Y
ou hear the strangest things while on the trail in Glacier National Park, Montana. The distant sound of human clapping and yelling will occasionally cut through the quiet forests and mountain fields, but with good reason; we share the same trails (sometimes literally) with some really wild animals, animals that would much rather be warned of our passing rather than startled. The heavy emphasis of trail safety helps drive home the fact that while in Glacier, you are no longer on home turf. Don’t be scared though; when you get out on the trail, the trepidation quickly turns to excitement! In Glacier, you never forget that you really are “in the wild.” One of the first things I noticed upon arrival in GNP was the sheer size of the mountains. I haven’t seen anything like it on this side of the country; as you drive along the “Going-to-theSun Road” (a harrowing ribbon of pavement that clings to cliff edges as it bisects the park, allowing you to drive right over the Continental Divide) you can watch waterfalls cascade down from hundreds of feet above, only to pass under the road and continue to fall into the valley below. It
is customary on Glacier trails to feel dwarfed by rock towers that were shaped millions of years ago; massive glaciers reduced the granite to dust, allowing for sweeping valleys to form. You can still actually see the glaciers (I suggest the Grinnell Glacier trail for great photo ops) but unfortunately, scientists estimate that by 2020, they will all be completely melted. Iceberg Lake is an example of what glaciers can leave behind in their stead — try and test your mettle against a small body of water with actual icebergs floating in it (I could not force myself to go deeper than my shins in the 34 degree water!) The Iceberg Lake and Grinell Glacier trails were great day hikes; 10 miles and 12 miles, respectively. Aside from the sheer size of this “Big Sky Country” park, it’s also remarkable how close you are to nature. The GNP rangers are affable and friendly; we kept bumping into one specific ranger over the course of the trip and she practically turned into our tour guide! You can often find them parked along the roadside with high-powered telescopes out, encouraging you to come over and check out the wildlife they’ve spotted. The rangers will also give you an earful
about trail safety; grizzly bears are prevalent all over the park and while not overly aggressive to humans, they can be startled into attacks. Words of advice from rangers include clapping, singing, and shouting, as bears are intelligent enough to distinguish the sound of human voices (carrying bear pepper spray is encouraged, but certainly not mandatory). Mountain goats love to use the trails, often you will see groups of them nimbly jumping off of paths and onto the cliffs to go around you. Getting the chance to roam the same forests as grizzlies, black bears, moose, wolverines, and mountain lions was exhilarating! A less traditional, remote National Park experience (located in the northwest region of Montana, with part of it spilling over the Canadian border) Glacier is perfect for adventurers who want to hike right alongside Mother Nature. The mountain terrain will get your heart pumping and the sights will leave you breathless. The wildlife can easily be “just around the corner;” we spotted grizzlies through binoculars, and that was close enough! Anyone with a taste for big peaks, big animals, and adventure should visit Glacier National Park if they get a chance.
we spotted grizzlies through binoculars, and that was close enough
Birthdays Helene Cacciato - May 31 Kenneth Lewis Jr. - May 3 Jerome Robinson - May 3 Rosalind Townsend - May 13 Crystalann Wallace - May 14
Anniversaries Linda D’Agostino - 1 year Susan Williams - 1 year Michelle Fetes - 1 year Corinne Henderson - 1 year Antoinette Hernandez - 4 years Theresa Shankland - 5 years Cornelia Meredith - 5 years Erikka A Hill - 5 years Laurie L Matson - 7 years Rashone Scott-Williams - 4 years
Your Continued Dedication and Hard Work Are Noticed and Appreciated! – The Management Team
CAKES, PIES AND COOKIES, OH MY! CONNECTIONS CONTRIBUTORS PUBLISHER/LAYOUT JOHN CAROCCI EDITOR KIMBERLY HARDING CONTRIBUTORS JUSTIN HAAG KIMBERLY HARDING, TRISH HOPKINS JIM MOHR, LIYA MOOLCHAN, TAYRIN TORRES
Do you like sweets? Do you like to bake? If your answer is yes, consider joining the Baking Club. A different member bakes each Tuesday and shares their delicious creation with their fellow club members. A variety of cookies, brownies, cakes, pies and other yummy goodies await you. Join the Baking Club today. If interested, contact Jim Mohr at x306.
