Birth Of A Dream

Friendship Circle's newest addition is expected next spring.

Isabella Adelman, 7, of West Bloomfield sits in a
mini-Hummer to be used in LifeTown.

SHELLI LIEBMAN DORFMAN
Staff Writer

B

assie Shemtov may have four children of
her own, but in many ways, the Ferber
Kaufman LifeTown Building is her baby,

too.
So when it came time for furnishings to be pur-
chased for the new facility, she held a "furniture
shower," with gifts to be chosen from an online
registry.

Bassie Shemtov gives a presentation about LifeTown.

vah or birthday," Shemtov said.
LifeTown — due to be completed next March
Shemtov said the shower also was meant to
— will be a 20,000-square-foot therapy and activ-
start a woman's league for volunteers as well as for
ity center and social meeting place for children
future similar fund-raising projects. It was beyond
with special needs. They will be able to learn
successful," she said. "The most amazing part was
social and life skills through role playing.
how the committee of 40 women created this
Housed on the Meer Family Friendship Center
Campus in West Bloomfield, LifeTown's highlight unbelievable buzz around town, and how every-
one just hearing about the Friendship Circle for
will be LifeVillage, an interactive miniature city.
the first time wants to get involved." II
It will include a bank, library, movie theater,
laundromat, general store, restaurant and pet
To purchase a gift for the Ferber Kaufman
shop. Each will have a fully decorated working
LifeTown Building, access the registry at:
interior, with volunteers acting as shopkeepers.
wvv-w.lifetown.org or call the Friendship Circle
LifeTown also will include a working traffic
at (248) 788-7878.
light for street-crossing practice, a park with an
actual hot dog stand and a workshop where chil-
dren can practice trades,
like mechanical repairing
and carpentry, with child-
safe tools and supplies.
The 260 women who
attended the Nov. 17
shower at the West
Bloomfield home of
Annette and Brian
Adelman purchased
$69,000 worth of gifts.
They bought things
needed to furnish
LifeTown, from comput-
ers to a fish aquarium to
blocks," Shemtov said.
Even though the shower
is over, the registry will
remain online. "We hope
people will continue to go
to it when they want to
give something — in lieu
The evening's entertainment included a session with hypnotist Jim Hoke of
of gifts — for a bar mitz-
Bloomfield Hills.

Muriel Moray of Franklin spends a moment with the water room display.

12/ 3
2004

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