THE
Connections
QUESTION
To Kill A Mockingbird. – James Sheehan The Wizard Of Oz. – Magali Maldonado All of the Laura Ingalls Wilder Li le House books. – Ma hew Crehan Higgins There were so many, but I’d say it’s between Corduroy and Chicka Chicka Boom Boom. (90s Baby!) – Bri ani McKay Where the Wild Things Are – Mindi Mietlicki Winnie the Pooh. – Susan Buck A Wrinkle in Time by Madeline L’Engle. – Julie Vaughan Li le House in the Big Woods (Laura Ingalls Wilder). – Sarah Gardner I loved reading “series” books. My favorites were the Nancy Drew mysteries. My grandmother saved all of my mom’s Nancy Drew books and I read every one of them several mes! – Kate Gallivan Are You My Mother? by Dr. Seuss – Stephani Miranda The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini. I read it so many mes that my best friend deemed it necessary to hide it from me. If I could find it, I’d call her and read it to her. – Jacelyn Lyles The Coldest Winter Ever by Sister Souljah – Cord Stone Tie between Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIHM and Stuart Li le – Lindsay Zasada The Odyssey by Homer. I’m into Greek mythology and it has many stories of perseverance through persistence. A mo o I live by. – Carlos Paulino The Very Hungry Caterpillar, hands down all me favorite!!!! – Michelle Santos Super Fudge (#OldSchool) – Jus n Azzarella The Outsiders – Marlyn Moore My favorite book growing up was Love You Forever by Robert Munsch. It reminds me of my rela onship with my mother who I adore because she used to read it to me when I was a li le kid. “I’ll love you forever, I’ll like you for always, as long as I’m living my baby you’ll be.” – Jaziel Guzman It’s s ll my favorite book: To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee – Maisha Drayton Just one? I loved story me and reading as a child (I’m s ll an avid reader today) but I thoroughly enjoyed the Berenstain Bears Books when I was younger. – Kelly Campbell
Dozens of Associa on sta members gathered in the sanctuary at Evergreen Commons for “A Time of Remembranceâ€?, the annual event which honors the memory of clients we have lost over the years. Kudos to Rashida and the planning commi ee, along with those who read or performed at the event. Your me, energy and crea vity resulted in a moving tribute to those who are no longer with us but who impacted our lives while they were here. A recep on was held in Rolls Hall a er the event. see next page for photos >>
THE DAY
a er Christmas back in 2012, I was driving from Syracuse to Buffalo. I knew my car needed res, but I had no idea they were nearly bald. The weather was bad and I was ge ng scared, so I exited the Thruway at Geneva, where I got very stuck. It was a er midnight and everything was closed up and dark. Just as I was star ng to panic, a man in a pickup stopped and offered help. He helped me get my car free, then plowed a path to a hotel several blocks away, even clearing a parking spot for me near the door. I scraped together some cash but he refused it, wished me Merry Christmas and drove away. - John Carocci My best friend and I always do nice things for each other, but last Christmas took the lead. I had voiced that I wanted a laptop, like just kiddin’ but serious kinda. I came home one day and there on my bed laid my laptop and all the accessories to go with it plus some other stuff. Definitely one of my best Christmases ever. - Stephani Miranda A total stranger paid for lunch for my wife and me. We never saw this person because they le before we had the chance to thank them. So every Friday that we lunch out, we pay for a random person’s meal and leave before they ever know who did it. Paying it forward. - Carlos Paulino Each year for my birthday my mother bakes me ice cream cone cupcakes consis ng of chocolate cake, vanilla fros ng, rainbow sprinkles and actual ice cream cones! It’s a nice, simple tradi on that means the world to me. - Jus n Azzarella Recently Jim Sheehan gave me a beau ful scarf as a Christmas gi from Istanbul. I thought this was such a beau ful and kind gesture on his behalf. Thanks Jim! - Tayrin Tapia-Torres Gave me a job right out of rehab. – James Sheehan The nicest thing anyone has done for me was take my laundry for me. – Magali Maldonado Nicest thing anyone has done for me: I was once given a Lugisu name in a ceremony under
