SATURDAY - Jan 31, 2009

Groundhog District Cookoff,

February 7^th

Hello, Cooks and Judges,

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We are two weeks away from the Groundhog District Cookoff, which is a pretty unique event. It is combined with a bbq cookoff sanctioned by the California Barbecue Association. Both cookoffs are being very well received by the competitors. At this point the chili cooks have registered 16 reds and 7 verdes. No one has declared themselves as a salsa contestant, so that contest may have to be scrubbed. We'll see! At this point the barbecue contestants outnumber the red chili entries, and some of the barbecue folks are also trying their hands at chili! It looks like we may fill up the space allotted to us.

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This is a very special cookoff, although it had some scheduling problems last year and had to be cancelled. The host, Palm Desert Country Club, goes overboard to accomodate the needs of the cooks and judges. Cooks, let's turn out and help make this a Regional next year. If you have not already done so, please send your entry online or go to Keith Caroselli's website at www.roadkillgriddle.com/cookoff.html for more cookoff information.

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Chili Judges, we need your help, too. If you can offer your services as judges on Saturday, February 7th in lovely Palm Desert, please let us know that we can plan on you. Call Bill at 951-683-5987 to confirm your support, or email us at Chiliray94@sbcglobal.net. Thanks in advance for your help.

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See you in Palm Desert on February 7th.

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Bill and Karen Ray

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Mexican National Chili Cookoff

This will be the 31st year or our event but will not be having an ICS sanctioned event. With the difficult economic times in both countries, we felt it would be asking too much of our ICS friends. We will be having our third year of People's Choice competition for salsa and chili and that has proven to be very popular. We had a first place winner in last year's salsa competition from San Ysidro, California. As you can see, with the exception of our Lakeside Chef competition, anyone is welcome to participate in our other events. Perhaps you may want to consider our "home cook" chili event or the popular salsa competition. You would always be more than welcome...and we still have a lot of fun.
Again, thanks for your regards and we hope all is going
well for you...
Jim Hussin & Don Howse

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RICHARD KING

There is tragic news from Virginia today. Our great, good friend, Richard King, died in the ICU at INOVA Fair Oaks Hospital last night. After showing signs of progress for several days, Richard took a sudden and fatal turn for the worse as his vital functions shut down. No arrangements have been made as yet, but we will try to let you know as soon as they are available. Richard was a principal founder and driving force behind the expansion of chili awareness and competition on the East Coast. He was much loved and we will miss him terribly.

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Dan Bauer

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JACK WARE

Just to let everyone know, we received a call from Ken Ware. Ken is the son of Jack Ware, long time CASI and ICS cook. Jack is in very serious condition .Right now he is stable but is having a difficult time breathing because of Parkinson's Disease. According to Ken it could be hours or it could be days.

I will try to get an address where he is staying. They have moved him from the assisted living facility where he was living into a nursing home in the DC area. As we receive more information we will pass it al.ong.

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Wes & Ginny Carlson

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