Local ‘70s rock band Panacea hosted their third Labor Day weekend town reunion at the Dickinson Memorial Park pavilion on Sunday, September 2, for nearly 200 of their closest friends and fans. Panacea’s members — from left, Chris Martirano, Corky Ballard, Leslie Ballard, Jim Lynch, drummer Rick Kuhn, and percussionist Butch Raymond — traveled from around the country to host the show. Leslie Ballard told The Newtown Bee this week that is was the largest crowd to date for the special reunion show she and her friends have done. Panacea did an abbreviated set during The Great Newtown Reunion in 2013, but then regrouped and performed full shows at the town park in 2014 and 2016. The band had originally formed when its members were students at Newtown High School during the 1970s. (Dru Saren photo)

The Willie-Portera Trio — from left, Tom Portera, Tod Willie and Jay Willie — performed a set during the Panacea & Friends Labor Day weekend concert at Dickinson Park. (Due Saren photo)

Guitarist, Newtown resident and blues recording artist Manny Pavone also performed on September 2 at Dickinson Park. (Dru Saren photo)