AROUND TOWN

Baby
Bonanza

Beth Shalom baby shower celebrates
tots and toddlers.

A

Lily Citron, 3, of Huntington Woods with Elmo from Jokers4fun.com

big bash in honor of all things baby brought more than 250 expectant families, new
parents, grandparents and, of course, babies to Congregation Beth Shalom in Oak
Park for "The Greatest Baby Shower on EartV
The March 16 celebration, held in a ballroom filled with red and white balloons, lived up to
its name with baby boutiques, a moonwalk, crafts and games, an infant fashion show, prizes
and more. Local doctors, product specialists and safety experts were also on hand to answer
questions about topics like setting up a college fund, caring for newborns, childhood illnesses
and development.
"It's the kind of event where you can get all the information you need when you have that
little one said Susan Gartenberg of Bloomfield Hills, director of Beth Shalom's Gan Shalom
parenting center, preschool and camp. "It's a baby shower for the whole community and it's
been a lot of fun!"
Participants paid $10 for admission and were also asked to donate
a pack of diapers. The event, including a raffle and silent auction,
raised $3,000 for the Baby Pantry in Pontiac, which helps low-
income families purchase diapers, and the Friendship Circle in West
Bloomfield, which serves special-needs children and their families.
"It's a really cool idea and it supports good causes," said Rebecca
Feldman of Huntington Woods, who browsed around the room
with her husband, Gil, and their 1-year-old daughter, Nava.
Proud new grandmother Shelly Gordon of West Bloomfield also
seemed to be having fun looking at the various baby products.
"Being a new grandmother is fabulous; ifs delicious; it's the best
feeling in the world',' Gordon said. "There are some really cute little
T-shirts and wonderful Judaica for babies; its a really nice show.:'
Spotted in the baby shower crowd were: Leslie and Micha Zwick of Huntington Woods;
Andy Meisner of Ferndale; Aviva and Moses Fridman of Birmingham; Beth Ganezer
of Bloomfield Township; Natalie Zacks of Oak Park; Lori Gartenberg of Bloomfield Hills;
Elysa and Nathan White of Royal Oak; and Shiri Gordinier of West Bloomfield.

❑

Zoya and Evan Rice of

Leslie and Micha Zwick of Huntington

Woods with Emma, 11 months

A14

March 27 • 2008

Natile Zacks of Oak Park
and Jonah, 31/2

Triplets Bailey, Kylie and

Oak Park with Gabriella, 17 Madison Tarnopol, 4, of
months
West Bloomfield

Mike Fisher of Troy with

Phoebe, 9 months