The holiday party circuit was tight this year.

While there weren t quite as many as in the past, the list was long enough that I couldn t make it to all of the parties. As I look back over the season, I found a few more soirees that didn t make it in the first time around.

Charity begins at home

Many local organizations celebrations had the old phrase at the core: It s better to give than to receive. So as they partied, they spread holiday cheer to those who needed it the most.

The best things in life come in small packages except our big annual holiday party.

That was the invitation for the Toledo Animal Shelter s gathering Dec. 3 at Carranor Hunt and Polo Club. Association and auxiliary members, along with friends, enjoyed cocktails, hors d oeuvres, and holiday music along with shopping at a silent auction.

The Junior League of Toledo welcomed new members at a holiday party Dec. 4 at the home of Linsey Ansberg.

Friends of Toledo Day Nursery celebrated the season with a luncheon Dec. 9 at Inverness Club. The event included a bountiful buffet and entertainment by the Bedford High School s Soiree Singers. And since twas the season, members brought books and CDs for children ages birth to 5.

The Christ Child Society holiday gathering was Dec. 10 at Sylvania Country Club.

Lourdes College Auxiliary Holiday Luncheon Meeting was Dec. 11 in the Franciscan Center. Members enjoyed themselves, but didn t forget to bring a gift for those less fortunate, this year for Heartbeat of Toledo.

The Ability Center Auxiliary luncheon was Dec. 17 at Inverness. A champagne buffet was followed by a few insights into the future with It s in the Stars by Sue Lovett, astrologer.

And members brought cleaning supplies for the center.

Guests at Communica s Dec. 18 party brought gifts for the Cherry Street Mission.

Tom and Eileen Cousino hosted Martinis and Mistletoe, a holiday shopping event, Dec. 9 at Navy Bistro. Shoppers sipped spirits from Eileen s Wine Bar as they perused the merchandise from local boutiques. It was the Cousinos way to promote local businesses.

Also amid the shopping opportunities was the Girls Gone Shopping party Dec. 11 at Honey I m Home, and the second annual Tis the Secor Holiday Celebration and Art Sale on Dec. 5.

Members of Toledo Yacht Club gathered on Nov. 29, the very start of the holiday season, at the club s building already bedecked in its holiday glory, for the Commodore s Ball. All the merriment was for new Comm. Tom Kaintz and his lady, Cheri. The elegant evening included a dinner as tasty as it was tempting: mushroom leek crepes, followed by pumpkin bisque, beef tenderloin, chicken breast, and apple puff pastry.

The fashion at some holiday lunches was fashion shows.

The Black Student Union at Owens Community College rolled out the red carpet for its Red Carpet Fashion Show on Nov. 24 at the Center for Fine and Performing Arts. Proceeds went to Diabetes Awareness and Research.

Students from Owens, Toledo Public Schools, and Winterfield Venture Charter Academy, modeled with community members, wearing everything from casual wear to holiday dresses. Emcees Darrell Banks, a well-known comedian, and lilD, 97.3 radio personality, kept the night lively.

The Toledo Symphony League presented Orchestrate Your Holidays Dec. 2 at Inverness.

The luncheon included cocktails, a purse raffl e, and an auction, plus a fashion show.

On Dec. 4 at Fifi s Reprise, models sashayed through a sea of familiar faces, including Susan Botek, Joanie Gibb, Rhonda Wise, Jo Minogue, Nick Cuda, Melinda Johnston, and Chris Montgomery.

The Toledo Opera Guild s annual Holiday Tea on Dec. 4 was a delightful way to kick off the season. It was in the Perrysburg home of Brittany Craig.

But there were other teas for the holidays. The Annual International Tea presented by ISOH/IMPACT was Dec. 6 at the Children s Lighthouse in Perrysburg. Children decorated gingerbread houses while adults enjoyed assorted sweet treats, soups, and, of course, tea.

Guests were asked to bring new warm mittens, scarves, coats, hats, and boots for the needy.

The Toledo Club Tea Dance was Dec. 13 and just like always, it was a chance for wee ones to dress up and practice their manners while enjoying a delightful dinner and dancing.

Holidays with history

The Maumee Valley Historical Society held a holiday party for members Dec. 5 at the Wolcott House. It was a chance for members to tour the home in its holiday splendor.

The Study Hour Club celebrated more than the holidays Dec. 6: It was to mark the club s 75th anniversary. A dinner party was at Central Park West.

The Waterville Historical Society threw its Christmas party Dec. 17 at Carranor.

Home for the holidays

Sandy Blackstone Carman hosted a party Dec. 6 that drew many movers and shakers, as her parties always do. Among the guests were Jim and Kathy Detweiler and Doug Shelton.

The great host she is, Ms. Carman gave token gifts to guests: golden wish bones and mistletoe.

Breen and Tara Lyden hosted their annual holiday party Dec. 13 in their Perrysburg home. Dick and Jacqueline Swartz hosted a holiday gathering Dec. 14 in their Perrysburg home.

The eggnog-and-hors doeuvres party, which has been held every year since 1975, no matter where they lived Maine, Washington, California, and Ohio is a party for those who do and don t get recognized, Dr. Swartz said.

Guests judges, attorneys, folks in the medical fi eld, and more were greeted by the Swartzes and their children, Amanda, Corey, Karl, and Brandon, as The Academy Brass Quintet played holiday melodies from the balcony.

Among the party-goers were Marv and Nancy Robon, Barbara Steele and Alan Kimpel, Wayne North and David Binghan, Dave Wise and fi ancee Cary Kutnyak, Sarg and Sue Purewal, Bob and Sandy Pollex, Tom and Sue Gross, Bob and Linda Domini, Dwight and Judy Osterude, Nancy and Don Kessler, Matt and Lea Skotinsky, Ron Shapiro and Tina Billmaier, Janet and Steve Day, and Judy Johnson.

Also on Dec. 14 was a Holiday Song and Open House in the Maumee home of Gary and Meredith Robinson.

Brenda and Doug Dymaskowski invited friends to join them Dec. 20 in their Sylvania home for a little bubbly and good cheer to toast the holiday and the coming new year.

The holiday decor was fabulous and joy fi lled the air on Dec. 20, but it was more than a Christmas party at the Whitehouse home of Jenni and Tim Yoder. Their daughter Lynze Yoder and her boyfriend John Bailey of Sylvania were home from Dubai where she works for Dow Chemical and he works for Leisure Corp. But there was more: Right before the party, on the Yoders 33rd wedding anniversary, their twin sons, Kyle and Kory Yoder, proposed and got a yes from their girlfriends, Jamie Dressel and Katie Burton, respectively, that day. Mrs. Yoder s parents, Jan and Chuck Witte, also were celebrating their anniversary, their 58th, on Dec 16. In addition, new granddaughter, Maxie Mae, born Nov. 15 to Ryan and Nissa Yoder and big sister Sullivan, were introduced to everyone.

Her birth was the morning after celebrating Tyler Yoder s 28th birthday and 20 years since his initial brain tumor.

Whew! The Yoders have a lot for which to be thankful.

Saturday night, John and Diane Lark hosted a party in their home as did Kirk and Julie Mizerek, who always enjoy gathering with friends after the Christmas rush. The Mansion View Inn had a holiday party that night too.

IT S TIME to get ready for the New Year. Let me know what you are doing to bid adieu to this year and ring in the new.

First Published December 29, 2008, 11:31 a.m.