FRIDAY - February 29, 2008

Lawrence chili cook-off plans

A half-dozen locals are already fine-tuning their recipes, neighboring cities and towns want in on the action, and at least one local celebrity wants to judge the city's International Chili Cookoff this June.

"There's been a lot of interest. It's really overwhelming," said Mayor Michael Sullivan, who will serve as an official chili contest official on June 8.

The International Chili Society has sanctioned Lawrence as an official cook-off site on June 8. Thousands of people are

expected to flock to the city for the spicy event, which will feature traditional chili, chili Verde (green chili) and salsa-making contests. Local firefighters, police officers, paramedics, and teachers will participate in a separate chili-making contest that day. Four local groups also will face off in a battle of the bands later that afternoon.

Proceeds from the event, sponsored by the Lawrence Rotary Club, go to charity.

Methuen's Tommy Grella, a well-known local chef, fundraiser and financial planner, also wants to volunteer at the event. Grella last year competed on the "The Next Food Network Star."

"This is really creating a buzz," said John MacDonald, spokesman for Sal's Riverwalk on Merrimack Street, where the chili fest is being held.

Organizers yesterday also unveiled their official chili cook-off logo, created by Gretchen Bond of O'Neil Marketing in North Chelmsford.

The chili society is a nonprofit organization that sanctions 300 chili cook-offs per year at venues all over the world to raise money for charity. Winners of the society's sanctioned cook-offs qualify to compete for cash prizes and awards at the World Championship Cookoff.

For more information on the cook-off categories, entrance fees and rules, check out www.chilicookoff.com.

.

.

.

Bakersfiled, CA District

Calling all cooks and judges in the vicinity (or further) of Bakersfield, Ca.

The Bakersfield Optimist Clubs are hosting their 1^st. district chili cook-off

March 29, 2008. This event will be benefiting children with cancer.

They need cooks and judges to make the event a success. Send entries

to Walter Scott on the ICS web site.

Jim Beaty, chief judge

Donnie Gordon, scorekeeper

.

.

.

============================

If you have articles for posting to Dicks Chili World BLOG, they can be emailed to GWTWChili@aol.com

============================

Tell your other Chilihead Friends about the BLOG and how it works.

MONDAY - February 25, 2008

MARCH INTO SPRING

APRIL 12, 2008

MAIN STREET MOUNT AIRY, MD

	RED CHILI	GREEN CHILI	SALSA
1st Place	$300	$200	$100
2nd Place	$150	$100
3rd Place	$75	$50
Turn-in Times	2 PM	1 PM	12 PM
Entry Fee	$35.00 /MBR $77.00 /Non-MBR	$30.00 /MBR	$20.00 /MBR

.

SPONSORED BY THE

MOUNT AIRY MAIN STREET ASSOCIATION

AND SANCTIONED BY

THE INTERNATIONAL CHILI SOCIETY

as a REGIONAL COOK-OFF!

.

PROCEEDS TO BENEFIT BOY SCOUT TROOP 445

DAMASCUS, MD

.

Sign-in at 8 AM, Breakfast provided

.

Cooks register at http://www.chilicookoff.com/

.

.

.

Leukemia slows retired firefighter, master chili chef From the Cincinnati.Com » The Enquirer BY CLIFF RADEL CRADEL@ENQUIRER.COM DELHI TWP. - Gumby's OK. Pass it on. That's what Bill "Gumby" Donovan tells everybody. Truth is, the 53-year-old championship chili chef, retired firefighter and unstinting volunteer for good causes feels rotten. He has leukemia, and it has kept him from cooking chili since October. Making the spicy stew is one of his passions in life. And, he's extremely good at it. He is a repeat winner of the Cincinnati and Ohio state chili cook-offs. From 1989 to 2004, he and his wife, Gail, ran the cook-offs at the Cincinnati chili festival, which raised $250,000 for the Cincinnati Fire Museum. They have placed in big-league chili contests in Chicago and Wheeling, W.Va., as well as the International Chili Society World's Championship cook-offs, where the Donovans regularly reach the finals. Donovan would love to be able to whip up a batch of his firehouse "Code 3" chili. But, his body and his doctors won't let him. He was diagnosed with acute myelogenous leukemia in December. This fast-growing cancer of the blood and bone marrow has sapped his strength. Chemotherapy has claimed the hair atop his head and his trademark mustache, but not his sense of humor. "My upper lip feels as bare as a baby's booty," Donovan said as he sat at his kitchen table. He spoke through a germ-filtering mask. "I always wanted to be the Masked Man," he said. The Lone Ranger he's not. Dozens of friends and firefighters are staging a fundraiser Saturday at Cheviot's Memorial Building to help pay for some of his medical bills. Their efforts - while appreciated - trouble him. As do the bills. After his diagnosis, Donovan spent 30 days in the hospital. Injections to boost his blood-cell levels cost $300 a shot. Each chemo session runs in the thousands. Those bills mount up. But Donovan is uncomfortable talking about his troubles. "Being in the business of helping people," he said. "I have a hard time accepting people helping me." He has to be reminded that no one is putting a gun to the volunteers' heads. They're doing this just as willingly as he did when he ran into burning buildings or cooked chili for free to raise money for the Make-a-Wish Foundation and the American Cancer Society. For 20 years, Donovan served on the Cincinnati Fire Department. A back injury, suffered while responding to a fire, put an end to his career in 2006. What a career it was. His work as a chef earned him accolades and awards. His work as a firefighter earned him the respect of his peers and his nickname. He once calmed an injured girl by giving her a plastic figure of his favorite TV character, Gumby. Since he was a kid, Donovan has liked Gumby, the green clay TV character. He had figures of the guy everywhere, including one on his dashboard as a St. Gumby. One hot July morning in 1987, before walking into his Price Hill firehouse, he removed Gumby from the dash. "He might melt." Suddenly, a call went out: 9-year-old girl. Hit by a car. Donovan took the run. At the accident scene, he saw a mangled bike and "a girl sprawled in the street with two broken legs and in pain big time." As paramedics prepared to insert an IV needle in the girl's arm, Donovan stuck his hand in a pocket to pull out some alcohol wipes. Out came the wipes and Gumby. The little girl laughed. She asked for Gumby. Donovan gave it to her. The paramedics gave him the nickname. Always a giver, Donovan intends to pay back everyone who has helped him since December. "If the man upstairs gives me another shot," he said, "I'm going to get a hall and make a big, big batch of chili and feed them on me." That will be his way of saying thanks and letting people know: Gumby's OK.

