Birthdays Jacob Perrello - December 1 Terresa Aughtry - December 7 Carly Kane - December 14 Jasmine Thorington - December 16 Linda D’Agostino - December 20 Antoinette Hernandez - December 23 Laura Pasquarella - December 25
Anniversaries Rosalind Townsend - 5 years Virgen Reyes-Torres - 1 year Laura Pasquarella - 3 years Johnny Mora - 2 years Maria Lotempio - 8 years Helene Cacciato - 6 years Molly Briggs - 2 years Johanna Aponte - 6 years Your Continued Dedication and Hard Work Are Noticed and Appreciated! – The Management Team
CONNECTIONS CONTRIBUTORS EDITOR KIM LUANGPAKDY PUBLISHER JOHN CAROCCI LAYOUT JOHN CAROCCI CONTRIBUTORS TRISH HOPKINS KIM LUANGPAKDY, JIM MOHR LIYA MOOLCHAN, MARGIE SOTO GARY WILLIAMS
I recently had the pleasure of hosting a team from
this group of Western New Yorkers would come
Western New York Paranormal Investigators at the
together. WNYPI has been around since 2008,
Victorian. Their investigation began at 6:00 p.m.
and they have investigated close to a dozen sites
and ran until after 1:00 the following morning.
throughout the area. Their Electronic Voice Phe-
The team consisted of two women and six men;
nomena (EVPs) can be heard on their website at
WNYPI founder and lead investigator Suzanne;
www.wnypi.com.
Gina, the sensitive; Suzanne’s husband James;
For our investigation at the Victorian, closed
along with investigators and technicians David,
circuit security cameras were installed throughout
Al, Ryan, Nick, and Jim.
the building: in the basement, first floor, recep-
With interest in paranormal activities on the
tion area and second floor. The team began with
rise, as well as the popularity of recent shows
an opening prayer to ward off any evil spirits and
like Ghost Hunters on the SyFy Channel and the
protect those investigating. The team also had a
Paranormal Activity movies, it’s no wonder that
laptop computer in the attic, and digital voice re-
by Margie Soto
corders were used to try and capture EVPs.
a wedding dress. The presence of a cold spot was
activity in this area and the strong presence of a big
Within moments, Gina picked up a strong male
felt by the team when investigating the first floor
man was so evident she described him in specific
presence by the name of Allen or Alan. Gina want-
reception area. A digital thermometer measured a
detail. I called my husband, who verified Gina’s de-
ed to know if anyone by that name was associated
temperature of 68°F by reception desk and 65°F by
tailed description without question. What a chill, to
with the Victorian, and I motioned that no such
the copy machine, only a couple of feet away.
hear my husband describe the owner exactly the
name came to mind. Gina also picked up a strong
But nothing can compare to the experience
way Gina did! Overall, my experience was wonder-
presence of activities around the back set of stairs
that was felt at the Watkins Building. The basement
ful. How often does one get to take part of a ghost
by the reception area. This activity carried itself into
of the Watkins (shown above) held a speakeasy dur-
hunt that most people only get to see on television?
the attic, which was a common area for servants to
ing the Prohibition years, and was home to a cigar
The team from WNYPI was knowledgeable and they
be, given that the Victorian was built in 1854.
store during the 1970s. My husband frequented the
possessed the tools needed to get the job done.
Another strong presence by the name of Jean-
store as a kid, not for the cigars, but for the comic
They’re a group of dedicated people who, aside
nie or Jenny was picked up by Gina. Jenny was a
books that the owner sold for ten cents each (he
from their daily lives and careers, come together to
slender woman in a period white dress, possibly
read lots of comic books). Gina picked up so much
delve into the paranormal.
C
Refusin Editor’s Note: Alianza Latina’s Aracely Rodriguez was featured in this November 11 Buffalo News article written by Jane Kwiatkowski.
