Community made MLK Week a success

It is with deep appreciation and warmest thanks that the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Guild acknowledges those who in different ways helped to make this year's Martin Luther King Week a wonderful success.

The Rev. Aaron N. Gibson Sr., Second Baptist Church, the Rev. Joseph N. Calhoun, Salem Baptist Church, the Rev. Terrence K. Porter, Pilgrim Baptist Church, the Rev. Ronald Paige, First Baptist Church, the Rev. Sunny Shim, St. Luke's United Methodist Church, the Rev. Charles A. Smith, Trinity A.M.E. Church, the Rev. Caroline Bennett McLaughlin Pentecostal Faith Church, and Elder Bruce Clay, Refreshing Springs Holy Temple Church. Also Minister Virginia Feldman, Tyrone Garrett, executive director of the Long Branch Housing Authority and guest speaker the Rev. Dr. DeForest B. Soaries Jr., senior pastor at First Baptist Church of Lincoln Gardens, Somerset.

Our appreciation and thanks to Roy Daniels and the Daniels Family Singers, Holly Pacious, Deacon Diane Dalton and the youth of First Baptist Church; Mrs. Angie Harris and the Voices Youth Choir, SBC; and Daniel Steward and Candice Clay from Refreshing Springs Holy Temple.

A huge thank you to Grady "Corky" Buffaloe, Hollis Cooper, the Sons of Thunder from Trinity AME Church and the men's chorus from Second Baptist Church, Long Branch. You are the best!

We humbly thank all the volunteers who helped to make the Soul Food Dinner a success: Odessa Dangler, Edna "Billie" Daniels, Bertha Hughes, Alice Gaskins, Louise Daniels, Betty Nichols, and Bea Coleman and Sue Harrison who spent the entire week with us, Gene Van Brunt for the beautiful center pieces and the wreath at the MLK Monument Park. Tonya's Tomato Pies, the Johantgen family and Caputo's Italian Pastry Shop for the beautiful cake, and Manuel DaSilva and the members of the Portuguese Club. Also, Long Branch's newest eatery Jodi Johnson, Jameson's Soul Food, Neptune and Tuzzio's, Long Branch.

Thank you, Congressman Frank Pallone Jr., Mayor Adam Schneider, Mary Jane Celli, Brian Unger, Bill Richards and the LBPD, especially officers Mike Monahan and Matt Widdis, Bruce Johantgen and the LBFD, the VFW Local 2140, the American Legion Jerry Morgan Post 535, Myesha Daniels and Alonah Gill.

This year, the guild had exceptional press coverage, and for that we say thank you, Jack Kearns and Robin Martin from the Link; Chris Kelly from the Atlanticville; Mary Frank, Carol Gorga Williams and Kevin Penton from the Asbury Park Press.

Most importantly, we thank our community friends who attended and supported the King week activities. We are forever grateful to you for your gifts of generosity, benevolence, time and creative works.

Joan Minor

chairwoman

MLK Memorial Guild

Long Branch