1

The Great Outdoors ... 10

Staten Island Beaches 10

1st Quarter Spotlight Awards 11

Be Safe This Summer 12

Eden II Capital Campaign News 13

Shepard’s π 14

Honoring Grandparents 14

Interview with Isaiah Woods 15

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 be-ing conducted by Michael P. Cooney, M.S. Ed. (Adult Pro-gram) and Lorenz S. Neu-w i r t h , M . S . / M . P h i l .(Residential Program) in pur-suit of his education. Michael was willing, able and eager to learn more about Applied Be-havior Analysis (ABA) and research on autism. Michael devoted time, patience, and dedication to work on a chal-lenging case study beyond

service hours. In the mid-dle of this project, Michael decided to transfer from

C S I - C U NY and go to school at the University of A l b a n y (SUNY). No-tably, 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 under-statement to describe Mi-chael’s level of commit-ment to serving our resi-

dents.

Michael worked over the course of 7 months with the overseeing coordinators on a p r o j e c t e n t i t l e d : “Reduction of Attention and Escape Maintained High

Rate Ver-

bal Threats

and Ag-

gression in

an Adult

Male with Autism through a

Multi-Element Applied Be-

havior Analytic Therapy

Program in a Group Home

Setting”. The results from

the project reduced monthly rates of verbal threats and aggression to 50% less than baseline. It also removed two anti-psychotic medica-tions eliminating observ-able adverse side effects such as: facial jerking, stut-tering, and motor tremors. The project showed that ABA treatments can im-prove the behavioral func-tioning of an individual with autism, maintain resi-dential 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 pro-ject at SUNY Albany’s Undergraduate Research Conference on April 27th, 2012. Out of hundreds of student abstract submis-sions, only 66 were selected

to pre-sent. Of t h e s e many, 3 w e r e

considered for The 2012 SUNY Albany’s Provost’s

Award for Excellence in

Research. Michael’s,

(Continued on page 2)

Welcome New Employees 2

Executive Talk 3

New Promotions 3

Summertime & the Treasures of Staten Island 4

Surf and Turf on Long Island 5

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

Inside this edition

the Insider II

A NEWSLETTER WRITTEN BY EMPLOYEES FOR EMPLOYEES

Volume 2, Issue 2

Summer 2012

Taking Direct Care Staff to the Next Level: Connecting Educa-tion, Science, and Research on Autism within our Community

by: Lorenz S. Neuwirth, M.S./M.Phil.

The 2012 SUNY Albany’s

Provost’s Award for

Excellence in Research.

2

poster won the award. SUNY Albany Provost, Susan D. Phillips Ph.D., ac-knowledged Michael’s poster presenta-tion 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 signifi-

cant impact is

really notewor-

thy.” 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 invalu-

able 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 ex-

perience. 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 re-

warding 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 hon-

estly 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.

(Continued from page 1)

STATEN ISLAND

TEACHING STAFF

Kevin Broderick

Marlene Gonzalez (Skyline)

Marissa Marchese (SEIT)

Danielle Motisi (Skyline)

Gabrielle Sweeney

RESIDENTIAL STAFF

Stefan Barone (Dixon)

Albert Foray (Collfield)

FAMILY SERVICES STAFF

Enas Elgindy

Alexis Gilles

Danielle Spinella

Dani Wiley

ADULT PROGRAM STAFF

Shawn Wells

CENTRAL ADMINISTRATION

Larisa Tkach (Finance)

LONG ISLAND

TEACHING STAFF

Janine Agostino

Jill Scionti

OUTREACH STAFF

Kerry Ann Krohn

Nicole Mammina

RESIDENTIAL STAFF

Suresh Melwani (Cambon)

Juan Penagos (Cambon)

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:

At the SIEDC Conference, Eden II Programs Little Miracle Pre-school Director, Lauren Grimaldi was recognized with a 20 Un-der 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 im-

proving Staten Island’s Economy and Quality of Life.

Congratulations Lauren!

Lauren Grimaldi honored

THE INSIDER II

3

“A pessimist is one who makes difficul-

ties of his opportunities and an optimist

is one who makes opportunities of his

difficulties.” ~Harry Truman

Consider this situation. You wake up in the morning, the sun is shining, you have the day off and you are in a great mood. You go down to have breakfast and

your spouse or sibling is in a terrible mood. Doesn’t take long for that to rub off and then your whole day is shot. Bad moods, negative attitudes and pessimis-tic thinking are contagious. More im-portantly, when you have a bad day, that day is gone forever. You can never get it back. I know that when I am old and gray (well..OK, older and grayer), I want to look back on my life and see that my good days far out-weighed my bad days. What’s nice is that we have some measure of control over this outcome. I believe that posi-tive thinking breeds positive outcomes. I like to think that every situation can be viewed from many different angles. You just have to keep moving around until you can find the view that looks

good.

