WINTER 2024
VOLUME IX
CONTENTS 03 Department Message Melvin Deer
04
Senior Services Connecting Waters with Jessica Martinez
05 Employee Spotlight Lena Thomas
06 Team Spotlight
Health & Wellness
08
Community Spotlight Wilfred Charlie
12 Food & Nutrition
Cooking with Celinda & Toby
16 Better Living
Making NEAT Part of Your Day
15
Cultural Connections Remembering the Sandwich House
21 Kraft Korner
Let’s Get Krafty
22 Mind Teasers
Crossword, Word Scramble, Maze & Sudoku
18
SHRRP Improving Homes, Improving Lives
26 Community
A Look Back
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WINTER 2024
Department Message Contact us Address 10510 E. Osborn Rd. Scottsdale, AZ 85256 Phone 480.362.6350 Visit us online srpmic-nsn.gov/ government/seniors Follow us on social media
Like us! @SaltRiverSeniorServices
Ske:g tas and Kamduum.
Managing Editor Jon Newman
As the calendar page turns, bringing in a crisp New Year, I extend my warmest thoughts to you and your loved ones. If you’re reading this, I want you to know that you are not just the heart but the soul of what we do. Let’s embrace 2024’s horizon with laughter and gratitude because there’s so much to be thankful for. I’m proud of our past year’s successes, and I’m proud of the senior services team and the excellent work they do. We have plenty of good things to look forward to, like more Tai Chi classes (by popular demand) and a new modular that will bring our Caregiver activities, fitness classes, and health & wellness activities back to the main campus, just to name a few. Trust me when I say it’s going to be a good year. I want to encourage you to contribute ideas or suggestions for future activities that promote health & wellness, increase participation, encourage independence, and foster fun most of all. We are committed to you and our community. Lastly, remember, the only time we should ever look back is to see how far we’ve come. Here’s to another year of bright possibilities, new achievements, strengthening old friendships, and making new ones. Mostly, here’s to you. You’re the reason we do what we do.
Writer/Editor/Designer Laura Toussaint Graphic Designer Ravenna Curley Photographer/Graphic Designer Samantha Zivic Cover Photo Superstition Mountain
Melvin Deer Senior Services Director SRPMIC SENIOR SERVICES
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SENIOR SERVICES
with Jessica Martinez Hello all, Welcome back to Connecting Waters, or welcome if you are new to this column. My name is Jessica Martinez, I am the Community Liaison for Senior Services. I use this column to answer some FAQs I receive from seniors around the community. Some range from really common questions about our services to wacky questions like: “My dog needs a haircut, can you guys do that for me?” (Yes, I’ve really been asked that question before). I am here to answer them all!
My father is alone and I would like him to participate in senior activities to socialize. How can I convince him?
Ah, a very common question. I recommend bringing him into the center to have breakfast and then tour our site to see the daily activities we have. We can arrange for him to meet our friendly Intake Coordinator Christina Reyes to see what other services might interest him such our eyeglass program or our exercise groups. I know sometimes it is hard to convince our parents to get involved (I know, I have a very stubborn dad), but I think getting them to just come into Senior Services will easily change their minds! I promise, we’re a fun party over here!
