'FAMILY TIES' STAR IS COMING HERE FOR 'BABY'

Abstract

According to Debbi Uribe, a saleswoman for the Gilbert store, the cigar planted in the bouquet is made of chocolate. Honorees are Susan Heywood of the Heywood Agency, Cathy Davis, Arizona Republic senior vice president of marketing and development, and Beti Ward, partner in American International Cargo.

The buzz on Meredith Baxter is that the actress is coming to town to film

Down Will Come Baby. Baxter (Family Ties) plays a woman whose daughter's best

friend drowns. The dead girl's mother becomes obsessed with Baxter's daughter.

"It's a Rear Window-type of suspense thriller," production coordinator Anne

McCaffrey said. Diane Scarwid is also in the film, which will be directed by

Greg Goodell. Down Will Come Baby goes into production in and around Phoenix

at the end of February. Info: 274-2333. . . . Extras, extras! They're still

needed for Three Kings, a film about the Persian Gulf War that's being shot

around Casa Grande. The producers are looking for men, women and children of

Hispanic or Mideastern descent. If you speak Farsi or Arabic, that's a plus.

Info: 280-1389.

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Avalon Floral Design makes no apologies for a Valentine's bouquet called "The

Monica." The floral arrangement includes a half dozen roses surrounding a

cigar. But it's not as hot as it sounds. According to Debbi Uribe, a

saleswoman for the Gilbert store, the cigar planted in the bouquet is made of

chocolate. It may not last as long as the impeachment trial. "It needs to be

refrigerated to keep from melting," Uribe said. The arrangement sells for

$50.

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Waylon Jennings is never too far from the happenings in the Valley, even when

he's not at his winter home in Chandler. "We love The Republic," the country

singer said. "We have a subscription to it so that it comes to the Nashville

house. It's so we can stay in touch with what's going on at home."

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Susan Goldwater kicks off the Barry M. Goldwater Lecture series at the Kerr

Cultural Center at 9:30 a.m. today. The widow of Sen. Barry Goldwater will

speak on health care issues in a talk titled "No One Gets Out of Here

Alive." Info: 965-5377. . . . Tables for 10 turn into tables for 11 and even

12 to squeeze more people into the Golden Heart of Business Awards luncheon

today at the Ritz-Carlton. Honorees are Susan Heywood of the Heywood Agency,

Cathy Davis, Arizona Republic senior vice president of marketing and

development, and Beti Ward, partner in American International Cargo. Valley

broadcast veteran Rita Davenport will be the keynote speaker.

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If you've ever been to a local karaoke bar and heard a singer who sounded like

a pro, maybe she was. Joni Sledge of Sister Sledge fame says one of her

pastimes is going to karaoke clubs around town and singing. "I have a ball,"

said the Scottsdale resident. "No one knows who I am. They usually say to me,

'You should do this professionally.' " . . . Catch Sledge and her sister act

at the Princess Resort in Scottsdale on Feb. 27. The group will be performing

as a benefit for the Scottsdale Foundation for the Handicapped. Info:

994-5704.

CAPTION: 1) Meredith Baxter; 2) Susan Goldwater