Out & About: Redstone Highlands gala sets sail on the Love Boat

Shirley McMarlin
Monday, Nov. 25, 2019 12:01 a.m. | Monday, Nov. 25, 2019 12:01 a.m.

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Kim Stepinsky | For the Tribune-Review

Redstone Highlands medical director, Dr. Jawdat Nikoula, and his wife, Toni, pose for a photo during the 17th annual gala benefiting Seniors in Need at Redstone Highlands, held at Stratigos Banquet Centre in North Huntingdon on Saturday evening.

Kim Stepinsky | For the Tribune-Review

Werner Rankenhahn of Murrysville (left) joins Captain Bob Neff of Murrysville.

Kim Stepinsky | For the Tribune-Review

(from left), Vicki Loucks, COO, Redstone Highlands, and Linda Dickson, corporate director of Marketing and Sales, Redstone Highlands, pose for a photo during the 2019 Highlands Fling, the 17th annual gala benefiting Seniors in Need at Redstone Highlands, held at Stratigos Banquet Centre in North Huntingdon on Saturday evening, November 23, 2019.

Kim Stepinsky | For the Tribune-Review

(from left), Dan and Karen Rose, executive director, Redstone@Home, pose for a photo during the 2019 Highlands Fling, the 17th annual gala benefiting Seniors in Need at Redstone Highlands, held at Stratigos Banquet Centre in North Huntingdon on Saturday evening, November 23, 2019.

Kim Stepinsky | For the Tribune-Review

Event committee members, (from left), Dominic D’Amico, Kimberly Darragh and Jaime Robertson, gather for a photo during the 2019 Highlands Fling, the 17th annual gala benefiting Seniors in Need at Redstone Highlands, held at Stratigos Banquet Centre in North Huntingdon on Saturday evening, November 23, 2019.

Kim Stepinsky | For the Tribune-Review

From left: Emily and Matt Hill of Latrobe and Tom Trienski of Natrona Heights.

Kim Stepinsky | For the Tribune-Review

From left: Dr. John Parker, board member, Redstone Highlands; John R. Dickson, IV, president and CEO, Redstone Highlands; Lisa Dormire, vice president of Mission Support, Redstone Highlands; and Geoff Gehring, vice president, Redstone @ Home.

Kim Stepinsky | For the Tribune-Review

From left: Jay and Joanna Bell, owners of Bella Terra Vineyards, and Jacque Bell, director of navigation, Redstone Highlands.

More than 200 “passengers” set sail on the Love Boat for this year’s Redstone Highlands Fling.

The 17th annual gala with a nautical 1970s theme, held Nov. 23 at Stratigos Banquet Centre in North Huntingdon, raised funds for the benevolent care fund of the senior care organization with campuses in North Huntingdon, Greensburg and Murrysville.

Guests leaned into the theme with all sorts of cruise ship-ready attire: first mates and swabbies; muumuus, tropical shirts and Panama hats for shuffleboard on the lido deck; dress casual for the casino, and white and black tie and evening gowns for dinner at the captain’s table.

There also were mini skirts, platform shoes and bell bottoms for boogeying down in the lounge, where Matthew Martin opened for headliner and “American Idol” veteran Aubrey Burchell, who was accompanied by her father, Russ Burchell.

And was that Redstone President/CEO John R. Dickson IV or Captain Stubing mingling in his dress whites and god bars?

Appropriately, the raffle grand prize was a three-night cruise to the Bahamas on the Norwegian Cruise Line, a $2,000 value.

Guests were invited to vote for their favorite of three suggested themes for next year’s gala: “Rhinestone Cowboy,” “American Bandstand” or “Ruby Redstone Ball,” for what will be Redstone’s 40th anniversary year.

The Love Boat crew (or, event committee) included Lisa Dormire, Amber Ammann, Jacque Bell, Dominic D’Amico, Kim Darragh, Sue DeWitt, Phyllis Eichner, Kaitlyn Gorton, Kelli Hindman, Michelle Hoffman, Amy Light, Vanessa Mangery, Valerie Markish, Melanie Patterson, Kate Oden, Dr. Paul Plucker, Sheryl Shevchik, Brenda Sobota, Linda Stumpf, Jessica Wisniewski, Jill Wolfe and Martha Zatezalo.

On the passenger manifest: Linda Dickson, Dr. Jawdat and Toni Nikoula, Chad and Amy Amond, Robert and Jo Ann Lightcap, Roger and Cindy Strayer, Vicki Loucks, Jerry and Norma Skillings, Linda Blum and Charles Strobel, Richard and Nina Toomey, Chad and Danielle Cribbs, John and Gretchen Kline, Kaley Foster and Brennan Foster.