By Sharon Wisch-Ray
Linda Ravech Mesnik, who you may remember from last week, was in town for our Trinity Valley 30th, was kind enough to include me at dinner on July 14 at Charleston’s. I don’t need too much of a reason to go to Charleston’s, not the least of which was that it was one of my mother Rene’s, of blessed memory, and her dinner crew’s favorite watering holes.
In addition to Linda and Annette Smith, whom I reported on last week, were Sara Blanc and Lauren Berger McCormick. As Lauren says, “if you knew me as ‘Laurie,’ you knew me a long time ago.” Lauren and her husband, Steven, a firefighter, have a son, Brandon, who is a gifted trombone player as well as singer, actor and piano player. He was recently featured on the cover of Burleson Now and will be a sophomore this fall at the University of Texas at Arlington.
Sara Blanc, who graduated just a year behind us in ’84 from Paschal, left her career as a graphic artist about 10 years ago and has dedicated her life to caring for animals, mostly at Banfield Veterinary Clinics, which are part of PetSmart.
Sorely missed was Gayle Solomon Biemeret. Gayle and her daughter, Brittany Ackerman, were on a whirlwind tour of Los Angeles and Southern California in honor of Brittany’s 20th birthday. Brittany is studying advertising at UT Austin where she will begin her third year in a few short weeks and is a member of the Zeta Tau Alpha sorority.
Highlights of the trip were Spago for dinner and The Ivy for lunch, and Sprinkles Cupcakes and ice cream each day. Gayle wrote, “our favorite part was the ATM for the cupcakes!” The duo also shopped ‘til they dropped’ and visited Santa Monica Pier, Venice Beach and Grauman’s Chinese Theatre. They were in the audience for a taping of the Voice and the Kris Jenner talk show. Gayle said she saw Kourtney and Khloe Kardashian there, too. The Beverly Hilton served as a nice place to hit the hay every night.
Ahavath Sholom film festival continues Sunday, July 28
The fifth installment of Ahavath Sholom’s popular film series, “Victim, No. 17” will begin at 6:30 p.m., right after evening minyan. The Israeli documentary is about a terrorist suicide attack during the Intifada. One of the victims, No.17, was unidentified and this story is about the search for his identity.
Rabbi Andrew Bloom, who served as a medic in the IDF, will lead the discussion after the film. Debby Rice tells me that “our post-film discussions are enlightening and enjoyable.” The films are free, and so is the popcorn and cold drinks. Everyone in the community is invited. The 2013 Summer Film Festival committee has done a great job planning and putting on the films. Heartfelt thanks to Liz Chesser, Elizabeth Cohen, Kate Cohen, Hedy Collins, Will Kutler, Dr. Jane Pawgan, Debby Rice, Reggie Rog, Jayna Sosland and Jim Stansbury.
Congregation Ahavath Sholom’s 2013 Summer Film Festival is partially funded by the Jewish Federation of Fort Worth and Tarrant County, and CAS appreciates its help so much.
Mazal tov Katy Swartz
Katy Swartz has been awarded a Fulbright U.S. Student Program scholarship to Bulgaria for an English Teaching Assistantship.
Katy will be teaching at 134 Dimcho Debelyanov Secondary School in Sofia, a Hebrew and English Language specialty school.
Katy, the daughter of Lynn and Jim Swartz of Colleyville, graduated from Fort Worth Country Day School and Smith College.