Lexington Hosts Coffee House Series 
     Lynn Jacobowitz, a professor at Gallaudet University's Department of Sign Communication, will present "'Lynn's Comedy Jam" on Thursday, September 21st at 7 pm at the Gotham Comedy Club, 34 West 22nd Street, New York City. Manny Hernandez is also scheduled to present "Manny's ASL Storytelling" during the same event. To purchase tickets, contact Sofia Normatov at 718/350-3104 TTY, 718/350-3107 Voice, 718/899-6834 FAX, or e-mail to lex-coffee@lexnyc.org

New Mexico Superintendent To Act 
     The Albuquerque Journal in New Mexico reported in an article on Saturday, August 5th that Saul Cohen, president of the Board of Regents for the New Mexico School for the Deaf has written to Ronald Stern, who took over as the school's new superintendent on August 1st, out lining areas they wish to be kept informed about. Stern has agreed to keep them posted including test results on a regular basis. In the Journal's August 26th issue, they also reported that the school should remain in Santa Fe. Regents President Cohen reportedly cast the deciding vote in favor of "new and remodeled physical facilities" at the school's present location on Cerrillos Road. Superintendent Stern requested that the decision be postponed to give him time to research how education issues could impact on where the school should be located. Following lengthy discussions, the Regents split on whether to follow Stern's recommendation. Cohen broke the 2-2 tie by casting his vote in favor of the existing location. "It was just really better to make a decision and move on from there," Cohen said.

Jews of Philadelphia Photo Exhibit 
     An exhibit documenting the rapidly disappearing generation of the Jewish South Philadelphia community opens at the National Museum of American Jewish History in Philadelphia, PA on Sunday, September 17th. Harvey Finkle spent the last two years photographing and inter viewing remaining Jewish individuals and families still living in South Philadelphia. The program starts with a panel discussion at 4 pm and sign language interpreters will be present followed by a reception. The museum is at 55 North 5th Street, Philadelphia. Complete coverage of the show can be viewed at www.nmajh.org

Book Chat & Signing At Bergen College 
     Arlene Romoff, Author of "Hear Again: Back To Life With A Cochlear Implant", will speak and sign books in Room A-113 at the Bergen Community College in Paramus, NJ on Friday September 15th from 7 to 9 pm. Sign Language interpreter and real-time captioning have been arranged. Romoff began to lose her hearing for unknown reasons when she was about 20 years old. Thirty years later, when she found her hearing aids no longer worked for her, she got a cochlear implant. For the next year, she shared her experiences with her friends, family and colleagues via e-mail. She discussed what life was like without hearing, and her return to the world of sound. These "postings" were brought together in her fascinating book. For additional information contact Beth Pincus at 201/612-5325 TTY or 201/447-7844 Voice.

Hearing Screening Of Newborns In Israel 
     The Jerusalem Post, in its Monday, August 28th edition, reports that two Israeli hospitals, Sheba at Tel Hashomer and Hadassah-University Hospital in Jerusalem's Ein Kerem, are the first in the country to routinely screen newborns for hearing problems before they're discharged with their mothers from the hospital. Their programs have already put them in step with major hospitals in the U.S. and Europe. Sheba's program was initiated some two years ago, while the Hadassah project, made possible by a designated annual donation of about $50,000, began in October last year and is run with help from young women performing National Service. Although the sister Hadassah-University Hospital on Mount Scopus delivers as many babies at the Ein Kerem medical center, it does not yet have the hearing-screening program.

Parents Request Help For Deaf Son's Bar Mitzvah 
     A hearing couple with a Deaf son who lives near New York City, requests suggestions or ideas on preparing for their Deaf son's Bar Mitzvah celebration with the Deaf cultural perspective. Email to Judy Jonas at Jonas62@att.net and she will relay the message to that family.

Deaf Artist Gets National Exposure 
      The League of Women Voters of Montgomery County in Virginia has selected Claire Bergman, a deaf artist of Maryland to submit a piece of artwork as an image that embraces a working force of educated women in honor of the League's 80th anniversary. The image will be re produced on posters, note cards, and all press materials related to the promotion of the League's 2000 National Convention.

Holocaust Poetry 
     Curtis Robbins wrote a poem in Rose Rosman's honor, "In Der Nacht" which was published in Beyond Lament: Poets of the World Bearing Witness to the Holocaust edited by Marguerita M. Striar and printed by Northwestern University Press in Evanston, IL during 1998. The poem is a reflection of Roseman's story during darkest moments with a Nazi soldier, who was a CODA (child of Deaf Adults).

Jewish Signs Workshop 
     Joyce Linden will give a two-part workshop "How Do I Sign That???" on Wednesday evenings, September 13th and 20th from 7 to 9 pm, sponsored by Temple Beth Solomon of the Deaf, and held at Temple Judea, 5429 Lindley Ave., Tarzana CA. If you've ever wondered how to sign those difficult English words or Jewish concepts, now is the time to learn. Make your prayer experience more meaningful and more accurate just in time for the High Holy Days. For those of you who always participate in the Holy Day services or even on Shabbat, now is the time to become confident when you stand in front of a group to sign your prayers. There is a $10 per session fee for non-members and further information is available by contacting Jan Seeley at 818/363-7740 TTY, 818/363 5580 Voice, or e-mail to her at jsee2@aol.com

Irene Leigh Gets Compliments 
      Disability Studies Quarterly's Winter 2000 issue commented on Irene Leigh's "Psychotherapy with Deaf Clients" book from Diverse Groups: "Irene Leigh has accomplished the challenging task of editing a well-written and much needed book on the provision of effective psychotherapy to the richly diverse Deaf population ... This book is unlikely to collect dust on the bookshelves of responsible therapists, regardless of their experience with serving deaf persons."

Charter School Plan Put On Hold 
     An Arizona Republic article, on Monday, August 14th commented that Sandra Jakobs' two-year old charter school for the Deaf, Dimensions Academy is closing. The school is money-strapped, particularly after the school was forced to move from Glendale to North Phoenix and half of the families could not afford the extra mileage. Jakobs will ask its sponsor, the state Board of Education,, if she can keep the charter and reopen the school for kindergarten through sixth grade next August. Sandra and her husband, Jeffrey Joyce, also a school official, have learned that marketing and fund-raising are key. It takes about $18,000 to educate a deaf student. The state pays $8,000 of that, but charter schools must raise the rest.

Poetry In Motion 
      The Times Union in Albany, NY mentioned in its Thurs day, August 10th edition that "Sign-language interpreters are visual poets, using drama, emotion and a bit of personal history to translate often daunting cultural events. Imagine, for instance, being in Lori E. Calka's position in July, when she had to translate the arduous language of U.S. poet laureate Robert Pinsky -- without knowing which poems he would read. A certified sign-language interpreter, Calka once portrayed five characters at the same time and has interpreted the opera 'Cinderella,' as well as the dog-spaying demonstration at the New York State Fair."

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