Firestone Country Club was strewn with rose petals for the 57th Annual Sweetheart Ball and Cotillion Saturday evening. Angie Hall chaired the event, assisted by co-chair Laura Wall-Stewart.
The debutantes arrived early to get ready. Rhonda Wood directed the debs to the dressing room, while her husband, Don, took photos before assuming his role as master of ceremonies. Heidi Lowe assisted her daughter Erica Yovanovich into her beautiful white gown.
Before the presentation, the debs greeted family and friends and posed for photos.
“Smile,” said Linda Nickol as she photographed her debutante daughter, Amanda, with her husband, John, and daughter Ashley.
A beautiful cake with rose decorations by Denise Litz centered the hors d’ouevres table. Joanne Garabito said, “I’m so nervous I can’t eat a thing,” while her daughter Annie enjoyed the buffet. Annie was escorted by her grandfather Robert Fisher.
Samantha Kolar helped her dad, Robert Kolar Jr., with his white gloves, while her mother, Patricia, greeted her grandmothers, Lois Keifer and Hazel Mohler. Mohler said she kept Sam’s dress hidden in her closet so no one would see it before the big event.
Stephanie Hall, grandmother of deb Rachel Hall, looked through a scrapbook showing the debutantes’ activities throughout the year. The girls baked Christmas cookies for a cookie sale and wrote letters of encouragement to Special Olympic athletes. Funds raised at the event benefited Special Olympics Area 10. Don Rammel of Special Olympics said Area 10 covers Wayne, Summit, Stark, Medina and Portage counties, as he enjoyed the event with his wife, Erin.
Eight-year-old Logan Mullins looked spiffy in his tuxedo as he enjoyed the event with his parents Logan and Bridgett Mullins. His sister Cindy made her debut Saturday evening, following in the footsteps of sister Amanda, while younger sisters Tiffany and Patricia await their turn. Hope Headrick, 12, and Lydia Weaver, 15, also eagerly awaited the presentation.
The debs were presented on a stage decorated with pink and red roses matching the tall centerpieces at each table. They carried matching bouquets of roses. Following the presentation the debs and their guests enjoyed dining and dancing to music by Rick & the Cutting Edge, with vocals by Angelina Fiorini.
