Celebrations

Edward and Cheryl Alexander of Lenexa announce the engagement of their daughter, Shana Alexander, to Brad Pollock, son of Sandy and Marty Pollock of Marlboro, N.J.

The bride-to-be is the granddaughter of Mary and Gene Judy and the late Evelyn and Leo Alexander. She attended Stephens College, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in fashion merchandising management. She is currently employed as an associate planner at bloomingdales.com in New York City.

The future groom is the grandson of Estelle and Eugene Steinberg and the late Francis and Bernard Pollock. He attended Rochester Institute of Technology, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in packaging science. He is currently employed as a packaging development manager at Blissworld.

An Aug. 31 wedding at The Gallery is planned.

Judy and Shannon Manning of Lenexa announce the engagement of their daughter, Sherry Manning, to Bradley Davidson, son of Janith and the late Marvin Davidson of Des Moines. 

The bride-to-be is the granddaughter of the late Arleta and Charles Manning of Posey County, Ind., and the late Bernice and Emeal Miller of Indianapolis. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Kansas and her master’s degree from Argosy University. She is currently an assistant director of admissions at the Art Institutes International/KC.

The future groom is the grandson of the late Bessie and Harry Davidson of Des Moines and the late Annie and Benjamin Gross of St. Louis. He is a graduate of San Diego State University and is a professional services account manager at F5 Networks.

After a summer wedding, the couple will begin their life together on a honeymoon to the south of France and will live in Overland Park.

Stacey Bell announces the Bat Mitzvah of her daughter, Alina Miriam, at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, March 22, at Congregation Beth Shalom.

Alina is the granddaughter of Judy Bell and the late Martin Bell.

Relatives and friends are invited to worship with the family and to attend the Kiddush following the service.

Brian and Sheri Bell announce the Bat Mitzvah of their daughter, Natalie Caitlin, at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, March 22, at Congregation Beth Shalom.

Natalie is the granddaughter of Judy Bell and the late Martin Bell, Ralph Horowitz of Wethersfield, Conn., and Janice Levy of Argyle, Texas.

Relatives and friends are invited to worship with the family and to attend the Kiddush following the service.

Cara and Andy Ernstein announce the Bar Mitzvah of their son, Jesse, at 9 a.m. Saturday, March 15, at Congregation Beth Israel Abraham and Voliner.

Jesse is the grandson of Shirlee and the late Shelby Ernstein, and Fannie and the late Jack Krashin.

Relatives and friends are invited to worship with the family and share in the joy of this special occasion.

Jim Holzmark met Barbara Sloman on Saturday, Nov. 30, after Thanksgiving in 1963. They romanced between Los Angeles, where Jim was living, and Columbia, Mo., where Barbara was a senior at “Mizzou.” On that Saturday night, their first date, Jim asked Barbara to visit him in Los Angeles during semester break, or spring break, and when Barbara said she could not do that, he asked her to marry him! It only took Jim until Christmas vacation to really propose to Barbara, and on Saturday, Jan. 4, 1964, Jim formally proposed. They announced their engagement on Sunday, Jan. 5, Jim’s father’s birthday. They were married on Saturday, March 7, 1964, in Los Angeles, and their married life began.

Barbara gave birth to Leslie in April 1966, and to Julie in January 1969. The happy foursome lived in Los Angeles and after the amazing “earthquake” in early 1971, Barbara and Jim were transferred back to Kansas City in August 1971, where they have lived ever since. Brian, their son, was born in May 1972 at Menorah Hospital where both Barbara and Jim were born.

All three children married and to date, only Julie lives in the Kansas City area. Julie married Paul and they have two children, Matt, 16, and Allie, 12. Leslie married Steve and they live in Denver, where Steve grew up, with their two children, Daniel, 14, and Jenna, 10. Brian was married twice before and is now married to Becky. They live in Columbia, S.C., with Becky’s son Seth, who is 17. Brian is a career man in the Army Reserve and in his 13th year with the Army. Brian has two sons in the Kansas City area, Brandon, 13 and Drew, 10, and two sons in southern Missouri, Jaden, 9, and Ethan, 6.

On Thanksgiving night, this past year, all the children and grandchildren and a niece and nephew from the Davenport area with their two grown children surprised Barbara and Jim with a wedding ceremony in which they renewed their vows and were given a second honeymoon to the Elms Hotel in Excelsior Springs. Saturday morning, Barbara and Jim hosted all the family at Harrah’s for breakfast.

The happy couple have plans to spend their 50th Anniversary at their home at the Lake of the Ozarks on their anniversary.

After their “third” honeymoon, they will be at home in Leawood, ready to welcome family and friends.

Brooke and James Levy of Scottsdale, Ariz., announce the birth Feb. 6 of a son, Jett William. They are also the parents of a daughter, Harlow.

Grandparents are Helene and Marshall Abrahams of Cherry Hills Village, Colo.

Great-grandmother is Irene Dreiseszun of Leawood.

Jackie Fiszel announces the Bar Mitzvah of her son, Benjamin Sam Fiszel, at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, March 1, at The Temple, Congregation B’nai Jehudah.

Benjamin is the grandson of the late Sam and Bess Fiszel of Chesterfield, Mo.

Barbie and Ron Hill announce the Bar Mitzvah of their son, Alec, at 4:30 p.m. Saturday, March 1, at New Reform Temple.

Alec is the grandson of Karen and Ed Porter, Lloyd and SuAnn Hill and Carol and Jim Glennon.

Relatives and friends are invited to worship with the family.

Brad Klinock and Jackie Farmer announce the Bar Mitzvah of their son, Austin Jacob, at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, March 1, at Congregation Beth Torah.

Austin is the grandson of Jerry and Susie Klinock and Jack and Sandy Duckworth of Pendleton, Ind. Great-grandparents are Sidney Kleg and Belva Huff.

Relatives and friends are invited to worship with the family and to attend the Kiddush luncheon following the service.