MJCC SPORTSPLEX—The 10-day Arctic storm that swept across Oregon beginning Dec. 14 deposited so much ice and snow on the Mittleman Jewish Community Center’s bubble, that the center closed the sportsplex one week before it ultimately collapsed Dec. 28.

 

 

DEBORAH MOON/Jewish Review

Snow cancels events, deflates bubble

By JEWISH REVIEW

article created on: 2009-01-01T00:00:00

The snow storm that swept over the Pacific Northwest the week before Hanukah and continued for most of the eight-day festival of lights, canceled or delayed numerous events—including the Jewish Federation of Greater Portland’s Super Sunday phonathon—and caused the collapse of the Sportsplex “bubble” at the Mittleman Jewish Community Center.

Dozens of Hanukah parties, lectures and other events were canceled or postponed during the storm. One event, the JFGP Maimonides Society/Portland Kollel Medical Ethics lecture went on as scheduled since one lecturer had come from Israel and would be unavailable for a future date (see story page 10).

With the economic crisis enveloping the country, a record number of people volunteered to reach out to the community on Super Sunday to raise the funds to aid the growing number of local people in need and to connect those in need to appropriate agencies.

In an email to volunteers, the Weinstein family (Carolyn, Gary, Robin, Jeff and Erika ) who co-chaired Super Sunday wrote: “Please accept this heartfelt thank you for being among the 190 volunteers who had planned to help strengthen our community at Super Sunday! This record breaking number of volunteers promised to ensure a successful day…unfortunately the weather had other plans.”    

Josh Stein,  JFGP’s Super Sunday staff liaison, said that organizers decided to cancel rather than reschedule the event due to the long-range forecast for continuing snow and the desire to try and reach donors before the end of the year. Volunteers calling from home and an Israeli telemarketing firm that the federation has used in the past have been calling as many donors as possible. Those who usually make their pledge on Super Sunday but have not yet been contacted may make their pledge online at www.jewishportland.org; click on the “donate now” tab.

“We have a real sense that in this economy people want to be able to help and make a difference,” said Stein.

He said a community-wide event to capitalize on those volunteers is being considered, but no firm plans are yet in place.

Meanwhile, throughout the storm, the MJCC battled to minimize snow and ice damage to its Sportsplex. About a week into the storm, the center closed the bubble. On Dec. 28, as the city dug out and melted, a rip in the bubble caused it to deflate. No one was inside due to the earlier closure.

The Sportsplex has batting cages, a snack bar and an arcade area in addition to the indoor soccer field and gymnastics facility housed in “the bubble.”

MJCC CEO Lisa Horowitz said that insurance will cover most of the repair costs. A crew from the manufacturer was due to arrive Dec. 31. Once they complete repairs to the shell, Horowitz said interior repairs will be completed quickly and the annex, which houses the indoor soccer field, gymnastics and batting cages will reopen as soon as possible.