What Is A Tree's Favorite Drink?

This blog post came to us last night during a visit to the Bob and Judy Charles SmartHome in Boulder. John wanted to show us the dragon fly he made at an arts and crafts class that Claudette, one of the Residential Counselors at the house, had recently organized, pictured below.  Please note John's hat and shirt, he will explain them below.

"How do you like my shirt and hat?  I got them a while back when I took a train trip all the way to California with Joan Handley's group ("Just for the Fun of It", which offers trips and tours for people with special needs. phone number 970-412-8463).  We went to the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz and China Town. It was a lot of fun. 

I have a new joke for you. "What is a tree's favorite drink?" "Root beer." (with emphasis on root).

CORE/Labor Source Art Class Honors Dr. King's Legacy

This blog post came to us in an email from CORE/Labor Source Arts and Crafts Class Instructor Ben Hueftle.  Thanks Ben, you did a wonderful job of concisely mentioning not just what the artists did, but also why.  

For Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, the Friday Arts and Crafts class at Longmont CORE/Labor Source created a collaborative work on the themes of equality and fairness. 

Each class participant traced, cut out, and then decorated their own paper hands, expressing their own interpretations of fairness and equality. Several participants included depictions of symbols that mean “security and happiness.” Several used peace symbols to indicate their visions for a better world. Many expressed themselves through colors – the colors of the Denver Broncos, for one individual, being of note. One class member chose to draw the hand of Wolverine, the X-Men superhero. 

A final project was made using the decorated paper hands of each member of the class, a reminder of the importance of working together to achieve common goals. Pictured is the art that Neil, Nick, and Randy helped to create. 

Lana Presents Gov. Hickenlooper With Her Art

This blog post is a 41 second video that was taken at the Imagine! Celebration on January 24. Governor John Hickenlooper was invited to the event because of his ongoing support to people with developmental disabilities, and he accepted the invitation.  In the video, Lana, a resident at the Bob and Judy Charles SmartHome in Boulder, presents the Governor with a piece of her artwork that she created in an art class at Imagine!'s CORE/Labor Source department. 

Benjamin Educates Community About Autism

On Sunday, February 16, the Daily Camera published a story, linked here, about Benjamin Tarasewicz, a remarkable young man who receives services from Imagine!, and his efforts to educate the community about autism. Benjamin is a senior at Fairview High School in Boulder, and you can learn more about him and his mom by reading the story and watching the two minute video that is linked in the Daily Camera story about him.

All Aboard For Valentine's Day Dance

This blog post came to us just a few minutes ago, on Valentine's Day, in an email from Chantelle Tweten, the Site Supervisor at the Bob and Judy Charles SmartHome in Boulder. All eight residents at the SmartHome are pictured getting ready to head out to a Valentine's Day dance at Choice Living Services tonight.  It looks like everyone is ready for a good time. Thanks for sharing these Chantelle.

Chris.

From the left, Donna, Lana, and Gerald

John.

Mandy (on the left) and Rae.

Rebecca.

"I Love Out & About And Imagine!"

This blog post came to us during a conversation with Tammy and Ron, two people who receive services from Imagine!'s Out & About department. We were chatting at the bowling alley in Lafayette Tuesday night, and Ron made the following comments.

"Out & About and Imagine! are the best things that ever happened to me. I love Out & About and Imagine!. Everyone I have met there is great." 

Then, on a different note,  Tammy was asked if she was going to be in the upcoming Out & About theater performance, "The Menace in Venice,"  on Friday, February 28, at 7:00 pm in Brighton, Colorado, at The Armory, 300 Strong Street, in Brighton. (Admission is free, donations are accepted, with general admission seating). Tammy replied that she is indeed in the performance, and that she plays the role of The Angel.  As Tammy walked away to take her turn at bowling, Ron said, "I've always known that she's an angel."

So Happy Valentine's Day to Ron and Tammy, you are a wonderful couple, and thanks for giving me permission to share your comments.  

Essie Joins The Imagine! Voices Blog

This blog post came to us in an email from Essie. Essie is working with Imagine! staff member Stephanie on using her e-mail in a CORE/Labor Source computer class. Essie was shown the Imagine! voices blog and she said that she would be interested in writing something for it and that we are welcome to post it. Nice going Essie, and I hope to hear more from you. If it's OK with you Essie, the next time I see you I will take a photo so we can include that in your posts.  Thanks again. And go Broncos in 2014.

I watched the Broncos game at my neighbor's house. They had good food. It was pizza. I cheered for the Broncos. I was sad they lost. Maybe they will win next year. 
See you later, 
Essie.

Jessica Gets Free T-Shirt At Avalanche Game

This blog post came to us in a phone call from Jessica.

I went to the Avalanche (hockey) game and was on the big screen twice, along with my primary once. I pointed to my Islanders hat but was wearing an Avalanche shirt. Leaving the game I got a free t-shirt, (pictured) from AM 1690. 

Jessica wearing the free t-shirt she got at a Colorado Avalanche game.Is that really a Seattle Seahawks hat she has on? Yes it is.