Editor, Gazette-Journal:

On Oct. 15, the Piankatank Community League held a Chili Cook-Off to raise funds for local charities and especially the Book Buddy Project. Since this was our first time holding this event, we didn’t know what to expect. However, I was pleasantly surprised how well it turned out. The success of the Chili Cook-Off can be attributed to the hard work of the league volunteers who distributed flyers, purchased supplies, decorated the facility, donated baked goods and hand-made prizes, and worked the day of the event. A hearty thank you goes out to those who cooked chili: Sheriff Steve Gentry, Shannon Ackley, Winona Pearson, Dr. John Partin, Ricky Kurtz, Stephanie Altland, Stacie Foley, Gladys Clark, and Donald Austin. These folks and their teams filled the facility with not only tasty chili, but also table decorations, costumes, and enthusiasm that delighted everyone.

I am grateful to the local businesses who gave monetary donations (Gloucester-Mathews G...