Volume 35 Issue 3

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The Lion’s Tale

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Volume 35 Issue 3

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December 6, 2017

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CESJDS

the lion’s tale

When a good life needs a new home Pg. 06 - 07

Faculty achieves zen with yoga, pg. 02

Foster dogs find home, pg. 08

Juicy new spot shines in Bethesda, pg. 11

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the lion’s tale

News Briefs Dec. 12-20 Hanukkah Hanukkah begins on Tuesday, Dec. 12 and ends the following Wednesday. It will be celebrated in school through multiple candle lighting assemblies.

Dec. 14, 16 and 17 High school musical The high school cast of “Nice Work If You Can Get It” will perform the musical on the dates listed above, at 7:30 p.m., 8 p.m. and 4 p.m., respectively.

Dec. 22-Jan. 1 Winter break The vacation will last 11 days, and classes will resume on Jan. 2.

Jan. 7 JSA Chapter Convention The JDS Junior State of America chapter will hold a chapter convention at the Upper School campus. There will be a variety of debate opportunities and a keynote speaker. It will be held from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and admission will cost $5.

Jan. 8-9 Middle school musical auditions Auditions for “The Little Mermaid,” will be held after school on Jan. 8 and 9.

Callbacks will be on Jan. 10.

compiled by amelia davidson and sara sporkin

Follow The Lion’s Tale on Instagram @jdslionstale for exclusive content

Stretched out addie bard contributing editor

After a recent focus on mindfulness and wellness for students, a unique opportunity has opened up for staff: faculty yoga classes.

The class takes place at school, either in the exhibition hall or cafeteria, from 4 - 5 p.m. They are taught

by INA Wellness, a mindfulness-focused company that offers a wide variety of yoga education programs.

INA Wellness first came to CESJDS last spring, when founder Lisa Danahy led a mindfulness and yoga class to students enrolled in the Human Development course. After seeing how well students responded to the program, JDS invited Danahy back to lead a faculty yoga program during professional week prior to the start of the school year.

“Our goal is in part to raise the awareness level school-wide around wellness and provide opportunities for skill building,” high school guidance counselor Rachel Soifer said.

“We know that students around the nation are struggling with anxiety and we wanted to do our part to respond, provide resources and promote a culture shift toward healthier coping habits.”

According to Soifer, the faculty yoga class was so well-received that JDS decided to bring in a yoga instructor for faculty after school at a reduced rate. There are typically between ten and 15 teachers in attendance.

“It’s one experience to go to a yoga class at the end of the day and immerse yourself in a relaxed atmosphere that invites a calm mind,” Soifer said. “It’s different altogether to bring yoga right into the school and practice mindfulness with my colleagues in the same environment where the real ups and downs happen. To learn techniques to de-stress right in the middle of our hectic lives is very valuable experience that we hope to promote."

High school math teacher Victoria Ball and yoga participant also

Teachers relax with after school yoga

appreciates having the classes at school with her colleagues, though she was initially doubtful.

“I thought I would be uncomfortable doing yoga with people I knew," Ball said. "I thought I would prefer to do it with strangers just because it can be a little embarrassing sometimes, but it has been a very supportive environment."

After the initial class during professional week, Ball appreciated how the class made her feel “centered” and “at peace,” despite the fact that she had never been interested in yoga in the past. When the school said it would be offering classes, Ball was excited about the opportunity.

Ball found that the yoga instructors were very experienced and catered the class well to the varied skill levels of the JDS teachers. Danahy has led faculty yoga classes at other schools, and she feels that it is important to work with the whole school community, not just the students.

“If I am teaching the students

how to be aware, how to focus, how to relax, it helps for me to teach the same things for the teachers because when the students and the teachers know the same tools, it is easier for them to remind each other to use them,” Danahy said.

Danahy pointed out the importance of creating a time and place for the teachers to “rebalance, strengthen and relax” as a way to take care of themselves since they are frequently taking care of others during the school day. Yoga and mindfulness classes can be beneficial across the school because they give faculty members a chance to breathe and move and give students a competition-free environment without judgment.

“Every time I do yoga with them they are able to connect with their own intuition, they are able to remember who they really are,” Danahy said. “It doesn’t matter who you are; you get there and it feels awesome.”

Stem program changes in pictures

Middle school STEM electives:

Coding Robotics 3-D print and design Digital animation Engineering

compiled by sara sporkin

New STEM courses in high school: 3-D print and design Java class Robotics team

Above: 3-D print and design teacher Terrilynn Platt helps a student create a threedimensional model.

Left: A Lower School student fits together a set of gears.

Right: Middle school students measure the velocity of a cart on a ramp. photos courtesy of laurie ehrlich

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Triangle School Project connects Arab, Jewish students ilana kaplan reporter A junior Hebrew class will have the chance to collaborate internationally with students in Israel through a new program called the Triangle School Project.

Originally called “Dialogue Through Cinema,” the program began during the 2014-2015 school year in Israel when the Israeli Ministry of Education was approached by the Abraham Fund. The fund’s goal is to bridge the gap between Jews and Arabs, and to that end, they connected two Israeli schools, one Jewish Israeli and one Christian Arab-Israeli.

JDS got involved when the Jewish Federation of Greater Washington reached out to the school in 2016. The partnership will run through Hebrew teacher Shelli Putterman-Kennett’s junior level nine advanced Hebrew class. The JDS students will be able to learn more about different perspectives within Israel and contribute their American perspectives about Israeli issues.

High School Principal and Associate Head of School Marc Lindner

said the program has a lot to offer in the long run for bringing together diverse faiths and cultures. “[The ultimate goal of the program] is that this will be one step towards creating peaceful relations between all of these different groups,” Lindner said.

While JDS students will not meet face-to-face with the Israelis, they will connect both in and out of class through Skype sessions and oh an online discussion interface called Padlet. The goal of these conversations will be to foster bonds and dialogue between the three schools in a supportive and intellectual environment.

Initial conversations will focus on the Hebrew television series “Arab Labor.” The fictional television series follows an Arab-Israeli family as it navigates prejudiced interactions between Jewish-Israelis and Arab-Israelis. The show was written by Arab-Israeli journalist Sayed Kashua, whose goal was for viewers to gain an understanding of diverse Israeli lifestyles. In their discussions, students from all three schools will respond to the dilemmas brought up

in the show and discuss how these ideas can be extrapolated to real life conflicts.

“Everyone has something different to bring to the table that they can talk about and discuss,” Putterman-Kennett said in Hebrew.

Later, students at the two schools in Israel will pair up and make movies together as their final project. The movies will focus on communication and dialogue between the two communities. The JDS students will be able to learn about the movie-making process from the students working on the films in Israel.

