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Longtime community activist Helena Miller reveled in the attention paid her Aug. 3 at a luncheon celebrating her 95th birthday, which was July 30.
Hosting the party, held in the St. Petersburg Yacht Club, were her daughter Helena Jones, Sharon Clayton, Rose Cappelletti, Patsy Dunlap, Ann Foster, Bobbie Gilgosch, Sylvia McLain, Edie Spies and Connie Whitehead.
All wore orchid corsages, as did the honoree, who chose a veiled ivory hat to match her suit, which featured a lacy layered skirt.
She also donned a plumeria lei constructed by friend Barbara Royston from blossoms in her home garden. The irrepressible Mrs. Miller entertained guests with a double entendre having to do with the floral necklace, sang along with pianist Gene Cipriano and missed no opportunity to express appreciation and affection for attendees.
Don Whitehead was the unofficial master of ceremonies. Mimicking TV talk show hosts, he took a portable microphone through the crowd as numerous guests offered tales in which Mrs. Miller has had a starring role.
Sally Poynter, wearing a neck brace required after a June fall and subsequent surgery, seems fully to have recovered her vibrancy and sense of humor. Terry and Judy Cunniff had just returned from a trip to Oregon.
Additional guests included Pamela Berger, Freida Cassey, Helen Mills, Paula Park, Diane Winning, Candy Scherer, Fern Clayton, Chuck and Sally Reed, Pat Ford, Anna Collins, Margaret Word Burnside, Barbara Zaccaria, Ruth Gray, Pat Howells, Hugh Ann Cason-Kelly, Bernice McCune, Pat LaMonde, Mary Wyatt Allen, Toni Fudge an d Bob and Margret Daly.
The 2004-05 Social Calendar will publish the Sunday after Labor Day, or Sept. 12. The deadline for submitting events is past; however, I've heard from several On-the-Towners who diligently sent e-mails that I never received.
Here's my best guess as to why: The Times has a sophisticated system that is designed to filter irritating, disgusting, unwanted e-mails sent by people who are up to no good. It does that sometimes, and it also sometimes blocks e-mails that ought to get through.
If you have sent e-mail regarding a charitable or social event for inclusion in the calendar and have received no e-mail reply from me, please inquire as to whether I received your message. If I have not responded to you, chances are good that I didn't get your e-mail in the first place. If you do send e-mail, please do not send attachments. My contact information is at the end of the column.
Looking aheadAug. 21
THE ART OF COLLECTING '60s AND '70s VINTAGE COUTURE: GFWC HarborSprings Woman's Club of North Pinellas, Leepa-Rattner Museum of Art Palette Society event benefits PACE Center for Girls. Vintage clothing presentations, heavy hors d'oeuvres, beverages, live music, silent auction. Themed or cocktail attire. $50. 410-0909.
GOLF TOURNAMENT: Fifth annual International Sign & Design and Grady Pridgen Golf Classic benefits R'Club Child Care scholarships for children of needy families. 11 a.m.-noon lunch; noon start; 5:30 p.m. dinner. $150 individual, $600 foursome. Cove Cay Country Club and Golf Course, 2612 Cove Cay Drive, Clearwater. 578-5437.
Aug. 28
GOLF TOURNAMENT: Third annual event benefits Network of Christian Counseling Centers. Lunch, noon; shotgun start, 1 p.m. $75 single; $300 foursome. Pasadena Yacht & Country Club, 6300 Pasadena Point Blvd. S, St. Petersburg. Call Terry Collier at 345-0148.
Aug. 29
AFTERNOON TEA WITH HATTITUDE: YWCA event benefits Willette Givens McKinney Memorial to aid homeless families. Fashion show featuring hats presented by Program for Early Training Toward Adult Lifestyles (PETTALS). 2-4:30 p.m. St. Petersburg Country Club, 2000 Country Club Way S. Reservations accepted through Aug. 26. 461-2997, ext. 21.
Sept. 11
UNITED WE STAND - TOGETHER WE CAN: Pinellas County Oncology Nursing Society event honors women cancer survivors. 6:30 p.m. St. Petersburg Yacht Club, 11 Central Ave. 459-7099.
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.