Kickoffs score big points

10/25/2004
  • Kickoffs-score-big-points-8

    ON THE TOWNE: From left, Louise Henahan, Norma Trudell, and Greta Ullman have their own memories to share of their club's 50th anniversary.

    Simmons / Blade

  • Kicking up a lot of fun all over town are parties to kick off events. One event is happening right now, others are a few weeks away, and one is next year. Still, planners aren t wasting any time as they prepare for their favorite charity.

    PERFECT FIT: From left, Cheryl Slack, Leola Haynes, and Clara Petty try on furs as Julia Holt, background, looks at accessories at Roth Furs downtown.
    PERFECT FIT: From left, Cheryl Slack, Leola Haynes, and Clara Petty try on furs as Julia Holt, background, looks at accessories at Roth Furs downtown.

    A UNIQUE assortment of decorative accessories, jewelry, linens, antiques, clothing, giftware, holiday items, and more from around the country is available for shoppers today and tomorrow. Country Garden Club s annual Holiday Trunk Show kicked off Saturday night during a preview dinner party at Carranor Hunt and Polo Club. The show opened to the public yesterday with a crowd of shoppers, and show chairman Cindy Rimmelin is expecting a busy day today and tomorrow. This is the first year the show offered weekend shopping.

    Assistant show chairman is Margaret Hedlund and president is Jan Landwehr.

    In addition to nine returning favorites, 11 vendors have been added to the shopping gala, including gemstone creations by ex-Toledoan Molly Reams Thompson of Huntington Beach, Calif. She is also selling autographed copies of the book, I Am Diva!, which she co-authored.

    HOME IS WHERE THE HEART IS: Chris and Lynn Cooper welcome guests to the kick-off party for the Heart of Toledo benefit to be held Feb. 5.
    HOME IS WHERE THE HEART IS: Chris and Lynn Cooper welcome guests to the kick-off party for the Heart of Toledo benefit to be held Feb. 5.

    In addition, club members Kim Nickerson and Kathy Appold have their hand-crafted glass beads and glass-bead and silver jewelry in the show. Carl Hedlund will continue to stir up samples of hearty soup from Frontier Soups mixes being sold at the club s booth.

    At the preview, guests had first dibs on items. Seen shopping were Lynne McCullough, Rick and Mary Sabin, Jesse and Tom Dattilo, Chip and Leigh Bodie, Lois Bigelow, and Julie and Pat Lindsey, June and Joe Roshe, and Lori and Glenn Paton.

    Shopping completed, all sat at elegantly set tables under a tent. The chatter decibel was high as some 175 guests feasted on a yummy dinner with wine.

    Among the well-heeled crowd were Rick and Jacque Yocum, Melissa and Scott Kelly, Tina and Rob Black, Gloria and Tony Shaw, Margie and Bud Grose, and party chairmen Diane Wellstein, with husband, Steffen, and Diane Johnston, with husband, Norm. Pete Bentley and his daughter Kate McPherson celebrated their birthdays as did Gretchen Downs. Youngster Frasier Reams celebrated his 75th year, made extra special by the appearance in town of his daughter Molly for the show.

    The CGC, a member of the Garden Club of America, supports community beautification, conservation, and educational projects. Recently the nonprofit club provided funds for Way Public Library landscaping and reading patio, downtown Perrysburg holiday decorations, the W.W. Knight Nature Center Educational Lab, and the Hospice of Northwest Ohio Respite House.

    There s still plenty of time to peruse and purchase gifts. Come for lunch from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. or stop by for cocktails at 5 p.m. The show is open today from 10 a.m.-7 p.m. and tomorrow from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is $7.

    GARDEN VIEW: Dee and Joe Spencer and Diane Putnam enjoy the scenery at the Artworks gala and show kick off.
    GARDEN VIEW: Dee and Joe Spencer and Diane Putnam enjoy the scenery at the Artworks gala and show kick off.