Even though the movie process will not officially begin until the second semester, two educators from the schools in Israel as well as two Abraham Fund representatives came and spoke with the JDS students to kick off the program during the last week of October. Students were able to learn about the educators’ work and see pictures of the Israeli students they will be engaging with.

“I think it’ll just be interesting to learn about people who live in such a different world, and I’m just

curious to see what their outlook is on life,” said junior Tamar Eisen, a participant in the project.

When Putterman-Kennett first heard about the project, she said it seemed like an incredible opportunity, as it will allow students to have a chance to hear about Israel from

their peers, as opposed to parents and teachers.

“Our students will have the opportunity to speak in Hebrew and with other students their age that speak Hebrew,” Putterman-Kennett said. “What is more beautiful? It is very authentic.”

photo courtesy of laurie ehrlich Jewish-Israeli teacher Yuval Baril speaks to students about the Triangle School Project. Baril partnered with a teacher at an Arab school to start the program.

Speaker Series highlights need for unique educational focus shira godin contributing editor Julie Skolnick, founder of With Understanding Comes Calm, will kick off the CESJDS Speaker Series on Dec. 6.

Skolnick will talk about understanding gifted students with disabilities. The lecture will be held at 7:30 p.m. in the Beit Midrash.

Skolnick guides and teaches parents of “gifted and distractible” children, who are “twice exceptional” or “2e.” An individual who is "2e" is a particularly intelligent student who has a learning difference. Skolnick plans to discuss the word “gifted” and what it means during her session. She will explain how “gifted” children are often pressured to meet high expectations, which can be challenging for them, especially if they are "2e."

“If you aren’t in lockstep with expectations, you are going to be pushed back,” Skolnick said.

The Speaker Series was created during the 2016-2017 school year to educate parents and faculty on different topics regarding learning. Located at the Upper School, the series included five speakers and up to 70 attendees per session.

Director of Educational Support Services Lenore Layman said that the Speaker Series was something that she wanted to create ever since she began working at JDS nine years ago.

“It was time for [JDS] to move forward with providing an opportunity for parents to hear from experts from fields that can increase their level of knowledge about students who might learn differently,” Layman said.

Although the Speaker Series was initially only provided for JDS parents and faculty, the school has opened it up this year to other local organizations.

“We want people to know that JDS is really committed to meeting

diverse student needs and to get the students at the Lower School. She word out there,” Layman said. thinks that if the series temporarily The series is primarily orga- changed campuses, it may attract a nized through the Educational Sup- greater variety of JDS parents. port Services department, but it is Skolnick believes that the edalso sponsored by the Parent Asso- ucation system is not setup to acciation. As a parent of three Lower commodate "2e" students, so she School students, co-president of the appreciates the opportunity to speak PA Elana Mendelson attended two sessions last year “We want people to know that JDS and found that they were very is really committed to meeting helpful and relediverse student needs and to get vant.

“It is a very the word out there.” useful program for - director of educational support parents,” Mendelson said. “It was services lenore layman not overwhelming at all.”

Although Mendelson enjoyed the lecture, she on the topic. She said teachers and would like to see it held at the Lower parents tend to have a set idea of School every once in awhile. Mendel- who they think "2e" kids are, which son said that the Upper School can is someone who is a “challenge” and be intimidating to parents who have “doesn’t have a lot of control.” Skol-

nick will give parents and educators strategies to avoid these stereotypes and teach them ways to help their "2e" children succeed.

“These kids are the ones who are going to change the world,” Skolnick said. “We need to adjust for them, they don’t need to adjust for us.”

In the future, Layman would like to make the Speaker Series available for students. She has high hopes for the series this year and is excited to attend this year’s sessions.

“It is something that I hope will become a yearly part of our offerings here,” Layman said.

The next of these offerings will be on Jan. 24, when Rebecca Resnik will speak about how parents can help their kids reach their full potential. Neuropsychologist William Stixrud will follow on March 7 with a talk about the book that he recently published, “The Self Driven Child: The Science and Sense of Giving Kids More Control Over Their Life.”

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the

lion’s tale

editors-in-chief ari feuer, rina torchinsky managing editor, copy isaac silber design editor caroline weinstein copy editor addie bard news editors amelia davidson, sara sporkin opinion editor gabe krantz in-depth editor aliza rabinovitz features editors emily cohen, kate sosland sports editors devira friedman, jessie lehman style editors ilan cohen, shira godin multimedia editor lily daroff editorial cartoonists beyla bass, ben shrock reporters sabrina bramson, ethan chanin, josh diewald, jesse edberg, izzy friedland, danny ingber, ilana kaplan, ethan kulp, izzy may, ben robinson, lily rosenberg, ben savarick, josh siegel, rebecca weiss staff adviser jessica nassau adviser emerita susan zuckerman Editorial and Ethics Policy As the student newspaper of the Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School, The Lion’s Tale is a public forum for student opinion and expression. All content is determined by students. Its purpose is to inform the CESJDS community and to express the views of its staff and readers. The staff has made every effort to ensure the accuracy and objectivity of its news.

Signed columns reflect the opinion of the writer; staff editorials reflect the opinion of the majority of The Lion’s Tale editorial board.

The staff of The Lion's Tale welcomes letters to the editor and guest columns, all of which must be signed. The staff reserves the right to refuse any material and may edit letters or columns for length, clarity, libel, obscenity and/ or disruptiveness. Submissions may be emailed to jdslionstale@gmail.com or mailed to The Lion’s Tale at 11710 Hunters Lane, Rockville, Md., 20852.

The Lion’s Tale is funded by The Simon Hirshman Endowment for the Upper School Newspaper and The Kuttner-Levenson Endowment for the Upper School Cultural Arts and Student Publications, and community advertisements. The Lion’s Tale reserves the right to refuse advertisement for any reason.

The staff will adhere to the ethics policies of The Society of Professional Journalists. The adviser will be held to the Journalism Education Association’s Adviser Code of Ethics. The Lion’s Tale belongs to the National Scholastic Press Association and the Columbia Scholastic Press Association.

The Lion’s Tale prints 600 copies of every issue, which are distributed to students and staff at the Upper Campus. PDFs of the paper are available at issuu.com/lionstale. The Lion’s Tale website is lionstale.org. All contents copyright of The Lions’ Tale. All rights reserved.

Raised minimum wage lowers hopes for small businesses The Montgomery County Council passed legislation that established a $15 minimum wage for all businesses in the county on Nov. 7. Although some progressive politicians have long touted such a mandate as a victory for employees, in reality such a dramatic increase in the minimum wage will be a disaster for our county’s economy, and in turn our county’s workforce.

