Weekend Warriors

Former Oak Park High School
classmates still have the chops in
Old Timers Softball Championship.

Jeff Kranitz
Special to the Jewish News

T

he jump from batter's box to first base may have slowed
some, but the second annual Oak Park Old Timers Softball
Championship still featured plenty of hot bats and fancy glove

work.
Organizer and team captain Sheldon Rosenberg said it took three
hours of player analysis, old stories and much negotiation before the 48
players were drafted into four teams of 12. Rosenberg and co-captains,
Joel Noble, David Weiner and Larry Sherman, had plenty of veteran
manpower to work with from the OPHS classes of 1964-75. Game day
was Sunday, Aug. 5, drawing an enthusiastic crowd of more than 200
friends and family members, who were treated to two semi-finals and
a championship game. The teams took the field at West Bloomfield's
Drake Sports Park and put on quite a show.
Everyone in attendance enjoyed the high level of competition, cama-
raderie and affection for one another. David "Wally" Weiner chased
down a long pop fly and made an incredible catch. Earlier in the game,
his '69 classmate Neil Weiner tried doing the same, but took an incred-
ible tumble.
There were bruises, pulled muscles and sprained ankles, but
everyone made it to the finish line. Larry Sherman's team — the pre-
tournament underdog — pulled off an upset and walked away with the
champion trophy. The trophy will remain in their possession until next
year, when the 2012 champion is crowned.
Rosenberg says they'll do it all over again "for the love of the game."

Michael Zipser of Farmington Hills takes a swing.

David Weiner of Oak Park on base with Larry

Larry Keshner of Grand Rapids is about to

Foote of West Bloomfield nearby

tap home plate.

Anniversary With Meaning

A monumental menorah at The Shul marks Martin Abel's love for God and for his wife.

Photos by Aa ron Kluc k

M

artin Abel of West Bloomfield wanted to honor his 65th wedding anniversary
to his wife, Phyllis, with something especially meaningful. So the retired
manufacturing engineer, inventor and entrepreneur designed an elaborate
9-foot stainless steel menorah that was unveiled in a well-attended ceremony Aug. 10 at
the entrance to The Shul-Chabad Lubavitch campus in West Bloomfield.
Abel is a longtime supporter of the Lubavitch movement, and his menorah represents
the Lubavitch principle of spreading light throughout the world.

The Abels surrounded by family members

The Abels stand together as the

menorah is unveiled.

The lighted menorah shines against the
night sky.

Aug st 25 20"

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