Templeton's Christmas Dinner 2009

click photo for a larger view

December 5, 2009
Almost a tradition now, Templeton Stroke Recovery held an awesome 'Christmas dinner' on December 5, 2009. After the sumptous and generous helping dinner, the raffles was held. It was excellent and many guests wanted to join the fun, especially the 'Pop-a-Balloon' raffle. The skit, which was the entertainment (Templeton members), was so surprising and the best ever. Templeton's members and volunteers was outstanding and they wish everyone a 'Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. '

AHA SHOWCASE & SALE

click photo for a larger view

November 19-20, 2009
Artists Helping Artists (AHA) showcase and sale was successful!
Many people came despite of inclement weather, to buy paintings from landscapes, seascapes, pets, African Art, too!(watercolors, acrylics, pastels) and the same time talk to the artists.
And, look at the food prepared by our volunteers!

DIA DE LOS MUERTOS

click photo for a larger view

November 18, 2009
Mt. Pleasant Neighbourhood House's Seniors celebrated November 1st event last Nov. 18. The Spanish speaking Seniors (Mexico, Guatemala, Dominican Republic, etc) and volunteers held what they called 'Dia de los Muertos' (Day of the Dead).
With Latin American cuisine included: maize-based dishes (tortillas, tamales, pupusas) and various salsas and other condiments (guacamole, pico de gallo, mole, chimichurri, and pebre). These spices are generally what give the Latin American cuisines a distinct flavor; yet, each country of Latin America tends to use a different spice and those that share spices tend to use them at different quantities.

For entertainment, some ladies sang Spanish songs and Dominicanissima Dance group, led by Martha Rodrigues (Instructor) showed us the Dominican Republic native dances and soon everybody was dancing.
The event was coordinated by Jose Mendoza and Angela Palyizi.
Mount Pleasant Neighborhood House -
'Making Neighbourhoods Better Places to Live'

ARTIST'S STUDIO TOUR 2009

click photo for a larger view

click photo for a larger view

September 12, 2009
Burnaby Arts Council coordinated and sponsored the Burnaby Artist's Studio Tour 2009.
23 artist's addresses in Burnaby, BC, Canada were included in the Studio Tour 2009. And, AHA Arts Studio was one of them (an art cooperative dedicated to bringing together able-bodied and disabled artists in a collaborative space).
AHA members, (showed their works in watercolor, acrylic, Digital painting, photography and collages) are: Steve Quattrocchi, Norm Coridor, Derek McElheron, Olga Kalamkarova, Jose Suganob, Trina Henderson, Storma Sires, Daryl Dickson, Piero Faccio, Anthony Maierle, Amanda Henderson, Bobbie and Heather.

YES WE CAN

click photo for a larger view

click photo for a larger view

click photo for a larger view

September 3, 2009

People with physical challenges showed their 'stuff' at the 'Open House' in Mt. Pleasant Neighbourhood House, 800 East Broadway, Vancouver, BC, Canada.

Adaptive Techniques (which are a daily part of their lives) were used in; for example, table bowling, Flarts (adaptive game of Darts). In which, they challenged the guests and friends to play an easy? game of table bowling or Flarts. Arts, Crafts, Hobbies and Games were, also, in display.

Templeton Stroke Recovery Picnic

click photo for a larger view

click photo for a larger view

TROUT LAKE PICNIC —July 30, 2009
Hot! Hot! Hot! We have a "heat wave.‟ and, temperature records dating back more than 50 years were broken across the BC: Vancouver: 34C.- Bella Coola: 40C

Sunny, the day we held our picnic. It‟s good, we got a sheltered picnic area and everybody was on the shade. Nobody wanted to play the bocce, horse-shoes in the sun.. And, everybody moved in slow motion.

“You start to feel weak, a little dizzy and you just want to sit down and do nothing.”

It‟s only when some body started squirting cool water on wrists and other pulse points. You feel refreshed from that stifling heat wave.

Valerie, Orlando, Gina, Deb, Tony, Key, Gabriel, Heather , Mei-lin, Josef, Louise, Olga, JoAnne, Jose, Martha, Blair, Mitch, Helen, Daniel, John, Irma, Ollie, Hailey, Jack and Matthew‟s group from Trout Lake Stroke Recovery.

Olga, JoAnn, Josef and Orlando played Cribbage to beat the heat.
After a magnificent lunch we were serenaded by Mitch, on the French horn and Gina, on electric piano and we had a sing-along as well. We practiced the songs at our meeting as a speech improvement/exercises. We are getting better in singing, too!

Helen‟s son, Daniel, had a portable tent awning where Mitch; showed her Hula dance expertise and we were amazed again, again, again… Daniel got his portable massage chair set-up and; Blair, Martha and Heather got a massage courtesy of Helen‟s son, Daniel.

There‟s wind blowing when the picnic was winding down at 2 PM. I‟m not really complaining because I know that the heat wave won‟t last for too long, anyway. —josesuganob

USNBEA Grand Reunion 2009

click photo for a larger view

USNBEA GRAND REUNION 2009
It’s a sunny and warm early Saturday morning, July 25, 2009. The HandyDart picked me up and delivered me at the Riverfront Park, 8:30 am. Nobody was there but they soon arrived, one by one, before I panicked.
Families, with specialty dishes/desserts, came one after another. Eunice started frying lots spring rolls! Lito Blancaflor was our roving photographer.
Elen Faytone & Merlina Fayusal group, with Frank Tomelden, were preparing the event program: registrations, door prizes and games.

Washington State group arrived led by Rod Pablico, Eva Abad, Cel Ebilane, Jasmin Evangelista, Frank Rendorio, Raul Evangelista, Elsa Mutuc, Dave David, Ed Tingco and their guests.

BC members came in droves; some not so old folks and new ones, too. Registrations were brisk because some were first timers. That’s good, I supposed.

Reyno Fernandez, from San Francisco, California, came just to see what’s it’s all about. I hope, by now, he knew. It’s a reunion of old friends and former co-workers.
Jun Salinas from Fort St. John, BC & Temie Tara from Squamish, BC. All went their way just to be at the reunion.

Mel Zabala came with two big box of fresh oysters (ang mga 'talaba' was donated by Tony Bernales). They were broiled it right away and the big feast was on!
Helen Montes brought fish; fresh fish and everyone was talking about what kind of fish was this?
Then, the arrival of ‘lechon,’ Every body’s diet was being discarded, for that day. O, ang Cholesterol mo!!! sabi ni Mario S.

Time for door prizes and games!!! Door prizes were donated by BC members.‘Talong at Saging’ game! Everybody was laughing so hard!! Humahagalpak sa tawa!
At ang sabi ng isa, “Mahaba naman ang talong mo!”
‘Pinata’ and ‘Pabitin’ for the grandkids.

May pabalot pa! There was so much food that everyone have a ‘balot nga!’ And,Frank’s ‘pan de sal’ was becoming ‘famous.’

Almost 3 pm. Formal change of command (wow! parang militar ang pasok!) USNBEA banner was given to the Washington State group for the next year reunion, to be held somewhere in Washington State. See you next year at the reunion!

—Joe Suganob
Vancouver, BC, Canada