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January 28, 2005/Shevat 18 5765, Vol. 57, No. 22
East Valley transitions
Center starts construction, executive director search
LEISAH NAMM
Managing Editor
The East Valley Jewish Community Center starts construction for its new campus next week, and is also searching for a new executive director.
Construction begins Feb. 1 at 908 N. Alma School Road in Chandler, to renovate the interior of a building formerly occupied by an Osco Drug store.
The goal is to finish by mid-July so JCC day school students can begin the year at the new campus in the fall, said Michael Waxman, JCC building committee chairman.
The capital campaign, which kicked off at an Oct. 26 groundbreaking ceremony, has reached $1.5 million, Waxman said. The goal to complete the first phase of construction is $4.5 million.
The general contractor is Kroll Construction, owned by Bernard Kroll and his son Keith.
Two Valley couples - Barry and Barbara Zemel of Paradise Valley and Ira J. Gaines and Cheryl J. Hintzen-Gaines of Phoenix - made major donations of $100,000 each to the new campus, Waxman said. "They are caring people who understand the importance of a JCC in the East Valley."
Although Barry Zemel said he will probably never use the facility because he doesn't live nearby, he said, "I really believe that the rest of the community has to support our sister community." The Zemels are charter members of the Valley of the Sun Jewish Community Center.
Ilene Blau, who will mark her 19th anniversary as JCC executive director in May, announced her retirement to the board in fall 2004.
A search committee led by Jay Scherotter - the center's first director - is working with the JCC Association, the umbrella organization for JCCs in North America, in a national search.
The local search committee includes current board members, past board members and other JCC members, said George Jacobson, JCC president. The committee is seeking input from East Valley rabbis, officials from the Jewish Federation of Greater Phoenix and JCC staff members, he said.
Although Blau will retire this coming summer, she plans to work on the capital campaign in a volunteer capacity. "I'm committed to the future success of the building process," she said.
In her 19 years at the JCC, she said she has "witnessed tremendous growth and change in the community," and that "working for the JCC has been a labor of love." Her son Aaron, now 25, attended the JCC preschool and camp and is currently the AZA youth adviser there.
"I'm passionate about the mission of the center and about the importance of the services of the JCC in the East Valley community," Blau said. "I plan to help see this exciting (building) project come to fruition."
Call the JCC, 480-897-0588.
Contact the writer here
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