I realize we can’t al-ways control every-thing, and bad things happen to good people. When something bad happens in my life, I think about people I

know who have to deal with things far worse on a day to day basis. I think about a friend whose brother lost both his legs in a farm accident. Instead of being angry about the accident, he felt lucky…lucky that he didn’t die. He changed his perspective. Instead of

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 congratulat-

ing …

WHISTLER ALFRED was hired as a full time employee to the Genesis Adult program. He was previously a substi-tute in the Dix Hills IRA. Whistler is now a Assistant Habilitation Specialist Practitioner and is working at the Briar-

cliffe location

TIARRA AUGUSTINE was promoted to Cambon Team Leader from a DSP po-sition. She works at the Cambon resi-

dence.

JENNIFER SARRO was promoted to Day Habilitation Specialist Practitio-ner. She was formerly a Teacher As-sistant in the Genesis School Program. Jennifer has her Bachelor's Degree and currently works out of the Briarcliffe

location.

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.

So, when life throws you one of those days that you just want to bury your head back under your covers and not get up, think about the day in your life you might be wasting. Think about all the things you actually have to be lucky about and it gets just a little bit easier to turn the day around. One thing I al-ways used to do when I had those days

was to remem-ber one of those moments when one of

the kids I worked with did something great for the first time… Those times are priceless and you want to hold on to

them.

I just have a few parting thoughts. One, always try to be part of the solu-tion rather then part of the problem. Do you know how much better life is when the problem is solved! Two, stop complaining about things that are not in your control. Complaining just brings you down (and then those around you). Lastly, while I know you need to plan for tomorrow, don’t forget to live to-

day! (you can’t get the day back).

And…I will leave you with two quotes

from one of my favorite people…

“When one door of happiness closes,

another opens; but often we look so

long at the closed door that we do not

see the one which has been opened for

us.”

“The only thing

worse than being

blind is having

sight but no vi-

sion.”

~ Helen Keller

Executive Talk With Joanne Gerenser

Bad moods, negative attitudes and pessimistic thinking are contagious.

New Promotions at Eden II/Genesis

VOLUME 2, ISSUE 2

4

I am a sold out Staten Islander. Born and raised here and having lived most of my life on this island, I guess you could say my roots run deep. In fact, I am a member of the oldest African American family still living on Staten Island. We can trace our family tree all the way back to our ancestor who first came to Staten Island as a former slave originally from Ghana. Anyway, it’s quite natural for me to seek out the treasures of Staten Is-land when it comes to summertime fun. In the recent past, I’ve done some very interesting things on the island during the summer months and most of them

cost me nothing.

Why not consider sitting in a lawn chair under a tent on a hot summer eve-

ning at Fort Wadsworth over-looking the ocean while professional a c t o r s / r e a d e r s from Staten Island OutLOUD read excerpts from and tell the story of

Moby Dick. In the background you can hear the Staten Island Philharmonic Orchestra playing music that makes you feel like you are on the open sea searching for the great white whale. As the music intensifies and the actor shouts, “Thar she blows!” suddenly a firefighting boat in the ocean below you sets off a stream of water high into the air that mimics the whale’s squirt! (After the performance, if you are of a mind to, you can hang around with the actors and other literary buffs to dis-cuss Melville.) This incredible event costs nothing! This summer Moby Dick will be performed in August at Fort

Wadsworth. En-

joy!

Do you like old movies? Under the stars? Try grabbing a few

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 avail-able 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 free-bies 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 advan-tage 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!

friends and a few snacks on selected Friday nights and head to Snug Harbor to watch movies like Jaws or The Birds on the wide screen. Both of these mov-ies were quite exciting and eerie out-doors. Moonstruck and Pinocchio are also included in this summer’s sched-ule. All movies are preceded with live

music by local bands from 7 p.m. on the East Meadow. Beach towels, fold-ing chairs, and coolers are allowed. Water and popcorn are sold and plastic

chairs are available to rent.

