Lois Sawicki, who supported various arts and education efforts in the area -- including the Toledo Opera Guild -- died recently. She was 82.
The Blade's featured obituary on the former Springfield Township woman can be found on the newspaper's website.
Mrs. Sawicki's children remembered her as instrumental to the success of husband Jerry in his real estate business and jazz saxophonist career, The Blade reported.
"Back then, the wife behind the scenes was doing a lot of the socializing and entertaining and making sure things went smoothly," daughter Lisa Holman said. "That's what she did, and she did it well."
The Sawickis were benefactors of Maumee Valley Country Day School, Central Catholic High School and St. John's Jesuit High School. St. John's music center was built with funds from their donation.
Mrs. Sawicki also supported the Toledo Opera Guild and Toledo Symphony. Her welcoming attitude is a good model for the hospitality committee formed for the Guild's upcoming Diamonds and Denim event.
"I walk up to people with a smile and I tell them my name and ask their name and ask them where they're from," Mrs. Sawicki told The Blade in 1997. "You try to be a little complimentary about their clothes, a scent, anything that would stand out."
Mrs. Sawicki died Sept. 19 at Lakes of Monclova Health Campus in Monclova Township. The cause of death was unknown; she had dementia but no other known health problems, her daughter said.
The family suggests memorial tributes be given to the Alzheimer's Association, Northwest Ohio Chapter.
Saturday, September 27, 2014
Monday, September 22, 2014
Diamonds and Denim Nov. 8
Diamonds and Denim, a fabulous evening slated for Nov. 8, 2014, at the Toledo Club, kicks off a season of themed events that will juxtapose the brilliant glitz of diamonds with the iconic ruggedness of denim.
Come dressed in your best denim, most glittering gems, or both! The club is suspending its dress code for the evening, but guests are encouraged to be fancily clad even in jeans. Get creative!
The first 100 guests to arrive will receive a complimentary glass of champagne, provided by Soto Loft & Signature Spa, in which a gem might be a real loose diamond donated by Jeffery Mann Fine Jewelers. Guests will have their "rock" examined on site to find out who is the lucky winner.
The club's first floor will be laden with silent auction items and a fully stocked wine sale -- which will pair excellently with an exciting live auction later in the evening. Proceeds from the event, auctions and wine sale directly benefit the Toledo Opera.
Second Wind, a popular local rock 'n' roll cover band, will get those dancing feet moving in the Centennial Room, while Calvin Hughes' jazz band will help guests relax in the Red Room. Artists from Toledo Tattoo Company will offer temporary tattoos, and guests may pose for photos atop a custom Chopper motorcycle provided by Charlie's Automotive.
A grazing buffet, with an ice sculpture recognizing Ice Restaurant and Bar, will tempt your palate with cleverly themed nibbles. Tickets will be on sale to purchase drinks from the club bar.
Tickets for Diamonds and Denim are available online at brownpapertickets.com. RSVP by Oct. 29!
General admission is $50 per person. Guests may upgrade to a 1 Carat Level for $100, which includes a Feb. 11 performance of "Susannah," the first in a series of contemporary American operas planned by the Toledo Opera; or a 2 Carat Level for $200, which will include the Feb. 11 opera as well as a VIP after party Nov. 13 at Shape My Jeans.
Don't forget to check the guild's online calendar and make note of our luncheons, celebrity wait night, Phashion of the Opera show and other fun events that will carry our season-long Diamonds and Denim theme.
The Toledo Opera Guild offers deep gratitude for The Blade's continued support and encourages its members to patronize those local companies who make our events so successful.
Friday, September 5, 2014
'Lakmé' Flower Duet Featured at Valentine's Free Plaza pARTy
One of the hallmarks of performing arts in Toledo is the excellent cooperation and collaboration among the various organizations.
They play well together, one could say.
Ten of them will do so Saturday evening at the Valentine Theatre's Plaza pARTy -- including the Toledo Opera, which will present the Flower Duet from the opera "Lakmé."
For a full schedule of jazz, ballet, symphony, theater, cabaret, chorale and film performances, visit the Valentine's event page. Represented will be the Toledo Opera, Toledo Symphony Orchestra, Toledo Jazz Orchestra Quartet, Ballet Theatre of Toledo, Toledo Ballet, Toledo Repertoire Theatre, Valentine cabaret players, Toledo School for the Arts, and Masterworks Chorale.
Performances will be from 5 to 9 p.m. on the Key Bank Outdoor Stage in the Valentine Plaza and inside the theater's Grand Lobby. There is no admission charge for Plaza pARTy. Proceeds will go to a new local Performing Arts Group Fund administered by the Toledo Community Foundation and established by the Valentine to defray costs of renting the theater.
Georgio's and Manhattan's restaurants will sell select menu items, and a full cash bar will be in the lobby with wines from Heidelberg Distributing, which also will offer a beer truck outside at the event.