More questions? Contact me at 480.362.7386 or jessica.martinez2@srpmic-nsn.gov
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WINTER 2024
SENIOR SERVICES
Lena Thomas Employee Spotlight
I am Akimel O’odham (River People) from Salt River. I grew up with my father Joseph (bot) and my mother Hazel Ca-wak-ka-ma (Laguna Pueblo), an older brother and two younger sisters. Our house was built by my father. While he was working on it, we basically lived outside. We cooked outside, slept outside and even watched TV outside and took baths outside. My brother and I would also hunt and fish with my dad. He taught us how to clean and cook what we got, mostly small game like doves, rabbits and little mountain deer. For fun, we would swim in ditches and play in the fields, making mud pies and throwing dirt balls. It’s bad, but when we were little, we thought the planes were spraying water on the fields and we would try to run under them. We played baseball with the neighbor kids. I remember we would often sit on their roof and watch their mom and aunt make tortillas, cemait. It was very elegant, like a dance, the way they would toss the tortillas and roll them on the comal. One of my favorite things growing up was sitting in the tree house my brother and father built and listening to stories
my brother made up about native life past. I was very proud of him. He could just pick up any instrument and play it. He had a band that would play at the trade fair every year at the old day school. I have been working in the community for more than 30 years, with Social Services, Youth Services, even at Seniors Services before. I just like helping people. It’s what I’m called to do. When I learned about the recreation position at Senior Services, I was excited to come back. The thing I like most about my job is my people. I love making them happy. I love seeing joy in them when they say they cannot do something and I give them encouragement and then their creation comes out and shines and they are so happy. It gives me joy. When I am not working, I love to take care of my family. I have seven grandchildren who live with me. We love going to the movies and cooking and eating together. I also like to bead. I bead all kinds of things, but I most like to bead pouches and then give them away. SRPMIC SENIOR SERVICES
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SENIOR SERVICES
Program Spotlight
Health & Wellness Senior Services Health & Wellness is a new program that launched in early 2023. It empowers community seniors and adults with adaptive needs to improve their health through fun classes, workshops and events that educate and inspire in the five core areas of wellness: Physical, Mental, Emotional, Spiritual and Social. “We want to create opportunities to keep our seniors healthy and active to improve their quality of life,” says Celinda Joe, health & wellness program manager. Celinda has been busy. She kicked off the program with a senior wellness expo in February 2023 and since added regularly scheduled programming including Yoga for Fall Prevention, Tai Chi, a Walking Club and a Senior Book Club. In addition, Health & Wellness offers a variety of fun, hands-on workshops such as making a fruit and veggie charcuterie board, prepping 6
WINTER 2024
healthy meals and dance classes. “The program has been growing fast so we’ve been blessed to have James Nunez join our team. He has been invaluable helping to facilitate the programs and even providing transportation,” said Celinda. “We are also fortunate to collaborate with Diabetes Prevention Services, Injury Prevention and the Salt River Tribal Library. They have been key to helping our program grow.” The program also completed its first service project in December. Participants made cozy lap blankets and delivered them to the seniors at The Caring House in Gila River. They also sang Christmas carols to them in O’odham and shared some holiday treats. “I am a key believer that giving of yourself promotes emotional, spiritual and psychological wellness. When you are serving others, you are not thinking
of yourself,” said Celinda. “Helping others brings us joy too.” Future Health & Wellness activities will emphasize other skills to enhance wellness and improve mental health, such as spending time outside, socializing, prioritizing exercise, keeping a gratitude journal, and discovering new hobbies and passions. In addition, participants are encouraged to explore their religious or traditional beliefs and to build a network of emotional support. “Being well is about more than being physically healthy, it’s about building habits, routines and social circles that nourish mind, body and soul,” said Celinda. “Our Health & Wellness program provides information and opportunities to bring our community’s seniors and adults with adaptive needs together to socialize, to learn and to become stronger physically, emotionally and spiritually.” To learn more about Senior Services Health & Wellness events and activities, contact Celinda Joe at 480.876.7180 or celinda.joe@srpmic-nsn.gov.
