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Some like it hot, while others want it spicy.

Local residents can decide what they like best when they vote for the best chili at the Steelers Tailgate Party and Chili Cook-off Sunday at Citizens Hose Fire and Rescue in Natrona Heights.

A fundraiser for the fire company and the Highlands Area Rotary, the first-time event will kick off with a chili cook-off, which will be judged by cook-off visitors. The cook-off will include a children's carnival with free admission.

The Tailgate Party will start at 2:30 p.m. prior to a 4:15 kickoff between the Steelers and the Cincinnati Bengals. The party will feature food, big-screen televisions, beer, door prizes and raffles in the fire hall. Adults who buy tickets will be permitted to sample the chili entries during the chili cook-off earlier in the day and attend the tailgate party. Children's admission for both events is $5.

Although the Highlands Area Rotary has sponsored local tailgate parties before, the organization wanted to do something different this year.

"We wanted to make it a bigger, better event and draw more people," says Lisa Behe, event co-chair, who is a member of the Highlands Area Rotary.

Behe had been to chili cook-offs before. She thought they were fun, saying, "And when you think of chili, you think of a fireman cooking it."

Or maybe a fireman's mother.

Helen Erb, 69, of Harrison, mother of Jim Erb, EMS supervisor for Citizens Hose, plans to compete in the cook-off.

Erb is a well-seasoned home cook who has been whipping up chili for 48 years for a number of events.

"I've done a lot of funerals and wakes, but I have never competed," she says.

Describing her chili as sweet and not hot, Erb prefers to use beef with an 80-20 mix of meat to fat, kidney beans, tomato juice or sauce and maybe a pinch of sugar.

"I just like cooking, and I like it if someone likes what I make," she says.

Citizens Hose and the rotary decided to join forces this year to support each other and offer a bigger event, Behe says. The two nonprofits will split the proceeds.

The money will help pay for the rotary's contribution to local charities and college scholarships for high-school seniors at Highlands High School and St. Joseph High School, both in Natrona Heights.

The rotary has sponsored tailgate parties for 12 years at Blessed Sacrament Roman Catholic Church Patterson Hall in Natrona Heights. The event typically attracted more than 80 patrons, according to Joan Simon of New Kensington, rotary secretary.

"We've had people over the years who would ask in July, 'When is the tailgate party?' " Simon recalls.

Behe says she would like to make the combination cook-off and tailgate party an annual event. "For anybody who wants a fun family or adult event -- for $15 -- it's a great deal." Behe says.

Local cooks who want to compete in the chili cook-off have until Wednesday to register. Visitors to the cook-off will sample all of the chilies and vote for "best in show," "most unique" and "tastiest fiery," which must be hot and flavorful, Behe says.

Trophies will be awarded to the chili winners during half-time of the Steelers' game.

The event also will offer a grand-prize drawing for a sports package of game tickets for the Pittsburgh Penguins, Penn State football, Pitt basketball and more.

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