Aug. 17 turned out to be a perfect summer evening for the more than 400 people who gathered outdoors behind Medina General Hospital for the Medina Rotary Club’s 24th Annual Wine and Cheese Party, co-chaired this year by Kelly Williams and Pam Voss. This popular event originally was inspired by the desire of Dr. Bijay Jayaswal and the Medina Rotary Club to benefit Medina through a gift to The Medina General Hospital Foundation. In the 23 years since 1984, it has raised more than $217,000 to better the services provided to our community.
Sponsors this year were: The Lifeline Club ($1,000 plus) — Simmons Brothers Construction; Friends of the Hospital ($500 plus) — Nobby Lewandowski/Pat O’Sullivan, Western Reserve Bank, Radiology Professionals Inc., Siebert-Keck Insurance and Falling Waters Healthcare Center; Platinum ($350 plus) — Amcor and FirstMerit Bank; Gold ($200 plus) — Aztec Imports Inc., Dr. Mukesh Bhatt, Bil-Jac, Dr. and Mrs. Myron Bodnar, The Carmany Group Inc., CBLH Design, Dingus and Daga Inc., Family Medical Associates, Dr. John A. Gasser, Gary and Holly Hallman, Dr. and Mrs. Bijay Jayaswal, John and Virginia Jeandrevin, Dr. Matthew McDonnell, Medina Emergency Associates, Mr. and Mrs. Elbridge Moxley, North Ohio Heart Center, Ohio Anesthesiology Services, Professional OB/GYN, Ron Pfaff Electric, Dr. Terrence Ross, International Cultural Exchange Foundation, Dr. Lilly and Mr. Francisco See, Dr. Richard Shewbridge, Mr. and Mrs. A.R. Singh, Dr. Dennis Slaby, Don and Alice Spickler, Surgical Associates of Medina, Transfer Title Agency Inc., Transpacific Trading Inc. and Tri-County Oncology; and Silver ($100 plus) — A.G. Edwards, Century Harley-Davidson, ChickMaster, Joyce Giles, Gold Star Dog Training, Happy Tails Dog Ranch, The Hoffman Group, Hunter Insurance Agency Inc., Drs. Kase, Speelman and Cullen, Becky and Frank Shotwell, Clayton and Judith Smith, Dr. Chris Space, Waite and Sons Funeral Homes, Dr. Qarab Syed and Dr. Patrick Sziraky.
Special recognition was given to the following whose efforts contributed to the success of this event: Frank and Becky Shotwell of Stop-N-Go Foods, Tom and Vickie Kania of House of Flowers and Gifts, Roy Harriger, Medina General Hospital President Gary Hallman, Dr. Bijay Jayaswal  of Ohio Medical Group, Carl and Sherry Abell, Laura Kanieski of Studio Cuisine and Minuteman Press, and to these people who donated for the Silent Art Auction: Dorothy Lillian’s Gallery, Char Klimko, Martha Britans, Margarite Otley, Cindy Allman, All Fired Up, Dan Knop, Dance D’elegance, Sharon Borror, Barbara Johns, Candace Bennington and Elizabeth McMurray.
Among those who visited, tasted wine, sampled cheeses and fruits, bid on silent auction items and purchased 50/50 raffle tickets were Tom Bahr, Jim and Paula Banks, Jim Beckman and Wilma Pince, Greg Bell, Lori Betz, Bill and Pauline Bittner, Penny Blake, Dale Boehnlein, Dave and Cindy Bricker, Chuck and Sandy Calvert, Lois Calvo, Neil Carlson, Ken and Pat Chaloupek, Bill Cohen, Rod Cook, Sharon Danko, Craig Enoch, Walt Evans, Brian and Carole Feron, Dorothy Feron, Janet Gehring, Mel and Lauretta Gerspacher, Dennis and Chris Hanwell, Corinne Hadley, Dianne DePasquale-Hagerty, Kim Hallock, Bill and Judy Kalfas, David Kersten and the Rev. Beth McGuire, Beth Kilchenman, Julie King, Bill Kovalchik, Judy Laird, Jane Lang, Dale Laykun, Gary Linden, Mary Luebke and her daughters Mary, Donna, Rita and Michelle, Barbara Mack, Michael and Stacy Maitland, Debbie McGill, Ed McKeon, Kim Miller, Mark and Lou Miller, Pam Miller, Dennis and Christine Neate, Michael and Dottie Nemec, Pat Stropko-O’Leary, Earle and Rosemary Olson, Linda Pfaff, Linda Radencic, Gary Ray, Lynn Reig, Ann Reusch, Chris and Cinzia Rolling, Joe and Linda Schade, Kathy Schmidt, Cindie Schneider, John and Marilyn Sobotincic, Stan and Penny Socha, Steve Sevougian, Hub Smith, Ken and Ruth Etta Tender, Darrell Waite, Ralph Waite, Kevin and Amy Wermer, Bill Young and Jack Young.
