By Angela Huston

Special to The Gazette

Enthusiasm abounded at Rinky Dink Family Fun Center on June 21 during the second annual Great Rinky Dink Extreme Putt-Putt Challenge to benefit the Akron Children’s Hospital Showers Family Clinic for Cancer and Blood Disorders.

Sponsor Prudential Kovack Realtors raised more than $16,000 last year. This year they raised $25,253, of which 100 percent was given to the hospital.

Event Chairwoman Connie Cloud and her committee — Michele Boyd, Stephanie Doutt, Mike Schmidt, Rick Sullivan, Kim Mowers, Kathy Mansfield, Sis Mumaw, Vicki Potter, Connie Cisar, Johanna Perrino, Julie Cagle, Debra Holmstrom and Pat Householder — originally became involved to do something for Boyd whose teenaged son Logan was diagnosed with cancer three years ago. Speaking for other committee members, Doutt said, “We are grateful for the opportunity to participate in an event that helps so many, and do something for Michele as well.”

The volunteers orchestrated a day featuring good food, live music, sketches by caricature artist George Parmelee, a silent auction, raffles and a Celebrity Challenge starring Sheriff Neil Hassinger, Wadsworth Mayor Robin Laubaugh and Medina County commissioners Sharon Ray and Steve Hambley in a putting contest using kiddie clubs, hockey sticks and super soakers. Laubaugh emerged victorious and will keep the huge traveling trophy until next year’s challenge.

Among the day’s special guests were Akron Children’s Head of Oncology Dr. Hord and Child Life Specialist Brenda Powell. Others guests included Jim Doutt and his daughter Alexa who was celebrating her birthday; John Cloud and his children John and Olivia; Angie Snowball and her children Jack, Grant, Brock and Ava; Joan Heller and her daughter Jennifer Tucker and grandchildren Jillian and Joe Tucker and Mimi and Addison Bausch; Pat Hassinger and her grandchildren Luke, Hayden and Drew Hassinger; and Mary Alice Parmelee.

David Lytle benefit

“If you can’t stand up, stand out.”

Those words describe David Lytle, who spent the last 15 years of his young life as an incredibly loving and influential wheelchair-bound quadriplegic. On June 28, more than 120 people gathered at Buffalo Creek Retreat for the Inaugural Benefit Celebration of Lytle’s life, hosted by the recently formed David Lytle Memorial Foundation, whose mission is “to enrich and inspire those with spinal cord injuries to live life to the fullest.” Doug Koorey delivered the invocation before dinner.

The evening included food, music, auctions, and both humorous and touching tributes by Foundation President Alan Pratt, Tracy Lytle, John Williams and Charlotte Heppner. Lytle, described as an inspiration to all who knew him, believed everyday was a celebration of life. His only fault: being a Steelers’ fan, but his friends relented and used the team’s logo and black and silver colors in the decorations.

Auctioneer Tony Matusicky donated his services for the live auction that raised more than $5,000. Items were donated by Medina Gem Co., Medina Cigar, Theis Family, Marie’s Café, Waite and Sons Funeral Home, Shannon Marie (who painted a one-of-a-kind “Dave Art”), Main Street Café, Sterling Jewelers and Doug and Nancy Koorey. The event raised in excess of $14,000. Event Gold Sponsor was Emergency Fire and Water Restorations. Silver Sponsors were Invacare, Scorpion Nationwide LLC, Salon Evangelene, hype LLC, Ace Business Solutions, Sterling Jewelers and Wolff Brothers Supply Inc. Bronze Sponsors were South of the Square Collision and Medina Tax Service. Dinner sponsors were Marie’s Café, Orlando Baking Company, Miller’s Party Rental Center and Pepsi. Dessert sponsor was Meridith Starman of Starman Sweets. Of special note, Sterling Jewelers, for whom Lytle worked, donated a 14K white gold, one carat diamond ring, which now belongs to his mother.

Event planners were Brian and Mary Hilberg, Kim Backlund, Pratt, Bob and Dona Theis, Jeff and Karen Rice, Bill Phillips, Brian Jupina, Jackie Kirby-Wilkins and Shannon Marie. Among the guests were Lytle’s parents, Jim and Carol, Jerry and Sally Gunner, Cindy Matusicky, Katie Horn and Tom Hilberg.

SPCA golf outing

On June 22, 60 people gathered at Coppertop at Cherokee Hills for a golf outing hosted by the Medina County SPCA and Fox 8 Meteorologist Dick Goddard to help raise funds to pay off a large debt owed for local veterinarians’ services. The event cleared $10,500.

Co-chairs were Goddard and Erica Moehring with help from Leslie Dedauw, Lloyd and Joanne Knudsen, Amber Williams, Barb Whitney and Coppertop Director of Golf Chadley Gibson. Other volunteers on event night were Sue Nisoff and Barb Hlavin. Sponsors were Buehler’s Food Markets, Mufflers for Less, Fox 8-WJW, Jeff and Loni Johnson, Serpentini Chevrolet, Jessica and Matt Chamberlin, Linda Denton, the Hollo Family, Valley Tack, Judy Welday, American Porfolios/Design Financial Planning Group, Animal and Avian Medical Center, Phillip C. Atherton, Chase Bank’s Reagan Branch, Robert and Helyn Connelly, Dr. Robert Doty DDS, Federal Air Marshal Service-Cleveland Field Office, Gale’s Garden Center, Greenkeepers Lawn Service, It’s A Dog’s Life Pet Daycare, Lloyd and Joanne Knudsen, Medina Veterinary Clinic, Mulch Barn, North Gateway Tire, Seibert Keck Insurance, Seville Animal Hospital, Smith Brothers Inc., Streetside Café, Goddard, Rick Brubaker and Ron Pfaff Electric Inc. After the event, Car Toy Store donated $500. Another 35 individuals and businesses donated auctions items.

The Rick Slaby Team of Batice, Batcha and Leary took first place, and Lloyd Knudsen’s team with Jim McCauley, Don McKee and Jeff Smith were second. Batcha and Smith won closest to the pin awards, Lori Johnson and Don McKee took female and male longest drive honors, Paul Williams was closest to the Woollybear, and consolation went to the last place team of Daryl Shanley, Zane Miller, Vicki Miller and Tammie McGivern. Johnson won the putting contest and received a three-day, two-night vacation in Las Vegas. Darrell Hill won $150 in the 50/50 raffle, but donated it back to SPCA.

Among the others enjoying the evening were Dr. Walter Martin, Jorden Buddner, Barb McKee, Jim Mottice, Jeanne Williams, Nanci Shanley, Andrew Peloza, Jenny Milner, Ed Semancik, Marty Keefe, Bob Searcy, Gary Pajeau, Loni Johnson, Sue Heiszek, Deborah McGill, Ken Moehring, Penny Blake, Lois Calvo, Dedauw’s mother, Linda McCauley, the Lou Hollo Family and Mr. and Mrs. Ed Haddad.

Huston may be reached at areanews@ohio.net.