Wedding of Deborah Veltri and Justin Omanoff

Lily Carr the flowergirl Stephanie and Jeffry

A beutiful wedding not outside, but under the roof.

The new Mr. and Mrs. Omanoff just driving into the future.

In the HALF MOON SEASIDE RESORT, Jamaica the day of November 15, 2008 was a very important day for Debbie Veltri and his parents Marianne and Jim: Debbie, the only and beutiful daughter will have her wedding day. Justin Omanoff and his parents were ther to share their handsom son Justin happiness. Their relatives and friends from both side were there to listen Justin and Debbie composition and all the promises they make to each other.

The wedding dresses, the flower arrangment were outstanding. All the food, the music and the non-stop dancing was the evening big attraction.

An evening before the Resort gave a big and BBQ party with plenty of food, music and local show. Debbie was the main dancer. Sunday breakfast close to the ocean was tasty and many guests were going home.

This was a family affair and everybody will remember for this special wedding and the long and hard organization of Marianne.

OUR VERY BEST WISHES TO THE NEW COUPLE!

Birthday parties

BIRTHDAY PARTY FOR VERA AND FOR LESLIE 85.

Joanie and George invuted close to 50 people, relatives and good friends came to celebrate in the Chatea Vaudreaul Sunday brunch November 2nd, 2008.

George said: History was made in 1924 and in 1928 when my parents were born, than in 1952 when they were married and a very important day was in 1955 when I was born.My parents had a bumpy road, but with hard work, determination they made it.My mother was working as a dressmaker, than in the office of Magnasonic/Sanyo. My father was and is a hard working person, but he is a bad credit risk. He never bought anything on credit, or loan, or mortgage.

After I finished ny nedical education and married Joanie we moved to Toronto and raised three wonderful children. Gregory, the oldest son and Jaclyn our only daughter were not able to come today, they have very important test in their schools, outside Toronto. I am happy to tell, that Alex, our youngest son is here.

Leslie said: Thank you Joanie and George for this memorable celebration, for your succesful organization, to invite our loved and cherished guests. We are veru happy to see you all here, in this happy occasion, to see all the smiling faces.

Thank you Eva Kertesz, Georgie and Tibor Lebi to travel from Toronto. Thank you Gabe Neiser and Vee Ennan to travel from Long Island, USA.

Thank you all for your donations, your gifts and for your your love for a long time.

Than Leslie read the list of well wishers from out-of-country, out-of city:

Barbara Scwartz sister, Petach Tiqva, Israel

Rosalie Karalekas Winkler cousin and her family, Salem Oregon, USA

Marianne and Jim Carr from Aventure, Florida, USA

Luly and Gladys Amestoy from Montevideo, Uruguay

Tatiana Rother from Ottawa, Ontario.

Duci said: We are all gathered around our dear Vera to express our best wishes on this wonderful occasion of her birthday. We all know about her origin and the hardship she suffered from childhood, and trough her life. How she met Prince Charming and than immigrated to Canada with baby George, to begin a new life here.

Than she explained the suggestion of Annie Benko to send them to a nice hotel and have some "spending" money for this double occasion. Kati Egett did a good job collecting and Joe Gyulai took on the artistic presentation and he made "THE LIST".

Duci: In the end we decided to send Vera and Leslie to their favourite spot in Ottawa, or other city, for a theatre, and/or to have a romantic supper. We made also a nice donation to the Cummings Jewish Centre for Seniors, Leslie's favourite cause. We trust their imagination to make a very enjoyable time to remember!

2008 Rosh Hashana

In October, 2008 we were in Toronto, celebrating the Jewish New Year in the beutiful home of Joanie and George. They invited family members and their best friends. "Only" 20 people were aroung the table, which was well decorated and covered with lots of good food. Jaclyn and Alex were happy to be part of the celebration, Gregory was not able to leave the school this time.

"Soup or wine" Joanie ask en the beginning. Mostly we ask for the very good soup. In two hours most of the food and wine was gone, but the discussions were ended much later.

This was a very happy time and hope the New Year will be good for everybody.

Volunteer recognition party 2008

The CUMMINGS JEWISH CENTER FOR SENIORS made again a "Volunteer Regcognition Party in June 5th, 2008. After serving a good lunch by the staff members, we were listening for the many "THANKS" for our volunteer work, the important time and dedication the volunteers give to all the members of the CJCS. Than came the entertainment by the excellent group of "THE ABSOLUTS" with lots of fun and dancing.

I was very happy, like all of us to hear the speakers, to enjoy a few hours and get ready for the next day to help our seniors.

Holocaust Memorials

In Miami. In Tucson. In Hungary.

ARIZONA: WINTER VACATION 2008.

We rented a one bedroom apartment in the ANASAZI gated condominium complex for two monnts. The apartment was OK after we did some cleaning and re-supply shopping. The location was not good, because of the building #6 was facing the VERY busy and noise Cactus Road. The bedroom, the living room and the balcony, facing the swimming pool were quieter.

I rented a nice red car; beside everything was close-by, like Wall-Mart, Target, T.J.Max, Albertson supermarket, even the Whole Food too. Not far was the Paradise Valley Shopping Mall with Macy, J.C.Penny, Dillard's Ann Taylor and many restaurant.

The driving was easy on the long and straight busy roads. The drivers were good, no honking or cut-inns.Phoenix, Scattsdale is a very busy place! We enjoyed the Red Lobster and the Olive Garden.

I didn't have a computer in the apartment, but I was able to use one in the well organized Phoenix Public Library, free of charge.

