BETH SHALOM UPDATE — The Kansas City Star reported this week that Burns & McDonnell wants to tear down Congregation Beth Shalom synagogue’s former building at 9400 Wornall Road, and build a $130 million office addition next to its world headquarters at 9400 Ward Parkway.
Beth Shalom sold the Wornall property to VanTrust Real Estate LLC on July 8, 2013. At the time Congregation President Michael Abrams said the purchase price was more than $2.3 million.
When the sale was completed, it wasn’t clear what VanTrust planned to do with the property, but Beth Shalom officials were told the building would be demolished.
The project is contingent upon receipt of all necessary governmental approvals, incentives and entitlements and a final determination of financial feasibility by both Burns & McDonnell and VanTrust.
THE NEXT TIGER WOODS? — Four-year-old Eli Cowsert, the son of The Temple, Congregation B’nai Jehudah members Cara and Wes Cowsert, likes to hit golf balls, so his father took a video of him doing just that. Next thing you know former Kansas Citian and KSHB sportster Justin Unell saw the video on Facebook and now Eli’s famous! Unell, who now works for the Golf Channel, saw its potential, and the video, along with tips for children who want to play golf, aired Monday night. When local channels learned about Eli’s shot on the Golf Channel, they featured him too, first on Fox 4 and then KSHB’s “KC Live.” As Eli, who starts kindergarten next fall, said on Fox 4, he simply “loves golf.” You can see the Fox 4 story at http://fox4kc.com/2014/02/21/young-golfers-impressive-swing-catches-the-attention-of-the-golf-channel/. His appearance on “KC Live” can be seen at http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=c4-overview&list=UUbsDxIx4FVqccaEKyVxeQvw&v=m5TP-30BKZA&app=desktop. At press time links weren’t available for the Golf Channel.
ATHLETES & ACADMICS — Hyman Brand Hebrew Academy’s Upper School Boys and Girls Varsity Basketball teams were both awarded the Team Scholar Athletes for the Great Plains Athletic Conference on Feb. 20. HBHA’s students had the highest grade point average of all the teams — boys and girls — in the conference. There are nine teams in the conference composed of private and charter schools as well as one state-sponsored school.
In addition to winning these prestigious awards, the boys’ team took second place and the girls’ team took fourth place in the league’s final standings.
53RD MAYORS’ PRAYER BREAKFAST — Shirley Bush Helzberg will be the featured speaker at the annual Mayors’ Prayer Breakfast that will take place Tuesday, March 4, at the Kansas City Convention Center. The breakfast benefits the Assistance League of Kansas City. For additional information or to register for the 53rd Mayors’ Prayer Breakfast, visit www.kccmpb.com or call 816-863-0992.
ISRAELI FOOTBALL — Two Jewish Kansas Citians, Sagan Zavelo and Jerome Smith, now living in Israel, are associated with the Israeli Football League. The IFL is the not-for-profit home amateur home for American football in Israel. There is currently no pro football in Israel.
Zavelo’s parents, Kim and Scott Zavelo, live in Lenexa and are members of Congregation Beth Torah. Before moving to Israel, Smith’s family, including Eileen and Mikaella, were members of Kehilath Israel Synagogue.
Zavelo is a starting defensive back and star special teamer for the Tel Aviv Pioneers, one of 10 IFL teams. He led the Pioneers’ defense in their most recent win, a 68-0 rout of the Naharya Northern Stars, returning an interception for a touchdown. The Pioneers are on their way to a playoff berth and a hopeful return to the IFL’s championship game, the Israel Bowl, at Kraft Stadium in Jerusalem on April 11, 2014.
Smith is a statistician and spotter for the league. He notes, “It has really been fun, and listening to Perto and Kevin Harlan on WHB while driving around KC really helped me with the transition from fan to participant.”
Zavelo is a KU graduate and moved to Israel two years ago. He is presently in business development with Tamooz, Inc. in Tel Aviv, a marketing and communications agency specializing in wind and solar energy. When not playing for the Pioneers, Zavelo also coaches the Ra’anana Crocs of the Israel High School football league, and will shortly be assuming duties as the general manager of the Israel National Football Team.
Smith and his family moved to Israel this past August. He has continued practicing intellectual property law.