A $15 minimum wage, which County Executive Ike Leggett signed into law on Nov. 13, places an undue burden on small businesses. By 2024, all businesses, including those with under 10 employees, will be required to pay this $15 wage. It is simply unfeasible to expect small businesses to be able to raise the finances to sustain such wages.

Small businesses are the backbone of our economy. Storefronts such as Vignola and Goldberg’s New York Bagels are what make up the fabric of our county’s culture, and with this legislation, many of these community staples may have trouble making ends meet. We cannot just become a county of huge corporations.

The closing of such small businesses will not only hurt the

consumers, but the economy and workforce as a whole. Ninety-six percent of businesses in Montgomery County have 50 or fewer employees, according to Montgomery County's Business Portal and many of those might have to cut back on employees or close completely due to this legislation. This would lead to massive job losses across the county.

While it may seem beneficial for employees to make higher wages, the fact of the matter is that because of raised wages, many of these employees will be left without a job. This is not just speculation ­— it is being seen across the country in cities that are adopting a 15 dollar minimum wage, such as Seattle. A recent study published by the National Bureau of Economic Research found that upon adopting this minimum wage, the average low-wage worker in Seattle lost $125 a month as costs in the city went up due to the increase of minimum wage.

We are not arguing that there should be no increase in minimum wage, but this legislation increases the wage too quickly and by too much. It is simply unrealistic to expect small businesses to be able

cartoon by ben shrock

to keep up. It is no coincidence that both experts and small business owners in the Montgomery County area have come out against the bill, with Ilaya Hopkins, who works for the Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce, telling WTOP that the increase in minimum wage in the county is “too much, too fast.”

As students who are either part of or will soon be entering the workforce, it is imperative that we recognize the importance of main-

taining steady job opportunities, and prioritize that above all other issues within the workforce. Though an increase in wages may intuitively seem beneficial, there will likely be widespread repercussions which will change the essence of our county’s economy.

-The Lion’s Tale

A tax on soda is a tax on our freedom

joey shoyer guest columnist In the last month, the Montgomery County Council has begun to discuss a “soda tax” as a means of raising money for early-childhood education. Other jurisdictions, such as Philadelphia and Berkeley, Calif., already have a soda tax in place which charges one cent per ounce.

This concept seems without

fault, as it incentivizes healthy behavior and could fund a valuable service, but the ends do not justify the means. At the core of this proposal is a direct violation of the natural rights held by every member of the human race.

In the Declaration of Independence we are all ensured the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. I would argue, however, that these rights, along with many others, are all derived from one: the right of self-ownership.

Self-ownership is essentially the right of every individual to control their own body. This concept is simple, yet it carries deep and important implications. From self-ownership come the rights to life, property, bodily autonomy

and much else.

As an example, the right of a woman to control her own body in regards to abortion can be derived from her right of self-ownership. This natural human right is key to a free society and would be directly breached by a soda tax.

Soda and other sugary drinks present a severe health problem in our country. They are deeply harmful to the human body and can lead to tooth decay, obesity, heart problems and diabetes. The harm these drinks cause to public health is evident, however, the negative health effects do not justify a direct breach of human rights. I have personally cut down on my soda consumption and hope others

follow suit, but I could never support the use of government power to force others to adopt a certain dietary regimen.

A soda tax abridges the right of an individual to control their body by limiting what they are able to consume through an involuntary removal of property.

Every person in our county has a natural right to drink and eat whatever they want even if it may harm their health.

Furthermore, they have a right to their own property.

Both of these rights come from self-ownership. As much as sugary drinks harm public health and early-childhood education is great, nothing should come at the expense of our basic human rights.

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Boys will not Just be boys

kate sosland contributing editor “Boys will be boys” is an expression that has been thrown around for centuries to give men a free pass for their actions.

A brilliant picture found its way into my Instagram feed. It said, “boys will be boys” with the second “boys” crossed off and replaced with, “held accountable for their

actions.” I thought this message was meaningful and relevant, so I reposted it. At the time, I did not think the message would faze people.

As soon as I hit “post,” my phone began to blow up with comments. Girls patted me on the back, proud of the message. Some boys, though not all, commented that they felt personally attacked and said that the post targeted men. This response is not what I wanted. The reactions displayed the polarization of genders on the topic of feminism.

Out of those 114 comments, many of them were based on assumptions. They assumed that this post meant that girls do not do anything wrong and boys were always perpetrators of sexual assault.

But people who are well informed

on the problems of sexual assault recognize that this expression is constantly used to dismiss wrongful actions.

According to the National Sexual Violence Resource Center, one in five women will be raped at some point in their lifetime. In the U.S., men have been raised in a privileged culture, thinking they can do what they want when they want. People are finally starting to call out prominent men such as Harvey Weinstein, Roy Moore and Al Franken for their heinous behavior.

The attention around these men’s actions emphasize that this dangerous culture must change.

The fact that people misinterpreted my post to think that it meant that all men are bad people

demonstrates the necessity to further educate about sexual misconduct. For those who have more to learn about the topic, it is easy to misunderstand the significance of the picture in the post.

Cultural norms can change if education on the importance of this issue is implemented into society.

Recently, Congress has taken steps in the right direction by instituting mandatory sexual harassment training on Capitol Hill. Ultimately, lack of education is the explanation for the trivial acts of sexual assault or harassment.

Once I explained the importance of the post to the boys who commented negatively on it, most of them were no longer frustrated. In order to have productive dialogue

about this topic, it is crucial to not lash out against people who do not understand your views. Rather, it is beneficial to work with them to figure out the reasons behind their confusion.

As I received backlash from this post, I initially felt obliged to apologize; however, I learned to never say sorry for sparking discussion and sharing my beliefs. When you see injustice in the world, do not hesitate to challenge people, but also listen closely to what others have to say.

While it is clear that today’s culture needs to change, it is equally evident that dialogue and understanding from both genders will help shift the culture of sexual assault.

40 %

of female employees say they were sexually harassed at work

Source: October, 2017 ABC - NBC Washington poll

In need of sexual harassment education

alex landy guest columnist Wake up, CESJDS. In recent weeks, the country has been rattled by sexual assault and harassment allegations against many in the entertainment and political world.

All schools, including JDS, need to address and discuss this issue through educational courses and

active discussions with students.

It is time to have an active discussion on the issue of sexual assault and harassment so that our students are equipped with the necessary knowledge in order to stand up to these intolerable acts of abuse. The school administration has an obligation to our community to educate JDS students in their formative youth, rather than teaching the issue later in our school lives.

