Celebrations

Jeff and Corrine Blackman announce the engagement of their daughter, Sarah Rachel Blackman, to Neal Louis Cotton, son of Mark Cotton of Fort Lee, New Jersey, and Charlene Ilkowitz of East Brunswick, New Jersey.

The bride-to-be is the granddaughter of the late Mary and Irv Blackman and the late Berton and LaVonne Kettler. She is currently employed as an emergency trauma nurse at Central Florida Regional Hospital in Sanford, Florida.

The future groom is the grandson of Arlene Cotton and the late Barton Cotton and the late Hyman and Natalie Dorfman. He is currently employed as a corporate IT software manager at Advent Health in Altamonte Springs, Florida.

An early 2020 wedding in Orlando, Florida, is planned.

Eve and Paul Marsh announce the Bar Mitzvah of their son, Joshua Benjamin Citron, at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, March 23, at The Temple, Congregation B’nai Jehudah at the Jewish Community Campus. Josh is also the son of the late Craig Citron.

Josh is the grandson of Ellen and Edward Rose of Leawood and the late Barry Citron; Michelle and Charles Heller of Lawrence; and Barbara Gossett of Rio Rancho, New Mexico.

Josh has three siblings: Alex Citron, Ben Marsh and Wil Marsh.

He plays basketball and participates in track and field for Chisholm Trail Middle School. He also plays competitive soccer for Sporting Blue Valley Premier soccer club.

Josh was selected by his middle school teachers this year to serve as a peer leader in the Sources of Strength Program, one of the first suicide prevention programs that uses peer leaders to impact multiple issues including suicide.

For his Mitzvah project, he has been volunteering at KidsTLC Olathe Campus on a wide variety of projects. Kids TLC provides children with a continuum of care through innovative and successful psychiatric treatment, outreach to homeless teens, outpatient behavioral health, autism and parent support programs.

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

Roberta and Sam Goller of Prairie Village and Stuart and Donene Pollack of Overland Park announce the engagement of their son, Jordan Samuel Pollack, to Leah Sara Levy, daughter of Sam and Rhonda Levy of Skokie, Illinois.

The bride-to-be is the granddaughter of the late Leo and Bette Levy and the late Meyer and Florence Cohen. She attended the University of Kansas, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in education history and government. She is currently employed as vice president at Advanced Benefits Corporation LLC in Arlington Heights, Illinois.

The future groom is the grandson of Rena and Leonard Dolins of Sun Lakes, Arizona, and Harold Pollack of Leawood and the late Beverlee Pollack. He attended the University of Kansas, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration and Judaic studies. He is currently employed as a tax accountant at The Dolins Group LTD in Northbrook, Illinois.

The couple met at Chabad KU. A June 2019 wedding at The Ravinia Green Country Club in Riverwoods, Illinois, is planned.

Dr. Scott and Pamela Talpers announce the engagement of their daughter, Heather Lauren Talpers, to Daniel Floyd Stucky, son of Cindy and Tom Stucky.

The bride-to-be is the granddaughter of Merrill and Soni Talpers and Peggy Klemm and the late Jerry Klemm. She attended Truman State University in Kirksville, Missouri, graduating magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing. She is currently employed as an information services nurse educator at Saint Luke’s Hospital.

The future groom is the grandson of Janet Stucky and the late Tom Stucky and Bonnie Carlson and the late Jerry Carlson. He attended Kansas State University, earning a Master of Science degree in molecular genetics; and University of Missouri-Kansas City, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in computer science. He is currently employed as a software engineer at Red Nova Labs in Westwood.

A May 25 wedding at Oakwood Country Club is planned.

Brian and Christa Balanoff announce the Bar Mitzvah of their son, Simon Joseph, at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 23, at Congregation Beth Torah.

Simon is the grandson of Arnold and Diane Balanoff, Leawood, and Charles and Sylvia Ruble, Umatilla, Florida. He has a sister, Olivia.

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

Simon loves computer programming and gaming, art, music and spending time with friends. He is active in Boy Scout Troop 61 and loves being outdoors, camping and learning. He also loves skateboarding and has combined his love of skating with his Mitzvah project. He will be collecting items for donations to Skate for Change, an organization of volunteers who travel the city on skateboards distributing care packages to those who need them.

Jane and Joseph Martin announce the Bat Mitzvah of their daughter, Leah Dafna, at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 16, at The Temple, Congregation B’nai Jehudah.

Leah is the granddaughter of Michael and Sharon Blumenthal and Linda Martin and the late H. Nelson Martin, Leavenworth, Kansas. She has one brother, Daniel.

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

Leah is a high green belt in karate, plays guitar and volleyball, and enjoys cooking, crafting and spending time with friends. Her community service project included raising money from a bake sale for the Leavenworth Interfaith Community of Hope homeless shelter, and volunteering her time to organize the shelter’s storage area.

Janna and Daniel Rosenthal announce the Bat Mitzvah of their daughter, Emma Rebecca Rosenthal, at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 16, at Congregation Beth Shalom.

Emma is the granddaughter of Susan and Ernest Rosenthal of Overland Park, Kansas, Susan and Kenneth Cohn of Arlington, Virginia, and Theresa and William Schuster of Aiken, South Carolina. Emma has one younger brother, Benjamin. 

She enjoys playing soccer, basketball, traveling, babysitting and spending her summers at Camp Ramah in Wisconsin. Emma’s Bat Mitzvah project involved raising money and preparing meals and snack bags for the Ronald McDonald House of Kansas City. 

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

Tamara and Maxwell Lemieux of Wichita announce the birth Nov. 16, 2018, of Sydney Lavon Lemieux. Grandparents are Marcy Gaynes, Stuart and Kelly Gaynes, and Steven and Cheri Lemieux all of Overland Park. Great-grandparents are Stephen and Marianne Gaynes of Boynton Beach, Florida, Al and Ann Lemieux of Overland Park and Sue Stonefield (of blessed memory).

Vicki and Andrew Widman announce the Bar Mitzvah of their son, Reece Henry Widman, at 4:45 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 26, at Congregation Beth Shalom.
Reece is the grandson of Sharon and Mike Milens, and Sherry Widman and Marshall Widman. He has a brother, Will.
Reece plays the clarinet, does gymnastics and enjoys art and hanging out with friends. For his mitzvah project he collected money to make 227 snack bags for the Ronald McDonald family room at Children’s Mercy Hospital. He also made freezer meals and snacks for families staying at the Ronald McDonald House.
Reece is excited to be having a B’nai Mitzvah with his dad, Andrew Widman.

Scott Steffens and Grace Slosburg announce the birth Jan. 7 of a daughter, Mollie Elizabeth Steffens.
Grandparents are Carolyn and Steve Steffens of Overland Park and Patti and Danny Slosburg of Mission Hills. Mollie’s great-grandmother is Vida Prince of Clayton, Missouri.