By Felix Hoover

For YourNewsColumbus.com

Posted 07-13-09

 

 

Rain delayed much of the activity on Saturday at the annual Jam 'n Jefferson Park, but a bright Sunday allowed a full schedule on the second day of the two-day event.

 

The jam, sponsored by St Paul A.M.E. Church, which took its Sunday morning worship outside the building on E. Long Street to the neighborhood park just off the west side of the historic church.

 

"I enjoy that we have a nice crowd and that vendors are doing well," said James Brown, co-chair of the jam with his wife, Wanda.

 

Decent weather wasn't the only thing needed to make the event a success, he said. With a drop in business sponsorship, organizers needed to call on church members to provide extra financial support, Brown said.

 

"We don't try to make money off of the jam, just make it pay for itself, he said.

 

Sunday's good weather enabled Dorothy Jefferson of the East Side to sell ceramiic art pieces made by 87-year-old Margaret Owens of Akron It permitted Mariah Joyce to help her mother, Tamesha, staff Nationwide Children's Hospital's Mobile Health Center

 

And nothing could stop community acitivist Barry D. Edney from showing off the slow cooker he won in the Gold Prize raffle.

 

"That's something I really wanted," said Edney, who was promoting this year's Keepin' Comin' Home, which is to be help in August.

 

Margaret Owens did double duty at her table, recruiting foster parents for the Village Network and taking orders for Mothers' Ceramics and black-oriented household items.

 

Kizito Wademi debuted his KW Collards, one of several food stands at the jam.

 

Lovers of blues, jazz, gospel and oldies set up their lawn chairs to hear this year's musical entertainment.

 

As with previous years, performances were free to the public.

 

Eleanor Reed, a 60-year member at St. Paul, had an order of nachos at the ready when she was asked her opiniion about this year's jam.

 

"It's a beautiful affair," she said. "The whole community comes out. It's for everybody."