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First Posted: 1/12/2014

HANOVER TWP. — Serving up ladles of steaming soup, chili or chowder, the Hanover Area High School Student Council tried to chase the winter chill away with its sixth annual Chili, Chowder and Soup contest on Sunday afternoon.

Seventeen soups, chilies and chowders, plus homemade bread, guaranteed no one would leave feeling hungry. A homemade baked good sale provide something sweet for those in the mood for dessert.

The annual event is organized by the Student Council and all proceeds will benefit the Ashley Food Bank.

Joe Dubinski, high school history teacher and Student Council adviser said the event is looked forward to every year.

“It brings the community out and benefits those in need within the community,” he said. “It is also a good experience for the members of the Student Council.”

The event ran from noon to 2 p.m. in the cafeteria of the Hanover Area High School. Admission was $5, which allowed for a taste test of all entrees. A bowl could be purchased for $1 for an abundant serving of a favorite dish.

Baked goods were on sale for $1. The afternoon also offered a Chinese auction with 30 different gift cards to win from area restaurants, florists and other business.

Former high school alumna Sarah Yedlock of Hanover Township said she is one of the people who looks forward to the event every year.

“I always look for something different to try,” Yedlock said. “This year, I liked the hot dog and bacon chili.”

The culinary artists would be judged twice, Dubinski said. Once by the school district’s administrative staff and local restaurateurs and secondly by a people’s choice vote.

Winners of the judges’ vote were: first place, Julia Fritz, chili; second place, Scott and Tammy Glasson, seafood bisque; and third place, Dave Colarusso, chicken pot pie.

The Peoples Choice awards went to: first place, Scott and Tammy Glasson, seafood bisque; second place, Dave Colarusso, chicken pot pie; and third place, Micheal Dale, chili.

With numbers not completely tallied, Dubinski said he was not sure how much the council raised for the Ashley Food Bank, but would say the event this year had one of the highest turnouts.

“One year we raised $1,800,” he said.

The cafeteria held a steady buzz of chatter while participants temped their taste buds with a new culinary delight. Francis and Gertrude Vekamppis of Hanover Township said they try to come every year.

Gertrude said she would give the chicken pot pie a “10.” Francis said he came for the seafood bisque, but sadly, it was all gone. Instead he was enjoying a bowl of chicken barley soup.

“It is nice to see the kids doing this,” Gertrude said.

On the other end of the table, helping to serve some potato soup, Student Council member Erica Proctor, 14, said this was her first year participating in the contest.

“It is fun,” she said. “The people are very nice.”

Dubinski said the goal of the event is to help instill leadership skills as well as the importance of giving back to the community. The Student Council tries to organize one event a month.

“I have seen them carry these skills on to college,” he said.