There’s lots of free music on the island during the summer heat. Every year, Met in the Park offers people the op-portunity to experience a free, live op-era performance in New York City's parks. This year on Thursday, August 2, at 7 p.m. the Metropolitan Opera will perform at Clove Lakes Park. Check it out – you may find out that you really

like opera!

For the past several years, Borough President Molinaro has offered musical concerts throughout the summer at various venues like South & Midland Beaches, Wolf’s Pond Park, Alice Aus-tin House, etc. These free concerts end with dazzling firework displays. This year August 18th and 19th is the Back to the Beach Celebration at Midland

Beach.

Also consider attending a lantern tour at Fort Wadsworth where you explore the old forts by lanterns while a guide tells you about the history of the forts which comes complete with ghost sto-

ries. They also offer daytime tours.

On several nights dur-ing the sum-mer you can meet the Staten Island Astronomy Club at the

SUMMERTIME AND THE TREASURES OF STATEN ISLAND By Juanita Bodden

There’s lots of free music on the island

during the summer heat.

Save the Date! Our annual con-ference will take place on Mon-day, October 22nd for Long Island employ-ees at the Holi-day Inn in Plain-view, NY and

for our Staten Island employees on Tuesday, October 23rd at the Hilton

Garden Inn.

THE INSIDER II

5

We are not writ-ing about “lobster”

and “filet mignon” as our “catchy” title suggests , ( ful l disclosure, we “borrowed” the title from the Town of Hempstead’s Summer Activities Guide), rather we are writing about fun places on Long Island, both at sea and on land, that you and your families may enjoy this summer. Although some individuals go away for the summer, many choose to vacation at home. In this tough f inanc ia l c l i m a t e vacation-ing on Long Island may be a smart eco-nomical choice as well as a lot of fun. We hope you find the following infor-mation about places and activities on Long Island helpful in planning your summer vacation. The “surf” places and activities on Long Island are numerous. Jones Beach, located in Wantagh and the “mecca for beach goers”, Robert Moses State Park located in Babylon, and Lido Beach at Lido offer many activities in addition to ocean swimming; e.g., miniature golf, shuffle board, play-grounds, restaurants, ice cream parlors. Square dancing is held throughout the summer at Jones Beach as are outdoor concerts. Free concerts are held at the “Concerts at the Bandshell” featuring

many local musicians performing n i g h t l y . Those who would like to see top name en-

tertainers can attend one of the beach’s concerts held at the famous Jones Beach Amphitheater. In addition to swimming, Robert Moses offers fishing from its piers, and a day-use boat basin which can accommodate 40 boats. The park also has picnic areas and an 18-hole “Pitch & Putt” Golf Course. Point

held at the Harry Chapin Lakeside Theatre all summer. Bethpage State Park, located in Beth-page, 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 e x o t i c an ima l s of all types and s o m e native to the Is-l 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 cir-cuit, competing on a quarter-mile track. Racing is held on Saturdays and Sun-days. If you are not planning a summer vaca-tion far away, you may want to con-sider 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 vari-ous Long Island websites to obtain more information.

Lookout at Lido Beach offers free con-certs and fireworks shows throughout the summer. Zachs Bay offers swim-ming to those who prefer calmer wa-ters. Voted one of the best waterparks in America by Travel C h a n n e l , S p l i s h Splash located in Calverton offers a

variety of water-based rides and activities for all ages and swim levels. Food courts and snack

shacks are located throughout the park. Splish Splash is open seven days a week during July and August. There are too many “land” places and activities on Long Island to include in this article; however, we highlighted a few of our favorites. Long Island’s amusement park since 1962, Adven-tureland in Farmingdale offers a wide variety of rides, attractions and games. They have family style restaurants as well as food stations around the park. Two times per year, in April and Octo-b e r , Adven-tureland hosts a “Special N i g h t for Spe-c i a l K i d s ” for individuals with autism and their family and friends. The park is closed to the general public on those nights. Eisenhower Park, located in the heart of Nassau County in East Meadow, is almost 1000 acres of open space and recreation, and is larger than New York City’s Central Park! Eisenhower Park has many athletic and family activities such as swimming, golf, miniature golf, picnic areas, playgrounds, fitness trails and so much more. Free concerts are

Surf and Turf on Long Island by Jan M. Downey and Leslie Wood

Vacationing on Long Island may be a smart economical choice

VOLUME 2, ISSUE 2

6

Being a mother of two small children with another just arrived! [Welcome Collin and congratulations Lauren and family from all your friends and col-leagues!], I understand the anxiety that many parents feel when taking your

child out to a novel place. However, summer is the best time to find interest-ing 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 timeoutnewyork-kids.com/things-to-do and http://www.nycgovparks.org/events/. I par-ticularly like the Parks Department website, as most of the events are free.