Two of Rotary’s exchange students, 16-year-old Sapeya (James) Teeratidyangkul from Thailand, and 17-year-old Su-Hyun Choi from South Korea, attended their first social event since arriving just a few days before the fund raiser. James will be attending Buckeye High School and Su-Hyun will be attending Medina High School.
The proceeds from this year’s event will be used to purchase a Bariatric Patient Lift and a Cybex Arc Trainer. In the past, dollars have been used for equipment for the Emergency Department, EMS and Neurology Services, a newborn hearing screener, treadmills for rehabilitation, a security vehicle, a portable bone density screening unit and more.

Summer Breezes
The atmosphere was one of fun and fellowship at Summer Breezes, graciously hosted Aug. 16 by Summerville at The Inn at Medina. About 250 guests were treated to delicious appetizers, wine, pleasant background guitar music and the opportunity to network, all to help HANDS help Medina County’s older adults. Proceeds from this event, which totaled $6,700, will benefit the “Senior Wishes” program.
This much-anticipated annual summer event was sponsored by A.G. Edwards/The Hanna-Poling Financial Group, American Engineering and Manufacturing, ADS Inc., American Greetings, Buckeye Community Health Plan, Caretenders, Carlson Ambulance Transport, Carlson Funeral Homes and Cremation Services, Chuck and Sandy Calvert, Cornerstone Wellness, David Centner for Sheriff in 2008, Grant D. Relic Attorney at Law, Greg and Lori Betz  of GTB Medical Services Inc., Heimatland Inn, Home Instead Senior Care, John P. Bergenstein CPA, Joyce Giles, Let’s Decorate!, Lodi Community Hospital, Mack Industries Inc., Medical Mutual, The Medina County Women’s Journal, Medical Onsite Management, Medina County Commissioner Patricia Geissman, Progressive Home Care, Red Onion, Right at Home In Home Care and Assistance, Starbucks of Medina, Steinke Vertal Langdon and Drum Inc., Terry and Karen Hammon, Wadsworth Pointe and Western Reserve Bank.
Many shared the camaraderie and several won door prizes as they supported and enjoyed the evening, among them Nancy Abbott, Joann Bartos, Terry and Debbie Bugus, Gail Carmon, Dr. Anthony Cirino, Kathy DeLoss, Dianne DePasquale-Hagerty, Dee DiTullio, Sue Dukeman, Bob and Juanita Elseser, Nate and Kathy Elseser, Dave Farone, Carol Fritz, Janet Gehring, Tony and Sally Giovinazzo, Ron Hager, Medina County Sheriff Neil and Pat Hassinger, Dan and Nancy Ihrig, Laurel Jordan, Rich and Cindy Kalmeyer, Doris Kilbane, Kalleen Kreps, Theresa Laffey, Judy Leuthaeuser, Nancy Likens, Michael McElroy, the Rev. Beth McGuire, Don and Barbara Moore, Michael and Dottie Nemec, Pat Stropko O’Leary, Marsha Pappalardo, David and Janie Parish, Pat and Shirley Patrick, Debbie Pawlik, Phil Phrate, Nanci Purcell, Jan Rizzo, Tammy Schebek, Kathy Schmidt, HANDS Executive Director Cindie Schneider, Michael Schneider, HANDS Founder Don and Betty Simpson, Skip and Debbie Kiley Sipos, Stan and Penny Socha, Dan and Lucy Sondles, Fred and Dolores Suing, Carl and Jean Tsoning, Denise Vaca, Thom and Christine Whelan, Paul and Jeanne Williams and Jack Young. 

Retired teachers
A sizeable group of members and some guests attended the Aug. 14 meeting of the Medina County Retired Teachers Association held at the Medina Presbyterian Church. Before lunch, Chaplain Ed Temple delivered the invocation, with a remembrance for Nancy Lakore, of Brunswick, who recently passed away.
Following lunch, President Nancy Boomhower opened the business meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance, then called for minutes and reports from Ruth Ream, Nancy McNeal, Bob Dague, Sally Harbath, Julie Been, Beth Findura, Charles Chapman and Homer Smith.
