From Bruce Baker

To my chili friends:

For the past seven years, I have participated in the Leukemia Cup sailboat race at the Washington Sailing Marina in Alexandria , VA. It's a fundraiser for leukemia, but it's also a fun event with parties the night before and the night after the race. For no particular reason other than to join in the fun, my team has raised about $10,000 over the years.

This year is different. I've got a reason to raise funds to combat leukemia. I met Richard King at my very first chili cookoff (in Old Town , Alexandria in 1989). By chance, he was next door to my rookie team. He provided us with some advise on cooking chili and a Margarita out of his fire extinguisher.

It's a shame that Richard was cut down at an early age. He had a lust for life that was greater than most. In Richard's memory, I hope that you will join me in combatting this dreaded disease.

Every year, I have written a check to the Leukemia and Lymphona Society for $100--for no particular reason. This year, I will double my effort. I hope you will join me by writing a tax-deductible check in the amount of your chosing.

Make it out the them. Mail it to me:

Bruce Baker

6907 Chestnut Ave.

Falls Church VA.

From Ralph Hay:

I would like to thank everyone for all their prayers, phone calls, emails, and cards I received due to my little stay in the hospital. I’m over the pneumonia and doing quite well. Thanks again for all your well wishes. I am truly blessed to have such wonderful friends and family. Ralph Hay

From the Empire State Pod:

It's time for the annual EMPIRE STATE POD CHILI COOKOFF!

We have a new location this year: TIOGA DOWNS RACE TRACK & CASINO

Date: AUGUST 29

TIME: Set up starting at 9:00 am - TURN IN: 3:00

Prizes for Top 10 Chilis and Top 3 Showmanship

Tioga Downs is located at: 2384 West River Road in Nichols, NY
Exit 62 off I-86/U.S. 17

Come join us for the POD cookoff and then try your luck with the "ponies" or the now "armless" bandits

Entry fee is a mere $15.00 Make checks payable to: Empire State POD

The Community Hunger Outreach Warehouse (CHOW) will benefit from the POD cookoff.

For additional information you may contact our website at: www.nyschili.com or contact me at rockr323@aol.com or 585-453-0422

LATE (very late) and not exactly breaking news:

Results of the NY State CASI Chili Championship:

Top 10 Chilis:
1. Jim Penzo - Windsor, NY - "Q'd"
2. Don Polhamus - Endwell, NY - "Q'd"
3. Tom Finney - Binghamton, NY - "Q'd"
4. Ray Parks - Newark Valley, NY
5. Joe Sellepack - Binghamton, NY
6. Rocky Rockwell - Rochester, NY - "Q'd"
7. John Enright - Binghamton, NY
8. Ann Grossman - Corning, NY
9. Dave Grossman - Corning, NY
10. Charles Schwartzberg - Brooklyn, NY

Top 3 Showmanship:
1. 5 Pepper Sirloin Chili - John Enright
2. Haute Stuff - Jennifer Werner
3. Grandma Rose's All American Chili - Rose Blaine

FYI - The "Q'd" indicates these cooks have qualified for the International Chili Championship November 7th in Terlingua, Texas - Jim, Don and Tom "Q'd" by virtue of being the top 3 NY resident cooks in the State Championship and Rocky "Q'd" by accumulating the required number of points for the championship.

Please come join us for the POD cookoff. Bring your friends, neighbors, relatives and anyone who might be interested in cooking up a pot of red with us. New cooks are invited and encouraged to join us. Rocky Rockwell

CHICAGO IL—A "Hot Time in the City" was had by the 17 cooks at last Sunday's Windy City Chili Cookoff in the Roscoe Village neighborhood of Chicago. Inner-city cookoffs have a somewhat different feel from cookoffs held in wide-open fields or parks. The cookoff is part of the neighborhood street festival, so for lack of a better place, we cook in the street. There is also an ICS Regional held on the same street, so several cooks get to compete on the other side of the isle. Our own Patrick Gustafson won the ICS cookoff. There were many, many tasters there which added to the festivities. The winners:

CHILI
1. Cheryl Pierson, Batavia IL
2. Larry Lentz, Nicholasville KY
3. Bill Pierson, Batavia IL
4. John Gastaldello, Downers Grove IL
5. Bill Thomas, Naperville IL
6. Sherrie Sutton, Indianapolis IN
7. Patrick Gustafson, Chicago IL
8. Tom Hoover, Columbus OH
9. Dennis Lane, Cedar Rapids IA
10. Bob Hall, Taylorville IL

SHOW
We could not compete with the show the spectators gave us, so we didn't try.

Well, It is Friday and another week has come and gone. It is time to find a place to cook Chili this weekend. May the chili god be good to each of you.

We will start for home on Sunday and arrive sometime on Monday. Thank you for being patient with me while I struggle to use dial up to access all of my information as will as create this blog each day. I shall appreciate my DSL when I get home and get to start using it again. If you need to contact me before I arrive at home, do not hesitate to call my cell phone. The number is 325 650 1854. I will do my best to answer your questions.

Havw a GREAT August weekend!