Neighbors gather for football, food, fun

Marlene Uhler tosses a salad for guests at her Super Bowl party.

Tom and Marlene Uhler hosted a Super Bowl party Sunday in their home for a few neighbors. Spirits flowed and the foods were fantastic, from ham, meatballs, and shrimp cocktail to salads, veggies, and fruits, plus some popular homemade sweet treats including chocolate chip cookies and brownies.

Because of the weather forecast, the Toledo Opera Guild rescheduled today's "Wrapped in the Love of Opera" winter lunch to Friday at the Toledo Club. It's a sneak peek of the upcoming opera on Saturday at the Peristyle.

A few events in the name of children's charities are just around the corner.

•Toledo Children's Hospital will benefit if you buy a balloon for $10 for a chance to win a $4,000 one-karat round diamond. The Lift a Child's Hope by Bursting a Balloon at Harold Jaffe Jewelers diamond balloon raffle goes through Feb. 28.

•The Gabriel DuBois FUNraising lunch is 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Feb. 20 at Zia's. Gabriel, 8, was diagnosed in November with a rare lung cancer.

•The Make-A-Wish All Star Celebrity Sports Auction is 6-10 p.m. Feb. 24 at SeaGate Convention Centre featuring former all-star major league pitcher and cancer survivor Dave Dravecky.

•The daffodil is the first flower of spring and a symbol of hope. That's why the American Cancer Society uses it as the flower for its annual sale to raise funds. This year is a new option: Bear and a Bunch. For $25, one can receive a Boyds Bear "Birthdays R Hope" stuffed toy along with 10 daffodils. Orders for the bears are due by Feb. 17 to your local cancer society office. If you want just the daffodils, the deadline is March 10. All deliveries are March 13-15.

Contact Barbara Hendel at: bhendel@theblade.com

or 419-724-6124.