ON THE TOWN

Raising a glass for a good cause

WINE, Cheese & Chocolate to benefit the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation was March 22 at Belmont Country Club. The second annual event, hosted by Bonnie and Bill Ash, netted $25,000 for the organization in honor of their granddaughter, Violet Jane O'Leary. The family has raised more than $125,000 through events such as this via Victory for Violet.

Violet Jane, daughter of Ellissa and Andy O'Leary, was 9 days old when she was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis. In the 1950s, few children with CF lived to attend elementary school; today, the life expectancy is 40 and beyond.

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More than 300 supporters enjoyed hors d'oeuvres and desserts with cheese themes as Tom Szor tickled the ivories. Raffles, door prizes, and a silent auction added excitement. Emcee Tom Cole of BCSN announced the winners.

Jewelry, wine, art, and an Italian dinner prepared and delivered by Veronica Pinciotti were among the prizes. Tickets were also sold for a Holland America Cruise with airfare raffle. The winner will be announced at the Great Strides Walk on May 3.

Thanks go to sponsors including Buckeye CableSystem, Heidelberg Distributing Company, and Precision Broadband; and volunteers including a group from Kohl's Department Store in Perrysburg.

Artist Greg Justus works on a painting during the Starry Night Wine & Art Gala that will be included in the auction.

THE Waterville Area Chamber of Commerce's annual Starry Night Wine & Art Gala March 22 at Valleywood Golf Club in Swanton netted $27,000.

The 160 attendees tasted wines from around the world and feasted on fabulous foods. Silent and live auctions included wine-related items and art by local artists plus vacation and sports packages.

Cassie Byrne spoke about diabetes. A portion of the proceeds will benefit Diabetes Youth Services.

Among the sponsors were Crum Manufacturing, Senior Helpers, Per Diem Nurse Staffing and Home Care, Yark Auto Whitehouse, USFin Development Group, Ameriprise Financial-Mike Price and Shawn's Irish Tavern.

WINE flowed for the eighth annual Knight of the Vine to benefit St. Francis de Sales High School's student endowment fund. The event, hosted March 11 by Mainstreet Ventures and Heidelberg Distributing Company, was attended by 259 wine enthusiasts and raised approximately $166,000.

Party-goers entered through Zia's Italian for wine and appetizers, then went on to a gourmet dinner in Real Seafood Company.

Former classmates Assistant Chief PHIL CERVANTES, Toledo Fire and Rescue Dept., left, and MIKE PFEIFFER share a laugh during the St. Francis de Sales’ Knight of the Vine event.

Remembered was the late David Reynolds, the event's auctioneer. The committee made a donation to the David T. Reynolds Foundation. Also remembered were Toledo firefighters Stephen Machcinski and Jamie Dickman, who died in a blaze in January; $1,000 went to the children of Private Dickman. Plus, a full scholarship will be available for his son when he grows up.

The big deal was the live auction of wines, bourbons, vacations, sports and dinner packages, and winery trips. Jay and Mindy Romanoff donated a stay at Signature at MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Aaron Bieszczad, via his brother Noah, of Stroller Winery in Portland, donated reserve wine valued at $500. Tom Seeman and Matt Savage donated a Red Sox game plus a gourmet beer lunch and brewery tours. Those who donated wines from their cellars were Bob and Sue Savage, Dr. Paul and Chris Berlacher, and Labib and Karyn Hajjar, to name a few.

Sponsors included Fifth Third Bank, Concept Rehab, Inc, HDD Holdings LLC, Don Harbaugh, Fischer Tool & Die Corp., and Erie Steel LTD.

Seen were Randy Oostra, Martha and Duke Wheeler, Larry Boyer, John and Kathy Wetli, Jeannie Hylant, Mark and Marcia Rubini, Bill Behe, Mike and Karen Fischer, Carla Nowak, Dirk Van Heyst, and Sandra Hylant.

CHEERS @ Chandler's by the Toledo Ballet Guild was March 7 at Chandler Café in Sylvania. Raffle items included tickets to the Toledo Ballet's From Heart to Quill production slated for 7:30 p.m. April 4 and 5 at the Valentine Theatre. More than $1,000 was raised, according to event chairman Carolyn Woodward. Among the group sipping vino was Toledo Ballet board president Rob Koenig.

DAVE DEPASSE, left, ART BRONSON, event chairman, center, and RICH ROTHROCK at the Toledo Club Scotch Night.

THE Toledo Club hosted a Scotch Night on Feb. 20 that included a delightful dinner for the aficionados who savored the spirit as they sipped the night away.

GEORGE and Carol Koury and friends were chauffeured to the Bowling Green home of Schedel Arboretum and Gardens director Rod Noble and his wife, Patty, for a French-themed dinner.

The Nobles and Diana Kerr-Brown and husband Mark Chapiues were the chefs for the gourmet meal in February that ended with Crepes Suzette. Fine wines donated by Wine Trends and guitar music by Joe Baker added to the lovely evening. The dinner was purchased at Schedel's Hidden Garden Party last fall in Elmore. This year's fund-raiser is Sept. 7.

THE Toledo Symphony League wine and scotch tasting Party of Note hosted by MeiMei Williams, JoAn Nichols, Emily Wagy, Sue Meadows, Jane Wurth, and Joni Fought was Feb. 11 at Caper's Restaurant.

Among the about 40 guests were Michelle Devine and Brian Haney, Dr. David Grossman, and Ruth Alteneder. More than $2,800 was raised.

An April Showers Tea hosted by Beth Bowman, president, and Rusty Phlegar is sold out. Reservations are still open for the May Day Tea hosted by Darlene Carpenter and Judy Maurer.

THE second annual Reds, Whites, and Blues Gala presented Feb. 6 by the Bacchus Society and the Culinary Arts Program at Monroe County Community College drew more than 80 wine enthusiasts.

Wine was provided by John Treloar, winemaker of J. Trees wine, whose vineyard is in Petersburg, Mich.

The event, in the college's new wine lab, reaped more than $2,500 for a viticulture/enology program — the science, production, and study of grapes and all aspects of wine and wine making except vine growing. MCCC is the only community college in the state with a campus-based wine lab and vineyard.

WATERVILLE'S Red, White & Boom Fireworks fund-raising committee is preparing for this summer's July 4 festivities. A wine tasting and silent auction event in January at Zinful served as a kickoff to fund-raisers for the cause. Live music by Candice Coleman (American Idol fame) and Chris Brown filled the air. Co-chairmen Barb Bruno and Debby Sniderhan report the event netted more than $2,000.