Safe Crossings Panel Discussionby Sherone Rogers and Susan Mazzeo

Starting college can be challenging enough if you factor in the anxiety, depression and sense of isolation that many students feel, it can be downright overwhelming. The good news is that colleges are becoming more proactive in recognizing and treating behavioral health.

On Monday, March 23rd, Shore House and the Monmouth University School of Social Work cohosted Safe Crossings: Proactive Planning in College Student Behavioral Health at Monmouth University’s Wilson Hall Auditorium. The panel of experts included Dr. Franca Mancini, Director of Counseling and Psychological Services at Monmouth University; Dr. Elena Mazza, Associate Professor, Monmouth University Graduate School of Social Work; Dr. Sobha Chottera, Medical Director, Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist at Monmouth Medical Center; and Dr. Suzanne Fico, Student Assistance Counselor at Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School and was moderated by Shore House Board Vice President Lisa Klem Wilson.

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Shore House GazetteApril 2015

Mrs. Wilson began the discussion by recounting her own daughter’s unexpected experience when she began college. The panel assured the attendees and Mrs. Wilson that her daughter’s experience is actually quite normal. Beginning college, like any time of transition, is stressful due in part to the uncertainty that lies ahead. Other factors include newfound independence, meeting new people, unfamiliar surroundings, and a major change of routine. Unfortunately, knowing that what you’re feeling is normal isn’t always a comfort.

Panelists spoke about the workings of the adolescent brain, making the transition from high school to college, campus-based supports, and more. They also touched upon small changes you can make to help prepare your student for independence: have your teenager set an alarm rather than waking her or him up in the morning; teach your child to do laundry and to choose the proper foods at the dining hall.

Also, remember that not every school is a perfect fit for every student. Don’t overload your teenager by visiting twenty colleges, but have him or her figure out things like whether s/he’d like to be at a small college or a large university; how far s/he’d like to be from home; how often s/he’d like to return home for visits; etc.

Do be sure that your student is aware of and feels comfortable making use of campus supports such as the campus counselling center and the option of taking an incomplete if s/he does become ill, rather than a failure.

Well-informed and coordinated efforts on the part of parents, school staff and administration, community service providers and the student lead to successful transitions from home to college. This is a wonderful time of life: your student should make the most of it, which means seeking help when help is needed.

Cartoon by Scott

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Unit Updates

Business & Administration

March was a busy month for B & A! Nancée and Sherone collaborated to design a poster for Safe Crossings, a panel discussion held at Monmouth University (please read Sherone’s and Susan’s article about the event in this newsletter). Reach Out was done for the event. Additionally, sites to hang the posters were identified and emails were sent to area churches. Leave-behinds were prepared, as well as name tags and a schedule of tasks and who would perform them.

We began to brainstorm fundraising ideas for the 18th International Seminar and gave several tours to prospective members, area professionals and Monmouth University graduate students. We also made lots of Reach Out calls and cards this month, as well as a visit or two.

On top of all of that, Marjorie started learning to type in Microsoft Word and did a great job!!!

Education & Employment

Warrie, Jen and Sherone attended the Law & Disability Issues Conference on March 12 th. Please see Jen’s and Sherone’s article about the conference in this issue. On March 13th, our accountant David gave an informative presentation on budgeting with some help from Bobby. The biggest take-away: pay yourself first!

Wellness

Speaker Samantha Adams, a contributor for the Asbury Park Press, gave a lecture at Shore House on March 10th. Her talk focused on the ingredients in the foods we eat. She explained how companies are allowed to police themselves when adding chemicals to the foods they produce. She also touched on GMO’s and how their usage in our food supply has significantly increased over the past two decades. She also was able to give us healthy suggestions that are readily available in our own supermarkets, as well as being affordable. We all learned many ideas on how to choose the foods we eat. In fact, we were so inspired that we planned our next week’s lunch menu using quinoa as our base for each meal.

April 24th was the first general meeting for the Monmouth University Community Garden. Staff and members attended to pick out our plot for the 2015 growing season.

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Spotlight on Scottby Jon Waldrop

1: Where are you from originally? Moriaba, NY

2: How did you hear about shore house? My case manager at CPC.

3: Name the one person who has influenced you in your life? Marty, a case worker.

4: Do you feel that Shore House has helped you? Yeah

5: Since you know how to draw, did you teach yourself or is it a natural ability? I took classes in college and a vocational class as well.

6: What is the best advice you have gotten? Stay out of jail.

