THE 16th annual Barefoot at the Beach presented by Fifth Third Bank at Maumee Bay State Park for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Toledo is expected to raise more than $200,000. Kudos to event chairmen Christine Kilman and Nancy Joy and the 100-some volunteers, sponsors, food vendors, and entertainment.

Lighthouses, cat tails, reeds, oars, lobster crates, Adirondack chairs, surf boards, and waterside bonfires abounded for the nautical-themed event with red, white, and blue flowers and linens. A sand sculpture celebrating the clubs’ 125th anniversary added a nice touch, as did a biplane flying overheadand trailing a banner reading “BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF TOLEDO, 125 YEARS STRONG!”

The University of Toledo Rocket Marching Band Drumline added pep to the steps of the more than 1,600 movers and shakers who came dressed to impress in East Coast prep chinos, polos, skirts, and shirts in tropical and nautical patterns.

Notables in the crowd included Bob LaClair, head of Fifth Third Bank, and his wife Kim; the clubs’ board president Kevin O’Neal and wife Brigid; Brian Epstein; Thomas and Kelly Winston; Sara Moynihan; Fred and Lyntia Ruffin; Rob Shick; Andrea and Pat Gibbons; Gina and Rob Krieger; Terry and Denise Benton; Steve and Tiffany Cavanaugh; Richard and Yolanda Jackson; Matt and Karla Hoverman; Don and Barb Rettig; Rick Sabin; Bruce and Betsy Rumpf; Ben and Peggy Brown; Dan and Cathy Frick; Don Harbaugh and Jan Fry; and Sara and Jeff Bucher.

Special guest and local clubs alum John Miller of the Boys & Girls Clubs of America was impressed with Toledo’s support and the great event.

Thirty-some food vendors tantalized party-goers with fresh fruits, veggies, salads, pulled pork, beef tenderloin, chicken, lamb chops, grape leaves, tacos, oysters, duck, shrimp, nachos, pizza, and more including cupcakes, s'mores donuts, chocolates, and popcorn. A wine bar by Jim Cameron of Heidelberg Distributing and Jim and Blair Nooney of Toledo Cigars offered high-end wines and cigars.

Guests hit the dance sand with sounds from DJ One Tyme and Madison Avenue Band. Fireworks by Pyrotecnico was the grand finale. Parting gifts were chocolate-dipped marshmallows. Next years' Barefoot at the Beach is slated for Aug. 11.

THE SKIES cleared as players slid on the sandy volleyball courts at International Park. It was the 26th annual Pollyball Tournament presented by the Hylant Family Foundation in memory of Polly Hylant Tracy, who lost her battle with breast cancer. The Hylant and Tracy families and their friends gathered in her memory and in the process raised $90,000 for the YWCA of Northwest Ohio ENCOREplus Breast Cancer Awareness & Assistance Program.

Po Moes, Nick and Nino’s, and Beastro 4740 food trucks provided lunch, and there was a children's activity area.

Amid the 55 teams was Toledo Radiological Associates, who prevailed as this year's advance team champions. The Tireman team was runner-up.

The backyard champion team was Buckeye Broadband. Backyard runner-up was was the team led by Polly’s daughter, Lauren Tracy.

AdBASH 2017 presented by the American Advertising Federation Toledo at International Park was a fun beach volleyball tournament among club members. Greg Reece kept the 24 teams in line. Receiving boasting rights was first-place winner the Outreach team, which included Paige Speweik, Abigail Speweik, Kennedy Schriner, Jordan Keefe, Frances Keefe, Liam Schriner, Quinn Schriner, and Nick Speweik.

InfoStream Solutions came in second, followed by ACME Corp., and Interrupt, who also won Best-Dressed Team. The Best Effort award went to the Hanson Team #1. Thanks to music sponsors Office Furniture Warehouse and DJ Mike Toth, peppy tunes added spark to the competition. Many other sponsors helped make the event possible, too.

MOUTHWATERING ribs and live music drew nearly 80,000 folks to The Blade’s 34th annual Northwest Ohio Rib Off, presented by Taylor Automotive Family, Buckeye Broadband, Tireman, TAS Electronic Inc., and Living, the Appliance Center’s home store at the Lucas County Recreation Center.

BG’s BBQ was awarded the top prize by five judges, including Jeff Abbas, president and general manager of Buckeye Broadband, who like everyone else had sticky hands and face after tasting all of the eats. The people's choice local award went to Deet's BBQ in Maumee, and Texas Outlaws won the national people's choice award.

Filling the air with music were Dennis DeYoung on Thursday, Lee Brice on Friday night, Grand Funk Railroad on Saturday, and Zapp on Sunday, plus several other voices and bands including Sunset Strip, Walker McGuire, the Chris Shutters Band, Cherrelle, Ramona Collins, Larry “The Phenix” Walker, Darrell Banks, and many local choirs.

Spotted in the VIP area over the weekend were Candace Coleman and Chris Brown, Steve Woolley, Plead the Fifth band, John Braille, and Bobby May.

Also Randy and Kris Jones, Bob and Kim LaClair, Chuck and Carol Stranc, Al Papier, Nick Marconi, Frank Almester, Matt and Rhonda Simpson, and Kurt Franck, executive vice president, interim general manager, and executive editor of The Blade.

Michael Mori, event coordinator and sales and marketing director at The Blade, said about $3,000 will be donated to Veterans Matter.

Thanks go to numerous sponsors, too many to mention, but they included Budweiser, 7 Up, Al Peak and Sons, Ace Sanitation, CGS Imaging, Toledo Tent, WTVG-TV, Channel 13, and La-Z-Boy.

Contact Barbara Hendel at bhendel@theblade.com or 419-724-6124.

First Published August 27, 2017, 4:00 a.m.