Exploring the Magic Kingdom by Tayrin Torres Last October, I went to Disney World in Orlando, Florida. I vacationed with a friend, and the overdue time away allowed us to really relax and enjoy life. This was my first time at Disney World, so you can imagine my excitement as I stepped off the airport shuttle and into the Disney Value Music Resort. On my first day, we went to the Contemporary Resort, Downtown Disney, and Coronado Springs Resort. We ate some really good food at Maya Grill Restaurant, served by a wonderful waiter named Tahar. Tahar went out of his way to make my first dinner night a wonderful experience. The next day it was off to Hollywood Studios, where I got on the Tower of Terror and boy was I scared; I hate heights! But I conquered my fear. We walked the streets of Hollywood Studios where we were approached by a producer, and suddenly it was Lights, Camera, Action! Then, the time finally arrived… I officially met Mickey Mouse. I also met Lightning McQueen, Meter, Minnie Mouse, Handy Manny and Lotso the Bear from Toy Story 3. Then it was on to Epcot, where I met Alice from Alice in Wonderland. I saw Mary Poppins and we visited almost every country, including Mexico, and tasted all types of foods including Plum Wine; it was delish! The 3rd day we chilled at downtown Disney and I again conquered my fear of heights as we went on a hot air balloon that took us up 450 feet. We ate at Bongo’s Restaurant and Wolfgang Puck’s Restaurant, and I bought little gadgets and gizmos for my boys while listening to lots of music. On the 4th day, our last day at the parks, we went to Magic Kingdom and I sooo fell in love with the Castle. We finally made it to Animal Kingdom, where I was touched by creepy crawlers at It’s a Bugs Life. I walked the Tree of Life, took a tour around the jungle and then got drenched on a water ride. I ended the night eating at Yak and Yeti where they had the best Lo Mein I have ever tasted. One plate could serve three people by itself. On our last day, we went to the Mandarin Spa (at the Swan and Dolphin Resort) and had a wonderful full body massage and facial. Then it was back to reality… but what wonderful memories I will always have.
NOTICE As is customary for medical practices, Evergreen Health Services requires 24 hours notice for appointment cancellations. Not showing up for an appointment or not cancelling within the required time frame results in a “no-show” fee. While we may make accommodations for our general patient population, putting them on “walk-in” status, we do hold staff members who are our patients to a higher standard. Since the beginning of the year we have had
Lisa Schult
Tayrin Torres
Community Educator, Alianza Latina
Administrative Assistant, Alianza Latina
six “no-shows” for employee appointments. In an effort to manage our practice more effectively Evergreen Health Services is establishing the following procedure for staff patients. As of April 18, 2011 if a staff member who is a patient fails to cancel an appointment within 24 hours by either calling the office or the answering service, they will receive a bill equivalent to half of the cost of the visit plus the co-pay. If they are unwilling to pay this fee they will be invited to seek medical care from another provider.
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I was born with premature vocal cords. I am a Libra. I don’t have my k-9 teeth. I’m the shortest one in my family. I marched in the inaugural parade in January of 2009. 6. I am an avid member of the national service movement. 7. I am a two time AmeriCorps alum. 8. I am a returned Peace Corps volunteer (from Nicaragua). 9. I won a chicken wing eating contest at age 8. 10. During college I worked at a different national park every summer.
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In process of publishing a book of poems. Previously CEO/Co-Founter of a social website called www.hotsmash.com. 3. Love building relationships. 4. I was mascot my senior year of high school called “the General”. 5. I was in the “King Kids of Puerto Rico” a youth church group spreading the love of God. 6. I am a youth leader at Renovation Church. 7. I love to travel - Spain is at the top of my list! 8. I won the Kiwanis Club award in 8th grade. 9. I love spending time with my two boys Elias (6) and Ethan (2). 10. I am working on finding a way to create or do something to honor my father Jose Antonio Tapia and my stepfather Hector Bocanegra, in memory of their love for people!
PROJECT S.A.F.E. (SYRINGES AVAILABLE FOR EVERYONE)
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Brian Hillery
Tamika Adams
Corrections Services Specialist
Administrative Assistant
Was a Peace Corps volunteer in Cameroon for 2 years. 2. Worked on a hot dog cart in downtown Buffalo. 3. Can drive a motorcycle, recklessly. 4. Is an excellent pogo-stick jumper. 5. Once crash-landed in a hot air balloon. 6. Chased baby bears through the woods. 7. Had a tree fall on him in the forest. It made a sound. 8. Shook hands with Barack Obama. He had a firm grip. 9. Has a crippling addiction to tacos. 10. Is an excellent bar-league softball player.
