With Rachel Haug Gilbert, Special To The Dayton Jewish Observer

Eric Poch received a promotion to the position of associate registrar at Wright State University. In his 16 years working for Wright State, he has worked with faculty as well as students, and according to his wife, Sheri, he is well respected by all of them.

Josh Halpern is scheduled to make his Carnegie Hall debut as part of the New York String Orchestra in concerts on Dec. 24 and 28. Now in its 45th year, The New York String Orchestra Seminar offers professional training to young musicians who have reached a formative point in the development of their musical understanding and professional goals. All participants receive a full scholarship to the 10-day seminar. Josh, a sophomore majoring in cello performance at Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music, is the son of Alan and Julie Halpern.

A new era at Weber Jewelers has begun with Fred Weber’s announcement that he is retiring after nearly 60 years in his family’s fine jewelry business. The company dates to the early 1930s when Fred’s father opened his first jewelry shop. Fred continued to grow the family business, and now passes the torch to his daughter Stephanie Weber. Stephanie is a graduate gemologist and has been with Weber Jewelers since 1990.

Scene75 Entertainment Center in Dayton was honored with two Brass Ring Awards from the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions at its convention in Orlando on Nov. 20. The Brass Ring recognizes marketing excellence in the attractions industry. Scene75 was an international finalist for Best Public Relations Program, and Best Digital Marketing Campaign, and competed against global industry giants including Disney, Universal, and SeaWorld. Scene75 also beat out nominees such as The Beach Waterpark in Mason and The Track Family Fun Parks in Branson. Several members of the Scene75 team, including Chief Entertainment Officer Jonah Sandler and his parents, Renee and Les Sandler, were there to celebrate.

Jean and Todd Bettman have launched a fund to provide relief for the Basic Education Christian Community Academy in the Philippines, which was damaged in Typhoon Haiyan. They and Jean’s parents, who live in the Philippines, helped establish the school several years ago to provide solid educational opportunities for children in the Cebu area. The BECCA school sustained severe damage in the typhoon, losing its library, science laboratory and computer area. It also absorbed 67 students from areas devastated in the typhoon. The Bettmans hope to raise $100,000. Any additional funds will go toward resettlement and educational efforts for displaced families. Todd says the project is a “long overdue thank-you from our people to theirs.” During the Holocaust, the Philippines took in Jews when few other countries would do so. Jean and Todd and their sons, Michael and Jeremy, plan to visit the Philippines at the end of December with the first of the contributions toward the project.

Send your Kvelling items to Rachel at kvellingcorner@gmail.com.

To read the complete January 2014 Dayton Jewish Observer, click here.