Bring your best chili to church cook-off
Do family and friends rave about your chili?
Are you confident enough in your spicy concoction to put it to the test?
The Community Congregational Church on Route 47 at Shannon Street in Elburn is having its first chili cook-off and winter family fest from 4 to 7 p.m. March 1.
The entry fee is $25 and the deadline to enter is Sunday.
A panel of experts will determine whose chili is the best. Church member Mary Miller of Elburn says the panel will include police Chief Jim Linane and church pastor the Rev. Jeffrey Dire.
"We invited fire Chief Kelly Callaghan, but he couldn't make it," Miller said. "He said he'll send some of his firefighters with their chili."
Miller said she has also invited local restaurant owners.
Both Miller and Regina Kurth say the main focus is fun.
"We're looking to get the community together in winter," said Kurth, who lives in Geneva but grew up in Elburn and joined the church as a child. She has been a member for about 35 years.
"And, of course, we want to involve the kids," she added. "There will be face painting and a lot of games. And we'll be selling items made by our crafters, like knit dish cloths, dish towels and pot holders."
Denise Klock, a local insurance agent, will offer information on a child identification system.
There will be hot dogs and other food available for purchase. The fee to sample the chili is $5 for adults and $2 for children ages 5 to 10. Families can buy five tickets to the fun fair for 25 cents, or bring a donation for the food pantry for free fun fair tickets.
If you're bringing chili, call (630) 365-6544 or e-mail event@ccc-elburn.org to obtain an entry form.
At the library: George Bryan Polivka, author of the Trophy Chase Trilogy, will visit the Town and Country Library, 320 E. North St. in Elburn, from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday.
Polivka will be available to sign "The Battle for Vast Dominion," the final book of his trilogy.
Polivka attended Elburn Elementary School, Kaneland Middle School and Kaneland High School. A resident of Maryland, he is a member of the Kaneland High School Hall of Fame.
For details, contact Nancy Polivka at Foxbourne@sbcglobal.net.
Blood drive: The Sugar Grove Fire Department and the Firefighters Auxiliary will conduct a blood drive from 3 to 7:30 p.m. March 3 at the fire station, 25 Municipal Drive.
Blood drive coordinator Joy Rubo says there is a shortage of all blood types.
You can make an appointment by calling Rubo at (630) 466-7190. Walk-ins are also welcome.
Garden club meeting: The Sugar Grove Park District Garden Club will have its annual garden club meeting at 6:30 p.m. today in the park district's Prairie Building, 31 Main St., Sugar Grove. Guest speaker will be Linda Hass of Spring Bluff Nursery. For details, call (630) 466-1014.
ngier@dailyherald.com