After a lifetime of perfecting the world's best chili recipes -- and hours in the kitchen getting ready for this weekend -- it has come to this: The Great Schroon Lake Chili Cook Off is just hours away on Saturday.

"All of the cooks entering are very excited," event organizer Shelby Davis said today.

A total of ten restaurants and home cooks will be showing off their meaty and veggie chili and vying for one of three awards: Best Veggie Chili, Best Meaty Chili and the People's Choice Award.

Among the chilis being entered: Winter Trekkin' Chili by George Popsil, Nat'cho Grandma's Chili by Lynda Gomez and Veggie Veggie Bang Bang, from Shelby.

Tastes are $1 per sample, $5 for a bowl and $15 fopr a wristband to taste all of the chilis. All proceeds go to the Schroon Lake EMS

Judges are Henry Tyska, from the Schroon Lake EMS, life coach and artist Anne Gregson, chili lover Betty Bang and chili aficiando yours truely!

The event kicks off at 11 am and goes to 2 pm at the Mountainside Bible Chapel Gymnasium. There will be a Schroon Lake EMS ambulance for the kids to check out and a chance to learn more about the benefits of becoming a volunteer for this terrific organization.

Music will be provided by Mark Piper from 11.30 am to 1.30 pm. So come on out and support this great organization while warming up on some terrific chili.