The Golden Coconut Awards Luncheon took place Friday afternoon at the Mayfair Grill. It was a fun, community-filled event, where awards were given out in different categories.
Joseph Adler, Producing Artistic Director of GableStage and the Coconut Grove Playhouse was the master of ceremonies.
After Tony Noboa, Chamber President welcomed everyone, Michelle Niemeyer, Village Council member and Community Service recipient last year (above left), presented the Community Service Award to Major Jorge Martin and in Memorian to Yvonne Marjorie Hall McDonald, whose mother, Mary Alice Daniels Smith, and aunt, Alice Eason, accepted the award in her honor.
Heather Bettner brought one of the actual awards from 1974, which was presented to one of her grandmother's way back then. It graced the podium, it's shown above. Heather, as a young girl actually went out and picked the actual coconut shown, which was used to create the award.
Tom Falco, Willie Vega, Major Jorge Martin, Robert Parente, Joseph Adler and Tony Noboa, pose at the podium . The awards were glass plaques, Robert is holding a prop, that he liked so much, he took it home with him. It's from July 4th and the Coconut Scavenger Hunt.
They were kind enough to present me with the President's Award, next, given by Liliana Dones, Past Chamber President (2007-2009), principal of Creative Tools Communications.
Next was Board Member of the Year, presented to Guillermo "Willie" Vega, Executive Director of investments, Oppenheimer & Co. Inc, presented by Tona Noboa. The Golden Coconut was presented to Pierre Sands, President of HOATA and Founding Member of TreeWatch presented by long time friend Bob Brennan, President of Brennan's Tree Service and arborist of Fairchild Gardens.
Robert Parente, Director of Miami Mayor's Office of Film, Arts, Culture and Entertainment also received a Golden Coconut Award, presented by Heather Bettner, member of the Village Council, Chamber Board Member and President of Prince Media Development.
Robert Parente and Heather Bettner; luncheon participants: Elena Carpenter, Miami Monthly, Commander Jorge Colina, Haydee Wheeler, NET administrator.
Lottie Person, Antoinette Baldwin, Eileen Brennan, Pierre Sands.
At left: Abel Cornejo, Niki Simon Blacker, Tony Angione, all from the Mayfair Antiques and Collectibles Market. At right: Heather Bettner, Mary MacDonald, Diane Brunschwig and Doreen LoCicero.
Michelle Niemeyer, Major Jorge Martin, Tom Falco, Liliana Dones.
Lottie Person, Pierre Sands, Bob Brennan, Mary Alice Daniels Smith (Yvonne McDonald's mother), Lilliana Dones.
Sylvia Quinn, Mutiny Hotel, Robert Parente, Monty Trainer, Diane Brunschwig, Mary MacDonald.
Tom Falco, Tony Noboa, Willie Vega.
The lunch service was perfect, supervised by Ryan Ridgley, Mayfair's Food and Beverage Director. His staff was right on the ball and the food was prepared and served expertly.
Photos by AnnaMaria Windisch Hunt, Doreen C. LoCicero
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