BBYO is having a pool party!
Attention! Incoming ninth-graders are invited to attend the BBYO Intake Luau Pool Party on Monday, June 8, from 7 to 8:30 p.m., at the JCC pool.
Bring swimsuit, towel, and registration forms (forms also available at the party).
Contact Tracy Davis for further questions: 214-363-4654 or tdavis@bbyo.org.
Kate Popa earns Girl Scout’s highest honor, Gold Award
Congratulations to Kate Popa, who has earned the highest award one can earn in Girl Scouting, the Gold Award. She was honored last Sunday, May 31, by the Girl Scouts of Northeast Texas Council at a Gold Award Presentation Ceremony. The ceremony was held at the Mesquite Convention Center.
To qualify for the award Kate needed to complete many requirements, one of which was a project that took a minimum of 65 hours to complete. Because of her love for animals Kate decided to do a project for Plano Animal Services. She made capes for the dogs at the shelter to wear. The purpose of the capes was to call attention to some of the dogs that were waiting to be adopted and might otherwise be overlooked. Each had a message on it such as “Adopt Me,” “Take Me,” “Hug Me,” “Love Me,” etc. They were made from very colorful material that had been donated to the project, and a total of 50 capes were constructed by Kate and the many volunteers who assisted her with the project. Her favorite part of the project was knowing she was helping the dogs waiting to be adopted. The plan was to make the dogs more appealing and she definitely achieved that goal.
Kate, who began researching her project a year and a half ago, received the Girl Scouts of Northeast Texas Council’s approval last spring, and then did most of the project work last summer. The project was completed in fall 2008.
Kate was also honored on May 17, at a Gold Award and Bridging Ceremony hosted by Girl Scout Service Unit #155 in Plano. In addition to being acknowledged for her achievement of reaching the Gold Award, she bridged from Ambassador Girl Scout to Adult Girl Scout that afternoon. A statewide Gold Award Ceremony is scheduled for June 8 in Austin. Unfortunately, Kate will not be able to attend that ceremony since it conflicts with graduation day for Plano Senior High School.
Kate earned her Girl Scout Silver Award in 2005 as a Cadette Girl Scout, and her Bronze Award in 2003 as a Junior Girl Scout. She earned the Girl Scout Jewish Awards, the Bat Or as a Junior and the Menorah Award as a Cadette. She was also the recipient of the Girl Scout Medal of Honor for lifesaving in 1998.
Kate, the daughter of Carole and Marius Popa and the sister of Jonathan, will attend college in the fall. She is currently an Ambassador Girl Scout in Troop 976 and is looking forward to continuing her Girl Scout experience as an Adult Volunteer.
AJCommittee annual meeting and presentation, June 14
American Jewish Committee’s annual meeting, 7 p.m. Sunday, June 14, will feature a presentation by Eran Lerman, director of AJC’s Israel/Middle East Office in Jerusalem. The installation of new board members and officers will take place at this meeting.
For additional details, call AJCommittee at 972-387-2943 or e-mail dallas@ajc.org.
Hadassah mah jongg get-together set for June 11
For those who enjoy mah jongg, from mavens to beginners, you’ll be glad to know that Dallas Hadassah will host an informal mah jongg get-together the second Thursday of each month, from 1 to 4 p.m., at the Legacy of Willow Bend.
This is not a tournament, nor are there any fees to play. Rather, two dedicated Hadassah members and mah jongg mavens, Susie Avnery and Linda Marcus, stepped forth to offer their time and talents for this monthly event.
Each table will set their own standards, whether to play for money or to just play for fun and friendship.
You don’t have to be a Hadassah member to play. Coffee and refreshments are served and it’s a very comfortable, congenial setting.
I plan to be there. Mark your calendar on June 11 for Hadassah mah jongg. I know I will!
Laurie Miller on radio show
Laurie Miller was on the “Coping with Caregiving” radio show on Saturday, May 16, discussing the benefits of in-home non-medical care.