SRPMIC SENIOR SERVICES
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SENIOR SERVICES
Community Spotlight
Wilfred Charlie I was raised in Wickenburg because my dad worked for the railroad. I lived with my mom and dad, three sisters and my older brother. I was the youngest of the bunch. During the summer, I lived with my grandparents, Paul Stepp Shaw and Sadie Juan Shaw, in their house at Camelback and Extension. It was a little sandwich house and it was so nice and cool in the summer. It had a kitchen, dining room and family room, which is where the three of us would sleep. It was back in the day so we had to haul water in big metal milk cans from Indian School and Extension. There was a wood stove and there was an outhouse. I had cousins that lived nearby and we walked everywhere and swam in the ditches. We’d walk all the way to Ever Green and spend the whole day there On weekends, my parents would visit and then float down the canal and get and the whole family would go to the out at Extension to go Verde or Salt rivers and back to the house. have picnics. “I had cousins that We were barefoot. On Sundays, my lived nearby and we Nothing was paved so grandpa would take me we’d carry cardboard walked everywhere and my cousins around and run as fast as we the community in his a n d s w a m i n t h e could, then throw the truck and we would pick ditches.” cardboard down and up bottles and go into dance around on it until Mesa and turn them in our feet had feeling again and then we for money so we could get candy or ice pick it up and go again. cream. 8
WINTER 2024
We’d also have big family meals on Growing up, I always wanted to be Sundays with the whole family, cousins, a policeman. I used to watch Adam aunts, uncles, everyone. We’d put 12 all the time. Back then, the station tables together. It was was by the old ballfield nothing fancy but it was “It’s always been on Agency Road, now good. Longmore. In 1978, important for me In high school, I met they started the fire to help people... department and we were my wife of 49 years, Sharlene. I graduated For the rest of my cross-trained to help as in 1975 and left firefighters. I actually life, it was instilled Wickenburg to live in the delivered a baby in a community. I got a job in in me. I teach it to parking lot once. the police department It’s always been my kids.” as a dispatcher. I was important for me to help only 17, but I don’t think people. When I was about they knew that. I worked with the police 10, we were driving to my grandparents for eight years, doing patrol and I and there was a bad car accident. eventually became a sergeant. There was a woman sitting Wilfred’s grandparents
SRPMIC SENIOR SERVICES
9
COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT
Wilfred with his parents and sister there bleeding. I remember that nobody was like the Kool-Aid house, all the helped her and I wanted to help her but neighborhood kids would come. Not I was just a kid. For all of them had a the rest of my life, family life “Our house was like the good it was instilled in and we enjoyed Kool-Aid house, all the taking them hiking me. I teach it to my kids. When we see neighborhood kids would or out to the river someone with a flat swim and have come. Not all of them had to tire, we always stop picnics. a good family life and we I also enjoyed and never accept payment, even when enjoyed taking them hiking being Santa for they offer—we just years. We or out to the river to swim many ask them to pay it knew the families and have picnics.” forward and help that needed help, someone else. especially the ones I left the force for eight years and then that would never ask for it. We’d dress came back in 1992. Everyone knew me up, me as Santa, and deliver presents and I knew everyone. They thought from Toys for Tots. of me as their officer. Our house My dad taught me to hunt and to dress 10 WINTER 2024
Wilfred at 17 game. When I was a young man, I’d hunt as a Patrol Lieutenant. I’ve been with for the community elders who still ate ECS for about 10 years now. I work traditional food like rabbit, quail, and with the SHRRP program doing weed fish. I still do a bit today, but it’s getting abatement and tree trimming. I am still harder to hunt, so I go helping people. less. I am getting close “I work with the SHRRP Sharlene and I have to being done. It’s five children, two sons program doing weed been close to 40 and triplet daughters years serving the a b a t e m e n t a n d t r e e and 12 grandchildren. community: 29 years t r i m m i n g . I a m s t i l l I taught my kids, with police and 10 even some of the years with SHRRP. It’s helping people.” grandkids, to hunt and hard getting around field dress the game. now, but maybe one One of my daughters joked that I used more year. It’s been a good journey them like pack mules to carry the meat helping people, that’s been my goal in to the truck, but it was good for them to life. learn. I retired from the police force in 2013 SRPMIC SENIOR SERVICES 11
FOOD & NUTRITION
Butternut Squash and Spinach Salad with Pecans, Cranberries, Pomegranate INGREDIENTS Main 3 cups butternut squash (peeled, seeded, and cubed into 1-inch cubes) 1 tablespoon olive oil Dressing ¼ cup olive oil 2 tablespoons lime juice 3 tablespoons honey softened 1 tablespoon poppy seeds 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard Salt and black pepper to taste Salad 10 cups of baby spinach (torn leaves) 1 cup pecan halves ½ cup dried cranberries ½ cup pomegranate seeds INSTRUCTIONS Roast Butternut Squash 1. Preheat oven to 400 F. 2. In a medium bowl, combine cubed butternut squash (peeled and seeded), 1 tablespoon of olive oil, a
12 WINTER 2024
pinch of salt, and toss to mix 3. Place butternut squash in a single layer on the foil-lined baking sheet. 4. Roast for 20-25 minutes, turning once half-way through baking, until softened.
