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Soap stars to light up Largo sisters' charity event

Photos from ABC, CBS

Vincent Irizarry, Bobbie Eakes, Forbes March and Walt Willey are schedule to attend the event benefiting Our Military Kids.

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By WALT BELCHER | The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 20, 2009

Two Largo sisters are gearing up for their fifth annual meet and greet session with "the hottest stars of daytime."

Barbie Tsagaris, 46, and Patti Werynski, 55, have lined up four soap opera actors for the Nov. 7 event at the Ahepa Lodge Home on 1156 Jasper St. W. in Largo from 1:30 to 5 p.m.

Scheduled to appear are "All My Children" stars Vincent Irizarry (Dr. David Hayward); Bobbie Eakes (Crystal) and Walt Willey (Jackson Montgomery); as well as Forbes March (Mason Jarvis) from "As the World Turns."

The event raises money for charities. This year, proceeds from the $75 per-person tickets will go to Our Military Kids, a nonprofit group that helps children of people serving in the military.

"We think it will be a special event for 'All My Children' fans because the show is moving from New York to Los Angeles," says Tsagaris. "Also, the Walt Disney Resort in Orlando has discontinued its annual soap opera days so we don't get to see our favorite stars there any more."

In 2008, Disney, which owns ABC, decided to discontinue the annual Super Soap weekends which featured stars from ABC daytime dramas. Also, ABC is relocating "All My Children" to Los Angeles and some longtime cast members such as Willey are not making the move.

Tsagaris says the networks have been cutting back on soap operas ("Passions" and "Guiding Light" were canceled) but there are still many loyal fans.

She and her sister grew up watching daytime television with their mother and grandmother.
"All My Children," "General Hospital" and "One Life to Live" are the sisters' favorites.

They went to most of the Super Soap Weekends at Walt Disney World. It was a girls' getaway weekend with their mother.

Tsagaris said they were inspired to start their charity event after meeting Willey at one of the soap weekends. Willey, a frequent visitor to the Tampa area, helped them recruit daytime actors.

Willey is a stand-up comic who often appears at the Side Splitters Comedy Club here.

Tsagaris says reservations are filling up. The cutoff date is Nov. 1. The $75 price includes a light lunch and a meet and greet session with the stars.

"In the past people have really enjoyed this because it's an intimate setting and you get to spend a lot of time with the stars," Tsagaris says.

For more information call: (727) 410-0427 or e-mail requests to designers.image@hotmail.com.

Reporter Walt Belcher can be reached at (813) 259-7654.

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