Headline Surfer photos by Henry Frederick / Beer and burgers were the main ingredients of a Jimmy-Buffet-themed fundraiser Saturday by the New Smyrna Beach and Edgewater Rotary clubs.
The Vyse family is among myriad attendees at the Rotary fundraiser with Skyler Vyse shown in the large image with his little girl, Remi Vyse, and his girlgriend, Kacie Payne; while shown in the inset is Vyse's parents, Terri and Richard Vyse. The father is general manager of the Best Western Hotel in New Smyrna Beach.
NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Skyler Vyse was home from leave with the Coast Guard where he's stationed in Port Arthur, Texas, to visit his parents, his daughter and girlfriend.
And what better opportunity to celebrate the visit with all in one setting than a fundraiser featuring gourmet cheeseburgers and cold beer at the Brannon Center.
And there was plenty of the latter being consumed Saturday night during the "Cheeseburger in Paradise" for the The Rotary clubs of New Smyrna Beach and Edgewater, the sponsoring organizations of the Jimmy Buffet-styled summer time party named after the singer's restaurants.
"I like the music and the food is great," said Vyse, 26, nearing four years of military service in the Coast Guard, accompanied by his 2-year-old daughter, Remi Vyse, and his girlfriend, Kacie Payne, 23.
"I like the music and the food is great," said Vyse, 26, nearing four years of military service in the Coast Guard, accompanied by his 2-year-old daughter, Remi Vyse, and his girlfriend, Kacie Payne, 23.
Also at the party were Vyse's parents, Terri and Richard Vyse. The elder Vyse is general manager of the Best Western Hotel in New Smyrna Beach.
Tickets for the event weren't cheap -- $75 a person, but for a good cause. “The net proceeds of this event will fund the clubs’ community support with youth scholarships and youth activities” said Tammy Owens, president of the New Smyrna Beach Rotary.
A live band was hired and the crowd was in a partying mood, dancing the night away, enjoying free beer and wine, wine, soft drinks and hamburgers and sliders prepared by a dozen local restaurants. The offerings also included tequila tasting and several 50-50 drawings and raffles.
There was a beer garden outside the Brannon Center and patrons drinking while standing along the rail of the river's edge.
Among the 200 or so people attending were the city managers of New Smyrna Beach and Edgewater, respectively, Pamela Brangaccio and Tracey Barlow; New Smyrna Beach City Attorney Frank Gummey, New Smyrna Beach City Commissioners Jack Grasty, Jason McGuirk, Judy Reiker and her husband, Guy Mariande.
Also attending were New Smyrna Breach Fire Chief Dave McCallister and New Smyrna Beach Police Chief George Markert. Also attending were former New Smyrna Beach Community Redevelopment Agency board members Steve Dennis and Doug Hodson.
Sidebar:
Bankrupt Robert Lott goes from financial guru & newspaper owner to Rotary bouncer