eNewsletterSummer201.. - eden2employeebenefits.org

Volume 2, Issue 2
Taking Direct Care Staff to the Next Level: Connecting Education, Science, and Research on Autism within our Community
Summer 2012
by: Lorenz S. Neuwirth, M.S./M.Phil.
1
Insider II
the
A NEWSLETTER WRITTEN BY EMPLOYEES FOR EMPLOYEES
Michael Johnson, Jr. has
worked in our Residential
Department as a direct sup-
port professional (DSP) for
one year. Michael is one of
the most genuine, humble,
heart felt, humorous, and
down to earth people you
could meet. Michael was
studying Psychology as an
undergrad at The College of
Staten Island. During the year
Michael asked to be part of a
research project that was being conducted by Michael P.
Cooney, M.S. Ed. (Adult Program) and Lorenz S. Neuwirth,
M.S./M.Phil.
(Residential Program) in pursuit of his education. Michael
was willing, able and eager to
learn more about Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) and
research on autism. Michael
devoted time, patience, and
dedication to work on a challenging case study beyond
service hours. In the middle of this project, Michael
decided to transfer from
CSI-CUNY
and go to
school at the
University of
A l b a n y
(SUNY). Notably, Michael
continued to
work at the
residence, on
the project and
analyze data
during school
breaks, vacations, and
weekends. Dedication and
care would be an understatement to describe Michael’s level of commitment to serving our residents.
the project reduced monthly
rates of verbal threats and
aggression to 50% less than
baseline. It also removed
two anti-psychotic medications eliminating observable adverse side effects
such as: facial jerking, stuttering, and motor tremors.
The project showed that
ABA treatments can improve the behavioral functioning of an individual
with autism, maintain residential services, decrease
overmedication therapies,
and increase community
integrations. All of which
increase the quality of life
of the resident’s we serve
here at Eden II across their
lifespan.
Michael presented the proMichael worked over the ject at SUNY Albany’s
course of 7 months with the Undergraduate Research
overseeing coordinators on Conference on April 27th,
a p r o j e c t e n t i t l e d : 2012. Out of hundreds of
“Reduction of Attention and student abstract submisEscape Maintained High sions, only 66 were selected
Rate Verto
preThe 2012 SUNY Albany’s
bal Threats
sent. Of
Provost’s Award for
and
Agt h e s e
Excellence
in Research.
gression in
many, 3
an
Adult
w e r e
Male with Autism through a considered for The 2012
Multi-Element Applied Be- SUNY Albany’s Provost’s
havior Analytic Therapy Award for Excellence in
Program in a Group Home Research.
Michael’s,
Setting”. The results from
(Continued on page 2)
Inside this edition
Welcome New Employees
2
The Great Outdoors ...
10
Executive Talk
3
Staten Island Beaches
10
New Promotions
3
1st Quarter Spotlight Awards
Summertime & the Treasures of Staten Island
4
Be Safe This Summer
11
12
Surf and Turf on Long Island
5
Eden II Capital Campaign News
13
Eden Staff Get Real About Their Kids
6
Shift Work and Sleep
7
Ices & Ice Cream, a Real Summery Treat
8
Summertime Pet Safety Tips
9
π
14
Honoring Grandparents
14
Interview with Isaiah Woods
15
Shepard’s
(Continued from page 1)
poster won the award. SUNY Albany
Provost, Susan D. Phillips Ph.D., acknowledged Michael’s poster presentation with high regard stating, “having a
background in vocational psychology I
know conducting a research project with
a single subject case study is hard
enough to show results, but having such
a socially significant impact is
really noteworthy.”
Michael
also received a
$200.00
award
for the project in
which he offered
to donate back to
the
residence
where he gained
such an invaluable opportunity. Lorenz accompanied
Michael on his presentation in Albany
and also received a Mentor Provost’s
Award for supporting Michael’s with the
project. Michael Cooney was also noted
as SUNY Albany alumni.
When asked about his experience in the
Residential Department Michael stated,
“the past year has been an amazing experience. Although, I’ve only been here
for a year, I feel as if these guys are my
extended family. The best part about the
Residential Department is that we spend
almost every day with our residents and
we get to see the progress that they’ve
made. It’s great to see them improving
their quality of life. That is the most rewarding thing about working for Eden
II’s Residential Program.”
When asked about his perspective on
research opportunities here at Eden II
Michael stated, “I feel that there is
plenty of opportunity for research. Our
job in Eden II’s Residential Department
is to implement behavior plans that are
put in place and collect data. I was honestly blessed to be able to present the
poster and show the public what great
work our Residential staff does and to
show the public what Eden II is all
about.” Michael’s $200.00 donation will
be given to the recreational supply fund
for reducing the costs of leisure items for
the resident’s in the group home where
he continues to work.
WELCOME NEW EMPLOYEES!
We are delighted to announce that the following new employees have joined
Eden II/Genesis as of March 1, 2012 through May 31, 2012. Please help us in
welcoming and making our newest employees become productive members of
our team. Join us in extending a heartfelt welcome to:
STATEN ISLAND
LONG ISLAND
TEACHING STAFF
TEACHING STAFF
Kevin Broderick
Janine Agostino
Marlene Gonzalez (Skyline)
Jill Scionti
Marissa Marchese (SEIT)
Danielle Motisi (Skyline)
OUTREACH STAFF
Gabrielle Sweeney
Kerry Ann Krohn
Nicole Mammina
RESIDENTIAL STAFF
Stefan Barone (Dixon)
RESIDENTIAL STAFF
Albert Foray (Collfield)
Suresh Melwani (Cambon)
Juan Penagos (Cambon)
FAMILY SERVICES STAFF
Enas Elgindy
Alexis Gilles
Danielle Spinella
Dani Wiley
ADULT PROGRAM STAFF
Shawn Wells
CENTRAL ADMINISTRATION
Larisa Tkach (Finance)
Lauren Grimaldi honored
At the SIEDC Conference, Eden II Programs Little Miracle Preschool Director, Lauren Grimaldi was recognized with a 20 Under 40 Leadership Award. She was among a select group
of Staten Island residents under the age of 40 as they
were recognized for their efforts and accomplishments in improving Staten Island’s Economy and Quality of Life.
Congratulations Lauren!
THE
2
I NS I DE R I I
Executive Talk
With Joanne Gerenser
“A pessimist is one who makes difficulties of his opportunities and an optimist
is one who makes opportunities of his
difficulties.”
~Harry Truman
playing baseball in high school, he
shifted to road racing in his wheelchair.
Instead of taking over his parent’s
farm, he got a degree in agriculture and
is now working to make farming a
more successful industry.
Consider
this
situation.
You
wake up in the
So, when life throws you one of those
morning, the sun
days that you just want to bury your
is shining, you
head back under your covers and not
have the day off
get up, think about the day in your life
and you are in a
you might be wasting. Think about all
great mood. You
the things you actually have to be lucky
go down to have
about and it gets just a little bit easier to
breakfast
and
turn the day around. One thing I alyour spouse or sibling is in a terrible
ways used to do when I had those days
mood. Doesn’t take
was to rememBad moods, negative attitudes and ber one of
long for that to rub off
and then your whole pessimistic thinking are contagious. those moments
day is shot.
