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Mystery tour leads group to a rustic treatBy MARY JANE PARK© St. Petersburg Times published March 2, 2003 As they met a chartered bus Thursday in the Northeast Shopping Center parking lot, sustaining members of the Junior League of St. Petersburg and their guests embarked on a mystery tour, with no previous information about their destination. They did know to wear comfortable clothing and shoes. By midmorning, they reached At-Ez, the retreat Judy Stanton's grandparents built alongside the Blue Run River near Dunnellon after World War II. The original home is of cedar construction, with later additions complementary in materials and design. Harry and Evelyn Moorefield, who also have a home at Blue Run, drove over, and Harry Moorefield volunteered as a riverboat captain along with Clarke Ennis of Crystal River and Becker Holland Myers, who is president-elect of the Gainesville league and a daughter of Donna Nagelsen. A brief rainstorm caused most of the women to avoid boarding the pontoon boats. Cindy Weatherby and Susan Wallace braved the elements and took out a canoe. A welcoming blaze in the fireplace and bright sunflowers and daffodils added warmth inside the house, and most of the guests were seated for lunch, catered by the Dinner Dames of Dunnellon. In early afternoon, the group departed for a second secret undisclosed location, as security personnel like to say. Live Oak Stud, the 4,500-acre farm owned by Campbell soup heiress Charlotte Colket Weber, is far too vast an expanse to experience in a day. The thoroughbred operation has received industry recognition for its breeding and training programs and claims numerous stakes winners. Farm manager Eric Hamelback led a tour of the broodmare barn, an immaculate property that houses both mares and foals. Ginny and Dennis Sexton came over from their river place to join the party at Live Oak. Friday's financial pages bore the news that Ms. Weber's net worth has slipped below the $1-billion mark, according to Forbes magazine. In Thursday's tour bunch were Kathy Stover, Mary Evertz, Zana Ennis, Anne Long, Harriet Dyer, Mary Lou DeVoe, Gala Badgley, Mary Wyatt Allen, Mary Joan Mann, Fran Nohren, Candy Scherer, Charlotte Kendall, Kathleen Matecki, Margaret Bowman, Joyce Wilson, Susan McLean, Janet Raymond, Sarah Lonquist, Adrian Bacon, Helen Lyle, Audrey Wedding, Kally Harvard, Lynn Cox, Margaret Matson, Betty Jean Miller, Fran Davis, Suzanne Clark, Nancy Carroll, Gerry Sauers, Carole Cowan, Carol Ann Rhodes and Eva Rudolph. The group returned to St. Petersburg in late afternoon. Fashions from Dana Buchman at Prime Outlets at Ellenton were the draw on Tuesday at a luncheon to benefit Infinity, the League to Aid Abused Children & Adults Inc. Joann Barger was chairwoman for the event, which raised money for Brookwood-Central, Center Against Spouse Abuse and Help A Child Inc. Executive directors of all three organizations were present: Pam Mesmer, Brookwood; Linda Osmundson, CASA; and Patsy Buker, Help A Child. Master of ceremonies Dick Crippen, executive director of community development for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, told the group that nearly all the seats in the third-base section of Tropicana Field are sold for this year's season. Traditionally, the home team is represented in the first-base section, he said, but fans will have a better dugout view of new manager Lou Piniella from the visitor side. Catherine McGarry introduced Barbara Ward, her college roommate at the University of Tampa. Also in the crowd were Pat Weber, Priscilla Hobby, Mary Clowers, Elaine Hearn, Mickie Breen, Cory Adler, Georgia Mattern, Pat LaMonde and Barbara Sullivan. Mary Shuh is president of Infinity; the luncheon committee included Paula Blanda, Hugh Ann Cason-Kelly, Lorraine Danna, Patsy Dunlap, Ann Foster, Lori Gramm, Ruth Gray, Dot McCarthy, Diane Winning, Bernice McCune, Maggi McQueen, Greta Myers, Paula Park, Sally Poynter, Terry Ray, Maritza Smith and Edie Spies. Some of them doubled as models for the fashion show, along with Vera Brantley, Lea Newman, Candy Scherer, Carol Ann Rhodes, Toni Fudge, Lisa Scherer, Pat Rossignol, Cat Coates, Pat Howells and Verda Watson. Diane Merrill, manager of the Dana Buchman store in Ellenton, presented the clothing, for which I heard praise from many women attending. The classic styles are offered in a wide range of sizes, from petite to women's. Major sponsors were the Wal-Mart Foundation, Mida Group Inc. and Mercantile Bank. LOOKING AHEADThursday BOOK SIGNING: Tampa writer Faith Miller signs copies of Jo Jo, a Tiny Story of Faith: A Journey Through Adoption, to benefit the Family Visitation House, Children's Home of Florida. Dolls featured in the book to be auctioned. 7 p.m. Family Visitation House, 2731 13th Ave. N, St. Petersburg. Free. 552-1487. SaturdayFRIENDS OF STRAYS FUNRAISING FESTIVAL: Benefit features luncheon, fashion show, silent auction. 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. St. Petersburg Yacht Club, 11 Central Ave. $30. 522-6566. March 15ABILITIES WINE & FOOD FESTIVAL: Benefit for the Abilities Foundation features 300 wines, 50 restaurants, silent auction. VIP reception: 6-7 p.m. Grand tasting: 7-9:30 p.m. Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg. VIP, $125; grand tasting, $60, $70 at door. 538-7370. ART IN BLOOM 2003: Gardenia: A Golden Era, preview party, cocktail buffet, silent auction. 7-11 p.m. Museum of Fine Arts, 255 Beach Drive NE, St. Petersburg. $75. 823-0394; www.artinbloomstpete.org. Events continue through March 22. March 18ART IN BLOOM 2003: Springtime marketplace, tea in the garden. Sale, display of original artistic items. 1-4 p.m. Museum of Fine Arts, 255 Beach Drive NE, St. Petersburg. $15. 823-0394; www.artinbloomstpete.org. March 22ALL-STAR CELEBRITY AND SPORTS AUCTION: Fundraiser for Children's Dream Fund features cocktails, dinner by Outback Catering, silent and live auctions, celebrity guests. 6 p.m. Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg. $60. 892-6736. -- Mary Jane Park can be reached at (727) 893-8267
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