Welcome Home: Milwaukee Chapter 102 of Veterans for Peace (VFP) hosted a lively fund-raiser at Derry Hegarty’s Irish Pub, complete with a raffle and entertainment to benefit Milwaukee’s homeless veterans. The event drew former military personnel, along with their families and supporters. Musicians Richard Pinney and Rick D'Amore performed as the vets caught up on their combat experiences and talked about their time in service. Dennis Johnson and Dale Darrow reminisced about their Army years around the same time in Vietnam.  

VFP chapter president and Army vet Paul Moriarty, who served during the conflict in Bosnia, hosted along with event chair Al Marino and his wife, Marti. Mark Foreman, Willie Williams, Patty and Bill Voeltner and attorney Jeralyn Wendelberger were among the dozens of attendees.

Park Party: Nearly 1,400 Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin employees and friends descended upon Washington Park for the first of numerous events celebrating the organization’s 75th anniversary this year. Entertainment included a band-shell performance by Chester French, whose lead vocalist is Milwaukee native D.A. Wallach. The group featured its hit, “She Loves Everybody,” an ode to safe sex. 

Wallach’s mom and best fan Rochelle Lamm cheered him on, along with pals Barbara Edwards and Margery Sinclair, the latter being the etiquette expert and author of A Year of Good Manners.

The Jazzy Jewels, seven young-at-heart lovelies such as Vi Hawkins and Vivian Williams, whose ages ranged from 60 to 80, performed foxy dance routines. There was also a staff “flair” contest, with employees’ creative juices creating outlandish costumes. Amy Doczy, as the “Contraceptive Fairy,” edged out Susan Odegaard dressed in a Bjork-like swan dress.

Among the Planned Parenthood team was President Teri Huyck; Chris Williams, business initiatives VP; development and communications VP Linda Neff; Amanda Harrington from PP’s media relations; Laura Emir, a major gifts officer, there with husband Mustafa; plus recently retired Patty Blommer and her husband, Tim Wallis. Many staff sported T-shirts designed by board member Bela Roongta Eitel.

Circulating were Milwaukee first lady Kris Barrett, the always-dapper Milwaukee Public Health Commissioner Bevan Baker, state Rep. Leon Young, hard-working Feingold folks David Crowley and Ann Taylor, DJ Willie Shakes, a community organizer extraordinaire, plus Juli Kaufmann and her son Frederick.

Town Pride: The 10th “Made in Milwaukee” bash, a hip, multifaceted, daylong event held at Cathedral Square, lucked out with decent weather and a great turnout. Vendors and artists showed and sold artwork, jewelry, designer clothing and other eclectic offerings. Sales were brisk, according to Fred Gillich, designer of the fab “Milrockee” T-shirt, and Fair Trade for All owners Allen Christian and Gail Bennett-Christian, who were helped in their booth by their 10-year-old son Jacob.

Vanessa Andrew, from Madam Chino's Look Nook in the Fortress Building, was helped by Rachel Muza. Pal Marcus Doucette hung around, enjoying time off from his 88Nine duties. Other artists included Judy Tolley with her attractive collage art and James (Jimbot) Demski, whose work is also shown at Hot Pop Gallery. Lauren Peterson, the operations manager of Sweet Water Organics, kept busy selling produce and explaining the company’s urban food mission.

An excellently orchestrated fashion show featured more than 60 models on the runway. Aaron (MC Oneself) Smith did yeoman’s duty as the day’s emcee by keeping the show moving and introducing such groups as the Rusty Ps and the red-hot Kings Go Forth. Madison Medical sponsored the park’s bustling beer and wine stalls, which were manned by staff, including PA Mary (Mimi) Hayes, there with her husband, Tom, along with Dr. Christopher Drayna, Executive Director Kevin Behl and more than 40 others.

Food vendors were also kept hopping, including the gang at the Nessun Dorma booth, where the O’Toole clan stocked up: parents Pat and Kevin; their daughter Kelly, her husband, Dave Zierden, with kids Cardine and Brendan; and their son Ryan and Jamie O’Toole. Their friends Pat and Peggy Farrell and their son Jack also joined them. Richard Thieme, author of Mind Games and a frequent Defcon speaker, and his wife, Shirley, checked out the crepe-maker’s technique.

Filmmaker Brooke Maroldi, with her hair temporarily dyed purple, has taken up acting and improv after she and husband Greg Ryan took an acting class. Ryan has also become a licensed wedding officiator and will execute the upcoming nuptials of ArtSource’s Maggie Smith and fiancé Scott Solda, of On the Level art installation.

Enjoying the evening were Monica McElroy, celebrating 18 years of her Milwaukee Pulse, a media distribution company, and her videographer husband, Kurt Denissen; Ginger and Dave Klug, whose postal service route is in the area; and notable blues harpist Jim Liban. 

“Made in Milwaukee” founder Chuck Watson, assisted by Peter Adams from the East Town Association, must have been pleased. 

If you have any tips for Boris and Doris, contact them at borisanddorisott@aol.com. Their next column will appear in the Sept. 23 issue of the Shepherd.