The Valentine Theatre, at 410 Adams St. in downtown Toledo, raises its gorgeous red curtain on staged performances of the Toledo Opera. The Toledo Opera Guild encourages everyone to support this venue and the excellent sampling of arts it will offer Saturday at the Plaza pARTy.
They play well together, one could say.
Ten of them will do so Saturday evening at the Valentine Theatre's Plaza pARTy -- including the Toledo Opera, which will present the Flower Duet from the opera "Lakmé."
For a full schedule of jazz, ballet, symphony, theater, cabaret, chorale and film performances, visit the Valentine's event page. Represented will be the Toledo Opera, Toledo Symphony Orchestra, Toledo Jazz Orchestra Quartet, Ballet Theatre of Toledo, Toledo Ballet, Toledo Repertoire Theatre, Valentine cabaret players, Toledo School for the Arts, and Masterworks Chorale.
Performances will be from 5 to 9 p.m. on the Key Bank Outdoor Stage in the Valentine Plaza and inside the theater's Grand Lobby. There is no admission charge for Plaza pARTy. Proceeds will go to a new local Performing Arts Group Fund administered by the Toledo Community Foundation and established by the Valentine to defray costs of renting the theater.
Georgio's and Manhattan's restaurants will sell select menu items, and a full cash bar will be in the lobby with wines from Heidelberg Distributing, which also will offer a beer truck outside at the event.
The Valentine Theatre, at 410 Adams St. in downtown Toledo, raises its gorgeous red curtain on staged performances of the Toledo Opera. The Toledo Opera Guild encourages everyone to support this venue and the excellent sampling of arts it will offer Saturday at the Plaza pARTy.
Wednesday, August 27, 2014
Guild President Looks Forward to Upcoming Year
A message from Cindy Niggemyer, president of the Toledo Opera Guild:
Welcome to Toledo Opera Guild’s 2014-2015 year. Last year the Guild donated $42,000 to Toledo Opera. This amount is due to our members' very hard work, because we receive minimum underwriting. Along with money, Guild members donate something very precious: their time. Our mission is: to promote opera awareness, education, company service and financial support for the Toledo Opera.
The coming year is going to be an exciting one! For the first time EVER, all our major events will be under one theme, Diamonds and Denim. Our major events will have some new and dynamic twists. So, now is the time to get those diamonds out of the drawer and dust them off. Real or fake, you have the opportunity to find a unique and creative look for our first event in November. You may mix the outlandish with denim or create an "over the top" formal look. The Guild is noted for original events, so come and join the fun.
I am pleased to announce that our fall event, Diamonds and Denim, on Saturday, Nov. 8 at the Toledo Club, will be co-chaired by Bonnie Milano and Rebecca Conklin Kleiboemer. They have already begun planning, and will be pleased to have more Guild members join them on the committee.
In December we will have our popular Holiday Tea arranged by Chairman Sue Rosenberg. Date and place will be announced.
On Jan. 26, Barbara Bettinger and Mary Beaber are planning another great Diamonds and Denim Celebrity Wait night at Forrester’s Wine Bar and Party Room. They are being assisted by Linda McBee, Traci Schwann and Carol Sizemore. It’s a great night, so get a table together and join the party.
Our Phashion of the Opera fashion show has become a premier show for the Toledo area, and it too will carry the Diamonds and Denim theme this year. Pam Bettinger and Joyce Stenberg are planning even more excitement with an added evening reception. They will be needing help, so please contact them for more information.
Third Vice President Barbara Baker is busy planning our four lunches for the year. The opening one will be at Inverness Club on Wednesday, Oct. 1. For the year’s schedule, please refer to the list on our website.
Everyone on the Executive Committee and the Board of Directors work hard to support Toledo Opera. Please refer to the listing of names on our website.
I encourage everyone to contact me with any suggestions for Guild improvement. It is great to have all our membership give input. This is your organization and your thoughts are appreciated and given consideration. You can contact me at artandwriting@ameritech.net. If you are not yet a member, you can download a form on our website. We love new members, so please let us know what you would like to participate in.
Welcome to Toledo Opera Guild’s 2014-2015 year. Last year the Guild donated $42,000 to Toledo Opera. This amount is due to our members' very hard work, because we receive minimum underwriting. Along with money, Guild members donate something very precious: their time. Our mission is: to promote opera awareness, education, company service and financial support for the Toledo Opera.
The coming year is going to be an exciting one! For the first time EVER, all our major events will be under one theme, Diamonds and Denim. Our major events will have some new and dynamic twists. So, now is the time to get those diamonds out of the drawer and dust them off. Real or fake, you have the opportunity to find a unique and creative look for our first event in November. You may mix the outlandish with denim or create an "over the top" formal look. The Guild is noted for original events, so come and join the fun.
