Published: April 16, 2008 04:34 pm         

Fire up the grill — it's a benefit barbecue for Creative Compassion, Inc.

Creative Compassion, Inc. resource coordinator Frank Massaro announced that he and John Cannon, owner of Wildwood Catering, Wildwood Stables and Wildwood Concepts, have joined together to organize a Creative Compassion, Inc. benefit amateur barbecue cookoff on May 17. The inaugural amateur cookoff will be held at Wildwood Stables located at the corner of Chestnut Hill Rd. and Westchester Dr. in Fairfield Glade.

John Cannon, also a newly elected Creative Compassion, Inc. board member, clearly understands that as a community housing development organization, Creative Compassion, Inc. is always in need of private donations to complete a housing need.

During preliminary discussions, both Massaro and Cannon wanted to create an entire family benefit activity that would be open to the public of Cumberland County and surrounding counties. Having an amateur barbecue cookoff at Wildwood Stables will allow the whole family to enjoy such activities as pony rides, hay rides, live entertainment, care of horses clinics, children’s pony stick races and prize raffles as well as meeting some rodeo bull riders. With so many activities scheduled during the day, food will be an important necessity, thus the idea of an amateur barbecue cookoff.

The program will begin on Friday, May 16, when the amateur barbecue cookers will set up and register for various classes from noon until 5 p.m. There will be categories and prizes for Pork, Brisket, Chicken and Best Sauce as well as an Overall People Choice Champion Award. Barbecue entry forms will be available for all classes for $25 from April 15 until May 9 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Wildwood Catering (707-0736), 5429 Peavine Rd., Fairfield Glade, next to Katherine’s Books & Collectibles, or Wildwood Stables, 484-3733, or Creative Compassion. Inc., 456-6654. There will be 13 prizes totaling $2,100. More details will be available when the entry forms are ready, or you can check out Creative Compassion’s Web site (www.ccihomes.org), and click on “upcoming events.”

Then, on Saturday, May 17, the gates will open from noon till 5 p.m. Five dollars per person or $10 for two adults and two children entitles you to a bowl and fork to sample each of the contestant’s entries, a ballot to vote for the best in each class and a raffle ticket for special prizes. Additional raffle tickets will be available for $1.

Sponsors are an integral part of the success of any event, and the community support has really been wonderful. If you would like to be an active sponsor for the barbecue cookoff, please give Frank Massaro a call at the Creative Compassion office (456-6654).

The organization is also pleased to have scheduled time on the Community Channel through the Crossville Chamber of Commerce and Gateway Productions. The program will air after April 28 and will be on Channel 12 with Charter Communications and Channel 15 with Spirit Broadband and should answer many of your questions about the event.