Chronicles - Spring 2015 by Media Consultants

NEWSLETTER CONTENTS

Chronicles SPRING 2015

Letter from the President ........................................... 1 Harold Colton-Max to be Honored in June ................. 1 Letter from the CEO ................................................... 2 The Men’s Club at Village Apartments........................ 2 Harold Colton-Max Endowment Fund......................... 2 Sharon Saltzman Retires as CFO ................................. 2 Check Out Our New Promenade! ............................... 3 Plaza Volunteers are our Resident Book Worms! ........ 3 New Generator Installed at Village Apartments ......... 3 Respite Stays at Lester Senior Housing ...................... 4 Lester Senior Housing Hosts Medicaid Seminar.......... 4 Residents of B’nai B’rith Attend Senior Prom ............. 5 Colton-Maxes Honored as Stars of Essex.................... 5 JCHC University’s spring semester is in full swing ...... 5 Four Endowment Funds .............................................. 6 Help Us Raise Funds by shopping on Amazon.com! ... 6 JCHC Tributes ............................................................. 6

JEWISH COMMUNITY HOUSING CORPORATION OF METROPOLITAN NEW JERSEY 760 Northfield Ave., West Orange, NJ 07052 | 973-731-2020 | www.jchcorp.org

LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT I have learned so much in the past year as President of the JCHC, and have much more to learn. Learning is the second best thing about this role; the very best thing are the people that I have met. The board members are bright and dedicated volunteers who understand that we can make a difference. Our staff members are all dedicated to making our facilities, services and programs special for each of our residents. Above all else are our special residents who deserve our caring, time and ingenuity. As a lawyer I have seen and served varying needs and expectations of different clients, many of whom treat the legal work they seek as a commodity they are purchasing, like office supplies. However, I have never distinguished the scope of service or attention I give to any client, regardless of their distinct concerns. The medical world has seen a similar consolidation and commoditizing, where hospitals or large medical groups are buying up smaller practices. We gave up house calls generations ago. Increasingly, a visit to a doctor’s office is like a bakery. Take a number and wait your turn. Like most businesses, the business of providing housing and services to seniors is going through a similar change in our country. Large national chains are building increasingly larger facilities, holding more and more residents and providing more varied services. The size of these organizations allows them to experiment and innovate so that they can offer more services, each intended to boost profits. These large organizations also have the resources to create a look that differentiates their facilities from the competition, which they also hope will pay shareholder dividends. These chains are challenged to control costs while trying to individualize services, reporting to centralized management often located hundreds of miles away, and to which each resident represents a profit unit. Their senior living communities are a commodity instead of a service. Unlike these national chains, the JCHC is a local nonprofit. We service a discrete population within a geographically narrow region. Unlike the larger for-profits, we have tailored our services for our constituents and are mindful of who we serve. Each resident is a name, a member of a family that has roots in our community, a person who has chosen us because of what we stand for, and not what we look like. Of course, we need to have state-of-the-art facilities that are attractive and make our residents proud to call it their home, but there are other critical concerns we keep top of mind. We must address the increasingly diverse need of our residents for services, so that when they require different care we can provide it for them. We need to be able to provide care and services in a homelike, non-institutional setting that respects the dignity of each of our residents. Above all, we do not commoditize our residences; rather, we value the immense personal and organization-wide satisfaction that we are giving our time, care and attention to our residents who gave the same to building our communities. In so doing, we continue to fulfill the Fifth Commandment: In honoring our elders, we bring honor to ourselves. That is our goal. It is not to be the largest nor necessarily provide the most, but to provide the best within our ability. I thought we were doing this when I first accepted the nomination as President. I now since learned that we do this every day.

