Press Notes
Southwestern Jewish Press, May 3, 1957, Page 3
By Julia Kaufman
“Now every field is clothed with grass, and every tree with leaves …” Thanks to the rain, the brown hills of San Diego are covered with green, splashed here and there with flame-colored bushes and yellow flowers. Even the bald mountains have a green fuzz. Look around, fellow San Diegans — you may not see this again for a long time.
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Follow that Man! I watched the Masters Golf Tournament held in Las Vegas on the Desert Inn Golf Course, from a comfortable chair in the living room of friends whose home faces the fairway. The large picture windows gave me a panoramic view of the match. The T.V. provided close-ups of the final moments of play at the 18th hole. I was quite happy about the whole set-up since my desert wardrobe did not include rain boots and a wind breaker. Seen from my comfortable perch, I found the match colorful and exciting. To be a golf fan requires more than the unrestrained use of the larynx while sitting in a grandstand. Thousands of golf enthusiasts–braving wind and occasional rain –followed their favorites around the course. During the rain, the silent groups, with opened umbrellas and all eyes focused on the player, reminded me of the opening scene in the play, “Our Town,” as the townsfolk stood in the pouring rain watching the burial of a friend. Considering the heavy gambling osses suffered in the Calcutta Pool, there must have been plenty of mourners on the final day.
The Calcutta Pool, formed before the tournament, includes a $35,000 guarantee for the Damon Runyan Cancer Fund. The players are auctioned to the highest bidders. Gene Littler, whose game had been “off” for the past six months, received only two bids and was purchased by singer Frankie Laine for $15,500. He backed his friend although the odds were 8 to 1 against him. Littler had filled the Laine coffer twice before and the possibility of a third consecutive win was unprecedented. The unusual happened — Littler won and received $10,000 plus a bonus from Laine, who collected $95,000 for his loyalty and faith. The favorite at the auction did not even come into the money.
Note: Mrs. Littler, wearing the latest in maternity clothes, stated that she never plays golf.
Wilbur Clark’s Desert Inn Golf Course is a modern oasis. One million gallons of water are used daily to keep the desert green and purified waste water from the hotel supplies the vast sprinkler system. All of the large hotels and motels in Las Vegas have their own water supply systems, costly to install but economical in the long run. If there is a long run.
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Glass Farm — Originality is like a ray of sunshine, especially when it involves glass-laden trees sparkling in the sun. For the past four years, every time we drove to and from Las Vegas I was fascinated by this spectacle on Highway 395, four miles south of Temecula. This time, on our return trip, I ntoed a sign, “Antiques,” and prevailed upon my husband to stop. Mrs. Simpson, a gentle looking elderly lady showed us around her glass orchard. The sun will tint glass either amber or amethyst, dependent on the composition of the glass. (Some glass does not tint at all.) It takes about three years to tint a piece of glass–the longer it is exposed the deeper the color. Sun colored glass will never fade.
Mrs. Simpson began sun-coloring glass over twenty years ago as a hobby. About four years ago she planted her first “glass” tree. Today she has six trees “sprouting” glassware of every description, surrounded by her equally colorful flower garden. Because of the unsolicited customers attracted by her trees and garden, Mrs. Simpson decided to open a shop specializing in all types of glassware. Some people make growing old seem a downright pleasant occupation.
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Organic Gardens — Having broken the “Stop” barrier, I found it easier to manage my second stop at Phil’s Farm Stand in Escondido. Besides, it concerned food — of more interest to the male than glass.
Phil and Sylvia Arena, who established the Living ARts Foundation in Pretoria Valley, north of Escondido, are engaged in the lucrative business of keeping health enthusiasts supplied with nature’s contribution to man’s longevity. Some shriveled citrus fruit was on the stands and I was beginning to wonder if these were examples of organic gardening. After waiting on two athletic looking elderly women wearing jeans, the clerk offered us sample drinks of the various grape juices, made from the grapes grown on the Arena Farm. He then took us into the large, walk-in refrigerator where the vegetables were stored– fresh, crisp, appetizing looking lettuce, celery, beets, etc. — all organically grown. Phil Arena only uses his specially prepared compost for fertilization and is an arch enemy of commercial fertilizers, dusting and poison sprays.
I noticed a vegetable which was unfamiliar to me and learned that it is called a Jerusalem artichoke. The clerk said that it contains a substance which acts like insulin, but he didn’t know any more about its history. It can be eaten raw or cooked, looks like a celery root and has the texture and taste of a water chestnut.
A little research on my part, when I returned home, revealed that the Jerusalem artichoke is a species of sunflower. The tuber of the plant is used as a vegetable or as fodder for animals. Fruit sugar may be derived from it and in France it is grown extensively for the production of alcohol. The plant is one of the remains of American Indian agriculture. I could not find out where the tuber got the name “Jerusalem” artichoke. Does anyone know?
