A cold windy day was the perfect weather to enjoy some homemade chili and a glass of wine to help raise funds for the Carbon Career & Technical Institute of Jim Thorpe.

The 2nd Annual Chili Cookoff was held at Galen Glen Vineyards, Andreas.

“Galen Glen has been very good to the CCTI with donations and allowing us to have this event here,” Robyn Plesniarski, cookoff coordinator, explained “This was one of their biggest events last year; so, they invited us back again.”

More than 100 people paid admission for a glass of Galen Glen’s wine, and a sampling of each of the five chilis. CCTI provided four of the chilis, and CCTI Mom Jenni Peiffer made one as well.

Last year’s winner, the CCTI Precision Machine Team, provided one of the entries again this year.

Rebecca Stone-Schock of Tamaqua and Marie McGuire of Pine Grove, were just two of the many people who sampled chili and enjoyed a glass of wine.

“We were here last year, and we like the wine here at Galen Glen,” Stone-Schock explained, “so that’s why we really like coming here.”

“It’s nice to get out and do something different in the cold,” McGuire said.

“And we’re helping out CCTI,” Stone-Schock added. “It’s great because I’m sure they worked really hard at making the chili.”

Half the proceeds of the cookoff were donated to CCTI.

“The money raised will go towards scholarships for the students, and also if there any monetary needs,” Plesniarski added. “This year, we are hoping to do two to four $500 scholarships for seniors graduating from CCTI.”