Alan Cohen President, Board of Trustees

Harold Colton-Max to be Honored in June for his 10th Anniversary as our CEO We can’t believe it’s been ten years already since Harold Colton-Max took the reins as the Chief Executive Officer of the Jewish Community Housing Corporation. His accomplishments on behalf of our organization and our residents are enormous and will resonate for decades to come. Therefore, we are delighted to honor him on the 10th anniversary of his tenure as the JCHC’s CEO, at our Annual Meeting on June 15 at the Crystal Plaza in Livingston. Here is a partial list of Harold’s many accomplishments over the years (too numerous to list them all!): • Full occupancy for the first time ever at the Weston Assisted Living Residence. • Jewish Federation Plaza and the South Orange B’nai B’rith Federation House named as Communities of Quality by the National Affordable Housing Management Association. • Refinancing of the South Orange B’nai B’rith Federation House, Village Apartments of the Jewish Federation and Jewish Federation Plaza; this led to major capital improvements to the buildings, hundreds of thousands of dollars in annual interest savings each, boosted emergency reserves, and more money allocated to resident programming and other services. • Secured a PSE&G grant to make energy efficiency upgrades throughout Jewish Federation Plaza reducing utility usage and expense. • Sale of Jewish Federation Towers to set aside funds for future development and other programming, while maintaining the affordable housing requirements for at least another 20 years (10 more than was required under our agreement with HUD). • Enhancement of resident safety by securing funding from the Healthcare Foundation of New Jersey to upgrade the emergency response system in all apartment buildings. • Implementation of JCHC University to provide regularly scheduled, intellectually challenging resident programming. • Opening of dental office, physical therapy suite and rabbi’s office at the Lester Senior Housing Community. • Hiring of first recreational coordinators for Essex County buildings to increase social, intellectual and physical opportunities for our seniors. In addition to his work at the JCHC, Harold has served as the President of the Affordable Housing Professionals of New Jersey since January 1, 2013 (he previously served as Board Secretary and Treasurer). He has also represented the JCHC in national, state and local coalitions, including LeadingAge, the Housing and Community Development Network of New Jersey, MetroWest CARES and the South Orange Senior Citizen Advisory Committee. On April 29, he and his wife Nomi were honored at Essex County’s Annual Jewish Heritage Celebration with the Star of Essex Award by Essex County in recognition of their leadership, dedication to public service, and their commitment to improving the lives of Essex County residents. Mazel tov and yasher koach!

LETTER FROM THE CEO

The Rites of Spring at the JCHC As I approached the Jewish Community Center building the other day to go to my office, I held up my umbrella to ward off the falling raindrops. The sky was gray and the day dreary. Where was the warm, sunny weather that we had just enjoyed a few days before, after what seemed to be an interminably long and cold winter? But then I remembered that old adage, “April showers bring May flowers” and I looked again at my surroundings in a completely different light. Although not pleasant in this moment, the rain was helping to bring back the flowers and other plant life that had lain dormant underneath the snow and frozen ground, waiting for the opportunity to come forth again. In other words, the clouds were presaging what we would enjoy in the months to come. In the same way, we at the Jewish Community Housing Corporation have been preparing for the projects and programs to benefit our senior residents. While some work can be done during the winter months such as the improvements and aesthetic upgrades to the fourth floor promenade at Jewish Federation Plaza, other important work must wait. During the winter we make our plans for such projects to move forward when the time is right. Like the seedlings beneath the topsoil, work such as selecting professionals and contractors, signing contracts, reviewing plans and obtaining necessary government approvals are the tasks undertaken by JCHC staff that are invisible to most. In the near future, we will start to see the fruits of this labor. At Village Apartments of the Jewish Federation in South Orange, the installation of an emergency generator will begin later this month. We will hopefully be doing the same at the South Orange B’nai B’rith Federation House in the months ahead. This will serve as a protection against a loss of power should we have a major weather event like Superstorm Sandy (for instance, my house, located just a few blocks from Village Apartments, was without power for 10 days). The Lester Senior Housing Community, which will receive a supplementary generator, was also impacted with the loss of power for eight days. It took a herculean effort by the JCHC staff to keep our seniors comfortable during that time. The JCHC will also use the warmer months as an opportunity to move forward with projects to enhance the quality of life at our buildings. At Jewish Federation Plaza, we will replace rooftop air exchange units with new ones that will improve the air flow in our common area hallways and also provide heating and air conditioning. Village Apartments residents will benefit from the upgrade of the mostly empty backyard seating area into an oasis with new furniture and gardens. Just as with nature, the process of improving and rejuvenating our independent living and assisted living apartment buildings is neverending. The JCHC will continue to identify best practices and work with senior housing experts to enhance the quality of life for our residents not just this summer but in the years to come. As these projects come to fruition, I hope that you keep in mind that it was the preparation behind the scenes—the invisible seedlings waiting patiently to come forth—that made all of this possible. And now … let’s enjoy the spring!

