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Plenty of ribbing at fundraising event

Brian Wilkinson

(Updated: Thursday, July 22, 2010, 5:15 PM)

Event raises $8,250 for Oakhurst Community Center

The Oakhurst Noon Rotary Club successfully defended its "Best Ribs" title July 17 at the 11th Annual Fabulous Fifties Rib Fest.

More than 300 rib lovers braved the near 100 degree temperature to devour 500 pounds of juicy pork meat and contribute to the ongoing maintenance and operational expenses of the Oakhurst Community Center. The Rib Fest is the sole annual fundraiser for the center.

The winning team, with a score of 169, was made up of head cook and sauce man Scott Pearl, club President Fern Facchino, Annette Pearl, Nancy Brumbaugh, Victor Weitzel, Joe Stern and Michael Sesto.

The club has won the title two years in a row and five times during the 11 year history of the event.

"We are thrilled to win the title again. This is great," said Facchino. "The secret to winning is the sauce and Mr. Pearl is not about to reveal the ingredients of his recipe. I'm on the team and I don't even know what goes into it."

The club name will be added to the perpetual plaque that will hang in the community center.

The ribs are judged on texture, appearance, tenderness and most importantly taste by five anonymous, although eager, people from the crowd.

The three other teams in the friendly competition were Elks Lodge, Kiwanis Club and the Oakhurst Sunrise Rotary Club. The runner up team was Kiwanis.

The $20 tickets provided attendees with all they could eat ribs, baked beans and cole slaw provided by the Soroptimist Club, garlic bread from the Oakhurst Senior Center and ice cream and cookies from Mountain Community Women. The Oakhurst Lions Club provided volunteers for the beer and soda booths.

A rib-eating contest was added this year. Chris Baker won over Kevin Nagata and Nick Nishijima.

"I have found my calling and it turns out I have been training for this all my life," Baker said. "I look forward to defending my title next year."

Janet Stanovich, president of the Oakhurst Community Center board of directors and chairwoman of the Rib Fest, called the evening a huge success.

She thanked the Rib Fest committee, made up of representatives of all the service clubs, the barbecue teams, and the community for supporting the event and the community center.

The event raised close to $8,250 for the community center.

Supervisor Tom Wheeler served as master of ceremonies for the raffle and live auction and was also the official timer for the rib eating contest.

Platinum sponsors for the event were Sierra Telephone, Sierra Oakhurst Kiwanis Club and McGoldrick and McGoldrick Attorneys at Law. Bronze sponsors were Big O Tire, Claiborne and Associates, Sears of Oakhurst, Yosemite Bank, Soroptimist International of the Sierras, Coarsegold Market, Frost Magnetics and Jamison and Chappel Attorneys at Law.