ON THE TOWN

Fund-raising, fashion at elegant Sapphire Blues

11/11/2012
BY BARBARA HENDEL
BLADE SOCIETY EDITOR
  • Young-models

    Macy Tudor, 15, of Perrysburg, left, and Larissa Leck, 16, of Bowling Green, right, model their dresses while posing for a photograph Friday evening during the Sapphire Blues to Benefit the Toledo Opera at the Toledo Club in Toledo.

    THE BLADE/KATIE RAUSCH
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  • From left, Joshua Cooper, Negar Cooper, center, and Tim Hanson, right, pose for a photograph Friday evening during the Sapphire Blues to Benefit the Toledo Opera at the Toledo Club in Toledo.
    From left, Joshua Cooper, Negar Cooper, center, and Tim Hanson, right, pose for a photograph Friday evening during the Sapphire Blues to Benefit the Toledo Opera at the Toledo Club in Toledo.

    Sapphire Blues 2012 presented by the Toledo Opera Guild was Nov. 2 at the Toledo Club. It was a night of cocktails, tasty hors d'oeuvres, music, silent and live auctions, and fashion in celebration of the guild's 50th anniversary. The estimated $24,000 raised benefits the Toledo Opera Association.

    Community leaders sporting fashions from Toledo Furs, Jeffrey Mann Jewelers, and Sophia Lustig Shop roamed the room. Starbound Entertainment models added spark to the evening. Food included mushroom/sherry soup shooters, wasabi/horseradish deviled eggs, salmon, mini beef wellingtons, and baked brie.

    Photo gallery: Fund-raising and fashion shine

    A Golden Wine Cellar silent auction of wines was popular, thanks to chairmen Marcy McMahon and Michael Sordyl. Dick Joseph, there with Cherie Assally, bought a $950 bottle of wine.

    The live auction was a hit with a fur coat priced at $4,000, a French vacation at $2,000, an elegant Nazareth Hall dinner with a limousine at $1,200, and a bottle of Chateau Lafite Rothschild '99 Premier Grandcru at more than $1,100.

    Kate MacPherson, left, Lisa Wolfe, center, and Patrice Spitzer, right, pose for a photograph Friday evening during the Sapphire Blues to Benefit the Toledo Opera at the Toledo Club in Toledo. This is the 50h anniversary of the Toledo Opera Guild.
    Kate MacPherson, left, Lisa Wolfe, center, and Patrice Spitzer, right, pose for a photograph Friday evening during the Sapphire Blues to Benefit the Toledo Opera at the Toledo Club in Toledo. This is the 50h anniversary of the Toledo Opera Guild.

    Among the 200 attendees were opera board president Sandra Sauder and husband Kevin, guild president Traci Schwann and husband Tom, Ann Sanford, Alan and Ann Goodridge,Shirley and Richard Joseph, Barbara Brown, Dortha and Jerry Baum, Maria Karmol and Wally Witt, Alan and Hindea Berkowitz, Linda and Clint McBee, Roberta and Ron Royhab, Barbara Baker, Celso and Lea Antiporda, Cindy and Jack Niggemeyer, Mary Dawson, and Marv and Nancy Robon.

    Event chairman Mary Beaber, co-chairmen Pam Bettinger and Barbara Bettinger, and junior chairman Dock David Treece were assisted by more than 50 volunteers including Susan Allan Block, Josh Cooper, Judith Conda, Janna Lake, Tim Hanson, Carol Sizemore, Clare Gorski, Diane Shull, JoAnn Phipps, and Liz Ference.

    The Anne Grady Center 24th Annual Enchanted Evening 2012 "Making Wishes Come True" presented by the Anne Grady Foundation was Nov. 4 at Parkway Place in Maumee.

    The $95,000 raised supports Noah's House respite home for children and Prescribed Pediatric Center, a medical day care center. The 30-year-old center is named for the late Anne Grady, who with her late husband, Walter H. Grady, helped found the home for individuals like their son Thomas, with severe developmental disabilities.

