By Linda Wisch-Davidsohn

Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation honors Gary Morchower, M.D.

Good wishes to Dr. Gary Morchower, M.D., who received The North Texas Chapter of the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America’s (CCFA) Lifetime Achievement Award when the organization hosted its third annual fundraising dinner Wednesday, Nov. 5, at the Belo Mansion in Dallas. Featured at the event was special guest Ivan “Pudge” Rodriguez, Texas Rangers’ Hall of Famer and 14-time All-Star standout catcher. Evan Grant, with The Dallas Morning News, joined “Pudge” Rodriguez onstage. Grant led a personal discussion with the baseball Hall of Famer, who earned a record 13 Rawlings Gold Gloves for his defensive work behind the plate, including 10 in a row from 1992-2001 while throwing out nearly 42 percent of runners attempting to steal in his career.
Known collectively as inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis affects 1 in 200 people. These are painful, medically incurable diseases that attack the digestive system. Many patients require numerous hospitalizations as well as surgery. Most people diagnosed with an IBD begin to develop symptoms between the ages of 15 and 35; however, the incidence is rapidly increasing in children.
Morchower received the Lifetime Achievement Award for his pioneering work in founding the CCFA North Texas Chapter more than 30 years ago. He continued to be a strong leader in the Dallas medical community, as the founding pediatric gastroenterologist in Dallas. He is also noted as a highly- acclaimed, caring general pediatrician.
A Dallas native, Morchower received his undergraduate degree from Tulane University and his M.D. from Tulane Medical School. He completed a rotating internship at Cincinnati General Hospital followed by a pediatric residency at Charity Hospital in New Orleans where he was named chief resident during his last year there.
Following his residency, Morchower served as captain in the U.S. Army Medical Corps. While stationed in the Panama Canal Zone, he served as head of the Department of Pediatrics at Gorgas Hospital where he became actively interested in GI diseases. Following his the military service, Morchower completed a two-year pediatric GI fellowship at Hahnemann Hospital in Philadelphia under the late Dr. Giulio Barbero.
“We did not have the diagnostic instruments and treatment medicines that doctors have today, and we would spend literally hours talking to patients and families, trying to discover more about trigger points that precipitated their disease flare ups,” says Morchower. “Amazingly enough, we achieved a great deal of success using this approach and combining it with the appropriate use of medicines.”
Morchower entered private practice in 1970, joining Drs. Joel Steinberg and Ben Dildy in Richardson. Two years later, he started the first pediatric GI clinic in Dallas at Children’s Medical Center. In 1980, Morchower founded the North Texas Chapter of the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America.
Morchower is the author of “1001 Healthy Baby Answers.” He and his wife, Bette, are the parents of two children.
Congratulations to Morchower on his latest accolade.

Booker T. Washington theatre department to present 2 Anne Frank plays

The Theatre Department at Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts will present “The Diary of Anne Frank” in addition to “And Then They Came For Me: Remembering the World of Anne Frank.” “The Diary of Anne Frank” was written by Francis Goodrich, Albert Hackett and adapted by Wendy Kesselman. Guinea Bennett-Price will direct the production. “And Then They Came For Me: Remembering the World of Anne Frank” is written by James Still and is directed by Karon Cogdill.
As part of their preparation the casts, crews and designers of the performance have been working with the Dallas Holocaust Museum/Center for Education and Tolerance. Dr. Charlotte Decoster, education coordinator for the Museum, led the students in a powerful workshop Monday, Oct. 20. On Monday, Oct. 27, the students visited the Museum. In addition to experiencing the exhibits, they heard the powerful words of Max Glauben speak about his life as a Holocaust survivor.
This is a not only a wonderful opportunity for students to watch history come alive, but also an amazing occasion to develop a deeper understanding of the events that inform these two plays. There are plans to present portions of the shows at 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 9 at the Museum, 211 N. Record St., Dallas.
The productions will also be performed in repertory in the Brierley Experimental Theater at the school at 2501 Flora in the Dallas Arts District. “The Diary of Anne Frank” will perform Nov. 6, 12 and 14. “And Then They Came For Me: Remembering the World of Anne Frank” will perform Nov. 5, 7, 11 and 13. All performances are at 7 p.m. Tickets are available at the door for $3 for students and $5 for adults.

NCJW to present new Executive Director, Catherine Horsey, Monday, Nov. 17

After 101 years of advocacy and voluntarism in Dallas, NCJW is excited to present its inaugural Executive Director Catherine Horsey, who will bring a new dimension of insights and revelations to National Council of Jewish Women, Greater Dallas Section.
NCJW invites the community to unite as Horsey is introduced to Dallas. Wine and hors d’oeuvres will be served. Those attending are welcome to meet the Horsey and to share their thoughts on how you and NCjW can collaborate to help make Dallas better.
The event will take place from 6–7:30 p.m., Monday, Nov. 17 at Conduit Gallery, 1621 Hiline Drive.
Honorary chairs for the evening are Phyllis Bernstein, Julie Bleicher, Brenda Brand, Caren Edelstein, Joni Cohan, Barbara Lee, Julie Lowenberg, Cheryl Pollman, Amy Schachter, Randi Smerud and Robin Zweig. Jodi Platt and Rhona Streit are co-chairs of the event.
For additional information and to RSVP, please call 214-368-4405 or email info@ncjwdallas.org.

Beth Torah Men’s club will welcome Richard Golden as guest speaker this Sunday

Richard Golden, founder and director of UNT’s Jewish and Israel Studies Program, will be the guest speaker at the Congregation Beth Torah Men’s Club monthly breakfast Sunday, November 9.
Golden will discuss the wave of anti-Israel and anti-Semitic sentiment on college campuses today. The lox-and-bagel breakfast begins at 9 a.m. at the synagogue.
The public is invited, and the cost is $10, $5 for students. Beth Torah is located at 720 W. Lookout Drive in Richardson, near the crossroads of Central Expressway and Bush Turnpike.

Dallas Public Library honors volunteer Freda Gail Stern

The Friends of the Dallas Public Library, as part of ongoing efforts to raise awareness for the Dallas Public Library system, will host a special evening Thursday, Nov. 20, featuring the incomparable Susan Orlean, journalist and best-selling author of “The Orchid Thief,” the basis of the film “Adaptation,” and “Rin Tin Tin: The Life and The Legend.” Her forthcoming book, “The Library Book,” shares the timely story of the Los Angeles Public Library’s literal rise from the ashes after a fire in 1986.
This extraordinary event honors long-time library volunteer, Freda Gail Stern. The fundraiser will be held from 6:30-9:30 p.m. in Temple Emanu-El’s Tobian Auditorium at 8500 Hillcrest Road. Event chairs for the evening are Karen Blumenthal and Beverly Bonnheim.
The evening includes dinner, a tribute to Freda Gail Stern and a conversation and book reading from Susan Orlean. Guests will have the opportunity to meet this remarkable author and purchase her books for autographs.
“I am honored to receive this award from Friends of Dallas Public Library and all my very good friends in the library,” said Stern upon hearing she is being honored. A long-time community leader, Stern is being recognized for her tireless work and ardent support of Friends of the Dallas Public Library.
All proceeds from this event will provide direct support to the Dallas Public Library and its 29 branches and two bookmobiles through the Friends of Dallas Public Library as they provide financial support for new technology, training and a range of special programs. Seating is limited; tickets and sponsorships are available at http://www.FODPL.org or by calling 214-670-1458.
Tickets begin at $180 per person. Raffle tickets are $20 each or six for $100. Program-only tickets are available for $35.