Trivia Dispute
Myron Simon says the camp was founded in 1922; Barry Weisberg says 1929. Barry is deferring to Myron - so unless someone else knows otherwise, we should be going with 1922!
Speaking of which, in December Barry emailed me and said "I just came back from the "other Promised Land" exhibit (where Jews vacationed, Catskills, Atlantic City, Miami Beach, etc.) at the Museum of Jewish Heritage and one of the items of memorabilia displayed was a leather notebook cover from camp Anawana from 1937."
Sports Academy Moving to Berkshires Sports academy leaving Sullivan Orthodox Jewish camp will lease site
By Adam Bosch
Times Herald-Record
December 27, 2007
THOMPSON - The famed Kutsher's Sports Academy is moving from Sullivan County to Massachusetts next year, and an Orthodox Jewish group says it has signed a five-year lease to hold summer camp on the sports academy's site. After 39 seasons at the foot of Kutsher's Country Club, the sports academy is moving to Great Barrington, Mass., in the Berkshire Mountains. The academy was scheduled to move to Hancock, in Delaware County, but the state Department of Environmental Conservation held up construction because of stormwater runoff concerns, camp Executive Director Marc White said. Kutsher's Sports Academy has been a popular summer camp for youngsters, who often received instruction from star professional athletes. A representative of Camp Rov Tov, a summer camp affiliated with a Satmar Jewish private school in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, said they will take over the Thompson site. Moishe Indig, a community leader there, said the group has signed a five-year lease on the property, which is owned by Kutsher's Country Club. Hotel owner Mark Kutsher confirmed that the sports academy is moving, but denied granting a lease to Camp Rov Tov. He would not specify what would happen to the site. The land is unlikely to be tax-free, town Assessor Nora Hughson said, because the camp does not own it. Camp Rov Tov, which caters to boys ages 8 to 13, was formerly based in Livingston Manor. Because most of the campers' parents stay in Fallsburg, Liberty and Monticello, Indig said the new location is ideal. "It's a very beautiful place for the summertime, and the children will be closer to their parents," he said. The sports academy had been looking to move for some time because the fate of its home in Sullivan County was uncertain, White said. A casino was once planned there, and Kutsher's Country Club has been up for sale. "That certainly was affecting us," White said of the uncertainty. "But now we're happy not to have the future of the camp up in the air." The new camp site includes a 225-acre lake, new bunks, and a 15,000-square-foot lodge, White said. It was home to camps and resorts in the past, he said.
The History of kutsher's sports academy
In 1968, Kutsher's Country Club purchased the Harmony Country Club from Leshners and made it the Kutsher's Sports Academy. The academy was the site for the annual Maurice Stokes Game, a basketball game originally played to help pay medical expenses for Stokes, an NBA star who suffered a brain injury after hitting his head on the floor during a game. It was during a Stokes Game that Wilt Chamberlain and Lew Alcindor (now Kareem Abdul-Jabbar) first played against each other. The sports academy was a popular summer camp for youngsters and drew some of the sports world's biggest starts to the Catskills. The academy's land was considered as a site for a future casino until the St. Regis Mohawks chose a site at the Monticello Raceway instead. Kutsher's Sports Academy remained in the Kutsher family until 2005. http://www.recordonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071227/NEWS/712270317
Alumni updates
Hi there fellow Anawana Alumni - I was just lost in nostalgia......It is me Jody Waltzer, now Jody Reich writing you from NJ. I would love to be included in any info about the camp, or about anyone who was there throughout the 80's when I was there. Thanks so much!
Clint Roswell wrote that he is now at "IBM Corporate Communications in Armonk, NY."
Update on School being named after Jerry Parker
Received on January 11, 2008:
Cathy, As promised, I'm keeping you updated on the progress of getting a school named for Jerry Parker. On January 7th, the Community Superintendent finally and formally put names into nomination before the Community Education Council. Today, I received the notice (below) announcing the public hearing on the school namings. The meeting is scheduled for February 4th, and I believe that a vote will be held that same night. Since some of the other candidates were members of groups, like the Kiwanis Club, we expect that there will be a lot of supporters of other nominees present at the meeting. So, if we are to have success, we will need as many Jerry Parker supporters in the room as possible. Please spread the word and encourage attendance at the meeting. Thanks for everything, Cathy. Reed
STATEN ISLAND PARENTS LET YOUR VOICES BE HEARD!
