`CVD-LICIOUS' : CHILI LOVERS FLOCK TO ANNUAL COOK-OFF.Byline: Terry Kanakri Daily News Staff Writer Jim Watson
Jim Watson is a politician in Ontario, Canada. was slowly stirring a pot of his secret-recipe chili (language) CHILI - D.L. Abt. A language for systems programming, based on ALGOL 60 with extensions for structures and type declarations. ["CHILI, An Algorithmic Language for Systems Programming", CHI-1014, Chi Corp, Sep 1975] Sunday when the aroma caught the attention of visitors to the Conejo Valley The Conejo Valley is a region spanning both Southeastern Ventura County and Northwest Los Angeles County in Southern California, United States. It was discovered in 1542 by Spanish explorer Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo, and eventually became part of the Rancho El Conejo land grant by Days annual chili cook-off. Telling his audience to be patient, Watson added some more spices, carefully mixing what he called coyote coyote (kī`ōt, kīō`tē) or prairie wolf, small, swift wolf, Canis latrans, native to W North America. It is found in deserts, prairies, open woodlands, and brush country; it is also called brush wolf. chili. ``It takes a lot of ingredients - good-quality spices, good meat and a good blend of chilies,'' Watson said. ``It's challenging and very competitive. The cooks look at it as trying to perfect the perfect bowl of chili.'' And after smelling the scent of onions, garlic and spices - carefully blended and cooked in front of them on gas stoves - visitors rushed to taste the creations of the chefs and then smiled with satisfaction. Whether they liked it hot or mild, a chili for every taste was available to the crowds who flocked to Conejo Creek Park for the popular community event sponsored by the Thousand Oaks Thousand Oaks, residential city (1990 pop. 104,352), Ventura co., S Calif., in a farm area; inc. 1964. Avocados, citrus, vegetables, strawberries, and nursery products are grown. Rotary Club. Weekend cooks at 62 booths vied in two categories: people's choice chili, made with beans; and the competition chili, without beans. The cooks competed for trophies and cash prizes. Top prize was a trip to Reno, Nev., for the October semifinals of the world cooking championship sponsored by the International Chili Society. ``The chili's good,'' said James Crist of Newbury Park as he and his friend Patti Halstead, both dressed in western outfits, tried several samples. ``We're trying not to eat the hot ones. I ate some of the hot ones last year, and let me tell you . . . I had a problem.'' The annual chili cook-off was the 21st sponsored by Thousand Oaks Rotarians to raise money for local charity groups. Organizers, expecting 8,000 to 10,000 people to attend this year, hoped to raise even more money than the $35,000 gained from the event in 1995. All of the competing cooks made their own chili and tried to lure customers with colorful names, such as ``parrot-head red chili.'' Stands featured attractions such as rock bands and audience contests. At one booth, some visitors accepted a challenge to eat as many whole, hot jalapeno peppers as they could to win T-shirts. Amir Sheibani of Camarillo accepted the challenge. He ate five in a row to the amazement of a crowd that cheered him on. After receiving his T-shirt, Sheibani rushed for a drink of water and then tried to describe the experience after he regained his composure com·po·sure n. A calm or tranquil state of mind; self-possession. [From compose.] composure Noun the state of being calm or unworried Noun . ``Look at my eyes; they're watering,'' he said. ``The first one wasn't that hard, but by the time I ate the fifth one, I couldn't taste anything. My mouth burned, my eyes watered, but it was worth it. I'd do it again.'' It was such comments that prompted smiles from Marty Bates Bates , Katherine Lee 1859-1929. American educator and writer best known for her poem "America the Beautiful," written in 1893 and revised in 1904 and 1911. , the 1996 chairman for the Conejo cook-off. Bates, a business owner who has lived in Thousand Oaks for 25 years, said the atmosphere of the event helps to preserve the Conejo Valley's country-western heritage. ``We all like to think that we're country and western because it removes us from the urban atmosphere and gives us the feeling that we have a safe community to live in and lots of open space,'' he said, ``and events like this add to that. It gives a cohesion cohesion: see adhesion and cohesion. Cohesion (physics) The tendency of atoms or molecules to coalesce into extended condensed states. This tendency is practically universal. to the community.'' This year, Rotarians carried on tradition but also made sure there were new attractions, especially for children, Bates said. Attractions included sky dives Verb 1. sky dive - jump from an airplane and perform various maneuvers before opening one's parachute skydive chute, parachute, jump - jump from an airplane and descend with a parachute by a team of five who landed safely in colorful parachutes in front of a mesmerized audience. There were also exhibits featuring a Ventura County Fire Department Not to be confused with Ventura Fire Department. The Ventura County Fire Department (VCFD) provides fire protection and emergency response services for the unincorporated areas of Ventura County, California, and for six other cities within the county. ladder truck; a race