Weekly CenterScene

The wintry weather held off just long enough for a festive groundbreaking ceremony last week. More than 100 guests from across the community and around the building gathered outside the College Avenue building for this historic moment.

More than 60 students from the JCC Kaleidoscope afterschool program marched up from the Zusman building. They carried banners and special rocks they painted to go into the construction site, and sang songs. JCC President Joe Sniderman, Expansion Project co-chair Jennie Cammeyer, and Executive Director Carol Folkerth shared a few words of thanks and messages of excitement about the new era of the JCC that this expansion will usher in.

With less than $75,000 left to raise in this campaign that built our building in New Albany and that will fund this new expansion, we are SO close to our goal! As the calendar year comes to a close, please consider making a donation to our Capital Campaign to help us cross the finish line! Remember, all new donations to the campaign will be matched dollar-for-dollar, which means your gift counts double!

Scroll down to the bottom of the newsletter for more photos of this momentous occasion!

The fences are up! Outdoor construction can now begin. As a reminder, this first phase will be primarily outside as we dig a hole outside the existing building to make room for the two-story addition. Thank you in advance for your patience with this short-term disruption as we improve your JCC for the long-term.

Please remember:
•  The south lot will be closed during construction
•  Parking will be only in the north lot
•  We are moving staff parking so members have enough spaces
•  Please abide by the 5mph speed limit
•  Please be careful and follow all traffic signs

On Sunday, January 6, 2013, we’ll be kicking off a year of celebrating the JCC’s 100th birthday. From 2 to 4 p.m. enjoy festivities, music, cake, and ice cream as we begin the New Year in a big way.

We will be opening the JCC Time Capsule and drawing for fabulous raffle prizes, like free tickets to Gallery Players’ Fiddler on the Roof and a free week of camp. The Columbus Jewish Historical Society JCC 100 Exhibit Timeline will be on display. We will have music, storytelling with the PJ Library, and arts and crafts activities.

Of course, the celebration would not be complete without a “Happy Birthday” sing-along led by Marc Rossio, followed by cake and Graeter’s ice cream. Come one, come all to pick up your schedule of the many 2013 JCC 100 events and to mark the start of a very exciting year.

In the midst of this Festival of Lights, the JCC was honored to celebrate one of the brightest lights in our community, Abe Weinrib, on the occasion of his 100th birthday this past Tuesday, December 11. Serenaded by the preschoolers with birthday songs in English and Hebrew, JCC staff and friends joined Abe and his son Bruce, daughter Ruth and son-in-law Paul for bagels and birthday cake.

A member of the JCC since 1956, Abe sent his children to the JCC’s preschool and summer camp. Abe said once he retired he started using the JCC more often. “I have found some friends here and I like to spend time with them.” While today he enjoys the amenities of the Men’s Health Center, in the past he has been active as a volunteer selling challah and flowers, and ushering for the theater.

This past Tuesday, December 11, the JCC was privileged to host Buckets Blakes of the Harlem Globetrotters right here in our very own gym!

Children of all ages were thrilled and awed as Buckets performed tricks and showed off some of his basketball moves, including numerous 4-point shots. He even got the kids involved on the basketball court, as the Globetrotters’ Ambassador of Goodwill™.

Buckets, a guard in his 11th season with the Globetrotters, talked with the kids about his background and experience with the Globetrotters, then signed autographs and took pictures with them.

With fellow basketball star Jason Kidd, Buckets shares the Guinness World Record for sinking two underhanded half-court shots in one minute. He showed the children how to do this and other skills, and shared with them his motto for life: “Be the best ‘you’ that you can be, because it’s very difficult to try and be someone else.”

Each child had the chance to meet Buckets, get his autograph, and try out their own moves on the gym floor.

The entire Harlem Globetrotters team is in town for a limited time. To take advantage of the JCC’s special, discounted rate on tickets to their Friday, December 28th tour date, contact Melanie Jaroszewicz at 1-800-641-4667, ext. 121, or email jaroszewicz@harlemglobetrotters.com. The deadline to order tickets is December 21, 2012.

Thanks for all your votes! While we did not win the grand prize, thanks to more than 400 of you casting votes for the JCC, we won $7,000 in exergaming equipment for the J-Zone! This will be a tremendous start in the development of our new youth-focused fun and fitness room.

Please email Sharon at ssadlowski@columbusjcc.org and include your return email address. Thank you.