Through education, JDS can make such a large impact about what constitutes assault and harassment and how both victims, and more importantly, bystanders, can respond to such heinous conduct.

If time in both Kehillah, Z’man Kodesh and health class is dedicated to implementing lessons oriented

around these goals, JDS could better prepare its students to confront this problem. They could learn to speak up when sexual assault and harassment is observed or experienced and respond appropriately to those who abuse their power in all settings.

There is simply no good reason why sexual assault and harassment education is not a school priority.

JDS frequently teaches about bullying and internet safety, so why not add sexual assault and harassment to this list of important discussions as well? In addition, why is the current school material on this issue that is taught some junior and senior classes not being instilled in students’ minds earlier during their time at JDS?

Other schools in the D.C. area have implemented more intense sexual assault and harassment education in recent years. In 2016, Fairfax County Public Schools began teaching lessons on consent and how to face sexual assault and harassment. This is an excellent model and is one that JDS can adopt. Our curriculum should be aimed at emphasizing the proper treatment of men and women and how to engage in healthy relationships with those around us in all settings.

Armed with this education, we can be the generation that does away with sexual assault and harassment and sets a precedent for how women — and all people — should be treated. This can be achieved by bringing both sexes

together to abolish sexual assault and harassment as one generation.

Accomplishing this goal requires guidance from JDS through discussions, courses and active learning experiences that will broaden our understanding of this intolerable conduct that is disclosed on a nearly daily basis.

What will our generation look like and become in the future if our school does not address head-on the widespread assault and harassment claims that have recently surfaced?

Will our generation be the one that leads the fight against sexual assault and harassment, or will we follow in the footsteps of other generations that have failed to do so?

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When a good life needs a new home aliza rabinovitz and corinne zlotnitsky in-depth editor and guest writer

photos courtesy of karla azachi Right: Freshmen Danielle (right) and Hannah Azachi (left) kiss the cheek of their younger sister, Shai.

Left: The four siblings, including younger brother Kobe, spend the day together. Hannah said that her relationship with her adopted siblings is strong. “You have to ask them to trust you and the only way you can do that is by trusting them," she said.

“Last year almost two hundred children in Montgomery County were temporarily separated from their parents. These children come from a cross section of the community — from a variety of social and economic backgrounds, from every race, religion and nationality. Their ages range from infancy to young adulthood. They may come from homes where there has been family breakdown. All have been physically, emotionally or sexually abused or have been neglected.”

- Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services Parenting It has been eight years since CESJDS parents Karla and Jake Azachi first became a part of the foster system. During those eight years, they fostered 11 children and adopted two. Prior to beginning the process, Karla was familiar with the idea of foster care because her cousin fostered and adopted, and her father lived after the Holocaust in the care of his relatives. Karla’s husband, however, ultimately prompted the decision.

“My husband had gotten really sick in the hospital, and he had said to me when he was in the hospital, ‘if I survive through this then we need to give back,' and this was our way of giving back,” Karla said. “‘We need to give back to Hashem was actually what he said, and this was our way of giving back to Hashem.”

The foster system is administered by Montgomery County’s Child Protective Services. The process, which Karla described as “intense,” begins with an information meeting.

Prospective foster parents who attended the meeting are sent a packet and assigned a social worker from the county.

The Azachis needed to have physical exams, interviews by the

social worker, their friends interviewed, their finances looked over and their house inspected by the fire department and by the social worker, all of which took around a year.

When they finished the packet, the Azachi family received their license. The license is only for Montgomery County, as foster families can only have their license in one jurisdiction. Karla received her first phone call only two weeks after her family received their license, which surprised her because she was told it could take six months to a year.

“There’s such an urgent need for foster families in our county,” Karla said.

The first children to stay at the Azachi’s home were two sisters ages 3 and 5. Karla said the experience of fostering for the first time was different from what she expected. Karla tried to make the girls feel as comfortable and welcome as possible, but the unfamiliarity was scary for the girls.

“There was a lot of crying,” Karla said.

There is no consistent amount of time a child stays at the Azachis’ house; Karla has had one child stay for only one night, and two who are spending the rest of their lives with the family. All of the children her family has fostered have been under six years old, the youngest being a baby directly from the hospital.

Multiple children can stay at a foster home at one time, so Karla is always on call. According to Karla, the only time when a foster parent is not able to receive a call is if they are in the middle of an adoption process.

The Azachi family chooses not to have contact with most of the foster children after they leave and return to a biological family member.

Karla still checks up on one child who her family had at one point hoped to adopt before he left them, though.

Karla said her interaction with the social workers has developed over the years she has been involved with the foster system. Now, she does not expect a lot of support or information from the social workers, and recognizes that her family will have to work on its own. The way she treats the children, however, has never changed.

“Once they come over our threshold, they become part of our family,” Karla said.

When fostering a child, Karla is fully responsible for the child’s welfare. She may have to take them to visit their biological family, or need special permission for taking the child out of state or getting their hair cut, but Karla says she treats every child as one of her own, which includes incorporating Judaism into their lives.

“Whatever a parent would do for their biological child, you do for your foster child,” Karla said.

According to Karla, fostering has “opened up our eyes to the fact that there are so many children in need in our community.” She also believes that fostering has made her family more compassionate. Karla said that one of their initial motivations for fostering is that it was a potential avenue to have more children, but the impact has stretched beyond that to become a “life lesson” for herself and her children.

After years of dealing with the foster system, Karla would love to see changes made. She explained that there are 400,000 foster children living in the United States and 7,000 in the D.C. Metro area in need of a “forever home.”

“I wish that foster parents could have [more] rights to these children and I wish that the social workers understood what the foster parents do for these children,” Karla said. “I wish that these children didn’t get placed and replaced in homes and

carry all their belongings in a trash bag.”

Beyond fostering children, Karla continuously supports the foster system by working with local organizations such as Comfort Cases, which gives children a backpack of comfort for their first night in a new home, so that they do not have to carry their belongings in a trash bag.

The support the Azachi family gets from the community is “huge,” Karla said. She described how her family, close friends and the wider community are always involved and give many donations whenever the family is collecting. When the child who the family was hoping to adopt left them, Karla said she had decided that “it was too heartbreaking for us to continue fostering.” Her family proceeded to donate all of its baby items — cribs, high chairs, car seats, clothes, bouncy seats, “anything you would possibly need to care for a child, a baby” — to a Wider Circle.

After she had no baby items left, Karla got the call about Kobe, now 3 and one of the Azachi’s two adopted children. After learning that Kobe needed a home, Karla knew she needed to bring him into hers. Karla posted on Facebook and the Potomac Jewish listserv that she was getting a baby, had nothing and needed baby items.

