ports
BOOMING Business
Health and phys ed programs at the Jewish Community Center are gaining in popularity.
Dan
Hamburger in
the expanded
weight room.
Photos by Glenn Triest
JEFF LESSON
SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS
ave you taken a look
at the Jewish Com-
munity Center lately?
You may still find pre-
sent and former NBA
players such as Dennis
Rodman running up
and down the Maple-
Drake basketball
court, but there is now
so much more.
When Ed Taylor
arrived last July at
the JCC as the new
director of health, physi-
cal education and fitness,
he liked what he saw.
Now 11 months later,
JCC members and guests
like what they see.
Taylor has harnessed
his 15 years of experience
as director of other JCC
health departments and
created perhaps the most
diverse and complete
physical education pro-
gram the JCC has ever
seen. Since he took over,
a variety of new programs
have been introduced.
The JCC recently
unveiled its first-ever
spring softball program
for adults, complete with
a brand-new softball dia-
mond and bleachers. The
program has already
received an excellent
resporise.• The youth
spring softball program
remains a big attraction.
A golf program was
started this year, com-
plete with its own head
professional, Stan
Maiberger, and an indoor
driving range with nets.
This summer, the ever-
popular outdoor sand vol-
leyball program for teens
returns. It includes a 20-
team league from B'nai
B'rith Youth Organiza-
tion.
The tennis program
works with five indoor,
air-conditioned courts and
three outdoor courts.
Through the efforts of Joe
James (head profession-
al), Jan Kriegle (head
administrator), and
Francine Linovitz (admin-
istrative assistant), the
tennis program is self-
sustaining. Revenue has
increased 74 percent. The
program is booming, espe-
cially with the younger
set.
Other summer pro-
grams available this year
include a Detroit Rockers
soccer camp, where mem-
bers of the local profes-
sional soccer team serve
as counselors, in addition
to assisting youngsters
with soccer skills. "There
will also be free tickets
available to Rockers
games as well as other
bonuses for camp partici-
pants," says assistant
physical education direc-
tor Brian Clayton.
Clayton is also involved
with the summer co-ed
basketball program —
Basketball Unlimited —
for youngsters ages 7 to
17. Tim Domke, head bas-
ketball coach at West
Bloomfield High School,
is the program director.
The first session begins
June 16. Present and for-
mer Detroit Pistons such
as John Long, Vinnie
Johnson and Dennis
Rodman assist with the
camps and also sign auto-
graphs.
Racquetball remains
popular with several
leagues and camps in
BOOMING page 42