7: Do you have any siblings, if so how many? Yes, a younger brother and a younger sister.

8: If you could be anyone else who would you be? Rather be myself.

9: What have you learned while being a member of Shore House? I have learned to have patience with people.

10: Would you recommend Shore House to others? Yes

11: Do you have any pets? Not currently, but as a farm boy I had a lot of animals including 36 cats, many dogs, pigs, and cows, many different farm animals.

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Word of the Monthby Nancée Labrecque

Transition noun. The process or a period of changing from one state or condition to another.verb. Undergo or cause to undergo a process or period of transition.

Being springtime is here, and we have a new Executive Director and new gym equipment, I thought transition would be an appropriate word for the month. With so much to look forward to, our small Clubhouse is growing steadily day-by-day, unit-by-unit. We will be spending more of our time at the Monmouth University Community Garden and other outdoor (recreational) activities and events.

Question of the month- What Is your favorite meal?by Scott

Scott- mac & cheese, ToFu, broccoli, coffee, & Cheesecake (and Fried Clams)

Jen-Pizza and mozzarella sticks from Vic’s!!!

Jim-Roast Beef Sandwich Sliced Thin, coca cola, Pumpkin Pie with Whipped Cream

Sherone- Lasagna w/cheese garlic bread, and cheesecake for dessert.

Gina-I really love sushi or pizza! But not together, that would not taste good.

Susan-Is chocolate a meal???

Jon-Pasta.

Alanna-Anything that involves guacamole or avocados.

Nancée-Cold Lobster & Tomato Salad

Lucile-Pancakes & Subs

Asa- Pancakes covered in lots of butter and syrup with hashbrowns and orange juice.

Keith- My favorite Meal is Prime Rib and all the things that go along with it for desert sky’s the limit.

Shanei-Pizza w/Jalapeño peppers, vegetable (extra spicy) Pad Thai, Veggie Patty with Hot Sauce & all things spicy!

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Familyby Robert Scott

Here at Shore House, people are like family. Many of our members have no family in the outside world or come from broken-up families. To give you an idea how it works; I have a brother who I have no use for. My mother made a misfit of him, so I no longer see him. Here at Shore House, I have many “brothers” and “sisters” who are my supporters and help me to heal myself. This is a real family.

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Shore Fitby Susan Mazzeo

Spring is around the corner and we will once again be taking part in Monmouth University’s Community Garden. We learned a lot last year. In case anyone may be interested in seeing how green their thumb is, here are some things we learned:

The Five S’s of Successful Vegetable Gardening

1. Selection: Grow what you like to eat! Don’t be afraid to try a few new vegetables each year. You never know who might acquire a taste for eggplant…

2. Site: Locate your garden near a walkway, next to the house or someplace you will pass each day. Out of site means out of mind. Just ten minutes each day is all it takes to keep your garden in good shape. Make sure your garden is near a water source and is relatively flat.

3. Size: Start small. It is better to have success with a small garden than fail with a large one. A 3-foot X 6-foot raised bed or a 10-foot X10-foot plot are enough to get started.

4. Soil: The best gardens have fertile, well-drained soil mixed with compost.5. Sun: Most garden grow best with six hours of sunlight a day. If you only have three to four, leafy

vegetables like lettuce and Swiss chard or root vegetables like carrots or beets work best.

An honorable mention goes to keeping a diary of what worked and what did not work so you can refer back to it the next year.

Mostly remember to have fun with it. Being outdoors and access to vegetables free of pesticides is a beautiful thing.

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Did You Know... by Asa Gould

Music triggers activity in the nucleus accumbens, the same brain structure that releases the “pleasure chemical” dopamine during sex and eating (and even drives addictive behaviors, as

well). Animals get that same thrill from food and sex, but not from music.

Music also affects our mood, and even how we perceive the world. There are two kind of emotions related to music: perceived emotions and felt emotions. This means that sometimes

we can understand the emotions of a piece of music without actually feeling them, which explains why sometimes we find listening to sad music enjoyable, rather than depressing.

Unlike in real life situations, we don’t feel any real threat or danger when listening to music, so we can perceive the related emotions without truly feeling them.

Music Reviewby Asa Gould

For this month’s music review, I’ve decided to make up a playlist of some of my favorite songs that have a positive message behind them. Although it seems as if music we hear goes in one ear and out the other, it actually stays with us forever. I’ve personally found that listening to songs with a positive

message can help give you a more optimistic outlook on life and bring inspiration to parts of your life where it may be lacking. Below are the songs I have chosen, and for a few of the songs I included my

thoughts on them.

