Blue Valley North’s Jason Sickel (center) was named Kansas Teacher of the Year on Nov. 19. He is shown with Dr. Randy Watson (left), Kansas commissioner of education, and Chad Liby, director of marketing and 2nd vice president for Security Benefit of Topeka, Kansas.
For a small town guy who teaches in the performing arts sector, being chosen as the 2017 Kansas Teacher of the Year is quite a feat.
On Sunday, Nov. 20, almost 25 people gathered to write cards to individuals, mosques, LGBTQ and Latino communities to say ‘we stand by you and we send support to you, especially to those who have been harassed, targeted or feel fearful.’ People came from the Jewish, Christian, Baha’I Faith, Hindu, Muslim and Secular Humanist communities, including members from the Greater Kansas City Interfaith Council, National Council of Jewish Women, Sisterhood of Salaam Shalom and other organizations. The event was organized by Sheila Sonnenschein.
VOTE FOR ERIK — Kansas City native Erik Claster hopes to be the first Israeli dog sled participant. He is vying to compete in Fjällräven Polar, an Iditarod-type competition in the Scandinavian Artic.
You may or may not have heard of singer-songwriter David Broza, but in Israel he’s a superstar. The public will have two opportunities to see him while he is here as Congregation Beth Shalom’s Kaplan Scholar Artist-in-Residence.
KC Chiefs player Mitchell Schwartz, one of a handful of Jewish NFL players, visited HBHA last week for an HBHA Chiefs Pep Rally. He is pictured here with HBHA first-graders, who acted as cheerleaders to welcome Schwartz. Approximately 400 people attended the pep rally, which took place at the Jewish Community Campus, including students, HBHA parents and other Jewish community members. Schwartz spoke to students about the importance of education, working hard to achieve your goals and life as a Jewish professional football player.
THERE IS HOPE — A new musical anthology, “There is Hope,” has been put together by David Paskin and Menachem Creditor to help people heal from the recent divisive election. KC native Rabbi Larry Karol is one of the artists featured on “There is Hope.”
The Devinki, Pack and Kolkin families have invited one of the most sought after Chabad rabbi speakers in the Jewish world to speak at Kehilath Israel Synagogue in honor of Maria Devinki, of blessed memory. This year marks the fifth anniversary of their mother, grandmother and great-grandmother’s death.
Dr. Andrew Jacobs has been a practicing sport psychologist for 36 years, and throughout his practice, people have been asking him to write a book, especially one about youth sports.
This TP Hanukiyah was created by HBHA student Evie Fried, who was in third grade when she entered the 2015 contest.
The 20th annual Hanukkah Art Contest is open for entries. Deadline for entries is 6 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 14. The first candle will be lit Saturday night, Dec. 24, and a photo of the winning piece of art will be published in the Dec. 22 edition of The Chronicle.
Village Shalom’s annual Ages of Excellence Celebration Wednesday, Nov. 16, attracted 550 people to the InterContinental Kansas City at the Plaza. Event chairs were Bruce Kershenbaum (left) and Alana Muller (right), who are shown with featured speaker Thomas L. Friedman. Kershenbaum called the event ‘a big success.’
WHERE LIFE SHINES — Village Shalom’s marketing slogan is “Where Life Shines” and its light was shining bright at its annual Ages of Excellence Celebration last week. Volunteer extraordinaire Sandi Lerner was honored that evening.
Joy Koesten will begin her first term as a member of the Kansas House of Representatives in January.
Republican Joy Koesten will represent District 28 in the Kansas House of Representatives in Topeka when the legislative session begins Jan. 9. Koesten was part of the wave of newcomers who booted out incumbents in the August primary, when she defeated two-term incumbent Jerry Lunn. She was unopposed in the general election.
