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Lakewood High reunion takes on 1980s flavor

By MARY JANE PARK
Published July 20, 2005

Michele and Phil Farley moved to St. Petersburg from Chicago and bought the Rutland estate on Sunrise Drive S last summer. Restoring it is an ongoing project, and they have been generous hosts, inviting several charitable organizations to hold benefits on the spacious property.

Last month, their hospitality extended to the Lakewood High School class of 1985.

Lakewood is Michele Farley's alma mater, and the couple gave a cocktail party for about 100 visitors, with catering by Mattison's, beverage service from Catering by Lundy's and music from Retrospective, an '80s dance band that often plays at the Rare Olive downtown.

Some guests went to great lengths to dress in '80s styles - I'm imagining the women focusing on big hair, big jewelry and big shoulder pads.

People from various age groups and graduating classes at Lakewood also adhered to the '80s theme, Michele Farley reported.

The mix included Sterling Powell, Cathie Lucas, Laura Sweeney, Courtney and Sharon Taylor, John and Ann Taylor, Bruce Johnson, Lara Shelton, Monique Descent, Brett and Blake Kennedy and Joe and Ana Bayliss.

That was Thursday night, June 23; the next evening, the grads had another cocktail party and dinner at El Sirata; on Saturday, there was a formal dinner.

Already, plans are in the works for the 25th reunion, a one-day spectacular in 2010.

Beverly Mitlin offered an anecdote about John Galbraith last week that was illustrative of his many contributions to life in St. Petersburg. Galbraith and his wife, Rosemary, have given so much to local institutions including the Florida International Museum, Eckerd College, the Florida Orchestra and Albert Whitted Municipal Airport.

John Galbraith was walking to his office one early morning, Mrs. Mitlin said, and he encountered a man who was sweeping the sidewalk in front of the old American Stage offices on Central Avenue.

John Berglund, then one of the theater's directors, powered the broom. Galbraith inquired why Berglund took on that task.

Somebody has to do it, Berglund said. He went on to explain that the young theater company was small and didn't have much money, and he said his work included many tasks, sweeping among them.

Galbraith inquired about American Stage, Berglund made his pitch, and Galbraith gave the theater a handsome donation, Mrs. Mitlin said.

Longtime residents appreciate American Stage as a treasured cultural institution in St. Petersburg and Galbraith as a catalyst for the city's turnaround.

The Galbraiths have sold the St. Petersburg condominium and are settling in Charlottesville, Va., although friends say they expect the couple to be back in town occasionally.

Wear pajamas downtown early Thursday morning, and some merchants will reward that extremely casual attire.

The 32nd annual sunrise sale and pajama party, which features discounted merchandise in stores along Beach Drive, in BayWalk and other nearby locations, begins at 6:43 a.m.

The Beach Drive & Downtown Business Association are sponsors for the event. Information: 821-6443.

Two free events on Saturday will benefit students of varying ages in our community. The Junior League of St. Petersburg's Back-to-School Care Fair offers free immunizations, medical examinations, and vision and dental screenings at the Johnnie Ruth Clarke Health Center, 1344 22nd St. S.

At Tropicana Field, a team of St. Anthony's physicians will conduct free sports physicals for high school athletes.

The first 2,200 school-age children arriving at the care fair will receive free backpacks filled with school supplies.

Immunizations will be administered by Pinellas County Health Department staffers, medical exams by personnel from Bayfront Medical Center and St. Anthony's Health Care, vision screenings by Lions Club volunteers, and dental screenings by the University of Florida College of Dentistry and the Pinellas County Dental Hygiene Association.

Other features of that event include car seat safety checks by the St. Petersburg Fire and Rescue Department, a bicycle rodeo and safety fair (bicycles and helmets required), music and dance presented by the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Suncoast, and crafts hosted by the Junior League.

Legal guardians must accompany all children. Adults should bring children's birth certificates and immunization records for medical services. Free parking is available.

Hours are 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Donations of school supplies and backpacks may be made by phoning the Junior League of St. Petersburg at 895-5018; e-mail hq@jlstp.org All south Pinellas high school athletes are eligible for the Tropicana event, sponsored by St. Anthony's and the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.

Participants will receive sports physicals from dozens of physicians representing numerous specialties such as family practice medicine, orthopedics, cardiology, surgery, ophthalmology and ear/nose/throat. Athletic trainers and nurses will be available to answer questions. The event also will feature "Ask the Sports Medicine Doctor" seminars.

Free parking will be available in Lot 1. Participants can enter through Gate 5.

Event hours are 9 a.m. to noon. Information: 825-1111.

Participants will receive two free tickets to Saturday's Devil Rays game against the Baltimore Orioles. They will be distributed on on a first-come, first-served basis.

The Woman's Service League, which raises money through its annual fashion show and Promenade, is accepting grant applications from organizations that serve Pinellas County.

To be eligible, nonprofits must be listed under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue code.

Additional information and applications may be received by calling 392-4500 or 866-0202. The deadline for applications is July 31.

July 31 also is the deadline for submissions for the 2005-2006 Social Calendar. Please send information regarding social and charitable events to me at one of the addresses below.

Complete information should include sponsoring group, date, time, venue address, ticket price and a publishable phone number.

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 July 20, 2005, 14:33:01]