Dague had the pleasure of presenting this year’s scholarship recipients. For 20 years, MCRTA has awarded two $500 scholarships to selected Medina County High School graduates who are going to be juniors or seniors in college the following year and have definite plans to go into some level of teaching. The money for these donations comes from the pockets of individual members. Two years the contributions reached $1,500, so three scholarships could be awarded. This year, with a special donation from the son of a member, enough was contributed to present four scholarships.
The first to be introduced was Ashley Hawley, a graduate of Black River High School who is now a student at Heidelberg College, the second Stacy Nagel, a graduate of Cloverleaf High School who is now attending Ohio Northern University, and the third Shauna Sandor, a graduate of Brunswick High School who is now attending Heidelberg College. The fourth recipient, Amanda Bova, a graduate of Brunswick High School who is now attending Kent State University, was unable to attend the meeting. All three appreciative young ladies, the first two who plan to teach middle school math and the third who is in early childhood education, thanked everyone for their generosity and spoke of how eager they are to be in classrooms of their own.
Been thanked everyone for bringing donations of taxable goods for the Community Services Center, and Nancy McNeal specifically for taking an overflow of clothing and shipping it to Russia as part of a donation to Music Mission Kiev. McNeal also thanked everyone for the free-will offering of $120 after her presentation about her recent trip to Kiev, money that went toward the cost of sending the clothing abroad.
Guest Nancy Girton gave a brief but important presentation to the audience about the Homestead Exemption Act and encouraged everyone who is eligible to take the few minutes involved to fill out the form for the 25 percent exemption. All that is required is the homeowner be 65 or older, have lived in the house since January 2007, or be permanently and totally disabled. The average saving is between $400 and $500. Girton fielded questions and handed out information and forms to anyone who needed them.
Among those who attended were Sue McMullen, Ruth Rodgers, Mary Keating, Ruth Gifford, Helen Streett, Fred Harbath, Bob Fenn, Mike and Judy Davanzo, Lora Temple, Paul and Bess Keller, Nancy Sprowls, Marlene Jividen, Esther Long, Jan Gundlach, Marilyn Pekarek, Hildegarde Bender, Elva Dunham, Chuck and Sue Hawley, Chad Hawley, Bill Thombs, Chuck Boomhower, Sandy Smith, Guy and Virginia Penrose, Bob and Pat Farkas, Bill Kovalchik, and newcomer Dave Wiles and his parents.
Alice Chester entertained with a few songs before the group sang “God Bless America” and adjourned. The next, and last, meeting of 2007 will be held Oct. 9 with ORTA President Don Bright speaking.

‘The Prodigies’
On Aug. 15, Dr. Tatsuya Nagashima strode across the stage of the Montrose Zion Methodist Church, sat at a magnificent piano that had been donated to the church by Jack Goudie in memory of his wife, and, just for fun, played a number that was not listed in the program. He then introduced himself to the large number in the audience who had come for the performance, one of the 2007 Akron Summer Music Festival Concerts. The evening’s theme was “The Prodigies” and focused on works of famous composers when they were very young.
Taiwan-born Nagashima, the artistic director of the ASMF and Juilliard School graduate, has appeared at major festivals and venues around the world, from Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center in New York, to Royal Albert Hall and Barbican Centre in London, from Berlin and Moscow to Vienna and Tokyo.
Nagashima shared some history and background of the featured composers, then played four of Chopin’s works: a waltz, a mazurka and two polonaises.
At the intermission, Kim Gustely and Sue Miller were introduced. The two women are the founders and co-directors of Victory Gallop, a therapeutic horseback riding program for children in Summit and Medina counties with behavioral and emotional disabilities, and children with life-threatening illnesses, children who would normally not be part of the mainstream. The directors and their team of volunteers see almost 60 youngsters per week. All proceeds from this concert were donated to Victory Gallop.
After the intermission and before the concert continued, Nagashima, much to the surprise of guest Patsy Lewis, invited the audience to join him in singing “Happy Birthday” to her.
Nagashima opened the second half of the program with Kim Bakkum, an accomplished pianist who has been on the faculties of the University of Montana, the University of Akron and Kent State University. Together they performed three lively movements of Mozart: “Sonata for Piano Duet in C Major.”
To close the evening, Medina High School’s very own Tom Bonezzi, the just-turned 17-year-old 2007 Buckeye Emerging Young Artist Award winner, brilliantly performed Saint-Saen’s thrilling “Piano Concerto Number 2, Op. 21.” Bonezzi, a student of Nagashima, was accompanied by Mike Simko on trumpet, Jim Wylie on French horn, and four young ladies who are members of the Medina High School Orchestra’s string section: Hanna Richardson, Hannah Bronson, Katie Assion and Ailene Dargan.
