Thursday is the Toledo area's night for parties

Dave and Jill Seibenick at the Toledo Club s Members Appreciation Party.

Thursday is a popular night for parties. Tonight, for example, from 5:30 to 8 is "Art for Harbor's Sake" at Trattoria Sofo in Sylvania.

The event benefits Harbor Behavioral Healthcare. It's a chance to mingle over wines and food while shopping for art by students in the art therapy program. If you didn't make reservations, no problem; they will gladly accept guests at the door for $15 for hors d'oeuvres or $30 for hors d'oeuvres and a wine tasting.

Also on the slate tonight at 5:30 is the Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce "Business After Hours" presented by Sky Bank at the Toledo Zoo Museum of Science. And the Toledo Club is hosting a Bushmills Single Malt Irish Whiskey and Scotch Night tonight.

Dave and Jill Seibenick at the Toledo Club s Members Appreciation Party.

Here are a few happenings from last Thursday night:

THE Toledo Club's annual Members' Appreciation Party had a Fabulous 50's theme. Setting the scene were vinyl records, roller skates, lots of pink and black, and silhouettes of the Rat Pack and others, including Olivia Newton-John and John Travolta from Grease. There also was an Elvis impersonator - Sue Martin went right up for a photo op. And "Frank Sinatra," aka Tom Trudeau, sang favorites.

Dining stations included all kinds of foods, including some to fit the '50s theme, onion rings, sliders, and hot dogs, but there were also other delights, including crab legs, a seafood casserole, and roast beef.

Two bands, the Night Hawks and Bonkers, entertained. Nita and Fred Harrington did the rhumba. Henk Albregt and Mary Kay Kanary did a hot cha-cha. Also on the dance floor were Bruce and Linda Seeger and Dave Hancock and Helyn Bolanis.

Jim Gottron was on hand for those who wanted their favorite tunes played.

Arlene Gerig, left, and John and Judy Gorun at the Springfield Schools Foundation s What s Your Bag? fund-raiser.

Among the nearly 200 in attendance were board president Dirk VanHeyst, Denny and Sheila Johnson, Mike Smythe, Dave and Jill Seibenick, Chuck Mira, Jill Koehler and her guest Austin Jankens, Bill Jonke, John Scott, John and Mary Fedderke, Larry Boyer, Walt and Lois Churchill, Tom and Brenda Geiger, Tom and Marlene Uhler, Rudy Peckinpaugh, John Kolbeck, Missy and John DiSalle, Bill Buckley, and Dan Kory and Elaine Kanning. On a guys' night out - their wives were all busy - were Tom Schmidt, Don Leary, Bob Lucas, and Ben Brown.

Proceeds from a raffle for cash prizes went to Diabetes Youth Services. The winners were Jeff Shoffer, Kathryn Genite, Jarrod Hirschfeld, Sue Mueller, and Boyd Montgomery.

"WHAT'S Your Bag?" was the question the Springfield Schools Foundation started asking celebrities more than a year ago. And it paid off, as nearly 100 bags were gathered for a benefit at Stone Oak Country Club.

More than 225 guests helped raise nearly $30,000, announced chairmen Vicky Brymer and Judy Shepherd.

Among the celebrity bags were a golf bag from Annika Sorenstam, and a shirt signed by Clint Eastwood, plus an Erin Gruwell backpack, a Jamie Lee Curtis Freaky Friday package, totes filled to the brim from Joan Rivers, and bags from Regis and Kelly and Good Morning America bag.

Local celebs donated, too, including Tony Packo, Chrys Peterson, Cynthia Beekley, Matt Paskiet, Marcy Kaptur, Laura Emerson, Karl Rundgren, Tom Amstutz, and Ben Konop.

The highlight of the evening was when auctioneer Jack Amlin got David Zamichow to part with $550 for the "Hero Bag," an Army duffle bag sent by Springfield High School graduate Corey Steiner, who is currently serving in Iraq. Assisting with the evening was Melissa Voetsch.

Also exciting were the mini bags filled with rock candy sold for a chance at a diamond; a choice of a trip to Vegas, Mexico, or a cruise, or a Loft and Homes bag. Barbara Konop won the trip.

Gadding about and shopping were Stuart and Joan Love, Keiran and Bill Menacher, Susan Santoro, John and Judy Gorun, Gail and Jay Mirrow, Lucy Gernot, Phelps and Monica Evans, Joe Coley and Kay Ingle, Scott and Denise Walsh, and foundation board president Tim Walerius and his wife, Patty. Many foundation board members participated too, including Angela Wallington Zimmann, Amy Sanders, Mark Frey, and Bob and Diane Bethel.

THE totals are in for the Leadership Toledo breakfast held bright and early April 27. More than $40,000 was raised for multi-year pledge programs. The donations will be particularly supportive of the Youth Leadership programs.

Applications are still being accepted for the adult class which begins in late August.

KUDOS go to Kristen Droulliard, a graduate of Sylvania Northview High School and Bowling Green State University, who competed in the Boston Marathon April 16.

Cheering her on were her parents, Tom and Karen Droulliard, cousin Nick Horton, and aunt and uncle Susie and Frank Horton. She crossed the finish line at 3 hours and 42 minutes.

The night before the event she and her family dined on pasta at Dolce Vita in Boston. Restaurant owner Franco Graceffa stopped by to wish Kristen good luck.