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On the town

More gold for tradition of service to orchestra

By MARY JANE PARK
Published November 13, 2005

Bill Wallace became the third person in his family to receive the Florida Orchestra Guild's prestigious Golden Baton Award, presented Nov. 6 at a luncheon at the St. Petersburg Yacht Club.

Wallace's father, John B. Wallace, was awarded the inaugural Golden Baton in 1965; brother John P. Wallace, in 1985.

The award recognizes outstanding service to the orchestra, and Wallace certainly fills the bill, having served as chairman of the board of trustees from 1995 to 1997. He and his wife, Sally, are members of the Mary Elizabeth Mitchell Society, which means that they have named the orchestra in their wills.

Guild president Catherine McGarry made the presentation.

"Every year is a pivotal year" for the musicians, Wallace said last week, commenting on the orchestra's financial challenges. "It's just such a wonderful organization that deserves support from 100 percent of the community."

Numerous family and friends attended the awards ceremony, including the Wallaces' daughter, Betty, her husband, Andy Corty, and their sons, Robert and Edward; Marty Wallace; Marion and Bill Ballard; David Fischer; Hazel and Bill Hough; Barbara Smith; Marianne and Stockton Rucker; Dr. Susan and Peter Betzer; Jane and Sterling Weems; Priscilla and Dr. Royce Hobby; Sally Poynter; and Edie Spies, attending with John Murphy, was chairwoman for the event.

There were so many pirate costumes at the Nov. 5 Fish Head Ball you'd have sworn it was a holdover from Halloween or a giant pre-game tailgate for the Buccaneers.

Hungry partygoers seemed to inhale food served at buffet stations from various bay area restaurants: I sampled paella, and calamari, shrimp, tilapia and other sea creatures, even asking one server whether the fish knew they'd been sacrificed for a fundraiser for St. Petersburg's Pier Aquarium. At week's end, officials estimated the event raised more than $35,000.

Many of the nearly 1,000 attendees entered the Palazzo Di Oro on 34th Street S by walking a plywood gangplank. The Landsharks of Orlando played sea-themed tunes and Jimmy Buffett classics. Torches outside lit the way to a tiki bar, and a whole roast pig nearly evaporated, so eager were ticketholders to taste it.

You could dig for buried treasure, enter the costume contest, bid on silent and live auction items, and even attend an after party at Fresco's on the downtown St. Petersburg waterfront.

Committee members included Judy Blank, Hope Botterbusch, Chris Chambers, Johanna Colegrove, Jan Davidson, Alice Eachus, Gail Earley, Mandee Flores, Lee Given, Joe and Karen Henschen, Kevin Kowzan, Linda O'Brien, Kevin Riskowitz, Mike Sexton, Emily Stehle, Eleanor Whiteside, Gloria and Jeff Wilcox and Patty Zimmermann.

Kathy Taylor Zimmerman, who designed the invitations and souvenir T-shirts and coffee mugs, was available to autograph her work. Others in the crowd were E. Howard Rutherford, the aquarium's executive director; board president Lari Johnson, with husband Charlie; Chris Given; Joyce and Blake Longacre; Virginia and Norm Blake; Barbara and Ken Cowan; Elinor an d Rex Gollay; Jane and Mark Luther; Kathleen Stacy Young; Bret Trifler; Doug and Diane Linder; Kathryn Howd; and Kathleen Peters.

A plaque near the entry gate at Phil and Michele Farley's home bears this wonderful quote from Ralph Waldo Emerson: "The ornament of a house is the friends who frequent it."

Quite a few people have visited the family in the past couple of years, since the couple renovated the old Rutland estate in St. Petersburg. They've averaged nearly a party a week this fall, hosting numerous charity fundraisers, including Holiday Hope 2005, an event for ASAP Homeless Services.

The ninth annual benefit took place Nov. 4, with guests partaking of hors d'oeuvres, a buffet dinner and dessert from Carrabba's Italian Grill, and dancing to the music of Lucian & the All Stars, with guest vocalist Steve Fowler. It was a gorgeous night, and the musicians performed on a porch outdoors.

Committee leaders were Colleen Crutchfield, Leah Cutting, Lisa Glonek, Kip and Mindy Kedersha, Polly Leavengood, Carol Lajdziak, Joy Parrish, John Stewart and Caroline York.

Director Karen Butler and board president Joy Parrish greeted guests for the event. ASAP, organized in 1986, supplies housing and other basics to the homeless and guides them toward self-sufficiency.

Wednesday

THE ART OF SAKS: Stuart Society fashion show features clothing from Saks Fifth Avenue, benefits Museum of Fine Arts. 10:30 a.m . Grand Ballroom, Renaissance Vinoy Resort, 501 Fifth Ave. NE, St. Petersburg. $60. 823-0713.

Friday

CARNIVAL, RIO STYLE: Buffet dinner, tasting of South American wines, silent auction benefits Brookwood Florida. Business casual; costumes encouraged. 6:30-9 p.m. Feather Sound Country Club, 2201 Feather Sound Drive, Clearwater. 822-4789; lwalter@brookwoodflorida.org

CELEBRATE THE SEASON: Third annual gift market benefits Junior League of St. Petersburg community projects. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Coliseum Ballroom, 535 Fourth Ave. N, St. Petersburg. $5; children under 12, free. 894-8065; www.jlstp.org Continues 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday.

WHAT HAPPENS HERE, STAYS HERE: Celebrate the Season casino night benefits Junior League of St. Petersburg community projects. 6-11 p.m. Coliseum Ballroom, 535 Fourth Ave. N, St. Petersburg. $50. 894-8065; www.jlstp.org

PARTY TO THE MAX: Event for patrons of "Imagine . . . for Kids," benefit for arts education features artist Peter Max. Private home, Tampa. www.imagineforkids.com wendylatorre@aol.com

Saturday

LOVE TO THE MAX: 1960s party for "Imagine . . . for Kids," benefit for arts education features artist Peter Max. Food, music, entertainment, auction. 7:30 p.m. Museum of Fine Arts, 255 Beach Drive, St. Petersburg. $150. www.imagineforkids.com wendylatorre@aol.com

Sunday

LISTEN TO THE MAX: Artist Peter Max conducts hourlong lecture. 1 p.m. Museum of Fine Arts, 255 Beach Drive, St. Petersburg. $25. www.imagineforkids.com wendylatorre@aol.com

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 November 13, 2005, 03:00:43]