Hot dog lovers raise $7,000 for Boosters, CAFC at annual Stone Hearth Inn event

The gardens of the Stone Hearth Inn were a lovely setting for its 4th Annual Hot Dog Cookoff to benefit two charitable groups in Chester. All photos by Cynthia Prairie. Click a photo to launch gallery.

A happy customer at Shona Grill leaves owners Kim and James Bovill smiling as well.

By Cynthia Prairie
©2015 Telegraph Publishing LLC

The Awesome Sauce Dog created by Shona Grill of Bellows Falls was named “Top Dog” by the diners during the Stone Hearth Inn’s 4th Annual Hot Dog Cook Off on Sunday.

The Free Range restaurant of Chester took away the “Best in Show” award with its Gyro Dog made from lamb sausage.

Other participants in the fund-raising event were: the Vermont Country Store, with its Weston Reuben; Black Watch Farm of Weathersfield with its Classic Coney; Stone Hearth Inn with Sheldon’s Tube Steak; Super Chef Clarke Congdon’s Thai Slaw Dog; Stampede AAU Basketball’s Stampede Dog, the Chester Recreation Department’s Slam Dunk Dog and the Green Mountain Union High School’s Varsity Basketball team with the Chieftain.

Sherry Willumitis and Stephanie Mahoney of the Chester-Andover Family Center get a shady spot to man the silent auction booth.

About 2o0 people turned out on this sunny hot, Sunday, paying $15 a pop to taste the wide variety of hot dogs, vote on their favorite and bid on items for a silent auction, all to benefit the Chester-Andover Family Center and the GMUHS Booster Club.

Chester resident Steven Davis casts his secret ballot.

The green back yard of the inn was festooned with tents and happy hot dog lovers amid the backdrop of a summer garden in full bloom.

On Tuesday morning, Francy Anderson, co-owner of the inn with her husband Sheldon Ghetler, said that they raised nearly $7,000 for the two organizations.

Anderson and Ghetler also thank everyone who participated and attended the event for making it a success.

Leah M. Cunningham contributed to this article.