It’s a Beautiful Day – Michael Bublé Brand New Day – No Doubt The Knowledge – Janet Jackson On Top of the World – Imagine Dragons Freedom! ’90 – George Michael When You Believe – Mariah Carey & Whitney Houston Perfect Day – Lou Reed Up! – Shania Twain Earth Song – Michael Jackson Warrior – Demi Lovato Dare You to Move – Switchfoot Try – P!nk The Climb – No Doubt

Heal the World – Michael Jackson

Standout lyric: “In my heart I feel you are all my brothers”

Throughout his career, Michael Jackson recorded countless songs about peace on earth the simple message of every human to unconditionally love every other human. He is the biggest inspiration in my life, and there’s not a single doubt in my mind that he would have given up everything he had to make his dream a reality if it were possible.

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Music Review by Asa Gould (cont’d)

Survivor – Destiny’s Child

Standout lyric: “You thought I wouldn't grow without you [but] now I'm wiser”

The lyrics of this song talk about overcoming a past encounter or experience with someone and/or something that once tried to bring you down, but being able to rise above it and come out on top. The song also focuses on self-worth and being able to rely on no one but yourself to bring you happiness and success in your life.

Hold on to Your Dream – Stevie Wonder

Standout lyric: “This world is filled peaks and valleys with rivers we think we can't cross [but we can]”

The message of this song expresses that you must hold on to your dreams through the thick and thin in order to one day be able to accomplish them.

One Sweet Day – Mariah Carey & Boyz II Men

Standout lyric: “Although the sun will never shine the same again, I'll always look to a brighter day”

The death of a loved one is never easy, but eventually, the only way to move on is to remember the good times you shared with them and to remind yourself that they are always with you.

Where Is the Love? – Black Eyed Peas

Standout lyric: “Take control of your mind and meditate; let your soul gravitate to the love”

With so much crime, war and death throughout the world, this song reminds you to take a step back and think about it and how we together can change it.

Follow Your Arrow – Kacey Musgraves

Standout lyric: “Make lots of noise. Kiss lots of boys, or kiss lots of girls if that's what you're into. When straight and narrow gets a little too straight, roll up a joint, or don't. Just follow your arrow wherever it

points”

In a world full of discrimination and judgement, it’s so important to know that as long as you aren’t hurting anyone, to always follow your heart regardless of what others say, because you’re just as important and equal as every other 7 billion+ people and deserve to simply be happy.

Keep It Together – Madonna

Standout lyric: “Brothers and sisters they hold the key to your heart and your soul; don't forget that your family is gold… …I wouldn't change it for another chance, ‘cause blood is thicker than any other

circumstance”

Every family has their issues, but at the end of the day, family is the most valuable thing in this world. It’s great to know you are unconditionally loved by family and to know they are always there from you.

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Law and Disability Issues Conferenceby Jen Kline and Sherone Rogers

On Thursday, March 12th, we attended the Community Health Law Project’s Law and

Disability Issues Conference in New Brunswick along with our new Executive Director

Warrie Howell. The opening session focused on Super Storm Sandy, policy

developments and services available for those affected. Following the opening session,

there were three concurrent workshops. Warrie attended Managed Long-Term Services

and Support. In this article, we are going to focus on the workshop Supportive Housing

—Community Housing with Support for People with

Disabilities: Current Issues and Next Steps.

According to Standard 28, “The Clubhouse is committed to

securing a range of choices of safe, decent and affordable

housing including independent living opportunities for all

members. The Clubhouse has access to opportunities that meet

these criteria, or if unavailable, the Clubhouse develops its own

housing program.” Since we are a very young Clubhouse, we

do not have our own housing program and must make use of

community resources to assist our members. This is why this

workshop was particularly relevant to us.

We learned a lot about funding sources, housing models and

available in-home supports, and how we could capitalize on

these resources to assist our members. For example, we have

subscribed to the newsletter of the Supportive Housing

Association of New Jersey which, from time to time, will announce the availability of

housing vouchers. We are looking forward to developing a relationship with SHANJ in

order to better serve Shore House members with housing needs.

