THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, March 26, 1995 TAG: 9503240164
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 08 EDITION: FINAL
LENGTH: Medium: 63 lines
The Portsmouth Service League's Spring Antique Show and Sale next weekend will benefit the new Girls Inc. Center for Youth planned for Portsmouth Boulevard.
More than 24 dealers from along the East Coast will set up in the Hunt-Mapp School Middle School gymnasium.
A gala opening will begin at 7 p.m. Friday. Trolley buses will transport people between the show and the Woman's Club on Sycamore Road, where the gala reception will be held.
At 9 p.m. at the Woman's Club, an auction will begin. Antique furniture, a trip to Charleston, S.C., and other donated items will be sold to the highest bidders.
The service league traditionally sponsors one major money-making project to raise money for charitable causes. For 14 years, the league was the beneficiary of the LPGA Golf Tournament. The loss of a major sponsor caused the demise of the tournament and left the league without a project.
``We had been looking for a major project when Claire Moody came up with the idea of a first-class antique show,'' said Elizabeth Psimas, immediate past president of the league, said. ``She's been working on it a year and it's really taken off.''
Moody traveled to shows on the East Coast to find participants for the Portsmouth show.
``I've been a collector for some time and, going to shows, I found the sponsors have been very successful for years,'' Moody said. ``In talking to dealers, I found them interested in coming here.''
Antique dealers from North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Maryland and New Jersey will participate.
``I think people will be very surprised at the quality,'' Psimas said.
The dealers have been very excited about the show and have passed the word to their regular customers, she said.
``We already have 40 to 50 reservations from out-of-town for Friday night,'' Psimas said. ``It is going to be a good event for Portsmouth.''
Throughout the weekend, the service league also will sponsor seminars at the show as follows:
Saturday 1 p.m. - George Hardy of Hardy's Diamonds will speak on ``Antique and Period Jewelry.''
Saturday 3 p.m. - Gale Goss of Country French Antiques in Norfolk will give ``Hints for Collecting in the Next Century,'' collecting in France;
Sunday 1 p.m. - David Peebles of Swan Tavern Antiques in Yorktown will talk about ``Enjoyment of Antique Collecting.''
Sunday 3 p.m. Judy Bray of Portsmouth, author of ``Styles of Flower Arranging - A Primer,'' will talk about ``Arranging Flowers in Antique Containers.''
For reservations or information, call 255-2309. ILLUSTRATION: AT A GLANCE
Spring Antique Show and Sale at Hunt-Mapp Junior High Gymnasium,
3701 Willett Drive
Friday: 7 p.m. Gala opening reception. Tickets $20
Saturday: 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Tickets $5
Sunday: Noon-5 p.m. Tickets $5
by CNB