Glenview Firefighters Earn People's Choice Award in Chili Cookoff

The following report were provided by the Village of Northbrook.

On Saturday, Feb. 10, the Village of Northbrook Fire Department took part in a chili cook-off sponsored by the Youth Services of Glenview/Northbrook.

The fundraiser earned about $2,000.00 for Youth Services. The event featured 168 paid chili tasters, food sales and raffle prizes. Lieutenant Dennis Ortlund, Firefighter Tom Schaul and Firefighter Matt Vanderweel represented Northbrook Fire Stations 10, 11 and 12, respectively, and competed against five stations from Glenview.

After the chili powder settled, Northbrook's Vanderweel took second place and Schaul won first place. Glenview’s entry from station 7 won the People’s Choice award. 

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Northbrook Trustee A.C. Buehler, Sunset Foods' Ron Bernardi, and Chef Jay Lovell from Lovell's Restaurant in Lake Forest volunteered as three of the five judges. 

Going forward, there are plans are to make this an annual fundraiser event for the Youth Services organization.

Entertainment included performances by Wireless Soul and the Chicago Highlanders Pipe Band, led by Northbrook Lieutenant Jeff Harris. Sunset Foods and Ron Bernardi donated $50 gift cards to each station for chili ingredients and condiments. Additionally, the Northbrook Professional Firefighters Local 1894 donated several raffle prizes to the event.