“By the time I left my office, bought a car seat and went and picked him up and came home, my porch was filled with anything you could imagine that you would need, bottles and diapers and high chairs and bouncy seats and a crib,” Karla said. “We just got bombarded with items, and it was just an incredible sense of community.”

Siblings The Azachi family has two biological children, fresh-

409 foster children in Montgomery County

men Danielle and Hannah Azachi.

Danielle said she has formed individual bonds with each child brought into her home. When a foster child enters her house, Danielle, like her parents, said she is there for their every need and gives them constant affection; she changes her routine to help her sibling get to school and to sometimes make breakfast for them.

“I see them as just my siblings; their race, their ethnicity, their age, their gender does not matter to me,” Danielle said. “They’re normal human being[s], as am I, and we can live under the same roof with the same parents, with the same food.

Community One day a year, adults and children gather at B’nai Israel Congregation. They assemble bags filled with cake mix, a can of frosting, brightly colored paper plates, napkins, cups for a whole family.

The Best Birthdays project has been spearheaded by B’nai Israel Congregation for over 15 years. Best Birthdays was founded by Beverly Schnitzer, the wife of a former rabbi at B’nai Israel Congregation. According to Best Birthdays co-coordinator and JDS parent Valerie Eisenstein, Schnitzer founded it because she wanted to continue helping the community after a shelter for atrisk kids suddenly closed. As a par“I wish that these children didn’t get ent who tries to placed and replaced in homes and carry make her child’s all their belongings in a trash bag.” birthdays special, Eisenstein was - karla azachi struck by the idea that there were children nearby I do not see them as different, I see who might not have any birthday them as my siblings, people I can gig- celebration. gle, laugh and joke with.”

“Oftentimes we walk around Danielle and Hannah are also without realizing it’s in our own involved with the foster community community,” Eisenstein said. “It and are organizing a drive at JDS this makes it more meaningful that we’re December to benefit Comfort Cases. doing things that we know are helpDanielle said her life has been espe- ing right here in our community. We cially impacted by the adoptions of might not know exactly who we’re her two younger siblings, Kobe and helping but we know they’re close Shai, 7. by.”

“My relationship with my little The first step in the project is to sister is very strong; I try to be the collect donations from both the combest older sister,” Danielle said. “I munity and local stores. Schnitzer am my little brother’s second moth- visits classes at the synagogue to talk er. When he was little and couldn’t to children about the importance of sleep, he would come and snuggle birthdays and the meaning of the with me in bed and project to encourage donations. he’d sleep with After months of collection, the me. He is the project culminates on a Sunlight of my day in March. life, he is my On that day, project child.” members sort through donations and assem-

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ble the bags. Part of this involves matching paper goods with each other. Eisenstein said this ensures that children do not receive a bag that is a “hodgepodge” of things, but rather a carefully assembled and thoughtthrough bag. Next, they sort the items into age and gender-appropriate piles so that a teenager does not get a younger child-themed bag, or a girl does not get a boy-themed bag.

“It’s a way to make sure that these kids who are in foster care, that on their birthday they’re not forgotten and they are made special,” Eisenstein said.

The next day, the project coordinators drop the bags off at Child Protective Services, who will keep the bags throughout the year to give out to each child on his or her birthday.

Eisenstein said if there is a question of whether the family will make the cake and celebrate with the child, the social worker will go to the foster home and make the cake for the parent.

Over the years, the project has grown; at its start, they produced between 25 and 50 bags, and last year they made more than 230. Eisenstein hopes to continue meeting this need and to encourage more businesses and community members to contribute to the project in the future. “[Our goal is to] make more people aware of the project so that they can participate and so that their kids can participate,” Eisenstein said.

“It’s a very easy way to teach [younger children] about trying to help out other kids in their community who are not as fortunate as they are.”

200

27

foster homes (approximate) in Montgomery County

hours of training needed to be a foster parent

Information accurate as of September, 2016

34 months that the average foster child stays in the system

07

Stastics from Montgomery County Child Welfare Services Program

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Rube Goldberg club enters new season of innovation ethan chanin reporter Sophomores Russell Lubin and Austin Kaminow recalled the days as young children when they sat in their rooms playing with building blocks for hours on end. They remembered creating their own fantasy worlds out of miniature toys.

Following their desire to build those old block structures, in eighth grade, Lubin and Kaminow put their heads together to create the Rube Goldberg club.

The Rube Goldberg machine was inspired by American artist and cartoonist Rube Goldberg. A Rube Goldberg machine is a multi-part machine, often comprised of everyday household items, that works to perform a simple task on its own.

One of the club’s missions is to collectively create a Rube Goldberg machine that qualifies for competitions. Participating in competitions, however, was not Lubin’s only motivation.

“Personally, for me, I really enjoy building things and this is just another opportunity to build stuff, especially since it’s mechanical and moving and not just a stationary object,” Lubin said.

For the 2017-2018 school year, the Rube Goldberg Association challenged machine makers to create an apparatus capable of pouring cereal into a bowl. Though it seems like a simple task at first, building a machine to perform this simple task can require over 100 hours of hard work to complete.

“We just started designing on a

white board and taking pictures of what the steps would be,” Lubin said.

“Once we finished designing everything, we just jumped in and started building.”

enthusiasm in the club.

“It just seemed like a lot of fun,” Thornton said. “We’d done Rube Goldberg [machines] at the Lower School and I’d paid a bit of attention to that. The engineering principles part of it really interest“[The club] offers an opportunity to ed me.” build something, have fun and do it Approximately 20 stuwith your friends all at the same time,” dents signed up for the club.

-sophomore adin sacho-tanzer These students range from eager students Director of Instructional Tech- looking to build something fun, to asnology Ginger Thornton oversees piring future engineers. Sophomore the Rube Goldberg club. Thornton Adin Sacho-Tanzer heard about the and Lubin share a passion for STEM, club through a Kabbalat Shabbat asand she was excited to channel her sembly and joined the next year.

“[The club] offers an opportunity to build something, have fun and do it with your friends all at the same time,” Sacho-Tanzer said.

He expressed a love for STEM activities and hopes to explore a STEM-related career. As for Lubin, STEM has also remained a large part of his life. Lubin passionately works toward his STEM goals, and intends on broadening the club’s reach at JDS. “It gives [club participants] an opportunity to be in an environment with other people who also enjoy those sort of things and are, most of the time, fully focused on accomplishing a goal,” Lubin said.

