Flutes, Friends & Fa La La FAR‘s 11th annual showcase celebrated 60 years of providing arts and recreation for children and young adults with developmental challenges. It attracted 130 to a preview dinner and more than 600 to the show at the Seligman performing arts center. With Allen Lee as emcee, the FAR Stars, Alexander Zonjic, Josh White Jr. and the Fred Astaire Dancers performed to music that reflected the six decades of FAR’s existence. Lucy Kauffman and Faye Gorback chaired the event that also offered a silent auction coordinated by Linda Golden and Barbara Fleischer and the popular FAR Bazaar coordinated by FAR’s volunteer “Art Lady” Judith Schwarzer. The evening raised more than $80,000 for FAR scholarships and programs. Distinguished Women Celebration In 1970, Northwood University established the Distinguished Women’s Award to recognize the contributions women make to communities, businesses and non-profits world-wide. Among the eight women honored at the 42nd annual ceremony in Dallas, Texas was Patti Prowse. Known professionally as Patricia Rhodes-Prowse, the awardwinning fashion designer, with her son Stone Rhodes, arrived in Bloomfield Hills in the fall of 2003 as the new bride of Jim Prowse and quickly became noted for her warm hospitality. The generous couple is also well known on the charity circuit, but NU booster Lynn Stinson also knew of Patti’s entrepreneurial accomplishments and nominated her for the DW award. The weekend activities at the Dallas Ritz Carlton included a panel discussion luncheon, the Eggs & Economics breakfast with notable NU faculty speakers and the Awards Gala. Locals among the 200 guests on hand to applaud when RhodesProwse received her DW medal included her husband, Stinson, Maureen and Jerry D’Avanzo and past DW Lynn Ferron and her husband J, who is NU board president. TCH Classical Brunch The most recent in the Classical Brunch series at The Community House attracted an especially appreciative Saturday audience that included 60 children from the non-profit Development Centers which serve lowincome families in Wayne County. The children were intrigued by the concept of combining storytelling and piano music. The delightful concert featuring pianist Sergei Kvitko and narrator Ken Beachler was repeated on Sunday. Three more concerts remain in the series which Sandi Reitelman chairs and for which Robert deMaine is the artistic director. The next on Sunday, Jan. 22 will feature Kimberly Kaloyanides Kennedy on violin, Yizhak Schotten on viola, Úna Fionnuala O’Riordan on cello and Katherine Collier on piano. For tickets ($10-concert only; $30-brunch & concert, $12-children brunch & concert) go to www.tchserves.org or call (248) 644-5832. Send ideas for this column to Sally Gerak, 28 Barbour Lane, Bloomfield Hills, 48304; email samgerak@aol.com or call 248.646.6390. downtownpublications.com
Baldwin Library’s Books & Bites
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7 1. Board member Andy Harris (left) and event coordinator Janelle Boyce of Birmingham. 2. Library director Doug Koschik (left) and assoc. director Matt Church of Berkley with event committee member Rosemary Miketa of Birmingham. 3. Baldwin Friends president Barbara Suhay (left) with Mary Phillips of Birmingham. 4. Board members Bob Tera, with his wife Phyllis, and Sheila Brice of Birmingham. 5. Margaret Betts (left) and committee member Dorothy Conrad of Birmingham. 6. Kathy Wilson (left) and Vicki Sower of Birmingham. 7. Melissa (left) & Joe Srock of Bloomfield with Stephanie Akrashian and Murray & Georgia White of Birmingham. 8. Announcer Charles Wickins (left) with raffle winners Ingrid & Clark Haddock of Birmingham.
8 Holiday Gift Show Preview Party
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3 1. Party co-chairs Lauren Eaton (left) of Bloomfield and Stephanie Ashley of Royal Oak. 2. Show co-chairs Shelly Lanesky (left) and Meg Ferron of Bloomfield and Mitzi Marttin of Birmingham with show sponsors Kathy Broock Ballard of Orchard Lake and Goldner Walsh’s Tim Travis of Waterford. 3. Dylan Damman & her mother Anne of Birmingham. 4. Lisa Petrella (left) and Adele Acheson of W. Bloomfield with TCH CEO Camille Jayne of Birmingham. 5. Show cochair Meg Ferron (left) with Tara Parker of Bloomfield.
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