YOUTH

Brad Weiss chooses his "weapons."

Leanie Gunsberg is proud of the new program.

Connection member. "It was nice, I
liked it," she said. She came to the se-
cond Then Connection event "because
they are fun." What did she like about
it? "Just the kids and everything!'
Danielle Gutter, 12, one of J.J.'s
bowling partners, said she did not
come specifically for the bowling. "I'm
trying to get away from my sister," she
said. The third member of the group,
Monica Beck, 13, added, "We're the
three worst bowlers in the world!'
Monica was surprised by the turn-
out. "I didn't think a lot of people
would come!' But after bowling one
game she said of the event, "It's fun.
I like being with my friends." Monica
met "a lot" of new people and said she
will attend future Then Connection
events.

Teen Connection

7th and 8th graders have a
new monthly activity for their
social calendars

MIKE ROSENBAUM

Special to The Jewish News

I

t looked like typical Sunday after-
noon youth bowling league action
in Farmington Hills. The lanes
were filled with exuberant
seventh and eighth-graders, hap-
pily bowling and chatting with
friends (not necessarily in that order
of importance), dashing between the
lanes and the pop machines or the
snack bar, then hopping over to in-
form friends on other lanes of their
latest bowling wizardry.
With the wide range of bowling
skills being demonstrated, some of
those triumphs were strikes and
spares, while others were pleased to
have kept two straight balls out of the
gutters. But most importantly, as the
Beatles said several years before any
of the day's participants were born, a
pleasant time was guaranteed for all.

The event was not a regular
league but the second event of the
Detroit chapter of the Teen Connec-
tion. The Teen Connection is a na-
tional idea to provide social activities
for Jewish teens. The local group is a
joint program of the Jewish Com-
munity Center and the B'nai B'rith
Youth Organization.
The first Then Connection event,
at the Jewish Community Center in
October, was an informal evening of
dancing and gym activities, such as
racquetball, volleyball, basketball
and walleyball.
Local Teen Connection leaders are
Arnie Weiner of the B'nai B'rith
Youth Organization and Leanie
Gunsberg of the JCC. Forming the
local chapter, says Gunsberg, "was
something that was decided by both
agencies, basically, to bring this type
of program here. There really wasn't
anything available to teenagers in

J.J. Spoon has her own style.

this area."
The bowling party also featured a
pizza dinner. Families were informed
of the event through the mail and
through flyers. Many of the bowlers
had not attended the first Then Con-
nection function at the JCC, but J.J.
Spoon, 12, had and became a Teen

Two groups of boys had similar
opinions on nearby lanes. David
Siporin, 12, attended the bowling par-
ty because "I like hanging out with
friends." Jeff Fixler, 12, came
"because my friends were gonna be
here and because I like bowling" Will
he attend more Teen connection
events? "Yeah, of course."
Andrew Rudick, 12 "and three-
quarters," said he was having fun and
would likely attend future events, "If
I'm free, I'll go," he said. Brian
Anstandig, 11%, attended, "because
some of my friends were coming, and
I like to bowl." He enjoyed, "bowling,
meeting some friends!'
Larry Kovacs, 12, said, "I like it,
it's fun:' He may attend future Then
Connection gatherings, although, "it
depends what the event is." Will he