INSTRUCTIONS Roast Butternut Squash 1. In a large bowl, combine roasted butternut squash, spinach leaves (chop them up a little), 2/3 cup of pecans, ½ cup cranberries, and ¼ cup pomegranate seeds.
2. Add the salad dressing and gently toss. 3. Top with the remaining 1 cup pecans and 14 cup pomegranate seeds
Chia Seed Pudding INGREDIENTS Main 2 cups light coconut milk or almond milk 6 tablespoons chia seeds 1 tablespoon agave syrup ¼ teaspoon cinnamon 1/8 teaspoon sea salt Optional Toppings Blueberries Strawberries Raspberries Chopped nuts or granola Coconut flakes Agave syrup INSTRUCTIONS 1. In a lidded 3 to 4 cup jar, combine the milk, chia seeds, agave syrup, cinnamon, and salt. Cover and shake to combine. Chill for a few hours, then give it a good stir to loosen any clumps. Continue chilling for 6-8 hours for the pudding to set. 2. Serve with fruit, nuts, coconut flakes, and maple syrup as desired.
To learn more about additional recipes and upcoming cooking demos, contact Celinda & Toby at 480.876.7180 SRPMIC SENIOR SERVICES 13
CULTURAL CONNECTIONS
Cultural Connections
Remembering the Sandwich House They are nearly all but gone, yet there a family or community member died, it still linger many fond memories of the was tradition to burn the house and all sandwich house. But how did this little the deceased’s personal belongings. house come to be and what does it The remaining family then chose a new mean to us? plot of land and built a new house. Cultural Resources Director Kelly As more non-Native settlers, especially Washington shared a bit about the the Spanish with their adobe houses, origins of the sandwich house. came to the community, they wondered “It was really an innovation of our at this practice and thought that people,” Kelly said. “They are unique sturdier, more permanent homes would and something you don’t really see be better. anywhere else.” To encourage community members For a long time, the River People lived to start building adobe houses, wellin round houses called ki: in O’odham meaning groups offered a variety of or va in Piipaash. They were made incentives to families who built them. of branches and other light natural Around that time in the 1930s, the material that could be bent into a dome canals in the community were being shape. The roofs were thatched and redone with concrete. The redwood covered with mud and dirt to make them Above Photo Credit: rainproof. Home built by Leonard Carlos and friends for daughter These houses were sturdy, but when Florine Carlos courtesy of the Huhugam Ki: Museum. 14 WINTER 2024
When I was about 5, we were all planking that had lined the canals picking cotton. My grandma told me to became available to the community. “That’s where the innovation came in. take my brother and start dinner. I put in wood chips and some The men of our communities took these newspaper and some bigger logs—I materials and developed their own version of the adobe house,” said Kelly. knew how not to smother the fire—but I didn’t think it was catching fast enough, “The planks were nailed horizontally so got some kerosene and I dumped to vertical beams and mud was then it in and all over the place. The house packed, or sandwiched, between the caught fire. planks to form the walls.” We thought we were going to get in This was men’s work. When a house trouble so we ran and hid. They found needed to be built, male family us later and were so grateful that we members and other men from the were OK, we were not punished, but the community would come and make the house was gone. mud pits on site. Female relatives and women from the community would come What I remember most though is that the next day all the men and women too and cook all day to provide meals in our family came, the men with tools for the men as they worked. Often, the houses could be completed and women with food and things for the family. The men worked all day and in a couple of days. Darayne Achin holds a photo of herself had the frame done and mud made. The women cooked. Others from the with her grandma’s sandwich house in the background and remembers such a community stopped by to help and within a day or so, we had a house. time.
