Encinitas, CA (special) -- More than 700 people released butterflies and danced to a Dixieland Jazz Band on Sunday, March 8, to celebrate the three-part, $10 million expansion at Seacrest Village-Encinitas.

Festivities included the affixing of a mezuzah to the entrance of the two story, 40-apartment Leichtag Family Assisted Living Residence and a ribbon cutting for the new Bernard & Dorris Lipinsky Administration Building.  Additionally, Mel's Place, a coffee house and social center donated by the estate of Mel Garb, was dedicated. Lee Leichtag surprised the crowd during presentation ceremonies when he offered to supplement the $1.5 million gift he and his wife Toni Leichtag already

Bernard Lipinsky cuts the ribbon at Seacrest

had made with an additional $1 million for an Alzheimer Residence.

Besides to the Leichtags and to Lipinsky, past president James Farley also made special presentations to major donors Harrison Levin, Harold Stern, Sophie Brody, Arthur & Jeanne Rivkin, and Lane & Lester Klein.

The new Cumulative Giving and Honor Thy Mother & Father Walls include the names of donors who have contributed to the founding and growth of San Diego Hebrew Homes.

In a large tent erected for the occasion, SDHH President Howard Cohen made welcoming remarks, Rabbi David Frank of  Temple Solel gave an invocation, president-elect Mitch Dubick told the history of the San Diego Hebrew Homes and Michael Ellentuck, executive vice president, introduced gerontologist and friend of 25 years standing, Dr. Herbert Shore.

Shore said he had visited approximately 1,000 facilities for the aged in his career and considered Seacrest Village to be the "crown jewel."

Ellentuck, obviously pleased with the ceremony, pronounced it "one of the finest moments in the entire 54-year history of the San Diego Hebrew Homes."