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Irwin Sklar Elected Mayor of Oceanside
Southwestern Jewish Press, May 3, 1957, Page 3
San Diego County Jewry was honored by the election and appointment of two of its members to official positions in the past two weeks.
In Oceanside, Erwin Sklar, theater owner, active civic and communal worker, was recently elected Mayor of the City Council. Mr. Sklar came to Oceanside several years ago, built the Crest Theatre, and became active in civic and political affairs. Last year he ran for City Councilman, his first public office, and was elected on a reform ticket. The esteem in which he is held by his colleagues was demonstrated by his election as mayor of the city.
Several weeks ago, Albert A. Hutler, Executive Director of the Fund, was appointed to the new County Board of Public Welfare which had been set up under a recent charter provision. Appointed Chairman of the organizing committee to work out the by-laws, rules and regulations for the operation of the Board of Public Welfare, Mr. Hutler was, last week, elected as the first chairman of the Board for a two year term.
The Board is made up of 25 members, 5 of whom are County Supervisors.
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Letter to the Editor
Southwestern Jewish Press, May 3, 1957, Page 3
23 April 1957
Dear Sirs:
This letter is in regard to the Passover Seder given to the men of Jewish faith in the Navy and Marine Corps. Because of their heartwarming hospitality and increasing effort to make us welcome, I think it is only fair that some recognition be given the people who made that occasion possible.
The people to whom we owe our gratitude are as follows: J.W.B., Armed Forces Committee, and the Jewish War Veterans Auxiliary and husbands.
To these people we are eternally grateful and we would like them to know that we had a wonderful time and felt as if we were at a home Seder.
Two other people who also played a major role at the affair were two Jewish chaplains, Chaplain Rickel and Chaplain Miller. They helped tremendously by giving us explanations and guidance to meanings of many things that took place at the Seder.
Last but not least were the women and children who served us the delicious meal and enriched us with a true feeling of home with their presence and kindness.
To all people we would like to extend our most heartwarming and sincere thanks for all they have done to make us feel wanted and accepted.
Respectfully yours,
U.S.M.C.
Irving Diamant
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Discrimination (Editorial)
Southwestern Jewish Press, May 3, 1957, Page 3
We were amazed by the statement in Washington by Secretary of State Dulles, that Saudi Arabia’s continued exclusion of American personnel of the Jewish faith from the Dhahran air base was “partly at least” attributable to Mayor Robert Wagner’s refusal to greet King Saud on his arrival in New York last January.
This new explanation for a practice of exclusion by Saudi Arabia that began more than six years ago, and continues undiminished, conflicts with the history of the recent negotiations by the State Department, for renewal of the lease on that base. Secretary Dulles has employed an irrelevant circumstance rather than acknowledging our own government’s failure to prevent assaults on American citizenship.
For more than six years, the U.S. Government has acquiesced in a flagrant policy of discrimination by the Arab states against American citizens of the Jewish faith. Our government has negotiated treaties with Saudi Arabia which explicitly exclude Americans from that country on the basis of their religious beliefs. We are firmly convinced that such acquiescence in discrimination by a foreign government is tantamount to our government upholding discriminatory policies.
We certainly cannot accept as true the explanation offered by the representatives of Saudi Arabia that the discrimination against American Jews is not based upon religious affiliation. Nor are we convinced that Saudi Arabia will eliminate those restrictions in the absence of insistence by our own government.
It has become equally apparent that the Saudi Arabian intransigence on this score during the more recent negotiations for renewal of the Dhaharan Air Base was in keeping with the earlier policies, in which –both directly and indirectly — the American government has acquiesced.
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Who’s A Refugee! (Editorial)
Southwestern Jewish Press, May 3, 1957, Page 3
Every American who values justice and freedom must be disappointed and dismayed by the Administration’s decision not to invoke the parole provisions of the immigration and Nationality Act to admit refugees from Egyptian tyranny.
The Administration’s specious explanation that admission of some of the victims of Nasser’s inhumanity under the same provision of law as has been invoked in the case of the Hungarian refugees must await Congressional action is without either logic or compassion. The Justice Department takes refuge in the fact that Congress was not in session when the law was invoked in behalf of the Hungarian refugees. But the law itself makes no such distinction. It is the same when Congress is in session and when Congress is not in session. And, in fact, the admission of Hungarian refugees continues to the present time. The Administration resorts to pretext when it explains on this basis its choice of exercising or not exercising the discretion that is clearly vested in it by the law.
There is no justification either in law or morality for denying to the victims of Egyptian terror the succor offered, with the wide spread support of the American people, to those who fled from Communist tyranny in Hungary.
We call upon the Secretary of State to recommend and upon the Attorney General to act within his discretion under law to authorize the admission to the United States of a fair portion of the refugees and expellees from Egypt.
