SICA holds annual meeting
The Singer Island Civic Association held its annual meeting at the new Palm Beach Shores Community Center. Acting President and Chairman Tony Gigliotti introduced Mayor Thomas Mills who welcomed everyone to the new facility.
The highlight of the evening was a performance by children from the R.J. Hendley School in Riviera Beach. They sang and danced to the National Anthem and then took turns repeating and explaining each of the ten amendments that make up the Bill of Rights. All donned patriotic hats except for one of the smallest who was dressed as the Statue of Liberty. The program ended with three finalists reading their essays on “accentuating the positive and eliminating the negative."
Everyone in the audience was taken in by the children, a fact reinforced by Tony Gigliotti’s reminder that SICA is lending support to the school and encouraging members and non-members alike to become boosters at $20 per person. He concluded by giving Pinky Hendley, principal of the school, a $500 check from SICA.
The night’s agenda also included an invocation by Herman McCray, and comments from Dan Calloway a member of the school’s board and head of the Youth Recreation League in Riviera Beach. Mr. Calloway stressed the need for people on the Island and Mainland to work together for the benefit of everyone. Mr. Gigliotti then made brief comments about SICA’s role on the Island and the city, and then introduced the featured speaker, State Assembly Representative Carl Domino, whose district includes Singer Island. Rep. Domino reviewed what the legislature has done and the challenges we face in the coming year due to the economic slowdown. While cuts can be expected, he made a forceful argument for not cutting education, which he called the future of our state. Following Mr. Domino, Mayor Thomas Masters spoke to the audience, calling for support of his “baggy pants referendum” referendum.
The business meeting was then ended and the Board went into a brief session to elect officers for the new year. With the news that Tony Gigliotti intends to step down from the presidency in a year, the office of first vice president was revived upon recommendation of the nominating committee. Elected to fill that position, and eventually assume the role of president, was Martinique II resident Michael Sloser, currently a director of SICA.