Consider a Gift to the Harold Colton-Max Endowment Fund Harold’s hard work and forward-thinking leadership has made the JCHC a strong, solvent organization and his commitment to providing a high quality lifestyle for our senior residents is steadfast. To that end, we invite our residents, their families, our supporters and our vendors to consider a gift to the Harold Colton-Max Endowment Fund. This new fund has been established in Harold’s honor to support the evolving needs of residents and to maintain the superior quality of life we offer at our residences. It also ensures that our most vulnerable residents need never worry about their security at the JCHC. We hope you’ll consider a contribution in recognition of the truly admirable work that Harold has achieved in the past ten years, and will continue to achieve at the JCHC. If you would like to honor Harold with a tax-deductible gift to the Harold Colton-Max Endowment Fund, kindly send your generous contribution using the enclosed donor card and envelope.

Sharon Saltzman Retires as CFO After 20+ Years at JCHC After more than 20 years of managing and overseeing the finances of the Jewish Community Housing Corporation of Metropolitan New Jersey, Sharon Saltzman retired at the end of January as our chief financial officer. We honored Sharon at a retirement party at our offices, where she received an elegant The JCHC staff threw a retirement party for Sharon. piece of artwork Seated (l. to r.) are Bryna Stone, Cheryl Kasye and Carolyn Schonthal; back row: Marcia Feldman, Anne Marie Bass as a parting gift, and Karen Sandler. along with many good wishes and expressions of gratitude for all her hard work. In early February, the Board of Trustees presented her with a much-deserved resolution of appreciation acknowledging her milestones and contributions to the organization over the years. Sharon began her career with the JCHC as a part-time staff accountant, then became the controller, and in 2006 she was promoted to CFO. During her CFO tenure, Sharon introduced greater cost efficiencies including updated accounting reporting software and an automated time and attendance system across all four of our buildings. An automated accounts payable approval system will soon be implemented, which began under her watch. “This has been a great place to work and was far more than just the numbers,” said Saltzman of her time at the JCHC. “It was meaningful because it was about the people—our seniors—who were behind the balance sheet.” Harold Colton-Max, CEO of the JCHC said that, “Sharon has left big shoes to fill in terms of her dedication, resourcefulness and concern for the welfare of our organization and our residents. We wish her well as she and her husband enjoy much-deserved leisure time during their retirement years.” Sharon and her husband plan to do more traveling and they will fulfill a long-time dream of driving crosscountry.

Harold Colton-Max Chief Executive Officer

The Men’s Club at Village Apartments Our male residents have spoken! A new Men’s Club has recently formed and will meet weekly on Wednesday afternoons. The guys will discuss current events or other topics of interest to the group and enjoy general social time with each other. The Village Men’s Club is open to the public so let other men in the area know they are welcome to join our residents in some lively discussion. For more information please contact April Osborne at 973-530-3958.

Sharon Saltzman was presented with a resolution detailing her contributions to the JCHC at the Board of Trustees meeting in early February. With her are past presidents Jay Murnick and Eric Barr, CEO Harold Colton-Max and current president Alan Cohen.

“Now I have the time to spend with family and friends without juggling work,” she said, “but my career at the JCHC was more than work—it was really an honor.”

Check Out Our New Promenade!

