December

How did you get your start at Evergreen? How long have you worked here? I interned here in my senior year of college in 2009 and then started working here in 2012 at the end of my graduate degree and have been here since! What have you seen as the biggest change at Evergreen while you’ve worked here? Th ere are so many new faces! I feel like I used to know everyone here, but now I feel like I see a new face every time I leave my offi ce! Walk us through a ‘typical’ workday. I get to work, put my stuff away, get my client paperwork ready for the day and then I see clients usually all day, back to back. I also fi t lunch and paperwork in there somewhere. I see up to 20 clients a week. I feel like I live in my offi ce because I’m in there so much. I wouldn’t change it, though. I love being busy. Tell us a bit about your personal life (hobbies, family, etc.) I love spending time with my husband doing anything and everything. If I’m not reading or looking through boxes and boxes of comic books, I’m watching soccer, binge watching Netfl ix or spending time in nature (when it’s not freezing, of course!). How do you unwind and have fun? My favorite thing ever is to go hiking with my husband. We try to go to trails

or parks that aren’t heavily populated so we can have some peace and quiet away from the city and away from people. We pack a lunch and some water and just walk until we get tired. Th e winter is much more challenging. I generally do a lot of working out and TV watching. What would be your dream life? My dream life would be to own a farm or a giant animal rescue somewhere in the wilderness. I’d want to spend my days taking care of and adopting out all the animals from the rescue. Also, in this dream life, junk food would be calorie free and headaches wouldn’t exist! What is/are your pet peeves? Close talkers, people who can’t drive and when people aren’t willing to accept that I don’t want to have children. If you could change one thing about anything in your life, what would it be? I think the only thing I would change currently is the weather. I’d like to have 80 degree weather and a beach in walking distance from my house. Where do you see yourself in fi ve years? Other than fi nally earning my license for mental health and my personal training certifi cation, I have no idea. I try to live in the moment as much as possible. I don’t even know what I’m going to have for dinner next week. C

connections profi le

Birth days Rebecca Gusmann ..............December 1Anna Ihle .............................December 3Steven Rein .........................December 5Terresa Aughtry ...................December 7Thomas Ross O’Kell .............December 15Ma hew Crehan Higgins ....December 15Andrew Kiener ....................December 16Paul Perez ............................December 16Bri ani McKay .....................December 16Moselle Whitehead ............December 17Toni Hernandez ...................December 23Chris na Turner ..................December 24Laura Pasquarella ................December 25Emilio Rodriguez .................December 27Jus n Azzarella ....................December 27Jessica LoBuglio ...................December 31

AnniversariesAndre Dixon ........................1 YearMichele Ogden ....................2 YearsAngela Penzo ...................3 YearsNicole Coonly ......................4 YearsLaura Pasquarella ................7 YearsRosalind Townsend .............9 YearsJohanna Aponte ..................10 YearsHelene Cacciato ..................10 YearsMaria LoTempio ..................12 Years

Your Con nued Dedica on and Hard Work Are No ced and Appreciated - Management Team

My fi rst me going to GLYS when it was at the YWCA, and running into a plate glass window because I thought it was an open door – Jimi Konidis g When I was in the bathroom in high school with a friend. We were talking about how much we did not like the principal and we wanted our old principal back. Then the principal walked out of the stall. —Ma hew Sydor g At my last job, when I referred to a client’s husband as her son – Mindi Mietlicki g It ends with the line, “Thank goodness I was wearing a kilt!” – Gary Williams g No comment – Maisha Drayton g Running over my girlfriend’s foot when dropping her off at intersec on. She was okay, and we’re s ll married years later – Joshua McClain g Too embarrassed to state – Cord Stone g In 5th grade I thought I would be so cool and do a cartwheel in front of the boys and girls in gym class. That was un l I did one and my shirt fl ew up and everyone saw. Classmates talked about it for years a er. – Abigail Szal g I was a cashier in high school. A jar of grated cheese wouldn’t scan, so I held it up for a price check. The manager asked “what brand” and I looked at the label... it was powdered douche (something I had no idea even existed). The customer was doubled over laughing. I wanted to die. – John Carocci