a mango tree by the elders of a small community in Eastern Uganda. – Jess Lehsten Listened. – Bri ani McKay When I was younger it would have been ‘what did someone get me for my birthday or Christmas. As I get older it’s the apprecia on I feel when someone uses my name; shares their apprecia on for something I have said or done for them; a though ul gesture like holding a door open or asking ‘how is your day going?’. A small ‘I thought of you gi or card’; or dona ng to a charity they know I value and respect. Honestly, older I get the more I let my mind dwell upon the many apprecia ons and moments of gra tude throughout the day, and this I find sustains me much more than the “stuff ” or “things” of younger years. – Thomas Fronczak My best friend, Mark, took me to Paris in December 2010 – a trip of a life me! – Kate Gallivan Here is the nicest thing that someone has done for me: My oldest son was born 5 weeks early and he screamed constantly because his nervous system was underdeveloped. A wonderful elderly woman named Miss Lillian was assigned to him at daycare, and would greet us every morning with this amazing uncondi onal love (he would be screaming and I would be crying from exhaus on). She told me every day “Miss Sarah, you ain’t the first momma to have a screamin’ baby and you won’t be the last.” She was an angel. – Sarah Gardner Nicest thing: someone bought me a plane cket to Florida. – Mindi Mietlicki What is the nicest thing that anyone has done for me? When I was a young, single mom, struggling to make ends meet, I came home to bags of groceries on my porch. I s ll don’t know who did it. I try to “pay–it–forward” any chance I can! – Susan Buck I am extremely grateful for my college professor who encouraged me to pursue a degree in Arts Administra on. In turn, that led me to a career in development/fundraising, which then led to my job at Evergreen! – Kelly Campbell
Milestones Birthdays Odalis Norales ....................................February 4 Marvin Travis ...................................... February 6 Damian Mordecai ..............................February 9 Megan Aldridge..................................February 11 Stephanie Vroman-Goodrich ............. February 14 Ann Licata...........................................February 19 Daryl Ashley .......................................February 19 Kristen Bown ......................................February 20 Sheila Marcheson .............................. February 22 Victoria De Leon.................................February 26 Rosalind Dixie-Hunt ...........................February 26 Christopher Miller ..............................February 27 Bobby Fonville .................................... February 27
Anniversaries Thomas Green.................................... 1 year Bailey Fanning .................................... 1 year Amajaraya Hunter ..............................3 years Saw Min.............................................. 4 years Nicole D’Addario.................................5 years Kimberly Harding ...............................5 years Carrie Sentz ........................................ 6 years Joshua McClain .................................. 6 years Jerome Robinson ............................... 7 years Crystal White......................................7 years John Carocci .......................................21 years Your ConƟnued DedicaƟon and Hard Work Are NoƟced and Appreciated - Management Team
thank you!
