Chili fest set for Saturday Published in the Asbury Park Press 05/1/05 By JEAN MIKLE TOMS RIVER BUREAU - advertisements - TOMS RIVER ? The 16th annual New Jersey State Chili & Salsa Cook-Off will have downtown Dover Township all fired up on Saturday. The cook-off, hosted by the Toms River Business Improvement District, takes place from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. along Washington Street. It is the state's only chili competition officially sanctioned by the International Chili Society. Admission is free; the cook-off will be held rain or shine. Dozens of cooks from around the region will compete for $4,000 in cash prizes. Top prizes of $1,000 will be awarded to the winners of the Best Red Chili and People's Choice Chili categories. Visitors can sample both red and green varieties of chili as well as salsas for $7, a cost that includes voting for their favorites in the "People's Choice" category. Boccigalupe & the Bad Boys will return to perform for the third year in a row. Other musical performers include Michael Patrick & the Suburban Hillbillies and Big Southern. The Spirits of the Old West performance troupe, a group that specializes in Wild West re-enactments such as gunfights and rope tricks, also will appear. Strolling entertainers, cooking demonstrations and a chili-eating contest will cap off the afternoon. For more information about entering the cook-off as a contestant, go to www.chili-nj.com or call Jan Gursky at (732) 946-2711. For information on other spring and summer events sponsored by the Toms River Business Improvement District, go to www.downtowntomsriver.com or call (732) 341-8738. Jean Mikle: (732) 557-5729 or jmikle@xxxxxxx Roger EWROPS