Community Education Council 31 will be considering possible names for 3 new schools being constructed on Staten Island: PS/IS 861 [former PS 44 Annex]; PS 869 [former PS 15] and new IS/PS 43 [being built near PS 58, behind the SI Mall].
The names under consideration are Elizabeth Connelly, Charles Langere, John Lavelle, Jerome Parker and Arthur D. Phillips.
WE ARE REQUESTING FEEDBACK FROM THE PUBLIC REGARDING THESE PROPOSED NAMES AT THE FOLLOWING MEETING:
CEC Calendar Meeting
February 4th at 7:30 P.M.
Petrides Complex,
Building C,
Conference Center
715 Ocean Terrace
Staten Island, New York
PLEASE MAKE YOUR OPINION KNOWN BY ATTENDING THIS MEETING AND SPEAKING OUT
As of October 30, 2007, this is what his son in law Reed Podell had to say: There were two speakers who attended that knew Jerry from Camp Anawana. I'm sorry that I don't remember their names (I don't have Jerry's gift of memory), but they gave moving, heartfelt speeches. As for where things stand, looks like there's some politics at play. There is a parent-teacher group that has petitioned the Chancellor to hold off on any school namings until after the schools have opened, a PTA constituted, and a principal appointed, so that they all can participate in the school naming. The conventional thinking is that the Chancellor will not wait that long to name the school, but there is some change in policy in the works. The local school superintendent, Ms. Schultz, received word that new rules from the Chancellor regarding school naming are in the process of being drafted. Since the rules are about to change, Ms. Schultz declined to formally put any names in nomination at this time. We are led to believe that the new rules will be issued in the near future, so we'll just have to wait a bit longer for the process to play out. I suppose that the upside of the delay is that this affords more time for people to send in letters of support. So, if there were people who hadn't gotten around to send in letters prior to the last Council meeting, they can do so now. By the way, there was an article in the local paper a few weeks ago about the new school, and the plans are far more grand than we anticipated. An educational complex, not merely a school, is being built. The property is going to have two high schools (one specializing in international study) and an intermediate school. The schools are going to share certain common facilities, such as athletic field and media center. Below is a copy of the article; too bad the architectural rendering wasn't on the online edition of the newspaper.
CSI high school will relocate to New Springville Three schools to open in fall 2008 at complex with $120M price tag
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
By ROB HART
ADVANCE STAFF WRITER
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Students at the High School for International Studies at the College of Staten Island won't be attending classes on the Willowbrook campus next year -- they're getting a brand-new facility in New Springville, the city Department of Education announced yesterday. Despite the move, the innovative small-scale secondary school's name and relationship with CSI will be maintained. "The school and the college are completely committed to the partnership," said department spokeswoman Debra Wexler. Parents have long complained that the school, which opened in 2005, was short on space. It currently has about 200 students, a number that is expected to rise next year when all four grade levels are filled. The department verified yesterday that the complex under construction between Marsh Avenue and Essex Drive will house the school. Tutoring and teaching programs between students and staff at the college will be maintained, and a bus connection will be established between CSI and the new facility, Wexler said. But Katie McSherry, 15, of Great Kills, a sophomore at the school, was less than thrilled by the announcement. "I don't think there's really a point of being a part of CSI if we're not going to be on the campus," she said. "Other than the kids who are going there to take courses, no one else will go." Her brother Michael, a 16-year-old junior, disagreed, praising the relocation for the improved facilities and abundance of space. "I enjoy being at the college, but I think I'm going to enjoy the new building," he said. While the current arrangement is not "too cramped," it can be difficult to change classes because of the crowded hallways, he said. Their mother, Lisa McSherry, said the move is a mixed blessing, because parents expected a state-of-the-art facility from the get-to. "I'm thrilled that we're moving, to get the dream that we were promised," she said. "This is what the DOE and CUNY should have been giving us." High school Principal Aimee Horowitz could not be reached for comment. The new complex, currently under construction and known in its preliminary stages as IS/HS 43, will open to students for the start of the September 2008 school year and cost about $120 million to finish. It's slated to feature an intermediate school for about 650 students, and another small high school. The two high schools would hold about 500 students each. The Department of Education is still in the process of selecting the other two schools. The school will have state-of-the-art science and technology labs, and spaces shared by all three schools in the complex will include a 9,000-square-foot-gymnasium, a library and media center and special education activity rooms, as well as sports fields.
Los Angeles Reunion?