Furever home:

Family saves dogs from tragic fate

photo courtesy of jane brophy Third-grader Rebecca Brophy hugs a foster dog. She volunteers at monthly K9 Lifesavers events in addition to assisting with her family's foster dogs at home.

sally rogal guest writer Three puppies huddled in a corner of the room, so skinny and scared that their ribs and spines bulged out.

They had been abused by their previous owner and were taken by a lo-

cal foster dog organization called K9 Lifesavers. After several hours at the shelters, the puppies were placed in CESJDS parents Jane and John Brophys’ home.

With the Brophys’ care, the puppies' health improved and were adopted within two weeks. Jane Bro-

phy said that her five children, who attend JDS, were instrumental in helping the dogs.

“I think in our situation, it is good to have small children in the house because dogs that are hurt by adults do well with small children,” Jane said.

The Brophy family started working with K9 Lifesavers in January 2016. They began as volunteers at Lifesavers events and then went on to foster dogs that do not do well in the kennel. They have already fostered around 85 dogs, and have adopted three of their four dogs through the program. According to Executive Director Marika Krausova, K9 Lifesavers has great demand.

“We are asked to take in hundreds of unwanted dogs by shelters every week, but we can only save ten to 15 on most weeks because of resource constraints and space constraints,” Krausova said Krausova said that many people, especially in the southern United States and rural areas, do not spay or

neuter their dogs, resulting in overpopulation in shelters. This forces the shelters to euthanize most of the dogs they receive.

Krausova added that moving dogs to the D.C. area, where people are more adoption-focused, allows the dogs a chance to have a better life and get adopted.

Freshman Sam Brophy, Jane’s eldest son, enjoys his foster pets.

“I like getting to spend time with the dogs and get to know them,” Sam said. “Also, I know I am saving these dogs lives.”

Becoming a foster dog parent involves multiple steps. Foster families have to complete an application, an interview and a home visit. The prospective foster parents also have to go to the K9 Lifesaver events that are held every weekend.

If fostering dogs is not an option, there are other opportunities to make an impact on struggling dogs nationwide. Volunteers can help out with K9 Lifesaver’s social media to help raise awareness. They can

also fundraise, become an adoption counselor or help with administrative duties, Krausova said.

Jane and her children are used to dogs coming and going as a result of the fostering process. They like getting updates about how the dogs are doing in their new homes.

“We had one foster who survived parvovirus as a puppy,” Jane said. “Parvo is extremely fatal in puppies and she was lucky to survive. When we met her, we fell in love with her sassy attitude and her zest for life. She ended up as a foster fail, meaning that we ended up adopting her,” Jane said.

The responsibilities of being a foster parent include keeping the dog safe and providing food and water while K9 Lifesavers provides the medical needs for the foster dog.

According to Jane, fostering dogs is a great option for families that are not looking for a long term commitment.

“We can’t save every dog, but we know we have made a difference,” Jane said.

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09

photos by ilana kaplan and courtesy of monica meyer Students gather for a Thanksgiving program with their grandfriends.

On a monthly basis, buddies gather for a communal meeting.

Sophomore Daphne Kaplan discusses the value of Judaism with her grandfriend. She visits the Revitz House on a weekly basis.

A grandfriend holds a Thanksgiving chain she created with students and residents. It includes things for which people were thankful.

Better Together Forms

Intergenerational bonds sabrina bramson reporter Around three times each month, junior Courtney Cohen can be found with her fur vest- and leather leggings-wearing Polish grandfriend at the Revitz House in Rockville. Cohen and her grandfriend were paired together through a national program called “Better Together.”

In the CESJDS program, 20 students travel together to the Revitz House, an independent living facility that is a part of the Charles E. Smith Life Communities, one Wednesday each month. They also visit the resident participants two to three times a month on their own. During Community Time on Thursdays, the club comes together to discuss their interactions with the elderly from a Jewish textual perspective.

JDS applied for a grant that enabled the start of the program three and a half years ago. JDS was not the first school to join this program; some of the other schools that par-

ticipated last year include the Robert M. Beren Academy in Houston and the Hershorin Schiff Community Day School in Sarasota, Fla. Cohen, who has participated in the program since December of last year, said that the goal of the program is to socialize with people from different generations.

Due to a change in location, Cohen has a new grandfriend who she shares with junior Emma Hoch. Cohen still tries to keep in touch and visit her grandfriend from last year.

“They understand that we are taking our time to see them and they appreciate it,” Cohen said.

Revitz House resident Marsha Schneider also shows her gratitude toward the program. She was paired with sisters freshman Daphne Kaplan and junior Ilana Kaplan. Schneider wanted to interact with younger individuals and hear about how they view her and what their lives are like.

“What I was hoping for I found,” Schneider said. “I found two won-

derful girls that are going to be two wonderful women ... because [they’re] coming from a wonderful home and [their] education at such a wonderful school.”

This year, Upper School Educational Support Services specialist Abbe Luther helps to develop these relationships. Over the summer, Director of Jewish Life Stephanie Hoffman, who ran the program last year, sent out an email to the faculty requesting someone to take her role in Better Together. Luther jumped at the chance to gain new experiences by helping to run and develop the program.

Luther’s role in Better Together is to recruit new members, pair residents with student participants, plan the monthly group visit activities and lead the weekly educational sessions on Thursdays.

Occasionally, Laurie Marks, who works for an organization called Link Generations, teaches them about the elderly. Marks has students take part in different activities to experience

some aspects of aging; for example, they put cotton balls in their ears to simulate hearing loss.

“The purpose [of Link Generations] is to educate middle school and high school students about aging and help students learn best practices for planning programs with older adults,” Marks said.

Link Generations is a non-profit organization founded by Marks last year. It partners with retirement homes and a number of schools in Montgomery County in order to help students fulfill community service requirements. She has planned programs for these students to get to know the elderly in our community.

Over the summer, Hoffman met Marks and invited her to help educate the students in the Better Together program about the elderly. Marks, who has a background in gerontology, which she described as “the study of aging in older adults and adult development,” helps give students a better understanding of their grandfriends.

Another important component of the program is the final celebration and project. The participants from the Revitz House and JDS will come together before school ends to celebrate the program and their accomplishments throughout the year.

The project that goes along with this celebration is supposed to represent what the students have learned about the residents’ lives.

Last year, the students made mosaics to present to their grandfriends.

The projects were a depiction of the effects of Better Together on both the lives of the students and the lives of the residents. This year’s project is still undecided.

Better Together has grown over the past year and the faculty advisors plan on continuing to adapt it.

“I think it could be something really wonderful,” Luther said. “It’s kind of in infancy, at least here, and can grow into something very meaningful.”

