On the Town: Community organizations celebrate anniversaries

PERRYSBURG Rotary Club's 35th Charter Night Dinner was June 13 at Belmont Country Club where the first Charter Night was held on June 19, 1979.

From left; Steve Cotner, Debby Peters, Jeri Wendt and Jerry O'Kenka, at the Perrysburg Rotary 35th charter night celebration at Belmont Country Club.

Toledo Rotary Club member Sam Sloan sponsored the Perrysburg club started by Duane Kester, John Kurfess and Chuck Campbell.

The original officers of the Perrysburg chapter were President Duane Kester and Alex Beloff, Ronald Overfield, Robert Welch, Greg Hendel, Jim Moser, Bob Sattler, Daniel Schlueb, Steve Fine and Chuck Collins.

Weekly meetings, held at the Lucky Steer Restaurant on Route 20 where Burger King stands today, started at 11:30 a.m. sharp for lunch and at 11:45 a.m. the food was taken away. If four meetings were missed, the member was terminated.

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Back then, only one area of business could be represented by a member, unless that member agreed to share that role. Sadly, some did not share, turning away prospective members. That rule no longer exists today and membership has grown from 20 to more than 110 members.

This year's event chairman, Alison Frye, knew every one of the 130 guests and members in attendance. President Rob Fox welcomed everyone.

Special guests included District Governor Elect Rex Engle, Wood County Sheriff Mark Wasylyshyn, Perrysburg Mayor Michael Olmstead, and Perrysburg Rotary Service Foundation Chairman Jack Sculfort.

Those with perfect attendance for 2013 include Joanie Asendorf, Rob Fox, Alison Frye , Steve Hopkins, Jim Nooney, Christian Vogel, Ken Robinson, and Dawn Schmidt.

The new slate of officers starting July 1 includes Jon Ahlberg, president, and Bob Domini, Jennifer Fehnrich, Alison Frye, Jim Euting, Pat Amico, and Laura Moore.

The program ended with the four way test for the national Rotary motto "Service Above Self": Is it the truth? Is it fair to all concerned? Will it build goodwill and better friendship? Will it be beneficial to all concerned?

Seen were Walt and Kathy Celley, Steve Cotner and Debbie Peters, Dave and Cary Wise, Tom and Gretchen Downs, Kevin and Melanie Rantanen, Judy Reitzel and Dwight Osterud, Bob and Jackie Venzel, and Sally Welch.

From left: Partners in Education board of trustee Luann Alleman, Ora Alleman and Sandy Blausey attend the Beethoven & Bar-B-Que for event at the Anderson's Activity Building in Maumee.

PARTNERS in Education celebrated its 20th year with the 8th Annual Beethoven and Bar-B-Que event June 10 at The Anderson's Activity Building with hosts Fran and Dick Anderson, Toledo Symphony board chairman. Sponsors were The Anderson's, Buckeye CableSystem, The Blade, IBEW Local 8, Toledo Federation of Teachers Local 250, Diocese of Toledo - Catholic Schools, and individual donors.

The nearly 200 attendees were greeted by Mr. Anderson, who tended the parking with volunteers Scott Tuttle and Rocky Wingfield. Mrs. Anderson, also tended to the needs of guests as they gathered on the patio for cocktails and hors d'oeuvres. Even when someone dripped BBQ sauce on their clothes, Mrs. Anderson came to the rescue with club soda.

Nick Mancy of Shorty's prepared, cooked and cut the fresh ribs on site. Indoors everyone enjoyed the Bar-B-Que meal topped with ice cream bars from The Anderson's, bringing out the kid in those who indulged.

Table centerpieces were copies of the Awakening The Dragon – The Dragon Boat Festival book, written by Arlene Chan of Toronto. Thirty-four Book Sponsorships to support books for distribution for the next school year were sold.

Board President Cindy Edwards-Tuttle got the show on the road for Partners in Education which also stands for its goal, to Participate, Inspire, Educate.

Chuck Stocking, a founding member, and the late Bill Niehous and members of the Toledo Rotary founded PIE 20 years ago. The Bill Niehous Innovation Award was presented to Principal Sandra Ellis, Larchmont Elementary, for her work with Mentors in Toledo Schools (MiTS). Niehous' widow, Donna Niehous, proudly smiled.

Jay Mirrow, MiTS creator, talked about the success at Larchmont Elementary school. The Community Partner Award for the After School Alliance & Partners With Purpose educational programs was presented to Angela Tennaro, Girl Scouts of America Director of Regional Services.

Volunteer Excellence Awards were presented to the Dragon Boat Festival Committee: Brian Niedzwiecki, Dyan Quinones, Sherrie Chaney, Gayle Lake and Jen Kephart.

Keith McWatters, Toledo Symphony General Manager and a drummer, invited Mr. Anderson to conduct the concert. The audience was wowed with the Toledo Symphony Chamber Players featuring student performers from the School of Music and Start High School graduate Armond Wimberly and who will be attending Ohio State this Fall.

The night ended with Gary Corrigan, board member, who thanked everyone and reminded them about the July 19 Dragon Boat Festival on the Maumee River at International Park.

The estimated net is $9,500. Special thanks goes to The Salvation Army for loaning their sound system.

Seen were Ann Hileman, Beverley and Bill Hirzel, Fred and Nita Harrington, Susan Allan Block, Glen and Rose Bollin, Greg and Helen Emmert, Larry and Nancy Metzger, Nick and Judy Dye, and Wilma Brown.

Dick Anderson, left, says a few words during the reception for the Toledo Symphony held at the Inverness Club in Toledo.

TOLEDO Symphony trustees, staff, musicians, and friends celebrated the conclusion of the 70th Anniversary Monday (June 16) with a cocktail reception hosted by The Blade at Inverness Club with a TSO Jazz Trio. It followed the annual meeting of the Toledo Orchestra Association, Inc. Board of Trustees which agenda included the election of officers.

A photo portrait of the Orchestra with Stefan Sanderling, Principal Conductor, that was signed by all of the musicians and staff were presented to Dick Anderson, Chairman, and Bill Buckley, Treasurer. Randy Oostra is the new board chairman and Rick Yocum is the new Treasurer beginning July 1, 2014.

Barbara Brown was introduced as the incoming President of the Toledo Symphony League.

Willard and Ve Emch stopped by on the way to Lakeside, OH from Vero Beach, FLA to join the celebration which included Kathy Carroll, Symphony President and CEO, Suresh and Marna Ramnath, Tim and Barbara Reed, Bob LaClair, Frank and Lynn Jacobs, George Seifried, Vicky Souder, Fritz Wolfe, Bob and Sue Savage, George Chapman, Julie Brotjje Higgins, Pat and Bob Levey, John and Barbara Burson, Bob and Judy Moran, Mark and Gretchen Zyndorf, Beth and Ted Bowman, Jackie Rousseau Werner, Michelle Devine and Brian Mahany, Bill McDonnell, Sandy Isenberg, Judd Johnson, and Bob Bell, Symphony President Emeritus/Chief Artistic Officer.

Several musicians mingled with the crowd, too, including Principal Cellist Martha Reikow, Principal Flute Joel Tse, and Principal Second Violin Merwin Siu.