ON THE TOWN

Events take party-goers from ground level to rooftop

Artists Sarah Thomas, of Sylvania, left, and Matt Taylor, of Toledo, paint panels that were available for purchase during the the Toledo-Lucas County Public Library’s rooftop event.

The Blade/Jett a Fraser
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ROCKIN’ the Rooftop for Young Professionals Sept. 8 at the Toledo-Lucas County Public Library celebrated the library’s 175th anniversary. More than 100 people paid $20 per person to sip cocktails on the roof with a bird’s-eye view of the city. Kentucky Chrome played tunes as savory treats by Poco Piatti sated appetites.

Welcoming everyone was emcee Zach Ottenstein of Health Care REIT, a new Friends of the Library trustee representing the young professionals in the community.

Graffiti artist Matt Taylor created a mural on site and sections of it were auctioned off, netting nearly $300 for the Early Literacy Fund of the Library Legacy Foundation. As parting gifts, the Friends of the Library provided free trial memberships for attendees and each guest was able to select a gift book to take home.

THE Plaza Party at the Valentine Theatre on Sept. 6 was a kick-off to the Season of the Arts. The mainly outdoor event included a sampling of the performing arts in the community as guests sipped drinks and strolled about. Tasty foods by Georgio’s International Cafe and Manhattan’s were on hand.

PHOTO GALLERY: Click here to see photos from many of these events

Entertainment included performers from the Toledo Opera, Toledo School for the Arts, Toledo Symphony, Toledo Ballet, Masterworks Chorale, Ballet Theatre of Toledo, Toledo Repertoire Theater, Toledo Jazz Orchestra, the Blue Kazoo, and Jennifer Jarret of the Arts Commission, who gave merengue and tango dance lessons.

Among about 700 attendees were Lucy Gorski with Bob Billstein, Jane and Robert Kervin, and Joel and Clare Gorksi with their son Charlie, 6, and nephew Korik Ward, who was visiting from the Portland, Ore., area.

The event raised about $6,000 and benefits the new Local Performing Arts Fund via the Toledo Community Foundation for local arts rental costs at the theater.

THE End of Summer White Party on Aug. 31 at Toledo Country Club was a South Beach style soiree. Guests wore white to the poolside party with gauzy pergolas, floating flowers, and candles in the pool as they sipped cool beverages. The party continued under the moon after the sun went down.

Party sponsors were Cameron and Brandon Smith and Emily and Dennis Schroder.

TENNIS is big in Toledo and Toledo Tennis combined hitting the courts with charity. It was the Rockin’ with the Rockets on Aug. 25.

Club members played tennis with the University of Toledo players who come from all over the country and world to play for the Rockets.

The event included a silent auction and a bidding process to play with the Rockets team which helped raise an estimated $5,000 for UT tennis.

KICK stands went up and vroom... they were off! More than 70 motorcycles left from Toledo Harley Davidson and rode to the Roadhouse in Swanton.

PHOTO GALLERY: Click here to see Ride the Fin photos

It was the third annual Sylvania Area Family Services Ride the FIN Motorcycle Runall.

The Aug. 17 event included a post-ride party with the classic rock band Kahootz, a 50/50 raffle, a silent auction, food, and a “BIG 6 Wheel” gambling game. About $3,500 was raised.

REUNIONS are part of summer’s fun for many families and the Savage reunion, held every three years, was July 12-14 for the descendants of John M. and Kathryn Savage, Sr.

Mrs. Savage died in 1937 after giving birth to their ninth child, Bob. Mr. Savage raised the family, ran the Savage Market in Toledo, and made sure the children were all well educated.

Jonas Farr, left, and Jeff Kendell, center, celebrate Jamie Farr’s birthday at his home in California.

This year, 151 family members gathered from 10 states and Europe. Bob and Sue Savage hosted their generation with a gathering at LaScola’s restaurant while the other generations partied at the Quarry home of Jeff and Carol Savage. The main event was in Morenci, Mich., at Bob and Sue Savage’s farm, where activities included lots of food, basketball, volleyball, tennis and other competitive games; a talent show, and a Mass in the parklike setting by Father Ron Olszewski, president of St. Francis de Sales High School.

Francis Somers and Elizabeth Campbell of Virginia, Nancy Coyle of Indiana, and Bob Savage of Toledo, all second-generation family members, gave a history lesson on the family, entertaining everyone with what it was like to grow up in a house with nine kids, a father, and one bathroom, while working at a grocery store.

Event chairmen were Michelle Bissell and Lisa Ohlinger.

JAMIE Farr, born Jameel Joseph Farah, July 1, 1934, celebrated his birthday at his home in California for the first time in many moons rather than in Toledo. His longtime friends missed him at the now Marathon Classic this summer, but he remains in touch with everyone.

He is doing well and is busier than ever, acting in stage productions.