at a time, but today was very good news. I praise God for this. Have a great evening.
Jim Stoddard

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MARIA AUSTIN

I talked to Mike Austin a little while ago. Today was a very positive day in Maria's recovery process. They finally were able to remove the breathing tube and the feeding tube. Both have been out for a number of hours, and it looks like they will be able to stay out. She still has a long way to go. There is a lot of congestion in her lungs due to the long time that the breathing machine was in operation. The lungs get lazy when they don't have to do their own work, and congestion forms. She'll have to wait until this gets better before she will be allowed to have her Pepsi. But she's still asking for it!

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There is, of course, some heart damage, as she had a major, major heart attack. At this point her doctors are very optimistic that she will be able to recover and lead a comfortable life in the future. Keep up the prayers---there's still a long way to go

Bill & Karen Ray

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Thank you all for your prayers for Bill "Gumby" Donovan and Maria.

Mike and Fam-Lee

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GOUND HOG DISTRICT COOKOFF

Due to some recent Super Bowl Party & Golf Events scheduling conflicts at

Palm Desert Country Club, the Ground Hog Chili & BBQ

Cookoff has been rescheduled for Saturday April 5th.

Due to Golf Tournaments at PDCC, this is the earliest date available.

If you have paid your entry fee and this new date creates a problem and

a refund is requested, please email Keith Caroselli at kcaroselli@dc.rr.com

for that refund. Also, If you have not paid as yet, let me know if you will Not be

attending so that we can open your booth to another team.

We hope to see more of you since any conflict with the Super Bowl Weekend

is now a mute point.

Thanks for your support

Keith Caroselli

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