Longtime Coconut Grove resident Hank Langston, dean of faculty and more at Gulliver Schools, celebrated his 75th birthday with a weekend of parties, all but one of which was a surprise.
In fact, the first surprise came after he returned home and heard a commotion in his driveway. Upon inspection he found a group of people singing happy birthday. They were his entire family who surprised him by traveling from around the United States to celebrate the big day. From parties at Foxes on Friday night and Burger Bob’s on Saturday morning, Feb. 22, the event that surprised him the most was a party at Plymouth Church’s Pilgrimage House on Saturday afternoon.
Coral Gables Chamber president Mark Trowbridge arrived with a beautiful presentation while Dr. Al Smith composed a great poem for the occasion. Among the many guests at the various parties were Pinecrest Mayor Cindy Lerner, John Krutulis, Kate Swain, Joey Deyerle, the usual gang from Burger Bob’s, Gulliver, and Hank’s big family, to mention a very few.
On the non-profit front, in an effort to support National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Coral Gables Rotarians, Coral Gables High School’s Interact members, and Boy Scout Troop 840 under to guidance of Rotarians, gathered at FIU on Sunday, Mar. 2, to cheer, serve lunch and volunteer as 1,000 cyclists completed their two-day MS Bike Ride returning from Key Largo. This event served to generate awareness of the challenges of MS and raise funds to continue research for a cure.
Several staff members working the event were affected with MS and shared their daily challenges. They were most grateful and touched to witness the outpouring of support from Rotary, Interact and Boy Scout Troop 840 members who added to the fun making posters to cheer the riders to the finish line and then helping serve lunch throughout the day.
Among the many Rotarians with this writer helping that day were Debbie and John Swain, Donald Trombly, Greg Martini, Yoli Woodbridge, Diane Thurston and Lorraine Sheldon.
Artisan Lounge is presenting a solo exhibit, “Meditations,” featuring a dozen paintings by artist Vesna Vera, such as Rising Star and The Hour Glass. A Venezuelan by birth, Vera has studied art extensively both in her native country, as well as in Miami, New York and Italy.
The Artisan Lounge, 500 NE First Ave, in the Christ Fellowship Building, will run this exhibit through Apr. 30. This event is open free to the public. The hours of operation are Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
For more information about artist Vesna Vera, please visit vesnavera.com. For more information about the Artisan Lounge,
please visit theartisanlounge.com.
Until next time, keep making each day count.
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