by Gary Williams
THINK
Recycle is a cost-free fundraising program that rewards AIDS Community Services with money and environmental incentives for the collection of unwanted electronics including cell phones, inkjet cartridges, toner cartridges, digital cameras, iPods and MP3 players. Good for the Environment! Think Recycle helps reduce the improper disposal of electronics by diverting them from landfills. When entering landfills, electronics can take up to 1,000 years to decompose, which contributes to the contamination and pollution of air, water and soil. By collecting and recycling with Think Recycle, unwanted electronics will be refurbished, recycled or reused, creating a positive environmental impact. You will also be cleaning the air we breathe by planting trees. Through their partnerships with American Forests and Tree Canada, Think Recycle donates funds
to have a tree planted for every 24 qualifying products collected. To date, their members have contributed to the planting of over 50,000 trees! They Accept the Most Think Recycle offers reward money for over 2,000 models of cell phones, inkjet and toner cartridges, and digital cameras – the most in the industry! Good for You! Not only will you be protecting the environment, you’ll be earning money for AIDS Community Services! ACS earns money for every qualifying product we collect. Socially & Environmentally Responsible Think Recycle follows a strict zero-landfill policy to ensure nothing you send them ends up in a landfill. How Can You Help? Bring in your used inkjet and laserjet cartridges, cell phones, digital cameras, and iPods/MP3 players. Tell your family and friends too. Items will be collected on the 5th Floor in Administration during business hours. C
Aracely Rodriguez held her young son close as together they discussed the meaning of Thanksgiving. “We were talking today about Pilgrims,” she began, “and I said: ‘Eugenio, we are almost like Pilgrims. It’s you and me and we have to thank God, because we didn’t have nothing in Cuba.’ “ Five years ago, the former high school biology teacher and her then 2-year-old son launched a lifechanging journey. She had $100 in her pocket, and a strength that would power their way to their new world in Western New York. On Thursday at Medaille College, Rodriguez, 37, will attend the Buffalo premiere of “The Glow Project,” a 90-minute movie that documents the lives of high-profile women throughout the country who have turned struggle into success. The women - including Cathie Black, president of Hearst Magazines, who this week was named chancellor of New York City schools; Donna Orender, president of the Women’s National Basketball Association, and motivational speaker Marilyn Tam, former CEO of Aveda - will address the ageless issues of empowerment and self-help. “Empowerment of women and self-help have a long history in American society,” explained Jane E. Fisher, director of the Women’s Studies Program at Canisius College. “Are we still fighting for equality? Yes. Women still make less than men, and there’s still a glass ceiling in many organizations. Women are there on the ground floor, but it’s more difficult for them to get into power positions. “There has been progress in many areas,” Fisher noted. “Women outnumber men at just about every level
ng to Let Down Mean Out in the educational system, and at some point in the next decade or so, that will create a lot of opportunities. You’ll see changes in child care and maternity leave in the workplace. It’s a huge battle.” Two years ago, Glow Project producers set out to learn what it is that separates the most successful women from those who struggle. The result of their research is the movie, which is slowly circulating throughout the country. Recent screenings were held in Dallas and Long Beach, California. Thursday’s screening at Medaille will be followed by a panel discussion in which five local businesswomen will provide ideas and insights to help today’s women succeed. One panelist, Myrna Young, founded Everywoman Opportunity Center in 1977. “I’ve been working on those issues for 20 years before that,” Young said, “listening to their stories, and learning from them so I can help teach others. The battles remain the same. We’ve just gotten better at fighting them.”
Eugenio stands by, listening. Later the 7-year-old will show pictures from Cuba, pointing out his favorite uncle. He will also wheel from his room a bright red bicycle, a gift from Everywoman, the agency his mother has called her lifeline. With five locations in Olean, Dunkirk, Niagara Falls, Amherst and Buffalo, Everywoman has helped 62,239 woman in its 33-year history. The agency links service providers with women clients, but beyond that, its staff empowers its clients. “Having a place like Everywoman makes things easy,” said Rodriguez. “They encouraged me to remember my university days. I was a teacher in Cuba. I can do more here. It’s very important to know that.” Already, the dark-haired Rodriguez is helping her family in Cuba. “My 16-year-old nephew is a smart boy and he wants to go to college,” she explained. “My sister asked me to help with $20 a month for a teacher to come to her house to tutor math and history.”
From Cuba The journey that started five years ago for Rodriguez and her son ended in Buffalo on Marine Drive, where the water view from their ninth-floor apartment’s kitchen window evokes memories of an island country and a family left behind. Rodriguez, who works full time as a senior community outreach specialist for AIDS Community Services, credits Everywoman with helping her rise above many challenges. First was language, followed by transportation. “I came here and I didn’t know how to drive,” Rodriguez said. “I have my dictionary, and every night I would go through to find words that I didn’t know to help me with the test to drive. I was learning how to get my learning permit. I passed. My first car, I paid $300 from my neighbors on the West Side. It was a Toyota 1996.”
