AROUND TOWN

Hors d’oeuvres & honors at the Touchstone Awards

Hendel.

Hendel.

THE PRESS Club of Toledo presented the annual Touchstone Awards Oct. 3 at the Toledo Club.

From left, board member Larry Boyer, student journalism awardee Danielle Gamble, and guest speaker Jim Tankersley at the Press Club awards night.

In spite of the sweltering room, attendees enjoyed mingling over cocktails and hors d’oeuvres. President Shaun Hegerty of WTVG-TV, Channel 13, welcomed everyone and the emcee was Schylar Meadows of WJUC, FM 107.3.

Dennis Johnson, left, and Contributor Award winner Mark Rodriguez at the Press Club of Toledo's annual awards ceremony.

It was great to see keynote speaker Jim Tankersley, economic policy correspondent for the Washington Post. He previously worked at The Blade, where he was a Touchstone award winner in 2007 and was part of The Blade’s Coingate team that was a Pulitzer Prize finalist. While back in town he met with former Blade colleagues, family, and friends.

Toledo will always have a special place in his heart because his son was born at Toledo Hospital. He said political and economic stagnation are not unique to Toledo. He said as journalists we need to provide information so people can make up their own minds.

Chris Kieffer, Twine Chapman, and event hostess Debbie Deiger at the pre-party for a fund-raiser for Toledo Northwestern Ohio Food Bank.

Nominees for the Lifetime Achiever Award were Tom Brady, founder and CEO, Plastics Technologies, Inc.; Dennis Johnson, president, Brooks Insurance; Edson Whipple, former managing editor, The Blade; and Clyde Scoles, director, Toledo Lucas-County Public Library, who was the winner.

Jim Devilbiss, Julia Knight and John Christianson at the pre-party for a fund-raiser for Toledo Northwestern Ohio Food Bank.

Nominees for the Contributor Award were ProMedica and the Falzone Family for the Mary Ellen Falzone Diabetes Center; and Mark Rodriguez, CEO, Hickory Farms, who was the winner.

Donning War of 1812 period garb for the Army Lodge bicentennial ceremony were, from left, Andrew Archer, Robert Young, Jeffrey Young, Matthew Gloor, and Jeremy Sharinghouse.

Thanks go to sponsors including The Blade, Buckeye CableSystem, Dana Corp., Toledo-Lucas County Public Library, Fifth Third Bank, Hollywood Casino, ProMedica, University of Toledo, The Andersons, and in-kind services from FLS Marketing, Inc., Nonna Had One Photography, The Blade, Toledo City Paper, and Urban Flowers.

THE Masquerade Harvest of Thanks dinner, dance and auction, a fund-raiser for the Toledo Northwestern Ohio Food Bank, is slated for Oct. 19 at Sylvania Country Club. The date was announced during a soiree Sept. 11 at the riverfront home of Leo and Debbie Deiger in Perrysburg.

Mrs. Deiger and Hope Finch are chairmen of the upcoming event.

John Christianson, vice president and general manager of WTVG-TV, Channel 13, and a Food Bank board member, welcomed the group of more than 60 people.

Committee members include Jan Colville, Sherrie Deiger, Shannon Gallup, Melani Heisler, Chris Kieffer, Wendy Kramer, Elaine LaValley Lewandowski, Trina Meadows, Paige O’Loughlin, and Terri Shafer.

Area restaurants donating appetizers included Mancy’s Bluewater Grille, Real Seafood Co., LaScola Italian Grill, Magic Wok, Nick & Jimmy’s, Rosie’s Italian Grille, Harbor Inn & Ale, Avenue Bistro, Gonnella Foods, and Sundown Cantina.

THE WAR OF 1812 has been a popular theme for area events celebrating its bicentennial. 

Army Lodge No. 24 at Fort Meigs was created during the war on Sept. 13 and was a burial squad for all Masons who were killed in action or who died while on active duty.

So Sept. 13 this year was the date selected to celebrate the bicentennial of the lodge, said Byron Stickles, event chairman. The ceremony took place on the new memorial walkway dedicated to the founders of the lodge.

Also celebrated was the 100th anniversary of the Royal Arch Masonry Fort Miami Calumet Chapter No. 191. Honored were three “pioneer” Masonic Lodges in northwest Ohio: Northern Light Lodge No. 40 in Maumee, Wood County Lodge No. 112 in Bowling Green, and Phoenix Lodge No. 123 in Perrysburg.

ANOTHER War of 1812-themed event was the Toledo Museum of Art docents’ annual fall social recently in the Glass Salon. Their theme of “Don’t Give Up the Ship” tied in with the museum’s Perry’s Victory: The Battle of Lake Erie exhibit which runs through Nov. 10.