ANTI-CRIME FESTIVAL TO BE TASTY.

Byline: Bhavna Mistry Staff Writer

Residents can help take a bite out of crime - deliciously - during the second annual Antelope Valley Sheriff's Station Boosters Gourmet Food and Wine Festival, to be held Thursday at the fairgrounds.

Several local restaurants, a cigar shop and two wine outlets will participate in the fund-raiser to help purchase equipment that the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department otherwise could not afford for the station.

``It's an upscale event,'' Deputy Jeff Adams said. ``It's a great event for the community to come out and enjoy and in turn help the Sheriff's Department.''

Admission price will be $20 to sample beverages from Essex House and the A.V. Winery and food from eateries including the A.V. Inn, Ernesto's Italian Restaurant, Schooners, Phoenix Inn, Steer and Stein, and Maribelle's Bakery. There also will be jazz entertainment from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Antelope Valley Fairgrounds, Avenue I and Challenger Way.

``It's an opportunity for the restaurants to exhibit some of the items that they have,'' Adams said. ``You'll get an opportunity to taste all the food.''

Chefs-in-training from the Antelope Valley Union High School District's regional occupation program also will prepare food.

The $1,800 raised during the inaugural gourmet fund-raiser was combined with the proceeds of other events sponsored by the boosters and was used to buy a patrol vehicle for volunteers and five digital cameras, said Duke Bloom, president of the Antelope Valley Sheriff's Station Boosters.

The boosters are raising money for two more vehicles for volunteers.

``Every year they continue to evaluate items we have on our wish list,'' Adams said. ``They ask us what we'd like to have purchased for us.''

For further information about the event or to purchase tickets, contact the Lancaster sheriff's station at [phone].