Celebrations

The Sixth Annual National Indie Excellence Awards recognized “Make New Friends … Live Longer” by Sunie Levin in the category of Aging as a winner/finalist.

This national award, based in Los Angeles, is open to all English language books including small presses, university presses, independent publishers and self-published authors. Works published in 2009, 2010 and 2011 were eligible for consideration.

The competition is judged by independent experts from all aspects of the indie book industry, including publishers, writers, editors, book cover designers and professional copywriters. They select award winners and finalists based on overall excellence of presentation.

“Make New Friends … Live Longer” is a non-fiction genre book — a how-to for boomers and seniors to become proactive in making new friends.

“We appreciate you, we applaud you and thank you for your great work. You are contributing to make independent publishing a great sector in the literary community,” said Ellen Ried, president of the National Indie Excellence Book Awards.

For more information, visit http://www.indieexcellence.com/index.html.

Doris Rubin wishes to announce the recent birth of a great-granddaughter, Ava Bryn, daughter of Drs. Megan Carr and Matthew Borkon, grandson of the late Col. David Rubin. Grandparents are Dr. Michael and Peggy Borkon.

Jennifer and Jeffrey Zwillenberg of Baltimore announce the birth May 13 (Mother’s Day) of a son, Max Barnett. Paternal grandparents are Janet and Louis Zwillenberg of Leawood. Maternal grandmother is Diane Goulston of Portsmouth, N.H. Great-grandparents are Marian and the late Jerome Barnett Grossman, Kansas City, Mo., the late Edith and Joseph Zwillenberg, Kansas City, Mo., and Natalie and the late Dr. Max Resnick.

Shelly and Stu Hirsh announce the Bar Mitzvah of their son, Jeffrey Samuel at 3:30 p.m. Thursday, July 12, at West London Synagogue in London. Jeffrey is the grandson of Marion and Irving Hirsh, Evanston, Ill., Carl and Cynthia Puritz, and Joanie and Lionel Greenberg.

Mr. and Mrs. Bruce Jeffrey Krigel of Kansas City, Mo., announce the engagement of their daughter, Emily Kaye Krigel, to Todd Franklin Spector, son of Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Stanley Spector of Las Vegas.

The bride-to-be is the granddaughter of Mrs. Elmer Price and the late Mr. Price and the late Mr. and Mrs. Jack Z. Krigel. She attended the University of Southern California, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology and a Bachelor of Arts degree in sociology. She is a member of Alpha Phi sorority.

The future groom attended the University of Southern California, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration, and the University of Virginia, earning a master’s degree in accounting. He is a member of Pi Kappa Phi fraternity and is the president of Somerpointe Resorts in Las Vegas.

An Oct. 6 wedding at Shadow Creek Golf Course in Las Vegas is planned.

Lon and Cathy Lowenstein announce the engagement of their son, Lane Michael Lowenstein, to Jennifer Rebecca Rudy, daughter of Thomas Eric Rudy and the late Rosalyn Edell Rudy.

The bride-to-be is the granddaughter of Dorothy Rudy and the late A.B. Rudy and the late Shirlee and Irwin Edell. She attended Indiana University in Bloomington, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in biology and a certificate in Jewish studies. She is a member of Sigma Delta Tau sorority and is currently employed as a teacher at the Rose Samson Family Jewish Community Center in Milwaukee.

The future groom is the grandson of Tootie Brown and the late Spencer Brown, Sharon Shoham and the late Rabbi Gilbert Shoham, and Bill and Babs Lowenstein. He attended Indiana University in Bloomington, graduating with honors with a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics and a certificate in the Liberal Arts and Management Program. He is a Phi Beta Kappa with distinction and is currently employed with GE Healthcare in Milwaukee.

A September wedding in Indianapolis is planned.

Julie and Brian Hakan announce the Bat Mitzvah of their daughter, Brianna Elyse Naomi, at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, July 7, at Congregation Beth Torah. Brianna is the granddaughter of Eleanor Baer and the late Ben Baer, Memphis, Tenn., Rowena Hakan and the late Melvyn Hakan, the late Delores Rosenbloom Benjamin and the late Max Benjamin. Relatives and friends are invited to worship with the family and to attend the Kiddush luncheon following the service.

Michael and Gloria Azorsky announce the engagement of their daughter, Lauren Azorsky, to Jared Levy, son of Cindy and Ira Levy of Plano, Texas.

The bride-to-be is the granddaughter of Edith Shaw and the late Robert Shaw and the late Harry and Evelyn Azorsky. She attended the University of Kansas, earning a Master of Science degree in elementary education. She is a member of Sigma Delta Tau sorority. She is currently employed as a first-grade teacher in the Shawnee Mission School District.

The future groom is the grandson of the late Norman and Lorraine Plasker and the late Samuel and Deborah Levy. He attended the University of Kansas, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics. He is a member of Alpha Epsilon Pi fraternity. He is currently employed as a digital media buyer at PlattForm Advertising in Lenexa.

An Aug. 5 wedding at Westin Crown Center is planned.

Barbara Leifer and Johann Aeschlimann, both of New York City, are pleased to announce their marriage on May 26. They were married by the mayor of Hudson, N.Y., in the historic courthouse of that city.

The bride is the daughter of Doreen Leifer of Overland Park and the late Henry Leifer. She is a graduate of New York University and the master’s program of the Julliard School.

The groom is the son of Rosa Aeschlimann of Bern, Switzerland, and the late Hans Aeschlimann. He graduated from the University of Bern and has been employed by the Swiss foreign ministry at the United Nations Organization.

After July 1, the couple will be residing in Berlin, where Johann is the cultural attaché to the Swiss ambassador and Barbara will continue her career as a mezzo-soprano and voice teacher.

Drs. Neal and Michelle Deutch announce the engagement of their son, Samuel Loren Deutch, to Charity Laine Barnum, daughter of Dale and Pamela Barnum, Ozawkie, Kan.

The bride-to-be is the granddaughter of Thelma Wineinger and the late Dwayne Wineinger. She attended Oklahoma State University and the University of Central Oklahoma, earning a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a Master of Arts degree in psychology. She is currently employed with SRS of Kansas as a vocational rehabilitation counselor.

The future groom is the grandson of Charlene Hecht and the late Allen Hecht and the late Anne and Al Deutch. He attended the University of Kansas, earning a master’s degree in counseling psychology. He is currently employed as a vocational rehabilitation counselor in Overland Park.

A June 2013 wedding at Congregation Ohev Sholom is planned.