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ConnecƟons: So, how did you end up at the Pride Center? Shevy: I was working as the Coordinator for Economic Development in the Office for CommunityBased Learning at Canisius College, and facing the end of my year of AmeriCorps VISTA service. I had been checking the Pride Center and GLYS websites for employment opportuni es every chance I got since moving to Buffalo in 2010. One day on my lunch, to my surprise, I no ced there was a posi on open: Outreach Specialist for the Transgender Health Ini a ve. I had been to a THI luncheon the previous year, and had my eye on the program. When you
graduate from college with the goal of helping trans* and genderqueer-iden fied individuals, you don’t ever expect that dream to actually become a reality. I knew I had to go for it! I forwarded my resume and cover le er to HR, former Pride Center Director Jorien Brock, and every other staff member at the Pride Center un l I heard that I was chosen for the interview. There is no place in the world I would rather be working, and I feel very blessed that my passion and my job can so effortlessly coincide. ConnecƟons: we’re all much more than the Ɵtles on our business cards. What exactly do you do? What does your work mean to you? Shevy:
I’m responsible for overseeing the THI Program, and scheduling outreach opportuni es for THI saff and peer educators. I co-facilitate the TransGenera on support group for individuals who iden fy as transgender, genderqueer, and gender non-conforming, and am also a co-facilitator for the visABLE support group for LGBTQI people living with disabili es. I assist in the development of new programs, and help build capacity within all aspects of the Pride Center. The crux of our Transgender Health Ini a ve is to provide trans*affirma ve gender, sex and HIV/STI educa on. We disseminate this informa on though individual, group, and community-level interven ons. ConnecƟons: Whew! What do you do in your free Ɵme? Shevy: I enjoy singing and playing guitar in my local folk-fusion band, Shevy & the Pulse, at various venues around the Buffalo area, including Spot Coffee Elmwood and Hot Mama’s Canteen. I also enjoy making jewelry, doing origami, and reading about cosmology, quantum physics, astrology, and mys cism. I love medita on and yoga, and try to incorporate the prac ce of Mindfulness into all aspects of my life and work. ConnecƟons: What does the future hold for Shevy? Shevy: I received my BA in Sociology with a minor in Gender and Sexuality Studies from St. Lawrence University in 2010 with the desire to one day create my own non-profit performance art sleepaway camp for Trans* and Gender Non-Conforming youth. I am looking forward to applying to the MSW program at UB this spring with the hopes of one day performing Gender Iden ty Counseling to assist trans* people in the various processes of transi on. As someone who iden fies as a feminine genderqueer soul-sexual, I see the constant need for the crea on of safer spaces and the development of new language around gender and sexual iden es, and I recognize the nega ve impact of our community being relentlessly invisibilized by the gender binary. I want to assist in the expansion of our understanding of gender—an understanding that must evolve over me if we want to move towards a uniform culture of acceptance and inclusion. ConnecƟons: Where can we check out your music? Shevy: on Facebook (facebook.com/groups/ ShevyandthePulse/) or our website (shevynthepulse. wix.com/shevyandthepulse). C
Connections FEBRARY 2015
PUBLISHER/LAYOUT John Carocci COPY EDITOR Martha Sawicki CONTRIBUTORS Tasheri Artis James DeGarmo Thomas Fronczak Jimi Konidis Lisa Schult Connections is a newsletter for employees of the Evergreen Association (that’s you). Send suggestions, photos, story ideas, or just a friendly hello to John Carocci and let us help you stay connected to the rest of the Evergreen Association family.
DID YOU KNOW?
BOTH
the Na onal HIV/AIDS Strategy and the HIV Care Con nuum Ini a ve acknowledge significant gaps along the en re HIV care con nuum – from diagnosis to virus supression. This includes the fact that behavioral health issues can have a direct impact on an HIV+ individual’s ability to engage in treatment. The Na onal Ins tute of Mental Health es mates that nearly a quarter of all adults have some form of mental health disorder, but only a third of those individuals seek treatment. Less than half of those that do seek help complete the recommended course of treatment. It is likely that, for people with HIV/
AIDS, these numbers are substan ally higher. In part, this is because of the s gma that they face, as well as the increased poten al for substance use and other psychosocial stressors. Approximately 90% of people in behavioral health treatment show improvement; this is less likely for those who go without treatment. Connect+ is a program that fills care gaps by educa ng HIV+ people about the benefits of mental health and/or substance use treatment, and addressing s gma and anxiety associated with HIV medical and behavioral treatment. The Connect+ program consists of behavioral health educa on (individual sessions with a behavioral health educator and possibly group
sessions), one-on-one sessions with peer navigators, referrals to behavioral health providers, escort services (when applicable), home visits (when applicable), and coordina on with care coordinators and primary care providers. With the help of the behavioral health educator, clients can address barriers that may be preven ng them from seeking treatment and prepare them for care, increasing the likelihood that they will follow through with their treatment plan. Peer navigators are available for extra support through sharing their stories, normalizing a client’s feelings or experiences and helping guide the client through the system (literally and figura vely).
