Volume 4: Issue 1 - Hope House Foundation

Newsletter Date: April 30,
2012
THE BUZZ
Issue # 1 Volume 4
Joke of the
Quarter:
Advocacy in Action: By Mr. James Burney
What’s Irish and
comes out in the
Spring?
Patio furniture
By: Lori Shapiro
Inside this Issue
Advocacy in Action
1
Bahama Mamma
Fins, Feathers, and Paws
2
Walking as Exercise
3
A Look at Assistive Technology
What I Like about My Jobs
4
A Look at Assistive... (continued)
Worker Bees
5
Ms. Wheelchair Virginia
6
The Buzz Cook-off
This is What I Think
7
My Trip to an Admiral’s Game
Scrapbooking
8
My Bowling Adventures
Highlighting a Local Artist
Living a Healthier Life
9
10
Healthy Recipe of the Quarter
Places to Eat: A Review of
La Herradura
11
Events
12
Why Peer Advocacy is
Important
Voter Advice
I, James Burney, took the time to interview a lady named
Lisa Mason. I am sure you all are all familiar with this
lady and her enthusiastic personality. She seems especially excited about living in her own apartment and the
way she chooses to decorate her apartment. Her apartment is decorated with a red, white and blue patriotic
theme. She even wore red, white and blue for our interview! Some of the items in her apartment were given to her in remembrance of
the fun times she has had with her family. She also talked about her dream of
meeting someone in the military. Her family has always been a part of the military and she really admires their courage. I asked Lisa what was her favorite
item in her apartment and she told me it was her grandmother’s clock she
keeps in her living room. I asked her why it is important to her to have her
own apartment. She said that it is important to her to have her privacy. She
said she feels free and relaxed in her apartment and does not have to share her
space with others. Lisa enjoys interior decorating and rearranging furniture.
She would like to help others advocate for themselves through self-expression.
If you would like help decorating your apartment, you can email me at
[email protected] and I can help you contact Lisa.
After speaking with Lisa, I felt good about the fact that she was excited to
meet with me for this interview. I want to thank Lisa for allowing me to come
over and interview her and publish her story in The Buzz. If anyone else would
like to be interviewed and share their story with me, all you have to do is email
me at the address listed above.
Bahama Mamma: By Lynda Whedbee
Last year I took a cruise to the Bahamas! I had a great time and had a lot of
fun. The name of the ship was the Carnival Glory. I went swimming in the
pool on the ship. I went shopping in the gift shop, played bingo and watched
movies. I also sang karaoke almost every night! They also had
really good food and I enjoyed the meals. The Bahamas are
hot! But it is very beautiful there. My favorite thing about the
cruise is that I enjoyed myself. I worked really hard to save up
enough money to go on the cruise and it was worth it! I’m already saving money to go on my next cruise to Bermuda!
THE BUZZ
Page 2
Fins, Feathers, and Paws: By Jeremy Norman
the toilet. Only Glenn, Josh
and I were left.
Why Lake Catfish don’t do
Well with Regular Pet Fish
One day I worked so hard for
Alan that he gave me eight
baby cat fish that he caught in
the fresh water lake. I took
them home and put them in
with my goldfish. My goldfish are named after the six of
us in my VDOT crew.
A couple of days after putting
the catfish in the tank I found
a fish spine at the bottom of
the tank. It turns out one of
my coworkers was eaten by
something! A couple of days
later another coworker of
mine was floating at the top
with teeth marks in him.
Within another week I had to
flush half of my crew down
One morning when Jessie
was up and I was still in
bed, she looked in the fish
tank and Glenn and Josh
were floating at the top,
dead. Jessie started screaming, “Jeremy, Jeremy!” I
say, “What?” She’s responds, “Glenn and Josh are
dead and they have teeth
marks in them!” I shoot up
from out of bed and I again
scream, “What? Who’s
dead?” Jessie yells, “Glenn
and Josh.” I grab my phone
thinking that my co-workers
are really dead and I’m worried sick about them. Before
I dialed their phone numbers Jessie says, “They’re
not at home, they’re in our
tank.” With a silly look on
my face I said, “Can they
really fit in that little tank?”