I am pleased to announce that our fall event, Diamonds and Denim, on Saturday, Nov. 8 at the Toledo Club, will be co-chaired by Bonnie Milano and Rebecca Conklin Kleiboemer. They have already begun planning, and will be pleased to have more Guild members join them on the committee.
In December we will have our popular Holiday Tea arranged by Chairman Sue Rosenberg. Date and place will be announced.
On Jan. 26, Barbara Bettinger and Mary Beaber are planning another great Diamonds and Denim Celebrity Wait night at Forrester’s Wine Bar and Party Room. They are being assisted by Linda McBee, Traci Schwann and Carol Sizemore. It’s a great night, so get a table together and join the party.
Our Phashion of the Opera fashion show has become a premier show for the Toledo area, and it too will carry the Diamonds and Denim theme this year. Pam Bettinger and Joyce Stenberg are planning even more excitement with an added evening reception. They will be needing help, so please contact them for more information.
Third Vice President Barbara Baker is busy planning our four lunches for the year. The opening one will be at Inverness Club on Wednesday, Oct. 1. For the year’s schedule, please refer to the list on our website.
Everyone on the Executive Committee and the Board of Directors work hard to support Toledo Opera. Please refer to the listing of names on our website.
I encourage everyone to contact me with any suggestions for Guild improvement. It is great to have all our membership give input. This is your organization and your thoughts are appreciated and given consideration. You can contact me at artandwriting@ameritech.net. If you are not yet a member, you can download a form on our website. We love new members, so please let us know what you would like to participate in.
Saturday, July 26, 2014
Save the Date! Diamonds and Denim
Diamonds and Denim will be held the evening of Nov. 8, 2014 at the Toledo Club, 235 14th St. in downtown Toledo.
We are so looking forward to having fun with this theme, and great committees of guild members are shaping up under the co-chairmanship of Bonnie Milano and Rebecca Conklin Kleiboemer. If you would like to serve, please email Bonnie at bmilano@buckeye-express.com or Rebecca at rckleiboemer@gmail.com.
Shelli Jacobs and Traci Schwann are coordinating silent and live auctions full of fabulous items, and Barbara Baker and Diane Rusk will fill tables to the breaking point with delicious wine for sale. This will be the perfect opportunity for holiday shopping. Proceeds directly benefit the Toledo Opera.
We're also breaking a long-held club rule by actually encouraging guests to wear their blue jeans!
So, start thinking about how you'd creatively embrace our theme by wearing the glitz and glitter of diamonds, the sexy ruggedness of denim, or both!
Save the date of Nov. 8, and keep checking this blog, our Facebook page and your mailbox for information and invitations.
Tuesday, July 15, 2014
Toledo Symphony Principal Hornist Dies
From the Toledo Symphony:
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Toledo Symphony Principal Hornist Sandra Clark after a long battle with brain cancer. She worked tirelessly and long past the point where anyone thought humanly possible, which echoes the work she put into the Toledo Symphony for over 20 years, both as a player and behind the scenes in the office.
During this period she also found time to work on a composition for tenor and orchestra titled "Letter to Sarah by Sullivan Ballou," which was very important to her. In full, here is Letter to Sarah by Sullivan Ballou, performed by members of the Toledo Symphony, and conducted by Sandra Clark. The soloist is Ben Fidler, audio by Dr. Todd Brady, and video production by Randy Zalewski.
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Toledo Symphony Principal Hornist Sandra Clark after a long battle with brain cancer. She worked tirelessly and long past the point where anyone thought humanly possible, which echoes the work she put into the Toledo Symphony for over 20 years, both as a player and behind the scenes in the office.
During this period she also found time to work on a composition for tenor and orchestra titled "Letter to Sarah by Sullivan Ballou," which was very important to her. In full, here is Letter to Sarah by Sullivan Ballou, performed by members of the Toledo Symphony, and conducted by Sandra Clark. The soloist is Ben Fidler, audio by Dr. Todd Brady, and video production by Randy Zalewski.
Tuesday, July 8, 2014
Catch 'Otello' at Local Movie Theaters
The Metropolitan Opera offers this big-screen viewing Wednesday as part of its Summer Encore series. Rave Cinemas has scheduled showings for 2 and 7 p.m. at Franklin Park 16 (at the mall on Monroe Street in Toledo) and 7 p.m. at Fallen Timbers 14 (at the mall on Russell Road in Maumee).
Faithful love will be tested by jealous plots, military ambition, and the angry vices that have plagued men and women since their first pairings.
In Verdi's retelling of Shakespeare's towering tragedy, Renée Fleming gives a captivating performance as the innocent Desdemona, a role long considered one of her calling cards. As the title hero, Johan Botha, delivers an imposing portrayal of a proud warrior brought down by jealousy, with Falk Struckmann as the villainous Iago.
The Live in HD series includes interviews and behind-the-scenes features.
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