Gumshoes have killer time

PAPARAZZI: Greg Bieszczad is pressed into action and snaps a photograph of Scott and Amy Steele.

Drama kings and queens were in the spotlight Saturday night for Who Whacked Willard at Way, produced by the Way Public Library Foundation.

Criers, know-it-alls, and gossips, they were all there. The actors had sleuths investigating all night long during the interactive murder mystery at the library. Between asking, “Where were you when Willard was killed?” the sellout crowd of 300 gumshoes whetted their appetites at grazing stations and quenched their thirst with spirited beverages while getting in a dance or two with The Wrecking Crew band.

HERE'S LOOKING AT YOU: Johnny and Margarite Walker take a cue from the Humphrey Bogart movie playing behind them.

The victim was Willard Volt, who lived in a brownstone. He was an eccentric kind of guy with his share of enemies, fond of flavorful food but obsessed with growing tomato plants. It was the detectives' job to find out “who done it.”

So who did the dastardly deed? Was in Mable Sable, aka Jody Alexander? Mikey X. Splane, aka Dwight Osterude? Emma Tayshon, aka Patrice Spitzer? Spam Spayed, aka Don Fraser? Fitz Auvanger, aka Ken Cappelletty? Princess Lisa Lott Somnavitch, aka Joanie Foster? Arman Goodall, aka Wayne Koskinen? Or was it Lera Luscious, aka Marge Gallagher?

Extra characters added suspicion too, including a photographer, the chauffeur, the town lush and her husband, the gossip, the librarian, the dog walker, Willard's doctor, a guard, and an elevator operator. Reporter Chrys Peterson had the scoop and served as emcee for the finale.

PAPARAZZI: Greg Bieszczad is pressed into action and snaps a photograph of Scott and Amy Steele.

The Way library was transformed into a brownstone with a homey atmosphere. Conference rooms were lavishly made into rooms such as the library, the plant room, the dining room, and more. It was like playing a live Clue game with Colonel Mustard in the conservatory.

Four detectives — Lynda Fox, Micki Hambro, Jim Carns, and Brenda Irwin — guessed the guilty person, Emma Tayshon who exclaimed, “He deserved to die!” as she was apprehended by the police while trying to exit the back door.

Event chairman Lisa Richard was assisted by planning committee members Libby Marsh, Phyllis Mauerhan, Lea and Matt Skotynsky, and Becky Williams, plus a host of volunteers.

Guests received a copy of Perrysburg Revisited by Ardath Danford, Way's head librarian for many moons. According to board chairman Mary Sabin, who reminded folks to vote Tuesday for the library levy, all proceeds benefit the foundation's endowment fund.

Among the old and new Perrysburg were Reeve and Betsy Kelsey, Steve Cotner and Deb Peters, Martha and Louis Baldoni, John Spitzer, Cam and Steve Nitschke, Tom and Gretchen Downs, Debbie Knight, Virginia and Steve Keller, Bob and Molly Mack, Helene Kramer, Todd Commisso, and Diane and Norm Johnston.

40 YEARS: Barbara Ticker, left, and Leola Haynes.

The Toledo Club of the National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women's Clubs, Inc., celebrated its 40th Annual Founder's Day with “A Tribute to Mentors Paving the Road to Success” event at The Wyndham. In celebration of the semiformal affair Feb. 20, past national president Catherine Sykes of Pontiac, Mich. was the keynote speaker.

Honored that evening with the organization's highest honor, The Sojourner Truth award, was social justice advocate Lola Glover for her outstanding contribution to the community that went beyond the call of duty.

Also honored with awards were Wille Jones, religious; Edna Robertson, community service; Sasha Clayborne, youth; Delores President, professional; Barbara Tucker, appreciation; Sheryl Riggs, business, and Billie Johnson, outstanding woman.

The men were not left out of the awards. Among the honored were John Harris, literary, and Nate Lloyd Gurley, fine arts.

The evening included Ophelia Thompson's musical poetic readings, dinner, and a parade of 30 first ladies and presidents of local churches and community organizations including Toledo's first lady, Cynthia Ford. Attending were sorority and nurses groups, trade unions, and educational groups. The organization's Toledo Youth Club was also recognized.

Event chairman Leola Haynes was assisted by co-chairman Sharon Green-

Gaines and committee members.

The local club president is Barbara Tucker.

TROPICAL SWING: Connie and John Ulmer swing to the band Moore's Law at the Toledo Club's annual Summer Fling.

Winter blues were beat for those whose attended the Toledo Club's 14th Annual Summer Fling party Saturday night. Guests in warm-weather attire and flower-print shirts swarmed into the club through a Tiki hut entrance. Inside, bars with thatched roofs, amid palm trees and ancient statues of the gods, offered margaritas and beer. The bash packed in nearly 500 revelers.

A picnic-style buffet dinner sated appetites and Moore's Law band enticed folks to dance until the band played its last song at midnight. Seen were club president Jim Walter with wife Kim, Charlie McKnight, Dave Strup and his wife, Susan Dorfmeyer-Strup, Alex Due, Larry and Kathy Ulrich, Greg Kopan, Joe McCarthy and Carolyn Newell-Turner, Richard Isaac, Kim and Mike Kaster, Brian Epstein, and Michelle Carter.

The event was a tie-in with the club's international squash tournament. Winners were Mick Robberds, Justin Wanock, Andrew Effler, Dennis Buckler, Roger Radeloff, Casey Garwood, Neal Golding, and Gul Khan.

RECEPTION: Sam and Susan Botek host the event.

Amid flowers and spiritual music, Robert Helmer, PhD, was inaugurated as the seventh president of Lourdes College yesterday afternoon in the Queen of Peace Chapel with a reception following in Franciscan Center.

In academic regalia, 150 dignitaries from colleges all over Ohio and Michigan paraded into the chapel for the inauguration interspersed with beautiful music coordinated by Sr. Ann Carmen Barone.

The school has a lot to celebrate: Since the news got out about the lowered tuition, phones have been ringing. The college has education, business, nursing, and arts and sciences as well as two master programs in organizational leadership and education.

For some the celebration started at a prereception Saturday night in Sam and Susan Botek's home. There Dr. Helmer said, “It's a great celebration for the college, not just me. We take students in and return them to the community a better person.”

The affair included Dr. Helmer's wife, Linda, and his parents Jim and Nancy Helmer and his sister Amy Bowman of Fort Wayne, Ind., plus trustees and administration members and spouses, and the Sisters of St. Francis council. Seen were board chairman Martha Mewhort and husband, Don, Dick and Dolly Flasck, Geoff and Mary Lyden, Ann Galloway, Mike and Debbie Bercher, Pat and Angele McGrady, Ruth Lewandowski, Dave and Katherine O'Connell, and past college president Sr. Ann Francis Klimkoswki.