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© St. Petersburg Times, published April 24, 2002
Doc Webb's "World's Most Unusual Drug Store" closed in 1979, but the place is alive in the memories of many St. Petersburg residents and in a new exhibit at the Museum of History.
Friday evening's opening reception for Webb's City: A Community Remembers drew more than 300 people, many of whom reminisced about the longtime landmark that was part discount retailer, part entertainment.
Dancing chickens were one draw to the store. A likeness on loan from the LiveArts Peninsula Foundation, which produced a musical based on Webb's life, and is a partner in the exhibit, was in almost constant play. Guest curator Robin O'Dell borrowed memorabilia from numerous people throughout the community.
It was fun to read comments in the guest book, written by Webb's City patrons, even some former employees.
In a nod to another of the store's promotions, the museum conducted Mermaids on Tour, in which creative people were asked to contribute mermaid art. Candy Lenderman's Hand-Carved Mermaid Spoon won first prize in a competition whose judges were St. Petersburg artist T.W. Curtis; Globe Coffee Lounge owner and WMNF-FM Art in Your Ear host JoEllen Schilke; and WTVT-Ch. 13 Good Day Tampa Bay reporter Russell Rhodes, who also was master of ceremonies.
The mermaids, along with pink plastic flamingos decorated at the museum guild's recent Flock of Fools event, were sold through live and silent auctions.
I enjoyed meeting Rutland Bussey, who now lives in the house once owned by St. Petersburg's Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus, Rene and Florine Lajeunesse.
Florine Lajeunesse, now a widow who lives in Canada, was in town last month; and Bussey went out to the beach to get her, treated her to lunch and took her on a tour of her old home.
Also enjoying the festivities were museum board president Bruce Denson; executive director Mathias Bergendahl; Bobbi O'Malley; Helen and Dale DeWalt; Brenda Griffin; Charlotte Bacon; and Ginny Bitler.
Diana Lucas Leavengood was clutching a black-feathered flamingo she bought for her husband, Bill, who is working with Bob Devin Jones on a play about another St. Petersburg cultural icon, the Manhattan Casino.
Balmy breezes, shade trees and a stunning waterfront view made for a pleasant gathering Saturday morning on the lawn outside the home of Jean Giles and Ted Wittner, hosts for Brunch on the Bay, the Florida Blood Services Foundation's inaugural St. Petersburg benefit.
It is no small feat to put together any fundraising endeavor. Lucie Campbell and Martha Kehm were the intrepid co-chairwomen for the initial event, the purpose of which was to raise money for stem cell research.
Jane Riley Leach, the foundation's executive director, told me that FBS is the fourth-largest blood transfusion service in the United States, after only the Mayo Clinic, Puget Sound Blood Center in Seattle and the Institute of Transfusion Medicine in Pittsburgh.
Dr. Susan Beaven led a tour of the house, which was filled with orchids, in pots and in bouquets, many offered for sale. Especially handsome were Coromandel screens installed as closet doors in an office that also had an invitingly comfy window seat.
The gathering included brunch patrons Phil Graham, Gene and Rose Stern, Mary Wyatt Allen, John Erickson, former St. Petersburg City Council member Larry Williams, Chris Stiles, Colleen Russo and Nancy Bowman Keller.
Also in the crowd were Betsy Owens; Joty Puckett; Corinne Freeman; Vinny and Lorene Dolan; and Don Doddridge, FBS chief executive officer.
Florida Power underwrote the event, which was catered by the Wine Cellar.
For a quarter-century, St. Petersburg's Center Against Spouse Abuse has been working to end domestic violence in the community.
Saturday night at the Coliseum, its annual gala featured a Broadway theme, with tables and chairs covered in black linens and top hats and playbills starring in the centerpieces. Students from the Canterbury School of Florida created a New York skyline in lights.
Carol Russell and Liz Gordon were chairwomen for the benefit, and Erin Whitaker coordinated the auction, which featured items as varied as sculpture and Jimmy Choo shoes.
In the crowd were executive director Linda Osmundson, Alan and Jo Hoffberger, Ron and Cynthia Sinclair, Cory and Lynn Leidersdorff, Mark Kamleiter, Chris Fraser, Linda Gialanella and Bob Giordano, Dr. Steve and Pam Newman, City Council member Richard and Kerry Kriseman, and Stan and Renee Bennett Goldberg from Boca Raton.
"This is my swan song," said development coordinator Beverly Mitlin, with husband Ira, whose generous and embracing spirit has been a bright light in the organization. Her last day is Friday.
Nina Smith, CASA's volunteer coordinator, was headed to Tallahassee on Monday to meet with Gov. Jeb Bush. CASA was a finalist for the governor's Peace at Home Award.
Outback Steakhouse was caterer for the evening, and appetizers were tastes of the restaurant's signature Bloomin' Onion. Outside the Coliseum, cooking aromas tempted me to return, although I did not stay for dinner.
At the annual meeting Monday for the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Suncoast Guild, St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Baker talked about initiatives and achievements in the city's Midtown, downtown, Gateway and Tyrone areas; the popularity of dog parks; water challenges; the tight budget; law enforcement efforts; even homeland security preparations developed after Sept. 11.
At the Woman's Club lunch, prepared by Brown Dog Cafe, my tablemates included Hugh Ann Cason Kelly; Boys & Girls Clubs executive director Carl Lavender Jr.; Deborah Hill; and Nakita Moody, youth of the year, who told me she wants to be a forensic scientist.
New guild officers are Karol Bullard, president; Mary Shuh, first vice president; Catherine McGarry, second vice president; Freda Gower Ward, third vice president; Phyllis West, fourth vice president; Beth Wardrum, treasurer; Susan Cameron, assistant treasurer; Constance Batty, recording secretary; and Edie Spies, corresponding secretary.
-- Mary Jane Park can be reached at (727) 893-8267; fax (727) 893-8675; e-mail park@sptimes.com; P.O. Box 1121, St. Petersburg, FL 33731.