Hendel: Maumee Bay, zoo host late summer soirees

THE weather was great for the Boys and Girls Clubs of Toledo's 23rd annual Barefoot at the Beach presented by Midwest Security Products and Checker Distributors at Maumee Bay State Park, which beckoned about 2,000 revelers for an upscale summer camp themed event.

Colorful flowers and orange, yellow, and ocean blue covered bistro tables set the beachy scene which included bonfires. Music from Detroit’s Intrigue band and Life Celebrations DJ filled the air. Grand Lubell Photography's vintage photo booth trailer was packed all night.

VIP guests who paid $200 enjoyed an early arrival, private bar, and lounge. General admission was $150. The cash bar with tickets included the Lakeshore Lemonade signature drink in mango, raspberry, watermelon, or blueberry.

Family and friends of longtime volunteer Diane Worley manned the front gate in her memory.

Trustee Kari Gladney kicked off the evening by ringing the original Camp Big Silver dinner bell. Gladney, a club and Camp Big Silver alumna, chaired the event with trustee Jamey Messer .

WTOL-TV, Channel 11's Tim Miller and Caylee Kirby emceed the event.

Homage was paid to the club sending youths to summer camp including Camp Robinson and Camp Big Silver. Now the clubs send kids to camp through partnerships with Camp Miakonda and Camp Storer.

Guests in sandals, flip flops, shorts, and sundresses included Tim and Jodi Schmidt ; Rob and Kathy Shick ; Ryan and Deanna McAlees ; Doug and Marianne Schoenrock ; Brad and Emily Krieger ; Meg and Andrew Appold , a club alum; Brad and Monica Rowe ; Cindy Kwapich ; David and Shannon Fisher ; and Jim and Janice Heller , who just returned from a Greece trip, as did Deborah and Ken Knight.

Also present were Marcus and Nicole Keck , Matt and Jill Schroeder , Don Harbaugh and Jan Fry , Kadee and Michael Anstadt , Pat Giammarco , and birthday boy Andy Assenmacher .

First timers Nancy Miller and Mike Mikkonen stayed overnight at the hotel. T.J. and Amanda Meiers were first timers, too.

Thirty area restaurants provided a tasty feast. Mmm, chocolate buckeyes, chocolate iced coffee, jambalaya, seafood, steak, hummus, popcorn and more were on the menu.

Bassett Nut Co./Rachel Michael’s Gourmet Popcorn won Best Booth, and Souk Mediterranean won Best Food Presentation.

Sponsors included Rockwell’s, KeyBank, The Walter Terhune Memorial Funds; Ernst & Young, Designetics, Heidtman Steel, Owens Corning, Care Advisory Group and many more including Turner Electric, American Rent-All, and Schramm's Flowers and Gifts.

Committee chairmen included Matt Hoverman with wife Karla ; Peter Boyer and wife Amelia, there with his 89 year old mother, Shirley Boyer ; Sam Armetta and Liz Hoerner ; Board President Tiffany Cavanaugh with husband Steve ; Kristen Trczinski with husband Matt ; Rick Mann , there with wife Barb ; Paula Adam and husband Tom ; Craig Jablonski and Kory Meinhart ; Barb and Jim Stengle ; Mike and Nancy Mayo; Rhonda and Ken Ball and others.

Club president & CEO Jim Ravas and wife Elizabeth were all smiles over the great party.

The $300,000 goal is on target to nearly fund one club for an entire year.

Ken Knight won the raffle for two VIP tickets to next year’s Barefoot at the Beach event, slated for Aug. 9, 2025.

A NICE breeze on the sunny Aug. 8 night was perfect for the Toledo Zoo and Aquariums annual Feast with the Beasts presented by PNC.

Ladies in sandals and sundresses and men in sports jackets until it got too hot, strolled about at the Tembo Trail. Some used the hand held bamboo fans provided.

Hors d'oeuvres by the zoo were artfully displayed under a canopy.

Many guests watched the baby elephant Kirkja as well as penguins Bo and Simon and baby flamingos.

Everyone migrated indoors to the ProMedica Museum of Natural History for the five course gourmet dinner paired with wines and an auction.

The Toledo Zoo chefs Jamie Perkins and Eloisa Beltran presented the appetizer, salad, and intermezzo.

Mulled wine poached pear paired with Tenuta Regaleali Grillo; salad inspired by elephant calf, Kirkja, with baby kale tossed in zoo grown garlic, and thyme and paired with Quattro Theory Sauvignon Blanc and a watermelon and zoo grown mint with candied ginger intermezzo.

Moussa Salloukh of Souk Mediterranean Kitchen + Bar presented a delicious entree of braised short ribs, seared scallops, and vegan bell pepper paired with Bieler Pere & Fils La Jassine or Shatter Grenache Maury. Claire Cameron-Ruetz of Dollop Shop presented a cake flight: pistachio cake, orange olive oil cake, and chocolate cake with an edible flower and a gold leaf.

Kristian Brown of 13abc and John Jones of Hope Toledo facilitated the auction which included a behind the scenes experience with elephants, a foursome in the Kodiak Classic golf outing in October, and support for various programs including a Community Partner Membership Program.

Among the guests, who paid $250 per person at the sold out soiree of 152, were Tana and Stu Benford , Bob and Barrie Howell , Bill and Heather McDonnell , Doug and Kim Kearns , Scott and Wendy Moewe , Elaine Canning and Dan Kory , Bob and Dianne Tankoos , Don and Connie Warner , Sally Binard , Carol and George Koury , Karen Schlatter , Mike Hebert , Bill and Cathy Carroll , Yolanda and John Szuch , Pat Appold , Joel and Davie Epstein , and Callie and John Jacoby .

Thanks go to valet sponsor BMW of Toledo. The expected net is well over $200,000.