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Place an AdLocals to strut the catwalk at Fruitlands
By Mary E. Arata
HARVARD -- Preparations are underway for a second fashion show to benefit the Friends of the Harvard Council on Aging. Reservations are being accepted now for the event, set for Thursday, Sept. 24 ,at 6:30 p.m. The evening begins with refreshments, appetizers and dessert. Immediately thereafter, local volunteers will strut to model the latest fall fashions from Gould's Distinctive Clothing for Men & Women on Great Road (Route 2A) in Acton.
"We're about 90 percent of the way there," said Marie LeBlanc about nailing down the final list of male and female models. "Just one or two still checking their schedules." This event happened last year, too, and was wildly successful for the Friend of the COA, raising $8,000. After this month's fashion show, LeBlanc said the plan is to take a year off and return with another show in the fall of 2011. It takes a lot of work, she said.
But it's worth it, said LeBlanc, "We just do fall-going-into-winter (fashions) so we do the clothes coming out for the current season."
Clothing store owner Marvin Gould and staff dress the models and then take turns announcing the models and fashions as they walk the 'catwalk,' which is, in fact, up on risers among the audience members.
Of the local VIP list of models, the confirmed female roster includes:
* Mary Wilson - library
director, representing the Friends of the Harvard Library;* Deborah Ricci - prior chair, Harvard Finance Committee and PTO
* Audrey Ball - Harvard Women's League of Voters
* Sherry Armstrong - PTO vice president
* Marie Finnegan - for the Harvard Conservation Trust and Council on Aging
* Diane Newton - Fruitlands Museum trustee
* Heidi Siegrist - part of the Harvard School Trust
* Karen Sampson Strickland - representing the Ayer Rotary Club, serving Ayer, Devens, Harvard and Shirley
* Rochelle Greer - representing the Harvard Farmers Market
And the confirmed male model list includes:
* Larry Finnegan - Harvard Conservation Trust, COA and former selectman
* Tim Firment - chief executive officer, Fruitlands
* Bill Johnson - Bare Hill Pond Watershed Management Commission
* Ron Ricci - chairman, Harvard Board of Selectmen
What's the reaction when reaching out and asking folks to model for the fashion show? "Well, we have some folks who, for a lot of people, especially those who volunteer a lot of their time, they're not used to being out there and being showy," said LeBlanc, "Hamming it up isn't their first thought."
"But it's pretty low key and others had a good time," she said, "We've had very few folks that said 'no.' They usually talk it over with their family. They really got into it once they got going especially when they saw how supportive the crowd was."
Typically there are three outfit changes, said LeBlanc, "There's usually several layers, with some sort of outerwear and a casual coat. For women, there were a lot of dressy, funky coats last year and they take off layers as they move down the runway."
LeBlanc says funding for many sponsors, including local businesses and individuals, make the event possible.
Advertising in the fashion show program is still available and welcome. So far --
Platinum: Karen Shea of Coldwell Banker, Gould's, and Fruitlands Museum.
Gold: Rollstone Bank, Right at Home, Visiting Angels, and Transitions Liquidations.
Silver: Sorrento's Pizza, Murphy Insurance, Middlesex Bank, and Senior Care Advisors.
The cost of admission is $30 per person, and reservations for the event are being made instead of ticket sales. The event is Thursday, Sept. 24, at 6:30 p.m. under the function tent at Fruitlands Museum. To volunteer or donate, contact Marie LeBlanc at 617-513-0433 or marieleblanc@charter.net. To reserve a seat, send a check payable to The Friends of the Harvard COA to PO Box 474, Harvard, Mass. 01451, attn: Ellen Sachs Leicher.