Extensive renovations have been completed on the Promenade, the fourth floor walkway/hallway that connects all four buildings that comprise Jewish Federation Plaza. This is the first time in 30 years that this space—which was formerly cinder block walls and outdated indoor-outdoor carpeting—has gotten a full-blown makeover and it is just beautiful! The entire Promenade has new walls (painted in a palette of soothing colors by area) and new carpeting with interesting designs in the hallways and each section. Although the areas in each building have always been used as gathering places or for various activities, these spaces are now wonderfully functional and beautifully decorated. Renovations included: • New walls, painted different colors in each area • New carpeting with interesting designs for each section • New furnishings • One side has been developed for exercise classes • One side now houses an arts & crafts/card room, lecture room and seating area, with new furnishings, including big-screen TVs. Judy Solomon, President of the Plaza Tenants Association, told the Chronicles that, “Our community continues to enjoy many different programs on the Promenade and now the furniture and décor only make these programs more enjoyable. We love the furniture that was selected, as it is now more easily moved when necessary, and the grouping of tables makes it wonderful for resident interaction.” Among the activities that residents enjoy in the various Promenade areas are exercise, mah jongg and card games, a lecture series, and craft programs. “It is nice in the evening, where we may gather with our neighbors for informal visits or card games,” Judy added.

Jewish Federation Plaza Volunteers are our Resident Book Worms! Plaza Librarian Helen Mandel Keeps Our Books Circulating Long-time resident Helen Mandel has always loved to read. Now she makes sure our lending library, which is open every Tuesday evening, is always stocked with good books. She has been at the helm for over 10 years. “We run a true lending library at Plaza,” says Helen proudly. She and her assistants (Dolores Lederman and Alyce Atkins) make sure that all books are properly checked out and Helen Mandel is in charge of our returned by residents with a carefully lending library at Jewish Federation recorded journal. They order new Plaza. books every month from Doubleday, paid for by donations from residents and a stipend from Jewish Federation Plaza. They try to buy books in both regular and large print versions—the Plaza library has a section for each—so that all residents can take advantage of the library. Book Club Leader and Devotee Gert Freedman “I love reading and I’ve always belonged to a book club, so when I found out we didn’t have one here I started it,” said Gert Freedman, who started our book club in September 2012.

We love the new hallway carpeting, which ties together the buildings so beautifully.

“We read all sorts of books and bring in current events to the book discussions whenever possible,” said Gert.

Another resident, Evelyn Lerner, enjoys the new space so much, she wrote the following thank you to management:

Gert is also the 1st vice president of our Tenants Association and has put her private catering experience to good use for our residents several times over the years with delicious results!

“The entire Promenade is a delight to view … light creamy colors, attractive and comfortable furniture … The carpeting with its unusual design the entire stretch of hallway is light and attractive, and a terrific environment The card/game space is a great gathering place for in which to enjoy our our residents. evening chit chats, lectures and our interesting artistic, poetic and educational talks. Thank you most sincerely for a delightful environment in which to spend our retirement.” Site Manager Ann Marie Bass noted that the color-coded sections for each room and the improved lighting throughout the area are helpful for residents. “The different colored carpeting in each room has lightened up the area. Along with the big windows that let the sunshine in, it is really helpful for residents with eyesight issues. In addition, the new furniture is very ergonomic.” In addition to the Promenade makeover, two offices were updated (for our resident service coordinator and activity coordinator). Last year, our dining room and lobby were completely redone.

Our new lecture space.

Gert Freedman heads up our book club which is very active.

Gert picks titles for the club members to vote on. She facilitates the book discussions which are held every four to six weeks. She keeps in touch with the West Orange Public Library to find out what other area book clubs are reading and mixes in old favorites with the more contemporary titles.

We love this vital and important community space.

Power Up! New Generator Being Installed at Village Apartments of the Jewish Federation Following the problems experienced in other areas from Superstorm Sandy, the JCHC set out to make certain that all of our properties were protected against power outages at any time. To that end, we are rolling out an extensive program to install backup generators in all our buildings. First up—Village Apartments in South Orange—the only JCHC property that does not currently have one. The backup generator will ensure that all primary electrical operations in the building are up and running to keep our residents safe and secure. The areas powered by the generator will include the community dining room and kitchen, the library, hallways and elevators. When there is a power outage, the fire alarm system safety lighting and the resident emergency response pendant system will remain fully operational. A select number of electrical outlets in the management office will also be powered in the event of an outage. “The primary goal is to keep our residents safe by ensuring that all critical needs are met,” said CEO Harold Colton-Max. “The new backup generator will handle all primary power needs that cover safety and quality-of-life essentials.” This large-scale initiative is starting at Village to be followed by South Orange B’nai B’rith Federation House shortly thereafter and then to Lester Senior Housing Community in Whippany. Jewish Federation Plaza already has a backup generator in place. In addition, we made some other improvements to Village Apartments last year, with better lighting and new ceiling tiles for a brighter environment, new elevator cabs, and fresh paint. We’re looking forward to renovating the backyard area and are excited about some of the ideas we are seeing to completely transform that space in the near future.

