As the Junior Orange Bowl kicked off its festival season with a Pageant Ball on Sept. 5 at The Biltmore Hotel, followed by the Queen’s Pageant on Sept. 13, JOBC executive director Jessica Cerda recently was invited to serve on a panel for the Doral Business Council Signature Breakfast.
Cerda was joined by some other major players in the sports and festival industry including Orange Bowl CEO Eric Poms; Myles Pistorius, Miami Dolphins senior vice president and general counsel; Carlos Padilla, executive director of the Miami Beach Bowl, and Kevin Duplaga, Miami Heat ticket manager.
In other festival news, on Oct. 24, noon- 10 p.m., and Oct. 25, 10 a.m.-8 p.m., join the fun in the Gables for the sixth annual Coral Gables Hispanic Cultural Festival organized by the Gables Hispanic Cultural Foundation Inc. The festival featuring local and international artists, musicians and designers showcases the diverse and unique flavor that the Hispanic culture and cultures from around the world bring to Coral Gables and South Florida.
Dog owners will want to bring Fido, too, as there will be a doggie space filled with snacks, water, and numerous activities just for our four-legged friends.
Marcia Fine, Coral Gables High Class of 1963, published her third book in May. Her previous book, Paper Children, was a finalist for three national awards — Eric Hoffer Award, Foreword Book of the Year and Best Books Award Finalist. Paris Lamb, her third book, will be the subject of the luncheon at the Coral Gables Country Club on Nov. 10, benefiting Orchestra Miami.
Paris Lamb, set in the 1990s, tells a fascinating story about biblical archaeology interwoven with the realities of anti- Semitism in the 1950s. It is a captivating love story that spans continents.
As an interesting aside, Coral Gables Country Club was one of the many locations where anti-Semitism was practiced in the 1950s and seems a provocative setting for this event.
In service club outreach news, Brickell Rotarians join Touching Miami with Love and Christ Journey Church for a community service project involving cleaning and beautifying an Overtown site, 711 NW Sixth Ave., on Sept. 26, from 9 a.m. to noon. This is a family-friendly event and those interested in volunteering may visit www.touchingmiamiwithlove.org for more details.
Spearheading this activity for Rotary is Patricia Millan, community service chair for the Rotary Club of Miami Brickell. Millan encourages all Rotarians to join this effort.
Speaking of Rotary, on Sept. 19, 5-9 p.m., Coral Gables Rotarians will be raising funds for their Veterans programs at Autoverks Classic Car Show held the third Saturday of every month at 8700 SW 133 St. This is a really fun event with a live band, dancing, great cars, food and more. Admission is free and food sales benefit charity.
History buffs will want to save the date, Oct. 15, for a book signing at Coral Gables Museum, 285 Aragon Ave. Author and historian Arva Moore Parks is launching her new book, George Merrick, Son of the South Wind: Visionary Creator of Coral Gables. A reception and book signing will begin at 6:30 p.m.
Arva is one of the most acclaimed historians in our community and has done decades of research to make this the definitive book on Merrick. The former chief curator, interim director, and chair of the Coral Gables Museum, Arva has authored several history books on Florida. Among her works are The Forgotten Frontier: Florida through the Lens of Ralph Middleton Munroe and Miami, the Magic City.
The Coral Gables Museum is located at 285 Aragon Ave. For details call 305-603- 8067 or visit online at www.coralgablesmuseum.org.
The UM Sports Hall of Fame reports that UMSHoF member Ted Hendrick was selected to the First Team of the Football Writers Association of America’s 75th Anniversary All-America Team and that UMSHoF member Ed Reed was a Second Team selection.
Until next time, keep making each day count.
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