<?xml version='1.0' encoding='UTF-8'?><?xml-stylesheet href="http://www.blogger.com/styles/atom.css" type="text/css"?><feed xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom' xmlns:openSearch='http://a9.com/-/spec/opensearchrss/1.0/' xmlns:georss='http://www.georss.org/georss' xmlns:gd='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005' xmlns:thr='http://purl.org/syndication/thread/1.0'><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3986913492410927890</id><updated>2012-02-16T09:45:23.637-08:00</updated><category term='West Haven'/><category term='CT'/><category term='Volunteer'/><category term='Chip in'/><category term='Greenhouse'/><category term='soldiers'/><category term='Giants steps sales'/><category term='Schoolhouse apartments helps our Veterans'/><category term='Veterans'/><category term='holistic'/><title type='text'>Welcome Home Soldier...</title><subtitle type='html'>Returning and active service personnel, and those who love them, this is a forum to connect with the community and heal from the wounds of war.</subtitle><link rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#feed' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://welcomehomesoldier.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/3986913492410927890/posts/default?max-results=100'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://welcomehomesoldier.blogspot.com/'/><link rel='hub' href='http://pubsubhubbub.appspot.com/'/><author><name>Welcome Home Soldier...</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/13258613165335295872</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><generator version='7.00' uri='http://www.blogger.com'>Blogger</generator><openSearch:totalResults>6</openSearch:totalResults><openSearch:startIndex>1</openSearch:startIndex><openSearch:itemsPerPage>100</openSearch:itemsPerPage><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3986913492410927890.post-8164301134763871962</id><published>2011-11-16T05:34:00.001-08:00</published><updated>2011-11-16T05:34:30.062-08:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Chip in'/><title type='text'>Chip in</title><content type='html'>&lt;object width="250" height="250"&gt;&lt;param name="movie" value="http://widget.chipin.com/widget/id/8cfb147dc9e97fc3"&gt;&lt;/param&gt;&lt;param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"&gt;&lt;/param&gt;&lt;param name="wmode" value="transparent"&gt;&lt;/param&gt;&lt;embed src="http://widget.chipin.com/widget/id/8cfb147dc9e97fc3" flashVars="" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowScriptAccess="always" wmode="transparent" width="250" height="250"&gt;&lt;/embed&gt;&lt;/object&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3986913492410927890-8164301134763871962?l=welcomehomesoldier.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://welcomehomesoldier.blogspot.com/feeds/8164301134763871962/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://welcomehomesoldier.blogspot.com/2011/11/chip-in.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/3986913492410927890/posts/default/8164301134763871962'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/3986913492410927890/posts/default/8164301134763871962'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://welcomehomesoldier.blogspot.com/2011/11/chip-in.html' title='Chip in'/><author><name>Welcome Home Soldier...</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/13258613165335295872</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3986913492410927890.post-4429984467816786731</id><published>2011-10-28T05:49:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2011-10-28T06:05:16.716-07:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Schoolhouse apartments helps our Veterans'/><title type='text'>Schoolhouse Apartments helps our Veterans</title><content type='html'>&lt;a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-D60dFXhjBbA/Tqqoc0m5FPI/AAAAAAAAABk/VtekRn2LfOQ/s1600/Pat.JPG"&gt;&lt;img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-D60dFXhjBbA/Tqqoc0m5FPI/AAAAAAAAABk/VtekRn2LfOQ/s320/Pat.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5668528294110762226" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;John Passander project presenter along with Pat Arena from Schoolhouse Apartments, New Canaan, Ct hosted a gathering to raise awareness and funds for "A Greenhouse for our Veterans"  that is being proposed by Trinity Productions.  John is a former corporate business owner who is now retired John's new adventure became gardening and volunteering. His love of orchids created the need for his own personal greenhouse.  He later became the president of the Orchid Society.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;As a veteran John decided to spend time helping the Giant Steps program at the Veterans Hospital in West Haven, CT. His work at the hospital is seasonal gardening with fellow veterans. Seeing the pride joy and enthusiasm experienced by the disabled vets taking part in this seasonal gardening program has become the driving force behind the idea for a permanent year round greenhouse. &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Research shows that simply viewing plants has therapeutic rewards.  