Yellow flashing light signals Chili and Salsa Challenge in Woodfords

The only traffic signal in all of Alpine County, located in Woodfords at the junction of Highways 88 and 89, marks the south turnoff to Markleeville and the north turnoff to Old Pony Express Road, a hot spot this Saturday and Sunday.

Known officially as the "11th Annual Woodfords' Community Faire and Country Chili Challenge," the event will be open both days from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Old Pony Express Road is the Highway 88 frontage road, providing access to Woodfords Station, Old Pony, the Mountain and Garden, Alpine Christian Church and Woodfords Auto.

Chili and salsa cooks will compete for championships; chili on Saturday and salsa on Sunday. When I say that this will be a hot spot, I mean "hot."

Not only will the public have chances to taste and vote for the best chili and salsa, but they also will be able to purchase hot dogs and Dale Bennett's Indian tacos.

Perched on a rock in front of Woodfords Station the other day were coordinators Kim Galvez with small daughter Danielle, Lynda Kirby and Edie Veatch. They say that the fair will emphasize fun for the whole family with a "bounce house" borrowed from Kirkwood, horseshoes and live music provided by the ever-popular Alpine Trio, two Zellmers (Mary Ellen and Dave) and a Veatch (Skip).

Along with the music coming from the improvised stage-on-a-flatbed-truck will come announcements of the winning chili and salsa cooks and raffle prizes to be awarded. Donations for raffle tickets are $1 each or six for $5.

Booths lining up along Old Pony Express Road will fall into several categories: Informational, for example, voting registration, recycling, Alpine Kids, Alpine County Sheriff Department, Choices for Children; Crafts, such as tie-dye, bear and eagle photos by Todd Branscombe, embroidery by Jones' Stitches, gourds by Kaye Jobst, knives by Greg Bennett, beadwork by Dale Bennett; the "Hardware Man" and the "Honey Lady."

Lynda Kirby is in charge of signing up chili and salsa cooks, including Benny Di Salvo, Dean Goodfellow, Rob Levy, Jon Taylor, Michelle Macias, Jill McGeein and Jeana Kelly; Kim Galvez coordinates games; Edie Veatch, who was one of the original organizers of the fair 11 years ago, along with Lynda Kirby and Paul Washam, fills in with jobs "deemed necessary."

Willing (one hopes) volunteers include the husbands of the three coordinators: Proprietor of Woodfords Station Dave Kirby answers questions, hands out fliers, obtains raffle prizes; Tony Galvez supervises electrical work and, with Chuck Daugherty, is night watchman; Alpine County Supervisor Skip Veatch is master of ceremonies and in charge of music. Other helpers are Michelle Macias, Amy Broadhurst, Bobby Stephens, Dave Zellmer, Earl O'Neal, Gary Ceregeoli, Wayne Himmelrick, Benny Di Salvo, Craig Rnjak and Jason Lyons.

Sponsors of the Woodfords' Community Faire are the Alpine County Chamber of Commerce and Kirkwood Mountain Resort. The United Blood Services blood mobile will be on location there on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and will offer free hot dog lunches to donors.

Celebrating 25 years as a chartered church, the Alpine Christian Community Church, also on the frontage road, will be offering a bountiful breakfast 8-10 a.m. Sunday, donations accepted. Church service will commence at 10 a.m., with several ministers from the past 25 years attending; Eberhard Wiedenmeyer, Dick Lyons and Paul Wallace. As Ernestine Fogarty told me, "'Our girls will be singing at the service; three Chavez girls, three Bennetts, and one Craft girl."

After church service, around noon, the church will have a potluck barbecue and will encourage everyone not only to enjoy the Woodfords Community Faire, but also to hang out on the lawn all afternoon and play badminton and horseshoes.

Another event centered on the faire, will be the Grand Opening of the Odd Pony, an eclectic collection of gifts located in the Woodfords Station building. Owner Roma Morris says, "I feature kites, bears and bunnies. In fact, I have something for everyone. My hours might change, but for the Woodfords' Community Faire, my hours will be from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., the same as theirs."

n Gina Gigli is a Markleeville resident, contact here at www.villagigli.com