Written By Anne Blue

The dance floor was swinging to the tunes of the band, “Black Tie,” and drinks were flowing at Martin’s Westminster on the evening of the first Friday in November when more than 500 guests enjoyed the 45th Annual Silvery Moon Ball.

The Silvery Moon Ball is an annual affair organized by a committee of the Carroll Hospital Center Auxiliary to provide financial support for the hospital center. It includes cocktails, dinner, dancing, and silent and live auctions.

This year’s special theme, “A Splash of Red,” was evident in the flowing red evening gowns, red feather boas, red ties and cummerbunds adorning the festive crowd.

For Westminster resident Susan Reilly, the thrill of the evening was in the gowns. “I love to come to the ball in Carroll County and see what all the women are wearing,” she said.

Jonathan Joseph was decked out in formal attire topped by his Boston Red Sox baseball cap. “I am still riding the wave of their World Series victory, and my wife said I could get away with my red cap here tonight.”

While the dancers crowded the floor and enjoyed the music and antics of the band, the silent auction room was just as crowded. More than 250 items were offered, including one of Baltimore Raven Ray Lewis’ custom-made shoes, a beautiful tiger maple pie safe, a collection of hand-made greeting cards, a ruby and diamond ring, and original art work.

Carroll County Schools Superintendent Charles Ecker, celebrity
auctioneer, offered five outstanding items in a live auction: a 2004 Olympic Family Basket, a black sheared mink, a luxury suite for 12 at an
Orioles game, a platinum pendant with a deep red ruby, and a week at a condo in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.

The payoff came when the chairwoman of this year’s ball, Amber Hodgkiss, presented the hospital with a check for $72,188 to help fulfill the promise of the hospital expansion project.

The leading sponsor this year was the Carroll Hospital Center Medical Staff with a $10,000 donation; officers of the medical staff were treated to a specially decorated table. To acknowledge this support by the medical staff and thank them for their dedication, vocalist Christy Trapp sang a special tribute to the physicians.

For Kevin Wagman, whose wife Trish is part of the ball committee, the evening is all about coming together with friends. Nancy Fletcher, who has attended quite a few Silvery Moon Balls over the years agreed: “It is fun to catch up with all the people you don’t see all year. The ball organizers do a lovely job.”

Carroll Hospital Center Auxiliary President, Dottie Cole, declared the evening a fabulous success, “filled with fun, excitement, and a splash of red!”