The Journal Register (Medina, NY)

Local News

November 20, 2008

ALBION: Food samples, crafts and basket raffle will be available.

The Mental Health Association in Orleans County will host an open house to educate and inform the public about mental illness. The Taste of MHA will be held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Dec. 13, at the MHA offices, 438 West Ave. The event will offer food tasting from the MHA cookbook, a craft sale and basket raffle.

“The members have put a lot of time and effort into this and trying to break the stigma,” MHA Director Cheryl Johnson said. “Everyone has someone in their family or a friend who was diagnosed. We want people to understand that it is pretty common and it’s OK.”

MHA began in 1990. According to Johnson, it was designed to bring awareness and dispel the stigma of mental illness. In 2004, the social club was formed to provide a safe environment for mental illness. The program’s drop-in center is offered every Monday, Wednesday and Friday from noon to 7 p.m. at the MHA offices.

“The idea is they find someone who understands what they are going through,” Johnson said. “They check up on each other. It really is a caring group of people.”

The only requirement for the drop-in center and social club is people must be 18 years of age or older and live in Orleans County. Those interested do not have to be diagnosed with mental illness. The center and programs are free, however Johnson said that if people are interested in joining the social club, there is a small fee, which pays for a hot meal and allows people to hold office in the group. The group then holds a business meeting once a month.

“Some members are in their 20s,” Johnson said. “A couple are in their 70s. The likeliness to find someone to make a friend is pretty good.”

As part of the social club, group speakers talk about safety, nutrition, health and more. Every Monday from 2 to 3 p.m. a stress management group is held. From 3:15 to 4:15 p.m. every other Wednesday, a peer-led group on spirituality and depression is held. Johnson said that a new depression group, for people who work during the day, will be held from 7 to 8 p.m. Wednesdays.

She said that club members also take group outings twice a month, have parties and play bingo. The group also makes crafts, which Johnson said is very therapeutic.

Newly hired coordinator Jacklyn Taylor oversees the daily cooking and speaks to members on healthy eating, diabetes, the food pyramid and how to cook and shop healthy at home. Members of the group also sign up to help Taylor cook, and this created the Cookbook that the open house will feature. People who attend the open house will get the opportunity to taste foods from the MHA Cookbook or purchase the book for $7. Crafts that members have made will also be for sale.

Currently, transportation is offered through the peers of the program, but Johnson said they recently received a grant from state Sen. George Maziarz, R-Newfane, which will allow them to purchase a 12-passenger van.

“We’re pretty excited about that,” Johnson said. “We’ll provide transportation from the center.”

As MHA director, Johnson has two goals for the future. One is to reach out more to the families of the men and women who serve overseas in the military. She said that she really wants a support group to help them with what they are going through. Her other goal is to find a bigger space that is affordable and can allow them to work with the community and area more.

MHA focuses on education, a resource library, referral services, advocacy and a member-driven drop-in center. For more information, call 589-1158.

Text Only
Local News
  • Market on Main will offer fresh produce, baked goods

     

    Medina’s Main Street has more than its fair share of spots to pick up prepared food, but starting this summer there will be   a place to buy artisanal bread and locally-grown produce.
    Dave and Bonnie Reigle have operated a produce stand on their Ridge Road farm for 17 years. They plan to open Reigle’s Market   on Main in the former Whole Nine Yards and be open year-round as a bakery and produce store.
     

    April 18, 2012

  • Lyndonville BoE approves budget propositions

     

    The Lyndonville Board of Education approved the four propositions district residents will vote on May 15, including the school’s   $12,964,687 budget.
    The 2012-13 budget decreases spending by 1.28 percent, but the property tax levy will rise by 1.95 percent to $4,620,374.   The estimated property tax rate is $18.40, an increase of 1.38 percent and a bump of a quarter for every $1,000 of assessed   property value.

