HAPPY RETIREMENT LINDA RUBIN — On Sunday, June 24, more than 250 parents, former CDC students and staffers showed up at The J to give their best wishes to Linda Rubin as she embarks on retirement. Rubin was a teacher in The J’s preschool for 30 years, specializing in pre-K for a large chunk of that time but also leading the early learners in art class and “ruach.”
We were lucky enough to enroll our oldest in the CDC when he was just 18 months old and I’ve been able to call her my friend ever since. I figure in 30 years she’s taught a minimum of 450 students at The J alone — counting the children she taught during the school year as well as summer camp. That doesn’t include the hundreds of children she taught in religious school and Hebrew school over the years throughout the community including Congregation Beth Torah and those she has tutored for Bar/Bat Mitzvah.
Sunday’s retirement party featured many photos of students from over the years, a beautiful sweet table and wonderful speeches by J President and CEO Jim Slyter, CDC Director Machaela Whelan and the guest of honor herself. Those attending were thrilled to send hearty mazel tov’s Rubin’s way and to catch up with each other.
We know you loved all your kids Linda, and are happy to see the love come back your way!
KANDER ANNOUNCES PLANS TO RUN FOR MAYOR OF KCMO — On Sunday Jason Kander officially announced his plans to run for mayor of Kansas City. At this time Kander is thought to be the only Jewish candidate in the eight-person field. Kander served as Missouri’s secretary of state for a single four-year term from 2013-2017. Before that he represented a part of Kansas City in the Missouri State House of Representatives beginning in 2009 and served in the U.S. Army. In 2016 he lost a hard-fought battle to unseat incumbent Republican Sen. Roy Blunt.
The nonpartisan primary election takes place on April 2, 2019. The top two candidates with the most votes will advance to the general election on June 25, 2019.
ISRAELI FLAG REPLACED — A bridge on the Country Club Plaza — Kansas City Sister Cities International Bridge located at Ward Parkway at Central Street — features the flags of the 13 sister cities to Kansas City, Missouri. Since the Israeli city of Ramla is one of those cities, the Israeli flag is typically flying on the bridge.
One day last week the Israeli flag went missing and some members of the Jewish community were more than a bit concerned, and those concerns were reflected on Facebook. On Wednesday, June 20, a non-Jewish member of the community contacted KC Parks & Rec and inquired about the missing flag. He was told the city had not removed the flag and only does so when one is in need of cleaning or repairing. He was told the flag would be replaced as soon as possible.
The Chronicle also contacted Parks & Rec and by Thursday afternoon I was simply told “the flag has been replaced.” The story caught the attention of Fox 4’s Melissa Stern, who aired a report on July 21, noting a Parks & Rec employee told her “this is very unusual and hasn’t happened before.” To hear Stern’s full report, visit fox4kc.com and search Melissa Stern.
CALL FOR YARN — Gerry Trilling wants your yarn remnants …you know, all those partial skeins left from a hat, scarf or sweater (or intended ones) stashed away in shopping bags. The fiber artist only wants yarn that hasn’t already been knit and unraveled. (Previously used yarn is hard to work with.)
Drop-off your yarn and drop-in to see Trilling from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at The Epsten Gallery Monday, July 9, Tuesday, July 10, and/or Wednesday, July 11. While there, share you yarn stories with her. The community is also invited to join Trilling as she creates memory ponds with yarn during her residency at the Epsten Galley. She is interested in the intersection of memory and materiality and uses orphan remnants and the detritus of material culture in her art practice.
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