OTT: Summer a perfect time for parties, both private and corporate

Summer: a perfect time for parties Sept. 19, 2010" rel="storyimage1" title="OTT-Summer-a-perfect-time-for-parties-both-private-and-corporate.jpg"/>
Guests dined and mingled under giant tents in the midst of this beautiful garden setting at the Schedel Arboretum & Gardens. <img src=http://www.toledoblade.com/graphics/icons/photo.gif> <font color=red><b>PHOTO GALLERY:</b></font> ON THE TOWN: <a href="/apps/pbcs.dll/gallery?Avis=TO&Dato=20100919&Kategori=COLUMNIST10&Lopenr=919009999&Ref=PH"_blank"><b>Summer: a perfect time for parties </b></a> Sept. 19, 2010

A great summer will come to a close at 11:09 p.m. Wednesday, when autumn begins.

In addition to baseball, boating, golf, tennis, swimming, and other fun sports, there were plenty of outdoor parties this season.

• The 2010 Provisionals of the Toledo Museum of Art Ambassadors presented A Summer Evening late last month at the Perrysburg home of Greg Emmert and his wife, Helen, a past president of the Ambassadors. Their daughter, Elizabeth Emmert, the current president, welcomed everyone.

Guests strolled the riverfront lawn and sipped beverages on the veranda as they sampled food from recipes in the Ambassadors' cookbook. The food was prepared by board members and the cookbook committee headed by Claudia Sundberg. The anniversary edition of the award-winning cookbook will be published in October and available at the museum's store.

Orchestrator of the artful presentation was provisional Carol Lynn Wilson, who was employed at Donald Trump's Mara Largo in Palm Beach. The provisional class also includes Julia Bearss, Peggy Casey, Judy Copeland, Nancy Farber, Mary Harman, Stephanie Johnstone, Ginger Knudson, Sangeeta Mehta, and Linda Swemba.

• Steve and Leslie Groth's annual Cigar-B-Que had a Latin flair, and guests were invited to bring their favorite Latin American food.

• Speaking of parties with a Latin vibe, the 21st annual Diamante Awards presented by Owens-Illinois and ProMedica Health System took place earlier this month at the Hilton Toledo. The event, also a kickoff to Hispanic Heritage Month, is a partnership between the University of Toledo, Lourdes College, Bowling Green State University, and Owens Community College to raise funds for Latino students. Twenty one scholarships were awarded this year.

Classical guitar tunes played by Fidencio Alania set a relaxing scene for the guests as they shopped the silent auction.

Guest emcees Judge Keila Cosme of the Sixth District Court of Appeals and City Councilman Adam Martinez got things rolling and kept the evening on pace.

Honored with community awards for their support in the Latino community were ProMedica; State Sen. Teresa Fedor (D., Toledo); Elaina Hernandez, founder of El Corazon de Mexico Ballet Folklorico; Lauryn Vargas, a Bowling Green State University student and cabinet member of the Latino Student Union; and Ruben Viramontez Anguiano, an associate professor in the school of family and consumer sciences in the College of Education and Human Development at BGSU.

An estimated $20,000 was raised.

• An intimate party was held late last month at the Pemberville, Ohio, farm of Bob and Karen Lucas for Kathy Carroll, the new president and CEO of the Toledo Symphony.

• The weather was perfect Sept. 12 for the seventh annual Hidden Garden Party at Schedel Arboretum & Gardens in Elmore, Ohio. Music played in the background as guests meandered about the lush scenery

Giant tents decorated with sparkling ice sculptures held dining stations featuring the tastes of the Navy Bistro, Tango's Latin Grill, and Cousino's Steakhouse.

Emcees were Brad Harvey and Lauren Lowrey of WTOL-TV, Channel 11, and the auctioneer was John Whalen.

Ashel Bryan, longtime northwest Ohio businessman and philanthropist, held court. For more than six decades he has been a pillar of the community as a banker with a reputation for promoting the development and growth of regional businesses.

Also among the more than 200 supporters were Carol Wright, Ed and Linda Reiter, Lane and Chris Williamson, Phil and Mary Lou Rudolph, Tom and Eileen Cousino, and Brent and Carol Wagener.

The estimated net from the event is $60,000 for Schedel, however, totals are not complete, according to executive director Rodney Noble.

• RE/MAX Preferred Associates' annual Party in the Parking Lot took place in mid-August with lots of food, beverages and fun people.

The Foreclosure band added spark to the night. The gathering of talent included Vince Lyons of Fifth Third Bank; Eddie Campos of RE/MAX; Johnny "O" of RE/MAX; Doug Kwiatkowski of Danberry Co. Realtors, with featured artist Jeff Stewart of the Flex Band.

• The 17th annual Flamingo Fling, a.k.a. 1993 Shriners A-Team party at the Whitehouse Farm of Joe and Chris Vedra was great fun.

In attendance were Dorothy and Bernie Welniak, Howard Sommers, Harold and Gloria Mucci, Dennis and Joan Gable, Paul and Ruth Price, Bob and Jane Papenfuss, Fred Emmitt, Marilyn Sager, Dave and Peg Walker, Mike Tonef, and Marilyn Hanthorn and Roni Lawrence.