The roastest with the mostest
Written by Cathy Finnegan Monday, 19 September 2011 10:37
OC Regional Chamber roasts Scott Halliday
The Ocean City Regional Chamber of Commerce held its 13th annual roast at Sandi Point with Chamber President Scott Halliday the target this year.
The invitation to the roast featured a young teenager with long blond hair sitting cross-legged in front of a pup tent on one of Scott’s camping trips. Jim and I met Katrina and Steve Gillian in the parking lot and joked with them about not checking the invitation that read “casual attire.”
Barbara Brown and Shawnda McGinnis greeted guests when they arrived in the banquet room and Shawnda handed me a guest list. I stopped to chat with members of the Baptist Church who were already seated at their table. Portia Thompson helped coordinate everyone for a picture.
I didn’t recognize Rebecca Wilson all dressed up, as I usually see her at Ward’s Pastry, where she has worked for 16 years. Mary Miles is looking forward to a trip to Myrtle Beach the end of September, while her husband, Tommy Miles is enjoying retirement. Juanita Moore is known for keeping everyone in line. Anna and William Livingston are enjoying retirement. William collected tolls at the Ocean Drive bridge until he retired in ’08, while Anna was a head nurse at Shore Memorial until her retirement in ’05.
Chamber Director Michele Gillian, stunning in a green and white jersey print dress, went over the evening’s festivities with MC Brian Broadley. Bob Blevin, Phil Perri and Keith Leonard sported shorts as their casual attire, and my husband was upset I made him wear long trousers to the dinner.
Sandy and Bill McMahon thanked me for the article and pictures on Bill’s retirement/birthday party that captured the spirit of the evening. Bill Elliott was delighted with the great turnout for tours of Shore Medical Center’s new surgery pavilion, while wife Muriel admired my necklace and earrings from La Bottine Boutique.
Sandy and Tom Aromando are excited with the progress of their new home under construction in the Gardens. Every time I bike by the site, I spot Tom helping out as they hope to celebrate Christmas in their new home.
Nancy Neal shared pictures of her grandson, Jameson Fox, born August 1. Jameson’s 3- year-old sister, Avery, loves helping take care of her baby brother. Nancy and Charles Cristella certainly weren’t going to roast their neighbor, as he watches their house when they spend the winter in Florida. Jean Jacobson arrived late after attending the O.C. Pops Volunteer Reception.
Sally Huff celebrated her birthday at the roast along with her son and daughter-in-law, Eddie and Courtney Huff, who I spotted later dining with DJ and Clay Rossiter and Tony Wilson.
Ronnie Town looked great in a rose color silk brocade suit and was none the worse for wear after troubleshooting for Atlantic City Electric during Hurricane Irene.
After moving several heavy potted plants for wife Linda, in preparation for the hurricane, Bill Serber won’t be doing that again as he pulled his back out and was still in a great deal of pain two weeks later.
For her husband’s roast, Janie Halliday chose a stunning turquoise and white print sheath dress with matching earrings from her favorite boutique, Papillon in Linwood. Caren Broadley and Art Ford walked into the hospital opening the night before and the photographer took their picture, so they insisted I take one of them at the roast. Art had offered to take pictures for me at the opening since I was at the Phillies/Braves game. Nancy Caine sported a black sheath dress accented with a black and white print bolero jacket.
After two unsuccessful attempts to get guests to sit down for dinner, Brian Broadley said the last person standing had to pay the bar tab. My husband, who had been talking to Duane and Lynn Sonneborn, turned around and looked for this columnist to find our table. And the last men standing were John Flood and Jerry Corcoran.
The centerpieces on the tables were cute birdhouses that were red-tagged and ordered to stop construction. Each guest received a package of candy to build a log cabin similar to Lincoln Logs.
Jim and I enjoyed the buffet dinner chatting with Susan and Fred Miller, Carol Heenan, Eric Wakabayski, Winnie Piriano and Art Ford. Fred made sure he would still get his picture taken at the museum luncheon if he had one taken at the roast.
After dinner it was time for the roast. The Board of Chosen Freeholders gave Scott a plaque for his basement, while Keith Hartzell and John Flood read a resolution adopted by the mayor and City Council honoring Scott. Gary Schaffer made a presentation on behalf of Frank LoBiondo.
Tony Caine jotted down random notes highlighting camping trips and vacations with his good friend. Winnie Piriano sported a mustache with her long blond hair as she stood on a chair for height portraying Scott and she and Brian Broadley did a spoof on acronyms: BAND, SID, MAINSTREET, RMA and CAP.
Next up was Al Halliday, who regaled everyone with stories of family fishing trips and the time his son Scott fell in the bay. When they fished him out, he joked, it was the biggest fish they caught all day.
Andy Halliday represented Scott’s siblings with tales of Scott’s building prowess in his younger days, using his dad’s tools and finding wood anywhere he could. Other stories included the time he got caught smoking, the time the family was on vacation in Florida and Scott put cocoa butter all over his body and got a bad sunburn, Scott’s first building job pushing a broom and piling wood, and the first time he climbed to the second floor (he dropped a plank and got fired, but his mom got his job back, and Scott learned to tear things down at an early age).
Gary Jessel, Greg Johnson and Jay Gillian rounded out the roasters, with Gary and Jay joking about keeping Halliday-Leonard in business with all the work they’ve sent Scott’s way. At the conclusion of the roast Scott got his turn at the mic and said he truly appreciated the friendship of everyone in the room tonight.
As we headed home Jim and I caught up with Anita and Bill McMahon who joked about their frequent houseguest, Fred Tinney, who shows up without notice to spend the night and play with their four daughters who adore him. While walking to the parking lot I chatted with Hank Glaser who was the first distinguished roastee back in ‘99 while this columnist is still the only woman roasted in ’03.
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