June 08, 1997|By SYLVIA BADGER
Party planners decided to go native for the Associated Italian American Charities' 52nd Annual Donor Dinner Dance. Everything had an Italian flavor, from the decorations, music and family-style Italian dinner to the theme of the evening, the "Joy of Family."
Dr. Michael G. Dana was chairman and toastmaster of the evening, which kept him busy introducing the VIPs. This year's honorees were Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, internationally renowned director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease, National Institutes of Health, who received the Thomas J. D'Alesandro Jr. Award; Thomas J. Iacoboni, a Maryland contractor and past president of the Associated, who was given the Dr. Frank C. Marino Award; and retired Orphans Court Judge Francis J. Valle, who received the Distinguished Service Award.
Others who played a role in this successful event were Robert Magri, president of the Associated; Bishop P. Francis Murphy, who spoke about the "Joy of Family" theme; Francesco Legaluppi, consul of Italy; and the Rev. Michael Salerno, pastor of St. Leo's Catholic Church, who gave the invocation.
The Associated came into being in 1945 to aid the thousands of homeless children in Italy after World War II. Eventually, the members expanded their areas of concern and, over the years, have donated millions of dollars to charities in Maryland and across the nation, including 25 annual scholarships to local colleges and universities. They do all these good deeds with no paid employees.
Designer yard sale
Well, I hear I missed a great yard sale. It was a three-day public event sponsored by the American Society of Interior Designers in a warehouse belonging to the David Edward Co. in Arbutus. I did chat, however, with ASID past president Martha Clampitt, who told me that the group has held such a sale for about 12 years. The merchandise is donated or consigned by ASID members as well as industry and retail partner members.
Items for sale this year ranged from picture frames, old lighting fixtures, Korean cabinets and a World War II submarine bunk bed to marble sinks, Persian carpets, office equipment and decoys.
The sale began with an opening-night party. Among the folks at that event were Edward Pitts, owner and founder of the David Edward Co., which manufactures chairs, tables and specialty items; his wife, Marilyn Miller; his sons, David, Gregory and Kevin; Peggy Arbaugh, present president ASID; Elaine Logan, past president ASID; Robert Hancock, a free-lance designer and manager of the yard sale, who had some help this year from Gerry Ballek, Partner in Design, and Gary Lawrik, Lawrik Interiors of Annapolis; and Rob Hess, executive director of Action for the Homeless, which received some of the proceeds.
Hayley Mills helps out
The people who bought tickets to attend this year's annual benefit for Chase Brexton Health Services certainly got their money's worth. Not only did they see Hayley Mills perform onstage in "The King and I," but many had a chance to see her after the show. She and most of the cast members joined Chase Brexton supporters in the Mechanic Theatre's North Lounge for a party. Money raised from the event will be used to enhance HIV health care and related services offered by Chase Brexton.
Scottish accent
For our last party this week, we visit the lovely Green Spring Hunt Club, where members of the English Speaking Union and their guests gathered to enjoy the group's annual Scottish evening. The business part of the event saw the outgoing president, Marianne Brundige, turn over the gavel to the new president, Rita Blair Brandon. The pleasure part of the evening included dinner and entertainment by bagpipers and dancers.
In case you don't know, the English Speaking Union is working hard to make English the United States' official language.
Around town
Celebrities sightings have picked up this past month -- Harry Belafonte was seen having dinner with Hopkins cardiologist Dr. Levi Watkins and Baltimore contractor Victor Frenkil. Another report had WJZ-TV's Richard Sher dining at the Polo Grill with Oprah's Significant Other, Stedman Graham.
Did you know that the first radio station to be heard on Maryland's airways was WEAR on June 8, 1922? The station went on to become WFBR radio. Alums number in the hundreds and include such notables as Arthur Godfrey, Garry Moore, Gene Clayburn and Winn Elliot. Harry Shriver, longtime general manager of WFBR, is trying to find as many of the station's former employees as possible. (The station was sold in 1988, and the call letters are now WJFK.)
A "WFBR Reunion and Mad Radio Roast" is being planned for June 21 at Chesley Hall on Belair Road. Dinner and a program from the 1970s days of "mad radio," which featured on-air personalities Johnny Walker, Mike March, Larry Walton, Wayne Gruehn, Johnny Contino, Jim Morton, Charley Eckman and Tom Marr, are in the works. The party's open to all former employees of the station and their guests. Give Mary Pfeiffer a call at 410-661-4770.
Pub Date: 6/08/97
