Awarding Images in Monroe County, PA

The fresh, brisk air of a higher elevation filled the beings of those who left their cars to walk toward the entrance of The Kalahari Resorts and Convention Center in Pocono Manor, PA on Sunday November 15^th. The establishment hosted The 1^st Annual Monroe County, PA Image Awards (MCIA). The honorees and the hopeful nominees (yeah, I was one of them) emerged from the Kalahari Africanesque portal to partake of the award ceremony which featured dance and song performances along with the distribution of the awards in multiple categories to the selected recipients.

A gathering of what was considered the county's best populated the halls of the vast building as conversations were shared among friends who had known each other for years and those who had known each other for a moment while waiting to be registered for the event. Soon, the wait was over and those who registered were taken to the event's Red Carpet Area with their guest(s) to be interviewed by a member of the Sistah Chat Radio Program which airs every Wednesday at 6pm on WESS 90.3 FM www.facebook.com/SistahChat90.3/?fref=ts and to have their picture taken by Keith Drayton of Focusing on You Photography www.facebook.com/keith.drayton.37. After each photo session, the guests of the honorees and nominees were invited to go into the banquet hall where a lunch would be served while they remained to continue and initiate chats with other potential award recipients.

Soon, it was time for the nominees to congregate in order to make their esteemed entrance into the banquet hall. Each nominee were to enter one by one, say who they are, and state which category they were nominated for. As I entered, I said, “I'm Paul, I'm a writer, and I'm hungry.” A stage was constructed so the nominees could stand and be seen by the gathering of guest before leaving it to greet the multitude in order to make new friends among them. It was after this everyone was seated to await their table's turn to partake of the meal that was prepared for them. The enjoyment of the victuals was enhanced by the conversation shared among the denizens of each table.

After a time, the commencement of the main event of the day was announced and the 1^st Annual MCIA ceremony began. It opened with a combined performance given by International CILA www.facebook.com/cilamanagement/?fref=ts Artist Natalia Segura www.facebook.com/NataliaSeguraOfficial/?fref=ts who sang a song titled, “Beautiful Day” and the Eleve Dance Theatre www.facebook.com/EleveDanceTheater/?fref=ts. This was followed by the entrance of Gary Smith (aka Gary in the Morning) www.facebook.com/The-Gary-In-The-Morning-Radio-Show-on-Pocono-967-FM-259559440735685/?fref=ts from WABT 96.7 FM www.facebook.com/pages/Pocono-967-Fm/1380155605553627?fref=ts and was the MCIA Media Communication Honoree. He then proceed to present the awards to those precipitants in each category.

The recipient of the MCIA Award for Media and Communications Excellence was Elisa Chase of WABT 96.7 FM, Darlene Farris-LaBar of Smithfield, PA for Community Arts, and Roy Ramos of Coolbaugh, PA for Community Entertainment. Each recipient shared their appreciative thoughts along with some words relating to their field. This was followed by the presentation Gary Smith of his MCIA of which he thoughtfully accepted.

MCIA Honoree Dawn Notaro of Dawn of The New York Clothing Shop www.facebook.com/Dawn.of.New.York/?fref=ts in Stroudsburg, PA was scheduled to present the awards in the Local Business Category but was unable to attend the event. However, Sara Smith - Katz and Alicia LaRaine Middleton came before the audience to praise Ms. Notaro and to model some of her wearable work. This was followed by the presentation of the MCIA given by Ms. Katz to recipients The Pocono Medical Wellness Center www.facebook.com/poconowellness/?fref=ts in East Stroudsburg, PA for Local Business, Andy Worthington of Shawnee on Delaware, PA for Economic Development whose award was accepted by Reagan Brown, and a MCIA was given posthumously to Rick Chamberlain of Delaware Water Gap, PA for Community Music.

This was followed by the appearance of Community Written Expression Honorees Edward and Debbie Petra Smith of Meet the Smiths www.facebook.com/MEETTHESMITHS/?fref=ts. The MCIA for Community Written Expression was given to Lois Heckman www.loisheckman.com of Saylorsburg, PA who was not present to receive it. I was nominated for this award but not not get it. I'll be going to a 12 step program in the near future to get over it. Mr. and Mrs. Smith then proceeded to present the MCIA to Sharon Laverdure of East Stroudsburg, PA for being an Outstanding Educator, to Tiffany Elston of Blakeslee, PA for being an Outstanding College Student, and Miriam Bouchekouk of East Stroudsburg, PA for being an Outstanding High School Student.

This was followed by a special introduction given by Sara Smith - Katz for Community Advocate MCIA honoree Deborah Cofer www.facebook.com/deborahmcofer/?fref=ts. Ms. Cofer then proceeded to share her thoughts with the audience which proved to be thoughtful and uplifting. She then presented the MCIA for Community Service to Gil Coronado of East Stroudsburg, PA, the MCIA for Civic Service to The National Council of Negro Women - Greater Pocono Section www.facebook.com/pages/Greater-Pocono-Section-National-Council-of-Negro-Women-Inc/825390817507074, The Coach of the Year MCIA to Alexis Wilkinson of East Stroudsburg, PA, and a MCIA was given to Jonathan Smith Rivera of Swiftwater, PA for being an Outstanding College Athlete.

