NCJW/Cleveland Re-Stocks and Re-Opens Warner Girls Leadership Academy’s Library with a “Page Turning” to “Next Chapter” First school to benefit from NCJW’s Building Bridges with Books Initiative NCJW/Cleveland’s Partners in Literacy programs have been very successful in increasing student literacy, love of reading and appreciation of books. But it became apparent to NCJW volunteers that some of these schools were in need of books, so Building Bridges with Books was born. Building Bridges with Books is a project to process, stock and shelve books for Cleveland Public Schools in need of assistance to make their libraries of greatest use to students and teachers. It is the fifth project in NCJW’s Partners in Literacy initiative. On August 14, NCJW celebrated its first endeavor with a page-turning ceremony, an alternative to a ribbon cutting, at the Warner School library. To preview the facility, about 400 students, teachers and families were in attendance. Warner was selected as the pilot library to re-stock because of the welcoming and open attitude of administration and the beautiful library facility already in place. To date, NCJW volunteers donated more than 1,000 new and gently-used books and spent more than 310 hours processing, cataloging and shelving books. Books for school-age children are welcome! If you would like to donate new or gently-used books, please drop them off at the NCJW office at 26055 Emery Road, Warrensville Heights, Ohio 44128. For more information, call 216.378.2204. Pictured from left: Betty Kohn, Rory Margulies, Ellen Pollack, Linda Barnett (NCJW president) Ellen Leavitt (Building Bridges with Books chair, retired librarian), Rita Langer, and Debbie Joseph (NCJW vice president, Community Services). (Right): Rita Langer spent part of her summer processing donated books for the reopening of the Warner Girls' Leadership academy library. Josh's Play Station Dedicated in Josh Stone's Memory Josh Stone, Beachwood High School graduate (Class of '05), passed away in his sleep on March 5, 2013, two days after his 27th birthday, in Barcelona, Spain. Josh had been teaching 4th grade at the Benjamin Franklin International School in Barcelona. As one who had always loved children, he volunteered at Beachwood's Safety Town, worked at Anisfield and Park Day Camps, and student-taught in 2nd grade at Hawken School. Stone's family wanted to honor his memory by dedicating something permanent to Shaarey Tikvah, the family's congregation, that would represent his love for children and be used by the synagogue's youngest members for many years to come. The idea of a playground was a perfect fit. “This was all made possible by the many donations that came pouring in after his death, and by the Josh Stone Game Day, an annual fundraising event held at Progressive Field, established by the synagogue's Men's Club to help support the playground,” Josh's mom, Roz Stone, told us. The playground, Josh's Play Station, was built by more than 60 volunteers – synagogue members, families and friends; between the ages of 3 and 92 – on a very warm, sunny Sunday several weeks ago. The name was chosen because Stone loved video games and owned a PlayStation himself. A ribbon-cutting ceremony took place on Sunday, Aug. 9. to dedicate Josh's Play Station. Pictured: Roz, Rebecca and Pete Stone, Josh's parents and sister, along with children, young and old, enjoying Josh’s Play Station at its dedication event. 44 Beachwood Buzz n September 2015