760 Northfield Ave., West Orange, NJ 07052 | 973-731-2020 | www.jchcorp.org

Respite Stays Give Caregivers a Break and Give Family Members Peace of Mind Did you know that the Lester Senior Housing Community offers respite stays in our Josh & Judy Weston Assisted Living Residence? These short-term accommodations are for seniors who need some help with the tasks of daily living and provide a true home away from home. We have a flexible program with short-term stays from 10 days to two months for those times when caregivers or family members are not available to care for or look in on their loved ones. Respite stays include a fully decorated Respite residents can enjoy the privacy of and well-equipped apartment, three their own apartment or enjoy participating meals daily in the community’s elegant in our many activities. dining room, an assistance alert pendant, wellness services from our professional nursing team, a full range of activities and more. The level of care and medication management are determined during a pre-stay nursing assessment to ensure all guests receive the attention they need so that their families and/or caregivers can rest easy while they are away. Rates vary depending on apartment style and number of residents. “These respite stays are an ideal way for older adults to stay safe under the watchful eye of professional staff while caregivers take a much-needed break,” said Marlene Glass, LNHA CALA, administrator of the Lester Senior Housing Community. “It also provides an introduction to our assisted living options and the Lester lifestyle without a long-term commitment.” Here are just two examples of how our respite stay program is helping seniors and their families.

“With the implementation of Medicaid Managed Long Term Services and Supports (MLTSS), it is increasingly important that all health care professionals have a full comprehension of Medicaid eligibility requirements and compliance issues,” said Marlene Glass, LNHA CALA, administrator of the Lester Senior Housing Community. “The seminar attendees all came away with a better understanding of this vital aspect of senior and long term care.”

Owned and Managed by the Jewish Community Housing Corporation of Metropolitan New Jersey

No doubt some of our respite stay guests will enjoy living amidst our luxurious surroundings so much that they’d like to make a permanent home in our community; with that in mind, seniors may convert their respite stay to permanent residency based on availability. For more information, visit our website page at http://jchcorp.org/respite-stays-nj-rates/ or contact David Rozen, admissions/marketing manager at (973) 929-2725 or DavidR@jchcorp.org.

Mr. Garland explained the Miller Trust strategy, which enables certain individuals to qualify for Medicaid benefits even with higher levels of income; Mr. Stern shared updates on spend-down criteria and eligibility compliance. The speakers also covered the role of the social worker in assisting the elderly with forms. The social workers in attendance were recognized with a special coffee/brunch bar as part of the event.

Jewish Community Housing Corporation of Metropolitan New Jersey 760 Northfield Ave., West Orange, NJ 07052

S.N. was living in an apartment in her son’s home, but after a few consecutive falls, her son grew concerned. He sought a temporary place where his mother could be cared for while he dealt with the arduous task of what the next steps for her would be. He did not want to commit to permanently moving her into a facility since he enjoyed having her at his home, but her safety was becoming a major concern. S.N. moved into Weston Assisted Living as a respite resident and spent some time getting acclimated to the community. This respite stay allowed the son to focus on his mother’s future plans, knowing that his mother was safe and being cared for. During this time her son realized that she needed more care than he could provide at home, and made the decision to permanently move his mother into Weston Assisted Living. Since S.N. has been a resident she has received the oversight and care that her son had been All respite stay apartments are tastefully furnished and fully equipped. looking for, which has provided him with peace of mind.