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POWER on

Sports Schedule Girls Varsity Basketball

runners build strength during fall sports season at power train sports and fitness

Dec. 11 - Away game at 4:30 p.m. against Washington Christian Dec. 13 - Home game at 4:30 p.m. against Washington International School Dec. 18 - Home game at 6 p.m. against Washington Waldorf School Boys Varsity Basketball Dec. 11 - Home game at 4:30 p.m. against Washington Christian Dec. 13 - Home game at 6:15 p.m. against Washington International School Dec. 19 - Away game at 6:25 p.m. against Model School Varsity Wrestling Dec. 12 - Home match at 4:30 p.m. against McLean School Jan. 17 - Home match at 4:30 p.m. against McLean School Varsity Swim Dec. 13 - Meet at 3:30 p.m. at the Lab School Jan. 17 - Meet at 3:30 p.m. at the Lab School Jan. 31 - Meet at 3:30 p.m. at the Lab School Winter Track Jan. 10 - Meet at 3:45 p.m. at Georgetown Prep Jan. 16 - Meet at 3:45 p.m. at Georgetown Prep

devira friedman sports editor Throughout the fall sports season, five members of the varsity cross country team stayed after practice, walked across Boiling Brook Parkway and participated in customized strength training programs once a week at Power Train Rockville.

Power Train Sports and Fitness is a gym chain geared towards athletes looking to increase their strength, endurance and performance. Power Train creates custom workout plans for each individual athlete based on their respective strengths, weaknesses and sport.

Cross country coach Jason Be-

linkie had been researching ways to improve the CESJDS running program and figured that strength training was worth trying.

Beginning in early 2017, and throughout the fall season, Belinkie sent a small group of runners to test the program. Seniors Alex Arking and Daniel Weiss, juniors Zev Katz and Max Stravitz and sophomore Josh Diewald paid for the time and worked with Power Train Rockville’s performance director, Brian Paulsen, and assistant director Tyler Weader.

Weader has worked with Power Train since the end of 2016. When working with clients, Weader’s goal is to provide customized training in a small group setting. He tries to challenge his athletes while taking their

Unwrapped: danny ingber reporter As athletes stretch and warm up on the hardwood, athletic trainers prepare medical kits, ice coolers and water bottles off the court before games.

The CESJDS sports medicine program prevents and treats athletic injuries. It is the largest such program in the Potomac Valley Athletic Conference. Athletic trainer Jessica Matula expanded the sports medicine program through sports medicine classes and work with student athletic training assistants. “[Student athletic training assistants] serve a vital role in the sidelines to be an extra set of eyes and ears,” Matula said.

Junior Justin Galitzer was one of the eight student athletic training assistants who worked during the fall season. Galitzer has been involved in the Sports Medicine program since his freshmen year and has taken both classes offered, Sports Medicine I and II. Sports Medicine I covers athletic training, anatomy and injuries.

specific needs, wants and goals into account. He applied this philosophy when working with the JDS athletes.

"Our main focus with the JDS athletes was to get them faster, to get them a lot stronger and to work on their imbalances," Weader said.

Arking appreciated the program and recommends it to those interested in building strength. He felt challenged and stronger due to the training, and while he is unsure of its long term effects on his running, he values the work that he put into improving his overall fitness.

“As a runner, we’re not just supposed to be running; we’re also supposed to be lifting weights and doing strength training,” Arking said.

Belinkie understands that

working out at Power Train was a major time commitment. Arking, however, said that it wasn’t too hard for him to work Power Train into his schedule.

“Just like every other activity, you just got to work around it,” Arking said. “I personally didn’t notice any issues with my schoolwork.”

Belinkie is unsure whether or not JDS will use Power Train’s services in the future, but he believes that it was a worthwhile endeavor.

“Whether it impacted their running positively or not, they felt a lot stronger as a result of participating in this program,” Belinkie said.

Sports Medicine program works to increase athlete safety

Sports Medicine II incorporates sports medicine into Red Cross certified AED and CPR training. After a student completes Sports Medicine I, they can become a student athletic training assistant without the completion of Sports Medicine II. Galitzer received over 30 hours of indirect community service for working as a student athletic training assistant. He loves watching the games and learning how to deal with different medical situations. Student athletic training assistants’ main responsibility is to help prepare for games and practices by making sure all of the supplies are ready. During the game, they help Matula and Athletic Trainer Margo Campbell with any treatment that can be administered to a student on either team.

“It’s interesting to learn from Ms. Campbell and Mrs. Matula and all of their experience, and I am happy that we have them here,” Galitzer said.

Athletic Director Mike Riley collaborates with Matula on how to improve the program and orders the necessary quantities of athletic tape and gauze. Riley has great con-

photo by jessie lehman Junior Justin Galitzer unwraps senior Lexi Marks' ankle tape during girls varsity basketball practice on Wednesday, Nov. 29.

fidence in the JDS sports medicine program.

“Our athletic trainers both have a lot of experience,” Riley said.

Matula balances her academic responsibilities, such as teaching sports medicine and anatomy class, with her responsibilities as an athletic trainer, which she enjoys.

“I love being able to utilize the

skills I have to help in emergency situations while educating the athlete in the process of the recovery,” Matula said. “It's always rough to see any athlete endure an injury, but to see them return problem-free while having a hand in their treatment is so gratifying.”

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11

Juice joint offers snug study site izzy may reporter Joe and the Juice is a new coffee and juice cafe located on Woodmont Ave. in Bethesda. I wanted to try it upon recommendations from my friends, and I was excited to visit the unique restaurant. It is conveniently located in downtown Bethesda, and it is fitting for an after-school treat.

When I first walked into Joe and the Juice, I was in awe of how much space the restaurant occupied. I had been expecting something smaller, as I assumed that a restaurant primarily known for selling juices would not need such a large shop. Due to the bitter cold weather outside, my mother and I were eager to step into a warm atmosphere.

The restaurant offered a homey but hip hideaway with its dim lighting and soft music playing from

invisible speakers. As soon as my mom and I walked up to the register, the employees greeted us with bright smiles. Stockpiles of colorful fruit surrounded the cashier, which emphasized the restaurant’s use of natural ingredients.

I ordered the Power Shake, a milkshake that contains strawberry, banana and vanilla flavored milk.

Though the shake was a bit pricey at $7 including tax, it was delicious.

The smoothie was thick, sweet and very filling. It was obvious that the fruit was fresh, but I felt as though I had just consumed a pint of ice cream. I appreciated the fact that, despite the calorie count (407 for the Power Shake), at least the ingredients were somewhat healthy.

