On the town: Reds, whites make green for local causes

Hosts of Celebration de Chile were Randy Oostra, center, president and CEO of ProMedica, and wife Barbara, right, with Jose Ignacio Villalobos, left.

Hosts of Celebration de Chile were Randy Oostra, center, president and CEO of ProMedica, and wife Barbara, right, with Jose Ignacio Villalobos, left.

Great wine, delicious food, good company: Three ingredients for a fabulous evening were mentioned on the invitations, but the Seven Deadly Zins winemaker was the real draw for the special dinner at Inverness Club this fall. Michael David Winery in Lodi, Calif., provided the wines and David Phillips, who owns the winery with and his brother Michael Phillips, flew in for the occasion at the request of personal friends and Inverness Club members Jack and Stephanie McBride.

Among the 75 attendees were members and guests including Troy and Wendy Greeley, Bruce and Karen Schoenberger, Allan and Pat Timmerman, Scott and Margot Estes, Lamont and Heather Thurston, Mike and Jennifer Sherman, and Dan and Joy Kight.

PHOTO GALLERY: Wine benefits, Nutcracker fundraiser

ProMedica Hospice and Alzheimer's Care

Celebracion de Chile, a celebration of wine to benefit ProMedica Hospice and Alzheimer's Care was this fall at the Holland home of ProMedica Health Systems President and CEO Randy Oostra and his wife Barbara.

A giant tent in the backyard of the lovely spacious home held the nearly 240 guests present to enjoy a delightful dinner by Evans Street Station paired with world-class wines from Chile's Santa Rita Winery, named 2010 Winery of the Year by Wine and Spirits magazine.

The place was lively with chatter and once at the dinner tables people were in awe of the food and wine. The menu included poached Maine lobster, butternut squash and pumpkin soup, braised short ribs, and dark chocolate flourless torte. A special treat was Jose Ignacio Villalobos who described the wines before they were served. Adding to the fun were the silent and live auctions.

Christina Pelachyk fills glasses at the Sweet Life benefit for the Toledo Animal Shelter Auxiliary.

The $72,000 that was raised benefits ProMedica Hospice and Alzheimer's care facility. Event chairman Kaiko Zureich, of Impact Products, LLC was assisted by a committee of nearly 25 volunteers. There were silent and live auctions with the assistance of Jerry Anderson and Chrys Peterson of WTOL-TV, Channel 11.

Among the nearly 240 attendees were honorary chairmen Jim Findlay, community philanthropist Harvey Tolson, of Tolson Enterprises, and lots of community leaders including Bob and Kathy Chirdon, Jim and Kay Murray, Emmett and Pati Boyle, Lee and Terri Dunn, George and Leslie Chapman, Joan Bayer, Sue Hague-Rogers, Rita Mansour, Lee and Susan Hammerling, Michael and Lillian Walsh, Mike and Kelly Hart, Greg and Susan Denny, Tim Valko and Jim Moore, Art and Jan Purinton, Dan and Kristine LaValley, Barbara Steele and Alan Kimpel, and Todd and Jennifer Cooperide.

Toledo Animal Shelter Auxiliary

Swirling their glasses to get the full bouquet of the wine were attendees at The Toledo Animal Shelter Auxiliary's wine, cheese, and chocolate event "A Sweet Life," this fall at Capers Restaurant and Bar.

The tasting of four different South American wines from Berman Wines was highlighted with cheeses, fruits, and tasty bruschetta from Capers and sweet confections from Godiva Chocolatier Inc. at Westfield Franklin Park Mall.

The $3,147 that was raised went to the Toledo Animal Shelter according to event chairmen Clarissa Esterhuizen, Emily Meadows, Dawn Wroblewski-Roeske, and Joni Fought.

Ballet Theater Company of Toledo

The Nutcracker Sweets was Nov. 6 at Sylvania Country Club. The event included live music, a silent auction, arts and crafts, and a performance of the "Waltz of the Flowers."

The event, chaired by Dee Dillon, raised $5,000 for the Ballet Theater Company of Toledo production of the Nutcracker slated for Nov. 25, 26, and 27, at the Valentine Theatre, said Nigel Burgoine, artistic director. For information call 419-344-0041.

Dancers Harrison McClintock, Kayla Thompson, Morgan Smith, and Regan Simon with Miss Gracie, a Pyrenees Mountain Dog.

PHOTO GALLERY: Wine benefits, Nutcracker fundraiser