ON THE TOWN

Art and Flowers: A fabulous couple

Hendel.

Hendel.

A SPECTACULAR show of art melding with flowers was Art in Bloom, a four day event presented by the Ambassadors of the Toledo Museum of Art last weekend at the museum. Art in Bloom across the country is about florists providing their interpretation of a piece of museum art. But event chairmen Elizabeth Emmert and Cindy Rimmelin said they took it a step further by adding a unique feature: local florist-designed vases blown by the museum's Hot Glass artists, then filled with floral arrangements, a way to highlight that Toledo is the birth of studio glass. The standard art interpretations were in the Main Museum and the glass/floral pieces were in the GlassPavilion.

Thursday night was the Gala: Tuileiers Jubilee in the Glass Pavilion with flowers and photos of Paris landmarks. Live entertainment by Toledo School for the Arts including a jazz combo, strolling musicians, caricature artist, painters and live statues set the French themed scene along with a French inspired strolling dinner and a silent auction.

PHOTO GALLERY: Click here for more photos from these events

The glass art/flowers were sold at auction by Jerry Anderson of WTOL-TV, Channel 11 with the assistance of docent and glass artist Kelley Sheehan.

Mary Kennedy and Toledo Museum of Art Director Brian Kennedy attended the Art in Bloom event reception at the Toledo Museum of Art's Glass Pavilion.

Museum director Brian Kennedy, Stacy Kripke, Nancy Smythe, Dianne Phillips, and honorary chairman Helen Emmert are among those who won bids on the dozen glass vases/floral arrangements.

Local florists who designed the glass pieces and did the arrangements were Lauren Viviano, Brtz Viviano Flowers & Gifts; Cheryl Howard, Myrtle Florist; Mary Beth Lorenzen, Schramm's Flowers; Lin Geiman, Swezey Florist; Lisa Nickel, Enchanted Flowers & Gifts; Angel Elden, Angel 101; Keith Brooks, Hafner Florist; Ken Myrice, Emery Flowers; Molly Pierce, Ken's Flower Shops; Karen Glauser-Nagy, Cooper Florist of Waterville; Daniel Hafner, Hafner Florist, Inc.; and Denise Lambes, Glendale Flowers & Gifts.

Kudos to Gala chairman Kathy Scannell and her committee.

Gadding about were Jack and Cynthia Ford, Colleen and Mike McGoldrick, Jim and Sue White, George and Kathy Jones, Carl and Margaret Hedlund, Larry and Hope DeCharme, Jim and Ina Tuschman, and Dick Boundy and wife Pam of Midland, Mich., who came back to her home town on her birthday just for the occasion.

More than a 1,000 attendees were at the gala, lecture/workshop/luncheon with floral/garden/interior designer James Farmer, tours, and the Mother's Day Brunch.

In addition to attracting 1000's more visitors to the museum just to stroll though the exhibits, the Ambassadors hope to net more than $50,000 for art education programs and projects.

Jason Tucker and Janelle Tucker dance the tribute dance during "Dancing with the Military Stars."

THE glitz and glamour of TV's Dancing with the Stars is great to watch but it's more fun to participate. Local events offered just that:

DANCING with the Military Stars: Our community stepping up to lift up veterans, was May 10 in the Grand Aire Terminal at Toledo Express Airport. Presented by The Arms Forces with founder Pam Hayes, the event netted approximately $7,000 and a heap of fun to thank our military servicemen who have traumatic brain injury, post traumatic stress or other invisible wounds.

Emcees Tom Cole of BCSN and Michael Seay of SensoryMax kept the evening marching along. Eric Hillebrand sang God Bless America which brought tears to many eyes. Presentation of Colors was led by Master Sergeant Steven Kosinski.

The Invisible Table for One was set as a bridge of hope for invisibly wounded (those with TBI and PTS) veterans via services that address the entire human being including the spirit, said Mrs. Hayes.

Introduced was honorary chairman Dan Rogers, President/CEO, Cherry Street Missions. Special guest was Colonel Craig Baker, new Commander at the Ohio Air National Guard 180th Base in Swanton, and his wife Denise.

A dance in honor of those who lost their battle from their invisible wounds from suicide/substance abuse, was performed by Jason Tucker, a pastor at CedarCreek Church, and his wife and Janell.

Marco Iaguilli, Powerline Fitness, danced with Emily Gilreath in honor of US Military Families.

Chris Anderson of The Anderson Family and owner of Chris Anderson Strategy, who danced with Lori Clark in honor of US Army Veteran Mark Krueger, won the People's Choice Award.

Also dancing for the cause were:

Emilie Voss of WTOL-TV, Channel 11, who danced with Bill Matheny in honor or US Army Veteran Wes Byrd.

Ben Bohland, The Face of Fox Toledo, and a US Air Force Veteran with the Ohio National Guard, who danced with Brenda Miller, a military mom, in honor of US Army Veteran Shea Thames.

Katie Maskey, Director of Alumnae at Notre Dame Academy, Owner of Studio K Coaching, and the current Mrs. Royalty International, who danced with Bill Matheny in honor of US marine Roget Aouad.

Ben Treece, of Treece Investment Advisory Corp., who danced with Callie Clark in honor of US Army Veteran Mike Martin.

For information go to www.TheArmsForces.org.

Jaci Hays, Michele Stuckey, Vince Marino at the Re/MAX Cinco de Mayo fiesta.

TANGO, foxtrot, swing, samba, cha-cha, waltz and more. The Cotillion Club, founded in 1940, held its Spring Gala Dinner Dance was May 5 at Carranor Hunt and Polo Club. Guests dined and danced the night away to the tunes of Swingmania. Event chairmen Diane Bostdorff-Towsley and June Effler said the club meets three times a year for an evening of dinner and ballroom dancing to a live orchestra.

Speaking of ballroom dancing, the Johnny Knorr Orchestra is kicking off its 54th year with a double header weekend. May 31st at Centennial Terrace, Sylvania is “The Music of Glenn Miller” and June 1st at Christ Presbyterian Church, at Sylvania and Talmadge Rds. with “The Music You like, The Way You Like to Hear It” under the direction of the late Johnny’s son, Jerry Knorr.

RE/MAX Preferred’s 13th annual Cinco de Mayo event May 8 at Bar 145 in Sylvania raised more than $34,600 and a great time according to event chairmen Kathy Kuyoth and John Mangas. The proceeds benefit the Children’s Miracle Network and Komen for the Cure.

A balloon archway greeted guests into the big tent of excitement with a live auction of vacation packages, a silent auction, mystery gift boxes, a “south of the boarder” buffet, cash bar, and party tunes by The Menus' of Cincinnati.

Jack Amlin of Amlin Auctions had an “assistant”, Chrys Peterson, who personally auctioned the “Komen for the Cure” basket for $1,150. The live auction garnered over $17,000.

Among the crowd of 420 revelers were John and Laura McIntyre, Mike Bell and Karen Jarosz, Bob and Patty Lohner, Don Mewhort, Joyce Chapple and Joe Torti, the event’s Platinum sponsor and winner of the 50-50 raffle, who generously donated his winnings of $1,006 back.

A HOE down was the theme for the Mercy St. Anne Medical Staff 12th Annual Dinner Gala April 26 at Hilton Garden Inn, Perrysburg. Folks came in ten gallon hats, boots, jeans, and fancy period dresses for some do-se-do steps on the dance floor to the tunes of Rumplestiltskin. Old west style grub, Texas Hold' Em, and mechanical bull rides entertained guests all night long.