Bad
when one of
moods, negative attitudes and pessimisthe kids I worked with did something
tic thinking are contagious. More imgreat for the first time… Those times
portantly, when you have a bad day,
are priceless and you want to hold on to
that day is gone forever. You can
them.
never get it back. I know that when I
I just have a few parting thoughts.
am old and gray (well..OK, older and
One, always try to be part of the solugrayer), I want to look back on my life
tion rather then part of the problem.
and see that my good days far outDo you know how much better life is
weighed my bad days. What’s nice is
when the problem is solved! Two, stop
that we have some measure of control
complaining about things that are not in
over this outcome. I believe that posiyour control. Complaining just brings
tive thinking breeds positive outcomes.
you down (and then those around you).
I like to think that every situation can
Lastly, while I know you need to plan
be viewed from many different angles.
for tomorrow, don’t forget to live toYou just have to keep moving around
day! (you can’t get the day back).
until you can find the view that looks
good.
And…I will leave you with two quotes
from one of my favorite people…
I realize we can’t always control every“When one door of happiness closes,
thing, and bad things
another opens; but often we look so
happen to good people.
long at the closed door that we do not
When something bad
see the one which has been opened for
happens in my life, I
us.”
think about people I
“The only thing
know who have to deal with things far
worse than being
worse on a day to day basis. I think
blind is having
about a friend whose brother lost both
sight but no vihis legs in a farm accident. Instead of
sion.”
being angry about the accident, he felt
lucky…lucky that he didn’t die. He
~ Helen Keller
changed his perspective. Instead of
V O L U M E 2, I S S U E 2
3
New Promotions
at Eden II/
Genesis
We pleased to announce the following
promotions. Hamilton Holt once said,
“Nothing worthwhile comes easily.
Work, continuous work and hard work,
is the only way to accomplish results
that last.” Please join us in congratulating …
WHISTLER ALFRED was hired as a full
time employee to the Genesis Adult
program. He was previously a substitute in the Dix Hills IRA. Whistler is
now a Assistant Habilitation Specialist
Practitioner and is working at the Briarcliffe location
TIARRA AUGUSTINE was promoted to
Cambon Team Leader from a DSP position. She works at the Cambon residence.
JENNIFER SARRO was promoted to
Day Habilitation Specialist Practitioner. She was formerly a Teacher Assistant in the Genesis School Program.
Jennifer has her Bachelor's Degree and
currently works out of the Briarcliffe
location.
SUMMERTIME AND THE TREASURES OF STATEN ISLAND
By Juanita Bodden
I am a sold out Staten Islander. Born friends and a few snacks on selected
and raised here and having lived most Friday nights and head to Snug Harbor
of my life on this island, I guess you to watch movies like Jaws or The Birds
could say my roots run deep. In fact, I on the wide screen. Both of these movam a member of the oldest African ies were quite exciting and eerie outAmerican family still living on Staten doors. Moonstruck and Pinocchio are
Island. We can trace our family tree all also included in this summer’s schedthe way back to our ancestor who first ule. All movies are preceded with live
came to Staten Island as
There’s lots of free music on the island
a former slave originally
from Ghana. Anyway,
during the summer heat.
it’s quite natural for me
to seek out the treasures of Staten Is- music by local bands from 7 p.m. on
land when it comes to summertime fun. the East Meadow. Beach towels, foldIn the recent past, I’ve done some very ing chairs, and coolers are allowed.
interesting things on the island during Water and popcorn are sold and plastic
the summer months and most of them chairs are available to rent.
cost me nothing.
There’s lots of free music on the island
Why not consider sitting in a lawn during the summer heat. Every year,
chair under a tent on a hot summer eve- Met in the Park offers people the opning
at
Fort portunity to experience a free, live opWadsworth over- era performance in New York City's
looking the ocean parks. This year on Thursday, August
while professional 2, at 7 p.m. the Metropolitan Opera will
a c t o r s / r e a d e r s perform at Clove Lakes Park. Check it
from Staten Island out – you may find out that you really
OutLOUD read like opera!
excerpts from and
For the past several years, Borough
tell the story of
President Molinaro has offered musical
Moby Dick. In the background you can
concerts throughout the summer at
hear the Staten Island Philharmonic
various venues like South & Midland
Orchestra playing music that makes
Beaches, Wolf’s Pond Park, Alice Ausyou feel like you are on the open sea
tin House, etc. These free concerts end
searching for the great white whale. As
with dazzling firework displays. This
the music intensifies and the actor
year August 18th and 19th is the Back to
shouts, “Thar she blows!” suddenly a
the Beach Celebration at Midland
firefighting boat in the ocean below
Beach.
you sets off a stream of water high into
the air that mimics the whale’s squirt! Also consider attending a lantern tour
(After the performance, if you are of a at Fort Wadsworth where you explore
mind to, you can hang around with the the old forts by lanterns while a guide
actors and other literary buffs to dis- tells you about the history of the forts
cuss Melville.) This incredible event which comes complete with ghost stocosts nothing! This summer Moby Dick ries. They also offer daytime tours.
will be performed in August at Fort
On several
Wadsworth. Ennights durjoy!
ing the sumDo you like old mer you can
movies?
Under meet
the
the stars?
Try Staten Island
grabbing a few Astr o no my
Club at the
kite flying field at dusk at Gateway
Park. There you can glaze at the night
sky through telescopes provided by the
Astronomy Club.
Do not forget historic Richmond Town,
especially the Fair in September (that
will cost you, but not much).
These are just a few suggestions.
There is a lot more to do if you don’t
mind searching the internet. (At the
time of this writing some of the dates
of events discussed were not yet available so try looking them up now on the
internet.) I always make up a summer
calendar, Google some things and put
on the calendar all the events that I
would like to attend. Unfortunately,
due to the failing economy, many freebies are going away. For example the
New York Philharmonic Orchestra no
longer performs its free concerts in the
park on Staten Island. So I recommend
that you use this summer to take advantage of what remains. Have a great
summer on Staten Island and be sure to
share with me all the interesting things
you get to do!
Save the Date!
Our annual conference will take
place on Monday,
October
22nd for Long
Island employees at the Holiday Inn in Plainview, NY and
for our Staten Island employees on
Tuesday, October 23rd at the Hilton
Garden Inn.
THE
4
I NS I DE R I I
Surf and Turf on Long Island
by Jan M. Downey and Leslie Wood
Lookout at Lido Beach offers free conWe are
certs and fireworks shows throughout
not writthe summer. Zachs Bay offers swiming about
ming to those who prefer calmer wa“lobster”
ters.
and “filet mignon” as our “catchy” title
suggests, ( full disclo sur e, we
Voted one
“borrowed” the title from the Town of
of the best
Hempstead’s Summer Activities
waterparks
Guide), rather we are writing about fun
in America
places on Long Island, both at sea and
by Travel
on land, that you and your families may
Channel,
enjoy this summer. Although some
S p l i s h
individuals go away for the summer,
Splash located in Calverton offers a
many choose to vacation at home. In
variety of water-based
this tough
f i n a n c i a l Vacationing on Long Island may be rides and activities for
all ages and swim levels.
climate
a smart economical choice
Food courts and snack
vacationshacks are located throughout the park.
ing on Long Island may be a smart ecoSplish Splash is open seven days a
nomical choice as well as a lot of fun.
week during July and August.