    ARTWORKS Toledo is slated for Nov. 5-7 at SeaGate Centre said chairmen Dee Spencer and Diane Putnam, who hosted a committee kickoff party Aug. 26 in the Ottawa Hills home of Mrs. Spencer and her husband, Joe. Those in the know will be attending the Party on the Town pre-event Nov. 5, so they can get first dibs on the art while grazing on delectable edibles and sipping their favorite beverages amid musical entertainment. Local and national art paintings, sculpture, pottery, glass, wood, textiles, and more is available in all price ranges.

    Tickets, which include $20 in art dollars to spend that night, are $75 each and can be purchased at the Arts Commission, which is the event s benefactor, or by going to www.acgt.org. Ten percent of Friday night s sales goes to the commission as well as a percentage of the entrance sales on Saturday and Sunday.

    THE Ebony Fashion Fare will be Nov. 21 at SeaGate Centre. Meanwhile, divas of the Zeta Alpha Omega chapter of the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority had fun at Roth Furs Oct. 14 as they tried on a few links for size. Chapter president is Clara Petty and show chairman is Cheryl Slack. Event proceeds will benefit the club s service and mentoring projects.

    COSI s Bash 2004: A Hip Playground for the Big Kids is set for Nov. 12, say chairmen. The announcement was made during a kickoff party Oct. 13 presented by Taylor Automotive Family at Taylor Cadillac. Delicious goodies and COSI-tinis were served as guests experienced some nail-biting demonstrations: Event chairman Dave Waterman reclined on a bed of nails. Kickoff chairmen were Fred and Julie Treuhaft.

    PLANS are under way for the Heart of Toledo Gala 2005 for the American Heart Association. The black-tie event is Feb. 5 at Gladieux Meadows, said chairmen Chris and Lynn Cooper at a Sept. 23 kickoff at their Perrysburg home. The goal is to net $150,000, Dr. Cooper said.

    The event s new format has an international flair with food stations, entertainment, and live and silent auctions.

    Heart disease really does affect people from all over the world, Mrs. Cooper said.

    Among the committee members seen were Sara Moynihan, Sandy McLendon, Audra McCabe, and Eileen Walsh. Gadders and sponsors included Jim and Kay Murray, Jim and Nancy Smythe, Carty Finkbeiner, Jennifer and Randy Morrison, Scott and Judy Loeherke, Annette and Jeff Barnes, and board chairman John McDermott and board president Paul Berlacher.

    TOAST!: Ed Kinsey, left, and Mike Todak toast the Class of 1979 at the alumni tent.
    TOAST!: Ed Kinsey, left, and Mike Todak toast the Class of 1979 at the alumni tent.

    Rain didn t put the fuse out for the Rocket crowd at the University of Toledo s homecoming Saturday before the kickoff that ended in a victory over Central Michigan University.

    Revelers started as early as 6:30 a.m. as they picked their special spot to tailgate. The bulk of the crowd waited till a few hours beforehand. And no one seemed to mind the rain: They still cooked dogs on the grills, ate chili and snacks, and drank their favorite beverages.

    In the alumni tent Slim Griswold and Voodoo Libido cranked up the tunes as Bernie Solomon cooked tube steaks to perfection. Meanwhile, alumni president Ted Hahn, with his wife, Suzi, pulled up in a bright-golden yellow Super Sport Roadster from Dave White Chevrolet, who sponsored the alumni tent and let the Hahns drive the SSR in the parade.

    Next door in the Class of 79 tent, Ed Kinsey and Mike Todak, chairmen of their 25th reunion with Jeff Traudt, who was not present served wine brought from San Francisco s Talbott and Bernardus by Mr. Kinsey.

    IN HIGH GEAR: Ted and Suzi Hahn have some high-octane fun prior to the UT-CMU game.
    IN HIGH GEAR: Ted and Suzi Hahn have some high-octane fun prior to the UT-CMU game.

    Umbrellas, canopies, and rain gear. True tailgaters those without tents weathered it out as they laughed and talked over preferred beverages and oodles of specially prepared foods brought to share with friends.

