AROUND TOWN

Party-goers toast grand re-opening

From left: George Chapman, Sue Savage, Polly Taylor-Gerken, and Bob Savage at the United Way Evening with Geoffrey Canada.

From left: Marianne Ballas, Joyce Chapple, and Susan Allan Block celebrate the Ballas Buick GMC Grand Re-Opening

Ballas Buick GMC staged a Grand Re-Opening Celebration Sept. 8 hosted by Marianne Ballas and associates in the show room. Guests sipped cocktails, nibbled hors d'oeuvres provided by Labib Hajjar of the Beirut, and perused the updated establishment.

Mayor Mike Bell welcomed everyone and Chrys Peterson of WTOL-TV, Channel 11 and Fox Toledo spoke on behalf of the American Heart Association's Go Red for Women, the recipient of the night's profits of about $15,000 and donations are still coming in.

Nearly 300 guests shopped the silent auction of everything from University of Toledo and University of Michigan sports packages, dining opportunities by Susan Allan Block and Mrs. Ballas, and lessons from the Dance Clinic with dinner at the Beirut, to a tour of the GM Powertrain plant with dinner at Mancy's Steakhouse, and a behind-the-scenes tour of ProMedica Toledo Hospital Cardiovascular Program followed by dinner at the Final Cut in Hollywood Casino Toledo.

Among those in attendance were community representatives, folks from ProMedica, UT, Rudolph Libbe, Hollywood Casino, media, and local businesses. General Motors representatives were there too.

Honorees at the University College of Law and the University of Toledo Law Alumni Affiliate were, back row from left: Prof. Ronald Brown, Rabbi Alan Sokobin, and Prof. Lee Strang. Front, from left: Justice Judith Lanzinger, Major Michael Renz, and Prof. Rebecca Zietlow.

The UT College of Law and the UT Law Alumni Affiliate presented the 2012 Law Awards at a reception Sept. 8 at the school.

Lucas County Probate Court Magistrate Nancy Miller, president of the alumni board of governors, welcomed everyone. Dean Daniel Steinbock presented the faculty awards to professors Lee Strang and Rebecca Zietlow and Ms. Miller presented the alumni awards to Marine Maj. Michael Renz, who was back in Toledo for the first time since his graduation in 2002; Rabbi Alan Sokobin of the class of 1996 who teaches Jewish law at the university; Ronald Brown, a 1968 graduate who came back from the Hawaii College of Law for the occasion, and Ohio Supreme Court Justice Judith Lanzinger, a 1977 graduate who was elected to and has served all four levels of the state judicial system.

Among the group of about 110 in the audience were Ohio Supreme Court Chief Justice Maureen O'Connor, Ohio Sixth District Court of Appeals Judge Arlene Singer, Lucas County Common Pleas Court Judge Myron Duhart, Lucas County Probate Court Judge Jack Puffenberger, U.S. District Court Judge David Katz, alumni Eddie Cole, Sharon Speyer, Susan Gilmore, Patty Wise, and Mike Mikkonen; community philanthropists Dick and Fran Anderson, and Mike Todak, president of the Toledo Bar Association.

The Tocqueville Society of the United Way presented An Exclusive Evening with Geoffrey Canada Monday at Health Care REIT. George Chapman, chairman, chief executive officer, and president of the company, and his wife Leslie are chairmen of the Tocqueville Society, whose members contribute at least $10,000 annually to the United Way.

From left: George Chapman, Sue Savage, Polly Taylor-Gerken, and Bob Savage at the United Way Evening with Geoffrey Canada.

New society members were announced: Dave and Jo Ann Bartlow, Chuck and Margaret Herman, Roger and Donna Wood, Kyle and Julie Latham, Craig and Amy Findley, Tom and Jane Manahan, Ken and Jean Lovejoy, Rita Mansour, Barbara Steele, Scott and Margot Estes, Susan Block and Allan Block, chairman of Block Communications, Inc., owner of The Blade, and Joseph Zerbey IV, president and general manager of The Blade.

Mr. Canada, founder, president, and CEO of Harlem Children's Zone, said he believes success for children is through education, but addressing the needs of an entire neighborhood is necessary to achieve those goals. It takes community involvement, parents, teachers, and more and everyone should be held responsible.

Jane Moore, interim president and CEO of United Way Toledo, thanked everyone. 2012 campaign chairman Randy Oostra, ProMedica president and CEO, was at the event.

Tocqueville members and invited guests included Richard and Clare Hylant, Brian Epstein, Tom and Paulette Geiger, John and Yolanda Szuch, Jim and Kay Murray, Lloyd Jacobs, Mike Wilcox, Joan Bayer, Elizabeth and Dick Ruppert, Bob and Sue Savage, Christy and Spence Stone, Ann and Charlie Dana, and Steve and Michelle Deetmer.