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James Taylor, New Moon Shine (1991)A Review in Three Parts by Teddy K, (3/3), Track Nos. 8-12, Conclusion

“One More Go Around” is really a song about the feeling of having lost time, and wanting life to give another chance, or ‘one more go around’. I didn’t work it into my biographical sketch, but James Taylor was more reckless as a youth than you might think, given hid laidback personality and status as the “merchant of mellow”, as one critic called him, and this song clearly recalls younger, more chaotic days, and feeling that suddenly he had missed “the first half of the show”. The singer (perhaps amusingly) somewhat ambiguously both implies that he will pay attention better from now on, but also states clearly that he wants it to be “just like before”. The track is noticeably but not drastically more energetic than its predecessor, and the drumbeat, although still moderate, is more prominent than usual.

Taylor usually writes (or co-writes) his own material, but “Everybody Loves to Cha Cha Cha” is a Sam Cooke cover, originally written by the famed soul artist in 1959. The lyrics tell a simple narrative revolving around the dance mentioned in the title. The singer takes his date to the dance, but when they get there, she tells him that she can’t do the dance, which is the only one being performed for the entire night. The singer has little choice but to teach it to her, but she learns it quickly and her skill exceeds all expectations. The song was originally written as a dance tune, but Taylor’s cover is noticeably more subdued than the original.

“Native Son” concerns a former soldier who is in search of healing. There are relatively few unique lyrics that repeat several times, including “Brothers in arms no more/Now that the war is over” and a possible allusion to therapy (which stereotypically takes place on a couch): “Will you lie upon the sofa”. Like “Slap Leather” it is indirectly inspired (although perhaps less obviously so) by the Gulf War and military conflict in general, (the costs of which are not quickly nor easily paid), but Taylor’s attitude here, in dealing with healing and recovery—urging the ex-combatant to “try to find your way back home”—is much more serious than in his dismissive treatment of the jingoistic causes which create the conflict to begin with. (In “Slap Leather” he had sarcastically remarked that “I just love a parade”.) It is a calm composition, with some contrast between sections with and without backing vocalists.

“Oh Brother” is arguably more similar to its preceding number than most tracks have been to their continued on page 14

Training for Comrades Marathon11

by Susan Mazzeo

“Here comes the sun, here comes the sun, and I say it’s all right”. March roared in like a lion but has settled into a lamb, the snow has melted and I have all my toenails intact. Things are looking good. As my old coach and running friend would say, I am making hay, meaning I am right in the thick of my training schedule. I am averaging about five hours of running on the weekends and that gives me a lot of time to think.

As I run through my community, my thoughts wander to Shore House and how one could make the argument that mental illness is similar to running a marathon, or an ultra, for that matter. Journey of one thousand miles, things worthwhile are always worth fighting for, those kinds of things. However, I have been thinking not so much about the similarities, but more about the differences, of which I think there are three significant ones.

Firstly, I chose to take this challenge on, and I can stop at any time. No one chooses to have a mental illness and they certainly cannot stop having a mental illness because they are tired or hungry or have a blister. Second, fifty-four miles is quite a distance, but it is a finite number. There is a beginning and an end. I also have the ability to know every pebble and blade of grass on that course. While people can and do recover from mental illness, their journey is not so straightforward. Mental illness is episodic in nature which can make maintaining a regular routine difficult. It takes on average a decade between the onset of symptoms and a proper continued on page 13

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Jokes of the Monthby Hannah Grogan

1) Who is the Easter Bunny’s favorite movie actor?Rabbit De Niro

2) How does the Easter Bunny stay in shape?He does lots of hare-obics!

3) What is the Easter Bunny’s favorite state capital?Albunny, New York

4) What happened to the Easter Bunny when he misbehaved at school?He was eggspelled!

Training for Comrades Marathon (cont’d)

diagnosis. Compared to that, eleven hours of running is a walk in the park. Lastly, aside from a few raised eyebrows, I have received nothing but positive support for this undertaking. A fellow Comrades runner told me the finish of the race is epic. I will run into a stadium full of cheering crowds. I do not think anyone who has a mental illness is ever cheered for or congratulated. Quite the opposite really, we all know the role stigma and discrimination plays in this illness.

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So as I run along, these thoughts serve to humble me and keep this journey in perspective. I have come to realize the real ultra-marathoners are my comrades at Shore House. They run an ultra on a regular basis.

James Taylor, New Moon Shine review by Teddy (cont’d)predecessors, but it has no military overtones. Rather, it is a call to come home (“try to find your way back home”) to someone who is (probably) a family member, who has been estranged for some time, but need not be any longer. It is emphasized that the past is past: “Don’t assume that the life you left” (“the same mess of misery that you done been through”) “Is the life you have to lead”. When he comes home at last, his future will be unmistakably brighter, since “One kiss leads to another” and old friends will be “standing in line” to get to see him again. Although the first few lines are subdued, most of the song is upbeat, with energetic backup singers, handclapping at one section towards the end, and a brief jazzy piano interlude between the chorus and one of the verses.

