Miami Centennial celebrated in style

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Turning 100 is something to be celebrated and when the Town of Miami marked its centennial, it did so in style.

Classic cars, kids’ games, contest winners and plenty of great music were on tap for the special event the weekend of March 10, spanning Sullivan Street downtown to the Bullion Plaza Museum and park.

For the Globe-Miami Chamber of Commerce part in the festivities, the group hosted a Centennial Dinner-Dance in the evening at the Bullion Plaza gymnasium.

More than 230 people were in attendance, enjoying a pasty dinner from Copper Bistro or a Mexican plate from Guayo’s El Rey. They worked off that dinner with dancing to the music of Neto Vasquez and Imagine.

The program, led by Master of Ceremonies Ed Pastor, included several area residents giving some “Miami memories” and taking that walk down memory lane. Miami Mayor Darryl Dalley recognized some major landmarks for the town, including the longest continuously running business, Dick’s Broasted Chicken at 51 years. He also recognized the many town employees who worked so hard on making the Centennial a success.

From the chamber standpoint, we would like to recognize some above and beyond help in putting on the dinner. Four Miami High School Culinary Arts students, Leigha Hailey, Isaac Moya, Madison Palmer and Manuel Riddle, gave up their Saturday evening to set up and serve the event.

They did an outstanding job and we were happy that Principal Glen Lineberry was there to give the invocation and to see the students in action. MHS Junior High teacher Cindy Nowell was a huge help in the kitchen, helping keep things moving.

Board members Molly Cornwell and Franceen Gregovich-Benton worked the setup as well and spending the entire dinner helping the students change out entrée pans, replenish condiments and just generally working to see that everything went smoothly for our dinner patrons.

Director Ellen Kretsch said she had flashbacks to her days working in the cafeteria during college. Shelbi Lindesmith of Vista and chamber staff Chris Brusca and Theresa Lovin greeted the dinner crowd.

The town of Miami employees along with Rosemary Castaneda and Susan Hansen of Miami Genesis, and Tom Foster, director of Bullion Plaza and a chamber board member, were instrumental in the setup and take down for this beautiful facility.

When the room was set up, the centerpieces provided by Christie Cothrun and Pinal Mountain Flowers, set off the room. One lucky diner from each table found the gold star that meant they were taking home the copper themed flower arrangements.

The music by Neto Vasquez and Imagine encouraged many people to stay and dance the evening away.

Our thanks to the numerous people who helped with this event, to our Master of Ceremonies Ed Pastor, Mayor Dalley, local officials and to the audience who made the evening such a rousing success.

We certainly won’t be around for the next Centennial celebration in Miami, but we’ve kicked off the next century with a bang.

The Globe-Miami Chamber