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Penny and Ritchie Levine enjoy a the Vegasthemed Crystal Ball that kept them spinning inwheel fun.
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Spring has a certain flair in the air

The Blade/Eric Sumberg

Spring has a certain flair in the air

Toledo was anything but dull Saturday night.

There were was so many events on the warm spring evening, things really got quite hot! From among the packed private parties, feverish fund-raisers, some delicious dining, and more, a few events stood out.

WHAT happens in Las Vegas stays in Las Vegas. However, Saturday night here in Toledo was the exception. The Crystal Ball Fabulous Vegas: Live it up a little hit the jackpot with an elegant, upbeat, and fun event to benefit St. Charles Mercy Hospital.

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A grand tented entrance at the Stranahan Great Hall with lights and colorful sheer drapes enticed the some 460 formally clad guests into a night club setting with more lights, fabrics, feathers, sparkling chandeliers, and giant murals of Las Vegas and roulette wheels. Privy at the private preparty were underwriters and benefactors who enjoyed the tunes of pianist Wes Waters.

Then the main crowd rolled in. A casino in the lobby offered games including blackjack where Bob and Cheryl Cheri Marquette, Jr., played as volunteer Phillis Williams dealt the cards. The mezzanine was a place for shopping the silent auction while the swank sounds of Frank Sinatra by Keith Hoyt set the mood. Carol Greenberg and Carlos de Carvalho whirled on the dance floor with others.

After cocktails, a quick live auction raised $28,700. On the live auction block, run by Jason Whalen, were vacation packages, jewelry, a mink coat, football tickets, and more. Guests wandered among food stations set around the perimeter of the dining area. Towering centerpieces on black-covered tables and chairs to match decorated the area as ladies and gents feasted on soups and salads, grilled veggies, pan seared salmon, shrimp risotto, beef tenderloin, and more.

Then it was back to gabbing, gaming, and grazing. The winner of the Hawaii vacation raffle, with spending moola to boot, was Denise Widner, who was especially delighted.

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Gadding about at the fancy schmancy affair were hospital president and CEO/CNO Carol Whittaker and her husband, Randy, foundation board chairman Eric Heintschel and his wife, Cyndi, Nasir and Lynn Ali, Ted Jenkins, Kent and Holly Meyers, Dominick Cuda, Mark and Gretchen Zyndorf, Don Saunders, Larry and Sue Fanelly, Scott Williams, John and Terry Payak, Becky Furhman and Don Leary, Megan Manahan and husband Russell Hurford, Riaz Chaudry , Barb Gessel, Leonard and Judy Reino, Bob and Kathie Maxwell, and Kewel and Neerjah Mahajan, who looked quite handsome.

Chairmen Bob and Cheryl Marquette, Sr., and Ritchie and Denny Levine report that the total net proceeds of more than $100,000 will go to the hospital s renovated Intensive Care Unit.

IT S all about those who create and those who take pleasure in the creations. Remix, the signature event to benefit the Arts Commission of Greater Toledo, was Saturday night at Space 237 gallery. Upstairs, downstairs, and all around the four fl oors, some 600 guests dressed in cocktail chic roamed, sipped, and supped as nonstop entertainment jazzed the place up.

Bright lights and giant cassette tapes were the theme s signature identification and signaled that last year the event was so good that they played it again.

From jazz, vocal, and guitar, to club music, soul and funk, and rock n roll, the music filled the air, thanks to the Perrysburg Indoor Percussion Ensemble, the Damon Cook Trio, Crystal Bowersox, Kim Buehler, Derick Hudson, All Star DJ House Music, APB, Chavare Donte, UP for Grabs, Kentucky Chrome, and Katrina/Quest for Fire Studios.

Sparking up the creative bunch were the Painted Ladies visual splendor body art and the Hajera Afro Cuban Dance and Drum. Adding to the artsy scene were several guests, including George Rumman and his daughter Kristine Rumman, a BGSU student, who made ensembles from a color-coded, cassette tape theme.

