NEW WINNERS CROWNED

8th Annual Deepwood Idol held at Great Lakes Mall

More than 500 people were at Great Lakes Mall in Mentor on April 7 to watch talented singers, dancers, and a comedian compete for the 8th annual Deepwood Idol crown.

Thirty-four acts from the Lake County Board of Developmental Disabilities/Deepwood auditioned for the competition. Those acts were narrowed down to the top 12 finalists.

“It’s exciting to have so many people support them and show them love,” said event spokesperson Lynnmarie Landwei-Phillips.

Great Lakes Mall Marketing Assistant Diana Lewis, who also served as a judge, said this year’s group was especially talented.

“It went really well,” said Lewis. “The competition was tougher, and we had a great crowd.”

Highlights of the event included crowd favorite Julie Underwood singing Jennifer Lopez’s “Feel the Light” ballad. Underwood looked every inch the diva herself in her full-length silver ball gown.

Kathy Habat then wowed the rapt audience with her hard-rock rendition of Guns N’ Roses’ “Welcome to the Jungle.”

Shelly Braeden provided plenty

of laughs as the sole comedian. Her set including several good-natured blonde jokes (“Why’d the blonde get fired from the M & M factory? She kept throwing out all the W’s.”)

Allison Tilton, a 42-yearold Concord Township resident, showed off both her singing and dancing talents with Klymaxx’s 1984 hit, “Meeting in the Ladies Room.” She dedicated her rendition of the song to her mother, who used to dance to it.

“I had fun and did my best,” Tilton said.

In the end, dance duo Charlie Schulz and Sheryl Kintop came in first place for their rousing rendition of Portugal’s “Feel it Still.”

All 12 finalists were picked up by limo and escorted to Jenniffer & Co. salon in Mentor to have their hair and makeup done before the show. They then were treated to a catered lunch in the Great Lakes Mall Green room.

Local high school and college students volunteered to dress up to escort the Deepwood stars down the red carpet, pose for the paparazzi and help contestants on and off the stage.

The host of Deepwood

Idol was Cougar 93.7 FM’s Jeremy James.

The other judges were Lake County Commissioners Jerry Cirino, John Hamercheck and Dan Troy; Michael Estime from

Channel 3 news and Lake County Treasurer Lorraine Fende.

The free event raises awareness about Deepwood’s programs and services.

TRACEY READ — THE NEWS-HERALD Charlie Schulz embraces his dance partner Sheryl Kintop April 7 after the dance duo won the 8th annual Deepwood Idol competition at Great Lakes Mall in Mentor.

TRACEY READ — THE NEWS-HERALD Barry Jarrell is congratulated April 7 by state Rep. John M. Rogers for making the top 4 at Deepwood Idol for his rendition of “Surfin’ U.S.A.” At left is fellow contestant Megan Thornhill, who performed the song “Sisters.”