We hope you find the following information about places and activities on
There are too many “land” places and
Long Island helpful in planning your
activities on Long Island to include in
summer vacation.
this article; however, we highlighted a
few of our favorites. Long Island’s
The “surf” places and activities on
amusement park since 1962, AdvenLong Island are numerous.
Jones
tureland in Farmingdale offers a wide
Beach, located in Wantagh and the
variety of rides, attractions and games.
“mecca for beach goers”, Robert Moses
They have family style restaurants as
State Park located in Babylon, and Lido
well as food stations around the park.
Beach at Lido offer many activities in
Two times per year, in April and Octoaddition to ocean swimming; e.g.,
b e r ,
miniature golf, shuffle board, playAd ven grounds, restaurants, ice cream parlors.
tureland
Square dancing is held throughout the
hosts a
summer at Jones Beach as are outdoor
“Special
concerts. Free concerts are held at the
N
ight
“Concerts at the Bandshell” featuring
for Spemany local
c i a l
musicians
Kids”
performing
for individuals with autism and their
nightly.
family and friends. The park is closed
Those who
to the general public on those nights.
would like
to see top
Eisenhower Park, located in the heart
name enof Nassau County in East Meadow, is
tertainers can attend one of the beach’s
almost 1000 acres of open space and
concerts held at the famous Jones
recreation, and is larger than New York
Beach Amphitheater. In addition to
City’s Central Park! Eisenhower Park
swimming, Robert Moses offers fishing
has many athletic and family activities
from its piers, and a day-use boat basin
such as swimming, golf, miniature golf,
which can accommodate 40 boats. The
picnic
areas, playgrounds, fitness trails
park also has picnic areas and an 18and
so
much more. Free concerts are
hole “Pitch & Putt” Golf Course. Point
V O L U M E 2, I S S U E 2
5
held at the Harry Chapin Lakeside
Theatre all summer.
Bethpage State Park, located in Bethpage, reenacts “old time” baseball
games circa 1860’s, the decade that
baseball was invented. Players adorn
the uniforms and equipment of that era.
The public is invited to watch baseball
the way it used to be played along with
all the rules and regulations of the 19th
century! Bethpage State Park is also
the site of the famed “Bethpage Black
Golf Course”. In August it will be the
site of the Barclay’s tournament, and
top pro golfers will participate.
Located in Manorville in eastern Long
Island is Long Island’s Game Farm
featuring
exotic
animals
of
all
types and
s o m e
native to
the
Isl a n d .
The Game Farm conducts a weekly zoo
camp for children of all ages. At camp
the attendees are taught how to feed the
animals and learn about their natural
habitats and behaviors. The Game
Farm is open until early September.
Individuals who are race car enthusiasts
may enjoy Riverhead Raceway located
in Riverhead. It was built in 1949 and
is one of the country’s oldest race car
tracks. The raceway features some of
racing’s top stars in the NASCAR circuit, competing on a quarter-mile track.
Racing is held on Saturdays and Sundays.
If you are not planning a summer vacation far away, you may want to consider vacationing right here on Long
Island where there is an abundance of
fun places, activities and things to do.
This article mentions just a few so we
highly recommend that you visit various Long Island websites to obtain
more information.
Eden Staff Get Real About Their Kids
by Lauren Galanaugh
Being a mother of two small children
with another just arrived! [Welcome
Collin and congratulations Lauren and
family from all your friends and colleagues!], I understand the anxiety that
many parents feel when taking your
summer is the best time to find interesting and creative ways to spend
qualit5y time with your children
child out to a novel place. However,
summer is the best time to find interesting and creative ways to spend quality
time with your children. The pressure
of school is long gone and the beautiful
warm, sunny weather is a recipe for
success when planning a special outing.
Living in New York, it does not take
too much thought when deciding on a
good place to take the kids for the day.
Throughout the five boroughs, there are
tons of street fairs, festivals, museums,
and park events in which you could
attend. Some good references to use
when looking for a special weekend
outing would be timeoutnewyorkkids.com/things-to-do
and
http://
www.nycgovparks.org/events/. I particularly like the Parks Department
website, as most of the events are free.
About two years ago, after working
many years in the residential department developing recreation calendars, I
decided to make one for my own family. It was the best thing I could have
ever done. It was so easy to wake up
and just go to the scheduled event, as
opposed to sitting and thinking about it
the day of.
My kids and I went
to the NYC kite
festival two years
ago in Riverside
Drive and had the
most amazing day!
I am not going to
lie, I was really
nervous going on
the subway with
my toddlers, one of
whom was still in a stroller. However,
looking back, it was the best day the
kids and I ever spent together. We saw
some professional kite flyers, who let
the kids hold their brightly colored
kites, and they even got to make their
own kites to fly over the Hudson River.
From there, we walked to Times
Square, laughing that we were walking
in the “street”, which actually was the
new pedestrian sidewalk. The novelty
of the surroundings captivated the kids,
all the bright lights, beautiful buildings,
and eclectic mix of people. Best of all,
the trip only cost four dollars; the price
of a round trip metrocard.
Iris Badon, the Vocational Coordinator
at Forest Avenue has two boys, one 9
and the other 15 months. Iris’ 9 year
old boy is on a traveling baseball team,
so most of her summer activities are
centered on the family going to watch
their oldest son’s games. If time permits, after the games, they will go and
eat ice cream under the Brooklyn
Bridge. During the week, Iris makes
sure that the family eats dinner together, since the weekends are usually
jam packed with baseball games. However, the Badon’s do find time to go to
the Bronx Zoo and the South Street
Seaport on special
days. They stress
the importance of
spending as much
quality time with
their
children,
because they are painfully aware that at
one point, the kids grow up. It’s by
going out on special trips that memories are made that will last a lifetime.
Iris and her husband find the greatest
pleasure in stepping back and watching
their oldest son interact with his little
brother.
Yvette Zuckerman, a
Teacher Assistance at
Granite Avenue has
two girls, ages 10 and
12. Yvette and her
family enjoy relaxing
on the weekends,
since they participate
in many activities during the winter
months. The Zuckerman’s prefer to
enjoy a laid back summer that consists
of relaxing in the pool. On the weeknights, Yvette enjoys taking her youngest daughter out for a long walk or to
ride her bike, while Yvette chases after
her.
Their favorite summer outing is at the
end of the summer
when they plan a
trip to Mexico.
Yvette states, “The
kids LOVE it.” It is
very safe and the kids get to be a more
independent. The Zuckerman’s have
made the acquaintance of many nice
families and have kept in touch with
them through the years. Yvette appreciates the “kids club” located on the
ground with water slides and other fun
activities for the kids. Yvette says her
daughters begin to ask about the trip to
Mexico at the beginning of May.
