ON THE TOWN: Sport, society come together in Mills race

6/15/2014

Warm weather, but not too hot, was the setting for sailing adventures and backyard soirees.

Sailing into the sun set, continuing through the night, seeing the sun rise, and finally reaching their destination were participants in the 91st running of the Invitational Mills Trophy Race presented by the Toledo Yacht Club and the Mills Race Committee.

The big race began the evening of June 6 at the Toledo Harbor Light for the 125 vessels in various classes en route to destination, Put-in-Bay. The winner of the Mills Trophy, Flat Stanley skippered by Terry McSweeney and Trey Sheehan of Edgewater Yacht Club in Cleveland, joined the rest of the racers at

PHOTO GALLERY: Click here for more photos from these events

the celebration party June 7 at Put-in-Bay Yacht Club where Commodore Vivien Dennerll and husband Roger Dennerll, past commodore, greeted everyone. A flag presentation was the next day followed by the Korbel Champagne Awards Party.

Popular was 2014 Honorary Chairman, Sybil Turin of North Cape Yacht Club, an octogenarian who again this year raced with John and Judy Greiner on their Red Cloud. Mrs. Turin, one of the first Mills Masters (racing for 25 years), helped form and was on the first all women's Mills Race team in 1972 aboard the Ugly Duckling. The Blade came out to report on the big deal back then, alas, while it was a sports story, it still went in the society page, where ladies were the focus.

Yes, the race is a sports story, but it is also about a community joining forces for such an event.

Leading up to the big race were several events, all at Toledo Yacht Club including the 2013 race presentation dinner and the famous open-to-the-public "The Mills Trophy Race Party" kickoff party hosted by TYC, with the Hoosier Daddy band. Sailors, power boaters, and fans -- 800 or so --perused the grounds of the yacht club, reuniting with long time friends, some who only see once a year, at the Mills event. I have attended the party for 30 some years, in support of friends who were in the race.

Behind the scenes there is more camaraderie. The Race Committee, headed by General Chairman Ron Soka, works all year long to make sure the event runs as smooth as water on a still day. Race week mostly power boaters run the show, so Bravo! to the many volunteers including Principal Race Officer Ed Theisen and Michelle Glanville, Jim Balogh, Jack Bernard, Tom Buckley, Geri Nagy, Barb and Jerry Chauvin, Dick Anderson, Kaye Soka, Ron Gabel, John Sokol, Barry and Becky Vincent, and Tom Kaintz, Toledo Yacht Club commodore, to name a few. So many things to think about--registration, the docks, security, awards, the race, scoring and more. It is a major feat to undertake, but they gladly do it every year. And there are the ones not on the committee but who just pitch in and help like Regan Smith, who assisted at the race starting line in his 70 ft. Hattaras, "Transit."

Now everyone can cruise through the rest of the boating season. Enjoy!

WHAT a fabulous evening on a perfect weather night. Guests senses were in awe during The Great Lakes Collaborative for Autism’s "Cocktails for the Cause" June 6 at the Westmorelands home of Dr. Tim Valko and Jim Moore.

Guests were greeted with Strawberry Basil Mojitos and White Sangria, Mr. Moore's specialty drinks, as they entered the enchanting outdoor garden setting created by Mr. Moore with oodles of blooming flowers including roses, poppies, daisies, baptisia, and more accented with garden art and lighting. Tables over looked the black lined reflecting pool which doubles as a lap pool, and settees for more intimate conversation were by fountains throughout the back yard. A formal patio to complement the stately home, was where many sat and never left while others enjoyed the stacked stone firepit.

Taste buds were tantalized with the artfully presented and all homemade edibles worthy of every mouthwatering calorie, thanks to Dr. Valko, who made everything himself. Mmm. Tuna and mango ceviche, tomatoes stuffed with bacon and onions, phyllo dough baked in petite clay pots filled with chicken salad, marinated grilled shrimp with homemade pesto, homemade crackers topped with lemon thyme goat cheese and baby zucchini, Hearts of Palm salad, thin sliced watermelon and feta cheese served on a block of Himalayan salt and more including white and dark chocolate bread pudding with an Irish whiskey sauce and Crème brulee.

Among the 80 some guests were board president Meg Ressner and husband Dick, Stacy and Harley Kripke, Susan Conda, Shawn Messenger and Jack Schmidt, Dr. Tim Husted and wife Lisa, Diane and Jerome Phillips, Dr. Mary Kay Smith, Patricia and Robert Levey, Linda and Buzz Liber, Lee and Milton Hakel, Dr. Ned Hein, Kathleen Ryan, Gail and Bob Zimmerman, and Marcia and Tony Helman, and Barbara Sears and Roger Parker, noted gourmet guru, who was duly impressed with the cuisine.

All of the donations--about $5,000- went to Great Lakes Collaborative for Autism in support of program's such as Agility Angels, Autism Model School, Bittersweet Farms, Collingwood Center, iTaalk, Seneca Autism Learning and Support Association, Tiffin YMCA, Toledo Children’s Hospital Autism Early Learning Program, and University of Toledo Perpetual Motor Development Program said executive director Catina Harding.

"This event was more than just a fund raiser, it also was an event to increase the awareness of GLCA and how they fund agencies in the area with various grants" said Dr. Valko. They plan to make this an annual event, so watch for next years' invitation. It would be a shame to miss out on the fun while supporting such a worthy cause.