“Eclectic Elegance: Fables and Fairy Tales,” presented by the Flower Hospital Auxiliary April 27 in the Main Toledo-Lucas County Public Library, was a wonderland for big kids.
Some 27 vendors decorated bistro, cocktail, and dining tables with creative flair. There was a giant fairy, a Cinderella Barbie with slipper, coach, and all, a glass menagerie, and more.
Foods were tantalizing, too: Stations held antipasto, meats, fresh risotto, smashed potatoes with all the trimmings, and desserts. Guests schmoozed as they cruised the silent auction tables and fabulous foods, then danced to the Wally and the Beavs band.
Spotted in the group of 200 were Inez and Tom O'Grady, Marge and James Sander, Liz and Chuck Ference, Betty and Steven Zeidner, hospital president Kevin Webb, Barbara Steele, and Stephen Mooney. The chairwoman was Diane Dooley, assisted by co-chairwoman Marge Day and a vast committee of volunteers.
There was something for everyone, including a duplicate bridge tournament and lessons for beginners. Adding to the fun was a bake sale of homemade pies and cakes, refreshments, raffle prizes, and music by the Otsego High School Jazz Quartet. The sold-out event included 31 decorated game tables set in six hospital rooms.
Hospice volunteers had plenty of help, too, from octogenarian-plus Helen Ladd, who was in charge of decorating and raffle gifts, and several students, including Bowling Green State University football player Andy Sahm and basketball player Josh Almanson, Army and Air Force ROTC members, Sigma Chi Fraternity, BGSU women's volleyball team members, and Bowling Green Junior High School students.
Chairman Andy Housholder reports a net of $10,000 and he's still counting, because last year several donors made contributions after the event, including the Fraternal Order of Eagles.
A volunteer thank-you lunch will be May 7 at Bowling Green Country Club, with new hospital CEO Dan Korducki.
A silver anniversary party celebrated two milestones April 24 at River View Yacht Club. David and Charlene Gray have been members of the club for 25 years, and they have been married for a quarter of a century, too.
Barbara Hendel is The Blade's society editor. E-mail her at bhendel@theblade.com.