Yvette expressed, “I think the best way
for families to enjoy their vacations is
to always make sure there are things for
kids to do. Since the whole year is usually spent running around and not having any fun time together, vacations are
something we really look forward to as
a family. We really enjoy spending fun
quality time with each other. “
However, safety is a huge concern
when venturing out on a day trip or a
vacation. Iris stresses the importance of
having the children listen to the rules
and follow them when they go into the
community. Setting clear behavioral
guidelines makes it easier for your children to understand what you expect of
them. Yvette, whose youngest daughter
has special needs, expressed that when
going to large places like the Bronx
Zoo, anything could happen. She places
an index card with her or her husband’s
name and phone number on it, in the
event her daughter was to ever be separated from the group. “It is very important for children to either know their
parents cell phone numbers or to have
it on them,” says Yvette.
THE
6
I NS I DE R I I
SHIFT WORK AND SLEEP
By Linda Krakower, R.N.
While most of us at Eden II work during daytime hours, how does working
the night shift affect our residential
staff’s sleep? While we are indebted to
those who care for our participants during the night, are
they getting the
quality sleep that is
as important to their
health, ability to
perform and happiness as just about
anything else?
Akeem Sanusi, overnight supervisor at
Carlton for the past 7 years, has this
advice for shift workers “don’t run
around during the day”. “If you have
Make sure that you rest just before coming into work
to be out, make sure that you rest just
before coming into work”. He also
advises that you keep the same sleep
schedule even when not working as
your body has become “used to sleeping during the day”. He finds sleeping
during two separate time frames the
best for him. He will sleep from 11AM
until 4PM, then awaken, eat, take a
shower and resume sleeping from 8PM
until 10PM. He finds it very difficult
to remain attentive during trainings that
are conducted during the day as this
interrupts his sleep schedule. If he
does not maintain his sleep schedule he
“feels sick” and is “cranky” and “easily
agitated”.
Some shift workers have seriously
lower levels of the neurochemical serotonin than their day-working counterparts. Low levels of serotonin are associated with anger, depression and anxiety as well as poor sleep. SWSD (shift
work sleep disorder) is a recognized
sleep disorder that affects people who
frequently rotate shifts or work at night.
The schedules they must keep for work
go against the body’s natural Circadian
rhythm. SWSD consists of a constant
or recurrent pattern of sleep interruption that results in insomnia or excesV O L U M E 2, I S S U E 2
7
sive sleepiness. This disorder is common in people who work nontraditional hours, usually between
10P.M. and 6A.M. Some symptoms of
this disorder are difficulty concentrating, headaches and lack of energy. The
consequences of SWSD include increased accidents (due to drowsy driving), increased work – related errors,
increased sick leave, and increased
irritability/mood problems.
If you work the night shift, here are
some tips to help you to get the sleep
you need:
• Make sleep a priority.
• Prepare your body and mind for
sleep. Minimize exposure to light.
Use room- darkening drapes to
convince your brain it’s time to go
to sleep.
• Follow bedtime rituals and try to
keep a regular sleep schedule, even
on weekends.
• Go to sleep as soon as possible
after work. It is important to get at
least 7 to 8 hours of sleep every
day.
• At home, ask family and friends to
help create a quiet and peaceful
setting during your sleep time.
Have family members wear headphones to listen to music or to
watch TV. Encourage people in
the household to avoid vacuuming,
dishwashing, and other noisy activities during your sleep time.
• Get enough sleep on your days off.
Practice good sleep hygiene by
planning and arranging a sleep
schedule that includes time to participate in family and social activities.
• Avoid caffeine,
alcohol,
and
nicotine.
The best strategy is to
get adequate, regenerative sleep to keep you healthy and
happy.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Recent research
indicates that night shifts can have adverse health effects even for those who
don’t show signs of SWSD. Reported
effects range from headaches, weight
gain or loss, to even increased risk of
type 2 diabetes or breast cancer. Some
people love working night shifts, and
find that it works very well for themselves and their families. But if you
find that you are having trouble getting
adequate sleep by day, or have other
concerns regarding how it is impacting
your general health and wellness,
please speak to your manager and/or
director so you can be considered for
other available shifts.
COMMITMENT AND HARD
WORK PAYS OFF.
CONGRATULATIONS TO:
JENNIFER BAEZ graduated from the
College of Staten Island with an
Associates Degree in Liberal Arts.
She is the Administrative Assistant for
Residential Services located at Wright
Avenue
DANA BATTAGLIA received her Ph.D.
in Speech-Language Hearing Sciences
from the CUNY Graduate Center.
Dana is the Outreach Clinical
Coordinator for Genesis on Long
Island.
HEATHER D’AURIA received her
Master’s Degree in Counseling from
St John’s University. She is the After
School Administrative Coordinator
located at Granite Avenue.
Ices and Ice cream, Real Summery Treats
By Anthony Gervasi
Now that the
summer
is
here, a great
way to cool
down is to
have ices or
ice
cream.
There
are
several options for purchasing ices and ice cream. You can get
prepackaged cups sold at the supermarket. You can also purchase items from
an ice cream truck. A really great way
to purchase ices is to take a trip to an
ice/ice cream shop. In New York, there
are ice/ice cream shops that have been
in business for over 50 years. There are
also some that been open for less 10
years and have sold countless tasty
treats. I enjoy taking trips to some of
the most popular places in our boroughs.
In Staten Island, there are several stores
that sell delicious ices and
ice cream. One
particular
brand has been
in
business
selling quality
ices for over 80 years. Ralph’s Italian
Ices can be found all over the tri-state
area with locations covering Staten
Island, Brooklyn, Long Island and New
Jersey. Ralph’s originated in Staten
Island and continues to sell top notch
ices and ice cream. Ralph’s has many
interesting flavors including cherry
cola, passion fruit and malibu bay
breeze. For the more daring, there are
fun sherbet flavors including peanut
butter and jelly, birthday cake and rainbow cookie. They also make great
drinks including Peanut Butter Blast
and Banana Cream Pie Ralphie. The
Peanut Butter Blast is a must for peanut
butter lovers. If you really love peanut
butter there are other good flavors such
as peanut butter cookie dough and peanut butter ice cream.
In Brooklyn, Spumoni Gardens has
been a reliable place to purchase ices
and ice cream.
There is a good
variety of flavors
to choose from
but the best are
Creamalota, Pina
Colada and of course, Spumoni. If you
only had one choice then go for the
Spumoni. If you are still hungry then
you can try the square pizza which they
have been serving for over 70 years.
In Queens, there is one place that you
should not miss. Max and Mina’s ice
cream and ices has
been serving exotic
desserts for over 10
years. This is a place
where the adventurous go to sample flavors including corn
on the cob, beer,
ketchup, sour cream and nova lox.
There are so many more weird flavors
to choose from but a fair warning, sample before you purchase. They even
have a pizza flavor ice. Can you believe
it? I have tried it and it is sweet and
salty and actually quite tasty.
In Manhattan, one of my favorite places
to get ice cream is at the Chinatown Ice
Cream Factory.
They have been
selling ice cream
for almost 30
years and some
interesting flavors
including red bean, taro, zen butter,
wasabi and egg custard. They also
make tasty sorbet flavors.
