TRAILS Programs
The TRAILS Program promotes recreation for people of all abilities and is open to the whole community. We have lots of fun crafting, rafting, watching movies, snowshoeing, kayaking, fishing and more! We’ve got a great batch of events this month and welcome anyone who is interested. Here is what’s happening this week:
Planning Meeting on March 8th from 4:30-7pm at the Library Basement. Join the great minds that contribute to TRAILS events and help us plan out our April Calendar. TRAILS will provide pizza, but please bring a dish to share along with your great ideas of what to do in March. After we plan out March, we’ll hang out for Poker, Yahtzee, Chess or any other games folks bring!
Open Swim on March 10th from 6:30-7:50pm at the High School Pool. Like to swim? Then join TRAILS for an evening of swimming during open-swim hours at the High School Pool. Bring your suit, towel and $3 to swim. Hope to see you there!
Snowshoeing on March 12th from 3:30-5:30 pm. We’ll meet at ILC and Rick of Adventure 60 will have snowshoes for rent for $5 each. Then we’ll head out to either Bear Lake or Exit Glacier Road. Please dress warmly, drive if you can and bring a water bottle. Please call with any questions—if cost is a barrier please let us know.
All ability and activity levels are welcome to participate in TRAILS events. Please call Emily at the Independent Living Center at 224-8711 if you need specific accommodations—we love to see everyone out and enjoying what Seward has to offer.
Trails Events This Week
The TRAILS Program promotes recreation for people of all abilities and is open to the whole community. We’ve got a great batch of events happening in March and welcome anyone who is interested. Here is what’s happening this week:
Cardmaking With Raylene at Resurrect Art Coffee House on Tuesday March 2nd, at 6pm.
Creative artist Raylene O’Connor is sharing her card-making talents with the TRAILS group. We’ll use card-stock, stamps, markers, glitter glue, funky scissors and our creativity to produce some incredible spring-themed cards. Please call Emily at the ILC to sign up for this class—it’s free!
Day Trip to Fur Rondy on March 5th from 10am-8pm. We’ll meet at the ILC.
TRAILS is heading to Anchorage to enjoy the sights and sounds of Fur Rondy! Fur Rondy has a ton of fun opportunities including: dog-sled rides, a native arts market, a beautiful snow-sculpture show, the Rondy Carnival, Blanket Toss, and in the evening is the family skate—not to mention lots of great treats to taste! Many of Fur-Rondy events have costs associated, so bring some spending cash if you’d like experience them Cost: $15 for gas (if you are able to drive you will be reimbursed for gas). Please call Emily at the ILC to sign up for this trip.
All ability and activity levels are welcome to participate in TRAILS events. Please call Emily at the Independent Living Center at 224-8711 if you need specific accommodations—we love to see everyone out and enjoying what Seward has to offer.
TRAILS Events This Week
The TRAILS Program has a lot of fun activities coming up this week and is open to the whole community. Here is what’s happening:
Movie & Game Night on Monday, February 22nd from 5-8pm in the Library Basement.
Bring your favorite games and movies and join TRAILS for an evening of fun in the libary basement. We’ll vote on the movie so bring your favorites that are rated PG-13 or under. Popcorn will be provided, but bring a snack or refreshement to share if you like.
Snowshoeing At Exit Glacier on Tuesday, Feburary 23rd from 2:30-4pm, meet at the ILC.
This is our second snowshoeing outing in Feburary and we’re heading to Exit Glacier Road. Even though the snow is leaving, we’ll have a great time getting some fresh air and maybe even some sunshine! Please dress warmly, drive if you can and bring a water bottle. Please meet at the ILC at 3rd and Washington in the Orca Building. We’ll carpool first to Adventure 60 to rent snowshoes for $5 each, then onto Exit Glacier. Please call with any questions.
All ability and activity levels are welcome to participate in TRAILS events. Please call Emily at the Independent Living Center at 224-8711 if you need specific accommodations—we love to see everyone out and enjoying what Seward has to offer.
TRAILS Events This Week
The TRAILS Program promotes recreation for people of all abilities and is open to the whole community. We have lots of fun crafting, rafting, watching movies, snowshoeing, kayaking, fishing and more! We’ve got a great batch of events coming up in February and welcome anyone who is interested. Here is what’s happening this week:
Snowshoeing at Bear Lake on February 2nd from 2:30-4pm.
Join TRAILS for an excellent adventurous afternoon. We’ll meet at the ILC (The Orca Building at Washington & 3rd) and carpool to Adventure 60 North for those who need to rent snowshoes, then we’ll go on to beautiful Bear Lake to spend an hour on the snow moving as a group enjoying the beautiful groomed trails and scenery. All ability & activity levels welcome. Cost: $5 if you need to rent snowshoes. Please drive if you can. Wear warm layered clothing, snow-boots and don’t forget your mittens, hat and water-bottle.
