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Stone Soul Picnic set to honor health field

By G. Michael Dobbs

Managing Editor



SPRINGFIELD This year's Stone Soul Picnic will present the food and music for which it has become well known, but will also honor a number of physicians and health organizations.

The Stone Soul Festival is held in Blunt Park, Aug. 31 - Sept. 2. Entrance to the park is free.

Stone Soul Picnic organizer Jay Griffin told Reminder Publications the annual event will honor Dr. Mary Banda of Sisters of Providence Health Systems; Debra Emos, the chief executive officer of the Neighborhood Health Plan; Doris Harris, the host of "Health Matters" on WTCC; Dr. Frank Robinson the chief executive officer of Partners for a Healthier Community; Dr. Jewell Mullen, medical director of the Mason Square Health Center, Baystate Medical Center; Dr. Jeffrey Scaravon, medical director, Brightwood Health Center, Baystate Medical Center; Dr, Shirley Jackson-Whitaker; and Sharenna Williams, sales associate Pfiser Pharmaceuticals.

Griffin said these honorees will be joined by City Councilor Bud Williams and State Rep. Benjamin Swan, D-Springfield, who will receive an award from the Save Our Square organization.

"We want to honor them for standing up," Griffin said, referring to the role the two men played in stopping a change in the traffic pattern in Mason Square that was opposed by residents.

The honorees will receive their awards at a banquet at 6 p.m. Aug. 30 at the Cottage Hill Banquet House, 315 Cottage St.

Griffin said another feature of the weekend-long event was the performance of the hip-hop group 4PEACE. The song "Start peace" has been described as an anthem that addresses the growing concern of violence and ways to reduce it.

The group's spokesman, Deric Quest, said of the group, "They are role models that have been missing and messengers with critical and positive messages who can actually reach at-risk youth in a way not yet seen."

The following is the schedule for this year's Stone Soul Picnic:

Aug. 1 at 6 p.m.: Radio/entertainment personality Andrew Cade will kick off the 2007 Stone Soul Festival as MC/DJ. The night's entertainment line-up is Dyn-O-Myte Disco Review; Take It Up a Notch singing group and show band Jus Us. Closing this musical showcase will be the show-stopping group Prime Time Players.

The Stone Soul Train will roll through the extensive Blunt Park trails and Fannelli's Midway will present exciting .

The Picnic will feature a wide variety of food: church chicken/fixings, dinners, Caribbean rice, jerk chicken, ox tails, fish fries, cakes and pies, and free hot dogs and hamburgers (while they last).

Sept. 1 at 10 a.m.: The Picnic will feature its flea market, tag sale and bazaar. Tag sale vendors can call Willie Mae Burgess at 781-2843 to sign up.

Early attendees will receive a free breakfast at 9 a.m.

The Health Tent will host many of the city's health and social service agencies presenting their information and offering access to their services.

The Target Drum and Bugle Corps will start off the afternoon entertainment. They will also be recruiting new members as many of their current members will leave for school.

Next is the annual Andrew Cade talent show. The talent show reflects the best young talent in the area of singing, dancing, humor/comedy, music, etc. We are proud to showcase our youth. Afterward is the positive rap group 4Peace, four young men testifying about avoiding the many traps of life.

The Floyd Patterson Band will perform next with it popular upbeat sound. They will be followed by Alex Nichols and his show band Storm.

This year Stone Soul Festival is honoring James Brown. The legendary showman will be honored with his music and an impersonator. The James Brown tribute will close out the evening.

Sept. 2 at 10 a.m.: Sunday will begin with Praise in the Park, a non-denominational church service.

At 1 p.m. the famous Stone Soul Picnic will take place in the grove. Pit Masters BBQ will grill and slow cook ribs and chicken; the Baystate Sportsmen Club will provide its famous fish fry to go along with the beans and cole slaw. All of this is topped off with Friendly's ice cream for dessert.

The Stone Soul Festival will end with a gospel concert. The Stone Soul Festival is held in Blunt Park, Aug. 31 - Sept. 2. Entrance to the park is free.