May 2022
Below is the digital version of our May 2022 Newsletter. For easier viewing, click the download button & view as PDF. We have also included the articles in this blog for universal text access.
Accessible Articles below:
BECKY'S CORNER - A note from our Director
Hello Harbor family! I feel confident that all of you reading this newsletter are dreamers! So what ‘great dreams’ are you bringing to life with your strength, patience and passion? If we do not ‘dream’, either while sleeping or awake, what do we look forward to? I listen to people speak about the things they dream of all of the time. And, the truth is, those people that truly pay attention to their dreams and those of us who listen well to them speak of them learn what is important to them. As I write about this, I realize that you may be thinking about dream interpretation and figuring out what your sleeping dreams mean but what I think Ms. Tubman meant and what I am suggesting are the thoughts that motivate you, that help you get up and get going in the morning. WE encourage people we support, staff and all of you to DREAM BIG!! Let us all move forward to an exceptional world wherein we are satisfied and accomplished. We can do that together with people we love. Martin Luther King once said “Too often we underestimate the power of touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn life around.” Let’s use our potential to change not just our little world but to influence change in the big world. Some of the things that we dreamed and accomplished during April I want to mention here so you all can share in our dreams. Birthdays were celebrated –bonfires on the beach or get-togethers at restaurants or peoples homes enjoyed by all who attended. Harbor has been sharing tickets to San Francisco Giants games with staff and people we support as a thank you for all they do. A couple of people went sailing with Shared Adventures and had a great time on the water with the wind blowing through their hair (or over their bald heads depending on who they were). Easter celebrations varied but included family visits, get-togethers with friends for good healthy food and Easter egg hunts, walks near the ocean and many other forms of celebration. Brianna hosted a get together at her home for a person we previously supported, Sarah, and many people that love her came and shared food and wine with her. Her smile was huge and the hugs were aplenty. Harbor attempted to host a movie night for a screening of Ferngully in our parking lot and popcorn and a nacho bar for refreshments. If you read that carefully you know I said ‘attempted’ however, due to unforeseen circumstances and in the interest of health and safety for everyone we did an ‘In-n-out’ nacho drive through. In a matter of just a few hours plans were changed and Abbey, Shanie, Dana, Jon, Mary and Brianna were able to switch it up and do a drive through nacho pick up and people could borrow a movie from our extensive collection at the office. It was incredibly amazing to see how hard they worked and how quickly they solved the problem so attendees wouldn’t be disappointed. I really want to express my sincere thanks to that team and their creativity and (almost) endless energy when it comes to the people we support and making things happen. Have an amazing May!!
SPOTLIGHTS
Chris Severns
Chris is the biggest sweetheart! He has the most welcoming attitude to new people and experiences. He is a Godly man who only wishes the best for everyone, all the while he is constantly trying his absolute hardest to spread his overflowing joy to those around him. Chris has a heart of gold. He lights up the room when he smiles, and finds joy in the simplest of pleasures! He has a wonderful ability to make friends and once he has created a connection with someone, he makes them feel special. He enriches us all with his sweetness and ability to make us laugh. Chris is definitely a social butterfly, consistently drawing a lot of attention from other people who tend to gravitate to him due to his kindness and love. Chris has an infectious smile and is so much fun to be around! He values his faith and community and has a strong moral compass. His joy and enthusiasm is contagious. Chris has a big warm smile and an even bigger heart. Chris has a more complex side to his personality and a team of creative and loving staff that support him every day. He is soft spoken most of the time but wants to be heard. He loves basketball, trips to the store, church activities and Harbor activities (some of the time). His life has been filled with ups and downs since we met him, and he has persevered through it all. We look forward to many years with Chris here at Harbor SLS, and are so gracious to have him as part of our family.
Alex Jean James
We have all thoroughly enjoyed getting to know, and working with Alex over the past couple of months. She is very well spoken, offers great ideas, and overall has a very kind presence. It has been a joy to see her grow in her position and in her relationships with the people she supports. Alex has a lovely calm energy when you meet her and always makes you feel welcome. Finding out Alex is a dog mama to the cutest Frenchie was so heartwarming to know! Dylan’s team is very fortunate to have a positive, motivating and confident individual as their lead. She is someone who will make any moment feel like a special moment, and really takes time to listen when people are talking to her. Alex had worked with Robin and Dylan in the past year and has truly made a strong connection with both and their teams. She’s a dedicated mother and student, always pushing herself to be more and help out in any way she can.