Max and Mina’s
7126 Main Street, Flushing, NY.
(718-793-8629
http://maxandminasicecream.com/
contact.html
Ralph’s Italian Ices
original location-501 Port Richmond
Ave. Staten Island, New York (other
locations)
http://ralphsices.com/locations.htm
L & B Spumoni Gardens
2725 86th St Brooklyn, NY
http://www.spumonigardens.com/
aboutus.html
Chinatown Ice Cream Factory
65 Bayard Street, Manhattan New
York, NY 10013
(212) 608-4170
http://
www.chinatownicecreamfactory.com/
ice-cream-flavors-cakes-shakes
HONORABLE MENTION ICES AND ICE
CREAM STORES
LaRocca’s Ices
489 Midland Avenue Staten Island, NY
(718) 979-8833
Uncle Louie G ices and Ice Cream
Look who
dropped in!
We joyfully
announce
the following births …
MARGARET (MAGGIE) JUDGE had a
baby boy William Michael Judge III
on April 11, 2012. He was 7lbs 14oz
and 21 1/2 inches long. Maggie is a
SEIT Teacher at Skyline Drive.
JESSICA RECAS had a baby boy Denver Adetimirin on March 4, 2012. He
was 6lbs.9oz and 21 inches long.
Jessica is a Teacher Assistant at Skyline Drive.
DANA AND PAT SASSONE had a baby
boy Patrick John May 31, 2012 at
1:37am. He weighed 6lbs 10 oz and
was 21 inches long. Dana is an Administrative Assistant at Skyline
Drive..
LARAE SPIVEY from the Granite
Avenue School Program had a baby
boy on March 22,
2012. His name is
Timothy Turner and
he weighed 8lbs. 10oz
and was 20 inches
long.
Congratulations to all!
THE
8
I NS I DE R I I
Lets Take A Paws
by Kat Knapp
SUMMERTIME PET SAFETY TIPS
As summer gets into full swing, the
ASPCA wants to remind pet parents that
our four-legged friends can be harmed
by hot weather just like we can: dehydration, heat stroke and sunburn can
take a toll on even the healthiest cat or
dog. Keep your animal companions
happy and safe by taking these simple
precautions:
Made in the Shade
Pets can get dehydrated
quickly, so give them
plenty of fresh, clean
water when it's hot.
Make sure your pets
have a shady place to
get out of the sun, be
careful not to over exercise them, and
keep them indoors when it's extremely
hot.
Know the Warning Signs
Symptoms of overheating in pets include excessive panting or difficulty
breathing, increased heart and respiratory rate, drooling, mild weakness, stupor or even collapse, seizures, bloody
diarrhea and vomit, along with an elevated body temperature of over 104
degrees. Remember, animals with flat
faces, like Pugs and Persian cats, are
more susceptible to heat stroke since
they cannot pant as effectively.
No Parking!
Never leave animals
alone in a parked vehicle. "On a hot day, a
parked car can become a
furnace in no time—even
with
the
windows
open—which could lead to fatal heat
stroke," says Dr. Louise Murray, Director of Medicine at ASPCA Bergh Memorial Animal Hospital. Leaving pets
unattended in cars in extreme weather is
illegal in several states.
Beware of "High Rise Syndrome"
“During warmer months, we see an inV O L U M E 2, I S S U E 2
9
crease in injured
animals as a result
of 'High-Rise Syndrome,' which occurs when pets fall
out of windows or
doors and are seriously or fatally injured," says Dr. Murray. This condition
is completely preventable. Keep all
unscreened windows or doors in your
home closed and make sure adjustable
screens are tightly secured.
Summer Style
Giving a dog a summer haircut—not
too short, so they still have some protection from the sun—and brushing
cats can prevent problems caused by
excessive heat. As far as skin care, be
sure that any sunscreen or insect repellent product you use on your pets is
labeled specifically for use on animals.
4th of July
If an event
involving
fireworks is
going to occur near your
property,
consider how your pet will feel and
take all precautions, especially if you
will not be at home to ensure your pet
is safe.
• Try to find someone to look after
your pet or secure your pet in the
house if a fireworks display is on not just in the backyard.
• Ensure they have a collar with current identification on at all times.
• Keep your pet indoors with you
and comfort them if they appear
distressed.
• Counteract the noise of fireworks
by turning up the volume on the
radio or television to distract your
pet from whatever is happening
outside.
Walking and Jogging
Be cautious when
walking your dog
on pavement (which
can get very hot and
may burn your pet's
paws) and at the
beach. Running on
sand is strenuous
and can cause injury
to a pet that is out of shape. Start with
slower, shorter walks and gradually
increase according to your pet's ability
and health.
• Adjust their exercise routine by
taking them out for playtime in
the early morning and evening
hours. This is especially important if your dog is your jogging
partner. While you can alter the
type of clothing you wear, your
dog can't. Many dogs will keep
running to stay with you, even if
they are suffering due to the heat.
•
Try a simple keep-cool tactic such
as soaking a bandanna in water
and putting it in the freezer before
you walk, then put it on your dog.
Hopefully, these tips will help you
and your pet have a safe and enjoyable
summer!
Q: What did the pig
say at the beach on a
hot summer's day?
A: I'm bacon!
Q: What did the ocean say to the
sand?
A: Nothing, it just waved.
Q: Where do ghosts like to swim?
A: The Dead Sea
Q: What do whales like to put on
their toast in the morning?
A: Jellyfish!
Q:What's the best day to go to the
beach?
A: SUNday!
The Great Outdoors: Volunteering with NYC Partnerships for Parks in Stapleton.
by: Lorenz S. Neuwirth, M.S./M.Phil.
Over the past two years the Residential
Department (Collfield and Grayson
group homes) has been volunteering on
Saturday mornings at the Staten Island
Greenbelt’s High
Rock park area.
The direct support
professionals help
the residents clean
up the local park.
They engage in
weed
pulling,
planting,
wood
chipping on walkways/trails, litter
removal, mustard
weed removal, and painting park
benches. The direct support professionals worked very hard to support our
residents in accomplishing such a
meaningful community relationship.
Recently, the NYC Partnerships for
Parks advertised a list of volunteer
events that they would be hosting
across the five boroughs. Eden II’s
Residential Department volunteered to
participate in the “My Park Day” project on May 19th at Tappen Park (North
Shore Stapleton area). Tappen Park is
located directly across the street from
our new Beach Street location. Staff
from our Collfield, Grayson, Carlton
and Dixon residential homes joined in
on the event. Residents from all the
houses came out and participated with
direct support professionals and local
community members to help restore the
historic park. Some of the activities
they engaged in were raking leaves,
pulling weeds, planting spring bulbs,
picking up litter, and most of all socializing with local community members.
All the staff and residents were given
free T-Shirts and some other items
handed out by vendors from other nonfor-profit agencies that attended.
Special thanks go to all the direct support professionals
for
participating
over the years
in these volunteer efforts.
An additional
thank you to
the residence
managers and coordinators who helped
the staff coordinate the resident’s participation: Tina Abdul-Rahim (RM),
Sang Weon Aum (CC), Peter Capofari
(RM), Oluwaseun Cole (RM), Richard
Asante (RM), and Victor Anjorin
(ADORS).
Staten Island Beaches
By Juanita Bodden
On a hot summer day you do
not have to pack
up all the kids,
get in the car,
drive at least an
hour, pay tolls and parking fees to go to
a beach on the New Jersey shore when
there are several enjoyable beaches in
Staten Island.
