Garry Jenkins Memorial Chili Cook-Off and Round Bay Regatta

hosted the annual Garry Jenkins `80 Memorial Chili Cook-off this year as part of its Homecoming festivities. Alumni, parents and students came out to compete, taste and judge the epicurean entries.

Jenkins was a lifelong Severna Park resident and graduate of Severn who started the Chili Cook-Off more than 20 years ago as president of the Severn School Alumni Association and was its chief cheerleader and organizer each year.

When he passed away unexpectedly three years ago, the school renamed the contest in his honor. A dozen contestants vied for awards in five categories: Most Alarming; Most Magnificent Moniker (for display); Most Creative; People’s Choice; and Best Overall.

The judges’ panel consisted of Mike DeStefano, president of the school’s board of trustees; Nancy Kirstead, president of the parent association, Garry’s widow Ginger Steele Jenkins; Headmaster Doug Lagarde; and Carli Studnicky, president of the student body. 

After the judging was over it was Carol Anderson and her sister Helena Callahan who took home the Best Overall award with their Blazing Baltic Belly Burner chili. The Leiken family received top honors in the display category with Game On Chili. Carrie Grimes received the most creative award with her Papa Bear’s Chili and Bill Gideon was awarded the prize in the most alarming category with Wild Willy’s `Ole`65 chili.

Father-daughter team of Fred and Nicole Bednarik received the balloted and much coveted People’s Choice award for the third year in a row with their Hell Mud Chili. 

ROUND BAY REGATTA

The rains held off but, unfortunately, so did the wind for the Round Bay annual Regatta and Family Picnic on Saturday. However adults and children alike refused to be daunted and competed in the light air conditions in dinghy, kayak and canoe races.

A picnic followed on the beach with live reggae music by Rolando Phillips and plenty of libations and yummy picnic fare. Organized by Round Bay Harbormaster Deke Johnson, the event has become a community mainstay (pardon the pun).

Some of the grown-ups who raced included John Poulton, John Stafancik, Alex Meade, Dan Flagler, Steve and Sophie Podlich, Andrew Smith, Eric Dennis and Ken Mangano. Chip Carr kindly operated the committee boat. 

Others who came down to cheer on the competitors, with seemingly hundreds of children, included Mimi Shea, Amy and Won Lee, Frans Hansen, Barb and Buzz Kalafos, Elena and Michael Patterson, Drew McNaughton, Este and Bart Evans, Denise and Matt Soboscinski, Steve Hill, Katie and Mark Milliker, Diane and John Vernon, Ann and Tom Lloyd, Janet and Tom Tofini, Steve Hill, Carrie and Erin Gruver and lots of other neighborhood residents and friends. 

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