How did you get your start at Evergreen? How long have you worked here? I started September 2012 at Evergreen as a Phlebotomist/Laboratory Technician. It’s been just over two years and I am very thankful to call this my second home. I truly love my job and the mission this organiza on represents and displays in so many facets. How do you unwind and have fun? Riding my mountain bike and playing basketball helps keep the stress levels down. Doing anything with my 9 year-old son, Ayden, and year-old pit bull pup, Nola, defi nitely helps me unwind as well. What would be your dream life? My dream life would be a er re rement, living in or around a warm, sandy beach working for a non-profi t organiza on such as the Wounded Warrior Project to stay busy. Tell us a bit about your personal life (hobbies, family, etc.) I have 13 years in the ARMY reserves and just transferred into a new unit, The ARMY Career Division. I am a Career Counselor who helps soldiers with the re-enlistment process and bonuses, helps with Tui on Assistance, VA and SGLI Benefi ts, and much more. Just like a reten on specialist in EMG tries to keep pa ents in care, we try and make sure soldiers are happy with their jobs and careers. If you could meet one person who would it be? The grandparents on my father’s side were in a bad car accident before I was born and I never got to meet them. I have learned a lot about them recently with some of my aunts and uncles passing away. Family friends told stories and provided pictures that I had never seen. It’s a whole part of my life that never existed, and I some mes ponder what it could have been like having another set of grandparents around.

With the holiday season approaching, it’s time to send some warm thoughts and cheer to those far and near. Evergreen Health Services Art Th erapy clients have created beautiful seasonal/holiday art work which is being showcased in the 1st annual Art Th erapy Holiday Card Project. Th ese 5x7 greeting cards will be sold in a box set of 12 for $12 a box, just in time for the holiday season. Four pieces of art work have been chosen and included in this set. Th ere are a couple ways to ensure you don’t miss out. Please see 4th fl oor receptionist Sean Tulumello at 206 South Elmwood, call him at extension 3300 or email him at [email protected] to purchase your cards beginning November 1, 2014 between the hours 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Quantities are limited, don’t miss the opportunity to purchase your cards.

Inside Greeting: May this season fi ll your home with joy,your heart with love and your life with laughter.

BOX OF12 CARDS

$12

Try coff ee at as many places as possible, whether it be a coff ee shop or a

cheap diner, I enjoy every sip – Abigail Szal Experience something that

I never considered doing before – Ma hew Sydor Find a lesser-known

hidden gem: great diner, restaurant or drinking establishment – Gary

Williams EXPLORE! – Maisha Drayton Eat regional foods!! – Joshua

McClain Check out local cuisine and music scene – Cecil Su on

Take the path less traveled. There’s always something new to discover! –

Kimberly Harding Explore and make sure that I have all of my traveling

direc ons in place and any emergency kits – Magali Maldonado Eat

local favorites – Jimi Konidis Sightsee and party – Cord Stone RELAX –

Mindi Mietlicki Try not to start an interna onal incident. – John Carocci

Cut-throat board games and thought provoking

conversation – Maisha Drayton Embarrassing them

in public places – Jimi Konidis Have intellectual

conversations – Cord Stone Reminisce about past

times; memories bring back such strong emotions

and feelings, and show the growth of individuals/

groups – Abigail Szal Coming up with your own

game – Matthew Sydor Have a few drinks and play

Cards Against Humanity – Mindi Mietlicki Camping;

Kan Jam and a beer; trying new restaurants – Joshua

McClain Share food, drink and laughter – Gary Williams

cSTAFF POLL

This month’s question wassubmitted by Thomas Fronczak:

How do you prefer to enjoy yourmeals during the holidays?

Cook and entertain at home – 11 Go to family members/friend’s home – 14

Go out to eat at a restaurant – 0None of the above – 0

connections D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 4

PUBLISHER/LAYOUT John CarocciEDITOR Kimberly Harding

CONTRIBUTORSTasheri Artis, Thomas Fronczak,

Kimberly Harding, Cord Stone, Laura Pasquarella Aaron Pry, Ashlee Rudolph, Tayrin Torres

MORE CONNECTIONS QUESTIONS

NAME ONE OF YOUR SHORT-TERM GOALS. To work out at least three times every week – Maisha Drayton; Get all of my Christmas shopping done before 12/24 – Mindi Mietlicki; Rehab the tub/shower in the bathroom at home – Joshua McClain; Pay for my wedding – Jimi Konidis; Convince my mom that it’s okay to decorate for Christmas… now! – Abigail Szal; To start a professional journal and strategize long-term goals – Cord Stone; Pay my debt – Magali Maldonado; Finish my Masters – Matt hew Sydor

WHAT IS THE WORST ADVICE YOU HAVE EVER BEEN GIVEN? Being a bartender will never help you amount to anything. I’ve made many connections serving people drinks. It helped me get to where I need to go. – Jimi Konidis; “Just follow me”, which ended with the most embarrassing moment above. – Gary Williams; “Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.” – Mindi Mietlicki; One of my friends always says, “What’s the worst that could happen?” Usually whatever he says before that is bad advice. – Matt hew Sydor; I honestly can’t think of any. – Maisha Drayton; “Th is is just the way it is.” – Cord Stone; I was told never to wear fl ats on a rainy day. – Magali Madonado; “Hey, you should let me give you a perm even though we just dyed your hair yesterday.” – John Carocci