A greenhouse would have additional benefits for skills, training and a permanent  place for retreat and relaxation - an indoor natural sanctuary for patients, their families, and the hospital staff .   &lt;br /&gt; &lt;br /&gt;Trinity Productions is a nonprofit whose mission is to facilitate mind, body and Spirit wellness through quality programs in a caring environment.  Trinity is asking you for your help with the Greenhouse Project for our veterans and their families and friends for year round gardening and horticultural therapy.&lt;br /&gt; &lt;br /&gt;Contributions, promotion, fundraising, awareness are some of the things you could choose from. We'd love to hear from you.  Contact John at 203-757-0302 or email trinity@trinityproduction.org or visit our website to learn more www.trinityproduction.org&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3986913492410927890-4429984467816786731?l=welcomehomesoldier.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://welcomehomesoldier.blogspot.com/feeds/4429984467816786731/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://welcomehomesoldier.blogspot.com/2011/10/schoolhouse-apartments-helps-our.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/3986913492410927890/posts/default/4429984467816786731'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/3986913492410927890/posts/default/4429984467816786731'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://welcomehomesoldier.blogspot.com/2011/10/schoolhouse-apartments-helps-our.html' title='Schoolhouse Apartments helps our Veterans'/><author><name>Welcome Home Soldier...</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/13258613165335295872</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-D60dFXhjBbA/Tqqoc0m5FPI/AAAAAAAAABk/VtekRn2LfOQ/s72-c/Pat.JPG' height='72' width='72'/><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3986913492410927890.post-3522263072383020946</id><published>2011-10-20T11:40:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2011-10-24T14:16:33.423-07:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='CT'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='West Haven'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='soldiers'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Greenhouse'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Veterans'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='holistic'/><title type='text'>OEFOIF meeting in Rocky Hill Oct. 19, 2011</title><content type='html'>&lt;a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/trinitypro/6264342200/" title="Veterans OEFOIF presentation meeting in Rocky Hill, CT by Trinity Productions, on Flickr"&gt;&lt;img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6216/6264342200_4fb44b3fe2.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Veterans OEFOIF presentation meeting in Rocky Hill, CT"&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Veterans OEFOIF presentation meeting in Rocky Hill, CT&lt;br /&gt;John is the team leader for the Veteran greenhouse project that is being proposed by Trinity Productions. John is a former corporate business owner who is now retired John's new adventure became gardening and volunteering. He is a well know orchid grower and breeder who has traveled extensively giving orchid lectures and workshops. Some of his affiliations include: past president of the Orchid Society, lifetime honorary member of the Greater NY Orchid Society, member of the Westchester Orchid Round Table and current active member of the Newtown Horticulture club.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;As a veteran John decided to spend time helping the Giant Steps program at the Veterans Hospital in West Haven, CT. His work at the hospital is seasonal gardening with fellow veterans. Seeing the pride joy and enthusiasm experienced by the diabled vets taking part in this seasonal gardening program has become the driving force behind the idea for a permanent year round greenhouse. &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Trinity a nonprofit whose mission is to facilitate mind, body and Spirit wellness through quality programs in a caring environment. Trinity feels together we can make a difference so they are asking you to help build a greenhouse at the Veterans Hospital in West Haven, CT for &lt;br /&gt;our veterans and their families and friends for horticultural therapy.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;There are many ways for you to participate: financial contributions, promotion, fundraising, awareness are some of the things to choose from.&lt;br /&gt;.&lt;br /&gt;We'd love to hear from you. Contact John at 203-757-0302 or email trinity@trinityproduction.org or visit our&lt;br /&gt;website to learn more www.trinityproduction.org&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3986913492410927890-3522263072383020946?l=welcomehomesoldier.