South Beach is one of the island’s most
popular attractions. In addition to the
sand and water, South Beach offers a
1.7 mile boardwalk, an 835 feet long
fishing pier, and a senior park. It also
has a playground, bocce courts, roller
hockey rink, shuffleboard, ball fields,
and picnic areas.
Midland Beach located near South
Beach, is the perfect spot for sunbathing and swimming. Children love the
sprinklers at the Sea Turtle Fountain.
Page 10
10
Midland also has a shady tree filled
area for bar-b-queing and picnicking.
Both Midland and South beaches have
plenty of free parking.
two are about the same. Remember the
beaches on Staten Island and those on
the Jersey Shore share the same source
of water – the Atlantic Ocean.
Although parking can be challenging
on great beach days, the beach at Gateway National Park is my favorite Staten
Island beach. It is much smaller than
South and Midland beaches and less
crowded.
When I go to the beach I like to set up
my little beach hut
(which offers protection from the sun) near
the water so I can hear
the waves hitting the
shore and feel the cool breeze coming
off the ocean. I bring lunch and plenty
of bottled water as well as a good book.
Some of the very best naps I have ever
had were at the beach!
Staten Island has a new beach that I
have not yet experienced. Cedar Grove
Beach is now accessible to the public
for the first time. The Parks Department
closed a 99-year-old private beach club
last September in order to create a 45acre public park.
The murkiness of the water on Staten
Island beaches can be a drawback. The
waters on the Jersey Shore are far more
pristine, but the pollution levels of the
The beaches on Staten Island are open
from Memorial Day weekend through
Labor Day. Lifeguards are on duty
daily, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Forget the
Garden State. Grab a towel, book, and
a bottle of water and spend the day at a
beach on Staten Island!
THE
I NS I DE R I I
1st Quarter 2012 Spotlight Award Winners
We completed our second round of the
Spotlight Award Program and we are
happy to announce that we had a total
of 12 winners this quarter! Please join
us in congratulating these deserving
winners. Here are some of the things
mentioned by their fellow employees in
the written nomination forms:
Irene Cavanagh: Irene does an excellent job managing multiple
programs and always ensures that we operate safely
and that our programs are
enjoyable to our participants. She is constantly
seeking new and innovative ways to
meet the needs of our participants and
their families.
Mohamed Dakowa: Mohamed is a
valued member of the
Grayson team. He receives positive recognition from the parents and
has stepped up to help in
a crisis situation. Also, Mohamed has
been extremely helpful pitching in with
the loss of one of the seasoned Team
Leaders at that location.
Geoff Debery: Geoff handled a considerable amount of duties
while another employee was
out on a leave. In addition to
doing this he constantly shows
his commitment by representing Eden II at the Brooklyn
Children’s Museum, S.I. Special Ed
Fair, he developed a BCBA supervision
program, he conducts parent tours for
the intake department and presents
original research at various conferences.
Gina DePrima: Gina performs as an
excellent first point of contact for the Wright Avenue
facility. She is professional
in her dealings with staff,
parents, vendors, and employees. She is also a smart shopper
and continues to save the agency
money!
V O L U M E 2, I S S U E 2
11
Uzochukwu Ene: Uzo demonstrates extreme compassion for the participants and
their families. Recently, one
of the participants needed surgery and
Uzo stayed with the family in the hospital and provided assistance to them.
He maintains a positive attitude and it
shows!
Staci Fazio:
Staci is
known to go above and
beyond her normal job responsibilities. She volunteers to cover the front desk
when the receptionist is away from the
office, and also has helped to cover in
the classrooms when there is a situation
where help is needed.
Eleanor Fiore: Eleanor is an
excellent mentor to new
Teacher Assistants. She exudes a caring and compassionate attitude towards the
participants and it is easy to see! She
maintains a calm and neutral attitude
when dealing with crisis situations.
Eleanor has also often been seen taking
the initiative to clean and organize the
classroom and prepare materials for the
next day.
William Hackett: William
has been a key employee
and helps make the Cambon
location a productive and
fun residential home. He
motivates the staff and a recent example of this is having a Cooking Club.
William has taken his extra time to help
plan cooking activities where the residents learn cooking and social skills as
a team.
A Cambon cookbook is
planned for the future!
Jessica Krakower: In addition to her normal hectic
duties as a Teacher at Forest Avenue, Jessica has
done an “awesome” job
facilitating the track system (switching
classrooms, group instruction) and covering other teacher’s areas at a moments notice.
Akitunde Oyebode: Bode
goes above and beyond expectations at the Collfield
residence. Parents are always
offering positive comments about his
humor, positive attitude and care. Recently Bode was instrumental in implementing an exercise plan for overweight participants. He works very
hard motivating them to engage in exercise, which can be challenging, however Bode sees the bigger picture. He
has also stepped in to act as interim
Supervisor at the residence.
Edwina Rogers:
Edwina
displays an unending dedication to her class, which we all
know is challenging on their
best day. She remains calm
and effective while moving from one
difficult situation to the next with skill
and patience. Her staff is seen as totally engaged at all times and this can
truly be tied to Edwina’s own dedication to serving her students.
Michael Sales: Mike is considered to be an extremely generous and caring member of the
Adult Program team of employees. He is always willing
to do the least desirable tasks and in
addition he has been seen offering his
own lunch to participants who did not
have lunch or did not like their lunch
for that day.
A Day at the Beach
Author: Rebecca Curran
A sunburnt face,
Sand between my toes,
The smell of firewood
In all of my clothes
Tired and dusty,
Full of hot dogs and smore’s
A day at the beach…
Who could ask for more?
Be Safe this Summer
by Juanita Bodden
I love summer! It’s a great time for
playing and having fun, but make sure
you take a few precautions so that you
are safe while you are enjoying the
summer.
habits and avoid rich and spicy foods.
Increase intake of salads, citrus and
watery fruits, like oranges, watermelons, etc. Drink fresh lime juice frequently to keep your body cool.
SUN PROTECTION
Summer season is the
ideal time to bask in the
beaches. Tanning during
the early mornings helps
in synthesis of vitamin
D. To avoid sunburn, apply a good
quality sunscreen (preferably organic)
with SPF 30, minimum.
HOW TO IDENTIFY
POISONOUS PLANTS
A good rule of thumb
is "leaves of three, let
it be." Poison oak and
ivy usually are clustered in leaves of
three. They contain an oil that when
gets on your skin can cause an allergic
reaction. You only need to be exposed
to a very, very little of this poisonous
oil for it to develop a rash. If you do
get it on your skin, immediately rinse
skin with rubbing alcohol or a degreasing soap like dishwashing soap
and lots of water. An antihistamine
can be taken to help relieve itching.
Try to stay out of the sun between 10
a.m. and 4 p.m., when the sun is at its
most intense peak, and try to stay in
the shade as much as possible. Carry
an umbrella while stepping out in the
heat. Hats and sunglasses can also
play an important role in preventing
UV damage.
There's no fast "cure" for sunburns – it
may take days for your skin to heal.
To treat the pain, take an over-thecounter pain reliever and keep the area
moisturized with aloe or other lotions.
Keep the skin cool by using cold compresses or taking a cold bath.