About two years ago, after working many years in the residential depart-ment developing recreation calendars, I decided to make one for my own fam-ily. 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

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 week-nights, Yvette enjoys taking her young-est daughter out for a long walk or to ride her bike, while Yvette chases after

her.

Their favorite sum-mer 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 appreci-ates 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 usu-ally spent running around and not hav-ing 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 chil-dren 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 sepa-rated from the group. “It is very impor-tant for children to either know their parents cell phone numbers or to have

it on them,” says Yvette.

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 per-mits, 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 to-gether, since the weekends are usually jam packed with baseball games. How-ever, 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 memo-ries 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

Eden Staff Get Real About Their Kids by Lauren Galanaugh

summer is the best time to find inter-esting and creative ways to spend qualit5y time with your children

THE INSIDER II

7

While most of us at Eden II work dur-ing 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 dur-ing the night, are they getting the quality sleep that is as important to their health, ability to perform and happi-ness 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

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 sleep-ing 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 sero-tonin than their day-working counter-parts. Low levels of serotonin are asso-ciated with anger, depression and anxi-ety 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 interrup-tion that results in insomnia or exces-

sive sleepiness. This disorder is com-mon in people who work non-traditional hours, usually between 10P.M. and 6A.M. Some symptoms of this disorder are difficulty concentrat-ing, headaches and lack of energy. The consequences of SWSD include in-creased accidents (due to drowsy driv-ing), 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 head-phones to listen to music or to watch TV. Encourage people in the household to avoid vacuuming, dishwashing, and other noisy ac-tivities 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 par-ticipate in family and social activi-ties.

• Avoid caffeine,

alcohol, and nicotine.

The best strategy is to get adequate, regen-erative sleep to keep you healthy and

happy.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Recent research indicates that night shifts can have ad-

verse 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 them-

selves 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.

SHIFT WORK AND SLEEP By Linda Krakower, R.N.

Make sure that you rest just be-

fore coming into work

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.

VOLUME 2, ISSUE 2

8

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

Ices and Ice cream, Real Summery Treats By Anthony Gervasi

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 Den-ver Adetimirin on March 4, 2012. He was 6lbs.9oz and 21 inches long. Jessica is a Teacher Assistant at Sky-

line 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 Ad-ministrative 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!Congratulations to all!Congratulations to all!Congratulations to all!

Now that the summer is here, a great way to cool down is to have ices or ice cream. There are several op-tions for pur-

chasing ices and ice cream. You can get prepackaged cups sold at the supermar-ket. 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 bor-

oughs.

In Staten Island, there are several stores that sell deli-cious ices and ice cream. One p a r t i c u l a r 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 rain-bow 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 pea-

nut 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 adventur-ous go to sample fla-vors 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, sam-ple 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/

THE INSIDER II

9

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: dehy-

dration, 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 in-clude excessive panting or difficulty breathing, increased heart and respira-tory rate, drooling, mild weakness, stu-por or even collapse, seizures, bloody diarrhea and vomit, along with an ele-vated 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 vehi-cle. "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, Direc-tor of Medicine at ASPCA Bergh Me-morial 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 in-

crease in injured animals as a result of 'High-Rise Syn-drome,' which oc-curs when pets fall out of windows or doors and are seri-ously or fatally in-jured," 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 pro-tection 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 repel-lent product you use on your pets is labeled specifically for use on animals.

4th of July

If an event i n v o l v i n g fireworks is going to oc-cur near your p r o p e r t y , 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 cur-rent 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 impor-tant 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!

Lets Take A Paws by Kat Knapp

SUMMERTIME PET SAFETY TIPS

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!

VOLUME 2, ISSUE 2

10

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” pro-ject 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 social-izing with local community members. All the staff and residents were given

free T-Shirts and some other items handed out by vendors from other non-

for-profit agencies that attended.

Special thanks go to all the direct sup-port profes-sionals for participating over the years in these vol-unteer efforts. An additional thank you to the residence managers and coordinators who helped the staff coordinate the resident’s par-ticipation: Tina Abdul-Rahim (RM), Sang Weon Aum (CC), Peter Capofari (RM), Oluwaseun Cole (RM), Richard Asante (RM), and Victor Anjorin

(ADORS).