    Welcoming everyone were Jerry Anderson and Chrys Peterson of WTOL-TV, Channel 11, who have been the emcees for 18 years.

    Sheri Craig and her husband, Nick Craig, whose son Alexander has special needs, praised the pediatric center.

    Honorary chairmen were Byrne and Lauren Stapleton. An honorary committee of 13 included Stephen and Cathy Brazeley, Laurie and R.W. Mills, and Carol and John Stinson.

    Thanks went to Sharon Unkle who is celebrating 31 years at Anne Grady center next month. She started working before the doors even opened.

    Celebrity table hosts included Mayor Mike Bell, Brian Gump of Gump's Restaurant, and several folks from WTVG-TV, Channel 13; WNWO-TV, Channel 24, WKKO K-100, and WTOL/Fox Toledo.

    Macy Tudor, 15, of Perrysburg, left, and Larissa Leck, 16, of Bowling Green, right, model their dresses while posing for a photograph Friday evening during the Sapphire Blues to Benefit the Toledo Opera at the Toledo Club in Toledo.
    Macy Tudor, 15, of Perrysburg, left, and Larissa Leck, 16, of Bowling Green, right, model their dresses while posing for a photograph Friday evening during the Sapphire Blues to Benefit the Toledo Opera at the Toledo Club in Toledo.

    The Berlin Brothers played tunes, and station dining gave everyone time to socialize, shop the silent auction, and purchase raffle tickets.

    Among the 386 supporters were Karen and R. L. Berry, Craig and Michelle Joseph, Keith Burwell, Rich and Margie Heck, Mac McCarthy and Carol Maher, Lon and Debbie Mitchell, Frank Unkle and his daughter Tracy Saba and her husband Bruce Saba; Rick Grady, son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Grady; board president Richard Torchia, and foundation board president Jim Whiteman.

    Perrysburg Area Historic Museum's second Chips A' Hoy fund-raiser Nov. 3rd at Carranor Hunt and Polo Club netted more than $7,000 and a boat load of fun.

    The museum is slated to open in 2013 in the former Spafford House built in 1823 on West River Road. It is listed on the National Park Service's National Register of Historic Places.

    The evening, emceed by Mike Robarge, featured gaming, a silent auction, prizes, edibles, and piano tunes played by Eric Dickey.

    Celebrity dealers included Deb Buker, Jon Eckel, Paula Fall, Debbie and Tony Knight, Scott Libbe, Tom Mackin, Scot MacPherson, Kate Philabaum, Kevin Rantanen, Patrice Spitzer, Mark Wasylyshyn, and Becky Williams.

    Thanks go to the more than a dozen business sponsors. And kudos go to committee chairman Phyllis Morton, president Judy Justus, and committee members Polly White, Cary Wise, Marsha Molnar, and Nancy Wilbur.

    Tracey Martinez, of Monclova, left, and her daughter Serena Yerg, 13, look at the alter with photographs and remembrances of three members of the Latin American community who have died in the past year during Saturday evening's 16th annual Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) celebration at the Aurora Gonzalez Believe Center in Toledo.
    Tracey Martinez, of Monclova, left, and her daughter Serena Yerg, 13, look at the alter with photographs and remembrances of three members of the Latin American community who have died in the past year during Saturday evening's 16th annual Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) celebration at the Aurora Gonzalez Believe Center in Toledo.

    Day of the Dead celebration

    The Sofia Quintero Art and Cultural Center celebrated its 16th anniversary Nov. 3 with a Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) altar exhibit and fund-raiser to honor the late Edith Franklin, Alberto Flores, and Charlie Weaver.

    The blessing of the altars at the Quintero Center was followed by a procession to SS Peter & Paul Parish for a special mass honoring loved ones and a pan dulce y chocolate (sweet bread and hot cocoa) reception.

    The evening fund-raiser was at the Aurora Gonzalez Center and the Believe Center. A traditional Mexican dinner featured chef Jose Carlos Mendez of O.K. Patron in Perrysburg. Entertainment included the Glass City Mariachi Band, Corazon de Mexico Ballet Folkorico, and the University of Toledo Latin Jazz Ensemble.