AVOID DEHYDRATION
Drink plenty of water to prevent a heat
stroke. Don't wait until you're thirsty
to drink. Avoid liquids with alcohol or
sugar – they will cause you to lose
more body fluid. Stay away from very
cold drinks – they can
cause
stomach
cramps.
Water is best, but if
you don’t like plain
water try using frozen
fruit instead of ice cubes to give your
glass some color and zing. Homemade cucumber water is very refreshing and just about the easiest thing
ever: slice cucumbers, add to water,
and enjoy.
Be extremely careful about your food
Page 12
12
BEST WAY TO REMOVE AN INSECT
STINGER
Never squeeze
the area or use
tweezers because
it may push more
venom into the
skin. Remove the
stinger by either
scraping your fingernail over the area
or using a straight edge like a credit
card. You want to wash the area with
soap and water -- if there's swelling,
apply ice. Try not to scratch because it
may cause an infection.
AVOIDING INSECTS BITES
Don’t use scented soaps, perfumes or
hair sprays. Avoid areas where insects
nest or congregate, such as stagnant
pools of water, uncovered foods and
gardens where flowers are in bloom.
Avoid dressing in clothing with bright
colors or flowery prints.
PREVENTING TICK BITES
Try to avoid direct contact with ticks
by staying away from wooded and
bushy areas with high grass and leaf
litter. Walk in the center
of trails. Use repellents
that contain 20% or more
DEET (N, N-diethyl-mtoluamide) on the exposed
skin for protection.
Bathe or shower as soon as possible
after coming indoors (preferably
within two hours) to wash off and
more easily find ticks that are crawling
on you. Conduct a full-body tick
check using a hand-held or full-length
mirror to view all parts of your body
upon return from tick-infested areas.
Examine gear and pets. Ticks can ride
into the home on clothing and pets,
then attach to a person later, so carefully examine pets, coats, and day
packs. Tumble clothes in a dryer on
high heat for an hour to kill remaining
ticks.
WHEN GOING ON VACATION
When leaving home for that summer
trip, let someone know where you are
going, your route or means of travel,
how to contact you in case of emergency, and when you expect to return. Lock up your home, activate
your alarm. Don’t broadcast your
plans on social media. Hold the delivery of your mail and newspaper or
ask a trusted friend to pick them up for
you.
Buy a timer for your lights and set
them in a random pattern. Ask a
neighbor to occasionally park in your
driveway. Turn off your water and
water heater and make sure curling
irons, hair dryers, and other small appliances are unplugged before leaving
your house. Ask a neighbor or relative
to check your house daily while you’re
away to make sure
everything is okay.
If you take prescription
medication,
make sure to take an
(Continued on page 131
THE
I NS I DE R I I
(Continued from page 12)
adequate supply including extra in
case you are unexpectedly detained for
a few extra days. Make sure to take
the prescription bottle with you as
well. If you use one of the daily pill
distribution containers and you don’t
have your prescription with you, you
are committing a felony violation by
possessing a prescription drug without
the prescription in your possession. You should also make sure your
health insurance cards are current and
have them with you in case it becomes
necessary to seek medical attention
while away from home.
A FEW MORE TIPS
If parents become separated from kids
in a public place, children should
know to seek out a uniformed police
officer or security guard. If they can't
find one, they should look for a
mother with children of her own.
Never bring charcoal grills indoors.
Burning charcoal produces deadly
carbon monoxide.
Summer also means yard work. When
mowing, keep small children out of the yard, and
turn the mower off if children enter the area.
Fireworks that are often
thought to be safe, such as
sparklers, can reach temperatures
above 1000 degrees Fahrenheit, and
can burn users and bystanders.
There’s a reason fireworks are illegal
in NY... they are dangerous! Keep
yourself and your families out of
harm’s way.
Have a happy & safe summer!
Sources:
[http://www.aap.org/en-us/about-the-aap/aap-press-room/newsfeatures-and-safety-tips/pages/Summer-Safety-Tips-Part-2.]
http://www.babyzone.com/kids/kids-summer-safety/safesummer-tips_71830
http://www.cbsnews.com/2100-500165_162-6640858.html
http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml02/02182.html
http://www.ehow.com/info_7878330_summer-nutritiontips.html
http://www.fox59.com/news/crime/wxin-indiana-state-policerelease-safety-tips-for-summer-travel20120517,0,5484778.column
http://pikesville.patch.com/articles/police-what-to-do-beforeyou-leave-for-vacation
http://www.cdc.gov/ticks/avoid/on_people.html
V O L U M E 2, I S S U E 2
13
Eden II Capital Campaign News
The Capital
C a mp a i g n
on Staten
Island has
made great
progress
toward its goal of raising $7.5 Million
– in fact, approximately $4.5 Million
has been raised to date!
The support of elected officials Borough President Jim Molinaro and State
Senator Diane Savino made the acquisition of 15, 40, and 45 Beach Street a
reality.
•
•
Loveseats, Coffee Tables
Stoves, Microwaves, Refrigerators and other appliances
Recreation equipment (e.g., pinball machine, foosball table, pool
table)
Contact Erika Hellstrom, Director of
Development at 718-816-1422 x156 or
[email protected] with questions
or possible donations. You can also set
up payroll deduction through Development department. Thank you for your
support!
Our staff has made significant contributions toward the goal!
Of course, monetary donations help
us with the costs of building renovations, but there are many ways for
staff with connections to businesses or
other individuals to help. Below is a
wish list of new items we need for 15
Beach Street. In-kind donations are
tax-deductible and a wonderful way to
help the Eden II Capital Campaign.
Wish List of Items for 15
Beach Street:
Congratulations to:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Theater
Seating
Tap Dance
Flooring
Audio/
Visual Equipment
TVs and DVD players
Diner or Cafeteria Booths or Seating
Hair Cutting Stations and Chairs
Dentist’s Patient Chair
Fitness Equipment (e.g., Treadmills, Exercise Bikes, Ellipticals,
Yoga Mats/Balls)
Art Classroom Seating
Art Supplies and Equipment (e.g.,
Easels, Pottery Wheel, Kiln)
Apartment Furnishings:
Beds, Kitchenettes, Couches,
ANNE HEIGH married Adam Schiavone
on April 29, 2012. Anne is a Teacher
at Skyline Drive.
NICOLE SHACK married Kevin Donofrio on April 6, 2012. Nicole is a
Teacher at Skyline Drive.
DANIEL & JESSICA STAUFFER were
married on May 19. 2012. Dan is an
Assistant Habilitation Specialist Practitioner for the Genesis Adult program
located at the Briarcliffe location.
NATASHA STEWART married David
Russell-Young on May 26, 2012. Natasha is an Assistant Day Habilitation
Specialist with the Adult Program located at Wright Avenue.
Shephard’s
Recipes from the kitchen of Juanita Shepard
SEAFOOD BAR-B-QUE ON THE GRILL
This is a wonderful appetizer to start off your cook-outs with friends and family
First you must have the following ingredients:
large skewer sticks (one pack)
1 pound of shrimp cleaned and deveined
1 pound large scallops
1 pound large clams
1 pound pork bacon
1 bunch cilantro
Once you have cleaned your seafood, arrange seafood on skewer and wrap cilantro around covering the seafood. Take raw
bacon and wrap around the entire seafood and cilantro which will keep everything in place. Once you have made the desired
amount, place on grill until bacon has cooked (constantly turning to avoid burning and to cook evenly on all sides). Once
finished remove and serve hot with your favorite dipping sauce.
