No matter what the temperature outside, the first Saturday night in December is always a hot night for formal holiday affairs. This year was no exception. Men were dressed in tuxedos and women were elegant in gowns as Belmont and Toledo country clubs hosted their holiday balls along with Knights Ball for St. Francis de Sales High School and Toledo Yacht Club s Commodore s Ball.
STONE Oak Country Club always takes the prize for the earliest holiday ball, which is the Saturday before Thanksgiving. The razzle-dazzle affair was the club s Holiday Lights Gala, Come Dance the Night Away. And dance they did.
Dance a lot, nibble a little, dance some more. Lobster tail, filet mignon, and roasted duck made for an elegant meal that was topped with a chocolate confection for dessert. Between dinner courses the KGB group enticed nearly everyone to dance.
Shaking a leg were Ford and Phyllis Cauffiel, Mike and Pam Hill, Gery and Gwen Ames, Dorothy and Frank Sheehan, David and Darlene Hahn, Jerry and Ica Sutter, and Chuck and Pam Stanley. Catching everyone s eye was Lisa Heinrich, in a sparkling, slinky gown. She was with her husband, John. The night s defining moment was the lighting of the trees outside on the 18th fairway as the sky exploded with fireworks. Of course, OSU fans thought the fireworks were for their victorious Buckeyes.
Hosts were George and Kay Namay and Ron and Mary Tice, who said they ve already booked the KGB for next year.
HEAR YE, Hear Ye. Members presence was requested for the Winter Dance Renaissance Festival at Belmont. Libations and wassail were served as king and queen Bill and Marnie Ammann presided from their thrones with the royal court, Gerald and Phyllis Deaton, Dennis and Shirley Csehi, and Sandy and Monika Liber. They greeted guests in furs and jewels who arrived via valet service.
Meanwhile, some men including Jack Sculfort and Jeff Huskisson disappeared downstairs to check on a football game. In the living room and the foyer, the canapes of roasted pepper and orange cheesecake, steak rumaki, brie bruschetta, and more tempted nibblers.
The warm glow of the evening with red and green and gold continued with a scrumptious dinner of crab cakes, a spinach salad so good it was almost sinful, veal rack, and more. A berry-licious dessert topped the meal, and revelers still had energy to dance to Bridgett Grace Band of Detroit.
On the list of the well-heeled were Don and Mary Cameron, Steve and Linda Stanford, Allen and Pam Pilz, Jim and Mary Euting, Greg and Sherry Hendel, Fred and Nita Harrington, Trina and Michel McGivern, Carl and Judy Barnard, Sarge and Sue Purewal, and Steve and Cam Nitschke, and her brother and sister-in law Steve and Dana Hess, who grew up in Rossford and just moved to Columbus from San Diego.
A WHITE Clydesdale horse and carriage waited at the entrance of Toledo Country Club as part of the decor for the Winter Wonderland Holly Ball. Inside, giant white snowflakes hung from the ceiling and silver and white-striped covered tables held white poinsettias encased in ice globes. Wait staff in Santa hats gave impeccable service.
Poached prawns, oysters, and crab cocktails were served in the living room. The main course was filet of beef tenderloin and poached lobster medallions. An artfully presented dessert trilogy of chocolate, caramel, and custard balls prompted most to ditch their diets. Between courses, many partygoers whirled and twirled to the sounds of the KGB group, who were all decked in white. Trying out new ballroom dance steps were Mary Lou and Phil Rudolph, Jr.
Hosts were Mike and Doy DiNardo, Chris and Pam Di-Salle, Andy and B.J. Casabianca, and Kevin and Mary Pat Smith. Irwin Effler, membership chairman, welcomed everyone. President Bill Buckley was there too. Looking especially festive were Barbara Cutillio in a sparkly red, form-fitted strapless gown and her husband, Dan, in a tux with a red tie and cummerbund. Chatting were Terry Horrigan and Carol Fadell, Ken and Ann Jane Hileman, Brent and Pam Cousino, Warren and Pat Tipton, Richard and Shirley Smith, Jack and Pamela Straub, Bill and Vicki Souder, Lois and Walt Churchill, Larry and Nancy Metzger, Chris and Christine Marlow, and Tom and Connie Schmidt.
RED-and-blue stars, lights, flowers, and life-sized knights set the scene for the 15th annual St. Francis de Sales High School Knights Ball at SeaGate Centre. The Singing Blue chorus greeted guests with holiday tunes. Sipping and shopping at the silent auction were great. A trumpeter called all to dinner.
Seen were Bill and Beth Bingle, Dan and Mary DiSalle, Mary and Bob Westphal, Dan and Kris LaValley, Tom and Paulette Geiger, Janice and Tim Korhummel, Tom and Jane Manahan, Geoff and Molly Meyers, Bob and Sue Savage, John and Kathy Wetli, Dave and Judy Walrod, and John and Lisa Thebes.
HepCat Revival played tunes for dancing, but chairmen Anne Marie and Tom Blank, Sue and Dan McKernan, and Kathy and Mike Cook, and president The Rev. Ron Olszewski danced about because the night was so successful. Paul Swiergross, a St. Francis senior, enticed guests to bid high at the donation auction by recalling his school experiences. His stories brought in more than $100,000. That s thanks to Patrick McGrady and Patrick Hylant, who both donated $25,000. That doesn t include the silent auction and the Treasure Quest of dinners from Mainstreet Ventures, shopping at The Andersons, Kroger, and Sautters, and flowers from Bartz Viviano that reaped a bundle. Winners were Bill Balzer, Michael Oswanski, and Charles Hinde.
Matching the decor was the white Mustang with red leather interior the Blanks won for a summer lease. The momentum was so great that Joe Metzger started a live auction for the giant Knight logo; Pat and Jeff Kuhr were the winners. Philip Sanford, a St. Francis alum, was delighted that he won the bid for 10 Storm tickets. The estimated net of more than $173,000 benefits the scholarship fund.
AS LONG as it is holiday season, why not make the decor do double duty? Toledo Yacht Club always hosts its Commodore s ball while the club is decorated with lights and trees. This year s ball honored Comm. David Kiel and his lady, Jan.
SO YOU don t want to go out on a cold winter s night? There s always the No Ball to benefit Ronald McDonald House Charities of Northwest Ohio. You can pick the time and place, but do it before Dec. 31, for tax purposes and door-prize drawing.
Barbara Hendel is The Blade s society editor.
Contact her at: bhendel@theblade.com or 419-724-6124.
First Published December 4, 2006, 2:10 p.m.
