VolusiaNews.net and NSBNEWS.net provide 24/7 online-media coverage for a 21st-century world
.jpg)
(Photos by Dale Smith) Linda Davis models evening wear from Thrifty Threads, 217 Canal St., during the Girls Night Out segment of Christmas on Canal. In the group photo, participants salute the audience.
Editor's note: The following story was submitted by contributing writer Dale Smith:
NEW SMYRNA BEACH – Fashion comes in all styles and sizes. From the elegant and the sophisticated, to the practical, whimsical, and yes, even the silliest. But no matter what was worn, the models wowed the audience during the Girls Night Out fashion show that is a part of Christmas on Canal.
Far left, Tia McDonald represents Little Drug Company, sporting a server’s outfit, complete with ice cream sundaes. Central Florida’s 50’s Queen Cindy Frazier of NSB strikes a posee on the runway. CIBU Office Supply store owner Rick Ellwanger. proprietor of CIBU Office Supply, 420 Canal St., wears his supplies as a walking billboard. With him is WSBB AM 1230 radio personality Skip Diegal, who served as host of Girls Night Out.
Event coordinator Betty Kopp said the audience seemed to really enjoy themselves. “It all came together very nicely,” she said. “Everyone had a good time.”
For about one hour, master of ceremonies Skip Diegel of AM1230 WSBB radio, kept the fashion flowing and the audience engaged as model after model showed off the merchandise.
Local merchants from the Canal Street area participated by having items of clothing and other items for models to exhibit.
As they walked down the runway to center stage, Diegel described each item of clothing and from which store the items came from. Karin and David Jenkins of Applause Salon on Julia Street were responsible for providing the models and coordinating the evening’s program.
Fashion show coordinator Betty Kopp, left, was given a bouquet of flowers, donated by the Pink Flamingo At Petals, by Cindy Jones, president of the Canal Street Merchants Association. Cindy Hale hams it up as she models a scrubs outfit with University of Florida Gators logos.Skip Diegel chats with Bob Morro, owner of Bob’s Automotive on Canal Street.
During the show, the modeling stopped long enough for raffle tickets to be drawn with the prizes donated by Canal Street merchants.
As Diegel announced each winning number, Keith Poulsen, one of Santa’s elves, entertained the crowd with his theatrical antics and witty quips.
Santa’s elf, aka Keith Poulsen, was more than a helper during the fashion show. The theatrical funny man kept the show moving with antics, quips and lots of smiles. Not all models wore dresses and sportswear at the fashion show. These shoes from Coastal Comforts, 421 Canal St., drew a lot of attention.
Not to be outdone, Diegel got in what perhaps was the wittiest joke of the evening. One of the prizes raffled off was from the Utilities Commission. “Congratulations,” Diegel told the winner. “It’s your utility bill.”
Refreshments were enjoyed with the sweets provided by Grammy K’s, appetizers from Riverside Catering, and the decorations were provided by Lindley’s Nursery.
Kopp thanked “the team” that made Girls Night Out a success and credited all of the Canal Street merchants for supporting Christmas on Canal. The event drew about a hundred people, split between holiday shoppers and merchants and their families and friends.
.jpg)
Dale Smith is a resident of New Smyrna Beach, who has reported on local news in Volusia County since October 2009. His writing background includes a mix of journalism and public relations in several community newspapers and a p.r. firm in northern Virginia. He attended Barton Academy in Barton, Vt., and the Cambridge (Mass.) School of Broadcasting for radio & TV broadcasting.