The Charlotte Jewish News - June/July 2002 - Page 22
JEWISH
COMMUNITY
CENTER
OF CHARLOTTE
Membership
Corner
‘^Sharing Our Stories”
The month of June features Debra Pataky,
dedicated volunteer, full-time mom,
& active member of the JCC!
This column is a continuing series about current
JCC members and what the Jewish Community
Center of Charlotte means to them.
Debra Pataky is a busy woman!
As 2002 Co-chair of the Katan 365
committee, Debra is involved in the
planning and implementation of Camp
Katan (serving ages 2-5), a division of the
Mindy Ellen Levine Day Camp.
Her children. Andrew (8)
and Hannah (3), attend
Charlotte Jewish
Preschool, where Debra
is the incoming PTC
president and will
represent the JCC on ,
the CJP Board, j
How does a busy mother of two relax?
Debra is seen almost daily here at the JCC
taking the yoga class. “It’s my little piece of
sanity!” she says.
The Pataky's moved to Charlotte from
Ponte Vidra Beach, Florida two years ago.
Debra was immediately impressed with
the structure and activities that the Jewish
Community Center of Charlotte was able
to offer her family. "Andrew has been
involved in sports activities and Hannah
loves her aquatics and ballet classes, and
both children are entering their second
year of camp, as well. The JCC is certainly
the center .of my family's recreational
activities'', Debra continues.
But perhaps most meaningful, Debra feels
she has formed friendships that will
continue whether her family stays in
Charlotte or moves on. Never too busy for
play dates and nights out with friends,
Debra says that “...by far, tbe biggest
benefit to belonging to the JCC is the
relationships that have been cultivated not
only for myself, but for my entire family.” ■
Center
Speakers in June at
Oasis Enrichment
Programs
Every Friday! i# M V
Look to us for your connection to
all current events, local and global.
Dr. Jeffery Passe from UNC-Charlotte will be back June
7th from 1-2pm in the Boardroom to review the domes
tic agenda of President George W. Bush. June 14th from
1-2pm, Maggie Blutreich, Public Education Coordinator
for the American Kennel Club will bring her pal and
demonstrate grooming and training techniques for your
“pampered pets!” Nora Black, Charlotte architect, will
have a slide show and discussion on "Experiencing
Charlotte Architecture; Old and New.” She will be with us
Friday. June 28th from 1-2pm. FREE and open to the pub
lic.
Apollo Winds Quintet
Donald Zelman and friends will perform Monday, June
17th from 1-2pm Gorelick Hall in this all wind ensemble.
Our Monday performance is FREE and open to the public.
We will see you there from 1-2pm!
Line Dancing with Yo Osborn is Back!
Join us Monday, June 17th, 24th and July 1 st
and 8th for the most hopping dance class
around! This FREE class will take place in
Gorelick Hall where Yo can teach you to
sway, swing and swivel. Pre-registration required. ■
Sixers Sweep Up
Championship!
The Men’s Adult Basketball League for the Winter was
won by the Sixers. After winning the regular season with
a record of 7-3, they were victorious over the Suns in
the playoffs, edging them 61-55. The Championship
game against the Kings was a hard fought battle with the
Sixers prevailing, 61-55. ■
Ray of Hope Festival Shines!
By Diana Adas (Special Needs Committee Chair)
Nothing could dampen the Ray of Hope
festival that took place on Saturday, May
4th at Camp Mindy.
This special one-day festival for children
living with cancer took place on the coldest,
wettest day in May that Charlotte has had in years. Despite
the weather! nothing could dampen the spirits of the
children, volunteers and sponsors. Once the festival
opened, all had fun.
The wonderful firefighters from Engine 19 brought their truck
and the children took pictures with them. Participants then
decorated special frames for their photos. Kids picked up
goodie bags complete with crayons, coloring books, Disney
Beanie Babies and other assorted “goodies”, then joined other
festival goers in a game of Bingo, clay pot painting, t-shirt
coloring, and special hand print tiles from Meg-Art South.
Queen City Clowns and the Carolina Clowns were on hand to
make everyone laugh and Magic Barry kept everyone amazed
with his magic all day long. A special appearance from Homer
of the Charlotte Knights and Raggs from Raggs Kids Club
added excitement to the day.
Throughout the rainy day, there
were "shows” in the pavilion
including King Tiger Tae Kwon Do
and Charlotte All-star
Cheerleading demonstrations. In
addition, there were games
galore with lots of prizes as well as Turbo Track car racing.
There was cooking and face painting as well as key chain
yarn braids and hair coloring. For the adults. Park Road
Physical Therapy was on hand to give relaxing massages.
One major feature of the festival was the Harold Josephson
Ray of Hope Wall. Children
were invited to sign their name,
paint a picture or trace their
hand on the banner. This
banner isjn memory of Harold
Josephson who loved camp.
His wife Lila recalls Harold
saying, “The best things that
happened to me, happened at
camp”. The banner that will
hang permanently at Camp Mindy will honor Harold
Josephson and all the children that participated that day.
These children, bravely living with
cancer, were able to enjoy a special and
fun-filled day because of the dedicated
volunteers and generous sponsors.
A special thanks to Carolina’s Medical
Center, Kim Veith and Melissa Raphael
for all their hard work on the Special
Needs Committee project. ■
Pictured above: (bottom row] Josh Stein, Ryan Karp, Jed Levitas (top
rovy] Andy Kretl, Tom Wilson, Rob McManus and John Finucane.
Now is the time to register your child for the 2002-2003 J team After School Program. We pick up at most local elementary schools in the south
Charlotte area. We offer a nutritious snack, homework assistance and a variety of activities like arts and crafts, sports, computer technology, cooking
and more. For more information, please contact your after-school staff. Mitch Ormand at (704) 944-6733 or Shellie Karow at (704) 944-6792. Sign
up now before it is too late! The J team is a member of POST - Partners in Out-of-School Time and our staff regularly attends meetings to keep updated
on providing quality activities and experiences for children. ■
For Grades K-5
I team
afterschool program
at the Jewish Community Center of Charlotte