It was all glitz and glamour here in T-Town. The hot spots to be were at star-studded, tinsel town-style events. From takeoffs on Dancing with the Stars to Hollywood s Oscars night, locals were in the spotlight.

Dance away at the Way

Dancing Away with the Stars II, produced by the Way Library Foundation and presented by Physical Therapy Consultants, was Saturday night at the library in Perrysburg. Because of the jammed parking lot, many took advantage of the shuttle service by Dan Scott and Kingston Residence.

Luminaries lined the entrance into an alluring night-club scene. Sparkling dancer ice sculptures, moody lighting, black linen-covered tables, exotic flowers, and more were the setting for the tasty gourmet grazing, the martini bar, and the beer and wine cafe.

Drink tickets were at the book checkout counter, which looked mighty fancy schmancy. Without a librarian to shush everyone, the din of chatter and decibel of music were unchecked. A special dance performance was by 100-year-old Olga Christina Boone, lovely in a flowing, floor-length red gown, with dance partner Matt Miller. It was only a minute until Mark Easterwood, the resident paparazzo, was busy snapping photographs.

A silent auction added to the fun for the nearly 360 guests, who paid $75 each to attend.

Aaron Bortz and Jill Perry, who both left their native Perrysburg and returned to raise their children with their spouses Liz and Kevin, respectively, were pros at playing the emcees.

Four seatings were available for the dance shows amid a sizzling set. In between, dancers were treated to massages by Sandra Beauchamp of Spa-Go Massage Therapy LLC.

Then everyone voted. It was tough, as there were some pretty fancy steps and sultry moves. Would it be Reeve Kelsey and Paulette of Paulette s Dance Studio doing the samba? Gerri Walzcak and Matt Miller doing the salsa? Debby Peters and Neal Hopkins doing the merengue? Juan Artiaga and Lorie Clark doing the swing? What about Marianne Borkosky and Jeff Lever s West Coast Swing?

Nope, it was Joe Smith and MariAnne Wozniak doing the cha-cha/swing.

The suspense over, many danced the night away to Hepcat Revival.

Behind the scenes, volunteers 91 of them just for the evening were in shifts, so everyone, like a Garrison Keillor character, could participate. And they were treated like royalty in their private volunteer quarters where gourmet delights sated their appetites.

The real challenge was at 2 p.m. when the library closed. That left only four hours until guests arrived at 6 that night.

But Sunday by noon the library was back to normal, thanks to about 20 more adults and more than 20 National Honor Society students.

The estimated net is more than $22,000, which goes to the Way Public Library Foundation Endowment Fund.

That s all thanks to the oodles of sponsors and volunteers. Committee members, too many to mention all, included Nancy Beckman, Peggy Fuller, Joanie Foster, Kim Henderson, Julie Liebenthal, Julie Olmstead, Lisa Richard, and Luella Smith.

They kibbitzed, they noshed, and they danced the night away.

Congregation B nai Israel hosted Dancing with the Jewish Stars at the temple Saturday night, and it was a blast of abounding joy, event chairman Fagie Benstein said.

The first-time event was a deal for $25 per person: a sumptuous and scrumptious grazing buffet by Jeff Sherman s Simply Delicious Catering sated appetites, and a cash bar quenched thirsts amid dazzling decor by Creative Design s Jeanette Bernstein. But it was the fun and camaraderie that stole the show.

Hazzan Jamie Gloth, as the emcee, kept guests in stitches as he did the Abbott and Costello skit Who s on first? in Hebrew with Rabbi Moshe Saks.

Festively attired folk waltzed, did the jitterbug, rumba, and tango, and more as fans cheered them on.

The all star line-up included: newlyweds Rebecca and Ian Katz, fox trot; Lil and Dave Perlman, nearly a nonagenarian, Mr. Perlman was limited to the waltz; congregation president Jim Rothschild and his wife, Julia, the swing; Bina Carr and Dick Greenblatt, the lindy; Miriam Leeper-Kende, a proud one-year ovarian cancer survivor, and son Isaac Weintraub, the jitterbug; Gail and Lee Kwait, the cha-cha, and Mrs. Benstein and Eli Kaufman, the mambo.

Everyone received a trophy, compliments of the Image Group. Professional dance instruction was by Miss Kathy, zumba instructor of the JCC/YMCA and Miss Cookie of Daryl Jervis Dance Studio for the cha-cha, and even those with fehkrimteh feese two left feet had fun. Nearly everyone joined in dancing the Hora, including the local leaders of the Jewish community: Stephen Rothschild, Abby Suckow, Elliot Feit, Eric Dubow, Becky McQueen, Cydney Goldberg, Evan Speyer, Ari Saks, David Weinberg, and Irina Zaurov.

Mrs. Benstein said they had so much fun that they are making plans for next year: Dancin with the Stars II: The Revenge of the Polka.

Committee members included Alix Greenblatt, Linda Steinberg, Dena Zack, Leslie Podalsky, Cheryl Rothschild, Sue Rothschild, Paul Causman, Phyllis Diamond, and Meira Zucker.

The $2,500 netted benefits youth activities at the synagogue.

The glamour of Hollywood was realized here Sunday as Toledoans walked the red carpet amid screaming fans, flashing cameras, and paparazzi leading to Oscar Night 2009 Walk of Fame at Owens Community College Center for Fine and Performing Arts.

The American Red Cross Greater Toledo Area Chapter presented a spectacular sixth annual event with about 600 attendees, thanks to honorary co-chairmen Mike and Gloria McAlear and sponsors Columbia Gas of Ohio and Star 105.5.

Guests were delivered to the red carpet via a Hummer limousine donated by Bedford Limousine. Inside, WTOL-TV, Channel 11 s Chrys Peterson and Jerry Anderson, asking what everyone in the know wanted to know: Who was wearing what designer s fabulous fashions? Dior and Valentino were among those mentioned to the cheering crowd. Attendees hammed it up for the paparazzi waving and blowing kisses.

The many savory selections from area restaurants were fantastic. Delicious desserts including gourmet cheesecakes, dark chocolate truffles, and buckeyes also came from donors.

Participants paid $100 a small price for the priceless gift the American Red Cross gives to the needy. The net profit, not yet determined, will be used for relief services, said Jodie Tienvieri of the Red Cross. The eclectic mix of young and young at heart opened their purses and wallets to buy raffle tickets on bountiful baskets valued at $600-plus, and to purchase a key to open the treasure box holding a Kathrine Baumann jeweled clutch purse valued at $2,000 that was donated by Harold Jaffe Jewelers.

Sally DePerro, one of the committee members who put the baskets together, held the lucky key that opened her jeweled treasure.

The large crowd was entertained by Hepcat Revival and the NuTones. Of course, the big screen in Owens theater aired the 81st Annual Academy Awards.

Among the notable notables were State Fire Marshal Michael Bell with Karen Jarosz and Shayla Bell, Nick and Stephanie Gnau, Lance and Dee Talmage, Frank and Sharon Unkle, Ray and Kris Young, Chuck O Shea and Lyn Casye-O Shea, Hugh and Kyle Grefe, James and Lynnell Jefferson, Catherine Gruenwald, Dave Wise and Cary Kutnyak, Terri Barricklow, and Cherie Underwood.

First Published March 2, 2009, 11:25 a.m.