SPIKING and serving in the sand for charity sake.
THE 31st annual Pollyball Tournament presented by the Hylant Family Foundation honored Polly Hylant-Tracy, who lost her fight with breast cancer in 1990, in International Park on Aug. 20.
The event has raised more than $1.8 million since its inception in 1991. This year's event raised about $75,000 to benefit the YWCA of Northwest Ohio’s Breast Cancer Awareness and Early Detection Program.
Ms. Hylant-Tracy's family has fond memories of volleyball tournaments in her backyard, so Pollyball was created to honor her to help others. The tournament fund-raiser started at La Jolla beach volleyball courts formerly off Reynolds Road, and in recent years it has been held at the beach volleyball courts at International Park.
More than 42 teams sported Pollyball T-shirts in bright colors. The winning team was from Loma Linda, and the runner-up represented Labatt Blue USA. Slipping and sliding, everyone, novice and more seasoned players, had a good time.
But there was so much more than volleyball that day. It was like a big reunion of family and friends. The Hylant clan was there in full force including Michael, Richard, Stephen, Dan, Jeannie, and Sandra, plus their families, totaling more than 40 people. Ms. Hylant-Tracy’s family was there, too: husband Geof and daughters Rachel, Lauren, and Sarah, and three grandchildren.
Appetites were sated with food trucks including the Loaded Chicken, Jo Jo's, and Baba's Eats. Mmm ... there were chicken wings, burgers, tacos, and more. Heidelberg Distributing provided the beverages.
The family event also had a children's area with face painting and bounce houses. Of course, ice cream was a hit with the children and big kids, too.
A shoutout goes to sponsors including ProMedica, Hylant Family Foundation, AIG, Travelers, Yark Automotive, and many others.
Kudos to the committee of ProMedica and YWCA folks led by Sandra Hylant.
NORTH Cape Yacht Club's annual Burgee Ball celebrated the 60th anniversary of the sailing club with an elegant and festive gala at the Hilton Garden Inn in Perrysburg on Aug. 20.
North Cape Yacht Club, located some 8 miles north of the Ohio-Michigan border on the shore of western Lake Erie, is a working club primarily made up of sailors and their families. They maintain the facilities, prepare dinners, and staff regattas and other functions including a junior sailing program and national championship regattas. North Cape Yacht Club also employs a club manager, bar staff, and a custodian.
Adjacent to Toledo Beach Marina, it is affiliated with the Inter-Lake Yachting Association and the Associated Yacht Clubs. And if you don't have a boat, many members are glad to teach you the ropes of sailing and crewing on someone else's vessel. The club is noted as THE sailors’ club and is always represented in the annual Invitational Mills Trophy Race.
The Burgee Ball is a celebration of the current Commodore Stephen Goldberg and Lady Nancy Goldberg, but also a tribute to current and past commodores, many of whom are seasoned sailors and award winners.
Salty dogs took off their dock shoes and shorts and put on their gowns and commodore uniforms for a lovely dinner that was followed by dancing and festivities that continued late into the night, followed by an afterglow party at the hotel. Nasty Habits Band provided the music.
Many club members including past Commodore Bill Pribe had been on the race course earlier in the day, competing in the Double-Handed Race. So it was both an action-packed and glamour-packed day for the club, according to Susan Van der Veer, media director.
Bravo to the committee: Vice Commodore Steve Straub and Stacy Maynard, Rear Commodore Matt Kern and Lady Deena Kern, and past Commodore Mark Bondy and Lady Kitty Bondy.
MANY Toledo area folks migrate up north in the summer: Devils Lake, Crystal Lake, Traverse City, Charlevoix, and many more places for fishing, boating, swimming, shopping, golf, and more in Michigan. Among the many favorite spots are Harbor Springs and Petoskey, on the shores of Little Traverse Bay, where the development L’Arbre Croche held its annual perch fry.
Toledoans seen on the beach included Russell Hurford and Megan Manahan, Arnie Fretz and Janet Day, Becky Fuhrman and Don Leary, as well as former Toledoans Robyn and Dave Barrie, John and Debbie Joslin, and John and Mary Sue Siciliano.
OTHER Toledo folks ventured a bit further.
WENDY and Troy Greeley and children Chad Greeley, Nolan Greeley, and Meredith Greeley of Ottawa Hills took a cruise out of Venice to Greece, Croatia, Montenegro, and other exotic places this summer. Dave and Sue Kienzle nixed their summer garb and donned their cold weather gear to jet to Alaska, where they saw grizzly bears, waterfalls, and glaciers.
THERE'S still time for more warm weather fun. So enjoy these beautiful days while they last!
Barbara Hendel is The Blade's society editor. Contact her at bhendel@theblade.com or call 419-724-6124.
First Published August 28, 2022, 12:30 p.m.
