AROUND TOWN

Spring flings get toes tapping

Mary Macino Giacci, left, with her sister Cassandra Macino celebrate at the anniversary party of the Cassandra School of Ballet.

Mary Macino Giacci, left, with her sister Cassandra Macino celebrate at the anniversary party of the Cassandra School of Ballet.

Dance was on the agenda for a number of spring events.

Cassandra School of Ballet celebrated its 40th anniversary with Dinner at the Ballet April 28 at Central Park West. Dancers performed to classical music with excerpts from their spring performance featuring the "40th Anniversary Waltz," choreographed by Cassandra Macino.

Zenobia Shrine Center honored Illustrious Potentate Dennis Gable and Lady Joan Gable at the Best Western Plaza in Toledo April 13 during the Potentate's Ball.

The Cotillion Club, a ballroom dance club started in 1940, hosted its annual Spring Dinner Dance recently at Carranor Hunt and Polo Club. Members and guests danced to the tunes of the Weekenders after a tasty surf and turf dinner. Event chairmen were Paula Hansen and Diane Bostdorff-Tousley.

Swing Into Spring garden party April 26 presented by Paramount was at Stranahan Great Hall. Seniors dined and danced to the tunes of Swingmania Orchestra.

Dr. Ameer Kabour, chief of cardiology for Mercy Health Partners and president of Toledo Cardiology Consultants, Inc. hosted his annual "Swing into Spring" senior gala for his patients aged 75 and older. The event April 13 at Inverness Club, included lunch, dancing, and entertainment by Paulette's Dance Studio and the River Raisin Sweet Adelines.

Dancing with the Military Stars is slated for May 18 at Stranahan Great Hall. Local celebs paired with dancers will showcase their talents in honor of military veterans with traumatic brain injury or post-traumatic stress, said founder and president of the Arms Forces Pam Hays.

Veterans Rich Dale, Jenn Bauer, Pam Hays and Brian Jones attend the Dancing for the Military Stars preview party at the Inverness Club.

Celebrities include State Rep. Teresa Fedor (D., Toledo), an Air Force veteran; Mayor Mike Bell; Pittsburgh Steelers backup quarterback Bruce Gradkowski, the owner of Gradkowski's Restaurant; Paul Toth, president and CEO, Toledo Lucas County Port Authority; Lee Powell, co-founder and senior pastor of CedarCreek Church; Kevin Braum, Toledo Police sergeant and winner of ABC's The Glass House; Michael Seay, SensoryMax marketing executive, and Eric Hillenbrand of 20 North Gallery.

Honorary chairman is Municipal Court Judge Bill Connelly, Jr.

Tickets are $75 with dinner and $25 without dinner. For tickets call 419-891-2111 or go to www.thearmsforces.org.

Dancing on a different level was at the Sight Center of Northwest Ohio's "The EyEvent" May 2 at the Hilton Garden Inn in Perrysburg. Featured guest speaker was Rachel Scdoris, an Iditarod competitor. She is the first legally blind person to complete the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, an annual long-distance race in early March from Anchorage to Nome, Alaska.

Emcee Chris Vickers of WTOL-TV, Channel 11 kept the evening racing along. Honorary chairmen were Bob LaClair, president and CEO, Fifth Third Bank, and his wife, Kim. Board chairman was Jennifer Scroggs.

Jim Collins of ProMedica received the John Goerlich Distinguished Service Award.

Kicking up their heels were founders of Waterford Bank during the annual shareholder's meeting recently at Inverness Club. The bank, started in 2007 in Sylvania, had another successful year; there are two new branches in Bryan and Perrysburg.

Founders are Lawrence Boyer, executive vice president; Michael Miller, chairman and chief executive officer, and Michael White, president and chief operating officer.