SRPMIC SENIOR SERVICES 15
CULTURAL LIVING
Darayne and her brother lived with her grandma from age 2 to 6. She remembers that it was one room with a big wooden pole in the middle, a woodburning stove in the corner opposite the door and an icebox next to the door. There was a double bed for her grandma and her husband and little beds for her and her brother. Outside was a shed with no windows that stayed really cool and dark where her grandma would store canned goods and other foods. As time went on, the Bureau of Indian Affairs and Housing and Urban Development encouraged block and other homes with more modern materials. “Eventually, the sandwich homes
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would not pass code and were abandoned. By the 1970s, they began to disappear,” said Kelly. He considers how we have moved from homes by family and community, where everyone was together to houses built by others with everyone in their separate rooms and he wonders what we have lost. “Back then, I never thought of [my grandparents’ house] as traditional. It was just a house,” said Kelly. “I miss the smells of the earth and natural materials. They immediately transform me back to that time in that house. I doubt people have the same fond memories of today’s houses.” Below Photo Credit: Pima ki:s circa 1906 Courtesy of the Huhugam Ki: Museum
BETTER LIVING
Better Living
Making NEAT Part of Your Day As we age, there are things we can do to stay healthy, active and independent as long as possible. Exercise is one of them. But exercise is about more than maintaining a healthy weight, it improves our lives in many ways. As we get older, we begin to lose our strength, balance and flexibility. It becomes harder to perform everyday tasks, putting us at risk of losing our independence. But regular exercise, even as little as 15 to 20 minutes a day, improves strength, balance and flexibility. It becomes easier to do the things we need to do and we have more energy to enjoy our hobbies, friends, family and grandchildren. In addition to changes we see on the outside, exercise does incredible things inside. It helps to lower blood pressure, improve bone density, reduce brain fog and boost our immune system. It also reduces the risk of cognitive decline, heart disease, diabetes and other chronic conditions. Plus, all those endorphins just make us happier. So what should we be doing? Just get moving. We don’t have to run a marathon or lift an elephant. Adding small “movement moments” throughout
the day can have a significant impact. Ideally, these movements would include a mix of aerobic exercise, stretching and strength or resistance training. We can make these moments easier to incorporate in to our day by tying them to something we already do like some squats while brushing our teeth, walking while talking on the phone, standing on one foot while waiting in line or doing a set of an exercise during commercials. It all adds up and as we become more fit, we can add more movements. Any way we slice it, exercise makes for better living.
Simple things you can do: • • • • • •
Walk your dog Park further from your destination Take the stairs Stretch every time you get up Put on your favorite song and dance Get a fitness buddy and make it fun!
SRPMIC SENIOR SERVICES 17
SHRRP
SHRRP
Improving Homes, Improving Lives
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Linda Post remembers first learning about SHRRP in the community newspaper. In the 10 years since, SHRRP has completed many home improvement projects and repairs on Linda’s home. “They replaced my windows, built a ramp to the door, redid a bathroom and replaced the AC,” said Linda. “They also redid the roof. It was over 23 years old and the shingles were coming off. They had it done in like four hours—they were better than Santa’s helpers!” Of all the projects, the new flooring is Linda’s favorite. “It looks so suave and you don’t see the dog hair on it. It brightens my mood and reminds me of an old farm house.” Linda recommends that seniors not hesitate to call, “They are really good. They know what they are doing.” Rito Lopez, SHRRP Assistant Operations Manager, is proud of the program and impact it makes in the lives of those it serves, “When you see the big difference and positive emotions it makes in the lives of our seniors and “ I t l o o k s s o their homes, it us want suave and you makes to continue to don’t see the find ways to dog hair on it. improve and our I t b r i g h t e n s expedite services.” my mood and SHRRP r e m i n d s m e provides a of of an old farm variety services to house.” qualified community
residents. These can include complex renovations and retrofitting of interiors to meet health and safety needs such as, but not limited to: • • • • • •
Kitchen Cabinets Flooring Handicap Bathrooms Ramps Exterior Door Covers Roofing
SHRRP also provides day-to-day services that seniors and those with adaptive and medical needs may find challenging such as changing air filters, repairing exterior doors that do not close correctly or improperly sealed windows. Qualified individuals must be members of the community, age 55+ or qualify with a medical disability, and have a home condition that detrimentally affects the individual’s health, welfare and/or safety.
If you think you or someone you know may qualify, call the SHRRP helpline Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. at 480.362.7800.