SWEET SOUL NOURISHMENT with Mary
Let’s talk about the benefits of purchasing and eating local and seasonal foods!
In Santa Cruz County, we are surrounded with an abundance of fresh fruits, vegetables and herbs. If you are eating fresh food that was grown locally (within a 100 mile range of where you live), then you are naturally eating with the season. You can seek out the freshest local produce straight from the source at Santa Cruz Farmers markets. You can also purchase seasonal foods from local grocery stores such as Staff of Life, New Leaf, Wild Roots, Aptos Natural foods, Safeway and Grocery outlet — some stores will have a local section, and others will have the farm or location written on the item’s tag.
Benefits of purchasing local and seasonal food:
Supporting your local farmers and growers
Supporting and stimulating your local community and economy
Building relationships with farms — knowing who is growing your food and what practices they are using.
Fresh produce is more nutritious and flavorful than food that is sitting for long periods of time in storage
Smaller farms generally use regenerative and organic farming techniques
Lowering your carbon footprint by minimizing transportation of food
Spring is a time to lift the curtain and lighten the load from winter — a new beginning. The days are getting longer and warmer, pollinators are busy at work, and we are surrounded by blossoms and greenery. Spring is a time to nourish and detoxify the body, and we must adapt to the changes of the climate around us in order to keep our systems functioning optimally.
Below is a list of foods to look out for at the markets mid March through June.
Root veggies
Beets, burdock, carrots, fennel, ginger, garlic, onion, parsnips, potatoes, sweet potatoes, turnips, leeks
Cruciferous veggies, leafy greens and herbs
Arugula, broccoli, brussels sprouts, bok choy, cabbage, cauliflower, celery, chives, collards, dandelion, kale, lettuce, mustard greens, nettles, scallions, spinach, sprouts, sweet peppers,
Fruits
Apricots, blackberries, blueberries, cherries, guava, lemons, limes, loquats, nectarines, peaches, plums, pluots, raspberries, strawberries
In addition to purchasing local food, I also encourage you to grow your own, like Randy and Kelly McRoberts who have found great joy in gardening. You can reference the list above for growing your own garden — herbs are a great place to start, for instance. I hope you find this guide to eating locally helpful, and that it inspires you to try something new! We would love to hear from you, and see photos of any new foods that you try. Check out the calendar for a list of locations and times for Santa Cruz farmers markets.
Wishing you wellness,
Mary
RECIPE OF THE MONTH
Green Goddess Dressing
Ultra creamy, vibrant green goddess dressing that’s naturally plant-based and packed with flavor. 10 minutes, 1 blender, and 9 ingredients required! Perfect for salads, dipping vegetables, Buddha Bowls, and more!
1/4 cup tightly packed fresh parsley (chopped before measuring)
1/4 cup loosely packed fresh basil leaves (chopped before measuring)
3 Tbsp loosely packed fresh chives (chopped before measuring)
2 ½ Tbsp lemon juice
1/2 cup raw cashews
1/3 cup water (plus more as needed)
2 large cloves garlic
1 tsp coconut aminos
1/2 tsp sea salt
1 pinch black pepper
1 Tbsp olive oil
Instructions
Soak cashews in very hot water for 15-20 minutes, then drain.
To a small blender, add all ingredients and blend on high for 1-2 minutes or until smooth and creamy.
Taste and adjust flavor as needed, adding more salt to taste, lemon juice for acidity, or herbs for more herbal flavor. Coconut aminos enhance umami flavor / saltiness. If too thick, add slightly more water. If too thin or strong, add more cashews.
Enjoy on salads, in bowls, or as a dip for raw or roasted veggies. Best when fresh. Store leftovers in a sealed container in the fridge for up to 3-4 days.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Birthdays
5/4 - Santana Alston
5/5 - Crystal Hernandez
5/11 - Yesenia Morales
5/13 - Kyle Eaton
5/13 - Jaqueline James
5/20 - Felix Vayssieres
5/22 - Samantha Patino
5/27 - Fallon Feurtado
5/28 - Bobby Rodriguez
5/30 - Cassie Bos
5/30 - Jennifer Escobedo
FOLLOW OUR CALENDAR
We have a new calendar on our website with current event details and zoom links. Save it to your bookmarks & reference throughout the month!
SEND US YOUR PHOTOS!
We would love to feature your photos in our upcoming newsletters. Please send any photos via e-mail to newsletter@harborsls.org