Then I got the big picture
that all of my fish named
after my crew were dead.
I hated to do it but like
someone at the warehouse
once said, “I have to flush
little Cindy.” Well, I had to
flush Glenn and Josh down
the toilet. When I flushed
them I said, “Poor Glenn
and Josh. I solute you both.”
As Glenn went down the
drain, I said real funny to
make Jessie laugh, “That
man was like a father to me
and Josh was like a little
brother.” Then I screamed
three times, “Why?” It made
Jessie feel better. Then I had
to flush myself as well.
Lake cat fish are either vampire cat fish or aliens. I
choose aliens because my
crew died one by one. So
never put lake fish in a tank
with pet store fish. If you
do, your team might die,
one by one. Then the alien
trilogy will be reborn.
Well, I have to go. I hope I
did not scare you all. This
was meant to be funny. I
will save the scaring for
Halloween night. This is
Jeremy M. Norman saying
over and out.
Page : 3
THE BUZZ
Walking as Exercise: An Interview with
Nell Morgan
Nell Morgan shares her success with walking as exercise leading to
weight loss and a healthier lifestyle!
Why did you decide to start walking? I wanted to lose weight! I used to
weigh 375 and I’ve lost over 75 lbs.
Where do you like to walk the best? Around the top of my building, it’s like a track.
How often do you walk and how far? I walk every day. Usually I walk in the morning. I walk
10-15 laps around my building each day. My staff always walks with me.
How do you keep track of your walking progress? I was using a star chart. Each color star represented a different number of laps. My staff helped me. Now I use a hanger with colored
beads on it. Each time I walk past my door I slide a bead and it helps me keep track.
Have you tried any other exercise to lose weight? No, walking really works for me.
What do you do if you don’t feel like walking in the morning? You just got to get up and do it! I
always feel better after walking.
Do you prefer to walk alone or with someone? My staff walks with me and I invite my neighbors, but I can walk by myself too. I like when staff walks with me because they can help motivate me to go a little faster.
Do you have a goal for your walking? 250 lbs!
Do you want to try any other types of exercises? Yes, water aerobics. I belong to the YMCA
and want to try their machines out too.
A Look at Assistive Technology and How it Can Help You
“Assistive Technology”. It’s a phrase that we’re hearing more and more each day. Assistive
Technology is anything that will help you do something on your own, or be safer on your own.
There are so many different kinds of assistive tech, there’s something for every part of your
life. Assistive tech includes something as simple as a watch that reminds you to take medications, to an iPad that uses videos to remind you what you need to do throughout the day.
There’s assistive tech to keep you safe in your home too. See ASSISTIVE TECH, PAGE 4
Page :4
THE BUZZ
What I Like About My Jobs: By Tim Howard
What I like about my first job at Cox Enclave, a division of Chesapeake Service Systems (CSS) is the people I work with, my
coworkers. I really like my co-workers. I love working at Cox Enclave. I am very, very happy there. My jobs at Cox Enclave consist of working with power cords. I also like working with the
power adapters, taking batteries out and cleaning remotes.
My girlfriend, Jan S., works with me at the Cox Enclave. Wednesdays are the only days that
we are able to work together; however, I work there on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. I
enjoy working for the Cox Enclave and I am a great worker.
I also work at Expressions Day Support on Tuesdays and Thursdays. I earn an allowance
there. I really enjoy the outings that we go on. We’ve been to the bowling alley, the Norfolk
Zoo, 7-11 and the Dollar Tree. I enjoy both of my jobs and do a great job at what I do!
A Look at Assistive Technology and How it can Help You
Continued from page 3. You can get chairs that help you get up, guards for your oven so you
don’t get burned, or sensors that let someone know if you fall. There are small computers that
will help you communicate with people. Think about areas in your life that you would like to
be able to do on your own: there’s assistive tech for that!
