AROUND TOWN

Civil War heroine tells her story

ACTIVIST and Civil War heroine Dr. Mary Edwards Walker, via storyteller Sheila Otto, returned to Toledo for the first time since 1893. She was at Sweet Shalom Tea Room in Sylvania on March 15, 28, and 30 to present her Freedom, Fashion, and Feminism talk.

Peggy and Steve Pollick, retired Blade outdoors editor, seated, get ‘prescriptions’ filled by Mary Edwards Walker, portrayed by Sheila Otto.

Dr. Walker, the only woman to receive the U.S. Medal of Honor, was the first woman contract surgeon in the Army. After serving with the 52nd Ohio Regiment as a physician and prisoner of war, she became devoted to the suffrage, abolition, and temperance movements.

She believed that women's freedom began with "freedom from constrictive corsets and unsanitary hoop skirts," and she became president of the dress reform movement.

Enjoying the afternoon of tea and foods named for famous women using recipes from The Woman's Suffrage Cookbook were Steve and Peggy Pollick and Steve Serchuk and wife Nancy Delikat.

Frederick Douglass Community Center honorees included Ward Barnett of Toledo Public Schools, left, Theresa Gabriel, member of Toledo City Council, center, and Eddie Cole.

THE Frederick Douglass Community Association's 95th anniversary and recognition event was March 27 at the Premier Banquet Hall.

Honorary chairman Dennis Hopson attended the 95th anniversary celebration of the Frederick Douglass Community Center.

The center serves all ages from children to seniors. While not a fund-raiser, $3,000 was netted for programs and services.

Emcee Brandon Jones of WTOL-TV, Channel 11, welcomed the 300 attendees. Honorary chairman was Dennis Hopson, assistant men's basketball coach at Bowling Green State University.

Honored were attorney Eddie Cole, Toledo City councilman Theresa Gabriel, and the Rev. John Roberts. Also recognized were 2013 corporate sponsors American Flooring Installers and General Motors and community partners Toledo Community Development Corporation, Toledo-Lucas County Raingarden Initiative, and Toledo Public Schools' Pickett Academy.

An estimated $3,000 was raised for programs and services.

HEARTBEAT of Toledo's annual fund-raising banquet March 26 at the Premier Banquet Hall featured award-winning film producer Jason Jones. Heartbeat is a nonprofit pregnancy support and information center that offers free prenatal and parenting classes, pregnancy tests, and ultrasound exams, and distributes baby clothes, diapers, and wipes.

Mr. Jones is an anti-abortion activist and founder of Movie to Movement, a Los Angeles-based company dedicated to movies with positive themes. Among his film credits are Bella, Crescendo, 40, The Stoning of Soraya M, and Eyes to See.

Emcee was Bill Clark, owner of Courtside Productions.

Dr. Lillian Miller received the John Hillabrand and Lore Maier Life Champion Award and Marilyn Wolff received the Esther Applegate Volunteer Award.

The event netted about $115,000. Thanks go to the 30 sponsors and the event committee: Lois Welch, Julie Sofo, Juanita Sattler, Diana Skaff, Mary Kay Urbanski, Carol Clark, Kathi Taub, and Meg Bonham.

Legal honorees at the NANBPWC gala, from left, B. Janelle Butler Phifer, Cynthia Lynne Battles, and Paula Hicks-Hudson, President of Toledo City Council, with chapter president Denise Black-Poon.

THE National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women's Clubs, Inc. Toledo Club celebrated its 50th annual Founder's Day/Women's History Celebration March 23 at the Pinnacle.

Barbara Tucker is the Sojourner Truth Award recipient.

The nonprofit organization of women business owners and professionals promotes leadership skills, governance, and parliamentary procedures, and awareness of issues impacting the black community. Denise Black-Poon is president of the local chapter.

Elizabeth Chaney was the special guest speaker.

Chairman Clara Brank and co-chairman and the committee centered the program on the importance of paving the way and giving back while seeing that there is always work to be done. Honored were women of the legal profession who have given back to the community. Legal honorees included:

Cynthia Lynne Battles, Lucas County Children Services; Paula Hicks-Hudson, City Council president; and B. Janelle Butler Phifer, Legal Aid of Western Ohio.

The Sojourner Truth Award, the highest honor bestowed by the organization, was established in 1948. This year's Sojourner was presented to Barbara Tucker.

Contact Blade Society Writer Barbara Hendel at 419-724-6124 or at bhendel@theblade.com