ON THE TOWN

Sailors take to the lake for Mills Trophy race

From left, host Carl Hedlund, Greg Knudson and Tom Downs stand next to a 1963 Jaguar that was on display to commemorate the 50-year members at the Country Garden Club's Tea and Wine soiree.

Rear commodore John Sokol, left, and vice commodore Tom Kaintz, second from right, present a flag to the winning crew of the Governor’s Cup after the Mills Trophy Race. Crew members include, beginning second from left, Tom Morgan, Steve King, John Bollin, Robert Bollin, Joe DiMasso, and Bill Bollin, far right.

Salty dogs ventured out for the 90th Invitational Race for the Mills Trophy sponsored by Toledo Yacht Club, which set sail on the evening of June 7 near the Toledo Harbor Light en route to Put-in-Bay. About 130 boats from all over the United States and Canada participated.

The weather was chilly but it didn’t stop these skippers and their crews. Flat Stanley skipped by Terry McSweeney of Avon Lake, Ohio, won the Mills Trophy. Badfish, skippered by Bill Bollin of Sylvania, and a member of North Cape Yacht Club, won the Governor’s Cup. Among the crew were his son, John, grandson, Robert, and nephew, Steve King. Bill’s father, Bob Bollin, was commodore of Toledo Yacht Club in 1964 and sailed many Mills Trophy races.

Sailors and the race committee celebrated at the Mills Mt. Gay Rum and Treu House of Munch Party on June 8 at Put-in-Bay Yacht Club with general chairman Ron Soyka of Toledo Yacht Club and principal race officer Edwin Theisen of Detroit Yacht Club.

It took a whole crew of volunteers to run the race, from people at the check-in to those at the finish line, to power boaters operating the starter boat SeaDozer, owned by Julian Gerken, and along with him were Toledo Yacht Club commodore Barry Vincent and his wife Becky. Regan Smith, owner of Transit yacht, anchored the end of the starting line. 

PHOTO GALLERY: Mills Trophy race and garden club soirees

Maumee residents Gary Byers, and Barb and Larry King enjoy the fine weather for the day of the Mills Trophy Race pre-party.

This year’s honorary chairman was Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry in honor of the Battle of Lake Erie’s bicentennial. A commemorative buoy on the race route where the battle took place was marked by Wild Goose ll, owned by Ron and Patti Schebil.

The weekend started with a dinner June 5 for last year’s race winners including 2012 Mills Trophy winner David Spiers of the Edison Boat Club, Detroit. The annual Mills Race Pre-Party open to the public was June 6 at TYC with 56 Daze band.

The weekend ended with an award f lag presentation on June 9 at Put-in-Bay Yacht Club. Winners’ names will be added to the perpetual trophies.

The weather was perfect for the 10th annual Crosby Award Luncheon presented by the Toledo Botanical Garden last month in honor of Sarah Skow, Mona Macksey, and Janet George Ward, women who made a significant difference in the quality of life in our community through support of gardens, the arts, nature, or education.

Nearly 200 women, most in fabulous hats, attended at $150 per person or $1,000 for a table of 10. They dined under a giant tent at tables set with centerpieces created by 20 local businesses including three awarded for their designs: Shared Lives Studio, first place; C’est La Vie, second place; and Packer Creek Pottery, third place.

Attending to the needs of the ladies were wine stewards. Among the men in dapper black and white were Mayor Mike Bell, Mark Folk, Louis Escobar, Dick Anderson, and Bob Skinner. 

Event chairmen were Paula Fall and Mary Krueger. An estimated $25,000 was raised.

From left, host Carl Hedlund, Greg Knudson and Tom Downs stand next to a 1963 Jaguar that was on display to commemorate the 50-year members at the Country Garden Club's Tea and Wine soiree.

Garden clubs are plentiful in the area: Country Garden Club in Perrysburg honored 50-year members Molly Boeschenstein, Carol Bentley, Georgia Welles, Kay Ball, and Julie Brown. The Tea and Wine soiree was June 8 at the home of member Margaret Hedlund and her husband, Carl. Country Garden Club was established in 1932, and its first president was Mrs. WW (Edna) Knight. 

Ottawa Hills Garden Club, founded in 1932, presented Cafe Fleur Flower Show June 10 at Sunset House.

Quest Garden Club in Maumee celebrated its 54th anniversary with a luncheon at Carranor Hunt and Polo Club last month.

The Toledo Bar Association Auxiliary’s May meeting featured Bowling Green Hats and Apparel with auxiliary members modeling. Members also enjoyed guest speaker Molly Thompson, whose talk was “Feeding Creativity: How Food Impacts Our Community.”