Garden Party will glow for the gold

The Vindicator/Robert K. Yosay

I WENT TO A GARDEN PARTY ... Friends of Fellows Riverside Gardens prepare for the annual Summer Garden Party, the gardens’ primary fundraiser, planned for July 25. From left are Fred Martin, president of the Friends; Catherine Powers, chair of the garden party; Jeanne Simeone, Friends board member; and Keith Kaiser, horticulture director of Mill Creek MetroParks.

YOUNGSTOWN — As Fellows Riverside Gardens celebrates its 50th anniversary, the splendor of gold and yellow roses will offer a welcoming aura for guests at the annual Summer Garden Party at 6:30 p.m. July 25.

The event, titled “Fabulous at Fifty,” is open to all who love and share special memories of the gardens. Tickets cost $75 per person for nonreserved seating or $125 per patron at shared reserved tables. Reserved tables for eight are available at $1,000.

For ticket information and an invitation to the party, call (330) 740-7116. Proceeds from this primary fundraiser will benefit the new Master Plan and other programs that benefit the community.

At the celebration, menu specialties from local caterers will be served as the Sheet and Tube Brass Quartet performs. California artist Gary Bukovnik will unveil a commissioned painting commemorating the Gardens’ golden anniversary and will introduce his own exhibit, “Blooms of Summer,” in the Weller Gallery. A festive surprise will end the evening.

The Golden Anniversary Year is being sponsored by National City, and underwriters include Vincent and Phyllis Bacon, First Place Bank Community Foundation, Hill Barth & King LLC, Huntington Bank and Huntington Trust, Hynes Industries, Liberty Steel Products, Fred Martin, The Murphy Contracting Co., Schwebel Family Foundation, Norma and Frank Watson, Denise and John York and the DeBartolo Corp.

Chairing the garden party is Catherine Powers, assisted by committee members David Armstrong, Deby Clark, Beverly Gronvall, Mary Hartman, Jan Hubbard, Lynn Kasper, Carol Lunger, Jennifer Milliner, Sara Scudier, Dolly Vivalo, Gordon Vujevic and Marilyn Wagmiller. Mill Creek MetroParks staff members providing input and support include Keith Kaiser, Arlene Lanz, Julie Pavalko, Ellen Speicher and Dennis Penner.