MARATHON YOUTH SERVICES
NEWSLETTER
May 1, 2002
Volume 2, Issue 5
Here we are, May 1st, and spring is still
only an occasional visitor. April seems to have been our most winter-like month
this year! And summer…from the extremes of 90 degrees to 8 inches of snow,
we’ve seen it all. Including, a tornado! May has got to be better, we hope.
Aside from the weather, it’s been a typically busy
month again for MYS. The guys are almost through another year of school, with
one resident distinguishing himself for his academic achievement. We’ve had
discharges and new residents as well as the regular program activity.
April also sees the launch of a face-lift of our web
site. Please check it out and let us know what you think. (www.marathonyouthservices.org)
The overhaul has just begun, so check back often as we continue to add new
content. One of the things we’ll be doing is regularly updating a photo album
of group home activities. We’re also looking for ways to involve the residents
in developing site content too.
Read on about the activities and programs of MYS, and please feel free to direct
any inquiries to Doug at 715-842-3240, or email us at
admin@marathonyouthservices.org.
If at any time you would like to be removed
from this mail list, please click REPLY and simply enter UNSUBSCRIBE in the
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_________________________________________________________________
CONTENTS
- April
Group Home activity update
- The
Night The Lights Went Out…
- Monthly
Bio: Suzanne Lewitzke
- Steph’s
German Potato Salad
-
Racing Again!
- Your
Thoughts?
__________________________________________________________________________
- As usual, group education and
treatment continue to be an integral part of programming at MYS. The past
month is certainly no exception. Some of April’s offerings include:
a. Rachel Klemp North came in from Family Planning on April 1 and 8 to
discuss teen
sexuality issues.
b. Both group homes were in attendance for AODA Awareness Day at North
Central
Health Care Facilities on April 11.
c. Mike North of the Department of Community Corrections made a presentation
to
residents and answered questions about the Probation and Parole System.
This took
place on April 24
d. On April 17, residents attended an AODA presentation coordinated by Sue
Nowak of
North Central Health Care Facilities, in which guest speaker “Louie”
presented his
story. He told of “having everything” and loosing it to drug charges and
prison.
This month residents were also treated to a reward for their community service
activities. The Volunteer Center provided free tickets to the Grand Theater
to see Remember The Titans. Residents were also provided free
pop and popcorn as well as door prizes.
Speaking of community service, residents continued their Saturday afternoon
activity of assisting elderly clients of Mount View Manor. On April 6 and 13,
they also helped an elderly couple with a moving project.
Several of the boys also continue to distinguish themselves in their schools.
Angus B continues to participate in Track and Field at Wausau West High
School, and Josh P was recognized for earning a 3.3 grade point average for
the past quarter at Rosholt High School. Great job guys!
Our Forestry Project continued in full swing the past month also. The boys
and staff of both homes were able to harvest and haul firewood on several
weekends. Now if Mother Nature will cooperate, the wood will be split and
stacked at Wings.
- Sarah Wasson of Wings Group Home has submitted yet
another report, this time about a recent experience with the weather.
The Night the Lights Went Out
The recent wild weather affected many people in our community, and Wings
Group Home was no exception. While we fortunately suffered no damage, our
residents experienced an evening without the modern conveniences and
entertainments they are used to enjoying. We lost our power around 7:40 PM,
which was around the time the tornado was hitting the Town of Kronenwetter.
(northwest of Wings Group Home) With no electricity to run our pump, we had
very little water. We also lost our phone service and as many MYS employees
are aware, the cell phone service at Wings is poor to nonexistent depending on
where you’re standing. So, we were in effect cut off from the rest of the
world for the evening. All our guys became very excited when this occurred,
as they usually are when something unexpected breaks up their routine. We
decided to gather in the rec room and tell ghost stories, which in addition to
providing the entertainment for the evening also provided a handy way to
monitor the group in the dark.
Accompanied by candlelight, Gus, Matt and Chad shared their storytelling
skills with the group and showed themselves to be very adept at spinning an
entertaining tale. Chad made his up as he went along and at the climax of the
story, his hero encountered the most horrifying creature imaginable – group
home staff! Gus told a traditional scare-‘em-all-by-yelling-at-the-end story,
and Matt retold gruesome scenarios from scary movies which were probably
better than the originals. Matt also shared some “real life” ghost stories
that creeped all of us out.