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 walk-ways/trails, litter removal, mustard

weed removal, and painting park benches. The direct support profes-sionals worked very hard to support our residents in accomplishing such a

meaningful community relationship.

Page 10 THE INSIDER II

The Great Outdoors: Volunteering with NYC Partnerships for Parks in Stapleton.

by: Lorenz S. Neuwirth, M.S./M.Phil.

Staten Island Beaches By Juanita Bodden

On a hot sum-mer 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 sunbath-ing and swimming. Children love the sprinklers at the Sea Turtle Fountain.

Midland also has a shady tree filled area for bar-b-queing and picnicking. Both Midland and South beaches have

plenty of free parking.

Although parking can be challenging on great beach days, the beach at Gate-way National Park is my favorite Staten Island beach. It is much smaller than South and Midland beaches and less

crowded.

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 45-

acre 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

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.

When I go to the beach I like to set up my little beach hut (which offers protec-tion 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!

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!

11

Uzochukwu Ene: Uzo dem-onstrates extreme compas-sion for the participants and their families. Recently, one

of the participants needed surgery and Uzo stayed with the family in the hos-pital 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 re-sponsibilities. She volun-teers 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 ex-udes a caring and compas-sionate 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 exam-ple of this is having a Cooking Club. William has taken his extra time to help plan cooking activities where the resi-dents learn cooking and social skills as a team. A Cambon cookbook is

planned for the future!

Jessica Krakower: In ad-dition to her normal hectic duties as a Teacher at For-est Avenue, Jessica has done an “awesome” job

facilitating the track system (switching classrooms, group instruction) and cov-ering other teacher’s areas at a mo-

ments notice.

Akitunde Oyebode: Bode goes above and beyond ex-pectations at the Collfield residence. Parents are always

offering positive comments about his humor, positive attitude and care. Re-cently Bode was instrumental in imple-menting an exercise plan for over-weight participants. He works very hard motivating them to engage in exer-cise, which can be challenging, how-ever Bode sees the bigger picture. He has also stepped in to act as interim

Supervisor at the residence.

Edwina Rogers: Edwina displays an unending dedica-tion 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 to-tally engaged at all times and this can truly be tied to Edwina’s own dedica-

tion to serving her students.

Michael Sales: Mike is con-sidered to be an extremely gen-erous and caring member of the Adult Program team of em-ployees. 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.

VOLUME 2, ISSUE 2

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 excel-lent job managing multiple programs and always en-sures that we operate safely and that our programs are enjoyable to our partici-pants. 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 re-ceives positive recogni-tion 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 con-siderable amount of duties while another employee was out on a leave. In addition to doing this he constantly shows his commitment by represent-ing 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 confer-

ences.

Gina DePrima: Gina performs as an excellent first point of con-tact for the Wright Avenue facility. She is professional in her dealings with staff, parents, vendors, and em-

ployees. She is also a smart shopper and continues to save the agency

money!

1st Quarter 2012 Spotlight Award Winners

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?

12

Page 12

Be Safe this Summer by Juanita Bodden

THE INSIDER II

habits and avoid rich and spicy foods. Increase intake of salads, citrus and watery fruits, like oranges, watermel-ons, etc. Drink fresh lime juice fre-quently to keep your body cool.

HOW TO IDENTIFY

POISONOUS PLANTS

A good rule of thumb is "leaves of three, let it be." Poison oak and ivy usually are clus-tered 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 de-greasing soap like dishwashing soap and lots of water. An antihistamine can be taken to help relieve itching.

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-m-toluamide) 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 care-fully 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 emer-gency, and when you expect to re-turn. Lock up your home, activate your alarm. Don’t broadcast your plans on social media. Hold the de-livery 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 ap-pliances 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 prescrip-tion medication, make sure to take an

(Continued on page 131

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.

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.

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-the-counter pain reliever and keep the area moisturized with aloe or other lotions. Keep the skin cool by using cold com-presses 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. Home-made cucumber water is very refresh-ing and just about the easiest thing ever: slice cucumbers, add to water, and enjoy.

Be extremely careful about your food

13

VOLUME 2, ISSUE 2

Eden II Capital Campaign News

Loveseats, Coffee Tables

• Stoves, Microwaves, Refrigera-tors and other appliances

• Recreation equipment (e.g., pin-ball machine, foosball table, pool table)

Contact Erika Hellstrom, Director of Development at 718-816-1422 x156 or ehellstrom@eden2.org with questions or possible donations. You can also set up payroll deduction through Develop-ment department. Thank you for your support!

