The Hope Blooms Garden at the Victorian has been a labor of love for agency staff, clients and volunteers for years. The lush green foliage, colorful flowers and koi pond combine to provide a quiet backdrop for relaxation just steps from one of downtown Buffalo’s busiest intersections. Each year during Garden Walk, the Hope Blooms Garden wows thousands of first time visitors to the Victorian along with friends who return year after year. Over time, as the older plants grew larger and new plants were added, the soil in the Garden became nutrient deplet-ed, making it increasingly difficult for plants to grow and thrive. In addition, we discovered the liner of the koi pond had deteriorated to the point that it would have to be replaced. Our beautiful Garden was in desperate need of some attention. We asked for help, and thanks to the generosity of agency supporters, we were able to go beyond simple maintenance in order to create a larger, deeper koi pond and waterfall that is now the centerpiece of the revitalized Hope Blooms Garden. The work was completed in time for Garden Walk, making our clients, staff, volunteers and visitors (not to mention our koi) very happy indeed. Story/photos by John Carocci

How did you get your start at Evergreen? I got my start through an e-mail sent by Andrew Matt le to a friend regarding job openings in the COBRA Program. I sent in my resume, and interviewed with Andrew and Lillian Cuevas in the Fall of 1999. I was fi nishing up at UB so I started working as an Assistant Case Manager in January 2000. What does an average day as Director of Information Technology look like? My main job is to make sure our agency computers and data keep working. An average day in the most general sense involves scheduled appointments and unscheduled occurrences. Lately, a lot of the work

I’ve been doing has involved one of the following: Health Home IT needs, Evergreen Medical Group data needs, AIRS troubleshooting, and the new Visix display soft ware. Th ese are the main projects on which I have focused my att ention thanks to the help of my great team, Brendan and Lindsay (shameless plug). Th ey have taken on much of the IT support for the agency. Tell us a bit about your life? I have been married to my amazing and beautiful wife, Leah, since Sept 1, 2001. During that time we have had 5 kids who keep us quite busy - Elijah, Anna, Judah, Noah, and Laura. Our family activities lately revolve around the three oldest

kids’ sports. Elijah plays hockey and lacrosse this summer. He will be starting travel hockey in the winter, which will be fun to experience. Anna loves ballet and drawing, and she also enjoys playing with her litt le sister. Judah plays soccer this summer, but he is looking forward to his hockey season starting later this fall. Noah and Laura mostly play at home and look cute. My wife’s family is from Western New York, so it is nice to have her family nearby for the kids to spend time with. My family is from the Navajo Nation in northern New Mexico, so we don’t get to see my siblings or parents very oft en. My personal interests include playing chess, cards, and fi xing computers. But I love spending most of my time with my wife and kids. I’d much rather build a fort with the kids made of blankets and pillows in our living room than go out. I do enjoy a challenging game of Words with Friends, or catching up with family through Facebook. Th e most important way for me to unwind is by spending time in prayer, or reading my Bible. It keeps me balanced and level-headed. What have you seen as the biggest change(s) within the agency over the years? Th e biggest change I have seen is the number of staff at our agency. We have grown quite a bit since 2000 and it’s been interesting to see how our management team has responded to all the challenges and opportunities along the way. I have learned a lot by watching the agency grow in both staffi ng size and in service provided to the people who walk through our doors. One quality that has stayed the same throughout the time I’ve been here is the heart and compassion of the people I see in our offi ces everyday. In my time here I have met new clients for their fi rst intake, connected with them through the case management program, and a few of those clients I’ve been with as their health weakened and they left us for a bett er place. I have wept alongside staff who have spent their careers working with people in a similar scenario - it doesn’t get any easier to see people you care about pass away. I do appreciate the care and concern that our staff take in meeting people where they are, without judgment, and trying their best to get clients and patients the support they need. Is there a lot of repetition to your job? What keeps you interested/motivated in your position? No. Th ere is not a lot of repetition in my job. Th e thing that keeps me motivated in my job is that working with computers began as a hobby for me, so I enjoy it. Th e other motivation for me is knowing that I’m helping our staff get their jobs done. C

