Indoors or out, winter is a chance to play

2/23/2006

Some folks dread winter, others look forward to the cold weather. Either way, there is plenty to do to chase the doldrums away, whether it is enjoying the great outdoors or keeping toasty and warm indoors with friends.

SKATING at the Ottawa Park Ice Rink is an annual affair for members of the Toledo Ski Club. The group met Friday night at the rink on Bancroft Street and Parkside Boulevard for a few hours of outdoor fun before heading to Nick & Jimmy's for refreshments. The rink is open to the public and can also be booked for private parties.

BAY Park Community Hospital's third annual medical staff dinner meeting was Friday at the Toledo Club. The group of about 200 medical staff and guests chatted over cocktails and appetizers, then sat for a tasty dinner of fillet mignon or salmon.

Although the evening was labeled as a meeting, it was short on business, and long on fun. The brief program thanked outgoing chief of staff Shakil Khan and his crew and welcomed 2006-08 chief of staff Michael Lorton and his committee. Then it was show time as nationally known illusionist Bill Herz mesmerized the audience with his bag of tricks. A favorite of many was the $100 dollar bill that was set on fire, but survived good as new.

Among the well-heeled group were hospital president Terri McLain and her husband, Dan Green, Lee and Terri Dunn, David and Carol Lindstrom, Jim and Kay Murray, Akinfermi and Tolani Afolabi, and Terry and Debbie Paul.

WHAT a nice surprise for a special guy. A retirement celebration Saturday night was in honor of John Husman, who recently retired from The Blade. The bash was in the Roost at Fifth Third Field, a perfect place for the baseball buff who has co-written and edited several books including Baseball in Toledo, Mud Hens Memories, and Toledo History, Our Life, Our Times, Our Town. The invitation included an appropriate quote from baseball great Yogi Berra: "If you don't know where you are going, you will wind up somewhere else."

But what the tan and relaxed Mr. Husman, who retired from Unitcast before joining The Blade, didn't know was that even though they requested no gifts, just the presence of friends, a special fund was set up in his honor. It is the John R. Husman Local Library History Fund of the Toledo-Lucas County Public Library.

The cat out of the bag, guests continued to celebrate as they feast on fabulous foods including homemade hors d'oeuves made by Mr. Husman's wife, Sandy, and daughters Michelle and Marianne - the deviled eggs were outstanding.

Adding just the right touch of background music was the Quartet Bernadette. Among the guests were Sylvania Mayor Craig Stough and his wife, Barbara.

MOM's House didn't waste anytime getting the final total net from Saturday night's Mom's Night Out at the Stranahan Great Hall. The grand total of $36,230 netted far exceeds the original $12,000 estimate. Congrats!

Just a few steps away in the Stranahan Theater was Mary Wilson of the Supremes performing with the Toledo Symphony for the Pops Concert presented by Key Bank. And tickled pink were those at the pops concert Meet and Greet where Ms. Wilson gladly posed for pictures and gave autographs to the select few. Betsy Brady and Tom were all smiles over the opportunity as were Bob and Carol Fox, Ken and Carolyn Minichiello, and Dick and Suzie (cksp)Bond.

A VICTORIAN Luncheon proved to be a pleasing afternoon Feb. 11 at the Monclova Community Center, formerly an old brick school house. The event, presented by the Monclova Historical Society as a benefit, was all feminine from the committee in Victorian costumes to the dainty flowers, to the lunch for ladies which included included Waldorf salad, chicken medallions, and countless confections to satisfy those with a sweet tooth. Santa Fe Way models paraded through the group of about 155 women who were well dressed themselves in hats, including members of many Red Hat Societies.

Emcee and guest speaker was Joanie Barrett, dressed in Victorian attire from head to toe. A registered nurse and wife of a doctor, Mrs. Barrett, enveloped the audience with her animated presentation about Elizabeth Blackwell, 1824-1920, the first woman in the United States to receive a medical degree. After being turned away from nearly 30 medical schools, Ms. Blackwell was finally accepted at Geneva in New York and graduated in 1849. Noted for emphasizing sanitation and personal hygiene as a link to disease, Ms. Blackwell went on to several other noteworthy accomplishments including, with her sister Emily, who was also a doctor, opening a hospital for the underpriviledged.

Back to the luncheon, a live auction and fabulous door prizes rounded out the afternoon. The event, the first of several, netted $5,000 and a lot of fun, according to chairman Martha Strayer. The next tea "The Titanic Tea " will be March 14 at the same location, but will have limited seating, so call early for reservations. 419-861-1336.