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08.28.2008
BOPS SUPPORT OF HANOVER CHILI
COOKOFF COMES TO AN END...AT LEAST FOR NOW
Every Labor Day weekend for the last four years, BOPS grabbed items from
gardens all over Hanover and surrounding areas to create their 3-time award
winning Hazzardous Chili for the largest chili contest on the East Coast. By
far the greatest event held all year long, it took a lot of work and
creative thought to prepare for, but once the day arrived it was always
worth while. Friends and family would come from miles away to support the
team and to support the cause which was to raise money for many local
charities. By the 4th year, so many people were coming that it started to
resemble a reunion ... no invitation needed. Everyone just knew where to be
and when. BOPS goal every year was to make a lot of delicious chili, to
raise money and to have a good time with friends. By days end, if all went
well, a trophy was simply icing on the cake. An icing BOPS has gotten pretty
familiar wit,h bringing home 9 trophies in 4 years with 3 of them being 1ST
PLACE FOR PEOPLES CHOICE (2005, 2006, 2007). This year our BOPS OF HAZZARD
goals were no different, but a few major issues got in the way. After the
2007 event, the Hanover Chili Cook Off had undergone extensive PA LCB
scrutiny. A complaint was filed about some alleged activities and after a
three-month investigation, the only problem to be found was with the beer
license and how it was secured. For the previous 11 years, this was not an
issue. (Read Evening Sun stories below to explain more) In the end, many
people are now going to suffer due to one persons displeasure with this
event. New rules were applied to this years event to make sure that there
are no troubles with the LCB or any other government bodies. One of the
biggest hits for the BOPS chili team is that all items previously used to
raise money for the charitable organizations are no longer allowed – chili
dogs, corn bread, sweet tea, and kids jell-o cups and stickers. If teams are
no longer allowed to give items away for donations then what is the point of
the event? Granted it’s a chili cook off, but you can’t raise substantial
funds for the charities on chili alone. BOPS would rather write out a check
for the amount of money that we would spend to make 25 gallons of chili and
donate it directly to one of the charities, then to walk home with a 4"
trophy and no money to offer those in need. So, due to these fustrations,
BOPS will skip this years’ cook off. We will instead gather privately, make
chili for our own crowd and a wait to see the success of this years’ Hanover
Chili Cook off. Hopefully, if the powers that be see fit, changes will again
be considered and we’ll see you all back in 2009.
(EVENING SUN STORY 1)
(EVENING SUN STORY 2)
(EVENING SUN STORY 3) |
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