Special Basketball at the JCCA
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Special Basketball at the JCCA

The Westside Jewish Community Center on Olympic Blvd. in Los Angeles hosted its 12th annual basketball exhibition game Saturday evening March 3, 2018 between the Special Macabees and the Santa Monica West Side Special Olympics All-Stars. It was a rainy evening, but the excitement inside the JCCA was palpable. Athletes on both teams ranged in…

Psychic Girl Communicates with Animals
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Psychic Girl Communicates with Animals

Lost and Found by Sharon Ledwith is an excellent read for YA readers on several levels. It teaches kids about leadership and responsibility, and it sets a fine example for us humans to care better for the animals around us Whiskey, a fifteen-year-old calico cat, is the only link of communication between the cat floor…

Benchwarmers selected as a semi-finalist for the 2017 Encore Prize
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Benchwarmers selected as a semi-finalist for the 2017 Encore Prize

Benchwarmers is a non-profit nascent organization with the mission to promote access to team sports for all kids by providing a nurturing environment where children who are less athletic can thrive and feel they belong. Benchwarmers’ focus is on sportsmanship, education, and deliberate practice.  A decade ago retired Teledyne engineer Joe Bock had a dream….

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The Joys of Hosting a Foreign Exchange Student

I was at the American Airlines baggage claim waiting for Rico, an exchange student from a suburb of Zurich, Switzerland, to deplane. I checked my phone and noticed this text, “I’m here! Where are you?” Oops! I didn’t know American had two terminals at LAX. When I finally reached the newest one, Rico, age 16,…

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The Stark Springs Academy Series: Release Day Blitz

The Stark Springs series By Ali Dean RELEASE DAY BLITZ February 23, 2017   The young adult sports romance series that has captured readers of all ages is now available as a boxed set!   When Roxie Slade snaps into a pair of skis, there’s no one on Sugarville Mountain in Vermont who can keep…

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High School and College Students Save Lives with the American Red Cross

All of us can make a difference. It just takes a little effort, focus, and the willingness to help others. High school and college students looking for scholarship money or just a gift card can bolster their resumes and save lives, too. The American Red Cross has a special program, Leaders Save Lives. Here’s what…