By Angela Huston

Special to The Gazette

An atmosphere of warmhearted fellowship enveloped the 200-plus people who attended “Summer Breezes,” graciously hosted by The Inn at Medina on Aug. 7. More than $7,000 in proceeds from this year’s annual fundraiser will benefit the HANDS Foundation’s “Senior Wishes” program, one of the many HANDS offers to help Medina County’s older citizens. Guests also donated non-perishable food items to help replenish Medina County food pantries.

Event sponsors were A.G. Edwards-Joe Hanna, All Custom Fabricators, American Engineering and Manufacturing, Allen and Hartzell, American Greetings, Rep. Bob Gibbs, R-Lakeville; Bowers and Corrigan-Attorneys at Law, Brunswick Citizens Police Academy, Chris and Gillian Laribee-Reid, Medina County Recorder Colleen Swedyk, Commissioner Pat Geissman, Sandy and Chuck Calvert, Nate and Kathy Elseser, Cornerstone Wellness Inc., Dale and Kathe Shook, Pat and Shirley Patrick, Michael Schneider, Medina County Prosecutor Dean Holman, Greg Finkler/CPA, Jim and Adrienne Gerspacher, John and Kathy Batchelder, John P. Bergenstein/CPA, GTB Medical Service Inc., Home Instead Senior Care, Joyce Giles, Lodi Community Hospital, Mario Russica/Candidate-Medina County Prosecutor, Medical Mutual, Medical Onsite Management, Medical Service Company, Medina General Hospital, Medina Village Retirement Community, Savvy Marketing, Steinke Vertal Langdon and Drum Inc., Vic and Nancy Pelletier, Wadsworth Pointe, Waite and Son Funeral Homes, Walker and Jocke, Western Reserve Bank, Wiant Jewelers and Right at Home In Home Care and Assistance (who provided attractive tote bags for the first 100 women to arrive).

Everyone tasted a variety of wines and sampled treats from the hors d’oeuvres buffet provided by The Inn and HANDS board members as they visited and listened to music. Many even went home with one of the many door prizes provided by Accent Floral, Bob and Pat Drum, Pampered Chef/Marsha Pappalardo, Right at Home In Home Care and Assistance and the HANDS Foundation.

HANDS Executive Director Cindie Schneider expressed gratitude to everyone for supporting the mission of HANDS. Schneider said HANDS is now granting a Senior Wish almost every day. Among those contributing to the success of the evening were the Angels in Red — Red Hat Club, the Brunswick Eagles Ladies Auxiliary, Chris Baker, Greg and Lori Betz, Jim and Ruth Ann Bigam, Lynda Bowers, Phil and Mary Jane Brewer, John Burke, Gail Carmon, Teresa Cotman, Kathy and Mandy DeLoss, Barbara Dzur, Ed and Carol Elkins, Bob and Juanita Elseser, Brian Feron, Sandy Frommeyer, Joe and Matt Gaebelein, Lee Geissman, Vennetta Gerspacher, Dr. Tony and Sally Giovinazzo, Tim and Dianne DePasquale-Hagerty, Gary and Holly Hallman, Terry and Karen Hammon, Medina Chief of Police Dennis and Chris Hanwell, Mrs. Hetrick, Dan Ihrig, Mary Kay Incandela, Sue Jones, Laurel Jordan, Kalleen Kreps, Theresa Laffey, Anna Guy Leach, Nancy Likens, Rev. Beth McGuire, Becky McClure, Dawn McGough, Tammy Motzko, Mike and Dottie Nemec, David and Janie Parish, Jim Potantus, Nancy Purcell, Jan Rizzo, Al Rom, Donna Schmitt, Debra Lynn Schmitz, Tammy Schebek, Thomas Sigel, Skip and Debbie Kiley Sipos, Stan and Penny Socha, Karen Soles, Sandy Taylor, Laura Toth, Darrell and Carolyn Waite, Thomas and Christine Whelan, Jack Young and Bob Zienkowski.

Kiwanis Club

As usual, guests attending the July 24 Kiwanis Club of Medina annual golden anniversary luncheon at the Eagles had a great time. The program opened with a piano and trumpet duet played by Alice Chester and Nick Ciulla, followed by entertainment provided by the ensemble from “Thoroughly Modern Millie” that took couples on a journey back in time to first dates and young romance. The “brides” all were presented with corsages.

Bob Toth, from the Medina County Fair Board, gave lifetime passes to each couple as fellow Kiwanians took turns introducing the honored guests with entertaining bios that included tips on how to maintain a long and healthy marriage. A few common themes were: strong faith, willingness to forgive, have fun and the old familiar phrase, “Yes, Dear.”

This year’s honorees were: Frank and Pat Bysak, Ray and Linda Corp, Bernard and Lois Dick, John and Una Mae Gill, Don and Gloria Hendershot, Ronald and Ruth Hervol, Robert and Beverly Hewit, Richard and Dorothy Hicks, Glen and Jane Hoerger, Glenn and Kathryn Hollopeter, William and Sara Hunter, Jim and Annette Iorfida, Roger and Joyce Jarrell, Philip and Lilly Jenewein, Karl and Mercedes Korber, Ruben “Jerry” and Shirley Lemons, Robert and Joan Malecha, Norb and Jo Meadows, Gerald and Dolores Nash, Earle and Rosemary Olson, Richard and Marlene Paterson, Acena (Rex, Dec’d) Shelton, Robert and Joycelyn Sullivan, Donald and Shirley Taylor, Gary and Aileen Watkins and Allen and Martha Wolff.

Cindy Phillips and Erin Weeber co-chaired the luncheon, with help from committee members Joan Rundle, Charles Hawley, Laura Dean and Linda Hoffman.

CAMEO

For the sixth successive summer, CAMEO (Cooperative Alliance of Medina Entertainment Organization) has brought spectacular entertainment to the Medina community with the outstanding performance of “Thoroughly Modern Millie,” the delightful story that ushered in the cultural changes associated with the Roaring Twenties and the Jazz Age.

Trishah Scalera, Morgan Weishar, Maggie Gedeon, David Brinker, Peggy Gibbons, Vince Orland, Rosy Hong, Elizabeth Hargrove and Carey Knox headed the stellar cast of talented performers whose characters set out to live the American dream.

Patrons at the Executive Producers Level were The Gazette, Hunter Insurance Agency Inc., Medina City Schools, Medina Performing Arts Center, Buehler’s Food Market, Medina County Arts Foundation, Western Reserve Bank, Visage Surgery Center, Fifth Third Bank, KGI Unlimited, The Hoffman Group, McJak Candy Company LLC and Michael A. Sferro. Thirty-one others at the Producers, Directors and Actors Levels also made generous contributions.

CAMEO is an alliance of artists, educators and business professionals who provide artistic resources that create quality theatrical productions and artistic endeavors. Chaired by Sferro, the council members are Alice Backus, Tom Burnett, Vicki Calvin, Phyllis Griffith, Sandi Harris, Ed Schumhl, Geoffrey Short, Mary Smeltz and Rob Wilder.

Among the many who “thoroughly” enjoyed the performance were Liz Fellhoelter, Jim and Mary Stefan, Vennetta Gerspacher, Elise Eaves, Rich Wilson, Mike and Terry Spetrino, Russ and Anna Guy Leach, Tom Scott, Mary Ellen Hargrove, Rick and Debbie Bock, Annette Finley and Jane Lang.

Huston may be reached at areanews@ohio.net.