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Amy Scherzer's Diary

By AMY SCHERZER Times Staff Writer
Published September 28, 2007

Mayor's Hispanic Heritage Gala   

Spanish fans for the ladies and Arturo Fuente cigars for the gents reminded guests at the Mayor's Hispanic Heritage Gala why they were there: to celebrate the many cultural and economic contributions Latinos make to our multicultural society.

Saturday night, for the fifth year, city staffers organized the black-tie dinner to mark National Hispanic Heritage Month, which runs from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15.

Guests roamed the silent auction and casino and danced to Gaby Gabriel and his Miami Extravaganza. Longtime fans know his real name is Gabriel Castillo and that his aunt is Hortensia Sotomayor, who ran the elevator in Old City Hall for many years before retiring this year.

Former Mayor Dick Greco and his wife, Linda McClintock, (now practicing medicine in the West Shore area),former council member Bob Buckhorn and his doctor wife, Cathy Lynch, and City Council member Charlie Miranda and his wife, Shirley, were among the partygoers at the Hyatt Regency Tampa.

Bonus question: When did the United States declare Latinos an ethnic group? Answer: Not until the 1980 census.

The buzz at the Florida Orchestra Guild of Tampa's annual Tune-Up party was how to celebrate its 60th anniversary next spring. "Not sure what it will be, but it will be very special," promised Gege Kreischer.

Guild president Jan McCarthy was pleased to welcome 60 women, including about 10 new and prospective members, to the annual brunch Sept. 17 at Debbie Porter's Beach Park home.

Guitarist Michael Florio and flutist Vera Ginsberg played as the group chatted about summer trips and caught up with orchestra news.

Guild fundraisers in the works range from intimate orchestra soirees at private homes to the Heart Strings raffle of painted violins like the one seen here by Gainesville artist Gary Borse to a Symphony of Christmas trees auction.

Of the seven hunky men on the runway at the fourth annual Festival of Fashions, former Tampa Bay Lightning captain Dave Andreychuk scored the most applause from the 500 guests at the Hyatt Regency Tampa on Sept. 19. Georgette and Tashia Diaz packed the house and stacked the show with celebrity models who hammed and glammed in fashions from Georgette's of Old Hyde Park. WTVT-Ch. 13 reporter Charley Belcher was another crowd favorite.

WFLA-Ch. 8 anchor Gayle Sierens emceed and auctioned five sports and travel packages at the benefit for Hillsborough Achievement and Resource Centers, helping the agency net about $20,000 to enable those with disabilities "build everyday lives."

Marcy Rodriguez and Jackie Loto choreographed dancers to introduce style segments with flashy Broadway numbers. The jail scene from Chicago segued into dramatic black evening gowns. Music from Wicked had models twirling in emerald green gowns, plus a couple of teal dresses. The Dreamgirls formal finale had the audience singing along.

Friends congratulated Smith & Associates Realtor Mitzi Gill, who along with Dina Smith, made the largest sale in Hillsborough county so far this year when they sold a $4.5-million house on Lake Keystone to ex-Buc Vinny Testaverde. Gill says it's the second largest sale in county history, after Blake Casper's $5.175-million purchase on Davis Islands.

Datebook

Saturday:Brunch con Brio featuring Richard Kaufman benefits Florida Orchestra Guild/Tampa; 11 a.m.; Emerald Greens Country Club, 13903 Clubhouse Drive; $50 and up; 839-0279.

Oct. 5: Stratton's Endless Summer cocktail party to benefit Cystic Fibrosis Foundation; music by Full Circle; 7:30 p.m.; Tampa Yacht Club; $150; 249-2111.

Oct. 6: 20th anniversary gala with Liza Minnelli benefits the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center; 5 p.m.; dinner on the Ferguson Hall stage followed by performance; $750 and up; 222-1037.

[Last modified September 27, 2007, 08:04:00]