On The Town: Groovy Gala

Jerry Borstelman, of Harley-Davidson Sales & Service in Toledo, rides a stationary Harley during the Celebrity Boxing event.

The Blade/Amy E. Voigt
Buy This Image

Sharon Hollins and Dan Frye stand with the two Honda motorcycles on display compliments of McElheney Locksmith at the Valentine Theatre's Summer's End benefit.

The 14th season of the renovated Valentine Theatre was celebrated Sept. 14, 15, and 16 and more than 3,000 people visited one of Toledo's historic jewels.

The Summer's End Plaza Party in the theater's Outdoor Plaza drew a crowd of 500 that Friday night with beer, food, fun, and a wine garden. The featured entertainment was The Blade's Battle of the Bands winner Booyah, plus the Eight Fifteens and DJ Nathan Mattimoe.

PHOTO GALLERY: OTT: Groovy Gala

Saturday night's nontraditional gala centered around a Woodstock concert by classic rockers Jefferson Starship. It drew 400 for the gala and another 350 for the show. Board chairman Jane Kervin and her husband Bob, in hippie attire, greeted everyone, along with vice chairman Tedd Long, in a dapper tuxedo that included a tie-dyed cumberbun. Nearby were Mrs. Kervin's mom Luci Gorski and friend Bob Billstein.

The Gala, at $150 per person, included cocktails in the Grand Lobby with flashing psychedelic lights by Phil Hazard and the Wet Sun Light Show and a buffet gourmet dinner by Mancy's Brother's Catering Cuisine and brownies for dessert.

The concert followed in the theater where the band cranked up the sound and played hits such as "White Rabbit," "Volunteers," and "Somebody to Love."

Jerry Borstelman, of Harley-Davidson Sales & Service in Toledo, rides a stationary Harley during the Celebrity Boxing event.

Many gala attendees sported flower power attire such as sandals, faded jeans, bell bottoms, leather, long print dresses, tie-dyed T-shirts, shades, and more.

Recalling the groovy days of the summer of love were Pete and Kathy Wilson, Bob and Kim LaClair, Mark and Gretchen Zyndorf, Steve and Penny Staelin, Pat Nowak and Steve Roberts, Bill and Paula Fall, John and Sharmon Minns, Rick and Cy Dunlap, Barb and Dan Cutillio, Tom and Nancy Kabat, and Traci and Tom Schwann.

Kudos to the gala committee Dorothy Ashley, Sharon Sordyl, Gay Cappelletti, Andrea Monoky, Mindy Vesoulis, and others.

Sunday afternoon's Pinkalicious performances based on a version of the young children's book by Victoria Kann and Elizabeth Kann drew 1,800 children.

The weekend was a smashing success with $70,000 raised. Medical Mutual was the presenter.

DOGS wagged their tails to say hello to guests outside the entrance to the Toledo Area Humane Society Fur Ball: Paws for Mardi Gras presented by Key Private Bank Sept. 14 at Parkway Place. They are some of the furry friends looking for a forever home. The 24th annual event netted more than $40,000 to help save and support pets and respond to reports of cruelty, abuse, and neglect of animals.

Among those welcoming everyone was board chairman Teresa Beebe. Executive director John Dinon gave an update on adoptions and noted that the Mega Adoption event is slated for 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 6 and 7 at Westfield Franklin Park mall in the parking lot on the Sylvania Avenue side.

The 275 guests shopped the silent auction as they sipped cocktails and munched on appetizers, then sat at tables centered with cat and dog motifs with Mardi Gras masks for the buffet style dinner.

Auctioneer Dawn Rose enticed folks to bid on all kinds of great packages from vacations to entertainment and sports tickets. Christina Williams and Tony Geftos of WTVG-TV, Channel 13, also asked for donations and George, the rescued cat that is now the shelter's mascot, also made an appearance.

TOLEDO Celebrity Fight Night presented by the Advertising Club of Toledo last Thursday was a knockout, said Kathy Jex, board president of the International Boxing Club of Toledo. It raised $10,000 for the IBC, which is an after-school program for under-served children that stresses education, health, and responsibility.

The final of 10 bouts was the Main Event -- the Ultimate Steve Contest between Steve Taylor of Taylor Automotive Group and "Scuba" Steve Braun of Car Stereo One.

Smoking Joe Nugent of WTVG-TV, Channel 13 fought Tony Castillo of the Oregon Police Department. Marlene Metti of the Toledo Fire Department boxed Stephanie Meinke. Lucas County sheriff's deputy Harry Cummins, the executive director of IBC, was the masked "mystery man" boxer.

All of the celebrity boxers received golden boxing gloves as thanks for their support.

Helping with the event were boxing champion Bronco McKart; Anthony Bellino, the announcer, who is also the voice of the Mud Hens, Walleye, and BGSU; Glass City Roller Derby emcee Michael Seay, who was supposed to box, but got his front tooth knocked out during a practice with Toledo Mayor Mike Bell. Oregon police officers, Toledo firefighters, the Lucas County Sheriff's Department, and others helped out, too, including Sara Shiels of SSOE.

About 250 spectators had fun as they sat ringside, many at tables, and munched on food from the Burger Bar 419, including fresh potato chips made that day.

Also seen were Peter Boyer, Oregon Mayor Michael J. Seferian, Oregon Police Chief Mike Navarre, and a table of gals from Chicks for Charity, which adopted the IBC as their charity this year: founder Marsha Vetter, Rita Mansour, Kelly Kessler, Sue Hague Rogers, and Amy Sue Cukller.