WHAT ARE THE QUALITIES THAT YOU GRAVITATE TOWARD (OR THAT IMPRESS YOU) IN COWORKERS OR FRIENDS? People who are real, not worried about impressing others, who are optimistic and positive. Th ese are the individuals I try to surround myself with both in my work family and my personal life. I don’t do well with negativity, complaining, selfi sh, fake or know-it-alls – Nichole Frank; Making me laugh – Jimi Konidis; Openness, genuineness and a sick sense of humor – Jessica Lehsten; Motivation, passion, people who want to make a change – Cord Stone; A good personality, and someone who is trustworthy and non-judgmental – Mindi Mietlicki; Sense of humor; compassion; thoughtful – Joshua McClain; People who stay calm under extreme pressure or crisis – Matt hew Sydor; Coworkers: dedication, trustworthy, good work ethic; Friends: loyal/faithful, honest and optimistic – Gary Williams; Having coworkers who are on the same page and help one another – Magali Maldonado; Authenticity and good sense of humor – Maisha Drayton; A good sense of humor is great to work with. Sometimes work can be stressful and every now and then you need someone to make a joke or tell a goofy story and make you laugh. Laughing brings you back down and helps you realize life doesn’t have to be stressful and painful – Abigail Szal

My motivation in my department is to keep everything on track and make sure all my duties have been met – Magali Maldonado I cannot wait for the day when I can say that I no longer work with people who are homeless because they are all housed – Matthew Sydor Having motivated staff with good work ethic – Cord Stone I love learning. I try to take as much information in as possible whether it is through webinars, trainings, reading books or talking with coworkers. I hope to spread my knowledge to other coworkers and clients so we all can grow together. “Learning is the only thing the mind never exhausts, never fears, and never regrets.” – Leoardo Da Vinci – Abigail Szal Making sure my coworkers’ needs are met so they can perform 100% at what they do – Jimi Konidis Client/customer satisfaction – Gary Williams When I see people learn and apply new things, it does something for me! It excites me, and that translates as great results! – Maisha Drayton Keeping my clients and supervisor happy – Mindi Mietlicki

Every year, I make an eff ort to gather items for donation to the Erie County SPCA. Th is year, Tayrin and I will be delivering our donation on Saturday, December 13. If you or your family have any of these items and would like to add them to our delivery during this season of giving, please let me know. If you live nearby or in the southtowns, I would gladly pick them up from you. Th e SPCA’s entire wish list can be found at www.yourspca.org/wishlist. - Kim Harding

GENTLY USED OR NEW...Washcloths, towels (hand and bath), blankets (no comforters), pillowcases, pet carriers, baby receiving blankets, fl eece blankets

CRAFT ITEMS...Beads, puff y Paint, white string, felt, puff balls, animal stickers, google eyes, fl eece

MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS...Pre-school story books, plastic totes, heating pads, ceramic food and water bowls, nail clip-pers, treats, metal dog bowls, cat toys, laser pointers, leashes, stuff ed animals, collars, offi ce and cleaning supplies

Diva’s Wine and Dine has chosen Dear Tayrin Inc. as the featured charity for their fi rst event of 2015, to be held on Wednesday, January 21 at 6:00 p.m. at Osteria 166. Tickets are $45 and include a 3 course meal. Partial proceeds will go to Dear Tayrin Inc. Tickets are limited. Th is is a women’s only event, so ladies come on out and have a ladies night w/ Tayrin and some amazing women. Th is also serves as a great networking and socializing event. Dear Tayrin Inc. (DT) is now in its third year of bringing forth awareness and prevention of sexual abuse while empowering those victimized via awareness events, panel discussions, Twitt er chats, video blogs and support groups. We provide a safe space at all of our events and other than our annual fund raisers, they are all free to the community. At Dear Tayrin Inc. we also have a

sub called Love Ezekiel which focuses on male survivors. Dear Tayrin Inc. was founded in May of 2012 by Founder/CEO Tayrin Tapia-Torres. She is also the Co-Founder of Love Ezekiel (LE) along with Ezekiel Goodwin, Co-Founder/Director of Love Ezekiel. DT started as a blog intended to be an open lett er for other survivors to come forward and tell their stories publicly or privately. From that moment it spiraled into a local and national movement with supporters from all around the world. For tickets to the Wine & Dine event at Osteria 166, visit www.facebook.com/events/1560392667509781. Tickets can be purchased via Eventbrite: htt p://divaswineanddine.eventbrite.com. For direct payment by cash, check or credit card, please contact LaToya Williams @ 716-864-4193.Th ere will be a Raffl e and other Giveaways!