Feminism’s New Face Feminism has three waves, according to Fisher of Canisius. “First-wave feminism culminated in the Right to Vote movement in 1920,” she noted. “The so-called second wave was the 1960s and 1970s. Contemporary feminism is called third-wave feminisms, plural. “Young women today don’t want to be seen as feminists per se, but they’re intensely interested in gender issues,” said Fisher, also associate professor of English at Canisius College. “They’re interested in social justice issues and global and transnational feminism.” Fisher pointed to the Circle of Women, a Massachusetts-based service organization with a chapter at Canisius College whose members are dedicated to building schools for girls in developing countries. The first school, “Project Wonkhai,” opened in 2008 in Wardak, Afghanistan, where it
will serve 1,200 girls at the secondary school level. “Women are very good at networking,” Fisher said. “They’re good at developing their own social support systems of friends and family and colleagues. That’s how they survive, at least emotionally, usually better than men.” When Erika Webb Trueheart, 39, returned to school last year at Medaille College, she had three children, two more than when she graduated from Erie Community College in 1994. Married and divorced, Trueheart has been on her own since age 16, when her first son was born. “I want to set an example that if you get sidetracked, you do need to pursue your goal until it is accomplished,” said the business major. “People have told me I’m too hard on myself, but I want to set the standard for my children.” The average age of students returning to Medaille College is 33, according to Jackie Matheny, vice president of enrollment for the School of Adult and Graduate Education (SAGE). “I think it can be very scary to go back to school,” said Matheny. “While adults may have the highest achievement, they worry whether they’ll be able to compete in the classroom. It’s about maturity and motivation, not youth and brains.” At the moment, Trueheart is kicking herself after receiving her first A-minus. The full-time state court clerk also volunteers for her church, Greater Refuge Temple, in the “Families Helping Families” ministry. Her life is built on time management and organization. She believes the rough patches are permanently behind her. “My ministry is reaching out and doing for others,” she said. “I want to open a mentoring program for young women to teach them not to give up. Hard work equals success, but if you don’t put the time or effort or sacrifice into something, you won’t get anything out of it.” C
Need to bake for the holidays but don’t have enough time? Would you like to have a variety of tasty cookies for this holiday season? Join the Cookie Swap on Monday, December 20. Bake one batch of 48 cookies and receive an assortment of 48 cookies in return. If interested RSVP to Jim Mohr (extension 306) by December 10.
December Book Club The Book Club will hold December’s meeting on Wednesday, December 15 at 5:15 p.m. at the Left Bank on Rhode Island Street. We’ll be talking about the book Napoleon’s Buttons: How 17 Molecules Changed History by Penny LeCouteur and Jay Burreson. To attend the December meeting at Left Bank, please notify Jim Mohr at x306 or Margaret Hodson at x363 by Monday, December 13 so we can make appropriate dinner reservations. Left Bank serves Thai and Vietnamese specials on Wednesday nights. About Napoleon’s Buttons (from the jacket): “This book is the fascinating account of seventeen groups of molecules that have greatly influenced the course of history. These molecules provided the impetus for early exploration, and made possible the voyages of discovery that ensued. The molecules resulted in grand feats of engineering and spurred advances in medicine and law; they determined what we now eat, drink, and wear. A change as small as the position of an atom can lead to enormous alterations in the properties of a substance-which, in turn, can result in great historical shifts. With lively prose and an eye for colorful and unusual details, Le Couteur and Burreson offer a novel way to understand the shaping of civilization and the workings of our contemporary world.” About Book Club: Anyone is welcome to join. We meet on the third Wednesday of each month (conveniently after we’ve been paid) at a café or restaurant close to work at 5:15 p.m. Each month, a different member of the club chooses a book to read and the meeting location. All books chosen are available at the library. There is no obligation to attend each month’s meeting. C
Doctors Without Borders by James Mohr
Food Pantry Basics by Brian Planty You may access any pantry that is located in the same zip code as your residence. This includes the ACS onsite pantry if you live in 14201. Eligibility is based on income and family size. Income limits for pantry access are based on the Federal Poverty Guidelines. For the remainder of 2010 and January 2011, the income limits are as follows: ....................................................................................Monthly Family...............................Annual .........................Income Size....................................Income Limit .............Limit 1 .........................................$20,035.50 ..................$1,669.63 2 .........................................$26,954.50 ..................$2,246.21 3 .........................................$33,873.50 ..................$2,822.79 4 .........................................$40,792.50 ..................$3,399.38 5 .........................................$47,711.50 ..................$3,975.96 6 .........................................$54,630.50 ..................$4,552.96 7 .........................................$61,549.50 ..................$5,129.13 8 .........................................$68,468.50 ..................$5,705.71 A complete listing of Western New York food pantries can be found on the ‘F’ drive at F://nutrition shared/ nutrition/pantries. C
Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is an international medical humanitarian organization. Since its inception in 1971 it has become an international association with offices in 19 countries. On any given day, close to 27,000 doctors, nurses, logisticians, water-and-sanitation experts, administrators, and other qualified professionals can be found providing emergency medical assistance to people affected by armed conflict, epidemics, malnutrition, natural disasters, or exclusion from health care in nearly 60 countries. In 1999, the organization was awarded the Nobel Peace prize. How can you help? Donate your used pill bottles today! The bottles need to be empty, clean and free of labels. Drop them off in any of the convenient locations on the 1st, 2nd, 4th or 5th floors of the Roanoke or the 1st floor of the Victorian.