August BirthdaysMelissa Lacount – 8/3

Kyle Savage – 8/10Carolee Corbi – 8/14Lindsay Zasada – 8/16

Ashley Betz – 8/21Magali Maldonado – 8/21

Maisha Drayton – 8/22Alex Ando – 8/23

Maurice Fears – 8/23Jillian Nowak – 8/23Lolita Small – 8/26

Patrick Hildenbrandt – 8/28

August AnniversariesAndre Dixon – 1 year

Roy Golia – 1 yearTalor Struckmann – 1 year

Cord Stone – 2 yearsJessica Lehsten – 3 years

Cecil Su on – 3 yearsLizzie Vazquez – 5 yearsMurray Wire – 5 yearsKate Gallivan – 7 years

Patricia Hopkins – 9 years

Your Con nued Dedica on and HardWork Are No ced and Appreciated!

- Management Team

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Each year Disneyland uses over 5,000 gallons of paintto maintain the clean appearance of the park.

The average mid-sized car of today creates about5% as much pollu on as a car of 50 years ago.

In Kentucky, it’s illegal to carry ice cream in your backpocket. Connec ons isn’t sure why you’d want to.

Studies indicate that people who apply their ownsunscreen generally apply 50-75% less than they should.

Too hot? Be glad you aren’t in the center of the sunwhere the temperature is believed to be almost 27million degrees. Of course you could always move to the surface of the sun which is “only” 10 thousand degrees.

Lemons turn from green to yellow because of thetemperature, not because they’re ripe.

It cost $7 million to build the Titanic and $200 million tomake a fi lm about it.

In the late 19th century, human mummies were usedas fuel for locomo ves in Egypt. Wood and coal werescarce, but mummies were plen ful.

connections A U G U S T 2 0 1 3

PUBLISHER/LAYOUT John CarocciEDITOR Kimberly Harding

CONTRIBUTORS Kevin Bidtah Sheila Marcheson Talor Struckmann

I’ve been trying to fi nd as manypools as possible to crash.

— Mindi Mietlicki

To stay cool I’ve been swimmingat the beach!

— Michele Ogden

Staying in the air condi oning andea ng lots of ice cream.

— Ashley Betz

I have been hanging out in the poolwith my kids and having water balloonwars with my son.

— Th eresa Shankland

Indoor pooling and central air.— Charell Elliott

Listening to John Coltrane (he’s thecoolest) and wearing my sunglasses 24/7—just kidding!

— Joshua McClain

Going to the beach, to relax and cool off .— Nicole Coonly

Connec ons Poll Results“Should the agency

have summer hours?” 10 (30%) – say NO 24 (70%) – say YES

Turkey hotdogs and grilled corn on the cob alongside

fresh-mixed fruit from Wegmans. Charell Elliott My

favorite summertime food is almost anything on the

grill! Yum! Along with a few summertime cocktails.

Th eresa Shankland Blueberries, tomatoes, and grilled

meats. Joshua McClain Th ere’s one food that I always

associate with summer – Ted’s Hot Dogs! Patrick

Butler Strawberry gazpacho! Michele Ogden A nice,

cold, juicy piece of watermelon is always the best!

Ashley Betz A tray of assorted berries, brie and water

crackers, and a tall glass of sangria. Kimberly Harding

My favorite summertime food is chicken quesadillas

breaded extra crispy with peppers, onions, olives,

tomatoes, and everything else you can think of with

guacamole and sour cream on the side. I would need

to wash it down with a strawberry lemonade. Th e

drink would have more strawberries than lemonade

with real strawberries inside. To top off dessert, I

would need a large strawberry cheesequake blizzard

with extra cheesecake and extra strawberries, in

addition to shortcake and bananas mixed together!

