Exchanging Valentine’s and a dedication at Shores

February 27, 2008

Love was in the air as members of the Ocean City Exchange Club arrived at the Flanders with their favorite ladies for a Valentine’s Day dinner in Emily’s Ocean Room Café. Pauline and Walt Hoster, Jane and Roger LaRosa and Mary and Bob Wurtz arrived early and staked out a good table and were enjoying light hors d’oeuvres when I stopped by. Jane admired my white lace top as she recalled the many years she has enjoyed attending Exchange Club parties with husband, Roger, a charter member. New Exchange member Ernie Ritacco was surprised I remembered him since I hadn’t seen him in ten years. Ann and Don Cheatle are settled in their new home in EHT while Joan Blasberg is doing great following her surgery. Carol Heenan and Eric Wakabayashi were packed and ready for their vacation in Arizona. Angelo Psaltis is going skiing in the Poconos before heading south to Florida to visit friends. Leigh and Jon Batastini are looking forward to a vacation in Las Vegas next month. Liz Ulmer told me what a great time she and Maribeth Neall had when they flew to Las Vegas last month for the Miss America Pageant while Tom Ulmer stayed home and took care of business. When I gave Andrea Bell tickets for Colony Club’s upcoming luncheon and fashion show, Carol Evans wanted to purchase one. Will Evans joked with me about calling him “Wes” in a recent column, but admitted he didn’t mind and was surprised how many people commented to him about the mistake.
Exchange president John Lugo welcomed everyone to the Valentine’s dinner then couples enjoyed the music of “Higher Ground” as they stepped on the dance floor. Linda and Curt Gronert and Andrea Bell and Don Paul looked good enough to be on “Dancing with the Stars” as they showed off some great moves. Andrea and Don were headed for NYC to see “Wicked” this weekend. With wife Irene in Florida getting settled in their new home, George Reeves did the jitterbug with Jane LaRosa, then John LaRosa twirled his mom around the dance floor. Vonnie Price joined Val and Herb Godfrey for dinner as she awaited the arrival of husband, Ed, who as worshipful master of the Masonic Lodge, was at a meeting for the Foster Kearney Foundation. Jim and I enjoyed dinner chatting with Mary and Bill Woods who just spent the weekend celebrating granddaughter, Eva’s, third birthday and gave her a Barbie battery-operated Jeep. Bill has been busy getting the Ocean City Fine Arts League settled in their new location at 606 Asbury Ave. and is making plans for the upcoming Irish festival to be held March 28 at the Homestead. Our efficient waitress, Karen Volk, gave us great service. This Pittsburgh native and Collingswood transplant is spending her first winter in Ocean City. Manager and chef at Emily’s, Patti Schauffele, came out to visit and we complimented her on a fine dinner and told her when Bill Woods cleans his plate you know it’s good. Patti and her husband and son took over the operation of Emily’s in December 2006 and enjoy working in the original 1923 Flanders kitchen. Prior to moving to Ocean City six years ago, Patti owned and operated the Soup Ladle in Mt. Laurel. Linda and Curt Gronert stopped to check out Jim’s red ultra suede jacket and discuss the Daytona 500 time trials. Sue and Don Doll are looking forward to getting away to Florida next month. I caught up with Sam Foglio as he helped wife, Rosario, with her mink coat that was sure to keep her warm on this cold winter night.
Colony Club’s Bunco Fun Night attracted lots of members to the meeting at the historical museum last Monday. Carol Evans and Rose Marie Ricci were busy setting up chairs while Carol Moss and Gini Trotman located their name tags and Elaine Novello, Mary Lee Shanahan and Barbara Weber set out refreshments. Eileen Adams and Linda Gronert are planning fabulous decorations when Colony Club “Goes Hollywood with a Salute to the Oscars” at its luncheon and fashion show. Historic museum president Ken Cooper presented president Nicollette Mirra with Colony Club’s 1950 yearbook and when this columnist recalled charter members, Anne Cornwell, Dot Pettit and Doris Day, some ladies thought I was a member then till I admitted I didn’t meet the age nor residency requirements in 1950, however they were still members when I joined the club in 1972.