On March 17, the JCHC hosted a seminar about Medicaid eligibility and compliance for social workers, nurses, licensed nursing home administrators and certified assisted living administrators. The event was held in honor of National Social Work Month which is March. Elder care experts Gary Garland, a certified elder care attorney and Medicaid Elder care attorney Gary Garland explains the specialist Neil Stern, Miller Trust strategy to attendees at the free CEU marketing director at seminar hosted by the Lester Senior Housing Senior Planning Services Community in March. shared valuable insights on patient advocacy, advance care planning, and a review of clinical and financial Medicaid eligibility guidelines. Approximately 75 professionals who work with older adults attended and earned continuing education credits.

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S.L., who was residing in Florida with her partner, came up north to attend her granddaughter’s wedding in NJ. While in NJ she suffered a stroke and her daughter concluded that she could not safely return to Florida alone. Her daughter’s home had many stairs so it would not be safe for her mother to stay there, so they searched for a place to try. S.L. was hesitant about moving and wasn’t set on the idea of living permanently in NJ, so her daughter initially looked for a place that offered respite stay so S.L. could try it out to see if she liked it. S.L. was not a “social butterfly,” and her daughter didn’t think her mother would participate in the activities offered, but she wanted a place where she knew her mother would be safe. S.L. moved to Weston Assisted Living as a respite resident and now resides there permanently. She has adjusted well and, much to her daughter’s surprise, takes part in many of the activities Weston has to offer. S.L. is rarely in her studio apartment and is typically spotted out and about, enjoying the community life that she has grown to love.

Lester Senior Housing Community Hosts Medicaid Eligibility Seminar in Honor of Social Work Month

Residents of B’nai B’rith Federation House Plan and Attend South Orange Senior Prom

Colton-Maxes Honored as Stars of Essex at Annual Jewish Heritage Celebration

The Chancellor Suite of Seton Hall University was the site for the first annual South Orange senior prom, hosted by South Orange Seniors (SOS) and the university’s Division of Volunteer Efforts (DOVE) on Sunday, April 12. South Orange B’nai B’rith Federation House resident Nan Samens, an active SOS advisory committee member, was one of the coordinators and attendees. Nearly 40 residents from both B’nai B’rith Village residents Esther Federation House and Village Apartments Segarnick and Sari Becker of the Jewish Federation were in attendance (approximately 100 people attended in all). The festivities included refreshments, dancing and musical entertainment by singer Peri Smilow and husband Budd Mishkin, a NY1 television reporter and host; the couple performed classic rock songs, followed by more music and dancing courtesy of a DJ. Mark Pressel, who lives at Village Apartments of the Jewish Federation and is a former Broadway musical director, selected the tunes for the DJ to play, to the delight of all who were there. Admission was free with the donation of a can of non-perishable food to help stock the shelves of Our Lady of Sorrows food bank, which is supported by Seton Hall University. Village residents Florence Rothman and Carl Pfeifer

The event was a great way for area seniors to get out and socialize with their peers, and an opportunity to make new friends.

Harold and Nomi Colton-Max (center) with Freeholder Pat Sebold (left) and Essex County Executive Joe DiVincenzo, Jr. who presented the couple with the Star of Essex County award.

Harold and Nomi Colton-Max were honored at Essex County’s Annual Jewish Heritage Celebration on April 29 with the Star of Essex County award, in recognition of their many contributions to the Jewish community: Harold, as the CEO of the Jewish Community Housing Corporation and Nomi for her service as Board President of Congregation Beth El in South Orange as well as with Ameinu and the Community Relations Council of the Federation of Greater MetroWest NJ. The Jewish Heritage Celebration acknowledges the significant impact the Jewish community has had, and continues to have, on the character, culture and economic growth of Essex County. The program included music, presentations and remarks from Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo, Jr., Assemblywoman Sheila Oliver, and the Colton-Maxes.