The final song is a performance of a traditional melody, “The Water Is Wide”. The mood of the song is not so much the mellow feeling of most of Taylor’s work, but something truly melancholy. Some people have criticized Taylor’s treatment of the song by saying that he omitted some verses to make it seem less mournful, but the famed folk rockers in the Byrds did more or less the same thing with one of the traditional songs they recorded (“John Riley”—the couple is reunited in either the short or the long version, but in the long version the consequences of ill fortune are brooded upon at what I find to be excessive length: I think to find the short version too mournful, as people do, would require poor emotional regulation, but not to be bothered by the unrestrained and unnecessary melancholy of the long version would signal a sort of deadness), and other adaptions of “The Water Is Wide” exist as well, and some of them do temper the sadness of the song. Anyway, the presence of mourning as at the very least a strong element is obvious from Taylor’s version. (Certainly as compared to “John Riley” as that is essentially a story of a love tried and found strong and alive…whereas “The Water Is Wide” contains strong statements of pessimism in practically every version.) Anyway, the song is essentially about cruel circumstances: “The water is wide, and I can’t cross over, and neither have I wings to fly” and an attempt to overcome them with love “Build me a boat that can carry two, and both shall row, my love and I.” Taylor’s version ends with a striking contrast, first the lines: “Oh love is handsome and love is fine, the sweetest flower when first it’s new, but love grows old and waxes cold, and fades away like a summer’s dew”, which are then followed by the “build me a boat” line. In Taylor’s treatment of the song, therefore, the melancholy is deeply and firmly established in the fact that this particular couple’s love might not be enough to see them across the hostile river, but it is not actually the despair that it might seem upon first glance, since the singer is still willing to give love a chance. Musically, the song has a tempo that is significantly slower than the rest of the album (even though most of those songs are not fast), and the presence of a violin is much more noticeable on this track than elsewhere, most obviously at the very beginning, but also throughout the rest of it to a lesser extent.

To conclude, it is overall a very good an entirely satisfactory album. “Slap Leather” is probably its weakest point, although writing a really good anti-war song is more difficult than it might seem. It is, however, too fast, too brusque, and too crude for James Taylor, and all of the lines about the evilness of big money and fast food are a little juvenile. This is an exception, however, since he is almost always the exact opposite of all this. May favorite songs would include “(I’ve Got To) Stop Thinkin’ ‘Bout That” and “Like Everyone She Knows” for the wonderful stories they tell and their beautiful narrative qualities, although I would have to say that the best is “Copperline” for its sheer musical qualities and melodic memorableness.

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Wish ListOur wishes are broken into four categories: GOODS, SERVICES,

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES, 18TH INTERNATIONAL SEMINAR CONFERENCE

GOODSOffice Supplies-

Pens and pencilsCalculatorsCopy PaperBulletin boards

Electronics & Software-Sharp toner cartridges (MX-C30NT-B, MX-C30NT-Y, MX-C30NT-M, MX-C30NT-C)Ink Cartridges (HP 564XL black, HP 564XL yellow, HP 564XL cyan, HP 564XL magenta)1 Mac Book Pro (for graphics and media)Adding machineAdobe PhotoshopInDesign

Paper Goods-Paper TowelsToilet TissueFacial TissueKitchen BagsSmall Garbage Bags

Clothing & Household Goods-Women’s Plus SizesMen’s Clothing (all sizes)

Kitchen-BlenderFood ProcessorKnives

Leisure-Art Supplies (canvasses, paper, mattes, paints, charcoal, etc.)

SERVICESEmployersLegal AidDoctor ServicesGroup Fitness Instructors

VOLUNTEERSTutorsMentorsTravel BuddiesEmployment H.R. Prep (mock interviews, assistance preparing resumes)Evening & Weekend Social Activities Coordinators (Creative Writing, Art, Photography, etc.)Videographer

18TH INTERNATIONAL SEMINAR CONFERENCEAirline MilesPartial Sponsorship of a Member Delegate

* Please note: If something is checked off and you would like to donate it, we can always use more! Thank you!

Books

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April

Shore House wishes Sarah,

Griffin, Rachel & Carol very happy

birthdays!!!!