Popular were the lava martinis served in where else the Lava Lounge. Elegant were the simply sensual edibles from Diva and the sinful desserts from Myles Baker Street of Bowling Green. Blue crab and mango salad, shrimp, baconwrapped quail leg, and more, plus passion fruit creme brulee, and other delights.

Some folks were tickled pink over their silent auction purchases of works donated by more than 30 local artists, including Rex Fogt, Ann Tubbs, Jack Schmidt, Lisa Barroso, Phil Hazard, Jason Arborgast, and Salvatore Schiciano.

Board president Margy Trumbull was busy thanking everyone for volunteering, sponsoring, and attending.

Ditto for event chairmen Nicole Brandstrup and Dennis Norman, who report an estimated net of $75,000 to support the ACGT s mission to develop and promote the arts.

Among the oodles of volunteers were Jim Moore, Vaughn Yeager, Abby Krause-Cintron, Dave Gierke, Larry Meyer, Diane Putnam, Charles Linberg, Laurie Musgrave, Gail Zimmerman, Marcia Helman, Sherry Kerstetter, Claire Kirsner, Bob Meeker, Kelly McGilvery, and Bruce Carver, who has been hiding his artistic talent, it seems. Dancing continued till 1 a.m.

Drifting about were Stephanie Westphal, Rich and Janet Schroeder, Margot and Jim Quick, Jim Norman, Rita Mansour, Lynn Beverage, Brian Epstein, Peter and Cynthia Taylor, Dee and Joe Spencer, Sarah Stauffer, Ryan Lewis, Ty Fankhauser, Ben Trumbull and Emily Burns, Gretchen De-Backer , Terry and Jeannie Lesniewicz and her sister Joanne Viviano, Mark Jacobs, and Sue Hague-Rogers, who brought her sister Mary Hague-Rogers of Fort Myers, Fla., who fl ew into town just to attend Remix.

ERIE Street Market proved the perfect venue for the Westside Montessori Center Market Square Affair Saturday night.

The well-organized and creative event tended to nearly every detail for guests as it brimmed with excitement till the last the revelers left.

Feasting from market cart food stations was fun as street corner musicians students singing and playing serenaded for tips. Tantalizing the taste buds were Italian, Indian, Mexican, and other foods. Mmmm.

Guests perused the scene and bid on an array of silent auction items, including entertainment packages, car washes, dinners, art, gifts, and more for all ages.

But the real attraction was the student-inspired and created items, including memory books and cookbooks, painted furniture, pottery, quilts, decorated mirrors, and more. The artistthemed painted chairs had the influence of Monet, Van Gogh, Picasso, Cezanne, and Mondrian, and were soooo cute.

Those who had to have that special item went the route of the super bid, which was the top sale price listed. Once that was made, the item was marked sold.

Rousing up the crowd all night were emcees Tim Sigman and Glenda Miller. Keeping the fun pace were several raffles and games. The raffle of various bottles of wine was won by Tracy Philabaun. The blackjack game for a fire pit, with chairs and a basket of fixin s for s mores, was won by Roger Fisher and his wife, Lynn, head of the school.

Mrs. Fisher challenged the crowd that for $500 or more, she would jump into the indoor pond. Good thing she brought wet gear. The challenge was met and then some.

Jeffrey and Julianne Boyd won the Orlando vacation donated by the Kufner family. Erik and Melanie Kyle won the board bag game. Jennifer Margherita won a luxury dream escape that included personal pampering, shopping, dinner, exercise classes, and flowers.

Behind the scenes were chairmen Connie Kufner and Sara Shelton and a slew of volunteers. The estimated net is $30,000 for the school, which is celebrating the Montessori system s 100th anniversary.

Among the 250 guests were Sara Haynes and Dan Schmidt, Jim and Scotty Blanchard, Bob and Mary Ann Michel, Joy and Ken Lauerer, Timand Julie Poure, Dan and Laura Rosenberg, Kirsten Widmer and Julian Brash, Becca and Pete Gorman, and Diane and Dan Pienta.

First Published March 26, 2007, 11:50 a.m.

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