This was followed by the Public Service Award honoree PA State Representative, David Parker, of the commonwealth's 115^th Legislative District who shared some thoughtful words as a tribute in memory of Samantha Agins who was a medic at a camp for disabled individuals in PA. She died while administering CPR to an autistic woman in her 40s. Representative Parker's words were followed by the return of Natalia Segura whose voice moved the soul while a slide presentation celebrating Ms. Agins' life was shown. It was after this heart touching presentation did members of Ms. Agins' family come to the stage, shared their appreciation, and presented a number of MCIAs. These presentations were to The Bushkill, PA Emergency Corps www.facebook.com/BushkillEmergencyCorps/?fref=ts who received the award for Emergency Medical Service and to the A Plus Smile Center PC www.facebook.com/pages/A-Plus-Smile-Center-Pc/218358254959201?fref=ts in East Stroudsburg, PA who received the Medical Achievement award.

This was followed by the appearance of MCIA Community Films Honoree Bridget O. Davis who is the founder of the Pocono Mountains Film Festival www.facebook.com/The-Pocono-Mountains-Film-Festival-263044213711136/?fref=ts. After sharing her thoughts on the awards and her appreciation for receiving one, Ms. Davis proceeded to present a number of awards herself. These were the MCIA for Community Film/TV to BASSLINE Against the Bully and the Clergy Leadership Award to Rev. Dr. Kenneth Pearman of the Reaching out for Jesus Christian Center www.facebook.com/ROFJCC/?fref=ts in Brodheadsville, PA.

This was followed by the appearance of Katrina Meyers-Gray who sang a patriotic tribute to the United States prior to the entrance of the Veteran's Honoree Sergeant Major Claudette Williams. Ms. Williams then proceeded to present the Veteran's Award to Bishop Dr. William Earl Lee of Stroudsburg, PA and the MCIA for Public Service to State Rep. Rosemary Brown www.facebook.com/RepRosemaryBrown/?fref=ts of Middle Smithfield, PA.

This was followed by the appearance of MCIA co founders Alicia LaRaine Middleton and Thomas Jones. The duo shared their appreciation and praise for those who were involved with and supported the manifestation of The 1^st Annual Monroe County, PA Image Awards as well as to those who came to experience the event. It was during this time did they reveal the winners of The Rising Star Award. They were Deidre Sears and the Elevé Dance Theater, Natalia Segura of CILA llc, Management, Katrina Meyers-Gray of Madamdon's House of Beauty www.facebook.com/Madamedons-House-of-Beauty-120967431328561, and Michael Tukeva of Pocono Alliance www.facebook.com/poconoalliance/?fref=ts. As their words concluded, they proceeded to present the MCIA for Community Service to Gil Coronado of East Stroudsburg, PA. The presentations of the MCIA concluded with The Man of the Year Award given to Geoffrey M. Roche of East Stroudsburg, PA and The Woman of the Year Award given to Sharone Glasco.

The event was concluded by some closing remarks shared by MCIA co founders Alicia LaRaine Middleton and Thomas Jones who invited the audience to partake in capturing images of themselves (selfies) on their cell phones. This was followed by a performance given by the Eleve Dance Theatre and Katrina Meyers-Gray who sang the song titled, “Ain't No Stopping Us Now” which was written in 1979 by Gene McFadden and John Whitehead and appears in their debut album titled, “McFadden and Whitehead.” An after party continued the celebration in the Kalahari banquet hall with music provided by DJ Ruby www.facebook.com/DJ-RUBY-287360568024441/?fref=ts while those who received MCIAs were invited to have their photographs taken with their trophies on the red carpet. It was during this time did those who came to the event share their fare wells while looking forward to the next Monroe County, PA Image Awards ceremony who will begin accepting nominations in March 2016. You'll find more photographs taken during 2015 event in the 1^st Annual MCIA in the Award Images in Monroe County, PA Gallery at www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10154357467938761.1073741923.91146283760&type=3.

The 1^st Annual Monroe County, PA Image Awards was held at The Kalahari Resorts and Convention Center in the Pocono Mountains. According to their website, the venue is an authentically African themed resort and convention center which is located in Pocono Manor, PA. The venue holds a 100,000 square foot Indoor Water Park, 457 appointed guest Rooms and Suites, numerous Dining options, and a Family Entertainment Center along with their Spa Kalahari and Salon. The Convention Center at Kalahari features 65,000 square feet of flexible meeting space for events both large and small along with award-winning catering and state-of-the-art technology to make any event an unforgettable one. You can learn more about The Kalahari Resorts and Convention Center and all they have to offer by exploring their Facebook Page at www.facebook.com/pages/Kalahari-Resorts/412649115580357 or their Website at www.kalahariresorts.com/pennsylvania.

The Monroe County, PA Image Awards (MCIA) are designed to celebrate the many contributions of leaders who serve the county in an exemplary manner. The MCIA was initiated by Rainey Roo Productions which was founded by Thomas Jones who serves as their CEO and Alicia LaRaine Middleton. The organization offers a variety of media and promotional development consultation and services to the community and individuals. You can learn more about The Monroe County, PA Image Awards and Rainey Roo Productions with all they have to offer by exploring their Facebook Page at www.facebook.com/pages/Monroe-County-Image-Awards/1664987550379966? or their Website at www.raineyrooproductions.com.

Photography by Paparazzi Paul.