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Locals are attracted to the blend of food, music and laid-back hometown hospitality at the Courthouse Square.
By JORGE SANCHEZ, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times, published July 8, 2002
INVERNESS -- To Nathan Shelton and Corrine Hawke, two of the many visitors to the Uncle Sam Jam on Saturday at the Courthouse Square, the event was like an old-fashioned block party.
The Hernando residents brought along some folding chairs to sit along the shady sidewalk and enjoy the live music, food from vendors, classic cars and laid-back mood.
And things suited them just fine.
"It's nice the way people here get together and just act neighborly and have a good time," said Hawke.
"I like the old cars," said Shelton.
The Uncle Sam Jam drew a large crowd, composed mostly of locals. They danced in the street and the more agile ones tried to climb a rock wall. A horde of children dug like crazy trying to find buried $1 coins in a sand pile, and nearly everyone had a slice or two of chilled watermelon, a hot dog or burger and a drink.
The Sam Jam was organized by the Inverness Olde Towne Merchants Association. Its president, Winston Perry, said the hard work paid off.
"It's just a Saturday night family get-together on the square," he said. "That's the mood we're trying to create, to get people out here and enjoy the square."
Noting the summer heat and the lack of winter visitors, Perry said this was a special treat for locals.
"It's just the regular Citrus County folks."
Among the regular folks were sisters Mallerie Bramlett, 10, and Brittney Bramlett, 8. They won the blueberry pie contest with the yogurt and whipped cream pie. It was decorated with strawberries and blueberries to resemble the American flag.
"It wasn't baked at all," said Mallerie.
The Uncle Sam Jam featured many of the county's nonprofit organizations as the food vendors, and the event turned into quite a moneymaker for clubs such as the Rotary Club of Inverness and the Citrus United Basket.
CUB director Nola Gravius said the agency, which gives food and clothing to the needy, was glad to have such a financial boost.
"Hey, even if it's just a couple of dollars, it's a couple of dollars more than we had when we started," she said.