SATURDAY - Aug. 29, 2009

MAINE STATE RESULTS:
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It started raining very early Saturday morning. The effects of the remains of Tropical Storm Danny left an impression on the cooks, for sure. About a 3-1/2" per hour impression, I think. But not all had to brave the elements. Eleanor and her crew at the Chamber of Commerce convinced the school department to let us use the gymnasium. A number of cooks brought (or went out and bought) electric burners, and after a while, stopped blowing out all the electrical circuits in the gym and got to cook inside. A sucessful day, after all was said and drowned. The Maine folks are a hardy bunch, and showed up in great numbers to sample chili, as usual.
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People's Choice:
Laurie Skinner
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Showmanship: (it just HAD to go to one of the outside cooks)
Mike Merola
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Salsa: 8 entries
3rd: Dave Mallory
2nd: Laurie Skinner
1st: Kim Mallory
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Verde: 9 entries
3rd:Darrell Dunnum
2nd: Chris Bucciferro
1st: Rich Omerza
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Red: 14 entries
3rd: Kim Mallory
2nd: Dave Schulman (again!)
1st: Dave Mallory
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Special thanks to Mike and Mary Alice Kropp for handling the scorekeeping.....and to Tom Hoover for taking cooks to the store to buy chili verde ingredients. We had only 4 verde cooks at the cooks meeting, but a bunch of people stepped up, bought the ingredients and we wound up with more than we needed. Thanks to those cooks, too.
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Thanks,
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Joe Harvey
chief judge

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NH REGIONAL

The Fire & Spice NH Regional Chili Cookoff is rapidly approaching and we need cooks. The venue is in the process of being setup and we are expecting a great turnout. Help us make this a successful first year by participating in any of the classes....be it ICS, People's Choice, or Restaurant. Please register through the ICS website or the events website so that we know how many to expect. Prizes for ICS are $300 for first, with trophy, $200 for second with trophy and $100 for third with trophy. Salsa prizes are $50 for first with plaque and plaques for second and third place. We are pleased to be partnered with WOKQ, our country music station in NH and our entertainment will be provided by the Crazy River Band and Jillian, from the MA Country Music Association. Plus....some surprise guests. We will have raffles and prizes, including a signed Tim McGraw guitar. Who knows.....You might even win it directly from him!!!! There is something for everyone at this event as it is coupled with a HUGE classic car show, firefighters muster and parade. So bring the family. The day kicks off at 9am.....if interested, please contact me for the complete schedule.
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Please go to the ICS website to register or go to http://fireandspice.synthasite.com/ or call 603.522.2064 for more information. Help make this event memorable as this is one of the last chances to qualify for the WCCC 2009 in Charleston, WV. You won't be disappointed.
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Yours in Chili,
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Andre Gagne, Chairman
Fire & Spice
New Hampshire Regional Chili Cookoff
603.522.2064
http://fireandspice.synthasite.com/

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ALL OHIO REGIONAL

Just wanted to give everyone an update on the Return of the ALL OH Regional Cook Off. Everything is all in place as to judging and all other aspects, so all we need is you to be in Cincinnati on September 12th! I have been working with several ICS cooks in the region to get things finalized, but with this being my very first attempt at coordinating a cookoff, I will certainly welcome any input and advice from anyone in advance, and certainly also on the day of the event. When I was first approached about bringing back the ALL OHIO, I wanted to only help make it a reality, not to fully coordinate it.

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For many years, it has been my hope to be a small part of the return team, but after some early communication issues between the original 2009 Chili Fest Chair and the perspective cooks, the museum requested that I take over full control of the 2009 ALL OH Chili Cookoff. I feel that we have corrected all of the early issues, and we currently have about 25 cooks indicating interest, so we are finalizing those applications at this time. So, get you applications in, and I want to assure you that you will get a quick confirmation response from me.

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In our early announcements, we had concerns over tables, chairs, and cover because of absolutely no funds to work with in advance. The Fire Museum had no funding available, so over the past 3 weeks, I have managed most of what is needed to break even this year prior to the receipt of the entry fees and the opening of the cookoff. But also with some increased local interest, we will now also have a limited supply available chairs, tables, and cover at no additional cost to the cooks. So if you have them, please still bring them, but if not, just advise me of your needs in advance. We will still need anyone who has their own cover, to bring them, but we are also working on getting the use of 10' x 10' pop ups from local fire fighters. If necessary, we will try to double up in an effort to eliminate any additional expense to the event or to the cooks.

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Our goal is to return to the grassroots of the Cincy Chili Coookoff, and to bring it back to being a fire fighter and family friendly event, and not just another huge city function. We are making this a cook and family friendly event more on the lines of a block party this year, so would like to encourage every one that wants to compete in all three categories to do so for just $50. We will still have the Red for $35, the Verde for $25, and Salsa for $10 if that is all you need to qualify. In addition, all first time cooks will pay only the $50 ICS dues, and will be exempt from all entry fees, so we would like to encourage all new cooks to enter Red, Verde, and Salsa. Obviously, if any cook wishes to pay the full entry fees, the charity will certainly welcome the financial support, but we mainly just want to spark the interest in getting the ICS cooks back to the Cincy area!

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We are looking forward to a successful return cook off, and also we will be coordinating this year's cookoff with the 911 Memorial Motorcycle Run who will be kicking off their day along with our cook off, so should be a great time for all. We will have water, soft drinks along with grilled food available throughout the morning and afternoon, so make sure you take the opportunity to enjoy some of Cincy's finest sausages. Due to the timing of the ride, we would like anyone bringing People's Choice to have it ready by 11AM so that the motorcycle riders in the 911 Memorial Run can have the opportunity to enjoy some chili before they head out around 12:30PM. We will also be kicking off the run with one of our cooks singing Lee Greenwood's Proud To Be An American!

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I think everyone will also be impressed with the First Place Trophy that was fully paid for by a local law firm that had a major role in the past events. We are naming it after one of the founding partners, so it will be known as the Bob Manley Cincy Inferno! Hopefully, when all goes well this year, we will then be able to expand this trophy styling to both the Verde and Salsa next year, but I am sure that the winner of this first one will be very proud of receiving it!

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If anyone has any questions, please feel free to call me at any time.

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Respectfully,

George Phelps

CHILI ROCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

P.O. Box 14044

Cincinnati, Ohio 45250-0044

513-207-1085 Cell

513-467-6266 Office

513-467-6262 Fax

ChiliRocksChili@aol.com

http://www.chilirocks.com/

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