Winter doesn't stop Garden Club Forum

3/20/2003

March 13 began as an unlucky day for the Garden Club Forum as rain, sleet, snow, and ice hit the Toledo area. Scintilla 2003, the annual lunch, fashion review, and floral design contest, was slated to start at noon in the Stranahan Great Hall.

Club president Sharon Lynch, who was on the telephone before dawn to decide whether to delay, cancel, or go as planned, put off the start of the show by an hour. Despite problems - the Springfield High School Jazz Ensemble and Roth Furs could not participate, no coat check was available, and the walkways were not salted - the show went on.

The models, all volunteers, made their way to the Great Hall. Kate Adams Namche drove from Plainwell, Mich., just for the occasion. And representatives from Lady C, Robert's Men's Wear, Sterling Diamonds, and Cinderella dress shop came with fashions in tow.

Ladies in the audience loaned their fur coats to add even more style to the runway. Tables were graced with spring touches, including pink and lavender napkins on white-covered tables centered with pots of blooming bulbs.

The day was lucky after all, especially for design contestants from the All Thumbs Garden Club, who took third place; the Maumee Garden Club, second place; and the Gardeners of the Woman's Educational Club, first place. Chairman was Pat Nowak, assisted by Kristina White and a committee of dedicated volunteers.

THE 10TH ANNUAL Doc's Putting Tourney was Saturday in the basement of Doc and Patty Schaub's home. These folks take putting seriously and have their own rules, such as bans on smoking, foul language, yelling, excessive drinking, spending too much time loafing around the food table, running, wishing bad luck on opponents, and cheating.

And in honor of St. Patrick's Day, players were required to wear something green.

Putting started promptly at 8:30 p.m., and by 10:30 p.m. it was time for a rest period, awards ceremony, dance contest, and putting for dollars. Greens fees were $1.50, which included rental of a putter and beverages, but guests were encouraged to bring their own fun snacks. The winners were Doug Modrowski and Jeane Johnson. In the 10 years the tournament has been held, more than $4,000 has been raised for charity.

WILLIE PHILLIPS, proprietor of the former Surf Club on Glanzman Road, celebrated his 90th birthday with family and friends Saturday at Mancy's Italian. In attendance were his wife of 65 years, Bee; two sisters, and an older brother. His children, Jerome (Diane) Phillips, Sandra Sloan, and Lenny Phillips, along with grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, and nephews were there, too.

BACK TO THE BAY, an annual spring party to chase away the winter blues and remind boaters that Put-in-Bay days are just around the corner, was Saturday at Toledo Yacht Club.

MARLENE UHLER and Darlene Carpenter, chairmen of the Second Fiddle Sale presented by the Toledo Symphony League, are tickled pink over the results of the sale, held March 7-8 in Woodville Mall. It was a booming success, with a net of $4,000.

THE RECEPTION TO “tee off” the 19th annual Jamie Farr Kroger Classic presented by Alltel was March 13 in the lobby of the Owens-Illinois World Headquarters. Sponsors of the event, along with a host of volunteers, chatted over cocktails and hors d'oeuvres as they reminisced about previous years' tournaments, renewed friendships, and met new companions of the LPGA in Toledo.

The tournament is scheduled for Aug. 14-17 at Highland Meadows Golf Club, with pro-am tournaments Aug. 11-13. The Owens Corning Celebrity Dinner and Show will be Aug. 12 at SeaGate Centre.

The Jamie Farr Kroger Classic general chairman is Mike Hill of Pepsi America; tournament chairman is Lynne Adams of Bostwick Braun. This year's proceeds benefit Adelante, Inc.; Bethany House; Toledo Northwestern Ohio Food Bank, Inc.; Ronald McDonald House Charities, and the Jamie Farr Kroger Classic Scholarship Fund.