    Scott and Judy Potter, in bright yellow rain gear from head to toe, brought black bean soup. Alums Dave Spiess, Tim Haynes, Kevin Haynes, Pat Carmody, and Craig Bordon, who were under a canopy, said they wouldn t miss the homecoming fun. Ticket-holders for more than 30 years, the Hoyt clan Roger, Jim, Rick, Keith, Bruce, and Gary was there. You couldn t miss them; they had the red book mobile and the giant rocket.

    GIVERS: Major donors Jack Jacobson, left, and John Neff enjoy their time in the presidential tent
    GIVERS: Major donors Jack Jacobson, left, and John Neff enjoy their time in the presidential tent

    Those privy to the President s box and other corporate areas were dry and toasty as they watched the rain and munched on yummy edibles in school colors.

    Mmmmmm. Oodles of jumbo shrimp, hot chicken salad, fruit kabobs, cheeses, tenderloin, quesadillas, and blue-and-gold chips as well as blueberry cobbler and lemon bars set amid a sea of blue-and-gold balloons and sunflowers. Chef Todd Maxson said they prepared enough for 1,500 in the Press Towers.

    Seen were Greg and Amy Dunn, Andrea and Troy Musselman, Walt and Diane Ericson, and alums Jack Jacobson, who invented microsurgery, and investment legend John Neff, who ran Vanguard Windsor Fund. Both men donated $1 million each to the school this year.

    Special guests were those honored the previous night including, Mr. Jacobson, who received the Gold Tee award, Norman Bell, who received the Blue Tee award, and Doug Barker, who was named Outstanding Young Alum.

    COTERIE CLICKS: Thelma Adams, left, Lillian Spaulding, and Phyllis Cockrel reminisce over Coterie memories.
    COTERIE CLICKS: Thelma Adams, left, Lillian Spaulding, and Phyllis Cockrel reminisce over Coterie memories.

    These ladies groups have something to dance about: They are celebrating their half-century marks.

    IT WAS the same time, same place, just 50 years later. Coterie Club, founded at the Park Lane Hotel on Saturday, Oct. 16, 1954, celebrated it s golden anniversary at the Park Lane, now a retirement community.

    The not-quite 25 members and their spouses marked the milestone at the club's biennial formal affair. Among the ladies, who all wore gold rose corsages, was founder Thelma Adams, who said the club is strictly social. Event chairman Lillian Spaulding remarked, We pride ourselves on giving very lovely affairs. And the soirees are lovely indeed.

    We have been everywhere including Las Vegas for our 30th anniversary, so we stayed in town for our 50th, plus we wanted to be at the Park Lane, Mrs. Spaulding said.

    Guests chatted over cocktails and dinner as the Kalvin Hughs Trio played for dinner and dancing. According to President Phyllis Cockrel, the club meets once a month and members are friends of friends.

    ON THE TOWNE: From left, Louise Henahan, Norma Trudell, and Greta Ullman have their own memories to share of their club's 50th anniversary.
    ON THE TOWNE: From left, Louise Henahan, Norma Trudell, and Greta Ullman have their own memories to share of their club's 50th anniversary.

    TOWNE Club is also celebrating its 50th anniversary. The group was formerly known as Welcome Wagon Newcomers Club of Toledo, but the group grew to be so large that it was difficult to find a place to meet, and members who were not so new wanted to continue meeting. So Margaret Towne started a group that the other members decided to call it Towne Club.

    The first President of Towne Club was Jane Wharton (1954-1955). In September of this year, they celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Club at Toledo Country Club.

    At the luncheon, chairmen Greta Ullman and Louise Henahan presented a kaleidoscope of memories from past presidents with photos, books, and more on display. Norma Trudell is the current president.

    Each year the club members select a different charity to support through their annual fund-raiser.

    This year, the event will be be Nov. 4 at Inverness to benefit the Assistance Dogs of America.