car belonging to driver Lee Ladd of Thousand Oaks; and three military vehicles Military vehicles include all land combat and transportation vehicles, excluding rail-based, which are designed for or are in significant use by military forces. See also list of armoured fighting vehicles. brought by the Marines Corps Reserve Unit Weapons Company 223, stationed in Port Hueneme Port Hueneme (wī'nē`mē), city (1990 pop. 20,319), Ventura co., S Calif., on the Pacific coast; founded 1870, inc. 1948. It has an artificial deep-sea harbor and is the site of a huge naval construction-battalion (Seabee) center. . Children climbed onto the military vehicles for a look at some of the weapons. ``People get to see what some of their tax dollars go to,'' said Sgt. Charles Wanddington. ``We like to bring our equipment out so people can see what we're about. A lot of time, they don't see much of us until a conflict happens.'' But most of all, the cook-off focused residents's attention on their community. ``It's wonderful because it brings people together,'' said Penny Strowger of Westlake Village. ``It makes us all feel part of the community, and I hope we don't lose that small-town feeling.'' CONEJO VALLEY DAYS The annual community festival runs from Wednesday through Sunday at Conejo Creek Park. All events are at the park unless otherwise noted. Free shuttle buses to the carnival are available from Thousand Oaks and Newbury Park high schools Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Riders get a $1 discount on admission. The schedule is as follows: Friday, buses depart the schools every hour beginning at 4 p.m. and ending at 11 p.m.; Saturday, the buses depart every hour beginning at 11 a.m. and ending at 11 p.m.; Sunday, buses leave every hour beginning at 11 a.m. and ending at 7 p.m. This year's theme is ``Western Kicks in '96.'' Wednesday 5 to 10 p.m. - Conejo Valley Days festival and carnival at Conejo Creek Park. Local nonprofit A corporation or an association that conducts business for the benefit of the general public without shareholders and without a profit motive. Nonprofits are also called not-for-profit corporations. Nonprofit corporations are created according to state law. groups will have booths with food and games. There will be entertainment, carnival rides and a commercial tent. Admission is $5 for adults; $4 for seniors and students; $3 for children 6 to 12; free for children under 6. 6 p.m. - Badgeroo Contest in which contestants display an array of badges matching this year's theme, as well as CVD CVD Cardiovascular disease, see there pins from past years. Thursday 11:30 a.m. - Interservice Club and Volunteer Organization Luncheon, sponsored by the Thousand Oaks Kiwanis at the Hyatt Westlake Plaza. 5 to 10 p.m. - Conejo Valley Days festival and carnival at Conejo Creek Park. 7 to 8 p.m. - Best Dressed Western Contest for men, women and children at the Main Stage. Competitors will strut their Western stuff in categories such as flash, contemporary and traditional. Friday 10 a.m.-1 p.m. - Special Kids Day, sponsored by the Zonta Club. The carnival and fairgrounds n. pl. 1. same as fairground. are open to children with disabilities, by invitation only. Please call (805) 492-2238. 5 to 11 p.m. - Conejo Valley Days festival and carnival at Conejo Creek Park. Today is Family night with $2 off each admission. A $6 pass grants unlimited carnival rides. 5 to 10 p.m. - Bingo on site, sponsored by the Thousand Oaks High School Thousand Oaks High School is a high school established in 1962 and located in Thousand Oaks, California. It is a California Distinguished School, and offers curriculum at all levels for Thousand Oaks students. The mascot is the lancer. Color Guard. Saturday 9 a.m. - Conejo Valley Days Parade, sponsored by the Thousand Oaks Kiwanis, marches down Thousand Oaks Boulevard featuring floats, clowns
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3 p.m. - Tiny Tots Children's Pageant pageant, modern dramatic spectacle or procession celebrating a special occasion or an event in the history of a locality. In medieval times the word pageant had meant the wagon or the movable stage on which one scene of a mystery or miracle play was performed. at Main Stage. Noon to midnight - Conejo Valley Days festival and carnival at Conejo Creek Park. 1:30 and 4:30 p.m. - CVD Rodeo rodeo (rō`dēō, rōdā`ō), public exhibition of the skill of cowboys in various activities. Events include riding broncos, riding steers, "bulldogging" steers, roping and tying steers and calves, the use of the lasso, and , sponsored by the Westlake Village Rotary. 2 to 10 p.m. - Bingo on site, sponsored by the Thousand Oaks High School Color Guard. Noon to 6 p.m. - Western pit barbecue, sponsored by the Methodist Men. Sunday Noon to 8 p.m. - Conejo Valley Days festival and carnival at Conejo Creek Park. 1 and 4 p.m. - CVD Rodeo, sponsored by the Westlake Village Rotary. Noon to 6 p.m. - Western pit barbecue, sponsored by the Methodist Men. Noon to 8 p.m. - Bingo on site, sponsored by the Thousand Oaks High School Color Guard. CAPTION(S): Photo Photo: (ran in CONEJO edition obly--color) Jon Weigard, lef t, Mallory Andrade and Sandy Hockling make about 30 gallons of chili that was served Sunday in Conejo Valley cooking competition. Joe Binoya/Special to the Daily News Box: CONEJO VALLEY DAYS (see text) |
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