---

SUNDAY - February 24, 2008

2nd Annual New England Regional

Dear Chili Cook,

In an attempt to make your 2nd Annual New England Regional Chili Cookoff paperwork process a little easier,please go to http://www.chilict.com/Want_To_Cook.php

Download and print each of the forms there and then send them to the P.O.Box listed ,Attention:Maryann!

This will make things a lot easier for all of us (Kat especially) the day of the NERCC.

Now, if you need hotel...we have 2 of them. The Crowne Plaza (listed under the sponsor tab) at $99 a night. Please mention the NERCC. We also have the Red Roof Inn at $59 each night. Please mention the NERCC Group #B105000780 BOTH places have a deadline of 4-10 to make reservations.

Both hotels are near each other. There are no less than 5 BIG grocery stores in the area. From a chili cooks stand point I'd go to Big Y on Rt. 190 as their selection is a little better for veggies. Please also consider cooking in ALL 3 categories? You're going to be there and Salsa isn't hard to make there or the night before. Verde is just a little harder. If you do plan to enter those contests,please remember the INCREASED prize money as well...and don't forget to let me know!

.Please don't forget the highly prestigious "Jim Heywood Youth Division"! If you have kids,know kids or have kids in your extended family...bring them to cook! Jim is and always has been a friend to the younger cooks by virtue of his personal support,experience and wisdom. It's easy to say that not just the kids look up to him.

.

Directions to Pleasant View (NERCC site) are listed on the directions page of http://www.chilict.com/ If you get lost or need anything, my home/office number is 860-749-4786. PLEASE feel free to call 8-4 daily if we can help with anything.

Among some things cooks can look forward to at the NERCC are:

Ms. Connecticut doing the national anthem with a military color guard!

The NERCC All Star Band (wait until you hear them!!)

Breakfast AND lunch for all of the cooks!

A raffle for a great prize just for the cooks!

Fantastic goodie bags for the NERCC Chili Cooks (just wait until you see them)!

Increased prize money in EACH NERCC category!

Guest Judge and 2007 ICS Champ Jerry Buma's 1st New England Appearance! (He's HOME!)

NEW and very cool trophy's unlike any you've ever seen!

We're at 69 days and counting down to the 2nd Annual New England Regional Chili Cookoff and we sincerely appreciate you helping us make a difference for those in the community as all proceeds benefit the Enfield (CT) Food Shelf!

Mad love

Kat and Mad Mike

.

.

.

HAWAII STATE CHILI COOKOFF
.
For those of you who are attending the Hawaii State Chili Cookoff and looking for a very nice hotel in the Waikiki area, I have information on how to get a 4 star hotel for over half off. Rack rate was $244 per night. I got it for $130 tonight on Priceline.com. I always get this same hotel. For the last 5 years! Through Priceline! But this is the first time I got it for this cheap. Usually around $140-145. All rooms face the yacht harbor. No beach, but WHAT a view. I have pixs. Here's the website of the Hawaiian Prince; http://princeresortshawaii.com/hawaii-prince-hotel.php. Check it out. If interested on how to do this, or want pixs, email me.
.
alienpilot3@gmail.com
.
Jim Stoddard

.

.

.

Maria Austin Update

To all of Chilihead Friends and Fam-Lee.

Maria is still in CCU and struggling to breathe, talk and eat. She is off the ventilator and breathing on her own, but laboring at times. She is eating small amounts of Jell-O and soups and other clear liquids. They will probably insert a feeding tube into her stomach, through her side, not her throat or nose. At least she can get some good nourishment in her and help build her strength. The Doctors assure me she will be fine, it's just so hard to see her in this condition. She seems a little disconnected with everything. It's probably the meds they are giving her. She doesn't complain of pain, she is a strong willed lady. I love her so much. Please keep the prayers and thoughts coming, they are certainly appreciated.

Mike and Fam-Lee

.

.

.

PHOENIX ARIZONA BACK-2-BACK REGIONALS

.

March 1 & 2, 2008

Looking for more Chili Cooks & Judges.

.

If you are available to Cook or Judge,

Please Call Dick Swenberger 480-650-3921

.

Thanks,

.

Dick

.

.

.

============================

If you have articles for posting to Dicks Chili World BLOG, they can be emailed to GWTWChili@aol.com

============================

Tell your other Chilihead Friends about the BLOG and how it works.