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Two Citrus women finish in top fiveBy JORGE SANCHEZ © St. Petersburg Times, published September 11, 2000 LECANTO -- A Miami woman who says she believes in helping rehabilitate juvenile inmates was selected as the Ms. Florida Senior America Pageant winner Sunday afternoon. Shirley Arkin, 69, also impressed the judges and crowd at Curtis Peterson Auditorium with her operatic voice. She sang a portion of Verdi's Traviata, and received a sustained round of applause during the talent portion of the program. She wore a black beaded gown. A field of 12 contestants, including three Citrus County residents, competed for the state title, which is awarded to women age 60 and older. Two of the Citrus contestants finished in the top five. Thelma Mackel, the Ms. Senior Citrus County Pageant winner in January, was first runner-up. Mackel, 63, wore a black ruffled gown and sang You'll Never Walk Alone during her talent competition. Helen Carlson, 68, of Sugarmill Woods was second runner-up. She performed a song and dance routine to Second Hand Rose. Gloria Bilbrey of Hernando, who didn't finish in the top five, performed a puppet show. The pageant winner will compete in Reno, Nev., in October for the Ms. Senior America title. Sunday's pageant consisted of evening gown, talent and philosophy of life competitions. Inverness Mayor Joyce Rogers and Crystal River Mayor Curtis Rich acted as co-masters of ceremonies for the three-hour show. The talent competition featured performances that the crowd of about 500 responded to with loud applause. Other crowd favorites besides Arkin were Barbara Miller of Fort Walton Beach, who wore a tailored tuxedo coat and top hat for a song and dance version of If My Friends Could See Me Now, and Shirley Harris of Weston, who danced to Put the Blame on Mame while wearing a shimmering magenta beaded gown. Arkin said she has committed herself to helping rehabilitate juveniles who are state prisoners. "They will soon be released and be our neighbors," she said. "Some people deserve a second chance, and I want to help bring that out." Arkin is a former Broadway dancer and a trained classical singer. The pageant was held in Citrus County for the first time in its 30-year history. To cap off the feat, local pageant director Helen Hill Olesen was named state director for next year's pageants. The judges were Jim Fowler, Vangie Rich, Mercedia White, Jeff Dawsy, Renna Jablonskis and Mark Yerman.
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