action," he said. "They have
different religions and cultures
and some don't speak much
English."
After completion of the park,
he sees a first step to improving
relations would be to hold a spe-
cial dinner with ethnic foods.
Later, he would like to establish a
neighborhood association.
Besides Kulish, the park-plan-
ning committee includes school
liaisons from the Chaldean and
Vietnamese communities, the
president of the Lessenger PTA
and staff from the Oak Park
Department of Public Works,
Recreation and Public Safety.
Claudette Lunkins, vice presi-
dent of the Oak Park school
Federation's Alan Gelfond and Harold Kulish stand with a group of children. Marion Freedman
board and a park committee
of the Neighborhood Project is at right.
member, described the meetings
leading up to the dedication day
as a four-month-long process.
Gent
with
the
Oak
Park
Business
and
At the May 19 planting party, some
"We
started
in February" she said. "Each
Education
Alliance,
Kulish
came
to
her,
350 teachers, parents and students
of
the
seven
members had ideas, but
and
she
proposed
Lessenger,
south
of
seemed not to notice the cold, mud
everybody's
goal
was to make these kids
Nine
Mile
and
east
of
Scotia.
and drizzle as they ran outside with
happy"
The park program was coordinated
tools and determination to build their
And happy they appeared, dancing in
by Federation's Neighborhood Project, a
new park.
organized,
well-behaved trains and cir-
popular program that makes no-interest
In the middle of the crowd, over-
cles,
to
the
music of the Steel Drum
loans to Jews buying homes in Oak Park
seeing planters and offering high-fives
Band,
provided
by the school, eating a
and Southfield and helps to promote
to the kids, was Howard Kulish of
barbecued
hot
dog
lunch.
those
communities.
West Bloomfield. Freedman said the
"The
long-term
objective
is not sim-
Assisted
by
Ron
Payok,
principal
of
park was Kulish's special dream. He's a
ply
to
build
a
park,
but
to
empower
resi-
Lessenger,
Freedman
established
the
community volunteer who, after re-
dents of the school and surrounding
Lessenger School Park Project, and
establishing a similar park and neigh-
neighborhood to take ownership of the
chose to build it in the grassy area to the
borhood association in Detroit 3 1/2
park, help maintain it and take pride in
east of the school.
years ago, decided he wanted to create
it," Freedman said.
For Kulish, this will be more than a
these in Oak Park, too.
Principal Ron Payok said some of
park; it will help build a community.
"I am a bird-watcher and I like the
that
responsibility will fall on the
"Lessenger
is
in
a
neighborhood
outdoors. I wanted to bring something
school's
parents. "In the summer
with
three
ethnic
groups
—
Chaldean,
to children who have little opportunity
months,
they will be responsible for the
Vietnamese
and
African-American
to go to the country," said the former
upkeep," said Tammy Attisha, president
families — who have very little inter-
teacher. Hearing of Freedman's involve-

of the school's Parent Teacher
Association. "They already have their
assignments."
Already pledged to help is May
Khosho, whose children, Ashley 9, and
Alexander, 7, are among the young
planters this day "Of course I'll be vol-
unteering," she said. "I love this school.
It's like my family"
Many of the children are already
experienced planters. Laquinyana Roney,
8, said, "At home, I plant sunflower
seeds and dandelions."
"I plant dandelions, too — and
weeds," added schoolmate Amanda
Hana, 9. "I water them every day."
Lessenger, a school housing first
through third graders, supplied the
kid-power, with each student planting
one of the flowers. Public safety officer
James Luxton, a police community
liaison, enlisted the support of older
students from Key Elementary and
Roosevelt Middle School to help plant
larger items, like the trees.
Two trees, two benches, a barbecue
and picnic table were donated by the
city, a picnic table and refreshments for
the event came from Kulish. The school,
Kulish and Federation's Neighborhood
Project donated the T-shirts.
The park will be renamed at a later
date for school benefactor Lew Price,
honoring him for his commitment to
Lessenger. Payok made the suggestion.
Attisha sees the project as an oppor-
tunity for the diverse community to
combine. "This is really a way to meet
different people," she said.
"The hope is for the park to grow
and expand every year," Payok added,
referring to both the trees and the-
community that will join together in
their shade.

❑

May 25 Event Honors Gina And Arthur Horwitz

0

n May 25, more than 400 guests
gathered at Congregation Shaarey
Zedek to honor Gina and Arthur
Horwitz. The couple founded the
Detroit Friends of AYLYN with friends 11
years ago.
"The chapter is the jewel in our national
roster of local chapters," said national executive
director Cathy Lanyard, a representative of the -
Jerusalem rehabilitation hospital.
ALYN stands for Agudah Le-ezrat Yeladim
Nachim, Organization to Aid Handicapped
Children. In English, the acronym means All
The Love You Need.
Brenda Hirsch, ALYN's executive director
for 20 years, summarized the hospital's philos-
ophy: "A handicap is not an obstacle. It is a
challenge which can be overcome."

U." 4.4

6/2

2000

32

The evening featured a strolling dinner and
dessert, along with a full-bodied performance
of Eastern European and Israeli melodies by
the violin-piano duo of Mikhail Popov and
Arkaidy Gips. In addition, audience members
enjoyed the duo of
Daniel Seth Horwitz
and his grandfather,
Philip Wesler.

-Diana-Lieberman

From left,
Brenda Hirsch
and Cathy
Lanyard of
AYLYN, Gina
and Arthur
Horwitz

.9

Philp Wesler and grandson Daniel
Horwitz share a moment in the spotlight.