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://welcomehomesoldier.blogspot.com/feeds/3522263072383020946/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://welcomehomesoldier.blogspot.com/2011/10/oefoif-meeting-in-rocky-hill.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/3986913492410927890/posts/default/3522263072383020946'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/3986913492410927890/posts/default/3522263072383020946'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://welcomehomesoldier.blogspot.com/2011/10/oefoif-meeting-in-rocky-hill.html' title='OEFOIF meeting in Rocky Hill Oct. 19, 2011'/><author><name>Welcome Home Soldier...</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/13258613165335295872</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6216/6264342200_4fb44b3fe2_t.jpg' height='72' width='72'/><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3986913492410927890.post-3970756261807227922</id><published>2011-09-30T15:53:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2011-09-30T16:11:05.559-07:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Giants steps sales'/><title type='text'>You are invited to our Giant steps sales</title><content type='html'>&lt;div align="left"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Mark your calendar for these upcoming&lt;/strong&gt;   S&lt;strong&gt;ales:&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt; &lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/div&gt; &lt;div align="left"&gt;Dec.      tbd     , 2011,  10-2                             &lt;strong&gt; &lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/div&gt; &lt;div align="left"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Where:&lt;/strong&gt;           In the Rotunda at the VA  Connecticut Healthcare System&lt;/div&gt; &lt;div align="left"&gt;                                      950 Campbell Ave &lt;/div&gt; &lt;div align="left"&gt;                                      West Haven, Ct 06516 &lt;/div&gt; &lt;div align="left"&gt;                Contact Martha Haeseler: &lt;span style="border-bottom: 2px dotted rgb(54, 99, 136); background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent;" id="lw_1317422987_7" class="yshortcuts"&gt;203 932-5711 x 5572&lt;/span&gt;  &lt;a href="mailto:martha.haeseler@va.gov" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"&gt;&lt;span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 153);"&gt;&lt;span id="lw_1317422987_8" class="yshortcuts"&gt;martha.haeseler@va.gov&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;   &lt;span style="display: none;"&gt;  &lt;/span&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;div align="left"&gt;Note:  If you can't make it John Passander Veterans facilitator  will be happy to meet you at a   drop off point in the Newtown area.  You may  reach John at &lt;span style="border-bottom: 2px dotted rgb(54, 99, 136); background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent;" id="lw_1317422987_9" class="yshortcuts"&gt;203-757-0302&lt;/span&gt;, photos to be posted  shortly of some of the items.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Giants steps is a arts and crafts program for Veterans.  Proceeds from the sales goes to the Vets.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3986913492410927890-3970756261807227922?l=welcomehomesoldier.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://welcomehomesoldier.blogspot.com/feeds/3970756261807227922/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://welcomehomesoldier.blogspot.com/2011/09/giant-steps-sales-support-our-vets.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/3986913492410927890/posts/default/3970756261807227922'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/3986913492410927890/posts/default/3970756261807227922'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://welcomehomesoldier.blogspot.com/2011/09/giant-steps-sales-support-our-vets.html' title='You are invited to our Giant steps sales'/><author><name>Welcome Home Soldier...</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/13258613165335295872</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3986913492410927890.post-6130087454479060419</id><published>2011-09-29T21:09:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2011-09-30T15:45:26.703-07:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Volunteer'/><title type='text'>Get involved! Would you like to help build this greenhouse!</title><content type='html'>&lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-su4ZhtGjkmA/ToVCATJwbcI/AAAAAAAAABc/8XqbD_IhUD8/s1600/Instructor-perimeter%2Bbenching.JPG"&gt;&lt;img style="MARGIN: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5658001079769525698" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-su4ZhtGjkmA/ToVCATJwbcI/AAAAAAAAABc/8XqbD_IhUD8/s320/Instructor-perimeter%2Bbenching.JPG" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;We would like to build a greenhouse for our Veterans in West Haven, CT, Project leader&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Would you like to help?