If you don’t know a lot about assistive tech, there is new information on the internet every day!
But, if you’re just learning about assistive tech, your best bet is to go try it out. You can visit
the Virginia Assistive Technology Demo Lab at Old Dominion University where you can go
try out different assistive tech to see how they work for you. You may even get new ideas
about assistive tech that could help you. You also get a chance to talk to someone who knows a
lot about assistive technology. If you want to use technology to be more independent, someone
at the Virginia Assistive Technology Demo Lab can help you! To set up an appointment, you
can call: 757-683-3639 or email: [email protected].
Assistive tech can be expensive. If you have Medicaid Waiver, you have money available to
help you buy assistive tech that will help you be safer and more independent. Talk to your case
manager about what you think will help you. A good time to do this is at your Annual Review
meeting when your support team is all together.
Start thinking about what you would like to be able to do on your own. There’s probably assistive tech that can help you!
THE BUZZ
Page 5
Worker Bees: An Interview with John Waff
John Waff works at Louise Eggleston Services in the new Business Building. He began working there in November 2011;
however, he’s been an Eggleston employee since 2001. In the interview below he discusses his current employment, past employment and shares advice for others seeking work.
What are your job tasks at Eggleston? I put labels on things and
I put place settings in a bag.
What is your favorite part of your job? My director is really nice
and I get to use the computer!
What is your least favorite part of your job? I don’t like being bossed around.
How many hours do you work per week? 24 hours
What other jobs have you had in the past? Before moving to the business center I worked
in laundry services for the same company.
What benefits do you see in having a job? I earn money, I get to meet new people and I enjoy being out and about.
How do you stay motivated to go to work? I know I will get fired if I don’t go.
What encouragement would you give to others who are currently unemployed? Get to
know different people. You never know who can help you find
Communication Tip
a job. Remember that you have a choice in your job.
What do you believe your case manager’s role should be in
finding you a job? He or she should help you search for a job
you like.
What makes you a good employee? I practice my job tasks a
lot, I do a good job and I like my job!
of the Quarter:
Listen carefully and respectfully when the other person
is talking. Try to understand
the other person’s point of
view. Make eye contact and
try to seek a common
ground.
If you have any comments, opinions, or just want to contribute contact the
Hope House Foundation Administrative Offices at 625-6161.
THE BUZZ
Page 6
Ms. Wheelchair Virginia Speech: By Ivy Kennedy
Ivy Kennedy, a Ms. Wheelchair Virginia
candidate, delivered the following speech
at the competition in Fishersville, VA on
March 16, 2012.
It's a thrill and an honor to be here today. There are several issues within the disabled community that I feel passionate about
but if I had to list them, how the disabled community networks would be top priority.
The disabled community will sometimes segregate within themselves. For example, a Down Syndrome group will most likely only advertise events geared toward families with a member with Down
Syndrome. It is human nature to break off into groups, because it makes people feel comfortable.
When walls go up between these groups little interaction and communication will take place. It's not
good for anybody, let alone the disabled community. By knowing everybody’s interests and goals,
disability advocates can be stronger and make more progress.
I've created an online calendar of disability related events in my area to hopefully alleviate this problem. While I haven't stated directly on my calendar, I hope people participate in some of the events
not related to their disability. Stepping outside your comfort zone is what makes life exciting and
worthwhile. Please visit my website for more information! http://www.ivykennedy.com/
The Buzz Cook-off
The Buzz hosted their first ever cook-off on February 21,
2012 which also happened to be Mardi Gras. Some of the
dishes that were brought for judging at the cook-off were
chicken wings, honey barbeque chicken thighs, pasta salad,
sloppy Joe’s, sausage and rice, sugar cookies, chocolate pie,
yellow cake and three different jambalayas. Everyone that participated had a great
time and people won prizes throughout the event. People shared and ate the many dishes that were
brought as well as listened to music and decorated aprons.
