Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, March 3, 1992 TAG: 9203030163
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: E-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: KATHLEEN WILSON
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
The Virginia Museum of Transportation rounded up the usual suspects to discover who murdered Bill, Mr. S. Wickett and Sherri.
Was it Charles Sumner, who was just released from prison after serving 25 years for suffocating a young woman with her own silk stockings?
Some 60 would-be gumshoes turned out Saturday night to decipher the second annual Rendezvous by the Rails murder mystery to benefit the museum. Each Sherlock Holmes in training received a map with clues - like a blood-stained pipe wrench and a clipboard, and pages and pages about the history of the cast of characters.
What a soap opera! To condense: Twenty-five years ago, Charles, a shy man, was in love with the aforementioned young woman, a silk stockings sales representative he'd met on a train. Charles poured out his heart to her, but she spurned his advances, and things turned ugly.
So now it's 25 years later, and Charles is out of the joint. He gets a job in an office where he worships Sherri, a secretary, from afar. Sherri, however, is carrying on a torrid relationship with Bill.
(Actually, this is a minor faux pas, but I don't really believe any woman in the 1940s had a name that ended with an "i.")
Did Charles pour out his heart to Sherri, only to be rejected once again? Did history repeat itself - causing three more deaths?
The plot thickens.
I arrived late (fashionably, of course), so I hooked up with the "The Vascik Harum," a lively group that included Jim and Debra Vascik of Roanoke; Debra's mom, Nancy Greer, visiting from Florida; and Roanokers Rebecca Gunsleman and Anne Delaney. Anne wore an elegant, high-collared dress in black velvet she just must let me borrow. And Debra's blouse was one of those gotta-have-its: a splash of colored beads on one side and a tuxedo-like collar. She told me she got it at G G McGann on the Roanoke City Market.
The harem was formed when Jim, an affable neurosurgeon at Roanoke Memorial Hospitals, realized he was escorting all of us through the maze of clues. We were one big, beautiful bevy of women lucky to have such an entertaining companion.
We six were a mighty cabal. In fact, we won the murder mystery, though it came as no surprise to us.
Among the prizes were two 1988 mint Olympic silver coins, donated by Dominion Bank.
Congratulations should go to Kay Houck, interim director of the Virginia Museum of Transportation. It was the perfect party. The pastas from Murphy's Of Course were great, and the best part of the whole evening was the jazz music by Bob Lefevre with keyboards and clarinet. They were playing "Moon Glow" as the party wrapped up.
Case closed.
Meanwhile over at the Roanoke City Market Building's Star City Ballroom, there were lions and cats and skunks . . . Oh my!
The Roanoke Jaycees sponsored this Mardi Gras Masquerade party to benefit Mill Mountain Zoo.
Eric Gogerty arrived dressed as a pig-roast picnic for four. His head - on the serving platter - popped up through the middle of the table perched on his shoulders. He easily won the most-creative costume award with his red-and-white checked tablecloth and dining accouterments. The only thing missing was the apple in his mouth.
Jaycees Larry Levy and Hallie Stanley organized the event they hope will become an annual affair. Hallie was covered from head to claw as a leopard and was only one of many wearing exotic masks.
Most-exotic honors went to Penny Lloyd, who dressed as an endangered species - the bison buffalo. She wore a placard on her back with a joke: "How can you tell a blonde buffalo from a brunette? By the color of its hair, of course. What are you - blonde, or something?"
Suzan Bright, dressed as a red wolf, won for best-overall costume. And Wanda Furrow won an award for the best costume representing an animal from Mill Mountain Zoo. She was dressed as a mountain lion.
More than 400 turned out for what was a great party. Local rock band Bananas at Large donated the music.
"It as a wonderful success," said Stanley, chairman of the Roanoke Jaycees. "We never expected so many people."
Beth Poff, director of the zoo, was pleased with the turnout as well. "We really need funds now, because during the winter months admission is down."
The Jaycees hope more will turn out in costume next year.
My costume? Well, I went as myself. A one of a kind.
I only hope you won't find me on the endangered species list.
THE PARTY LINE: If you'd like to invite free-lance Mingling columnist Kathleen Wilson to a party or social gathering, call her at 981-3434; when asked for the mailbox, dial MING (6464) and press the # key. Then leave a message as directed. Or write her in care of the Features Department, Roanoke Times & World-News, P.O. Box 2491, Roanoke, Va. 24010-2491.
by CNB