“We found that older people really wanted a social activity and without question, the South Orange Senior Prom filled a need in the community,” said Nan. “It was spectacular and everyone walked out with a smile on their face. People already want to sign up for next year.” Nan worked with fellow B’nai B’rith Federation House residents, and SOS members Tonia Moore and Peggy Cinberg, as well as Michelle Peterson from DOVE to put the dance together. Nan says that the event also helped foster a stronger connection to Seton Hall University. “The dance made South Orange residents more aware of the college and made Seton Hall aware that there are people here who want to take advantage of their services.” This winter, student volunteers from DOVE shoveled out residents’ cars at the two South Orange senior communities. Seton Hall offers senior discounts on its regular courses and also offers classes specifically for area seniors. “We are thrilled to be working with the dynamic leaders of the South Orange Seniors, who are filled with energy and vision,” said DOVE Director Michelle Peterson. “The Division of Volunteer Efforts at Seton Hall aims to serve our community through love and outreach. Our collaboration with SOS has been a wonderful experience for the seniors and Seton Hall students alike.” Of the 25 or so college students who participated, Nan says that, “The kids who volunteered helped make the day; there was a wonderful intergenerational feeling of warmth and camaraderie that they generated. It was just incredible.” Resident Rosalie Sussman was so impressed, she came into the office to tell Michelle Peterson (center) from Seton Hall Site Manager Bryna Stone how University’s DOVE office with B’nai B’rith Federation House residents and SOS members special the Senior Prom was. Nan Samens (left) and Tonia Moore. In addition to lauding Nan and the committee for all their hard work, she was also full of praise for the students. There is talk of a possible outdoor event this summer and Nan says SOS hopes to continue holding intergenerational programs, either with Seton Hall or with Columbia High School in South Orange. South Orange Seniors was created last May to address concerns and needs of older adults in South Orange.

Harold and Nomi Colton-Max accepting the Star of Essex County award at the 2015 Essex County Jewish Heritage Celebration.

The event took place at the Essex County Hall of Records and Harold and Nomi were presented the award by Mr. DiVincenzo, who cited our “power couple’s” leadership, dedication to public service, and their commitment to improving the lives of Essex County residents. Please join us in extending a heartfelt “mazal tov” to Harold and Nomi, who inspire us all!

JCHC University’s spring semester is in full swing Every year, the JCHC offers a series of adult learning courses for our residents through our JCHC University. The mission of JCHC University is “To promote healthy aging and provide lifelong learning experiences to the residents of the Jewish Community Housing Corporation, by offering unique and interesting courses for personal and educational growth.” These non-accredited seminars provides an opportunity for our seniors to learn something new, explore hobbies and interests, and have a great time doing so. Our engaging presenters offer a wide range of free courses that are open to residents in all buildings; the course catalog for spring is available from a link on our website’s Events page , http://jchcorp.org/events-2/.

“Friends of JCHC” Tributes

mazel tov, get well and in memoriam

From

Lifecycle Event

Andrew and Sharon Chavkin Andrew and Sharon Chavkin Andrew and Sharon Chavkin Andrew and Sharon Chavkin Andrew and Sharon Chavkin Andrew and Sharon Chavkin Andrew and Sharon Chavkin Andrew and Sharon Chavkin Andrew and Sharon Chavkin Harold Colton-Max Harold Colton-Max Harold Colton-Max Harold Colton-Max Harold Colton-Max

Mr. and Mrs. Jon Gurkoff Mr. and Mrs. Howard Cohen Mr. and Mrs. Zofar Svirsky Mr. and Mrs. Richard Kelin Bruce and Barbara Hausman Jaimee And Bruce Baumgarten Mr. and Mrs. Michael Rose & Family Mrs. Marsha Cohen Mrs. Ellen Lynette Rabbi Stanley and Cecille Asekoff Alan and Susan Hammer Amy Murnick McKeag and Mark McKeag Maxine Murnick Harrison and Bonnie Sterling