This needs no seasoning due to the bacon flavor and salt content. I just know you will enjoy this!
President Jimmy Carter, in 1978, proclaimed that National Grandparents Day would be celebrated every year on
the first Sunday after Labor Day. We honor these Eden II Grandparents!
—photo collage by Johanne Fontanez
Al Carpenter's
pardi’s
Margaret Zam
Jim Moleen’s three
Fran Hughes’
All of these belong to
Tina Abdul-Rahim
THE
14
I NS I DE R I I
An Interview with Isaiah Woods
By Geoff Debery
What is your name? Isaiah Woods
And, what program do you work
in? Eden II Programs, Adult Program [Wright Ave]
What is your position in the Adult
Program? I am a Teacher’s Assistant
Teacher’s Assistant, and how long
have you worked here? About one
year, I started on May 25th of last
year.
So, the big question is, how did you
start working here at Eden II Programs? Well, before I started working here I was actually working at the
Post Office as a mailman. But, I
hated that job; I just did not like it. I
know it was a city job, federal benefits, but it was a bad job. So one day
I actually got this route, and I remember it was probably around the
end of February and it was like 15
degrees outside, and I was cold, and
as I was walking up the block I was
thinking to myself that I just wanted
to get inside so I could get warm for
a little bit. So when I came inside the
building, first thing I thought was
“it’s nice and warm in this building”.
This building, you mean 94 Wright
Ave? Yes 94 Wright Ave. So when I
came in everyone was so nice, they
greeted me and said “good morning”
V O L U M E 2, I S S U E 2
15
and “hello”, and they were so welcoming. And I thought to myself,
that I like this place. So I picked up
the mail and I finished my route. And
when I got home I remember just
thinking that I really liked that place.
So probably about two weeks later I
got that same route again. And I remembered it because I remembered
the building, so I thought to myself
when I go inside I’m going to ask if I
can get a job there. So I went inside
and the same thing happened again.
It was warm, and people were very
welcoming. The said “good morning” and “hello” and it was totally
different from working at the Post
Office. I mean the post office is kind
of military-based. In the morning you
have people barking orders at you,
yelling at you. And when I came in
here, just being told good morning
was enough to give me a good feeling.
Yeah, there’s no personal touch at
the Post Office. Yeah, none at all.
So my second trip here, when I came
inside I actually asked Gina
[Deprima] at the reception desk,
“what kind of place is this”? And she
told me it was an adult program for
people with autism. And I was like
“ok, and how would someone go
about applying for a job here?” And
Gina told me about the website, and
wrote down the information for me.
And I went home and filled out the
application online and put up my
resume. The next day I went to work
and quit the post office job! Without
even knowing if I was going to get
the job at Eden. Without even knowing, because I just couldn’t do it anymore. So about two weeks later, Sue
Ribaudo called me and asked me to
come in for an interview. After I got
off the phone with her, I remember
thinking in my head “there’s no way
I’m not getting this job”. I probably
prepared for like that whole week. I
was just practicing in the mirror, just
asking myself questions, there was
not doubt in my mind, I was going to
get this job. So I came for the interview, and it was a group interview.
Now, normally I am a quiet guy, but
I know that you really have to show
your personality. And every question
she asked I answered. So the position
I was actually applying for was an
on-call position. But I guess that Sue
felt that I did so well in the group
that I should apply for the Teacher’s
Assistant Position. So she called me
and told me that she was going to
recommend me for the Teacher’s
Assistant Position. So I came back to
94 Wright Ave to interview for the
Teacher’s Assistant Position. And I
was like “wow, these are the same
people I saw when I was delivering
the mail here”. And when I was sitting in the front waiting to be interviewed, people were coming up to
me and saying “good morning’ and
“hello”. And then I had the interview
with Chrissy and after I left I was
just thinking “I really hope I get that
job”. And two days later Sue called
me and told me I got the job. And the
rest is history.
So it made you very happy? Yeah,
not only that, this job has made me a
lot better, like socially. When I was
working at the Post Office I was
stressed. Now granted I was making
a whole lot more money there than I
am here. And when I told my friends
and family I left the Post Office and I
got this new job, they were like “you
were making so much money”, and I
would answer them “it’s not really
about the money” because I never
had the chance to spend it because I
was working
seven days a
week.
And
besides that I
didn’t feel like
I was making a
difference.
And here it is more fulfilling, I enjoy
going to work. And it made me happier in my life.
Eden II Voted Best Company to
Work for on Staten Island
At the Staten Island
Economic Development Corporation's
(SIEDC)
Annual
Conference
on
April 25, 2012,
Eden II received
one of four awards
for Best Company
to Work for on Staten Island. Eden II Programs employs
more than 400 full time and 200 part time staff members,
consisting of well-qualified professionals with focused
expertise, who exhibit a deep passion for the work on a
daily basis.
The Insider II Staff
Publisher & Sr. Editor:
Dr. Juanita Bodden
Editor:
Angela Ricca
Photographer:
Johanne Fontanez
Secretary:
Roe Stavola
Columnists/Reporters:
Geoff Debery
Jan Downey
Eden II Programs started on Staten Island in 1976 and has
grown to be an internationally known non-profit organization serving families living with autism throughout
their lives. The award demonstrates the staff's commitment to provide the maximum help possible to the autism
community through education, adult day programs, residential care, family support, respite, and a number of
other services.
Lauren Galanaugh
Anthony Gervasi
Kat Knapp
Linda Krakower
Lorenz Neuwirth
Juanita Shephard
Free Summer Events
sponsored by Staten Island Borough
President Molinaro
Leslie Wood
Executive Oversight
& Executive Editor:
Thursday, July 26
Starlight Concert: Theresa Dowtin, Al Lambert Orchestra
7:30 to 10 p.m. -- Snug Harbor Cultural Center and
Botanical Garden
Thursday, Aug. 2
Starlight Concert: Just Friends
Function 11, 7:30 to 10 p.m. -- FDR Boardwalk in
South Beach
A NEWSLETTER WRITTEN BY
EMPLOYEES FOR EMPLOYEES
Eden II/Genesis
150 Granite Avenue
Staten Island, NY 10303
Phone: 718-816-1422
Fax: 718-816-1428
E-mail: [email protected]
16
Dr. Eileen Hopkins
Sunday, Aug. 5
Children's Day, 2 to 5 p.m.
Carousel for All Children at Willowbrook Park
Thursday, Aug. 9
Starlight Concert: Rave On, Alive 'n' Kickin,'
7:30 to 10 p.m. -- Westerleigh Park
Saturday, Aug. 18
Back to the Beach
noon to 9 p.m. Midland Beach Sea Turtle Circle, 9 p.m. -- Fireworks
Sunday, Aug. 19
Back to the Beach
noon to 9 p.m. -- Midland Beach Sea Turtle Circle
Friday, Aug. 24
End of Summer Concert & Fireworks
Featuring De'ja vu, New York Minute
7:30 to 9:30 p.m. -- FDR Boardwalk in South Beach
9 p.m. -- Fireworks