Among those who were entertained by the chamber music and more were Gustely’s parents Jeff and Bethann Berno, her in-laws Stan and Marty Gustely, an aunt Bea Orwig, an uncle Rick Kipp, and an aunt and uncle Jacki and Frank Connolly. Bonezzi’s parents Mike and Debbie Bonezzi were in the audience along with his brothers Jonathon and Jeff, and the Rev. Mark Hollis of St. Francis Xavier Church in Medina, where Bonezzi is a cantor, pianist and organist.
Others attending included Earl and Hildegarde Bender, Cliff and Ryoko Bender, Bill and Dianna Braun, the Rev. Dr. Walter Chisholm, Jim and Dolly Corso, Vennetta Gerspacher, Helen Harness and her daughter Marcia Daugherty, Ardith LaShell, Dr. Jim Lewis, Beth Lofy, Pat McDonald, Leah Mortelette, Mildred O’Hair, Roger and Cindy Peck, Barbara Schwehm, Claire Spero and Barbara Wellemeyer.

Midnight Blue
The weather on the evening of Aug. 11 was custom tailored to meet the description of a perfect summer night as Bruce C. Walker and Patty Vojvodich, professionally known as Midnight Blue, entertained on the patio of the Blue Heron Grill.
Guests enjoyed dinners and/or light meals as the popular local duo offered three hours of music including offerings from such familiar artists as Count Basie and Louis Prima, and a variety of other genres including blues and jazz from the ’40s up to the present. A few couples accepted the invitation to dance under the stars.
Some of those who enjoyed the evening with Midnight Blue were Cliff and Linda DiNunzio, Joe Arcisz and Gail Wilson, and Pat and Jeanne Norris.
Midnight Blue will be performing on the patio at the Blue Heron again in September.

Rotary golf outing
On Aug. 8, more than 100 participants got into the spirit of fun at the Brunswick Rotary annual golf outing at Deer Pass Golf Club. The event’s Presenting Sponsor was ComDoc Inc., whose two teams were made up of P.J. Miller, Michael Wheeler, Gordon Milne and Craig Peer; and Eric Ferguson, John Szarwark, Will Frank and Jeff Gadd. The Gold Level sponsor, Deloitte and Touche LLP, fielded a team with Jason Price, Chris Price, Ray Koeth and Mike Oliver.
Other sponsors were — Silver Level: Pat Carlson of Carlson Funeral Home and Ambulance, Donald Kammer OD of Vision Clinics Group LLC, Mona Mims of Edward Jones, Keith Walcott of Thornhill Financial and Short Sale Services. The Bronze Level sponsor was Vic Sohar of Sohar All Seasons Mower Service, and the Hole-in-One Sponsor was Joe Thuener of Crestmont Auto Group. Beverage Cart sponsors were William Kugler RHU of Insurance and Financial Service, Jamison Hendricks DDS, of Hendricks Family Dentistry, and Ryan Rose of National City Bank. Hole sponsors for the day were Medina General Hospital’s Sports Quarters, Dan Clement of Clement Construction, Lori Betz of GTB Medical, Roger Nair of NLCI Land Management, Penny Socha of Penny’s Sweet Supplies, Karen Tittle of Howard Hannah Smythe Cramer, Nick Mihacevich of M-Line Inc., Suzann Nair of All Seasons Soil, Anthony Cirino DO of Cirino Eye Center, Don and Gail Kammer, John P. Bergenstein CPA, Dave Wiant of Wiant Jewelers, Mark Taylor of Keller Williams, John Herman CPA of Lou Ray Associates Inc., Joshua Cantwell and Greg Clement of Realeflow, Ed McGannon of Western Reserve Bank, Mike Mulcahy of Brunswick Chiropractic Clinic, Jamison Hendricks DDS of Hendricks Family Dentistry, Tom Steinke CPA of Steinke, Vertal Langdon and Drum, Shawn Gerspacher of Gerspacher Home Finance, Lawrence Napolitan of Waco Scaffolding and Equipment, Don Shupek of Shupek and Vertel CPAs LLC , Avon-Avon Lake Rotary, Keith Walcott of Blue Technologies, Hospice of Medina County, Bridgeshome Health Care, Marksman Auto Body Inc. and Roth Construction.
Golf, good food, gifts, raffles and fun were the order of the day. The winning team was that of Al Beane, Keith Jenkins, Randy Crider and Dave Greiner. Some of the other participating golfers representing the individual teams included Bob Murphy and Joe Drapcho from the Avon Lake Rotary, Steve Prechtel from the Wadsworth Rotary, and Bill and Winnie Wilkinson, Al and Judy Rapp, Paul Grzybowski, Tim Fox, Jody Gibson, Susan Coleman, Tim Blaine, Thomas Grischow, Mike Esber, James Kilgore, Anthony Giovinazzo, Matt Marquard, Grant Relic, Hope Krueger, Scott Sandvick, Jenny Engelke, Tina Clow, Doug Craver, Judy Radey and Bob Drum.
