Charity under the 'Big Top'

A giant red-and-white-striped canopy decorated the stage for "Under the Big Top," the 23rd annual charity auction presented by the Maumee Rotary Club Saturday night at Gladieux Meadows. Master of ceremonies - or in this case, ring master - Greg Fish, in a top hat, led guests into a fun-packed evening. Huge circus wagon signs that read "The Flying Trapeze," "Lion Tamer," "Jugglers," and other circus acts were placed on silent-auction tables - the signs were the work of Hector Ramirez and his wife, Waleska.

Adding to the circus atmosphere was a life-sized clown doll made by event chairman Gwen Thibert. It was so well-crafted that auctioneer John Whalen put it up for bid and sold it to Bill and Ann Schmidt.

From left, Deb Barnett, Barb Berebitsky, K. LaVerne Redden, and Michael Youngblood at the Black History Month concert.

Honored guests were Richard Paat and Bruce Brodbeck, who both received the Paul Harris Award for contributions to humanity. Special honoree was Chuck Oswald. The event was officially renamed in his honor.

The event netted more than $112,000, according to treasurer Tom Kearney, and they are still counting. Part of that figure includes $38,000 raised for the Maumee Rotary/John Whalen Garbage Dump Milk Fund that provides milk for Guatemalan children. In addition, students from St. John's Jesuit High School, who volunteered their services for the evening, collected tips for their upcoming trips to Guatemala and Mexico.

Among the 340 members and guests were visitors from Vietnam and Guatemala. Also seen were Lori and Chuck Hawes of Temperance; Findlay's Donna and Bill Ruse who is the district governor of Rotary; and Julie Oswald, John and Ann Carroll, Melissa and Dick Marcus, Karen Merrels, Barbara and Bill Barkan, John and Mary Fedderke, and Joyce and Lynn Olman.

Event co-chairman was Greg Elder.

IN CELEBRATION OF Black History Month, a Toledo Symphony concert and afterglow reception were presented by Huntington National Bank Sunday at St. Martin de Porres Church. The concert was part of the Neighborhood Concert Series presented by the bank in conjunction with the symphony for people living in low and moderate-income areas. And this concert was also a fund-raiser. Tickets were $15 each, and $30 for the afterglow. Proceeds went to Elderly Care, Feed Your Neighbor, Parish Nurse, St. Vincent de Paul, and Social Concerns.

Among the nearly 700 guests were people from the neighborhood, the congregation, and all over Ohio, including Huntington Bank president Barb Berebitsky.

THE TOLEDO MUSEUM of Art Docents gathered for a Winter Social Saturday night at Toledo Country Club. The close-knit group gathered just for fun and to celebrate the class of 2002. They received their "pins" as a sign of their graduation from the two-year training program to provide tours in the museum. The new docents include Nancy Alter, Jan Baker, Sharon Clark, Kristen Collins, June Edmunds, Mary Galvin, Jim Graham, Rose Hampton, JoAnne Kosanke, Lorraine Langdon, Nancy McDowell, and Sandra Schocket.

The new docent trainees will start their program in May.

NOTE: It's the time of year when folks have migrated to warmer climates for a reprieve. What's your favorite winter vacation spot? Or, if you are staying here and are having a party in March, let me know. Send information for the datebook in writing to Barbara Hendel at The Blade, 541 North Superior St., Toledo, OH, 43604, or by fax to 419-724-6105.