If you are an existing SHRRP client with an afterhours/weekend HVAC or plumbing emergency, you can call community dispatch to reach an on-call technician or plumber at 480.850.9230. SRPMIC SENIOR SERVICES 19
NEED A RIDE? Our friendly transportation team provides rides to medical appointments, shopping and other errands, as well as Senior Services events and activities for those who live in the community.
Learn more at 480.362.5672.
20 WINTER 2023
KRAFT KORNER
Here is a fun and simple craft you can do at home. Make for yourself or as a gift!
Step one: Gather your
Step two: Roll the clay to 1/4-
supplies: terracotta air-dry clay, rolling pin, cookie cutter/jar lid, wooden beads, leather cord and essential oil of choice.
inch thick. Cut out shapes and stamp or draw design in the clay. Make holes for the leather cord. Let dry completely.
Step three: Apply essential oil to the back of each disk. Make sure you use terracotta to absorb the oil, not regular airdry clay.
Step four: Thread through 1214” of leather cord and bring the ends together. Thread a bead over both ends, push down to the disk and tie to make your loop. Voila, your creation is done! SRPMIC SENIOR SERVICES 21
MIND TEASERS
Crossword 1
2
4
3
5
6
7
8
9
10
11 12 13
14
15 16 17
Across 2. Frozen Spike 7. Winter Sculpture 8. Present Day? 22 WINTER 2024
14. Winter Coasting 15. Hearth 16. Rudolph and Teammates 17. Winter _______ Games
Down 1. White Rabbit’s Milieu 3. Hot Chocolate
4. Winter Outerwear 5. Icy Coating 6. Rink Dancing 7. Neck Wrap
10. Aspen Activity 11. Small Shake 12. Stanley Cup Sport 13. Uncomfortably Cool
Word Scramble MRTICSASH
LWNWOSOP
REEEBMCD
ETMISNT
FERYURAB
SOALWLBN
UJAANRY
WLAEOFKSN
RZAZBILD
SNWMOAN
OSOBT
TWRNIE OSPTRS
LICAFEPER
EEMRHTMTERO
HAODLYI
TRENIW CMIPLOYS
OTH CLTHACOEO
BDRWIGONOANS
Maze
SRPMIC SENIOR SERVICES 23
MIND TEASERS
Game 1
2
5 3 1 8 3 2 7 Game 2
8 4 7 6 3 5 1 9 2 4 6 4 7 8 8 1 2 5 3 9 4 9 2 7 8
4 9
9 8 3 7 8
5
3 1
7 5 6 4 3 9 8 8 3 24 WINTER 2024
4
1
6
8 7
ANSWERS CROSSWORD Across 2. Icicle 15. Fireplace 7. Snowman 16. Reindeer 8. Christmas 17. Olympic 14. Sledding
Down 1. Wonderland 3. Cocoa 4. Overcoat 5. Frost
6. Skating 7. Scarf 10. Skiing 11. Shiver
12. Hockey 13. Chilly
WORD SCRAMBLE Fireplace Holiday Hot chocolate Snowplow Mittens Snowball
Christmas December February January Blizzard Boots SUDOKU
Snowflake Snowman Winter Sports Thermometer Winter Olympics Snowboarding
Game 1
Game 2
5 2 6 1 3 9 8 4 7 1 9 7 4 6 8 5 3 2 8 4 3 7 2 5 6 1 9 7 5 9 2 8 3 4 6 1 3 1 2 6 5 4 9 7 8 4 6 8 9 7 1 2 5 3 9 8 5 3 4 7 1 2 6 6 3 1 5 9 2 7 8 4 2 7 4 8 1 6 3 9 5
1 9 2 7 8 4 5 6 3 5 3 7 6 2 9 8 4 1 4 8 6 1 5 3 9 7 2 9 1 5 3 4 8 7 2 6 6 4 8 9 7 2 1 3 5 7 2 3 5 1 6 4 9 8 2 6 1 4 9 5 3 8 7 3 5 9 8 6 7 2 1 4 8 7 4 2 3 1 6 5 9 SRPMIC SENIOR SERVICES 25
COMMUNITY
26 WINTER 2024
SRPMIC SENIOR SERVICES 27
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