More than two dozen contributors donated gifts for the baskets that were raffled off. The event raised more than $11,000.

Sand sculpting
A lot has been happening in Brunswick this summer that has drawn the attention of community members as well as people from surrounding areas. On July 14 and 15, about  2,000 people attended the first-ever Brunswick Sand Sculpting Festival, the first event to be held at Brunswick Lake since the Town Center project began. This free event was spearheaded by Brunswick Art Works, and its Event Sponsors were Giant Eagle, FirstMerit Bank and The Medina County Women’s Journal. Artistic Sponsors were the Medina County Arts Council, Brunswick Education Foundation, Westfield Bank, Applebee’s and Inflatable Images.
Event Chair Julie Zabkar said the project has been in the works close to a year. She and her committee — BAW Executive Director Rosemary Mihacevich, Lynn McCain, Pam Malcolm and Barbara McGreer — “did our best to handle all the details so the public would have an enjoyable experience.”
Event day volunteers were Jeanne Bystricky, Vince Carl, Barbara and Mario Ortiz, Laurie Miller, Misty Ricco, Nick Mihacevich, Debbie Destro, Jenna Malcolm and Pat Drum. Others who helped in a variety of ways included Kevin Schemrich, Bruno Brothers, Rachelle Zweiner, Liz Gailey, M-Line, and the Brunswick Area Chamber of Commerce.
Local gold-medalist Aaron Costic and his crew (including his wife Sarah, a Brunswick High School art teacher), delighted crowds with his 10-ton patriotic sand sculpture, an eagle with stars stretching out from every angle. The City of Brunswick also brought in an additional 20 tons of sand for the community sandbox, which was later used at local parks.
Brunswick food establishments — Madd Chef’s, Heimatland Restaurant, Tony Roma’s, Insights Coffee and More, Savory Sub and Bianca’s Italian Ristorante — kept visitors filled with everything from waffle cones, pastas, hot dogs, kielbasa and sauerkraut, ribs, pizza, smoothies, specialty drinks and subs.
There was entertainment to please every age and taste. Musicians Tony Rump, Jim Gill, Corey Asvestas and Bud Preston delighted onlookers throughout the festival. Children enjoyed a juggler, a magician, a puppeteer and a clown who did face painting. Local artist Rob Weske did caricatures of children and adults, Councilman Gary Werner joined the Rubber Biscuit Band to offer rock classics, the Brunswick Fire Department brought their innovative inflatable fire house, and the Brunswick Police provided a trained police dog demonstration.
Prizes for the free raffle were donated by Brunswick Art Works, Wal-Mart, Lynn McCain  of Tastefully Simple, Goodyear Tire and Rubber, Cici’s Pizza, Rosemary Mihacevich and Julie and Tim Zabkar. Tim Bartczak was one of the lucky winners.
A few of the attendees included BAW President Susan and Steve Hambley, Brunswick City Manager Bob and Sue Zienkowski, Dennis and Kathy Klamut, Tom and Linda Roether, Jeff and Paula St. Pierre and their children, Gary and Kim Curtiss, Jamey Snider and family, Jim and Mary Ann Lahman, Yvonne Zuchowsky, Mac McCain and Bill Malcolm.

Poetry Readings
The very successful Poetry Readings, a series sponsored by Brunswick Art Works, began with the first reading in June featuring Gina Tabasso. The July reading welcomed Miles Budimir, and Loren Weiss was the August reader. Some of those in the audience who enjoyed the presentations included Vince Carl, Robin Crawford, Kathy Stetz and her son David, T.M. Gottl, Jaime Lahman, Alexa Dawes, Dan Smith, Julie Zabkar and John and Rosemary Mihacevich. Smith, Tabasso, Lahman and Gottl were a few who took part in the open mic time. Insights owners Jim and Eileen Smalley have embraced the readers and encouraged participation in The Poetry Readings.
Because of the positive response, they will continue on the second Thursday of the month at Insights Coffee and More. The next, featuring Dan Smith, will be Sept. 13.
The readings are held with the support of the following: Brunswick gas companies Sunoco, I-71 Marathon and BP Oil, Cici’s Pizza, Steak ‘N Shake, Malley’s, Buehler’s Food Market and Brunswick Laser Car Wash.
Huston may be reached at areanews@ohio.net.