Chili cookoff returns to St. Timothy Lutheran Church

Article and Photo by Alice Gerard

Senior Contributing Writer

A variety of taste treats, bingo, prizes and the possibility of a special guest are in store for visitors at St. Timothy Lutheran Church’s second annual chili cookoff, scheduled for 4-6 p.m. Saturday, March 8, at the church, 1453 Staley Road. Judging will occur from 6-6:30 p.m.

People are welcome to either be tasters/judges or chefs.

“We are looking for more chefs. We’d like to have at least 20 to 25,” said Mark Steck, a member of the planning committee. “People like to brag about their chili recipes. Everybody thinks their chili is top, award-winning chili. Become a chef, bring your chili in. We’ll decide by judging it.”

He added, “It was always planned to be a communitywide event, a fellowship event.” The goal is to get people to come into the church, “to meet us, cook chili, eat chili, judge our chili.”

Karen Sturniolo, another member of the committee, said, “We’re very excited to have more people than last year: more chefs, more community. It was a great first year. And we’re just excited to have a better second year. We will still have our door prizes. We’re going to introduce bingo this year. We’re just trying to get over the winter blues. It’s been a rough month. So, March will be a good month. Warm chili, warm hearts. We already started decorating.”

One of the chilis to be featured will be cooked by last year’s winner, Tracy Marrs and her brother.

“It’s a secret recipe,” said Marrs, a member of the planning committee. “We use a mixture of sausage and beef, and we do quite a few different kinds of beans to get our chili. That’s all I’ll say.”

The Rev. Adam Arends, pastor of St. Timothy Lutheran Church, is also one of the chefs in the event.

Steck described Arends’ vision for the chili cookoff as “connecting with God and connecting with neighbors.”

“I think it’s something fun to do,” Marrs said. “In March, it’s still not spring yet, and there’s not a whole lot going on, with sports being done. Get out of the house for a little while and do something fun. Come do some good fellowship with some neighbors you might know or not know. Put yourself out there a little bit.”

There has been interest in the second chili cookoff since last year’s event.

“It’s a big word-of-mouth event,” Sturniolo said. “One of our women took a poster with her to the MOG (Medically Oriented Gym). There’s a whole group of women who have been asking since Christmas, ‘When’s the chili? When’s the date? When is it?’ The word’s out there. We’ve just got to get them through our doors.”

“It’s a good bang for your buck, too,” Marrs said. “No one left hungry last year, that’s for sure. We had hot dogs last year. People were making chili dogs. For your $5 ticket, it’s an easy dinner and no one left hungry.”

In addition, donations of cash or nonperishable foods for the Grand Island Neighbors Foundation will be accepted.

“There will be a pot for cash donations and a box for nonperishable foods,” Sturniolo said.

Steck said a special visitor might be at the chili cookoff: “The Easter Bunny isn’t coming this year, but we’re hoping that a Leprechaun comes to visit us, that the mischievous little guy visits us.”

“This (cookoff) is just us having fun,” Sturniolo said.

The fun will include “little fun prizes for bingo” winners, Marrs said.

People who are interested in buying presale tickets can obtain them at the child care center.

“I am in the office Monday through Friday, typically I’m in the building around 7:30, and I am here usually until 5:30 at the latest, to six o’clock, or Sunday mornings at church,” Marrs said.

The planning committee is made up of Kim Yaeger, Sturniolo, Dorine Fabio, Terri Glassman, Marrs, Kathy Freer, Arends, Mark Steck and Lauren Steck.

Other events that have occurred recently at St. Timothy Lutheran Church include participation in the Rotary Club’s Undie Sunday. People at the church also collect for the child care center, Sturniolo said.