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On the town

Annual fashion benefit mixes shapes and sizes

By MARY JANE PARK
Published May 4, 2005

Star Power, the annual fashion show to benefit the Children's Home Society of Florida, is a much-anticipated event each spring.

Georgette Diaz, who owns the boutique Georgette's of Old Hyde Park Village in Tampa, mixes models and Tampa Bay area celebrities on the runway, hires dancers and DJs to pump energy into the production, and showcases styles that range from practical to whimsical to sublime.

Thursday's luncheon, held in the grand ballroom at the Renaissance Vinoy Resort, drew compliments for featuring real-size women among the taller, teenier ones.

The men who modeled clothing from George Ltd. included Tampa Bay Lightning forward Ben Clymer, whose Stanley Cup ring gleamed in the spotlights.

Designs featured sherbet colors and white jeans paired with boucle jackets as well as baby doll tops. Frills and furbelows abounded in women's evening wear and bohemian- and hippie-influenced styles. Nearly every long gown had a train.

The parade of area celebs included Eugenie Bondurant, Margaret Word Burnside, Jeff Carlson, Sarina Fazan, Jen Holloway, Tom DeCaprio, Jack Harris, Mark Larsen, Sheena Monnin, Carleth Keys, Brenda Orcutt, J.P. Peterson, Denis Phillips, Kelly Ring, Cathy Unruh and Vonda White. Young Spencer Hedges, son of event co-chairwoman Debbie Hedges, wore top hat and tails for his Fred Astaire-inspired dance solo.

Dick Crippen, the Tampa Bay Devil Rays' executive director of community development, was master of ceremonies.

Karol Bullard also headed the benefit committee, which included Hope Dogali, Hilde Hulen, Becky Derry, Laura Olsen, Jamie Blevins, Debbie Cureton, Sharon Gremald, Valerie Bukowski, Irene Lasobik, Ann Torgusen and Beth Doyle.

More than a few elegant hats were seen in the luncheon crowd, which included Joann Barger, Cathy Clayton, Michelle Bullard, Kim Konow, Alice Roess, Cary Bond, Carole Merritt, Ann Foster, Royce Haiman, Tinker McKee, Kathy Guckenberger, Connie Whitehead, Mary Perry, Laurie Lowe, Fran Davis, Nancy Biesinger, Barbara Kyes, Charlotte Kendall, Paula Park and Hugh Ann Cason-Kelly.

Tom Gessler was crating works from the recent "Monet's London" exhibition at the Museum of Fine Arts last Thursday and had little time to think about anything else.

Nonetheless, members of the Stuart Society diverted him for a few hours, honoring him for more than 30 years of service to the organization and the museum and treating him to lunch at the St. Petersburg Yacht Club.

Gessler is in charge of installations and photography at the museum, where he first was an intern in 1970. After he graduated in 1972 with an art degree from Florida Presbyterian (now Eckerd) College, there was no job for him; he worked in Pennsylvania for a while, returning to the St. Petersburg museum in 1975.

Stuart Society president Mary Shuh made the award presentation, giving Gessler a Marvin Jaffee portrait of himself and a keepsake plaque.

Attendees at the meeting included his mother, Joan, who is president of the museum's Palladian Society; his sister Sally Robinson; MFA executive director John Schloder; chief curator Jennifer Hardin; Carol Upham; Starr Weihe; Bonita Cobb; Nancy Harris Thomas; Judy Stanton; Ellie Frazier; Hazel Hough; Marguerite Wiltse; Barbara Smith; Roger Zeh; Margaret Amley; Charlotte Bacon; David Connelly; Barbara DeMaire; Barbara Hennessy; Jan Green; Susan Hicks; Betty Jean Miller; Glenn Mosby; Eric Lang Peterson; Evelyn Wilty; an d Dottie Templet.

The interior of each case is constructed of foam and other cradling materials. "They're little homes away from home for the paintings," he said.

Marsha Lamp, assistant to Craig Sher of the Sembler Co., was named Professional Assistant of the Year at St. Anthony's 13th annual Salute to Professional Assistants luncheon April 25. She received $1,200 in prizes.

Nearly 200 executives and their assistants attended the event at the Radisson Hotel and Conference Center.

Nominees were judged in six areas: job responsibilities, accountability, years of service, management of others, leadership and volunteer efforts.

Other semifinalists were Diane Villanova, assistant to Vince Naimoli of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, and Margaret McCurdy, assistant to Stan Tangalakis of Mercury Medical.

Also at the event were Tish Elston, Ford Kyes, Darryl LeClair, Nathaniel Herring, Anna Orr, Patricia Hardiman, Christine Harvey, Michael Piper, John Green, John Karvonan, Albert Lewis, Lee Schafer, Dr. Michael Reilly, Dr. Karen Singer, Norman LeClair, Dr. Teresa Bradley, Russ Sloan, Mary Mackey, Guy and Charles Van Middlesworth, Jennifer Lynn High, Susan Lindelof and Kristen Reddin.

Barb Kyes and Glenda Fahey co-chaired the luncheon committee, which included Shirley Bonney, Ruth Burns, Mary Ellen Conte, Mary Cross, Bonnie Douglas, Alice Duckstein, Priscilla Hobby, Mary Lou Johnson, Joan Loader, Barbara Meacomes, Joan Miro, Chris Navarro, Virginia Smith, Diane Winstin and Roberta Yancey.

Proceeds will go to the auxiliary's renovation of the hospital's main lobby.

Today

FAMILY OF THE YEAR LUNCHEON: Family Service Centers event honors family of Calvin and Ruth Harris. Noon-1:30 p.m. Feather Sound Country Club, 2201 Feather Sound Drive, Clearwater. $50. 489-5236.

POLICE ATHLETIC LEAGUE BREAKFAST: Features retired U.S. Army Gen. Tommy Franks. 7 a.m. Hilton St. Petersburg, 333 First St. S. $100. 421-3436.

Saturday

DELTA SIGMA THETA PRAYER BREAKFAST: Alumnae chapter's sixth annual event raises money for high school scholarships. 8:30 a.m. Hilton St. Petersburg, 333 First St. S. $30.

May 12

PARC BREAKFAST: Celebrates 52nd anniversary of Pinellas Association for Retarded Children. 8-9:15 a.m. St. Petersburg Yacht Club, 11 Central Ave. $20. Reservations required. 345-9111, ext. 383.

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.

[Last modified May 4, 2005, 00:57:19]