News From Project SAFE ( S Y R I N G E S AVA I L A B L E F O R E V E R YO N E )
On October 28th, 2010, a new law went into effect that will impact syringe exchange programs throughout the entire state. In order to make the participants of the Project SAFE program aware of what the law states, the staff has been handing out a brief overview of the law, so they know exactly how it affects their lives. To summarize, the Penal Code that now conforms with the Public Health Code, clarifies the law on syringe possession. The Syringe Access Legislation was signed into law by Governor David Paterson, and it is important to everyone that is affected by this law – SEP participants, service providers and police – that they are aware of how it works. The new law essentially does three things: 1) Makes possession of residue in or on a used syringe legal when the syringe is obtained properly from a syringe access program – this would include a syringe exchange program and an over–the–counter pharmacy sale (also known as ESAP). 2) Adds language into the Penal Code specifying that a person participating in a syringe access program or an ESAP program can legally possess a sterile syringe. 3) R’ar future to go over all details of the law, but the main objective now is informing clients of the law and stress that they need to carry their Project SAFE cards on them at all times. This way, the clients will be able to show that they are a participant in a state sanctioned syringe access program if they are stopped by the police. C
Bills tickets are still on sale for the Sunday, December 26 game vs. New England Patriots. These $68-value tickets are just $15 each and they make great gifts. Please print this page and return to Resource Development with your payment (cash, check, or money order made payable to AIDS Community Services). Your Name: ________________________________________________________________________________ Division: __________________________________________________________ Extension: ________________ Number of tickets: ________ @ $15 = $________________
If Paying by Credit Card: Name on Card: _________________________________________________________ Address: __________________________________________________________________________________ Credit Card number: ____________________________________________________ Expiration: ____________ Signature: ________________________________________________________________________________
The Evergreen Association and its affiliates have a long history of participating in internship programs through local colleges and universities. Interns bring fresh perspective and creativity to our programs while gaining valuable hands-on work experience in their chosen field of study. Pathways would like you to meet Kaitlin Smith, currently working as an intern in the Health Promotion Services division of AIDS Community Services.
HI
Kaitlin Smit h
everyone! I am Kaitlin Smith and I'm in my second year as a Masters of Public Health student concentrating in Community Health and Health Behavior at the University at Buffalo. I have been interested in the field of Sexual Health since my undergraduate work at SUNY Cortland, where I worked with the Community Health Educator at a Reproductive Health Clinic. I decided that this was the field I was meant to be in. I've always admired those in sexual health because they seemed to be the most interesting and appeared to be having the most fun at their jobs. I'll be spending my time here at AIDS Community Services working with Marcus May and the Life Changes program. I will evaluate the effectiveness of the program by conducting open-ended interviews with Life Changes members to identify and assess the reasons why they continue to be involved with the program as well as what draws them to the agency. In addition, I will be analyzing the data from these interviews to develop and test a pilot survey instrument to be administered to Life Changes members. This survey will be used to capture information on demographics, risky health behaviors, sexual identity and more. With this information, we can evaluate the needs of the Life Changes members and offer programs and services that will address those needs. I am so thankful for the opportunity to work here, and I'm learning so much about myself and my abilities as a professional. Everyone has been so welcoming and wonderful to me, and I'm excited about the prospects of learning from each and every one of you.
Check out the blog for photographs and videos from recent agency events such as World AIDS Day, Wine on Wednesdays and the National Latino AIDS Awareness Day community fair. Visit www.acswny.blogspot.com.
Sarah Mutch shows off some of the frozen turkeys distributed to agency clients for the Thanksgiving Holiday.