Oh and I need to see the chunk of cheesecake and

strawberries. Cord Stone My favorite is ice cream!

Mindi Mietlicki Favorite summertime food? Sun

tea! Th row 5-6 of your favorite tea bags in to a glass

pitcher, set it outside in the sun for the aft ernoon

and let it brew… Add a sliced lemon and some ice.

Refreshing and delicious! Jessica Lehsten Coneys, salt

potatoes, baked beans and deviled eggs. Salad made

from tomatoes, cucumbers, and a touch of oil and

vinegar. A piece of watermelon or three for dessert.

Th en I’ll race you to the hammock! John Carocci

Defi nitely improving. All you need to do is look at the development happening downtown and on the waterfront to see fi rsthand that things are on the upswing. A er years of stagnant development, new projects just keep popping up over the last several years. It’s a welcome sight!! - Patrick Butler I’d like to think that the economic situa on is improving due to all of the upgrades happening downtown, especially near Canal Side. - Mindi Mietlicki I believe Buff alo is improving in every aspect, granted our past economic crisis. There are several examples I can provide regarding my decision. For example, rebuilding and revamping the neighborhoods with new and effi cient, yet aff ordable, housing in a lot of these impoverished neighborhoods. Downtown and the Erie Canal harbor is on the rise, which is the new tourist a rac on, in my opinion. Buff alo will only improve with the help of the community, con nuing to have a posi ve outlook and having a

vision, steering away from the “what if’s” and “why’s” and focusing on the future. - Charell Ellio I think Buff alo’s economic situa on is improving in some areas but not in others. The investment in the medical corridor, as well as the addi on of medical research programs/partnerships between UB and Roswell Park has and will con nue to create jobs in the medical research fi eld. The development of canal side has created a space for small business owners to vend. On the West Side, organiza ons such as PUSH are rehabbing homes, helping to increase property values in the area, and the expansion of the West Side Bazaar is a great incubator space for small businesses to grow. I don’t see a lot of economic development on the East Side of Buff alo — Bailey Avenue is fi lled with abandoned buildings which once housed businesses. However, the upcoming development of The Foundry on the East Side may be a great addi on for residents!!! We’ll see… - Michele Ogden

Here is Aaron Pry, currently on duty for theArmy serving at Fort McCoy, Wisconsin as amember of the 865th Combat Support Hospital.

CWE DUNGOOFED!Last month’s issue

of Connec onsshould have included

Mindi Mietlicki’s5 year anniversarywith the agency.

But it didn’t.

Congratula onson 5 years, Mindi,and our apologiesfor the mistake!

Consequences will never be the same.

1. My lifelong dream has always been to star in a really cheesy horror movie2. I was a compe ve swimmer through middle and high school3. I lived in Peru for about 4 months my senior year of high school4. I have my BA in English and working on fi nishing my Masters in Mental Health Counseling5. I read the en re “Girl with the Dragon Ta oo” series over a weekend6. My previous job was working as a Behavioral Interven onist for people with intellectual disabili es 7. Ani DiFranco is my idol8. A class in Equine Assisted Therapy changed my life9. I s ll sleep with a stuff ed animal my father gave me when I was 2 10. I fell in love with my boyfriend on our 3rd date

Shannon Curry

Connec ons readers have been following the outrageous exploits ofEvan Greene, so we thought we’d take the opportunity to look at all theplaces he’s been and all the Evergreen staff members he has visited overthe past few months. It’s quite a list!

Cheryl Brune (Community Services) Helene Cacciato (Evergreen Medical Group) Andrew Ma le (Center for Behavioral Health) The En re Pharmacy Staff (Pharmacy) Saw Min (Community Services) Sheila Marcheson (Human Resources) Elisa Luciano (Community Services) Laura Pasquarella (Wellness Center) Gary Williams (Administra on) Brendan Orrange (Informa on Technology) Jess Lehsten (Community Access Services) Trish Hopkins (Project SAFE)