In the complex every 3 building has a small, heated swimming pool. We used the larger one beside the Building #14, facing the Stone Creek Golf Club. Almost every day we walk on the long and well kept walkway and watching the the golf players, old and youg, and enjoy seeing in the back the Camelback and other mountains behind the golf course.

It was the worst winter in Phoenix, we had many cold and rainy days, even we have to heat the apartment some time. We used the nicest days to travel, to see many places, many art galleries. In the Main Street in Scottsdale we visited more than 20 galleries: the Simic, the Heritage, the LeKae, the Russian and the PHX ART MUSEUM. There was a "CELEBRATION OF FINE ART" event in Scottsdale with 100 artist's studios. It was open for the public for 3 months. The artists were working there. We spent almost a whole day there seeing many beautiful objects of art and to talk to many artists

Our good friend Judy Laufer was our "adviser" about shopping, sightseeing eating places. She introduced us to the Community Centre and for a few of her friends. We enjoyed Kati, her mother's short visit in their beautiful home in Paradise Valley. She invited us for dinner in their home to meet some of her friends and to celebrate my 84th Birthday with a candle and a musical cake. Four days later we celebrated Judy's Birthday with Nathan, her charming, friendly famous husband and his parents and of course with their son Andrew in the exclusive Royal Palm Hotel's restaurant. There were a large Birthday cake, candle and happy people singing all around us.

Our son George, our daughter-in-law Joanie and our youngest grandson Alex came to visit us from Toronto. They were staying in the close-by Embassy Suite Hotel, and celebrated my 84th and Alex 15th Birthdays in the P.F. Chang restaurant, downtown Scottsdale. They visited many interesting places and spent 3 days in Sedona.

HERE IS A SHORT LIST ABOUT OUR TRIPS IN ARIZONA........

ARIZONA: INTERESTING PLACES

INTERESTING PLACES.

SCOTTSDALE FASHION SQUERE at Camelback Road is the biggest and interesting place to dhop, walk, eat and/or go to the movie. The well kept center consist Neiman Marcus, Gucci, Burberry, Tiffany and many high and medium quality stores. The lower level has lots of food, movie and an interesting water fountain behind the Concierge Desk. From here we took the DOWNTOWN TROLLEY. It is free and took us all around the MAIN STREET, the MARSHALL WAY. There are full of excellent art galleries. We had a nice walk in the WATERFRONT and checked the stores in the 3rd Avenue and the in the historic 5th Avenue too.

The KIRKLAND COMMONS, corner of Scottsdale Road, is an upscale outdoor center, where shopping, dining, offices and urban residents artfully bend. Many high-end stores keep the doors open: BCBG, MAXX, AZIRA, BANANA REPUBLIC, CRATE & BARREL, and many others. In one corner there is the busy CHEESECAKE FACTORY. We tried the strong coffee and the large cake. We loved it!

The BORGATE MALL, located in the corner of Lincoln and Scottsdale, is an interesting mall with a few, very high quality art gallery. The elevation in the CAREFREE village is 2.389 feet, clean air with the population only 4.800 people, but the place full of visitors all the time. The Spanish Village in the Easy Street has 6 art studios and many art galleries, specialty stores and good restaurant. We had a nice lunch in the Black Mountain Coffee Shop.

FOUNTAIN HILLS is the place to see. It is almost the end of the Shea BLVD, going East. We visited the EAGLE NEST gated resort. They have one of biggest golf cours in the area. The newly built houses overlook the mountain and the Fort McDowell Regional Park. In the middle of the city there is a huge fountain, and in every hour the water shoot up sky high. The parks is full of nice object of art, mostly around the Library, the Community Center and front of the River of Time Museum.

ARIZONA: RESORTS AND HOTELS.

There are many resorts and hotels in Phoenix. Only Scottsdale (part of Grater Phoenix) more than 71! We didn't visited all of them, only a few with 5 (or more stars). The most interesting part of every hotel wasn't the lobby, but the designs of the landscape, the swimming pools and the background of the mountains.

The PHOENICIAN on the Camelback Road is the best. They have 647 rooms, 8 restaurants, 9 pools, 27 holes in the golf courses and 12 tennis courts. Also have 35 indoor and many outdoor meeting places.Around the pools are many cabacan, bar and towel services and a children water-slide. The resort is like a city with many side streets with individual villas for rent. The high water fountain is facing the hotel and in the high mountain is in the background..

THE ARIZONA BILTMORE opened in 1929, and it is part of the Waldorf-Astoria Collection.The resort is nestled on the 39 acres of land at the foot of the Phoenix Mountain Preserve. The hotel had many famous guests: Predisents, Vice-presidents and many other well known people: Now Vera is included on the wall display. The resort inspired by Frank Lloyd Wrright"s designs inside and outside of the buildings.

The BOULDERS RESORT AND GOLDEN SPA, North of Scattsdale, just South of Carefree city has the most unique location in the desert, overlooking the extension of the Black Mountain with giant rocks, like falling down in every second.In every one of the 6 restaurant and 4 pools the guests can see the adventurous climbers and the innovative architecture of the newly built houses. The hotel has 214 guest rooms and 54 very luxury casitas (villas), located around the resort. Very impressive place.

The HYATT REGENCY HOTEL at Gainey Ranch has 2.5 acres of water playground; one of the is a sandy beach for the children. The landscape is beautiful and the 490 rooms and 25 suites located all around the ranch. There are flowers, trees, little lakes and lots of benches in the well kept garden.

The FAIRMONT PRINCESS HOTEL has a beautiful central garden with a dramaticwaterfall, inspired by the Grand Canyon's HAVASUPAI FALLS. The hotel has 651 rooms spread all over in the resort, giving the most privacy to their guests. The 7 tennis court and the 5 decorative swimming pools are very busy.