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I love walking into Carroll’s Jewelers, where I am always AMBER VANBUREN
greeted like an old friend. The Riverside Hotel holds special
memories for me. Diana McTigue, Michael Weymouth’s Executive Director of
mother, was the general manager of The Riverside Hotel,
and always epitomized style and grace. And now, I get to Las Olas Association
work with her son, who is the president of Las Olas
Company, on many community initiatives. There certainly hen I first came to the
are fabulous new kids on the block who are energizing the Las Olas Association as
boulevard, but it is the blending of the old favorites and the W Executive Director in
new that make Las Olas Boulevard so very special. November of 2013, we were 2
One of my favorite memories is when I created Winterfest, weeks away from our biggest event
we brought the Bob Hope Christmas Special to town in of the year - Christmas on Las
l986. It was the first network TV special in Broward Olas!!!!.....I was thinking I must
County. A key part of the special was when we closed Las have been crazy to accept this job
Olas and created snow falling on Las Olas. People still talk with such an overwhelming task
about it to this day. happening so soon. The event day
came, and I was a bundle of
nerves, there were hiccups, I had
MARTY KIAR no idea how it would turn out. Would it rain? Would
people show up? How was it all going to come together?
As the event began, my 5th grader took the stage around
Broward County 6:30 pm on 8th Ave with his elementary school and
began to sing with his class....I stood in awe watching all
Property Appraiser the other parents smiling and taking pictures....I was taking
video.....and I began to cry. I was beaming with joy to
n a recent Saturday, after think I had played a part in bringing so much love and
her dance rehearsal, this happiness to our community. And it kept on coming
O was my conversation with throughout the evening. As others took the stage in their
my 5 year old Cammie.
holiday attire (so cute!), I could see the pride in the eyes of
Me - “How was dance Cammie?” the parents & families. That was the same pride I felt when
my little boy was on stage singing. I knew at that moment,
Cammie - “Great daddy! I want to I was a part of something magical...I knew Las Olas was
be fancy and eat lunch on Las Olas the place for me and that I could use this platform to bring
to celebrate.” so much joy!!! What a wonderful feeling!!!!

Me - “But I’m wearing shorts, a
t-shirt and a hat.”

Cammie - “That’s OK, daddy, I’m fancy enough for the
two of us.”

Me - “OK. Las Olas it is.”
We then had a wonderful daddy/daughter lunch at
Big City Tavern and then had gelato next door.

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