Best chili and scarecrow chosen at closing Harvest Festival

BETHEL, NY — The Smallwood-Mongaup Valley Fire Department retains the trophy for making the “Best Chili in Sullivan County” according to voters at the season’s final Harvest Festival on October 9. The firefighters first won the trophy, designed and donated by Sutphen East of Bethel, a year ago.

Smallwood-Mongaup Valley also received the Legislator’s Choice award for best chili, awarded by members of the Sullivan County Legislature. Judges included Leni Binder, Chris Cunningham, Ron Hiatt and Sam Wohl.

The most popular scarecrow vote, which took place over six weeks, went to “Oliver” by the Youth Troupe of the Sullivan County Dramatic Workshop. They received a $100 prize from Swansea Corporation, which organizes the craft village, and a basket of market products.