&lt;br /&gt;Fundraising, construction, promotion......&lt;br /&gt;There are many ways for you to contribute.&lt;br /&gt;Please spread the word!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Contact John Passander&lt;br /&gt;email him at trinity@trinityproduction.org&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3986913492410927890-6130087454479060419?l=welcomehomesoldier.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://welcomehomesoldier.blogspot.com/feeds/6130087454479060419/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://welcomehomesoldier.blogspot.com/2011/09/get-involved-volunteer.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/3986913492410927890/posts/default/6130087454479060419'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/3986913492410927890/posts/default/6130087454479060419'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://welcomehomesoldier.blogspot.com/2011/09/get-involved-volunteer.html' title='Get involved! Would you like to help build this greenhouse!'/><author><name>Welcome Home Soldier...</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/13258613165335295872</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-su4ZhtGjkmA/ToVCATJwbcI/AAAAAAAAABc/8XqbD_IhUD8/s72-c/Instructor-perimeter%2Bbenching.JPG' height='72' width='72'/><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3986913492410927890.post-7794510091410652300</id><published>2011-09-29T21:06:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2011-09-29T21:07:45.990-07:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Greenhouse'/><title type='text'>Help build a greenhouse for our Vets in West Haven, CT</title><content type='html'>&lt;!--[if gte mso 9]&gt;&lt;xml&gt;  &lt;w:worddocument&gt;   &lt;w:view&gt;Normal&lt;/w:View&gt;   &lt;w:zoom&gt;0&lt;/w:Zoom&gt;   &lt;w:donotoptimizeforbrowser/&gt;  &lt;/w:WordDocument&gt; &lt;/xml&gt;&lt;![endif]--&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: 14pt;"&gt;Our vets deserve our heartfelt gratitude for serving our country, and we are promoting awareness and seeking funding to build a greenhouse at the VA campus in West Haven, CT.   It is well known that working with plants and flowers – being part of nature -  has a therapeutic, nurturing and calming effect.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;!--[if gte mso 9]&gt;&lt;xml&gt;  &lt;w:worddocument&gt;   &lt;w:view&gt;Normal&lt;/w:View&gt;   &lt;w:zoom&gt;0&lt;/w:Zoom&gt;   &lt;w:donotoptimizeforbrowser/&gt;  &lt;/w:WordDocument&gt; &lt;/xml&gt;&lt;![endif]--&gt;&lt;!--[if gte mso 9]&gt;&lt;xml&gt;  &lt;o:shapedefaults ext="edit" spidmax="1026"&gt; &lt;/xml&gt;&lt;![endif]--&gt;&lt;!--[if gte mso 9]&gt;&lt;xml&gt;  &lt;o:shapelayout ext="edit"&gt;   &lt;o:idmap ext="edit" data="1"&gt;  &lt;/o:shapelayout&gt;&lt;/xml&gt;&lt;![endif]--&gt;  &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: 14pt;"&gt;The current garden program is limited to seasonal (0nly 90 days)  activity.  A greenhouse would allow for year-round participation.  Research shows that simply viewing plants has therapeutic rewards.  A greenhouse would have additional benefits for skills training and a permanent place for retreat and relaxation – an indoor natural sanctuary for patients, families and hospital staff – all of whom are under stress.  &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: &amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;;"&gt;The building would also be wheelchair accessible, providing an additional outlet for patient populations not now served.   A garden for the blind is also planned, yielding a unique sensory experience for all. The greenhouse would be completely climate controlled and have an ADA approved restroom.  Exotic/tropical plants, waterfall design, paved walkway and benches/table and chairs will all contribute to an environment conducive to relaxation and relief from the everyday nagging issues of stress, whether physical, mental, or both.  And it would be FUN!  Contact John Passander 203-757-0302 project leader &lt;/span&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3986913492410927890-7794510091410652300?l=welcomehomesoldier.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://welcomehomesoldier.blogspot.com/feeds/7794510091410652300/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://welcomehomesoldier.blogspot.com/2011/09/help-build-greenhouse-for-our-vets-in.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/3986913492410927890/posts/default/7794510091410652300'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/3986913492410927890/posts/default/7794510091410652300'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://welcomehomesoldier.blogspot.com/2011/09/help-build-greenhouse-for-our-vets-in.html' title='Help build a greenhouse for our Vets in West Haven, CT'/><author><name>Welcome Home Soldier...</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/13258613165335295872</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry></feed>
