The annual Celebrity Breakfast held June 6 at Effie’s Place Family Restaurant supports West Hartford’s Park Road Parade.
By Ronni Newton
The more-than 100 diners at Effie’s Place Family Restaurant on Tuesday morning were met by a somewhat inexperienced but very attentive and well-meaning wait staff pouring coffee and taking orders for Effie’s Eggs, Patrissi Pancakes, and Whiting Lane Waffles.
The celebrity waiters – leaders in the civic and business community, as well as several local television personalities – may have gotten a bit distracted from their duties while sharing the event on Facebook Live but the guests were very patient, and many enjoyed posing for photos as well.
The Celebrity Breakfast raises money for the upcoming Park Road Parade which will be held on Saturday, Oct. 7, 2017.
“It was a successful breakfast – more successful than the past few years,” said Johnny Paindiris, co-president of the Park Road Association and owner of Effie’s Place. He said that just over $3,000 was raised this year.
Paindiris said that despite the rainy morning, the crowd arrived earlier and stayed later than in the recent past.
“That was great, and I was also very happy to see so many new faces, enthusiastic faces among the servers as well as the guests,” Paindiris said. Many brought co-workers or friends to support their serving efforts, adding to the crowds and the fun.
Julianne Roth and Chuck Coursey with Yard Goats mascot Chew Chew. Celebrity Breakfast. June 6, 2017. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Servers this year included West Hartford Mayor Shari Cantor; NBC Connecticut anchor Heidi Voight and her husband David Borselle, the chef/owner of Park & Oak Restaurant; NBC Connecticut political reporter Max Reiss; News Channel 8 reporter Bob Wilson; Town Council Minority Leader Denise Hall; Town Council member Beth Kerrigan; WHC-TV Executive Director Jen Evans; Noah Webster House & West Hartford Historical Society Executive Director Jenn Matos; Companions for Living President Julianne Roth; Board of Education members Cheryl Greenberg and Tammy Exum; Connecticut Department of Revenue Services Commissioner Kevin Sullivan; Keating Agency Principal Ryan Keating; and Neighbors & Friends in West Hartford Facebook group administrator Patti Albee. [Editor’s Note: I was also a server, and even though I was carrying two coffee carafes at once in addition to my camera,, I managed not to spill anything!]
Chew Chew, one of the Yard Goats mascots, also put in an appearance – but although she posed for plenty of photos, she didn’t have the manual dexterity to serve.
After taking a shift, many of the celebrities stayed to eat breakfast, or sat down for an on-air interview with the legendary Brad Davis of WDRC-AM 1360, who along with Dan Lovallo broadcast the Brad & Dan Morning Show live during the event.
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Whting Lane Elementary School parents and celebrity servers. Celebrity Breakfast. June 6, 2017. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Kristen Gorski, Shari Cantor, Max Reiss. Celebrity Breakfast. June 6, 2017. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
From left: Chris Barnes, Denise Hall, Shari Cantor. Celebrity Breakfast. June 6, 2017. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Dept. of Revenue Services Commissioner Kevin Sullivan speaks with Brad Davis and Dan Lovallo on Talk of Connecticut following his shift as a server. Celebrity Breakfast. June 6, 2017. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
From left: Charlie Hilborn, Pamela Hilborn, Rob Rowlson, Jen Evans. Celebrity Breakfast. June 6, 2017. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Companions for Living President Julianne Roth. Celebrity Breakfast. June 6, 2017. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Patti Albee waits on a customer. Celebrity Breakfast. June 6, 2017. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
From left: Cheryl Greenberg, Bruce Putterman, Terry Schmitt. Celebrity Breakfast. June 6, 2017. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Debbie and Roger Goldbeck. Celebrity Breakfast. June 6, 2017. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
David Lemkuil (center) enjoys his breakfast. Celebrity Breakfast. June 6, 2017. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Cailin McBee (left) and Deb Ortega are served coffee by Ronni Newton at the Celebrity Breakfast. June 6, 2017. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
From left: Cheyney Barrieau, Ryan Keating, Barbara Lerner, Matt Banever. Celebrity Breakfast. June 6, 2017. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Noah Webster House and West Hartford Historical Society Executive Director Jenn Matos. Celebrity Breakfast. June 6, 2017. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Board of Education Vice Chair Cheryl Greenberg serves up breakfast. Celebrity Breakfast. June 6, 2017. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Celebrity Breakfast. June 6, 2017. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
From left: Morgan Hilyard, Matt Banever, Barbara Lerner, Bob Newbold. Celebrity Breakfast. June 6, 2017. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
From left: Cheyney Barrieau, Johnny Paindiris, Julianne Roth. Celebrity Breakfast. June 6, 2017. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Celebrity Breakfast. June 6, 2017. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
From left: Patti Klein, David Borsell, Heidi Voight, and Dale Ruth. Celebrity Breakfast. June 6, 2017. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
NBC Connecticut’s Heidi Voight and Max Reiss share the event on Facebook Live. Celebrity Breakfast. June 6, 2017. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
News Channel 8 reporter Bob Wilson serves a guest. Celebrity Breakfast. June 6, 2017. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Chefs from other area restaurants helped out serving at the breakfast, including Park & Oak owner David Borselle (left) and Pond House/Zest280 owner Louis Lista. Celebrity Breakfast. June 6, 2017. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Board of Education member Tammy Exum and Noah Webster House Executive Director Jenn Matos. Celebrity Breakfast. June 6, 2017. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Celebrity Breakfast. June 6, 2017. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
‘Santa Chip’ and Chew Chew. Celebrity Breakfast. June 6, 2017. Photo courtesy of Johnny Paindiris
