LAGUNA BEACH – Three-year-old twins, Sophie and Madeleine Niven were abuzz.
The Newport Beach twins had dressed as bumble bees to match the outfit their grandma, Traci Pedersen, had picked out for her dog, Penny, a contestant Sunday in the 20th Pet Parade and Chili Cook-off.
Penny, a Boston Terrier, won first prize and the twins switched off wearing the dog’s medal.
“Penny loved all the attention,” Pedersen said. “The girls had fun walking around with her. It was a great family event.”
The event, held at Tivoli Too, was put on by the Laguna Beach Board of Realtors and raised funds for local animal charities such as the Laguna Beach Animal Shelter, Bluebell Foundation for Cats, Pacific Marine Mammal Center and board of Realtors Charitable Assistance Fund.
The event is one of two fundraisers the group holds each year. Over the past two decades, the Board of Realtors has raised about $1.3 million from both annual events. Dede Westgaard-Pike, a real estate agent and member of the board was the event’s chairperson. Though proceeds are still being tallied, Westgaard-Pike said Sunday’s event likely raised between $15,000 to $20,000.
The event included booths oriented to pet owners such as pet massage, pet portraits and a Long Beach veterinarian who operates a pet cancer foundation.
Local real estate offices and their affiliates battled it out to see who had made the best chili.
Top honors went to Brandon Menchaca and Burr Baldwin, real estate agents at Coldwell Banker in South Laguna.
Menchaca, who has been in real estate for three years, said he opted for a traditional chili that included ground sirloin, and hot and sweet Italian sausage. He also added four kinds of beans.
“It was not too spicy, but deep in flavor,” he said.
Menchaca said he’s always loved cooking and the chili contest gave him that opportunity.
“It made me really happy to win,” he said. “The whole event is for a good cause.”
Contact the writer: 714-796-2254 or eritchie@ocregister.com or on Twitter:@lagunaini
