LAKEPORT >> Members of the Westside Community Park Committee are preparing for the seventh annual “Grillin’ on the Green” fundraiser, and participants are needed for the barbecue cook-off.
This year’s Grillin’ on the Green — an afternoon event featuring a friendly barbecue competition with plenty of food, drink and entertainment for all ages — is scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 6 from 5 to 8 p.m. The event takes place at Westside Community Park, 1401 Westside Park Road, Lakeport, and is a fundraiser for development of the park.
Grillers and sponsors are encouraged to sign up soon. Call Cindy Ustrud, 263-7091, or Dennis Rollins, 349-0969, for information.
Local organizations, individuals and professionals go head-to head in the cook-off, preparing their best barbecue recipes for attendees who then cast People’s Choice votes for their favorites. A group of celebrity judges will select their favorite as well.
This year’s celebrity judges are Record-Bee editor Dave Faries and retired superior court judge David Herrick. They will be joined by a third judge to be named later.
The first teams to sign up for this year’s competition are last year’s “Rookie of the Year” competitor, Fresh and Bangin’ Eatery; last year’s third-place finisher, the Bru Crew; the Lakeport Lions; the Nor Cal BBQ Team; Delta Iota Tau; and Passion for Food, said Rollins. He announced that some financial support is available to individual grillers this year, thanks to the Kiwanis Club of Lakeport and others.
Attendees will have a full dinner with fixings to accompany the barbecue dishes, said Rollins. Past years’ Grillin’ attendees have called the fare the “best barbecue around,” he added.
Information about the event can be found on the park’s website, www.westsidecommunitypark.org, or on Westside Community Park’s Facebook page.
Sponsors of the event are sought and will be recognized at the Grillin’ on the Green event. Levels of sponsor recognition are $100, $300, $500 to $1,000. Contributions of any amount may be sent to 1350 Berry St., Lakeport, and made payable to Westside Community Park Committee.
The Keeling-Barnes Family Foundation is for the seventh year offering a sponsorship match. The foundation will match up to $4,000. Sutter Lakeside Hospital has pledged a sponsorship of $2,500. Representatives of the hospital and foundation challenge the community to match and exceed the combined $6,500 amount.
Westside Community Park is a regional recreational facility that is operated by the city of Lakeport and the Westside Community Park Committee. It has been in development for 17 years. The nonprofit park committee is developing the park in conjunction with the city of Lakeport, volunteers and numerous contributions by individuals and businesses dedicated to constructing a recreational facility for the youth and adults of Lake County.