Carla Heist arrived after the meeting started and patiently waited in the vestibule till she was invited in. Following the business meeting Krissy Roberts divided 36 members and guests into three groups of 12 and taught them to play “Bunco.” With Marion McCaughey and this columnist in the same group we made the most noise and were joined by Kathy Allegretto, Ginny Holt, Carol DeMill, Diane Rossi, Eva Kearney, Joan Chapman, Mary Zuccarini, Sara Schoenen, Mildred Mott and June Hadley.
Family and friends were on hand to honor Allen Thompson Friday afternoon at the Shores at Wesley Manor with the dedication of the new woodshop bearing his name. I ran into Betty Hawk in the Hall when I arrived at the manor. Dolly Nunan sported a Russian hat and pin and saved me a seat in the front row while I visited with residents. Russ Shivers was on his walker having recently broken his hip and after serving as chaplain at the manor the past 15 years is retiring March 1 when Harvey Van Schiver takes over. Ruth Auerswald is secretary to the chaplain. I enjoyed catching up with Phyllis Hover who clips my column every week and mails it to Catherine Piper in Florida. Dot Arbogast loves to sing and knows the words to all the songs they sing at the manor. Brian Roberts, Dorothy and Homer Gerken and Alice and Bill Crockford rushed in just before the dedication ceremony as did manor residents, Mildred Wilver, Sara Ginther, Doris Dixon, Charlie Bringhurst, Bill Bunt, Connie Shivers and Rae Louise and Roland Porch. Avid bridge player Millie Gibboni told me she moved to Ocean City in 1946 where she lived at 837 Second Street. President of the Methodist Homes, James Batten, read the inscriptions on two plaques for the woodshop, one to be hung outside the entrance and the other to be hung inside and thanked Allen for his many volunteer hours, donations and equipment and supplies to the workshop then asked him to say a few words to which Allen quipped was an “invitation to disaster.” Allen praised the staff at the manor, told several funny stories and introduced Carl Errickson, who since becoming a resident at the manor has joined Allen in the woodshop building birdhouses, tables and other works of art. I spotted Nelson Dice, Joe O’Neill and “duchess” Nancy Fox and husband, Duke Spitzer checking out the woodshop then joined everyone in the atrium for refreshments. Deede Bolger was behind the table serving hors d’oeuvres and delicious desserts. Jane Doran gained seven pounds since she moved to the manor last year which is a testament to the great meals served there. Lillian Richards was appropriately dressed for the weather sporting a snowman sweatshirt. I enjoyed chatting with Dottie Sturm, Sue Handron, Sue Clark, Olive Waddell, Beth Williams and Joanne Cheeseman while enjoying the cool punch with all the guests.

 

Don and Ann Cheatle chat with Joan and Erich Blasberg at the Valentine’s dinner.
 

Tom and Liz Ulmer, Terry Grau, Ernie Ritacco and Lillian and Rich Ellerman get together at the Valentine’s dinner.

Bill and Mary Woods, George Reeves and Cathy and Jim Finnegan pose for a picture at the Valentine’s dinner.

Eric Wakabayashi, Carol Heenan, Jon and Leigh Batastini, Rita Doto and Angelo Psaltis enjoy the dinner.

Andrea Bell, Don Paul, Linda and Curt Gronert and Carol and Will Evans smile for the camera.

Historical museum president, Ken Cooper, presents Colony Club’s 1950 scrapbook to Colony Club’s president Nicollette Mirra, while Barbara Riggione, Rose Marie Ricci and Krissy Roberts look on.

Allen Thompson (center) shows a plaque dedicating the D. Allen Thompson Woodshop at the Shores at Wesley Manor to director Ellie Kinsey, granddaughter Karen Curley, daughter Sandy Edstrom, grandson Rob Curley and son-in-law Eric Edstrom.

Joan Goukas, Jane Doran, Sue Clark, Dottie Sturm and Ruth Auerswald pose for a picture at a reception following the woodshop dedication.