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The first Conneaut Fourth of July Fireworks Dinner Dance Feb. 16 at the Conneaut Human Resources Center was an overwhelming success.

“It’s much more than I had hoped for,” said Landon, on his feet most of the afternoon and evening to prepare a first-time fund-raiser for the city’s 2019 Fourth of July Fireworks show that comes with a $12,000 price tag.
Landon and his committee had been planning the event for months. Tired of pounding the pavement each year to raise about $10,000 – the city donated $2,000 in 2018 – Landon decided that a winter dinner-dance, complete with sideboards, Chinese Auction, 50/50, open bar, and live music would offer a night out in return for donations. 
The public responded. About 250 people jammed the Conneaut Human Resources Center for the “party with Marty” and began streaming in to enjoy drinks and appetizers ahead of the official 5:30 p.m. opening.
Waters Catering provided a buffet of bow-tie pasta, beef, stuffed chicken breasts, vegetables and salad; Donna Jones topped off the evening with Valentine-themed cupcakes.
Even before the Old Skool Players, of Cleveland, took the stage at 8 p.m., party-goers were dancing to recorded music. Responding to Landon’s Facebook page request, the Old Skool Players had jumped at the chance to bring their repertoire of Motown, R&B, and classic favorites to a venue outside of Cleveland in which they had never played.

“We so wanted to be here,” said Old Skool Players’ JoJo Goodwin. “We expected to have a lot of fun.”
Between the band sets, Landon drew numbers for nearly 60 Chinese Auction baskets that had filled about six tables. Two of Rich McBride’s photographs, and artwork by Bill Dalton, stood on easels.
“We had tremendous support from the businesses,” said Vickey Barker, who along with Landon knocked on doors for Chinese Auction donations.
Winner of the 50/50 took home $456 in cash.
The most fun of the evening may have been had by Russ Brown, of Conneaut, and his date, Barbara Taraska, of Wickliffe, senior citizens whose moves were the envy of those a generation or two younger.
The pair has frequented local Sock Hops and attends area dances nearly every weekend. Even the band offered a shout-out to the pair.
“What kind of energy pills are you taking?” they asked.
Unlike Taraska, Brown has never had a formal dance lesson. He complained that due having part of his lung removed in 2015, due to cancer, his energy level is not what it once was.
“We mostly ‘ad-lib,’ he said. “I used to watch ‘American Bandstand.”
Many attendees stopped and shook hands with Landon on their way out Saturday night to thank him for his efforts.
While Landon did not have totals from Saturday’s event, he says he will still have to pound the pavement in advance of the July 6 fireworks show.
 “But I won’t have to pound it as hard,” he said.