Barbara Hendel: Starting to say goodbye to an unusual winter season
Feb. 25—FEBRUARY is nearly over, and so is the snow (for now), according to the weathermen. But I wouldn't put your snow shovels away just yet, as I recall that many moons ago it snowed on tax day.
GETTING outdoors for a bit were those who attended the coronavirus precautionary Drive Through Fish Friday last week at St. Rose in Perrysburg. I was in one of the double line of cars that wound through the parking lot and out onto River Road. In the car in front of me, was pastor Tim Philabaum of Zoar Lutheran Church, who thought he was going to get the last supper, since they were running low on dinners, but our car and a few others were in luck too. Alas, the rest of the full parking lot will have to wait until Friday when it will start all over again.
READY to bid farewell to winter are members of the Toledo Sail and Power Squadron, which recently held its virtual 2021 Change of Watch in preparation for the upcoming boating season.
The Squadron, a safe boating organization now also known as America's Boating Club of Western Lake Erie, offers many classes during the year for the public, as well as hosts fun and social activities on the water. Because of the pandemic restrictions, classes are temporarily limited.
The meeting was led by Commander Fred Zibbel swearing in new officers. Also, the 2020 Commander's Award was presented to Perrysburg residents Joe and Mary Schaller.
THE REPORT is in for the 2021 Toledo Go Red for Women Luncheon which was held Feb. 18. It was a huge success with more than 200 attendees who heard survivor stories, learned more about the mission of the Go Red for Women movement, and listened to the inspiring thoughts of keynote speaker, Diana Patton. Most important, they raised $112,000 and donations are still coming in. It's not too late to donate, text ToledoGoRed to 41444, donate online at heart.org/toledogored. For info contact Elizabeth Lewis at Elizabeth.Lewis@heart.org or 419.740.9666
Emcee Melissa Andrews of WTOL-TV, Channel 11 welcomed everyone.
Advertisement
The hour-long virtual event started with a virtual expo which included a PURSE-onality auction of designer purses filled with goodies. There were also many other "booths" about health care and more.
Diana Patton, inspirational speaker, social justice advocate, author, attorney, consultant, and founder and CEO of the RISE Program and the Pivot and Rise Mastermind for Professional Women, spoke about the importance of self care and fulfilling yourself first if you want to fill others with love. It's a critical point to touch on because women tend to put others ahead of themselves and there is a significant connection between physical health and mental/emotional health.
Lori Johnston, president of Paramount Health Care, an affiliate of ProMedica, who is the 2021 Go Red for Women chairman, also spoke about the importance of health. And Amanda Harper, a local Toledo woman who has lived with and battled congenital heart disease since birth, shared her story.
The event was nationally sponsored by CVS Health and locally sponsored by ProMedica, WTOL-TV, Channel 11 and iHeartMedia plus Buckeye Broadband, Mercy Health, and McLaren St. Luke's.
Kudos to the committee: Ms. Johnston, Danielle Addison, Rhonda Ball, Laura Murphy, Gail Ritchie, Sharon Serres, Julie Shawver, Deb Stout, Sharleen Suico, Donna Tennant, and Jill Trosin.
Cardiovascular disease claims the life of one in three women, but even losing one woman is too many!
ENJOY the weekend and remember to practice pandemic safety not just for yourself, but for others.