Thanks for all you have done to keep us together. Unfortunately I live in LA and work 24/7 and don't make it east very often so I didn't make it to the big reunion [or] to "Woodstock." There are so many names I remember, even though I was only at camp for one year, but because my cousins, Howie and Jay Warhaftig, were a part of Anawana for so long I felt like I belonged. Anyway, if anyone else from LA wants to get together, that would be wonderful, so if you would like to put out the word and see what kind of response you get, that would be most appreciated. Then perhaps a few of us could take it from there. Leslye Cooky Adelman ([email protected])
Florida Reunion?
Andrea and I live in Okeechobee Florida about 1 hour NW of West Palm Beach. We do keep our yacht in West Palm Beach and commute on the weekends, so any location between Okeechobee and Ft. Lauderdale would be great. I am open for any suggestions. If it was possible to put together a reunion we might be able to negotiate a decent hotel rate if we had some type of commitment for the participants. I would be more than happy to pursue a winter get together. I am sure that I could find a country club where we might be able to obtain a banquet room for the after noon. Open to "any" suggestions, for a Southern Anawana gather in! If there is enough interest we might consider a long week end at one of the theme parks, such as Disney or a cruise out of Miami or Ft. Lauderdale Steven Nelson ([email protected])
West Coast/Younger Alumni Reunion?
There was talk on the Yahoo Mailing List of an either/or reunion: West Coast/Southwest reunion and/or Reunion for people from the 80s to closing. This is what Tara Noel has to say: ?I would LOVE to have a reunion for people that went to camp around my time. I really don't talk to many people from camp anymore... but if anybody who went to camp from 84-close is interested in possibly coming up with some ideas that would be great! I live in Arizona now but I still get back to NY. I know there are quite a few people living in CA so I wouldn't be opposed to a west coast reunion either :) If anybody has any ideas, suggestions, etc I would be up to hear them. If anybody wants to contact me personally... my email is [email protected]
Anawana Reflections
Issue 25 September 2007
Important info about Jerry Parker
Dear Camp Anawana Alumni, I am Jerry Parker's son-in-law. As some of you may know, Jerry passed away a few years ago. When he died, the outpouring of affection from those who knew him was a great comfort to the family. We are now reaching out to those who knew him, including those whose lives he touched during his 30+ years as Camp Anawana's Director, to ask for one more sign of affection. We are trying to have a local school named after Jerry Parker. To further that effort, we need letters from those who knew Jerry, expressing why he deserves this honor. Jerry devoted his life to children. He taught and showcased them as an educator and Director of Special Events for the New York City school system. He gave thousands of young people a lifetime of wonderful memories as Director of Camp Anawana. Year after year, he gave handicapped children something to smile about through events he organized as part of Community Mayors. He also helped thousands of children to have the opportunity to develop and display their musical talents through his work with the New York City schools and his organization of "Salute to Music". It would be a great kindness if you would contribute by sending a letter in support of our effort to name a school for Jerry Parker. Please send a letter to: Ms. Margaret Schultz Community Superintendent 715 Ocean Terrace Building A Staten Island, New York 10301 On behalf of Jerry's family, I thank you. Reed Podell
Trivia
When was Camp Anawana first opened? Not when did the Kutsher's get involved but when the camp was opened for the first time? (answer at the end. Thanks to Barry Weisberg!) Now, does anyone have any idea how the camp got its name? When you google Anawana, I get a lot of links related to Africa!
Alumni updates
Michelle Jacobs Brandman (1979-1985 camper) "My husband and I live in Roslyn, NY with our 2 daughters - Jordyn & Alexa."
Trivia Answer Anna Kahn's family opened the camp in 1929. Kutsher's first summer was in 1960. There was a serious car accident in 1959 involving 5 waiters and Anna Kahn was an elderly woman at the time so she decided that it was a good time to sell. Which brings me to congratulating Jack Landman on 58 years with Kutsher's.
This was what his daughter Leslie wrote in early September: "You are correct, not the article. Anawana was bought by Milton Kutsher, my father (Jack Landman), Jack Siegel, and Red Karbel in 1960, and that was the first summer that it was operated under the Kutsher banner. Thanks for the link to the article. This 100th anniversary is also my father's 58th year with Kutsher's. His "anniversary date" was celebrated at the annual Catskill Institute weekend, held at Kutsher's two weeks ago. The Institute is dedicated to the preservation of the history of the Catskills (hotels, bungalow colonies, etc.)"
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