Out with a bang...

What is happening? I'm beginning to wonder if those mental cases who desire suicide, choose grand-standing shoot-outs in very public places like movie theaters, navy bases, malls, airports, etc., are trying for their 15 minutes in the spotlight before police cause their "suicides" for them. Take others along? Who cares? The perpetrator will be dead too!

Well, sometimes it backfires, as in the case of the alleged LAX Shooter. Clinging to life, he may spend the rest of it as a vegetable... but he will have had his 15 minutes of infamy for sure.

On the other hand, the alleged shooter in the Paramus, N.J. mall, killed himself.

(Notice I am not naming their names so as not to add to the "15 minutes." Also, as I write this column well in advance of publication, I hope there hasn't been any other tragedies making headlines.)

Another Kristallnacht memory...

In my Nov. 1 column, I wrote about our own SONJA MARCHESANO, and her memories of that horrific time in history.

I told my readers that I read all about Sonja when she was interviewed by a Rollins College publication.

I recently received this email from Sonja:

"I left out an important part of my story when I was interviewed.

Although my mother jumped out of the window to get out of the hospital and she left the baby, she made arrangements that she would be back to get her... which she did."

Sonja continues:

"On Sunday at the Holocaust Center, one of the women in the audience told me she came especially to hear about what happened to the baby. I told her that the baby is well, happy and living in Jerusalem!"

(No longer a baby, I presume! Also, many readers must have wondered the same thing as I have heard from them via phone and email. I am happy to include Sonja's addition to ease their minds.)

Speaking of Nazi horrors...

I read this online recently. It comes directly from the Associated Press and has been checked out:

"Online auction site eBay has apologized after a newspaper found apparent Holocaust memorabilia, including the clothes of concentration camp victims, being offered for sale.

Britain's Mail newspaper said items included shoes and a suitcase from concentration camp prisoners, Star of David armbands that Jews were forced to wear, and the alleged uniform of a Polish baker who died in Auschwitz.

EBay said it had removed 30 items from the site and donated 25,000 pounds ($40,000) to a suitable charity.

The company said in a statement that 'we don't allow listings of this nature, and dedicate thousands of staff to policing our site and use the latest technology to detect items that shouldn't be for sale. We very much regret that we didn't live up to our own standards.'"

A good cause...

I recently heard from Winter Park Mayor KEN BRADLEY about a very good cause. I am passing it along:

"We celebrated the kick-off event for 'Feed the Need,' the first of its kind community-wide fundraiser to end hunger in Central Florida. The City of Winter Park is proud to partner with Rollins College, Sodexo, Think Creative, Inc., and the Winter Park Chamber of Commerce, to create a powerful fundraising engine to raise money to help Second Harvest Food Bank provide food for those in need. The 'Feed the Need' fundraising campaign began Friday, Nov. 1, and runs through Friday, Nov. 22."

Mayor Bradley continues:

"Some important facts to know are for every $1 donated, up to $9 worth of grocery products is provided; 96 percent of every dollar goes straight to feeding people; Approximately 1 in 5 of our Central Florida population (732,000) needed food assistance last year. This is a 152 percent increase from 2006; in this same area, 172,590 children struggle with hunger. When these kids have no food, we have no choice but to respond. If you are able, please assist us in this worthy cause by joining the team and donating online at http://bit.ly/cityofwinterpark.."

I love to write about good...

Good causes and also about good people. Our community seems to have more than our fair share of good people. For instance, I received this email from NANCY LUDIN, executive director of Jewish Pavilion:

"Special thanks to BETH FINKELSTEIN who has been working in the Jewish Pavilion office once a week for five years. She has been an incredible asset to our staff. Beth has helped behind the scenes with every Jewish Pavilion event.

Beth is pictured (see photo) with volunteer extraordinaire, NORMA BALL. Every week, Norma visits the residents at Lake Mary Rehab and provides companionship. Norma never goes empty-handed. Not only the residents, but the staff as well, have marveled over her home-baked goods.

Norma leads a Shabbat service every Friday. Once a month, she helps coordinate a beautiful Shabbat luncheon. Both in the office and in the facilities, these two women have done a world of good for our community."

(Thanks, Nancy, for giving me the opportunity to let folks know about these wonderful volunteers. Perhaps their deeds will inspire others to do the same.)

Just a reminder...

This Sunday, Nov. 17, a very special event is being held. It is the Lake Mary Heathrow Holiday Shopping Expo, being held at the Westin Lake Mary, Orlando North, in the Grand Ballroom. The Expo hours are between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m.

Gifts for the holidays will be available, especially JOANNE BERMAN's beautiful Judaica silver pieces, perfect for Chanukah!

The admission is absolutely free for children ages 12 and under; $6, senior citizens; $7, adults.

There will also be opportunities to drop off for the Thanksgiving Food Drive and Toys For Tots, there will be Zumba performances and more. There will also be free cookies and hot cocoa.

For more information, call 321-926-3025 or email lmchristmasexpo@gmail.com. Also visit the official Facebook page, or 

I love to laugh...

I use that as an excuse for all my wrinkles!

Actually, I am very happily married for 53 years. It's so great to find that one special person you want to annoy for the rest of your life. Actually, 53 years, by way of comparison, is longer than most murderers spend in jail. My spouse and I are happy, I suppose, because we are truly compatible... we both love to fight. And we never go to bed mad. (I haven't slept in three months!)

"Cabaret Comique"...

I heard from the very talented Cantor ISAAC KRIGER about a wonderful dinner show on Sunday, Nov.17. It takes place at Angelo's Italian Restaurant, 2270 Vindale Road, (SR 441) Tavares, FL, 32778

The cost is $29.95, plus tax and tip per person for a full course dinner and a musical and comedy show, featuring the wonderful Cabaret Singers and a famous British comedian. To R.S.V.P., phone 352-343-2757

One for the road...

This is too true to be a joke:

Four women are sitting on a bench in Winter Park. It is a very gray, depressing day and these women are not talking.

All of a sudden one says "Oy."

Then another says "Oy vay."

The third one chimes in and says "Oy vay iz mir."

To that, the fourth woman stands up and says... "Excuse me, I thought we had agreed we weren't going to talk about the children."