Bird Seed Art & Pot-Luck on February 5th from 1-3pm at the New Branson Pavillion.
Think winter is for the birds? It is! Join TRAILS for a fun afternoon making art on the snow out of bird seed and enjoying delicious fresh grilled burgers, hot dogs and other tasty treats. Please dress warm and bring a dish to share. TRAILS provides the bird seed, meat and buns, you bring the rest! Hope to see you there!
All ability and activity levels are welcome to participate in TRAILS events. Please call Emily at the Independent Living Center at 224-8711 if you need specific accommodations—we love to see everyone out and enjoying what Seward has to offer.
Supported Transportation Program
We are at it again Seward! Your Independent Living Center (ILC) has successfully coordinated a supported transportation pilot program for our community. What does this mean to Seward? Qualifying individuals can stop by the ILC office, located at 201 3rd Ave in the Orca Building, and register to buy $5 taxi vouchers for $2.50 each. Then when they want to go somewhere in the community they simply call Phoenix Taxi for a ride. The driver will take the rider where they need to go and the rider will give the driver enough vouchers to cover the fare. Simply put the participant gets reduced fares and the driver gets paid full price through the ILC. Who could not use help in saving money? Well who qualifies you ask? Anyone 60 years of age or older who does not have alternative means of transportation or any individual who experiences a disability and has no alternative means of transportation. There is some flexibility so it is best to contact the helpful ladies at the ILC by calling 224-8711 to see if you qualify.
The funding for this program was generated from the Stimulus Act and it is due to run through June 2010 with its current setup. We will be seeking alternate funding sources should the program be well received by the community. We also welcome expanding it to other cab companies interested in working with us to promote the ILC’s mission.
The ILC has offices in Homer, Soldotna and here in Seward. ILC’s mission is to “Promote choice, independence and quality of life for persons living with disability.” Joyanna Geisler, the ILC’s Executive Director, has created similar programs for the other communities and has been trying to build one here in Seward for over 10 years. Joyanna stated “I would really like to thank Mad Jack, Owner of Phoenix Taxi, for helping to put this program on the road. The programs serving Homer and Soldotna assist over 300 individuals in gaining access to their respective communities.”
We all know of someone who could possibly utilize this program so pass the word along Seward!
Melissa Kompkoff
Independent Living Specialist
Accessible Parking Awareness Program Coming To Seward
Imagine pulling into that “golden” parking spot that is right by the front of the store. There is a sign stating that this spot is reserved for a vehicle transporting a person with a disability who possesses a parking placard or specialized plate. You think, “Oh I am just grabbing some eggs and I will only be a minute.” You go in and see someone you haven’t seen in forever and begin to chat. A short time later your neighbor, who let us say uses a wheelchair for mobility, is circling the lot trying to find a safe and designated spot to be able to exit their vehicle. After 40 minutes you return to the parking lot as your neighbor pulls up. They stop and wait for you to move your car. How do you initially react? Are you angry, embarrassed, or remorseful? Unfortunately, too many of our friends and neighbors use these designated parking spots without thinking of the troubles caused for someone who MUST use them just to safely carry out daily activities most of us take for granted.
Hello my fellow Sewardites! I would like to inform you of an Accessible Parking Awareness Program to be re-vitalized locally through the combined efforts of The Independent Living Center, Seward Community Resource Team (SCRT) and Seward’s Police Department. The idea behind this program is not to offend anyone but to alleviate a very serious parking issue facing our neighbors with disabilities.
Beginning November 1st, trained volunteers will be carrying warnings that will be placed on vehicles that illegally use a designated parking spot. This program is designed to promote education and awareness. Here is how it will work. The first time you utilize a designated parking spot illegally, your vehicle will be “cited” with a warning. The warning will be placed on your vehicle (or given to you if you are present) and then a copy of the warning, goes to the Seward Police Dept. The department will keep it on file and if a second warning with the same vehicle information is logged with the police dept., then a ticket and fine of $125 will be issued to the vehicle’s owner as a first offense. If a third warning is issued to the same vehicle and logged with the police dept., then a ticket and fine of $250 will be issued to the vehicle’s owner as a second offense. It is important for the public to know that individuals who hold the permits or specialized plates are held accountable for their legal usage. If a vehicle displaying a permit or specialized plate uses a designated parking spot but the person with a disability is not present and does not exit the vehicle, the program works the same but the fines are increased. A first offense will cost you $250, and a second offense will cost you $500.
It seems to me that this is a situation most people would want to avoid and not really worth the moment of “convenience” you may give yourself. The Independent Living Center sincerely hopes that making the public aware of the reason for the designated parking spots and the fines for illegally using them will be enough to stop the violations from occurring. So my dear friends and neighbors, remember to think before you park because the other volunteers and I may be watching.
Regards,
Melissa Kompkoff
Independent Living Specialist
Independent Living Center
P O Box 3523
Seward AK 99664
907-224-8711
The Independent Living Center promotes choice, independence and quality of life for persons and families experiencing disabilities.
