Government House, Annapolis:

Every year, Gov. Martin O'Malley and First Lady Katie O'Malley, host and entertain residents of our State of Maryland and others at many celebrations and holiday parties at their prestigious address, Government House, in Annapolis.

This specific joyous holiday celebration was a lovely Hanukkah brunch, organized and coordinated by Leonard Attman and Izzy Patoka, the governor's top-notch efficient executive director of the Governor's Office of Community Initiatives.

Leonard Attman was master of ceremonies, welcoming all the Hanukkah revelers to this holiday celebration, lighting eight candles on the traditional menorah. Though traditional, this specific magnificent Hanukkah menorah at Government House, was a gift from Leonard and Phyllis Attman to the O'Malley's in celebration of the Attman's 50th (golden) anniversary eight years ago.

Phyllis and Leonard were aware our Government House had no menorah of any type. Both, as friends of the O'Malley's, wanted to give them a significant remembrance gift, to commemorate the holiday, Hanukkah, and their friendship.

Thus, presenting a menorah was discussed with the curator of Government House. Phyllis selected the menorah presented, known as "The Festival of Lights." This is an exquisite, magnificent menorah that was artistically, and with much thought, designed by artist, Zachary Oxman.

And, there are two of these magnificent menorahs! The first of the menorahs that Zachary Oxman created, was designed for the White House collection of American crafts and is now located in the Clinton Presidential Center in Little Rock, Ark.

This magnificent second menorah, is located in our Government House, for the people of Maryland and others to view and enjoy, especially at Hanukkah!

More program participants included Rabbi Steven Fink, of Beth El Congregation located in Pikesville, who explained to everyone the traditions and symbolism of Hanukkah. This then appropriately led to singing the traditional candle lighting prayer, and the symbolic lighting of all eight of the candles by different segments of people representing Maryland.

The first candle: Gov. O'Malley and First Lady Katie O'Malley.

The second candle: Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown.

The third candle: The Attman Family.

The fourth candle: Local government officials.

The fifth candle: Israeli Embassy representatives Galit Barum and Miriam Katz.

The sixth candle: Rabbi Schwartz of Beth El Congregation in Pikesville, and Rabbi Stuart Weinblat of Congregation B'nai Tzedek located in Potomac, Md., with their families.

The seventh candle: Jewish Councils from Baltimore and surrounding counties. This also included our Federation of Jewish Women's Organization in Maryland, Lynda Weinstein, president, and Harriet Meier, M.D., incoming president.

The eighth candle: Attorney General, Doug Gansler and members of the Maryland General Assembly and all judges that were present.

Concluding the program, Lt. Gov. Brown introduced Gov. O'Malley who spoke to the party guests.

The Kol Chayim Orchestra provided the enjoyable Hanukkah music.

Guests were delighted to receive on arrival, token gifts from the Attman family, including an attractive "kippah" (skull cap) embossed in gold with both our state seal and Gov. O'Malley's name printed in Hebrew, plus traditional Hanukkah gelt (chocolate candy coins.)

Zeffert & Gold kosher division "Celebrations" catered the plentiful and bountiful brunch. Monroe Zeffert, behind the scenes, helped to prepare and coordinated the smooth flow and full platters available to everyone, of this tasty and delicious brunch. Thanks, Monroe!

In addition to above listed names, also among the several hundred Hanukkah revelers were, Shoshana Cardin, Paula and Paul Hollinger, Brandy and Dave Dopkin with their adorable two children, Jordana, age 4, and Graham, age 2. The Dopkin's, owners of several popular Miss Shirley's restaurants in Baltimore, one in Roland Park and another in our Inner Harbor, recently opened a third Miss Shirley's restaurant, in Annapolis! Great! Wishing the Dopkin's continued success!

Also among the revelers were Linda Weinstein, president of National Council Jewish Women of Maryland; Harriet Meier M.D., incoming National Council president; Eve Vogelstein, a past president of this prestigious National Council of Jewish Women's organization and actively involved with many additional philanthropic organizations plus Eve's lovely daughter, Hana Rose Kondrdyuk, a prominent lawyer, expecting her first bundle of joy, July 2012. And, many more guests too numerable to list.

Fellowship/friendship/camraderie, everyone enjoyed this very special Hanukkah celebration at the Government House!

Immediately following Hanukkah this year was the joyous Christmas holiday! The Government House open house party with Christmas décor, including a beautifully decorated Christmas tree, the Governor's kitchen krew prepared 12,000 cookies! There were 1,200 brownies and a variety of holiday bars with raspberry and white chocolate, plus pecan bars. All were yummy.

Thank you Gov. O'Malley and his charming and friendly First Lady Katie for their gracious hospitality. Also, Izzy Patoka, the governor's top notch executive director Governor's Office of Community Initiatives who represents our busy governor at various venues, in all counties, in Maryland.

Now, we are into the New Year 2012 with all types of old and new challenges! Best wishes to our Governor, Izzy and politicos! L'Chaim!