In addition to the drinks, one of the biggest selling points is that it is a prime study spot. There is a multitude of seating options, including couches, desks and regular tables.

Those who seek out a nice study spot but want to spend less money, and consume fewer calories, might consider sticking to the wide array of coffee beverages. The restaurant provides free Wi-Fi, and the employees do not mind if you stay to work.

Overall, I would recommend Joe and the Juice. The juice, while expensive, was very refreshing.

Though I did not order it, I noticed that the coffee is not very expensive.

The restaurant also sells sandwiches for those who want a bite to eat with their drink. I have no doubt that I will be back in the near future to study with friends.

Joe and the Juice is located at 7263 Woodmont Ave. in Bethesda. Open weekdays 6 a.m. - 9 p.m. and weekends 8 a.m. - 8 p.m.

photo courtesy of Tess Mendelson Junior Dora Mendelson drinks a sports juice at Joe and the Juice in Bethesda. The drink contains pineapple, passion fruit and apple juices.

“Lady Bird” soars jessie lehman contributing editor

photo courtesy of A24 Films Saoirse Ronan, who plays Lady Bird, graces the poster of the eponymous movie.

Ronan was nominated for Best Actress in the 2016 Academy Awards for "Brooklyn."

Every person faces their own individual struggles. In Greta Gerwig’s directorial debut, the audience has a chance to connect with the characters through these authentic stresses.

Christine “Lady Bird” McPherson (Saoirse Ronan) longs to leave Sacramento and go to college on the East Coast. She fiercely desires her own independence, but is conflicted as she still loves her family.

Set in the early 2000s, the film documents many issues that today’s teens face. As Lady Bird’s lower-middle class family struggles to make ends meet, Lady Bird faces tension with her mother. Although the film primarily outlines the life of a typical teenage girl, it also follows the supporting characters as they explore their sexuality, strive to find financial stability and try to maintain trust within friendships.

A strong supporting actress was Lady Bird’s mother, Marion McPherson (Laurie Metcalf). As the film progresses, she begins to connect with her daughter before Lady Bird goes away. Because each

character faces a unique hardship, the average audience member has at least one character they can relate to.

Throughout the film, Lady Bird questions her identity and relationships. After experiencing two romantic relationships that do not end well, Lady Bird turns back to relying on the constants in her life: her best friend and her parents.

By the end of the film, she learns the importance of her friends and family in her life.

At an hour and 33 minutes, the film perfectly encapsulates Lady Bird’s journey to new independence in college, without straying from the plot. The script captures the individuality of each character so that the film is realistic and relatable. Rather than making the characters seem like role models for the audience, the characters reflect average people in America.

Technical elements including the music, lighting and cinematography enhance the script and acting.

The soundtrack of the film fits each scene seamlessly, like when Lady Bird and her friend listen to their favorite song while hanging out in the car. Meanwhile, the lighting

meaningfully represents Lady Bird’s emotions especially in scenes that lacked dialogue.

The film encouraged me to think about my life, reflect on my relationships and search for my own identity, just as Lady Bird does.

“Lady Bird” is a film that can reach people of all ages who are going through all types of struggles.

Ronan fit the role of Lady Bird perfectly and connects harmoniously with the supporting actors. Ronan portrayed the role authentically which made the film seem so personal to her.

As a whole, “Lady Bird” exceeded in all aspects. “Lady Bird” is a great film to see with family; the film’s truthfulness really opened my eyes to challenges taken on by people of all ages. I highly recommend the film.

“Ladybird” is playing at many movie theaters including Landmark Bethesda Row Cinema (7235 Woodmont Ave. in Bethesda) and Regal Rockville Center Stadium 13 (199 E. Montgomery Ave. in Rockville).

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Pinstripes: Bowling at the intersection of vintage and trendy ben robinson reporter If not for the name, I would not have known that Pinstripes Bistro, Bowling & Bocce in Rockville was a bowling alley. Upon walking in, it looks like a typical high-end restaurant. A waitress greeted me at the entrance to bring me to the classy dining area, which has dim lighting, smooth music playing and candles at every table. Diners sit around a nearby bar lined with televisions.

The restaurant is a place for a quality family dinner.

Tucked up an open staircase

and down a winding hall is the restaurant’s bowling alley. For me, the phrase “bowling alley” often conjures up images of a dirty venue with greasy food, spilled soda and little kids running around screaming. I associate it with fifth-grade birthday parties and sleepaway camp field trips.

Pinstripes was a refreshing contrast to my earlier experiences with bowling alleys. It was clean, sophisticated and upscale. The lounge area around the lanes had red and black leather couches, but not the kind with crumbs between the cushions. There was a floor-to-ceil-

ing window along the back wall, and behind the pins were classic-looking bowling photos. There were just fourteen lanes, which is a rather small number, but the size actually made the alley feel more cozy.

Bowling for one hour costs between $8 and $15 per person, depending on the day and time.

This coast seems to be fair given the quality of the alley. Renting bowling shoes costs an extra $5, while a bocce ball court costs $5 to $10 per hour. Each bowling lane accommodates up to eight people, while bocce courts can accommodate up to ten players.

Employees at Pinstripes recommend renting lanes three to four days in advance for weekend bowling. For less busy times like weeknights, which is when I went, reserving my lane one day in advance was sufficient. There are also private reception rooms next to the alley which seat up to 240 guests.

This makes the alley a great venue for social gatherings from birthday to Bar Mitzvah parties.

Bowlers can order wood-fired pizzas to eat while waiting for their turn. The restaurant’s menu offers other Italian and American foods such as homemade pastas, chick-

en and ribs. There are plenty of gluten-free options as well. Having celiac myself, this was very important to me.

Whether for a night out or a big event, Pinstripes is suitable for all occasions. It is a sophisticated yet fun alternative to the messy bowling venues to which I was accustomed as a kid.

Pinstripes is located in Pike & Rose at 11920 Grand Park Ave. in Rockville.

Hours are Monday - Thursday 10 a.m. - 11 p.m., Friday - Saturday 10 a.m. - 1 a.m. and Sunday 9:30 a.m. 10 p.m.

1

2 1. Senior Alex Arking prepares to bowl at Pinstripes. In the middle of a weekday, the alley is generally empty.

2. Unlike many bowling alleys that have funky lights and projectors, Pinstripes' backdrop is of photos and is generally more classy. The aesthetic adds to the positive ambiance in the alley.

3. Bowling balls roll along the return rack. Pinstripes' balls are uniquely painted like billiards balls.

4. A pile of shoes sits on the table at Pinstripes. The alley rents out shoes for $5 on top of the normal price to bowl

3

4

photos by isaac silber