Printer Friendly

Email to A Friend

Friday October 19, 2007

Faces

by suzan berns

Celebrating at 106

Elsie Rich of Santa Rosa turned 106 in August and the whole town came out to celebrate. The festivities started in July with a story in j. by correspondent Steven Friedman, about which Elisabeth Van Nuys reports, “Elsie and about 300 of her friends loved it.”

On Aug. 5, some 150 of Elsie’s friends gathered for a “Viennese Brunch for Elsie” (Elsie was born in Vienna) at Congregation Beth Ami. Santa Rosa Mayor Bob Blanchard dropped in and was so taken by the birthday girl that he threw a second party for her at a Santa Rosa City Council meeting. The packed hall joined together to sing a tribute song that was written for Elsie by Paula and Rabbi George Schlesinger.

Elsie spoke at the event and was interrupted three times by standing ovations. When the Press Democrat heard about the city council celebration, the daily newspaper featured Elsie on its front page.

And there’s more … River Rock Casino, which Van Nuys says is Elsie’s favorite, joined the tribute by sending a limo to pick up Elsie and 10 friends and treat them to “a day of champagne, gambling, lunch, gambling money and a birthday party.” What are they going to do for 107?

Bruce’s brew

Brian Yaeger, j.’s circulation and marketing manager, who has traveled from Portland, Maine, to Portland, Oregon, to do research for a book about American brewers, found a unique brew at home. Schmaltz Brewing Company, the makers of He’Brew beer, paid homage to the late satirist Lenny Bruce with “Lenny on Rye” — an ale aged in rye whiskey barrels, which was available only at a commemorative event on Oct. 3.

The gathering marked the anniversary of Bruce’s first arrest for obscenity on Aug. 4, 1961 and what would have been his 82nd birthday on Oct. 13.

Short shorts …

At a party for Rabbi Doug Kahn in honor of his 25 years with the Jewish Community Relations Council, Mike Jacobs invited attendees to make a five-word toast. JCRC administrative assistant Lorri Marshall, who has often been responsible for ordering food for meetings, toasted “Strength to strength, with chocolate.” Past presidents Jacobs, Andy Colvin, Michael Futterman, David Steirman and Danny Grossman hosted the event, which was held at David and Ann Steirman’s Hillsborough home.

Gary Cohn is leaving Congregation Emanu-El after 17 years as executive director. He’ll be honored at Shabbat services on Oct. 26 … Eric Stone has been named executive director of Temple Beth Jacob in Redwood City. He succeeds Amy Keer, who will be honored for her four years of service on Saturday, Dec. 15 … Iris Lax is the new director of marketing and communications for the Osher Marin JCC.

Lawrence Helman writes that Jewish comedian Sandra Bernhard will be a judge and performer at the annual Miss Trannyshack Pageant on Nov. 17 at the Gift Center.

A personal note …

… about managing editor Woody Weingarten, who is leaving j. For 22 years, we’ve chatted and laughed and argued. He dug in his heels and said no to many of my “great story” ideas — no matter how I pitched them. And he helped me to develop others. He’s a friend and a true journalist, and I’ll miss working with him at j. But, as I told him, now we can have lunch in Marin.

This columnist can be reached at faces@jweekly.com.