Life is a masquerade - party
10/29/2001All Hallows' Eve Masquerade, a first-time benefit for Historic Woodlawn Cemetery, was a "spooktacular" night Saturday.
The event was in the TARTA bus garage - just a few blocks from Woodlawn. Ghost, goblins, Miss America contestants, nuns, priests, ketchup and mustard, M&M's, princesses, and more, creeped into the low-lit party for a howling good time.
The price was right for $30 - as it included delectable edibles donated by area chefs, dancing, and plenty of space for prowling.
Guests entered past a graveyard that included corner stones engraved with late celebrities names such as Marilyn Monroe and committee member - still very much alive - Paul Angelo LoGuidice.
Nearby, guests viewed an open casket with a frightful body, then were scared as a mummy statue - Tom Ulrich - came alive. Another one - Brian McGreevey - followed guests through the crowd. Funeral guest books assisted by funeral directors were on hand. And for a wake-of-a-good-time, Voodoo punch was served by Baker O'Brien.
Condessa Croninger made a great Jackie-O. Lyman Spitzer was Albus Dumbledore from Harry Potter and his wife, Patrice, was a sexy witch. Mike and Shelly Crossley wore Renaissance costumes they bought when attending the Renaissance festival. Stacy Tresso came as a bathtub. Tony Knight made a great Irish Monk, and his wife Debbie was a trendy witch. Jan Merrels, there with hubby Dave, scared everyone with her frightful face as she joked "I hope the make-up comes off." Dick and Sherri Ruddell came as Caesar and Cleopatra. Sena Mourad, Tracy Sallah, and Julie Champa were sexy looking can-can girls. Joe Coyle made a tempting poppy especially for his wife, Yvonne, who was a butterfly. Their son, Jerimiah Coyle of N.Y.C., was home for the fun, too, and dressed as Dracula, his favorite childhood costume. Jay and Barb Collins and Pat and Sandy Sells were dressed as Queenie and the Drones, with Mr. Sells as the Queen Bee.
Gingerbread Family Festival Preview Party for Family and Child Abuse Prevention Center. 6-9 p.m. Nov. 1, home of John and Debbie Joslin.
The University of Toledo campus buzzed with excitement Saturday. The Presidential Inauguration for Dr. Dan Johnson started the day, followed by a reception amid blue linens, yellow roses, and tasty edibles. More than 100 community partners were present.
Seen were Bob Savage, Dick Anderson, Larry Sykes, Sheriff Jim Telb, Louis Escobar, Ron McMaster, and Rob Robinson, who, like several others, remarked on the impressive ceremony with the university's Chorus, Orchestra, and Wind Ensemble. The Homecoming Parade on the chilly day was next, with patriotic highlights and plenty of candy-even for the big kids, including board chairman Jim Tuschman. Labib Hajjar, as always in his vintage black caddie, drove the president, but for security reasons Admiral Vern Clark - brother-in-law of Dr. Johnson - stayed inside.
Spectators chuckled over a float that read "GOUT!" but was supposed to be GO UT! In the Alumni tent was Lance Talmage, who had been honored with the Blue Key award at the alumni dinner, the night before. Jim Findlay and Mike Todak also were honored.
Some 800 ladies and gentlemen gathered at the Wyndham Hotel Saturday evening to pay tribute to the golden era in music history.
The 15th Biennial Emerald Ball presented by the Toledo chapter of the Links, Inc., was the place to be as homage was paid to the Motown sound with this year's theme, "An Evening With Motown."
Cityscapes lined the walls and twinkle lights sparkled amid vibrant orange, green, and purple drapery.
The event included line dancing, karaoke, and food grazing stations. A Motown revue, coordinated by Faye Fenwick, brought the house down as Links members portrayed famous Motown talents such as Diana Ross and the Supremes, Gladys Knight and the Pips, Michael Jackson, and Stevie Wonder.
Musical entertainment, including the gospel group the Johnson Sisters, mother and son vocalists Jerry and Jean Holden, and the Detroit-based r&b group Posh, kept the crowd on its feet.
Event chairwoman Edna Robertson, who is also the Links president, and co-chairwoman Gina Thompson scurried about all evening attending to details. Spotted in the crowd were several out-of-towners, including Pat and Doug Burnette, of Baltimore, Md., Raymond and Ernestine Smith, of Boston, Mass., Gloria Greer, of Atlanta, Ga., Fred and Barbara McDonald, of Ann Arbor, Mich., and Valarie Penn, of Chicago, Il. Locals included Kim Penn, Doug Allen, Karyn McConnell, Jettie and Joe Sansbury, Joan and John Coleman, Angela Carter, and Ebonee Price.
Proceeds benefit the Links' community service projects.
- RHONDA B. SEWELL
Halloween Parties for some are an excuse to dress up and be someone else. They are as much fun for adults as for children.
Belmont Country Club's Family Halloween party was Thursday. The Hayride was nixed due to showers, but the parade, a "spooktacular" supper, corny games, and costume contest meant guests of all ages had a howling good time.
It was an enchanting evening for everyone, including Beth and Jon Parker and daughters Jayme, 3, and Julia, 5, of Perrysburg, and Sandy and Matt Kelly and their children, Brad, 5, Allison, 3, and Ryan Kelly, 1, of Sylvania.
Also seen were Ali Seibold, 12, Kristen Seibold, 9, Stephanie Meier, 12, and Cooper Garrity, 12.
The Annual S &S Halloween Party - that stands for Shakil Kahn and Susan Stoner - was a smashing success Saturday evening at their Fairways Penthouse in Sylvania.
Aside from the freaky fun and ghoulishly creative costumes, guests stopped to admire the lighted painting of the New York City skyline before Sept. 11.
"Come for a Frightful Night in the Haunted Mansion" read the cryptic invitations to Tom and Marlene Uhler's party Saturday evening. Guests were asked to come to the Eagle Point Crypt before the bats flew for blood punch, witch's fingers, and warlock toes. As the Uhlers promised, it was a boo-tiful fright of a night.
Barbara Hendel is The Blade's society editor. E-mail her at bhendel@theblade.com.