Success story: A young woman (we’ll call her Jen) was diagnosed with HIV. She didn’t have a support network (her mother had died, and her family was unaware of her status), she was was ba ling anxiety and depression, and so she tried to kill herself. A er a short placement in a psych unit, Jen was referred to an outpa ent mental health clinic. She went once, but was overwhelmed by the paperwork, and felt uncomfortable in the wai ng room; so, she le . Her primary care doctor had referred her to mental health counseling on several occasions but Jen never followed through. Jen was referred to Connect+, where she worked with a behavioral health educator. A er talking with the educator about her fears and the challenges preven ng her from seeking care, Jen decided she was ready to try mental health counseling again. The behavioral health educator made a referral, and followed up with Jen to remind her of her appointment, and ease her worries. At Jen’s first appointment, the behavioral health educator met her in the lobby and introduced her to the counselor. The behavioral health educator sat in on the beginning of the session to help Jen feel more comfortable, and followed up with both the counselor and Jen a er the session. The educator was pleased to learn that Jen had scheduled a second appointment. The Connect+ program provided the educa on and support that Jen needed to move forward with the treatment process. Connect+ is available for all eligible Evergreen clients. To enroll in Connect+, clients must be HIV+, and not currently in treatment for mental health or substance use. Ideally, enrollees should have been resistant to treatment in the past, e.g., they didn’t adhere to a treatment plan; they have an incorrect understanding of mental health treatment. If your client meets this criteria, and would benefit from Connect+, call/email: Lisa Schult, Behavioral Health Educator, extension 3110; Harry Charnock, Peer Navigator, extension 3531. Referral forms can be emailed or le in Lisa’s mailbox (Roanoke 4th Floor). (Editor’s Note: the Connect+ referral form is available at F://Behavioral Health Shared/ BHEE (Connect+)/Forms/Connect+ Referral Form (in house). C
by Thomas Fronczak LCSW-R
Last month I wrote about the importance of bringing balance to the skillful care and compassion we offer our consumers on a daily basis. Finding that elusive sense of balance can be part of a daily mindfulness prac ce. I had the opportunity to see the Dalai Lama a few years ago at a Mindfulness Medita on and Psychotherapy conference sponsored by Harvard Medical School. I was so moved and mo vated by his teachings on compassion that I began a deeper inquiry into this no on of what he referred to as “the circle of compassion” and “self-compassion”. We are all very skillful at being nurturing and compassionate to others, but as the Dalai Lama expressed, “compassion is a full circle experience”. We can be though ul, generous, nurturing and compassionate to others, but we darn well be er be though ul, generous, nurturing and compassionate to ourselves as well. If we are not, he said “it is difficult to call yourself a compassionate person”. Compassion op mally flows in both direc ons. We have a fantas c, skillful and nurturing team here at Evergreen. Our consumers let us know that we make a difference in their lives, which mo vates and inspires our work. But we can only be effec ve and helpful with others if we are taking equally good care of ourselves. Here are some crea ve ideas as pathway to self-care and self-compassion. May we all create the me and space to take good care of ourselves. We are all deserving and worthy!
