State Senator, Assemblymen pay tribute to Downtown Toms River for Chili & Salsa Cook-off

Toms River, NJ … State Senator Andrew R. Ciesla and Assemblymen James W. Holzapfel and David W. Wolfe from the 10th District have marked the occasion of the 19th Annual New Jersey State Chili & Salsa Cook-Off with a Joint Legislative Resolution which praised the event’s contribution to the local economy, salutes the culinary prowess of entrants and pays tribute to all the Downtown Toms River organizers, participants and supporters.

The NJ State Chili and Salsa Cook-off will take place on Saturday, May 17 and last year more than 6,000 people attended the event, which is the only state-level competition officially sanctioned by International Chili Society in New Jersey. The Chili and Salsa Cook-Off has become a spring tradition that draws increasingly larger crowds to Toms River’s commercial district every year. A total of $4,500 will be awarded in prize money this year.

The 2008 NJ State Chili & Salsa Cook-Off is sponsored by Capone’s Gourmet Pizza & Restaurant, Comcast, HEALTHSOUTH Rehabilitation Hospital of Toms River, New Jersey Natural Gas, United Water Toms River, Mr. Alan’s Florist, Extra Space Storage and radio stations WJRZ and The WRAT.

Upcoming Downtown events include: Cruisin’ Downtown, the second Wednesday of each month through September; the 6th Annual New Jersey State Ice Cream Festival, July 19; the 3rd Annual Pizza, Pasta, Pastry, September 27; and the weekly Farmers’ Market on Wednesdays from June 11 through October 22. Volunteers interested in enjoying the events by helping to organize them can call 732-341-8738.

For information on registering to compete in the Chili and Salsa Cook-off, contest rules and entry fees, visit www.chili-nj.com or call 732-946-2711. For additional information on this event or other Downtown events in Toms River, call 732-341-8738 or Allen Consulting at 732-946-2711 or visit www.downtowntomsriver.com.