The winners of the best dishes were chosen by their peers. The best side dish was won by Felicia
Blount for her pasta salad. The best dinner was won by Robert Laskowski for his
honey barbecue chicken thighs. The best dessert was won by Kara Mengoulis for
her sugar cookies. The best jambalaya was won by Bill Hearld.
The Cook-off was a success! If you are interested in participating in another Buzz Cook-off, send your name and what dish
you’d like to prepare to Lorna at [email protected].
Look for the next cook-off’s info in the next issue of The Buzz.
If you have any comments, opinions, or just want to contribute contact the
Hope House Foundation Administrative Offices at 625-6161.
Page : 7
THE BUZZ
This is What I Think…
A Critique Column: By Blake Thomas
Hi! My name is Blake Thomas and playing video games is what I do.
I’ve been playing Lord of the Rings the Third Age. I recently purchased
this game from Game Stop to replace my old one that unfortunately got
scratched up. This game was purchased for my Playstation 2.
I like playing the Lord of the Rings the Third Age because it has lots of
sword fights with elves. Gandalf, Frodo and Gargomon are the main
characters in the video game. They are the ones fighting the mean evil
elves. The elves look really gross because they have awful looking
teeth. The elves wear black helmets that are made out of mud. They
work for the bad guy named Sorrowman. They fight in his army.
Also, I liked it when Gandalf fought the fire monster and fell and came back as Gandalf the
White. Gandalf is so cool because he rides on a white horse. When Gandalf the White defeats
the elves, he does it while riding on his horse. How awesome is that?!
This game is rated T for teen and it has a little bit of blood in it. So if blood freaks you out then
this may not be the game for you!
My Trip to an Admirals Game: By Kevin Latham
Hello my name is Kevin Latham and this is my first time writing
an article for The Buzz. I’m really excited to be doing this. I recently
went to an Admirals game at the Norfolk Scope with a friend from
high school that I still keep in touch with; we had a great time watching the hockey players perform. They wear a lot of gear to help protect them from being hit by
the puck and hockey sticks. I must admit I got a little scared when they were slamming into
walls and getting aggressive. I almost jumped out my chair! We had good seats, so I could see
everything. Later on a fight almost broke out and the crowd was going crazy with excitement.
While my friend and I were watching the game we enjoyed a
large plate of nachos and a coke. The food was really good and
the prices weren’t too bad either. At some point during the game
the Admirals mascot was walking around and I got the opportunity to get my picture taken with him. To top it off the Admirals ended up winning the game and I can’t wait to go again
sometime.
THE BUZZ
Page 8
Scrapbooking: An Interview with Eunice Stepp
Eunice Stepp has a wonderful collection of scrapbooks. She enjoys spending time putting together her albums with photographs and pictures from
magazines. In this interview she shares all of the fun she has scrapbooking
as well as some tips for readers to start scrapbooking on their own!
How long have you been scrapbooking? 25 years
and counting!!!
Who taught you how to scrapbook? I did. I thought it would be a great
idea so I did it! It keeps me busy. I can have my quiet time and scrapbook for hours!
What type of magazines do you prefer to pull pictures from? Good Housekeeping, Better Home
and Gardens and Glamour! I love flowers and beach scenes so I pull a lot of those pictures from
the magazines to fill my scrapbook.
What was the focus of your first scrapbook? Wedding dresses. I collected a
bunch of Bridal magazines and got to work! The pretty dresses made me
dream of being one those brides so I imagined myself wearing them and
walking down the aisle.
How should I get started? Go to the store, buy a scrapbook, then find some
old magazines, grab some scissors and glue. Have a ball! It’s a good hobby!
You can find everything you need at the Dollar Store so it’s a pretty cheap hobby to have.