HERE ARE SOME WAYS YOU CAN SHOW COMPASSION TO YOURSELF >>>>
Any type of regular daily exercise: a lunch me walk, taking the stairs, joining a gym, yoga, group fitness class, sports. If anxiety is an issue, and you feel flooded with adrenaline, a gentle walk or 20-30 minutes of stretching will help metabolize the adrenaline. A Nutri on: move toward a whole food diet, adding more fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts, and seeds. These can reduce inflamma on in the body. Reducing animal products, and elimina ng processed foods, including processed oils, also reduces inflamma on. Inflamma on affect all bodily systems, including the brain. Brain inflamma on has been cited as a contribu ng cause for depression. A Mental prac ces: mindfulness medita on, yoga, tai chi, and deep breathing are all ways to care for your mind. You can take a medita on class, or watch a short guided medita on video on YouTube. A Connect with others. Sharing your stress with family, friends, and loved ones will reduce feelings of isola on while increasing your social connec on. Our brains are designed for connec on. Connec on heals! A Reconnect with friends you have not connected with for a while. Reconnect via phone, email, or text. Consider joining a meetup.com social group. A Take a trip to see friends or family you have not seen for some me. Reconnect. Recharge. A Reach out to a professional, if need be. Consider therapy or support groups. A Create a folder in your inbox of suppor ve, encouraging emails that you can read and reread when feeling a bit low. A Send a “Hello, how are you? Thinking about you.” text to all your friends and watch the response on your text feed. Or reread old text messages, and listen to saved upli ing and suppor ve voicemail messages from caring people. A DIY or repair projects around the house. Some mes fixing something you have control over feels pre y good, especially when there are things going on that you feel you have no control over! A Focusing on others through volunteering. A Balance the stressors in your schedule with non-stressful ac vi es or relaxa on (work-life balance). A Self-nurturing ac vi es: hot bath, eat your favorite comfort food, treat yourself to a massage. A Hug a significant other or friend. Hugging for 20 seconds releases stress reducing oxytocin (helps you feel safe and connected), dopamine (brings a sense of pleasure/ joy), serotonin (soothes you). A Self-compassion: take a few deep breaths. Talk to yourself in the way you would sooth a friend or child. Be gentle with yourself. Befriend yourself. Get on your own side. A Repeat a mantra that is soothing and suppor ve: “This is my now, this is not my forever.” “May I be peaceful, May I be healthy, May I feel loved.” A Plan how to reduce/eliminate the stressors from life, e.g., working on a financial goals plan so you can see the progress you’re making; saving for a vaca on you want or reducing
debts that are making things ght. Rx: Pick one variable to start with. Create a small goal. Gives opportunity for success. A Time off, if possible? A Schedule a day trip, vaca on, or educa onal trip. Explore. Learn. Relax. A Write yourself a le er from someone who loves and cares about you (living or deceased, human or animal) where the person expresses their love for you, their belief in you, and any suppor ve, soothing and encouraging words that can make a difference. A Watch a comedy DVD. Turn on the Comedy Channel. A Connect with your animal companions. Dogs and cats all live in the NOW moment, and help us stay grounded in the present. A Walk the dog or neighbors dog. Pet a cat. Calming, soothing. Gets you moving, outside, sunlight, vitamin D, possibility of social connec on/exposure. A Nostalgia: looking at pictures, listening to music, watching DVD from a me past that was very pleasant to you. This can help you shi the focus of a en on and ac vate soothing pleasant memories. Reminiscing with a family member or friend. A Taking In The Good: reflec ng on/talking about the things that are going well in your life, the fact someone held a door open for you, someone smiled at you this morning, your car started on a very cold day, or other recent mes you have enjoyed. When you shi the focus of your a en on, you create changes in your brain chemistry, which ul mately leads to changes in your experience. Some have called this self-directed neuroplas city. A Distrac on techniques (reading, music, hot bath, recall pleasant memories, let your mind dwell on gra tude, take a walk, exercise, etc.). A Reading. Let yourself become immersed in the story or book you are reading. Let it serve as a healthy distrac on from nega ve thoughts. A Music. Immerse yourself in the melody and words to help you relax. A Half smile. Put a half smile on your face. Changes the neurochemistry in the brain through vagas nerve s mula on. Signals to the brain that you are safe and relaxed. A When mind is racing or in nega ve “trance-like state”, STOP. PAUSE, take 2-3 deep breaths to create a shi in the nervous system. This can be very soothing and calming. Ac vates the parasympathe c nervous system. A Walk in nature. A Find meaning and purpose in life. Connec ng to the spiritual dimension. Finding your place in the greater whole. Realizing we’re part of the larger ocean and not just the waves. A Ge ng outside and finding places where other people are gathering (walk around the mall, a park, the zoo, church, fes val, a walking or bike path, etc. Become a part of something larger than yourself). A Play online memory, cogni ve skills games (Lumosity.com), word find puzzles, etc. (healthy distrac on, use different part of brain to create shi in experience). A If you have other ideas, please let me know and I will update the list! Have a great day. Apprecia on. Respect. C
THE
monthly flurry of e-mail submissions to Connections has us thinking about how important electronic communication is here at the Evergreen Association. Whether you’re sending a note to the next cubicle or a grant application halfway across the state, here are some tips to keep your electronic communication professional and effective.