Before bedtime we attempted to have a snack in the dark kitchen. Chad loaded
his bowl up with leftover Hamburger Helper before he remembered that the
microwave needs electricity to run. He was a good sport and ate it cold. As
the guys settled into bed and I scribbled the log for the night by the light
of a flashlight, I reflected on how much we take for granted: our computers,
ovens, phones and even running water. Our power was back on by 2 AM, and
while we made the best of it, I hope we aren’t plunged into darkness again any
time soon.
Sarah Wasson
- This month’s bio has a little different twist. It’s
written in the first person. Suzanne Lewitzke is certainly a well-known
community asset! Many of us have either taken our children to her for swim
lessons at the YMCA, or been taught ourselves by her. In spite of her
retirement from the Y, Suz continues active community involvement as you will
see….
My
name is Suzanne Lewitzke. My husband Ken and I live on a small hobby
farm between Wausau and Merrill. We have two married daughters and four
grandchildren. I enjoy raising American Paint horses and have a mare
due to foal the end of May. I am fortunate to have a husband so supportive of
my many hobbies.
I have been a member of the Marathon Youth Services staff for about 8
months now. I work anywhere from 3-40 hours a week depending on how much I'm
needed. I am presently employed full time at the Women's Community as a
domestic and sexual abuse advocate. I've been there for about 8 years. I work
the overnight shift, Monday thru Thursday, which allows a lot of flexibility
for filling in during the day and weekends at MYS.
I retired from the YMCA after 25 years as the Aquatic Program Director. I
may have met many of you through the YMCA, as I've taught many a person
swimming, lifeguarding, and WSI (swim instructor) skills, and have been very
involved with most of the non-profit organizations in the community. I
continue to volunteer at the Y one morning a week, and coach the Horace Mann
Middle School swim team.
Nevertheless, I continued to find myself getting bored with too much time on
my hands. I find much fulfillment and enjoyment working with the teens at
MYS, and I am very impressed with the dedicated, talented staff. MYS also
allows me to utilize my interest in animals by allowing me to bring Norman to
work with me. Norman is my 10year old Golden Retriever who is a certified
Therapy dog. Norman likes the attention the guys give him, and the guys enjoy
Norman. I have enjoyed working with the boys the past 8 months at RGH and
Wings.
The staff and management of Marathon Youth Services feel privileged to
have Suzanne working with us. She is a delightful addition to our staff, and
an asset we will always treasure.
- Stephanie, Wings Group Home manager, this month shares
her recipe for German Potato Salad. Always a favorite:
6-8 potatoes, peeled and diced
1 medium onion diced
1 package bacon
Combine in same measuring cup: 1/3 cup sugar, 1/3 cup vinegar, 1/3 cup water
4 hard boiled eggs
3 tablespoons flour
Salt and pepper to taste
Boil the potatoes, cut bacon into I inch pieces and fry in a large skillet.
Add onion and cook in the bacon grease until clear and tender. Add the sugar,
vinegar and water mixture, stir and turn temperature to low. Add water to
flour to make a paste, stir into the skillet to thicken. Add salt and pepper
to taste.
Put potatoes and peeled and diced eggs into a large kettle, pour sauce/gravy
over potatoes and mix. Simmer on low and stir occasionally for 15-20 minutes.
Tastes even better the second day….
- It’s Racing Season again! While there’s not a
lot to report yet this month, Doug has been out on the racetrack and already
served up warning that he’ll be a force to be reckoned with again this year in
the Cenex Mini Stock Division. He managed to do very well in qualifying
heats, and the cars are running great! Hopefully we’ll have more to report
next month.
- Marathon Youth Services is currently reexamining some of
it’s programming and would very much like some input from consumers. If you
have any pending placements, or would like to see new program initiatives
developed, we’d very much like to hear from you. Feel free to contact Doug
Adams directly at 715-842-2340, or email at
dadams@marathonyouthservices.org. We’d be happy to meet with you to
discuss your thoughts.
Also, keep in mind that Marathon Youth Services now
has an Informational CD available. If you are interested in learning
more about our services and facilities, please request a CD by contacting Doug,
or by email at
admin@marathonyouthservices.org.
If at any time you would like to be removed
from this mail list, please click REPLY and simply enter UNSUBSCRIBE in the
subject line. You will be immediately removed from the list.
Property of Marathon Youth Services, Inc. 2002
Produced by Jim Prozinski
jimpro@charter.net