
DATE: Sunday, September 28, 1997            TAG: 9709260350

SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER      PAGE: 04   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY ERIC FEBER, STAFF WRITER 

                                            LENGTH:   97 lines

SELLOUT SEEN FOR WEDNESDAY'S GREAT AMERICAN FOOD FEST

Many people still affectionately call it ``the sheriff's barbecue.''

But the little monikor hardly fits the description anymore.

The event has grown to become one of Chesapeake's biggest and most popular outdoor events, the Great American Food Fest, taking place this Wednesday at Chesapeake City Park.

``Yeah, we know, many, many people still refer to it as the sheriff's barbecue,'' said Joel Kirshon, special projects coordinator with Sheriff John R. Newhart's office. ``It started out almost 20 years ago as the `Sheriff's Barbecue,' but about five years ago it went from a barbecue, baked beans and cole slaw thing to include over 30 foods and we renamed it The Great American Food Fest. But under the big tent we're still offering the traditional barbecue food.''

Kirshon said the event began 18 years ago when Newhart had an idea to raise money to help victims of crime. But his office looked to the South Norfolk Ruritans to help make it a successful fund-raiser.

``Sheriff Newhart asked the Ruritans to get together with him,'' Kirshon said. ``He thought the South Norfolk Ruritans could help provide the manpower and help make the thing work. The proceeds would be divided. We would use it to help elderly and indigent victims of crime, and the Ruritans would use the money to finance their many help projects, including scholarships and many other things they do for the community.''

Because of such actions as the Elderly and Indigent Victims' Assistance Program (EVAP), which uses the proceeds from Wednesday's food festival, the National Sheriff's Association awarded Newhart its 1997 Ferris E. Lucas Award for National Sheriff of the Year.

EVAP has provided financial aid and counseling to victims of crime. For example, the fund has helped elderly victims recoup such necessary stolen items as appliances and television sets, which many times are an elderly person's only contact with the world. It has also helped pay for and provide special ``guardians'' to seniors living alone to help them manage their money and prevent them from falling prey to willing con artists.

Newhart was selected by a national panel of 60 civilians, which also lauded his other help programs including TRIAD, which identifies the needs of the city's senior citizen community; community service programs, which have saved the city thousands of tax dollars; and his involvement in community-based correctional programs.

Kirshon said the very first ``Sheriff's barbecue,'' which at that time was simply an in-Chesapeake event, featured about 500 to 600 people, tops. Nowadays, the festival attracts people from all all of Hampton Roads and will more than likely sell out.

``We're expecting somewhere between 5,000 to 6,000 people,'' he said.

So why did one of Chesapeake's premier outdoor food events become the Great American Food Fest?

``All these people and restaurants were constantly contacting the sheriff about getting involved with the event and wanting to give food away,'' Kirshon said. ``That way, they get their name in front of a huge crowd, people get to taste their food and they help their community, all at the same time.''

Over the years, more and more local and area restaurants have joined in to make it a huge affair.

``There'll be over 30 all-you-can-eat food items, music by Fat Ammon's Band, lots of businesses and other groups with displays and exhibits and the people will have fun,'' Kirshon said. ILLUSTRATION: Photo

Sheriff John Newhart's barbecue-turned-Food Fest has earned

national aclaim.

Graphic

WANT TO GO?

What: The 18th annual Great American Food Fest

Who: Sponsored by the Chesapeake Sheriff's Office and the South

Norfolk Ruritans

When: Wednesday from 3 until 7 p.m.

Where: Chesapeake City Park (Jubilee site), off Greenbrier

Parkway

Tickets: $15 advance and $20 at the door on the day of the event.

Advance tickets can be obtained by calling the Chesapeake Sheriff's