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I love scary/horror movies and comedies. I have been watching ABC soap operas since I was 3 years old. 3. I’m an adventurous thrill seeker. 4. I love to travel. 5. I go dancing every weekend. 6. I am working towards becoming a Zumba instructor. 7. I am African American, Cherokee, Swedish, English, Finnish and German-Canadian, that I know of (and probably more). 8. I listen to all music, everything from classical to Bali. 9. I love karaoke and margaritas. 10. My life goal is to travel South America, go to Carnivale in Brazil and explore the Amazon.
On Thursday, March 24, 2011, Project SAFE presented a two-fold workshop for Syringe exchange participants to give them a heads up on some of the new programs that are available to them within the Health Promotion Services Division. These include Harm Reduction Counselors, who will help guide clients through the process of seeking treatment via programs on either an outpatient/inpatient basis; also accessible is a program known as THRIVE, in which a Harm Reduction Counselor will work with a client to put together a plan to reduce the harm to themselves, with outlined goals to strive for that fit their individual needs. The second part of the workshop was more of a discussion amongst staff and participants surrounding the spike in overdoses that resulted in IV drug users ending up in local ER’s and a few deaths that police suspected came from laced heroin. Our clients informed all those present which dope to be aware of, and be careful of. They also mentioned some of the bad effects it had on people they know who used it. From the workshop discussion, staff was able to put together a four page handout with useful, pertinent information to help keep them safe and reduce the harm to themselves. - Trish Hopkins
Coupon Corner by Kimberly Harding If you are a fan of free swag (and honestly, who isn’t), here’s a great website for you. At www.thunderfap.com you can sign up for a variety of free items such as shampoo, cologne, cereal, detergent, granola bars, discounts at restaurants, pet treats, etc. I love using Thunderfap because it’s ‘spam-free’ and user-friendly. Try it out (but please don’t do it during agency time), and send me your feedback.
Do you like to read? Have you ever considered joining a book club? Well then… The Evergreen Book Club is open to all employees of AIDS Community Services. We meet and have thought provoking discussions about a different book, its author, and related topics each month. The meetings are on the first Wednesday after the 15th of the month, after we have been paid and have cash for food and beverages. We now meet at noon in the Foundation board room. If you are interested in joining the book club, contact Jim Mohr at extension 306. You can also find us online at http://www.goodreads.com . The next meeting is May 18; Mark Schnitzer will lead us in a discussion of Running With Scissors by Augusten Burroughs, and the food will be from Tokyo Shanghai Bistro (http://www.tokyoshanghaibistro.com/ ). From Publishers Weekly... “Bookman gave me attention. We would go for long walks and talk about all sorts of things. Like how awful the nuns were in his Catholic school when he was a kid and how you have to roll your lips over your teeth when you give a blowjob,” writes Burroughs (Sellevision) about his affair, at age 13, with the 33-year-old son of his mother’s psychiatrist. That his mother sent him to live with her shrink (who felt that the affair was good therapy for Burroughs) shows that this is not just another 1980s coming-of-age story. The son of a poet with a “wild mental imbalance” and a professor with a “pitch-black dark side,” Burroughs is sent to live with Dr. Finch when his parents separate and his mother comes out as a lesbian. While life in the Finch household is often overwhelming (the doctor talks about masturbating to photos of Golda Meir while his wife rages about his adulterous behavior), Burroughs learns “your life [is] your own and no adult should be allowed to shape it for you.” There are wonderful moments of paradoxical humor Burroughs, who accepts his homosexuality as a teen, rejects the squeaky-clean pop icon Anita Bryant because she was “tacky and classless” as well as some horrifying moments, as when one of Finch’s daughters has a semi-breakdown and thinks that her cat has come back from the dead. Beautifully written with a finely tuned sense of style and wit the occasional clich‚ (“Life would be fabric-softener, tuna-saladon-white, PTA-meeting normal”) stands out anomalously this memoir of a nightmarish youth is both compulsively entertaining and tremendously provocative.