The Capital Campaign on Staten Island has made great p r o g r e s s toward its goal of raising $7.5 Million – in fact, approximately $4.5 Million

has been raised to date!

The support of elected officials Bor-ough President Jim Molinaro and State Senator Diane Savino made the acqui-sition of 15, 40, and 45 Beach Street a

reality.

Our staff has made significant contri-

butions toward the goal!

Of course, monetary donations help us with the costs of building renova-tions, 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.

• Theater Seating

• Tap Dance Flooring

• Audio/Visual Equipment

• TVs and DVD players

• Diner or Cafeteria Booths or Seat-ing

• Hair Cutting Stations and Chairs

• Dentist’s Patient Chair

• Fitness Equipment (e.g., Tread-mills, Exercise Bikes, Ellipticals, Yoga Mats/Balls)

• Art Classroom Seating

• Art Supplies and Equipment (e.g., Easels, Pottery Wheel, Kiln)

• Apartment Furnishings:

• Beds, Kitchenettes, Couches,

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 posses-sion. 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 chil-dren out of the yard, and turn the mower off if chil-dren 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/news-features-and-safety-tips/pages/Summer-Safety-Tips-Part-2.] http://www.babyzone.com/kids/kids-summer-safety/safe-summer-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-nutrition-tips.html http://www.fox59.com/news/crime/wxin-indiana-state-police-release-safety-tips-for-summer-travel-20120517,0,5484778.column http://pikesville.patch.com/articles/police-what-to-do-before-you-leave-for-vacation http://www.cdc.gov/ticks/avoid/on_people.html

(Continued from page 12)

Wish List of Items for 15

Beach Street: Congratulations to:

ANNE HEIGH married Adam Schiavone on April 29, 2012. Anne is a Teacher at Skyline Drive.

NICOLE SHACK married Kevin Don-ofrio 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 Practi-tioner for the Genesis Adult program located at the Briarcliffe location. NATASHA STEWART married David Russell-Young on May 26, 2012. Na-tasha is an Assistant Day Habilitation Specialist with the Adult Program lo-cated at Wright Avenue.

14

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!

Shephard’s Recipes from the kitchen of Juanita Shepard

THE INSIDER II

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

Margaret Zampardi’s

Fran Hughes’ All of these belong to

Tina Abdul-Rahim

Al Carpenter's

Jim Moleen

’s three

15

not doubt in my mind, I was going to get this job. So I came for the inter-view, 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 sit-ting in the front waiting to be inter-viewed, 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 d i f f e r e n c e . And here it is more fulfilling, I enjoy going to work. And it made me hap-

pier in my life.

and “hello”, and they were so wel-coming. 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 re-membered 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 morn-ing” 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 feel-

ing.

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 know-ing, because I just couldn’t do it any-more. 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

What is your name? Isaiah Woods

And, what program do you work

in? Eden II Programs, Adult Pro-

gram [Wright Ave]

What is your position in the Adult

Program? I am a Teacher’s Assis-

tant

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 Pro-

grams? Well, before I started work-ing 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 bene-fits, but it was a bad job. So one day I actually got this route, and I re-member 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”

An Interview with Isaiah Woods By Geoff Debery

VOLUME 2, ISSUE 2

16

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

Lauren Galanaugh

Anthony Gervasi

Kat Knapp

Linda Krakower

Lorenz Neuwirth

Juanita Shephard

Leslie Wood

Executive Oversight

& Executive Editor: Dr. Eileen Hopkins

Eden II/Genesis 150 Granite Avenue

Staten Island, NY 10303

A NEWSLETTER WRITTEN BY EMPLOYEES FOR EMPLOYEES

Phone: 718-816-1422 Fax: 718-816-1428

E-mail: jbodden@eden2.org

Eden II Voted Best Company to

Work for on Staten Island

At the Staten Island Economic Develop-ment 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.

Eden II Programs started on Staten Island in 1976 and has grown to be an internationally known non-profit organi-zation serving families living with autism throughout their lives. The award demonstrates the staff's commit-ment to provide the maximum help possible to the autism community through education, adult day programs, resi-dential care, family support, respite, and a number of

other services.

Free Summer Events

sponsored by Staten Island Borough

President Molinaro

Thursday, July 26

Starlight Concert: Theresa Dowtin, Al Lambert Or-chestra 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

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. -- Fire-works

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