ccording to Michele Cairgle, before she and her husband
iThRoderick hired Gittleman to complete basement renovations
on their Franklin home, it was bare bones, to say the least.

"Essentially, our basement was completely unfinished. It was
just concrete and one wall. We wanted a place that would
extend our home for our family — a place for the kids to play,
a place to entertain. And we wanted it to be a reflection of our
upper level," she explained.

Children's Stories
For Passover

T

here can be so much more
to storytelling for chil-
dren on Passover than the
Haggadah," says Harold Grinspoon
of Pennsylvania, founder of the PJ
Library, which gifts high-quality
Jewish children's books, free-of-charge
each month, to Jewish families in 32
communities, including Detroit.
The PJ (pajama) Library Book
Selection Committee, headed by
Natalie Mitt, highly recommends these
books:
For age 1: What I Like About
Passover by Varda Livney (Little
Simon, board edition). In this charm-
ing board book, a little girl lists all the
best things about coming together for
Passover, such as "crunchy matzah"
and "being with all of you!"
For age 2: This Is Passover! by
Santiago Cohen (Blue Apple Books).
Young children learn all about the
Passover rituals in this delightful take-
off of "The House That Jack Buie
For age 3: Dinosaur on Passover by
Diane Levin Rauchwerger (Kar-Ben).
A big over-zealous dinosaur shows up
at a little boy's house to help him pre-
pare for and enjoy Passover.
For age 4: The Matzo Ball Boy by
Lisa Shulman (Penguin). A lonely
bubbie decides to make a matzah ball
in the shape of a boy in this Yiddish
take-off of the Gingerbread Man story.
For age 5: Mrs. Katz and Tush by
Patricia Polacco (Random House). A
touching story about a young African-
American boy who learns much more
about love, friendship and Passover
than he expects when he gives an
elderly Jewish woman a kitten to keep
her company.
For age 6: Matzo Ball Moon by
Leslea Newman (Clarion). Bubbie's
matzah balls are so delicious nobody
in her family can resist stealing one
out of the pot. But where will they
find more when there are none left for
Bubbie at the seder?
Until recently, the PJ Library pro-
gram was limited to children 1-3
years old. Thanks to the generosity of
the Applebaum Family Foundation
through the Jewish Federation of
Metropolitan Detroit, PJ now is avail-
able in Detroit for children up to 6
years.
Within two-three months of sign-
ing up, children will receive a care-

fully selected book or CD addressed
to them. The first year is free.
Subsequent years cost $18 per year.
To sign up, contact Lisa Soble
Siegmann, Federation's Alliance for
Jewish Education, (248) 205-2534 or
e-mail siegmann@jfmd.org .

Why Gittleman? Michele said the decision was an easy one.

"We interviewed several contractors based on referrals, their
reputation and qualifications," she said, noting that Gittleman
struck them as being the most forthright.

"They were totally upfront about setting expectations and
about the costs. I've heard horror stories about renovation
projects, but Gittleman respected our family's privacy and
always cleaned up at the end of the day."

Furthermore, Michele said she enjoyed the fact that everyone at Gittleman worked together as a team to
complete the renovations.

"I liked their approach. Everyone we had contact with seemed to be familiar with our project. Everyone was on
the same page, and the staff was pleasant."

Today, the Cairgles enjoy a fully remodeled lower level that offers a whole new dimension of living space, yet
blends perfectly with the rest of their home. Gittleman redesigned their basement to include a kitchen with bar
area, a family room, bathroom, game room, play area, gym and a walkout with Jacuzzi.

Though the renovations have only been complete for a month, the Cairgles wasted no time and have already
hosted a gathering in their new basement.

"My favorite part is probably the kitchen — but I like it all!"

So the next time you want to transform the ordinary into the extraordinary, call the team you can trust to meet
your family's needs...Call Gittleman.

JUST ASK THE CAIRGLE'S.

GITTLEMAN

CONSTRUCTION inc

28580 ORCHARD LAKE RD., SUITE 102
FARMINGTON HILLS, MI 48334

248.538.5400

www.g ittleman .net

1187340

CUS TOM

RENOVATIONS

Life challenging.

Pesach
Limerick

Life changing.

Seder Nisht Beseder*

With four cups, chrain** and fish,
Knaidlach,*** borsht and knish.
In a graise**** delight,
We read Haggadah all night

ORT changes lives by providing the

Farshikert,***** farshlofn,******
and oifn tish.*******

* nisht beseder — not in order
** chrain — horseraddish
*** knaidlach — matzah balls
**** graise — big
***** farshikert — drunk
****** farshlofn — sleepy
******* oifn tish — on the table

Rachel Kapen of West Bloomfield
prepared this limerick in memory
of the late Mary Jo Fleischmann,
longtime Yiddish limerick writer
for the JN.

educational opportunities that empower

270,000 people annually to build

a better life and improve the world.

Educating individuals.

Impacting communities.

Improving the world.

DIRT

AMERICA

ortamerica.org/jwn

March 29 2007

41

