Author: Shirley K. Washburn

For years, children with disabilities and their families have relied on the Jewish Community Center of Greater Baltimore to provide inclusive day camp experiences — first at Camp Milldale, which closed in 2015, and then at J Camps at the Owings Mills JCC. In June, J Camps became one of 15 day and overnight camps from around the country to be awarded a grant aimed at increasing the camp’s accessibility for children and staff with disabilities. Provided through the Foundation for Jewish Camp’s Yashar Initiative and funded by the Owings Mills-based Harry & Jeanette Weinberg Foundation, the grant is…

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Reisterstown resident Ella Galperin Zagranichny died on the night of Wednesday, July 27, after her 2019 Nissan Rogue plunged into Delight Quarry Lake, in the 600 block of Quarry View Court in Reisterstown. She was 71. A Zodiac rescue boat, dive unit and specialized tactical rescue team were dispatched to the quarry, as well as crews from the Franklin Fire Station. Zagranichny, who was driving alone, was pronounced dead at the scene at 9:56 p.m. by medical personnel, authorities reported. Family members believe that Zagranichny may have suffered a medical episode prior to driving her vehicle into the quarry. “She…

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Twenty Baltimore area youths were among the 350 participants from around the globe who traveled to Israel recently for a special seminar as part of the yearlong Diller Teen Fellowship, an immersive leadership program. The seminar took place from July 4-24. This year’s participants came from 16 communities in six countries, including Los Angeles, Miami, Chicago, San Francisco, Philadelphia. Boston, central New Jersey, Pittsburgh, Toronto, Montreal, Melbourne, Johannesburg, Buenos Aires and the United Kingdom. Each community has an Israeli partner community. After arriving in Israel, the teens traveled around and learned about the country, enjoyed a Shabbaton retreat experience and…

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Not to date myself but one of my all-time favorite musicals is “Brigadoon,” and one of my favorite television programs back in the day was “Highlander.” So I was enamored with Scotland long before I ever made it there for the first time. I’ve returned several times since and have yet to be disappointed. On my first trip, I accompanied friends visiting their son who was spending a semester in Edinburgh. For a first-timer, Edinburgh and the surrounding area is a good place to start. First on our agenda was a double-decker coach tour around the city. While Edinburgh is…

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By Caleb A. Guedes-Reed Strolling down Rua Martinho Prado in São Paulo’s city center, it’s hard to miss Temple Beth-El. The short, hexagonal building with Hebrew writing on its walls, which remained almost unchanged since its inauguration in 1932, stands out in a street lined with modern high-rise buildings. The temple, which has sat empty since its last High Holiday service in 2007, has been given a new life and transformed into the Jewish Museum of São Paulo, set to open on Dec. 5. It will be the largest institution in Brazil dedicated to the history of the country’s Jewish…

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By David I. Klein ISTANBUL (JTA) — The Istanbul Airport is one of the busiest in Europe, serving nearly 40 million people in 2021. Many of its observant Jewish travelers often get stuck in layovers there without kosher food options. Now they have a flashy new go-to: a kosher vending machine, in addition to hot kosher meals sold in some of the airport’s lounges. Since last month, the Kosher Food Point machine has offered sandwiches in the airport’s main mezzanine. All of the airport’s new kosher food is provided by the Istanbul-based caterer La Casa — which means “the home”…

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One of the most enjoyable aspects of gardening is strolling along the aisles of a nursery or garden center. The colors and scents of new plants offer a feast for the senses. But however tempted you are to purchase vegetables, annuals, perennials, shrubs and trees on display, it is best not to act impulsively. A well-thought-out planting guide will reward you in the long-term. The gardener’s first thoughts should focus on the plant’s light requirements. Before purchasing, know how much sunlight the plant requires and be sure that your property or location can provide it. Ask yourself, does it need…

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Hooray, it’s May! That means it’s time to sow vegetable and flower seeds and transplant seedlings. But what are the best ways to go about these projects? Read on to get all the dirt (pun intended). Veggies Sown Directly in Soil Some vegetables do quite well when planted directly in good quality, rich, well-drained garden soil. These include snap beans, beets, carrots, swiss chard, leaf and romaine lettuce, cucumbers, kohlrabi, potatoes, pumpkins, radishes, summer squash, sweet potatoes (sprout slips) and watermelon. Follow directions on the seed package for planting depth, seed spacing, space between rows, days to germination, space after…

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This article was provided by Window Nation. Vinyl windows are low maintenance, and now that spring is here, anything on the exterior of your home should probably be on your list of things that need a deep clean. A combination of melting slush, spring rains, and the grime of the changing seasons can leave your windows streaked with dirt and crud. The good news is, replacement windows made with vinyl are easy to maintain and clean. Keep your windows squeaky clean and looking their best, with minimum elbow grease required. Here are our best tips for how to clean vinyl…

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This article was provided by the Maryland Energy Administration. The Maryland Energy Administration (MEA) has opened the application period for the Tax Year 2022 (TY 2022) Maryland Energy Storage Income Tax Credit Program. This program is designed to encourage the deployment of energy storage systems in Maryland. In Tax Year 2021, MEA issued 164 residential and commercial tax credits certificates for energy storage systems totaling more than 1.99 megawatts and 3.77 megawatt-hours. “We’re excited to announce the continuation of the nation’s first energy storage income tax credit after issuing all funds in TY2021”, explained Mary Beth Tung, Director of the…

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