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LIGHTING THE WAY: Yummy food, festive holiday decor and children caroling made the LAMPLighters' Silver Christmas Coffee a heartwarming affair. Sue Isbell hosted the annual affair for the LAMPLighters, the women's auxiliary for Metropolitan Ministries, at her beautiful Bayshore Boulevard home on Dec. 10. Just about everything on her dining room table was made by club members, such as Carolyn Black's beets stuffed with egg salad, Patricia Smedley's sausage blossoms and Susanne Cleckler's lemon bars.
The 150 guests - including several women who joined the auxiliary that day - donated $3,500 to bring joy to families living at Metropolitan Ministries' homeless shelter over the holidays.
KREWE CAN CAN: The Krewe of Les Belles Femmes and Les Beaux d'Avila kicked up their heels at a Dec. 11 benefit for the Tampa Museum of Art. What better backdrop could there be for this club than the current exhibit, "Toulouse-Lautrec: Master of the Moulin Rouge." Add Mumm Cordon Rouge Champagne, an open bar and hors d'oeuvres, and the 200 guests thought they were in Paris.
The 2-year-old, women-only club has about 60 members, plus a male auxiliary. The krewe lifted its motto right out of the Oscar-winning movie Moulin Rouge: "Truth, Beauty, Freedom, Love."
"We are all professional women with high stress jobs who wanted to dress up and still be respected members of the community," said president Susan King. (Wonder where they got that idea, mateys.)
And dress up they do: women in lacy bustiers and boas a la can-can dancers, men in tuxedos and bowlers. You'll see them in their first Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla's invasion parade Feb. 7.
HELLO, DOLLY: Dolls outnumbered diners at the Salvation Army Women's Auxiliary volunteer holiday potluck lunch and doll show Dec. 12. Doll chairman Joyce Bright explained that every spring the group distributes about 235 dolls and 85 bears to doll clubs and interested women who volunteer to dress them. Last week, the women displayed the dolls in their handmade clothes at the annual luncheon. You name it, someone sewed it: brides, glamour girls, a hula dancer and Tampa Bay Buc and Gator bears. Judges picked the best in several categories and set them aside to be auctioned at an April 16 fashion show. The Salvation Army will distribute the rest to children.
Liz Bonney chaired the luncheon for 230 auxiliary members. Salvation Army Maj. Rick Mikles played his guitar and sang The Little Drummer Boy. His wife, Maj. Connie Mikles, coordinator of women's ministries, gave the closing prayer.
COUNT ON LIZ: For decades, Liz Kennedy has raised her voice for children's issues. On Dec. 4, Voices for Children spoke up about her accomplishments, presenting her with the Champion for Children award. Kennedy is a founding board member and past-president of the Child Abuse Council, a founding board member of Hillsborough Kids, Inc. and has served on TheChildren's Home board since 1976.
Voices for Children, formerly called the Guardian Ad Litem Guild, raises money to promote guardians who help the almost 4,500 neglected and abused children in the county. GAL volunteers are appointed by judges to be a voice for children in court.
About 100 guests and members of Kennedy's family attended the award event at the Swope Rodante law office, including: Anthony Adamo, director of The Children's Home; Bob Gilbertson, YMCA director, who plans to partner with GAL in a direct mail campaign; supporters Carolyn and Jack McMullen; and Angela Rodante, who often provides meeting and event space for the group. Entertainment came from The Academy chorus, featuring Charles Nelson, GAL program director for Hillsborough County.
Voices for Children came across loud and clear. Executive director Debra Roberts was looking to raise $1,000 at the event, "but we surprised ourselves with donations of more than $10,000."
NEW RULES: New royalty took over the Krewe of Fort Brooke on Dec. 6 at its 12th annual Christmas coronation gala at the Tampa Marriott Waterside. Founders/benevolent dictators, Dick Kirchen and Todd Bray, appointed the 2004 court: King and Queen Bob Moeller and Lydia Graff; Duke and Duchess Kris Kirchen and Diana Hensley; Baron and Baroness Craig Newberg and Patti Granzig. Matt Keller is mayor; Ken Schwartz is officer of the year.
COOKIE SWAP: Members of the Florida Orchestra Guild swapped fabulous goodies and recipes were swapped at the cookie exchange Monday at Diane Murfee's home in Town N' Country. Everyone took home the same number of treats they brought, plus there were plenty to sample. For dieters, there was an array of salads as well. Guest speaker Jeff Bram, the orchestra's operations director, shared some secrets about visiting celebrity artists and behind-the-scenes stuff.
- To pass along tips to Amy Scherzer, reach her at 226-3332 or scherzer@sptimes.com
DATEBOOKDEC. 31: Florida Orchestra New Year's Eve Gala; 6:30 p.m.; Renaissance Vinoy Hotel; $350; 286-1170, ext. 318.
DEC. 31: The 13 Ugly Men's 10th annual New Year's Eve party benefits Stand Up for Kids; Radisson on the River; $75 for women, $135 for men; 8 p.m.-3 a.m.; tickets at www.13uglymen.com or at the door.
JAN. 8: 13th annual Night at the Circus benefits Tampa General Pediatric Emergency Care Center; patron's party, 5:30 p.m.; St. Pete Times Forum; 844-7273.
JAN. 10: Krewe of Venus 39th annual Royal Coronation Ball; invitation-only; 6:30 p.m.; India Conference Center; 289-9310.
JAN. 17: To Life, black-tie optional award dinner benefits the Florida Holocaust Museum; 7:30 p.m.; Hyatt Regency Downtown, $200; guest Jon Voight; (727) 820-0100, ext. 249.
JAN. 17: Krewe of the Knights of Sant' Yago Coronation Ball; invitation-only; 6:30 p.m.; Tampa Convention Center; 248-3088.