The seven-year-old program, which features four guests, is broadcast live from 5 to 6 p.m. Central time. Laurie’s interview was part of the 5 p.m. segment.
If you missed the live broadcast, you can listen on-demand to the online archive. The program host, Jacqueline Marcell, is an eldercare advocate, international speaker and author of the best-selling book “Elder Rage.”
Legacy at Willow Bend architect receives Dream Home Award for architectural design
Dream Home Awards recently presented the Best in Multi-Family Living–Southern United States Award to DiMella Shaffer, architect of The Legacy at Willow Bend. The award was presented for the architect’s original design of the retirement community.
“Building an award-winning senior living community requires an immense amount of foresight, care and collaboration among everyone involved with the project,” said Michael Ellentuck, president of The Legacy Senior Communities, Inc. “Our primary goal when looking for an architect to design The Legacy was to provide our members with an environment that inspired new heights of growth and self-discovery, and we feel that DiMella Shaffer more than exceeded those ambitions.”
The Dream Home Awards are presented to companies and individuals who assist in creating America’s dream homes and set new standards of excellence in the nation’s building industry. The competition is open to interior designers, architects, builders, remodelers, communities and trade contractors.
“We are very proud of this accomplishment and look forward to many other recognitions for design excellence of The Legacy at Willow Bend in the future,” said Peter Shaffer, principal of DiMella Shaffer.
The Legacy at Willow Bend, Plano’s first and only life care retirement community, is situated on a 28-acre site at Spring Creek Parkway between Preston Road and Ohio Drive. It offers resort-style services and amenities for active, independent seniors, as well as all levels of health care services on-site. The community features 103 independent living apartment homes, 12 custom independent living villas, 40 assisted living apartment homes, 18 memory support suites and 60 private skilled health care suites. The Legacy at Willow Bend is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit retirement community owned by parent company, The Legacy Senior Communities, Inc. The only Jewish-sponsored life care retirement community in Texas, it is open to people of all faiths. For information, call 972-468-6208, or visit www.thelegacywb.org.
Chabad-Plano’s Camp Gan Israel adds Sports Camp, new activities
Camp Gan Israel and Chabad of Plano/Collin County is expanding its Jewish-themed summer experiences this year, with the creation of a new Sports Camp for children entering grades two through six in the fall.
The Sports Camp will run concurrently with Camp Gan Israel’s traditional program for girls ages 5 to 12 and boys ages 5 to 11. The camps will take place from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., June 29 to Aug. 7, at the Lang Chabad Center, 3904 W. Park Blvd. in Plano. Sports activities will take place at the Jackson Elementary School gym, about a five-minute drive from Chabad.
The Gan Israel Sports Camp will focus on learning the fundamentals of basketball, soccer, baseball, kickball and floor hockey, with a different sport taking the spotlight each week. Lori Campbell, a coach at Wyatt Elementary School in Plano, will lead a program focusing on skill development and technique, with ample opportunities to scrimmage and play games.
“This is an alternative for some of the boys — some girls, but mostly boys — who wanted more sports along with the entire CGI experience,” said Camp Coordinator Tia Sukenik.
Campers will swim twice per week, go on all trips with those in the traditional CGI program and participate in the camp Shabbat party to provide a well-rounded Jewish experience.
The traditional camp will include sports, but also features crafts, theme/dress-up days and weekly field trips. Older campers may take part in activities geared specifically toward them, including new activities such as yoga, pottery, GaGa and archery.
CGI also focuses heavily on Jewish heritage and a love for Israel. Sukenik said that this year’s theme will be
“Around the World,” with activities focusing on different countries, their Jewish culture and Jewish heroes.
Jewish themes are incorporated into activities, with songs, stories, games, challah baking and the Shabbat party comprising a major facet of the curriculum.
“Combined with educational programs and discussions, these activities bring to life the beauty and values of our rich tradition,” said Rabbi Menachem Block, camp director.
For information, call Chabad at 972-596-8270, e-mail connect@cgiplano.org or visit www.cgiplano.org.
