Friends and Neighbors: Late UM alumnus to posthumously receive French Legion of Honor

It is never too late to honor someone for their service. In this case, French Consul General Philippe Le’trilliart will award the insignias of “Chevalier dans l’Ordre National de la Le’gion d’Honneur,” which means Knight in the National Order of the Legion of Honor, to nine U.S. veterans who fought alongside France during World War II.

The veterans will be honored at a ceremony at 10 a.m. Wednesday at the University of Miami, 1306 Stanford Dr. in Coral Gables.

The honorees include Grover S. Barron, who died last summer, and is the only UM alumnus in the group. His daughter, Irma M. Barron, will accept the honor for her father.

Also being honored: Robert C. Bohm, Arthur L. Buckley, Angelo A. De Vitis, John J. Fuerth, Robert S. Jacobus, Leonard I. Kernitzky, Bernard Sprecher and Joseph L. Vetri.

The Legion of Honor is the highest distinction that can be conferred in France on a French citizen, as well as on a foreigner. It was started in 1802 by Napoleon Bonaparte and is one of his most important creations with the Napoleonic Code.

Tuesday’s honorees will join the ranks of other distinguished Americans including Thomas A. Edison, Alexander Graham Bell, Gen. Douglas MacArthur, astronomer Simon Newcomb, sculptor Augustus Saint Gaudens, painter John Singer Sargent, President Dwight D. Eisenhower and former Secretary of State Colin Powell.

For more information about the ceremony, call Nathalie Cluzet-Berlot at 305-403-4157.

VIETNAM VETERANS TO BE HONORED

If you are a veteran who served and sacrificed in Vietnam, whether stateside or in Vietnam anytime from Nov. 1, 1955 through May 15, 1975, the Coral Gables chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), in partnership with the Coco Plum Woman’s Club, wants to show its appreciation. A reception will be held 2 p.m. Wednesday at the Coco Plum Woman’s Club, 1375 Sunset Dr. in Coral Gables.

The event is free for veterans and their immediate family. For others, the cost is $5 per person. All proceeds will be donated to the Wounded Warriors organization.

To RSVP, send a brief email with your name, contact information, dates of service in Vietnam and the number of people in your party to ellenugucci@bellsouth.net or call 786-473-1409.

Also, Coco Plum Woman’s Club will have a “Wine, Cheese and Elephants” and a “Bizarre Bazaar” from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at the clubhouse at 1375 Sunset Dr.

A “Half Happy Hour” will start at 5:30 p.m., and the program will include music by JP and items for purchase. The cost is $10 per person. Funds raised will benefit SafeSpace, safe housing for victims of domestic violence.

AFRICAN HERITAGE CULTURAL ARTS CENTER GALA

For 40 years, the African Heritage Cultural Arts Center at 6161 NW 22nd Ave. has been a place for the youth of the community to be inspired to shine through the arts. Indeed, thousands of children and their families have taken advantage of the quality arts education programs and cultural events the center offers.

At 6 p.m. Saturday, the center’s commitment to “develop the artistic talents of young people while serving as a cultural hub for the entire community will be celebrated with the 40th Sankofa Gala at the Liberty City center.

The evening will include a cocktail reception with vocal performances, followed by a dinner with live entertainment, gallery exhibition and a silent auction. Jawan Strader, evening news anchor at WTVJ-Channel 6, will be the master of ceremonies.

Tarell Alvin McCraney, one of the center’s most renowned alumni, has returned to the center to honor the impact it continues to have on hundreds of children and teens who participate in its programs every year. McCraney attended the New World School of the arts, where he received the exemplary artist award and the dean’s award in theater. He is a graduate of the theatre school at DePaul University and Yale’s School of Drama playwriting program, where he received the Cole Porter Playwriting Award.

According to a news release, the gala is a part of “Sankofa: Looking Back, Going Forward” theme, which is a yearlong series of events and performances that bring alumni back to the center to inspire the next generation of talent.

Tickets to the event are $50 per person. Reservations are required. For tickets and table reservations, call 305-638-6771 or email inquiries to ahope@miamidade.gov. You may also visit www.ahcacmiami.org.

MIAMI WOMEN’S CLUB RETURNS

The Miami Woman’s Club, which has been on a hiatus while a search was on for a suitable tenant to restore and move into the historic building at 1717 N. Bayshore Dr., is back in business.

The club will resume its monthly program meetings at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday at the Doubletree Grand on the RG level. The program will include a presentation on “Stress Less Achieve More,” featuring coach and author Aimee Bernstein.

In her presentation, Bernstein will tell the attendees how to “stop fighting all the pressure and learn to use it.” She explains, “From everyday to-do’s to work deadlines to personal responsibilities, our lives are filled with pressure. Little wonder so many of us are feeling stressed. The standard prescription for stress reduction is to exercise, meditate, eat better and get plenty of sleep.”