My Bowling Adventures: By Mike Brown
As I push the ball down the ramp, I keep hoping for a strike. I watch as the
ball knocks down the pins and count. I got a spare. Every other Tuesday,
my staff takes me bowling at AMF Bowling on Little Creek Road in Norfolk. I love to go bowling because it’s good and I like seeing how many
strikes and spares I can bowl. My staff helps me by taking me to the bowling alley and setting up the ramp and rails
for me. During my most recent trip, I got a
score of 108. After bowling, I go to the park
and enjoy lunch from local restaurants like
Chick Fil-A, Taco Bell, and McDonald’s. I’m so excited about my
next bowling trip and I hope I get a 100 on my next game. Because I
like bowling so much, I am even going bowling during summer
camp. I recommend that people go bowling too because it is fun.
If you have any comments, opinions, or just want to contribute contact the
Hope House Foundation Administrative Offices at 625-6161.
Page : 9
THE BUZZ
Highlighting a Local Artist: Linder Lawrence
If you’ve been to Stockley Gardens Art
Festival, Fair Grounds Coffee Shop, or Kitsch it
is likely you’ve met Linder Lawrence, better
know as Hollywood, and have seen some of her
amazing art. Hollywood has displayed her art at
the Stockley Gardens Spring and Fall Art Festivals for over ten years. She sells acrylic paintings on canvases as well as smaller painted
canvases with magnets that are sure to grace
homes throughout the Hampton Roads area.
Hollywood does not limit her tent at the festival to
strictly her art; she likes to contribute to the development of young artists as well. She sets up a table in her
tent where children are able to create their own art. In
the past she has helped the children paint masks,
wands, wooden toys and bird houses, just to name a
few. She is already preparing the items children can
choose to paint this year and is looking forward to
painting with them.
When Hollywood is not preparing for the festival, she
likes to experiment with different art at home. She enjoys trying out different textures including ribbons,
melted crayons and sometimes even food items. This
Spring you can find Hollywood painting at an easel set
up at Kitsch, a new shop in Ghent off of Shirley Ave.
that features local artists. People will have the opportunity to see some of Hollywood’s work as well as to
sit down and paint with her.
If you would like to meet Hollywood and purchase
some of her art she will be at her usual spot in the festival,
right next to the main stage. You will find her there dancing to the music, greeting customers and doing one of her
favorite activities, helping children create their own masterpieces. Information regarding the festival can be found
in the events section on page 12. Hollywood looks forward to seeing you there!
Page 10
THE BUZZ
Living a Healthier Life
Once a month the Dominion Team at Hope House Foundation has a
wellness meeting for both the individuals served at the team as well as
staff members. Each meeting starts with a weigh in followed by ten
minutes of exercise. The group discusses nutrition and health topics while looking for new
ways to cook their favorite foods using healthy alternatives. During the March meeting, the
group made Heart Smart pizzas, using 100% whole wheat crust, fat free cheese, chicken sausage and turkey pepperoni. The individuals served by the team are now
requesting to eat more fruits and salads. The team now has exercise equipment, including weights, and has started a library of health books, diet
books and cookbooks. So far the group has a combined weight loss total
of 31 pounds!
Healthy Recipe of the Quarter: Barbeque Chicken Pizza
Ingredients:
Directions:
½ cup sliced celery
1. Prepare grill for medium-high heat
1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
2. Combine sliced celery with lemon juice and marinate
for ten minutes
2 whole wheat pizza crusts
3. Lightly coat one side of each pizza crust with olive oil
2/3 cup barbecue sauce
1 cup shredded cooked chicken
4. Place crusts oil side down on the grill and heat until the
bottoms are golden brown, approximately two minutes
2 oz crumbled blue cheese
5. Flip crusts and spread barbeque sauce evenly on crust
Celery leaves
6. Sprinkle shredded chicken and blue cheese evenly on
crust
Olive oil
7. Grill until bottoms are golden brown, approximately
two minutes
8. Top with drained marinated celery and garnish with
celery leaves.
If you have any comments, opinions, or just want to contribute contact the
Hope House Foundation Administrative Offices at 625-6161.
Page 11
THE BUZZ
Places To Eat: A Review of La Herradura:
By Kristina Sherman
I love Mexican food and when I heard
that there was a Mexican restaurant
near my new apartment I knew I had to check it out, so I
stopped by for lunch one day recently with a friend.