    April 18, 2012

  • Medina BoE OK's budgets for May 15 vote

    Medina Central School District residents will have the option this May to vote for a budget that does not raise the property   tax levy next year, but does increase the district’s budget by 1.74 percent.

    April 18, 2012

  • Ridgeway sets public hearings

    The Ridgeway Town Board will hold two public hearings at its next meeting on May 21.

    April 18, 2012

  • Hoag will host STEM summer camp

    The Hoag Library in Albion isn’t set to open until the weekend after Independence Day, but preparations are well underway   for a two-week summer camp for a select group of Albion students.

    April 16, 2012

  • Growing like a weed

    The Orleans County Chamber of Commerce’s Home and Garden Show had a new home this year, and a record crowd came out to Knowlesville   for helpful advice, information about local businesses and organizations, and a wide range of activities, promotions and giveaways.

    April 16, 2012

  • Village budget talks continue

     

    Medina’s 2012-13 budget is coming together at a series of meetings between department heads and village board members that   largely focus on projected spending plans and areas where cuts can be made and additional revenue can be found.
    The board met Monday with Police Chief Jose Avila, who said his department budget will be less than the current year despite   increasing salaries and associated benefits.

    April 16, 2012

  • Hoag Library era nears in Albion

    The transition of Albion's long-time library to a modern South Main Street facility is quickly approaching, which had the Swan Library Board of Trustees discussing the closing of the current library in early June, a month of movement and plans to resume service at the new Hoag Library on the day after the facility's July 7 grand opening at their Wednesday meeting.

    April 13, 2012

  • Pillars hosting Titanic evening

     

    The extravagant experience that the high-class passengers enjoyed on the first and final voyage of the RMS Titanic will be   replicated in a dinner at The Pillars Estate’s new ballroom this weekend.
    The Pillars echoes the luxury liner’s grand staircase and chandelier, with historic touches throughout the restored County   House Road mansion’s ballroom.
     

    April 13, 2012

  • Shelby formalizes reserve funds

     

    The Town of Shelby has had a highway equipment reserve fund for as long as Supervisor Skip Draper can remember, but to be   safe the town board formally created the fund and other others Tuesday.
    Draper said the origins of the town’s long-standing funds, used to prepare for large expenses and avoid a yo-yo-ing budget,   were questioned in an audit of the town’s finances.

    April 12, 2012

Featured Ads
House Ads
Community Calendar
Loading…
Events by eviesays.com
AP Video
Serial Stabbings Suspect Guilty of Murder Facebook Shares Continue Negative Slide 8 Hurt in Oklahoma Shooting After NBA Playoff US Airways: Diverted Flight Has 'Landed Safely' A Few Odd Business Sparks but Europe Gloomy Revived Focus on Regulation After JPMorgan Loss Gerard Butler: the Good, the Bad and the Cannes At Least 25 Dead in India Train Collision Raw Video: Private Rocket Blasts Off Boy to Rescuers: 'Do You Have a Plan?' Doctors and Devotees Debate Barefoot Running Blacks Seek to Find Their Own Missing Houston Museum Unveils $85 Million Dinosaur Hall Chicago Police: 90 Arrested in NATO Protests Ex-Rutgers Student Gets 30 Days in Webcam Case Obama Sees Inspiration in Joplin Graduates Raw Video: Man Saved After Niagara Falls Plunge NATO: Afghan Exit 'Irreversible' Catholic Groups Sue Over Contraception Mandate 4 Arrested After Man's Beating at Dodger Stadium
Hyperlocal Search
Premier Guide
Find a business

Walking Fingers
Maps, Menus, Store hours, Coupons, and more...
Premier Guide
Popular Searches
Powered by Local.com
Front page
Seasonal Content
Parade
Magazine

Click HERE to read all your Parade favorites including Hollywood Wire, Celebrity interviews and photo galleries, Food recipes and cooking tips, Games and lots more.
Photo of the Day
Royal Wedding Live