The cost of lunch is $25 per person. The event will be hosted by Linda Joseph, first vice president, in the absence of President Noreen Timoney, who is ill. To make your RSVP send an email to eventsatmwc@gmail.com or call Shirley Pardon at 305-758-5828.

NEW NEIGHBORS CLUB OF SOUTH DADE

The New Neighbors Club of South Dade will begin its annual fundraiser at 11 a.m. Wednesday with socializing, followed with the meeting and luncheon at noon.

An array of great gifts will be available in the silent auction or for purchase. There will also be homemade treats from the bakery section and a corner called Treasures for Cash. This is a great way to purchase holiday gifts for friends and family or even yourself.

Members have prepared cookies, cakes and other goodies for your enjoyment.

The meeting will be at the Killian Palms Country Club, 9950 SW 104th St. Reservations are required. Send an email to itafosse@yahoo.com or call 305-595-0213. The cost of lunch is $26 per person.

COFFEE BREAK WITH CHARLEY FUNDRAISER

You are invited to the third annual “Roaring ’20s Gala” hosted by Coffee Break With Charley at 7 p.m Saturday at the Renaissance at the Gables, 2340 SW 32nd Ave.

Coffee Break With Charley was founded by Charlene Bouie in 2001 as a nonprofit organization dedicated to educating, empowering and creating awareness for women and children in areas of relationship, family abuse, domestic violence, sexual assault victims, spiritual/personal and marriage/divorce.

The goal of the event is to raise funds for building a safe home for victims to overcome the effects of abuse. Individual tickets are available for $75 each and tables of 10 are $750 each. For more information contact Bouie at 561-921-5331, or email her at Cbwc@live.com

EVENING TO FIGHT HUMAN TRAFFICKING

Glory House invites the community to join them in the fight against human trafficking from 6 to 10 p.m. Saturday at Lowe Art Museum at University of Miami, 1301 Stanford Dr. The program is entitled, “An Evening of Freedom and Arts.”

The program will include art, hors d’oeuvres, wine, cocktails, a silent auction, raffle and music provided by Johnny Rez. Attire: cocktail. Tickets are $75 in advance and $100 at the door.

IN NEED OF CLEAN WATER

The fifth annual Water Party MIA will be from 6 to 10 p.m. Friday at the Four Seasons Brickell, 1435 Brickell Ave. The goal is to raise $12,500 to benefit the community of El Hatillo, Nicaragua, home to 67 families who are in need of clean water.

To purchase tickets to this event, visit www.empowered.org/Water-Party-MIA-2015.

THE FLORIDA PIONEER MUSEUM TO REOPEN

The Florida Pioneer Museum at 826 N. Krome Ave. in Florida City will reopen for the season Saturday.

The museum, which occupies the 1904 Florida East Coast Railway station agent’s house, is a wood-frame structure that was the epitome of good living in early 20th century South Florida, when many families lived in tents, lean-tos and log cabins.

The museum shows what family life was like between 1904 and about 1940. Some of the highlights include the quilt collection, the kitchen with its utensils, the tool and agricultural room and the display of early tourism articles.

Museum hours are 1 to 5 p.m. Wednesdays and Saturdays. For more information visit floridapioneermuseum.org or the Facebook page.

ALHAMBRA ORCHESTRA SYMPHONY SEASON

The Alhambra Orchestra will open its symphony season at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 15 with a program of orchestral showpieces entitled, “Enchanted with Espana,” which celebrates Spanish themes.

The free concert will be at Ransom Everglades School 3575 Main Hwy. in Coconut Grove. No reservations are needed, but large groups should call in advance at 305-668-9260 or email Alhambramusic@att.net.

GREATER MIAMI SYMPHONIC BAND CONCERT

The 37th season of the Greater Miami Symphonic Band will present its opening concert at 8 p.m. Nov. 15 at Gusman Hall, University of Miami, 1314 Miller Dr. in Coral Gables.

Featured artists will include Trudy Kane, flute soloist. Gary Green and Robert Longfield are the conductors.

The program will include Poem by Charles Griffes, performed by Kane; Where Valor Proudly Sleeps by Robert Longfield, honoring Veterans Day; and Sinatra in Concert, which honors the 100th anniversary of Frank Sinatra’s birthday.

Tickets are $15 for adults and $5 for students and children over 5 and are available at the box office on the day of the concert or in advance online at: www.gmsb.org.

QUICKBOOKS WORKSHOP FOR NONPROFITS

A free workshop to learn how to use Quickbooks to manage nonprofit finances will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday at D & B Computer Services, 1434 NE 163rd St. in North Miami Beach.

You must confirm your attendance by calling 305-945-1931 or 305-343-7038. Free parking in the back.

This story was originally published November 5, 2015 at 2:11 PM with the headline "Friends and Neighbors: Late UM alumnus to posthumously receive French Legion of Honor."