Brooklyn Boro

Brooklyn judges rule on best Easter Sunday hats

March 25, 2016 By Rob Abruzzese Brooklyn Daily Eagle
The hat contest winners (from left): Diann Davis took second place, Heywood Thomas placed third and Alice Wiley won first place (with Roxanne Persaud). Eagle photos by Rob Abruzzese
Share this:

The bonnets were back for Easter Sunday, thanks to New York state Sen. Roxanne Persaud, who invited four Brooklyn judges to her inaugural Easter Luncheon and Hat Contest that was held at the Vandalia Senior Center in East New York on Thursday.

“I always tell everyone that if they want to see the best Easter bonnets, they have to come to my district,” Persaud said. “Everyone came out and [looked] great, whether [in] homemade hats or hats purchased for a lot of money at Bloomingdales.”

Hon. Sylvia G. Ash, Hon. Genine Edwards, Hon. Robin Sheares and Hon. Harriet Thompson watched as contestants from seven different senior centers across Brooklyn competed for prizes and bragging rights.

Alice Wiley from the Vandalia Senior Center won the first place prize with her beautiful homemade hat, Diann Davis of Penn Wortman Neighborhood Senior Center took second place and Heywood Thomas of the Sun Rise Adult Health Care Center came in third.

More than 150 seniors packed the Vandalia Senior Center for the event, which, in addition to the judges and Persaud, included Councilmember Alan Maisel, U.S. Rep. Hakeem Jeffries and Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams. There was also music and dancing.

By all accounts, the event was a big hit as the seniors cheered along — and most of them wore their Sunday hats regardless of whether they entered the contest or not.

Subscribe to our newsletters


Leave a Comment


Leave a Comment