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With the Guardians
Southwestern Jewish Press, May 3, 1957, Page 3
By Morrie Pomeranz
Hi-Lites of the Board meeting-April 25–Mission Valley Country Club–the newly elected Secretary Leo Beck presented his first set of minutes–comprehensive and professional–co-chairman for the “Cadillac Drawing” Al DeSure reported brisk activity among ticket sellers–with a few remaining–in the words of Al: “A lot of members are going to be shut out.” Murray Goodrich reported that the outstanding citizen award has been completed and that proper announcement will be made as to the exact date of that award.
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The Guardian father whose pride and joy is a first grader tells the following with a bit of understandable pride. His little boy, just starting school, was given the orientation treatment — what school meant — what was expected–what was offered in return, etc., and the teacher concluded her little talk by saying: “And when you want to go to the washroom, you should raise your hand and display two fingers like this.” The youngster mulled this over for a few minutes and then perplexed he asked: “How will that help?”
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Two of our Guardians received public acclaim this past week –President Sammy Addleson, scheduled for a fifteen minute informal radio interview relative to the loan business tied up KGB for 90 minutes — several members report that Sammy “came over” very good. Murray Goodrich was appointed by Gov. “Goody” Knight to serve as the Harbor and Pilot Commissioner for this area.
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The telephone solicitations have been worked quite extensively in our community — for sheer imagination, we like the following: A sweet feminine voice called up and said: “Congratulations, you are the lucky winner of a $25.00 dancing course, etc.” Mrs. Sam Feller listened and politely thanked the caller with: “Sorry, but I’m not interested.” Undismayed, the female con artist continued: “Do you know anyone who might be, you see, we have a lot of first-prizes left!”
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We offer our sincere thanks to the young housewife who sent us a sponge cake –a most delicious one — with this little note: “I enjoy your column.” Signed J.J.
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(JWV Rummage Sale)
Southwestern Jewish Press, May 3, 1957, Page 4
Are you Spring house-cleaning? If so, call ATwater 4-5274 for pick-up of your cast offs for the Jewish War Veterans Rummage Sale.
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Named for Old Cities
Southwestern Jewish Press, May 3, 1957, Page 4
Gauze gets its name from Gaza in old Palestine, and damask from Damascus in Syria.
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New Book on Heart Available Free
Southwestern Jewish Press, May 3, 1957, Page 4
A new booklet which dispels many of the most common misconceptions about high blood pressure is now available to residents of this area, the San Diego County Heart Association announced today.
The booklet, “High Blood Pressure,” was written by Dr. Edgar V. Allen, Senior Consultant in Medicine at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester. It has been the subject of much recent national publicity because in it Dr. Allen corrects many misconceptions about this condition (which affects some 5,000,000 Americans), particularly the most common misconception that hypertension inevitably leads to a stroke or blood vessel damage in the brain.
Copies may be obtained, without charge, by writing to the San Diego County Heart Asociation, 1651 Fourth Avenue, San Diego 1.
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Council Women Offer Scholarship
Southwestern Jewish Press, May 3, 1957, Page 4
Applications for National Council of Jewish Women’s annual $100 college scholarship, the Lucille Rubel Award, are now being accepted, according to Mrs. Jack Stern, Council President. Applicants should be students graduating from high school in June and should submit letters of application toMRs. Stern at 5326 E. Fallsview Dr., San Diego 15, not later than May 15.
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As the Psychologist Sees You
Southwestern Jewish Press, May 3, 1957, Page 4
Guest Column by Oscar J. Kaplan
Older People Need Independence — Advances in industrial technology and the lengthening of human life have increased the number of retired persons. Some of these persons have chosen to withdraw from productive work. Others are idle involuntarily because of a hostile labor market. A high percentage of persons over age 65 are economically dependent or in marginal circumstances, and many suffer from serious physical and/or mental illness. The fullest measure of happiness in the later years comes to those who enjoy physical, psychological and financial independence.
Moved by compassion and other noble motives, we must avoid the psychological strangulation of the elderly through overprotection. Children often derive satisfaction from doing things for their aging parents which they are capable of doing themselves; a much more satisfactory arrangement is one in which aging persons are enabled to help themselves. Similarly, the goal of government, voluntary organizations and other social institutions should be to aid elderly men and women to stand on their own feet, insofar as this is possible. We cripple hundreds of thousands of older persons with our kindness, robbing them of their sense of personal worth and usefulness.
Although the family, voluntary organizations and government must provide assistance for large numbers of older men and women, the areas in which help is given should be carefully selected. There is a place for intelligent neglect in a program for the aged.
Older men and women who desire and are capable of gainful work should be aided in securing employment, either on a full or part-time basis. Others may gain feelings of usefulness through public service or through charitable deeds in behalf of others.
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Adventures in San Diego Jewish History” is sponsored by Inland Industries Group LP in memory of long-time San Diego Jewish community leader Marie (Mrs. Gabriel) Berg. Our “Adventures in San Diego Jewish History” series will be a regular feature until we run out of history. To find stories on specific individuals or organizations, type their names in our search box, located just above the masthead on the right hand side of the screen.