On the Town: Get ’em while they’re hot!

Today is the last chance to taste some of the area’s finest ribs at the 31st annual Northwest Ohio Taylor Kia Toledo Rib-Off, presented by The Blade at the Lucas County Fairgrounds in Maumee. The event started Thursday and ends today at 7 p.m. after a noon opening.

According to event chairman Mike Mori, director of sales at The Blade, Planned Pethood is this year’s benefiting charity. Many other organizations earn money by providing volunteers for the event.

Enjoying opening night were members and guests of the Toledo Club in The Blade VIP area. Guest Sandi Rabie had a front row seat for the KGB and WAR bands. Some strolled the ribs booths where trophies were displayed, and bought funnel cakes, cotton candy, fresh lemonade, and more. Also popular was Big Dave’s Super Sweet Corn at Deet’s BBQ’s booth with corn from Bench’s. Last year they sold 2,400 ears and their goal this year is 3,000.

PHOTO GALLERY: Click here for more photos from these events

So, come on out and enjoy the fun. And be sure to be ready to get your fingers and face full of sauce as these ribs are finger foods!

Hosts Sharon and Michael Sordyl with Tracy and Bruce Sabo at the luau.

“Aloha! and Thank You!” ProMedica Flower Hospital Auxiliary members, volunteers, and sponsors were thanked for their services with a Hawaiian Luau on July 29 at the home of Michael and Sharon Sordyl.

The more than 100 guests were greeted with leis from models in island attire before strolling the tranquil Sordyl gardens that made visitors feel they were on a tropical island with a water fountain, fish pond, and colorful flowers.

The pig roast donated by Tracy and Bruce Sabo was bought at a previous charity auction. The whole hog was the focus of the buffet, but also tasty were Tracy’s Baked Beans and Summer Potato Salad. The Creque clan provided sweet corn. Bill Puckett provided vegetables from his garden. Dessert was mouth-watering fresh fruits and cookies. Of course there were tropical beverages, too.

Music by Daddy G Knight set the luau scene and hula dancers Caitlin Baumann and Angela Dewar entertained guests and enticed a few to join in the fun, including Joel Gorski.

Seen were auxiliary members who all worked above and beyond this past year: JoAnn McCloskey, Pat Toepfer, Barbara McCloskey, Patty Cross, Ann Galloway, Brian Hazel-Bahrs, Rosemary Harroun, Patricia Hilfinger, Joanne Kolasinski, Sue Brue, Sue Mason, Anita Graves, Diane Shull, Heather Toner, Anna Mae Sattler, Shirley Bettinger, and Cookie Westmeyer.

Many of these ladies knit hats for newborns and chemo patients. There are many programs run by the auxiliary, from blood drives, public speaking programs for high school students, to baby pictures, and special friend programs with the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, who received a special badge for their services.

Annie and Rick Strause donated upscale auction wines for events over the years, plus purchased event tickets. Ditto for Joel and Clare Gorski, who also models in the fashion shows and addresses invitations. Elaine LaValley Lewandowski and Dianne LaValley Tankoos underwrote two events. Brian and Olivia Albright have also been supporters who have helped address invitations. Former Universal Boxing Organization World Middleweight Champion Bronco McKart modeled and helped with a diabetes event ... with all of the people who attended. “All of this and they expect nothing. They enjoy giving back,” said Barbara Baumgartner, auxiliary president.

Vive la France! The Alliance Française de Toledo (Toledo French Alliance) celebrated the French national holiday Bastille Day on July 27 at the Lambertville home of Sam Ball and Joyce Blanton. The gracious hosts provided a roast leg of lamb and the AFT members and guests provided French dishes for all to enjoy. Of course, the meal was accompanied by French wines, which flowed all evening.

Diana Dettman picks up a lobster to put on her plate at the Toledo Chamber Clambake held at Hollywood Casino Toledo.

Great food, music, and networking were all part of the Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce’s 2014 Clambake Presented by PNC on July 24 at Hollywood Casino Toledo.

More than 800 Chamber members and guests enjoyed the outdoor event overlooking the Maumee River where the casino holds its summer concerts.

Networking was at a premium as the crowd sipped spirits and posed for twine.it photos as they waited in the seemingly endless line for a tasty lobster dinner buffet. The feast included whole Canadian lobsters, spicy steamed mussels and clams, chilled shrimp cocktail cooked in a spicy beer broth, applewood-smoked corn on the cob, BBQ chicken, and a seasoned seafood boil with veggies. For dessert, attendees stepped indoors for build-your-own crème brûlées. Some folks had dessert first, avoiding the long dinner line, then went back outdoors when there was no line for dinner.

Music by the Rockshow: An Ultimate Tribute to Journey cranked up the tunes for folks dancing the night away while others continued chatting as the sun set, or headed home on the “school/work” night.

Among the crowd were the Chamber’s board of trustees: chairman Stacy Hammer, president of Manpower Inc. of Toledo, Bill McDonnell, PNC regional president, and Doug Mallette, business systems specialist at HCR ManorCare, who is the chairman of EPIC Toledo.

Board members spotted in the crush of the crowd include Jim Weber, Linda Moss, Tim Alter, Ben Brown, Nick Cron, Chris Kozak, and Mary Ellen Mazey.

Also seen were Toledo Mayor D. Michael Collins and wife Sandy Drabik, Cindy Rerucha and husband John McKay, Fred and Julie Treuhaft, and Debbie and Jay Paul.

Sponsors included PNC, The Andersons, Bronze Sponsors Ernst & Young LLP, HCR ManorCare, Health Management Solutions, Hylant, Palmer Energy Company, and ProMedica, and Small Business Sponsor Mitchell Dermatology.

The White Party was on July 12 by Toledo Country Club for members and guests. The pool-side adult party was a Miami South Beach-style themed event with party-goers dressed in all white attire as they sipped and supped, schmoozed and danced.

The club’s Lobster Party was July 26 with Captain Sweet Shoes band. The skies looked like rain, so the Anchors Away party was moved indoors. In addition to tasty fare and beverages, festivities included the popular crab races.

Gracias to the 65 family and friends who gathered for a night of fun, with raffles and Mexican cuisine on June 30 at La Fiesta Restaurant on Reynolds Road in Maumee. It was for the fifth annual fund-raiser “A Night with Nuestra Gente” to benefit Nuestra Gente Community Projects Inc., a nonprofit organization that provides education, social services, and public safety activities, and includes Nuestra Gente Radio Show.

The event raised $8,500, including $7,000 in grant money from CareSource Foundation for one of the programs. Other sponsors included The Andersons, MundoFOX, and Ed Schmidt.