ON THE TOWN

Bourbon bash raises funds for cancer research

Allan Block shows his bottle of MacCallan 30, a rare and well aged Speyside whisky valued at $3,000.

grand lubell photography

Allan Block shows his bottle of MacCallan 30, a rare and well aged Speyside whisky valued at $3,000.

The Bourbon and Single Malt Liquor Fund-raiser at Tantara Farm, the home of Susan and Allan Block, chairman of Block Communications Inc., owner of The Blade, offered attendees access to what was possibly the most extensive collection of bourbon and single-malt scotch in Toledo, if not beyond.

Guests sipped fine bourbons, scotches, wines, and a bourbon peach tree punch recipe of Maker’s Mark, as they were offered gourmet canapes by Tree City Catering. Spinach quiche and quiche Lorraine plus yummy tarts from Vendome Pastry owned by Mrs. Block, a pastry chef, were served later with salad.

PHOTO GALLERY: On the Town, 5-19

But the thrill was the tour of Mr. Block’s collection of approximately 300 bottles of rare and single-batch bourbon and scotch, as well as gin, rum, and liqueurs. Mr. Block graciously and proudly talked about his collection, which includes limited releases that are highly prized by collectors. Some folks just couldn’t resist and paid more than the $100 ticket price just to have a taste of an extra rare spirit or two.

Among the guests were Jennifer and Daniel Deverna, Moussa Salloukh, Wendy Ziems-Mueller and Axel Mueller, Karen Gauthier, Shelly and Philip Kennedy, Dr. William Horvath and wife Sue Horvath, and Meredith Sherman.

While the Blocks hosted the event, it was co-hosted by Nathan Young of American Family Insurance, who is campaigning to be Man of the Year for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society by making the most moola for research. Cancer has touched Mr. Young's family in many ways, from his grandfather and great aunts, to a teenage nephew. He has committed to raise at least $10,000 by June 10.

Other events he arranged include Hotcakes for Cancer from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday at Grace United Methodist Church in Perrysburg and School’s Out Pool Party from 6 to 8 p.m. June 1 at Belmont Country Club. To donate to Nathan’s campaign, go to mwoy.org/​pages/​noh/​tol16/​nyoung.

Other candidates for Man of the Year include Mike Buganski of MassMutual and Matt Brusoe of Schoen Builders. Woman of the Year candidates are Mindi Marshall of Stella and Dot; Amanda Costell of the University of Toledo, and Jill Johnson of ProMedica.

For tickets to the grand finale event on June 10 at Hensville, contact Mandy Sinclair-Nitschke at Mandy.Sinclair-Nitschke@lls.org, or call 216-264-5736.

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Maumee Valley Country Day School celebrated its beginnings and successes during the 82nd Smead Luncheon. The school was founded in 1842 as an all-girls finishing school in Western New York that moved to Toledo in 1884, where it became The Smead School for Girls. The school became co-educational in the early 1930s and adopted the new name.

The gathering drew 115 alumni, parents, trustees, and friends. Keynote speaker was Erie Chapman (’61), this year’s Alumni Achievement Award honoree. Nan Parfet Miller (’46) was recognized for her service as an Endowment Board trustee for the last 20 years. Fritz Wolfe (’47) received an honorary diploma for his lifetime commitment to education, leadership in Northwest Ohio, and service to the school. Other awards included Dave White, (’55) Lifetime Dedication; Chris Johnson Gordon (’76), Alumni Service Award; Dennis Holman, Alumni Parent Award, and Emily Benavides, Young Alumni Award. Incoming alumni council president Alex Bowe DeRosa (’82) was welcomed, and outgoing president Nabeel Jabarin (’98) was thanked.

Seen were Dean Kasperzak (’76), Bart Wagenman, Patrice Spitzer, Tony Armstrong (’76), Hon. Jeffrey Helmick, Patricia Wise, David Francisco, Dave (’80) and Hilary White, Stephanie White (’79), Dean and Judy Ludwig, Fred Deichert, and Will (’70) and Robin Delamater.

Contact Barbara Hendel at: bhendel@theblade.com, 419-724-6124.