Public MaƩers Only! We’ve all heard the horror stories about a private e-mail message that ended up being sent to an entire company, or in some cases, all over the internet. Is the matter you’re discussing a public one, or something that should be talked about on the phone or even behind closed doors? Introduce Yourself. Don’t assume the person receiving your e-mail knows who you are. If you’re not sure whether the recipient will recognize your e-mail address or name, begin the message with a reminder of who you are. Use ExclamaƟon Points Sparingly!!!! E-mail seems informal, but anything sent from your account is still a professional
communication. Sloppy grammar or spelling reflect poorly on you and the agency. The maximum number of exclamation points allowed in a work e-mail? One. Also, avoid “text talk” like 4U or gr8 or emoticons. Be Careful with ConfidenƟal InformaƟon. Confidentiality is critically important here at the Evergreen Association. E-mail is no exception to the rule. Respond in a Timely Fashion. It’s not usually necessary to be available the instant an e-mail arrives, but do respond in a timely fashion, even if it’s just to let the sender know you received their message. Be Clear in the Subject Line. Many people receive dozens or even hundreds of e-mails every day. Keep your subject line clear and simple so your message isn’t lost in the crowd or mistaken for Spam. Avoid using all caps, all lower case, or URLs in your subjet line. Proofread! Match Subject and Message. Don’t open an old e-mail, hit reply, and send a message that has nothing to do with the previous one and its subject line. Change the subject line if the thread or content of the e-mail chain changes. Get
to the Point. The long e-mail is a thing of the past. Write concisely. Use bullet points in place of dense blocks of text. Don’t make the recipient dig through several paragraphs to figure out what you’re asking. Be clear, and be up front. But Mind Your Manners. The flip side is that sometimes “concise and to the point” comes off as rude. Be courteous! Use a cordial tone, and don’t forget to say “please” and “thank you”. Use a Signature Create a signature for your outgoing e-mail messages. Include your job title and appropriate contact information. Proofread Yes, we already said it, but do it again before hitting send. A few seconds’ worth of caution now can save you big headaches later. Remember... Your e-mail communication is a reflection of you and the agency as a whole. Every e-mail message you send adds to, or detracts from your reputation. If your e-mail is scattered, disorganized, and filled with mistakes, the recipient will be inclined to think of you as a scattered, careless, and disorganized person. Other people’s opinions matter! C
Evan Greene went to stay with Sean Tulumello for a few days, and while he was there on the fourth floor, he made some very interesĆ&#x;ng new friends! Seriously, what’s going on here??
PAINTERS ILLUSTRATORS PHOTOGRAPHERS SKETCHERS SCULPTORS ARTISTS
We’re not naming names, but we know you’re out there. Don’t be shy... share your artwork in future issues of Connec ons. E-mail connec ons@evergreenhs.org today.