I started my meal off with the complimentary chips and salsa. I love salsa so much that I usually want my own bowl,
so we asked our waiter for another bowl for my friend, three
times, but she never got it. The salsa was good though! You
could tell it was fresh. The chips were good too, but I prefer
the heated ones that you can tell are fresh out of the oven. I
ordered cheese enchiladas for my meal. Unfortunately I
didn’t really like them. My first bite was burnt and some of
it was so stuck to the plate that I couldn’t get it off. My
friend ordered a vegetable quesadilla that looked good, she said that she enjoyed it. There was
one part of my meal that I really liked: the dessert! I ordered the churros and four of them
came out on a really pretty plate with chocolate syrup, whipped cream and a cherry on top. It
was delicious! If you decide to go there, I would go and try the dessert. If I go back, that is all
that I will order.
The prices of the food were reasonable, a little cheaper than some of the other Mexican restaurants in the area. The restaurant was nice but I wish that it had more of an authentic Mexican
style rather than an American one. The service was okay. We got our food really quickly but
no one checked to see how our food tasted. Our waiter was friendly but I wish he was more attentive. The place was really busy though, there seemed to be a
large lunchtime rush.
Diabetes Tip of the
If you want to try it for yourself or stop by for dessert, their address
is 4220 Monarch Way, Norfolk, VA 23508. They are open from 11a10p during the week and have modified hours on the weekend. You
can call 423-1605 for their complete schedule. Be sure to bring
change for parking, there is only metered parking nearby. When I
went I was lucky and someone parking next to us paid for our meter,
maybe you’ll get lucky too!
Quarter:
People who added 14
grams of fiber a day to
their diet were effortlessly able to reduce their
calorie intake by 10%
resulting in a 5 pounds
weight loss in just four
months.
Page 12
THE BUZZ
EVENTS
Stockley Gardens Arts Festival
Enjoy the works of over 145 artists in a variety of mediums such as painting ceramics,
sculpture, photography and jewelry at the 28th Annual Stockley Gardens Spring Arts
Festival on Saturday, May 19th from 10am to 6pm and Sunday, May 20th from 12pm6pm. On Saturday from 6pm to 8pm come dance to the music of More Perfect Jones
with the artists at the after hours party and reception. There will also be live music
and kids’ activities all weekend long. The event is free and open to the public.
Ghent Summer Bar Tour
Tour the bars of Ghent for a good cause on July 28th from 4pm to 9pm. This event
will be fun for everyone over 21 years of age. Play bar BINGO by stopping by each of
the ten participating locations, serving discounted food and beverages and claim your
prize at the end of the night.
Why Peer Advocacy is
Important
By: Dorothy Clark
Peer advocacy is important to
me because when two people
with disabilities work together
their voice is heard. People
seem to listen more when a
peer advocate is in the room. I
enjoy helping others speak up
for themselves. Even when the
plan does
not work
out as intended, I
feel like
something
was accomplished.
Hope Cup
The first annual Hope Cup, a soccer tournament to
benefit Hope House Foundation, will be held on July
21st and 22nd at the Virginia Beach Field
House. Come out to cheer on your favorite team!
SAFE Tip of the Quarter
When one person uses another person to make themselves feel good or tries to get something from someone
else no matter how the other person feels, that’s called
exploitation. Exploitation is another word for being taken advantage of or being used. If someone is trying to
talk you into doing something you don’t want to do and
won’t take no for an answer, it’s important that you tell
someone you can trust. Hopefully this will make it more
likely that you get the help you need and keep the person
from hurting you again.
Voter Advice By: Lori Shapiro
1. Know the issues.
2. Know the candidates and their position on the issues.
3. Vote with your conscience, but get out and vote.
The Buzz is looking for contributors. If you are interested in writing a one time feature article or in
being a part of our regularly contributing staff writers please contact Erin Freeman at 625-6161 ext 519
or [email protected]. We look forward to reading new and exciting articles.