Lifecycle simcha celebrations

A very happy and a few belated birthday greetings to family, friends, co-workers, neighbors and community, celebrating 30-something, more or less. Also a sprinkling of kids, tween/teens, young adults and seniors (recycled teenagers):

Rabbi Jay Goldstein, Dr. Moises Fraiman, Dr. Jason Brandt, Dr. Phil Weiner, Dr. Mort Mower, Richard Lansburgh, Beverly Stappler, Fran Chase, Judy Zerwitz, Christy Manko, Barb Orman, Leona Morris, Rabbi Aaron Gaber, Jim Rothschild, Stan Gumnit, Sam Weiss, Janice Gold, Alan Horwitz, Ron Eisenberg, Iris Estep, Elaine Polansky, Bernie Siegel, Joe

Bormel, Chip Kalisch, Mal Gordon, Alma Katzen, Florence Lebow, Dorothy Hack Goldberg.

And, Jeffrey O. Levitt, Dan Lemmerman, Ira Meier, Jenn Quartner, Jean Fedder, Adrienne Liszka, Diana Grosman, Stuart Newman, Gary Applestein, Justin Kellam, Jodi Millstone, Wendy Dechowitz, Norma Levin, Cheryl Caplan, Karen Zale, Esther Jacobson, Lynn Ruddie, Alan Katz. Norm DuBois, Jordyn Manucci, Debra Berney, Michael Abramson, Alan Bernstein, Jim Anderson, Esther Jacobson, Pam and Larry Leibowitz, Miles Horwitz, Norm Klein and Adam Hoffberg.

Happy kids birthdays to Autumn Alexander and Trevor Weiner.

Happy, happy birthday to each and everyone and those celebrating birthdays not listed! Hope you all enjoyed oodles of ice cream, cake and goodies. Especially the goodies!

Engagement congrats

Meghan Ryan to Harrison Guthorn.

Marriage

Best wishes for wedded bliss: Melissa (Effron) and Ryan Grashow.

Newborns

Welcome to this trio of adorable precious bundles of joy:

A daughter, Ella Kate, to Sharon and Moty Bar.

A son, Drew Stone, to Rachael and Justin Fineberg.

A daughter, Selena Catherine Gina, to Ariel and Eric Lewis.

Mazel Tov to all! Enjoy with oodles of hugs and kisses and a few loveable squeezes on their eensie, weesy tiny diapered tushes!

Anniversary congrats

A whopper gorgeous (diamond) 60th anniversary to Thalia and Marty Resnick also Sonia and Herm Feldman.

WOW! 60 years! Fantabulous! We all wish Thalia and Marty, Sonia and Herm, many, many more wonderful anniversary celebrations with good health and happiness! Yes!

A fab 51st anniversary to Mr. and Mrs. Herb Kasoff. Celebrating their (golden) big 5-0, half-century anniversary are Ilona and Larry Robinson, Marcy and Buzz Kolodny.

A great 47th anniversary to Judy and Irv Zeigenfuse. An attractive (sapphire) 45th anniversary to Alice and Roy Marks, Paula and Dr. Marty Schugam also Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Schnydman. An enjoyable 43rd anniversary to Lee and Mel Mintz. A very happy 42nd anniversary to Rheta and Barry Schloss. An equally very happy 41st anniversary to Dr. and Mrs. Gary Cohen. A lovely (ruby) 40th anniversary to Margaret and Art Gold.

An attractive (pearl) 30th anniversary to Mr. and Mrs. Larry Cooper.

A great 29th anniversary to Marina and Glen Sidelnikov. Celebrating their (silver) 25th quarter century anniversary are Shellye and Steve Gilden. A fab 22nd anniversary to Barb and Mark Gitomer, Susan and Dr. Charles Mann. A happy 20th anniversary to Mr. And Mrs. Jeffrey Plotkin.

A lovely 18th (chai) anniversary to Mr. and Mrs. Jory Schunick. A very happy 11th to Rose Marie and Harry Zbar.

Happy anniversary also Betsy and Dr. Stace Berner.

Happy anniversary to all of the above and those celebrating anniversaries not listed! May you all enjoy many, many more wonderful anniversary simchas! L'Chaim!

Shannon and Taylor Stern, tween/teen, young adult and under-30 social columnists

Your choice of awesome cool/hot happy double digit birthday cha, cha, chas: Hannah Mauer and Morgan Hoffman.

Bat Mitzvah

Mazel Tov to Alexandra Efron and Danielle Neschis.

Bar Mitzvah

Mazel Tov to Owen Goetz.

Happy young adult birthdays to Abi Levine, Kyle Romm, Tyler Silberstein and Matt Anderson.

Happy 20-something and under-30 birthdays to Rachael Allen, Kim Fleishman, Josh Goldman and Max Berner.

Happy birthday to all the double-digit, Bat and Bar Mitzvah celebrants, young adult and 20-something and under-30 birthday celebrants not listed! Happy milestone birthdays all!

Note

Thursday, Jan. 26, is the 67th anniversary of the liberation of the horrific Auschwitz Concentration Camp in Poland.

Memo

Shabbat candle-lighting time, Friday evening Jan. 27, is 5:02 p.m.

Have and enjoy a terrific week! Everyone!

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