Elizabeth Applebaum
Special to celebrate!
The JCC
is not just
a place
to play.
two-year-old Noa Pergament likes to party.
So, last September, Noa headed off to the Sarah
and Irving Pitt Child Development Center (CDC) at
the Jewish Community Center in West Bloomfield for
some big-time fun — toddler style.
"We had a fabulous joint second birthday party for our daughter,
Noa, and her best buddy, Jonah, in the CDC's toddler romp-n-roll
room," says Noa's mom, Adina Pergament of Huntington Woods.
"The kids all had a blast bouncing on the mini moonwalk,
playing on the riding toys and romping and rolling all over the
climbing equipment. The two CDC staff members were help-
ful, attentive and really went out of their way to make sure
our guests were comfortable and that all the kids had a great
time. They took care of the set up, clean up and everything in
between. We just had to show up."
A birthday party is just about the best thing that will happen to
a kid all year long. Consider: awesome presents, too much cake,
handfuls of candy and a whole day when Mom probably won't say,
"Clean up your room" or "Stop teasing your sister."
Organizing the party is another story. It means masterful planning,
endless shopping, crowd control and clean up along the lines of
that Exxon Valdez oil spill.
The inexperienced may not want to try it at home. In fact, this
is a job best left in the hands of professionals.
Meet Jennifer Frank.
Frank looks like any ordinary mortal, but she is much, much
more than that. Frank is in charge of party planning for the CDC.
5 8
celebrate: 2007
Your little one (1-5 years old) is having a party with 15 chil-
dren? No problem.
The CDC's party includes two hours in the Center's romp-n-roll
room, along with invitations, clean up, cups and plates and, best
of all, plenty of activities. Tiny children love games with the rain-
bow parachute, and in the summer they can head outdoors for
water play in the CDC's charming waterpark, Frank says.
A parent's responsibility in all this? Just show up 30 minutes
before the party. CDC takes care of the rest.
Sweet! But if your little one is no longer little, think big. There
are big pools at both the JCCs in West Bloomfield and Oak Park
where kids can hang out and splash around and, in general, be
cool, and each Center is a great place for good sports.
The JCC in West Bloomfield is home to an Inline Hockey Center,
where you can have an amazingly fun party. A crowd of high-ener-
gy boys waving their hockey sticks, screaming at the top of their
lungs and running throughout your home is certainly unappealing,
but IHC Director Theresa Fulgenzi will be happy to arrange for an
afternoon of inline hockey fun for them at the JCC.
Or at the Oak Park Center, try a kickboxing party with Kristy
Levy. Parties usually begin with games, sports and fun, followed
by cake in an event room. Guests are welcome to bring their
own activities, such as clowns, as well.
Edie Simons is administrative assistant for the Oak Park JCC's
sports and recreation department. Your party wish is her com-
mand. If you've got a little Rachael Ray who wants to do some-
thing yummo, Simons can coordinate a candy making theme.
Or if your son dreams of becoming Mr. Lifeguard, Simons can