Italian language course: Our community

UNITED JEWISH COMMUNITY
Solidarity rally at JCC

The United Jewish Community of York shows its support of Israel at an Israel Solidarity Rally at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 14, at the York Jewish Community Center, 2000 Hollywood Drive.
Scheduled speakers include U.S. Rep. Todd Platts, R-York County; Lise Levin, president of the Jewish Community of York; and keynote speaker, Elliot P. Chodoff, a political and military analyst specializing in the Middle East conflict and the global war on terror.

Chodoff is a graduate of the Ramaz School in New York. He received a B.A. with honors in sociology as well as a B.S. in biological science from SUNY at Stony Brook and an M.A. in sociology from the University of Chicago. He is currently writing a Ph.D. dissertation in political science at the University of Haifa on the strategies of Palestinian terrorist organizations. His specialties include military, political, and organizational sociology, international terrorism, social change and conflict.

The United Jewish Community of York is made up of the following Jewish agencies serving the York County area: Jewish Family Services of York, Ohev Sholom Congregation, Temple Beth Israel and the York Jewish Community Center.
SONS OF ITALY
Showcase organization
The Sons of Italy will be showcasing their organization at the Business Show from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 23, at the Markets of Shrewsbury (12025 Susquehanna Trail -- between exits 4 & 8 off Interstate 83).

First established in 1905 as a mutual aid society of early Italian immigrants, Order Sons of Italy in America has as its mission preserving Italian American traditions, culture, history and heritage, encouraging the study of Italian language course and culture in American schools and universities, and fighting racism, prejudice, and stereotyping of all races. In addition, each lodge works to raise funds for medical research, cultural preservation, disaster relief, scholarships and other projects. To date the Sons of Italy Foundation has raised more than $93 million in aid.

The chapter welcomes anyone of Italian descent (men, women and children) and spouses.

Dinner meetings are generally held at 7 p.m. the last Tuesday of every month at St. John the Baptist Church (Old Church) in New Freedom.

For more information, contact lodge president Joe Colamarino at (717) 235-7266.
COMMUNITIES THAT CARE
Seek variety show talent
The York Suburban Communities That Care Alliance is looking for talented students and community members to perform in its second annual variety show at 6 p.m. Nov. 18 at York Suburban High School.

The variety show will feature acts from students, teachers, school administrators and local community members. All members of the York Suburban community are invited to audition.

Zarfos Furniture Store is this year's event sponsor. Proceeds from the show will benefit the alliance's efforts in the York Suburban School District, including the Big Brothers/Big Sisters mentoring program, drug- and alcohol-free events, student boards, LifeSkills health curricula, school violence prevention program, presentation of the "Bang, Bang, You're Dead" play and counseling services and violence assessments for at-risk students.

The 2005 variety show raised more than $5,000 for the York Suburban CTC Alliance. Registration information is available on the alliance's Web site, www.ysctc.org, or by calling Emily Bates at (717) 845-5850. Registration forms are due by Sept. 29.
YORK TWINNING
Promotes statue
The first exchange between France and the United States will be the subject of the next meeting of the York Twinning Association. The group is joining with others in supporting the erection of a statue to the Marquis de Lafayette in downtown York.

Organizer H. Lowell Davis will tell of the plans, and sculptor Lorann Jacobs will describe her work, to be placed near the Gates House and Plough Tavern.

The meeting starts at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 26, at Country Meadows Leader Heights, 2760 Pine Grove Road, York. For details or directions email yorktwinning@juno.com.