Letter to the Editor: Thanks for the Chili Cookoff Success

 — from Jennifer Pietsch & Jim Biddick, Event organizers

The 4^th Annual Chili Cook-off is in the over and once again the island came through. The event netted $1,664.41 for the Holiday Giving tree. We couldn’t have done without all of you who braved the weather to come out and taste the ten great chilies. A big thanks to the 2015 teams:

• the Lower Tavern — Jim Passer
• Island Skillet — Dave Yerly
• Hot County Employees — Ron Gillelund
• Orcas Co-Op — Ellen Wickham
• Red Rabbit Farm — Christina & Bruce Orchid
• Gil Becerra — Gil Becerra
• Doe Bay Fire Station — Blythe Simpson
• Orcas Island Lions — Sue Cline
• Farm to Classroom — Jennifer Pietsch

An even bigger thanks to all the volunteers who responded to a last minute call for help and came out to make it the great event it was. The many volunteers who acted as servers, the ticket sellers and all those that assisted with the setup and cleanup. A very special thanks to Island Hoppin Brewery for their continued support of the Orcas Island Lions who donated the profit from the Beer Garden to the event.

Now for the news you have all been waiting for, the winners were:

                                  1^st Place                Gil Becerra

                                  2^nd Place               Hot County Employees

                                  3^rd Place               Orcas Co-Op

Now it’s time to start planning for the 2016, 5^th Annual Chili Cook-off. Dust off those recipes and watch for our announcement in late August. We try to time the cook off for the last Farmers Market weekend in September. The event is limited to ten terms, first come first served. Mark your Calendar Girls calendar, which we know you bought at the play at the Grange, so you don’t miss the date.

Again, thank you Orcas Island for helping to insure that no child goes without a gift during the holiday season.