The Beaches Museum’s “Beach Legends” event will be held Sept. 18, but this year’s event presents an opportunity for a new twist — a virtual event and online auction.
The event, in its seventh year, continues the tradition of honoring individuals who are making tomorrow’s history today.
“As many organizations have done this year, we’ve decided to go to a virtual event” said Jack Schmidt, event co-chair. “We can see so many positives in this move in that now our program will be accessible to everyone, everywhere.”
Participating in the virtual event will be complimentary, however, there are sponsor and patron opportunities as well as an online silent auction. Proceeds from the event support the education, operation and preservation programs of the Beaches Museum.
The highlight of the evening will be an awards presentation honoring well-known, contemporary individuals who have made and are making significant contributions to the on-going history of Mayport, Atlantic Beach, Neptune Beach, Jacksonville Beach, Ponte Vedra Beach and Palm Valley.
The honorees for 2020 are:
■ Ed Malin: Malin is a third-generation member of a Beaches family, having been raised and currently residing in Palm Valley. He is a community advocate as well as an ardent nonprofit supporter. Malin generously opens the doors of his restaurants, Angie’s Subs and Angie’s Grom, for community events and fundraisers. He and his wife Kristan co-founded the Two Titmice Foundation, which supports local breast cancer patients in their time of need. Malin, an avid outdoorsman, created the Big Whiting Tournament, known as the BWT, which is held the first Tuesday of every month from March through October. This tournament is one of many fundraising efforts of the Two Titmice Foundation. Malin’s energy and compassion for the community he loves is witnessed through his willingness to preserve our heritage while embracing its growth.
■ The family of Pete and Helen Dickinson: The Beaches Museum announced recognition of the legendary Dickinson Family for its presence and continued contribution to the early formation and development of the beaches communities as well as the City of Jacksonville. Maxwell, Walter and Franklin Dickinson are the surviving children of Helen and Walter D. “Pete” Dickinson, Sr. Pete and his wife Helen opened a five and dime store that eventually became a hardware store beginning in 1930. Pete and Helen continued their business endeavors by owning and operating multiple businesses including the Sundeck Motel and Perkins Bath House. Pete was always recognized as a civic leader in the Beaches community, offering support for many Beaches organizations. The Dickinson brothers, along with their sister Petra, enjoyed an idyllic, and at the same time challenging, life of living and working on the boardwalk in support of their family businesses. As they reached adulthood, they continued the legacy handed down by their parents to become accomplished business and civic leaders in their own manner and style.
■ Jackie Rooney: For the last 18 years, Rooney been attending events from Mayport to Ponte Vedra and writing about them in her delightfully entertaining Shorelines social column, “The Rooney Bin.” The freelance writer, who prefers being behind the scenes, agreed to author the column only if she could give it a humorous spin. Rooney is known as the Beaches’ storyteller, weaving together the people, events and spirit of the community into one amazing tapestry. Her observance and interest in Beaches history, past and present, led Rooney to co-found the Beaches Museum’s popular and successful annual fundraiser, Beach Legends.
Participation in the event is free, however advanced registration is recommended. Go to www.beachesmuseum.org to sign up and for additional event information.
To learn more about sponsoring or donating to the silent auction, contact Chris Hoffman at director@beachesmuseum.org or (904) 241-5657, ext. 113.