Blood pressure is the force of blood pushing against the walls of the arteries that carry blood from your heart to other parts of your body. Blood pressure normally rises and falls throughout the day, but it can damage your heart and cause health problems if it stays high for a long Ɵme. High blood pressure is also called hypertension.
Having high blood pressure puts you at risk for heart disease and stroke, which are leading causes of death in the United States. 67 million American adults (31%) have high blood pressure — that’s 1 in every 3 adults. About 1 in 3 American adults has prehypertension — blood pressure numbers that are higher than normal — but not yet in the high blood pressure range. Only about half (47%) of people with high blood pressure have their condiƟon under control. High blood pressure was a primary or contribuƟng cause of death for more than 348,000 Americans in 2009 — that’s nearly 1,000 deaths each day. High blood pressure costs the naƟon $47.5 billion each year. This total includes the cost of health care services, medicaƟons to treat high blood pressure, and missed days of work.
Unhealthy behaviors can increase your risk for high blood pressure, especially for people who have one of the medical condiƟons listed above. Unhealthy behaviors include:
Smoking tobacco. EaƟng foods high in sodium and low in potassium. Not geƫng enough physical acƟvity. Being obese. Drinking too much alcohol.
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Downtown’s Newest Attraction Has Jimi...
LOVING WINTER AT CANALSIDE
Buffalo has beau ful summers filled with outdoor fes vals, sunny weather, and an a tude of not taking our sunshine for granted. Buffalonians take full advantage of our beau ful weather because we know what’s around the corner… winter. The Queen City can be cold, snowy, grey, and give you an uncomfortable feeling that your face might fall off from the wind. Why do we stay? My hope is that the people of Buffalo have a love for their city, even if she can be freezing and bi er. Over the past few years we’ve been given more and more reasons to love her, and, in my opinion, Canalside has been a game changer for the downtown area. We finally have a viable waterfront space for the Buffalovers, and now Canalside even makes winter fun! I took the train downtown to visit our new claim to fame: one of the largest outdoor ice rinks in the country. The excitement of being at bustling Canalside dwarfed my chilly discomfort (I’m never prepared for winter). I went on a Monday, so it was relaxed, but s ll energe c. I took a step back to take in the historic
aspect of this area. I was about to skate on the exact spot where the original canals gave life to Buffalo, and made it a thriving metropolis. Replica ng the canals both honors our past, and creates our future. I got my skates, and in no me I was ready to hit the ice. Unlike at Fountain Plaza’s Rotary Rink, I got to put a li le stride in my glide; not having to constantly stop and turn in the other direc on was invigora ng. This ice rink is as large as two NHL rinks combined! The grins on the faces of skaters at the rink were refreshing, because usually people’s faces in winter tend to go downward. Happiness in winter in Buffalo? Maybe taking my eyes off of Facebook with “I hate winter/I need to move” posts, and actually enjoying what winter had to offer gave me a new sense of pride in our city. Buffalonians can start enjoying our new ameni es year round. Something that maybe should have been done years ago, but I’m grateful it’s here now. I didn’t try the ice bikes, but they look entertaining; and I did enjoy watching people try them for the first
me (don’t worry, they’re fall proof). It’s a nice novelty for the rink, and we can boast we are among the very few in the world to have them. I plan to try them the next me I venture out. Curling, a Canadian pas me, has its own arena. This is a smart move on Canalside’s part, since we’re so close to our neighbors to the north; it only makes sense to a ract foreign tourism. We want them to visit our city, not just the Galleria Mall. A er my ska ng venture, I ordered a pretzel and a hot chocolate from their refreshment stand. Right now the food/beverage selec on is limited, but I foresee many new treats in the near future. Canalside proved that their property has limitless poten al. The summer months will be here soon enough, and the ice rink will transform into a beau fully decora ve canal way, dressed with flowers and green space. But right now, we have the ability to enjoy it even in the not-so-favorable season. It can make winter a blast, or at the very least, bearable. C