Debra Jackson (left) and Noel Jackson congratulate the winners of the 2010 Art Ambience Art Exhibit April 23 at a preview reception for the show. Continuing from left are Maureen Keast of Wyandotte, second place; Mary Kocsis of Grosse Ile, first place; and Sally Morris of Wyandotte, third. The Jacksons were hon-orary chairmen of the event.
Art lovers gathered to honor winners of Art Ambi-ence’s 23rd Annual Art Exhibit April 23 at a preview reception for the organization’s three-day show in the Woodhaven Community Center.
Mary Kocsis of Grosse Ile won first place and a check for $300 for her painting “My Mom”; Maureen Keast of Wyandotte, second place and $200 for “City Lights”; and Sally Morris of Wyandotte, third place and $100 for “Kale, Cockscomb & Squash.”
The coveted Artists’ Choice Award was captured by Fran Hassen, who received $100 for “Early Spring Blooms.”
Receiving honorable mentions were Rhonda Weiss, Doni Moxlow, Joe Gambino, Shelley Juchartz and Shirley Ciungan.
Former Southgate Mayor Norma Wurmlinger was master of ceremonies, and Art Ambience presi-dent Betty Hajkus welcomed the guests.
Dr. Noel and Debra Jackson were honorary chairmen of the event. Judy Nelms was the show co-ordinator.
The reception included a sale of miniature fine-arts works and tote bags hand-painted by Art Ambi-ence members, a raffle for gift baskets, and musical entertainment by Sam V. Rappa.
Sponsors of the exhibit included the Acanthus Art Society of Wyandotte, the city of Wyandotte, the Downriver Arts and Crafts Guild, the Downriver Coun-cil for the Arts and the Southern Wayne County Re-gional Chamber.
Others were Specialty Engine Components and Wayne County Community College, Downriver Cam-pus.
Art Ambience officers, in addition to Hajkus, are Margaret Cooney, vice president; Ciungan, treasurer; and Cathy Turgeon and Margaret Arnott, secretaries.
Leukemia Bash set for May 13
The winners of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Soci-ety’s Man & Woman of the Year contest will be an-nounced May 14 at the organization’s Leukemia Bash 2010 benefit, to be held at the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn.
Cocktails will be served at 7 p.m. and dinner at 8 p.m. Eric Braate, WDIV meteorologist, will be master of ceremonies for the event, which will include silent and live auctions and a performance by jazz singer and blood-cancer survivor Kate Patterson of Melvin-dale.
The Man & Woman of the Year title winners will be determined by the votes they receive through do-nations to the society (each dollar counts as a vote).
Contestants include Sarah Barbour, co-owner of Top Gun Shooting Sports of Taylor, and Adrian Vido of Dearborn.
Others are Andrea Allen of Southfield, Jack Ar-onson of Waterford, Ryan LaFontaine of Highland, Richard Ress of Troy, Sherry Schaffer of Clarkston and Ron Shriver of Grosse Pointe Park. Denise Stein is competing posthumously.
The L&LS Boy and Girl of the year, Bradley Simmons of Woodhaven and Catie Maurer of Lake Orion, both blood cancer survivors, also will be pres-ent.
Tickets for the event, $150, patron ($300 recog-nition level) are available by calling Norb Promo at the society headquarters, (248) 581-3903, or e-mailing [email protected] Proceeds will be used to help find a cure for blood cancers and assist patients and their families.
Coming up . . .
May 8, 15 — Mother/Daughter Tea, 2 to 4 p.m. May 8 and 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. May 15 at the Ritz-Carlton, Dearborn, with piano accompaniment; $30 per adult and $15 per child aged 3 to 12; for reserva-tions (necessary), call (313) 441-2000.
May 9 —Mother’s Day brunch 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Ritz-Carlton,Dearborn, with a complimen-tary glass of champagne and music by a harpist and flutist; $65 ($30, children 3 to 12); for reservations (necessary), call (313) 441-2000.
May 9 — Mother’s Day Brunch, 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Henry Ford Estate, Fair Lane; adults, $32; $$12, children 5 to 12; free under 4; for reservations (required) call (313) 593-5590.
May 13 — Black-tie kickoff for the Southern Wayne County Regional Chamber’s annual Business & Lifestyles Exposition, 6 to 9 p.m. at Yack Arena, 3131 Third, Wyandotte; tickets are $65, members; $75 nonmembers; the exposition continues on May 14 and 15 with events including workshops, a woman’s exposition, and a Saturday family fashion show; expo admission is $2, adults (children 12 and younger, free); for tickets or more information, call (734) 284-6000.