In honor of your new granddaughter In honor of your new granddaughter The memory of your son Avi In honor of your son’s wedding The memory of Sandra Augenblick In honor of Craig’s engagement to Lauren Pilger The memory of your son in law Scott Turen The memory of your father Leon Saunders The memory of your father Julius Harris The Bat Mitzvah of your granddaughter Grace Elizabeth Schapiro The birth of your grandaughter Madeline Rose on Nov 9, 2014 The birth of your daughter Eliana Violet on Nov 18, 2014 The birth of your granddaughter Eliana Violet on Nov 18, 2014 The engagements of your sons Lee to Jessica Roumel and Keith to Lani Mandelbaum Harold Colton-Max Lori and Steven Klinghoffer The marriage of your daughter Rachel to Noah Marcus Harold Colton-Max Reuben Rotman and Devorah Silverman The Bat Mitzvah of your daughter Maya Harold Colton-Max Andrew Silow-Carroll The passing of your father Irving Carroll Harold Colton-Max Mimi and Ken Heyman The birth of your granddaughter Zoey Azalea on Jan 20, 2015 Harold Colton-Max Andrew and Sharon Chavkin The birth of twin grandchildren Ethan Jordan and Emma Sophia Laurie Loughney Barbara Knopf The passing of your mother Jay and Jodi Murnick Richard and Marisa Stadtmauer The passing of your father Morris Stadtmauer Jay and Jodi Murnick Seryl and Charles Kushner The passing of your father Morris Stadtmauer Pat and Burt Sebold Elaine Pincus The passing of your brother Robert Bonda Pat and Burt Sebold Family of Herb Iris The passing of your wife Milly Iris Roberta and Walter Zweifler Elaine Pincus The passing of your brother Robert Bonda Roberta and Walter Zweifler Lee and Arthur Bergman The wedding of your granddaughter Roberta and Walter Zweifler Shoshana Paice The passing of David Paice Roberta and Walter Zweifler Dr. Evan Flatow The passing of your mother Eugenia Mortlock Flatow *To send a Tribute, contact Marcia Feldman at 973-530-3966 or email MarciaF@JCHCorp.org.

Four Endowment Funds –

Four Key Initiatives for our Seniors There are many ways to support the JCHC to the benefit of our residents. Generous individuals and organizations have seen fit to set up endowment funds that ensure our seniors have the services and programs they need to live life to the fullest in our four communities. Here is a brief description of these four endowments; please consider a donation to help fulfill their missions. The Weinberg Endowment Fund provides financial assistance for low-income seniors living in our unsubsidized apartment buildings. Established in 2001 by a $1 million gift from the Harry and Jeannette Weinberg Foundation out of Maryland that was matched by $2 million raised by the local MetroWest Jewish Community. The Schofel Family Endowment subsidizes activities and/or food programs for senior residents in need of financial assistance. This was established in 2005 by a $150,000 gift from former JCHC Board President Janice Schofel (z’l”). The Dorothy Lazarus Endowment for the Hearing-Impaired was established to purchase audiology equipment, hearing aids and pay for examinations of JCHC residents. Philanthropists Eugene W. and Joan Kalkin established the endowment in 2002 with a $25,000 gift.

The Pearl and Max Randall Endowment provides financial support for residents of our buildings to experience movies. If you wish to contribute to any of the particular initiatives supported by these endowments, please make your donation to the Friends of the JCHC and indicate the purpose on the memo line so that we can direct the funds accordingly. You may use the donation form included in this issue of the Chronicles.

You Can Help Us Raise Funds While You Shop on Amazon.com! You can support the JCHC every time you shop on Amazon.com (at no additional cost to you) with AmazonSmile. Just go to smile.amazon.com to start shopping—and Amazon will donate a portion of the purchase price to the JCHC. On your first visit to AmazonSmile, simply select the JCHC to receive donations from eligible purchases before you begin shopping. All products included in the fundraising program are marked “Eligible for AmazonSmile donation” on their product detail pages. You can use your existing Amazon account on AmazonSmile. The website will remember your non-profit organization, and then every eligible purchase you make at smile.amazon.com will result in a donation. Yes, it really is that easy.

To Support JCHC, fill out form below and mail to: The Jewish Community Housing Corp. of Metropolitan NJ, 760 Northfield Avenue, West Orange, NJ 07052 or donate online: www.Jchcorp.org

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760 Northfield Ave., West Orange, NJ 07052 | 973-731-2020 | www.jchcorp.org