T.R.A.I.L.S Expresses Gratitude for Community Support
TRAILS (Total Recreation And Independent Living Services) would like to extend huge thanks to the various organizations that have donated time, money or services this summer.
Huge thanks go to the American Legion for their generous donation of $500, the Alaska SeaLife Center for donating two multi-person passes as prizes for the TRAILS Wii-Bowling Tournament, the Liberty Theater for their donation of 10 movie passes, the Seward Community Library for allowing us your wonderful basement space and large-screen TV for Movie Mondays, Resurrect Art Coffee House for the use of your space & coffee pots, Joe Allen with Allens Alaska Adventures for taking us out fishing for cost of fuel only and finally to J-Dock Seafoods for processing our catch at no cost.
It has been incredible to feel so supported by the Seward community. This support provides many opportunities for people, family and friends of people with disabilities to participate in activities that improve their quality of life. Also thanks to everyone who participates in TRAILS activities for all of your help making each event happen. We couldn’t do it with out you!
For more information about TRAILS please call Emily at the Independent Living Center at 224-8711 or email sewardtrails@peninsulailc.org.
TRAILS Bonfire Wednesday, April 23rd!
Join TRAILS (Total Recreation And Independent Living Services) for a bonfire down in the waterfront campground at 2pm, this Wednesday April 23rd. Come hungry! There will be hot-dogs, s’mores and hot-cocoa.
TRAILS promotes recreation for people, families and friends of people with disabilities. We believe success is measured by how much fun you have! Call Emily at the Independent Living Center at 224-8711 with any questions or ideas.
TRAILS Movie Monday a Great Success!
TRAILS (Total Recreation And Independent Living Services) hosted the first of this month’s Movie Mondays last night in the library basement. A huge thanks to all who attended, to the library for allowing us to use their space, and wonderful big-screen TV, as well as to Apollo Restaurant for their generous donation of pizza.
Tomorrow TRAILS will meet for Outdoor Days at 2pm at the ILC, and we’ll meet at Rez Art on Thursday at 3pm for Coffee Talk, Arts & Games. Check out the ‘calendar’ section of Seward City News for other TRAILS events in April.
The TRAILS Program promotes choices in recreation for individuals, families and friends of people living with disabilities. Please call Emily at the Independent Living Center with any questions or ideas at 224-8711 (TDD/TTY).
TRAILS Sends Mountains of Thanks
The Independent Living Center’s TRAILS (Total Recreation And Independent Living Services) Program would like to extend a warm thank you all who made our Spring Fling pot-luck so successful: Jan Keeley at Safeway and Lynn Hohl, for your generous donation of lasagna ingredients, Mike & Raylene O’Connor of Resurrect Art Coffee House for graciously allowing TRAILS to use your space. Also many thanks to Seward City News for donating the great advertisement under local organizations.
Stay tuned for the TRAILS April calendar of events; we’ll be playing poker, snowshoeing, heading to Anchorage for a movie & pizza, having a bon-fire and more!
TRAILS promotes choices in recreation for individuals, families and friends of people living with disabilities.
Seward Independent Living Center Reopens
The Seward Independent Living Center (ILC) is up and running. One of three Independent Living Centers located on the peninsula, Seward ILC promotes choice, independence and quality of life for persons and families experiencing disability. ILC provides a variety of services including information and referral, adaptive equipment rental (community closet), advocacy, skills training and nursing home transition. All of ILC’s services and programs are consumer driven, meaning we believe that people know what is best for themselves, and our role is to assist in achieving their goals.
Seward ILC also has an inclusive recreation program, T.R.A.I.L.S. (Total Recreation Independent Living Services) specifically designed to provide inclusive recreation and leisure opportunities for people experiencing disabilities. Whether you enjoy cross-country skiing, photography, crafts, sledding, fishing, or simply playing board games at a local coffee shop, T.R.A.I.L.S. has a program for you. Among other things this summer, T.R.A.I.L.S. will be rafting the Kenai River and taking a three day trip to Kayaker’s Cove.
The Independent Living Center is located on the corner of Third and Washington in the Orca Building. If you are interested in participating with T.R.A.I.L.S., or have Independent Living needs, please stop in for a visit, or call 224-8711. More information is also available at www.peninsulailc.org.
T.R.A.I.L.S.
Filed under: Announcement, Education, Event, Health, Sports
We are a non profit organization working under a grant program in the offices of Indenpendent Living Center.
T.R.A.I.L.S.
PROGRAM
with
Independent Living Services
The TRAILS Program is specifically designed to provide inclusive recreation and leisure opportunities for people experiencing disabilities. We offer outings to the theater, beach combing, walks along the waterfront, winter skiing, pot lucks, and many more activities.
Call for a monthly calendar of events
Kathe 224-8711 or Jackie 224-2285
JOIN THE FUN
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