MAPE Local 501 hosts chili cook-off

MAPE Local 501 leaders at Dept. of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) recently sponsored a successful chili cook-off. The cookoff was open to all MAPE, AFSCME and MMA employees and featured seven different chili recipes competing for a title and bragging rights. Categories awarded included best chili, spiciest chili and most unexpected chili. Local 501 Treasurer, Cathy Peregrino, won best chili, with the local’s Vice President Michael Prideaux a close second.  

“This event grew rapidly from a fun idea to an all-out, friendly competition,” said Peregrino. “The exciting thing about it was that it showed union solidarity and was supported by agency leadership. It was a welcoming event that I hoped made new members feel good about MAPE.” 

Local 501 leader and DEED Meet & Confer Chair, Maureen Dunaway, tied Deputy Commissioner Evan Rowe for spiciest chili. Rowe also won most unexpected chili. 

Rumor has it, next year’s competition could be a curry cook-off.