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Archive for BORP General Interest – Page 2

Don’t Wait to Renew Your CA State Parks Disabled Discount Pass

By Bonnie Lewkowicz on March 19, 2018 1 Comments

Image of Distinguished Veteran Passes and Disabled Discount PassesEffective March 1, 2018, old cardstock Distinguished Veteran Passes and Disabled Discount Passes are no longer valid and will not be accepted at any State Park for associated benefits. In order to receive the discounts associated with these passes, all individuals are required to reapply with a new application and proof of disability.

The new passes are available either by mail, with supporting documentation, or in person at one of State Parks district offices. The closest office to the San Francisco Bay Area is in Petaluma. Go here for a complete listing of offices. If mailed, park’s website says it may take up to 8 weeks. For questions or more information, please contact the Park Pass Sales Office at (800) 777-0369 ext. 2 or (916) 653-8280 or via email at passinfo@parks.ca.gov.  Download the application. Neither the park pass nor the application is available in large print or Braille.

Categories : Access Northern California, adventures-and-outings, BORP General Interest, Uncategorized

CAL/BORP Goalball take on CSB Goalball

By Jonathan Newman on February 15, 2018 No Comments
Group picture of CAL/BORP and CSB Goalball players

Group picture of CAL/BORP and CSB Goalball players

On Tuesday, February 13, the UCB Goalball Team in collaboration with BORP Goalball went to the California School for the Blind (CSB) in Fremont to play the CSB Goalball Team.

The CSB staff and students showed tremendous support for their team with a pep rally and 100% attendance for the rally and game. Spectators crowded the gym and the game was broadcast into the CSB multi-purpose room for those who couldn’t make it to the gym.

The CSB players showed big improvement since games at BORP on December 13, 2017, and fired up by their home court crowd kept the game close into the 2nd half. At that point, the CAL players asserted themselves and used their superior defensive teamwork and offensive firepower to pull away from the young CSB-ers.

Thanks to CSB Coach Caiti O’Mallor and all the players, students and staff at CSB for a great day of goalball!

Thanks to the CAL/BORP team for making the trip so successful and to BORP for the transportation.

Categories : BORP Adult Sports, BORP General Interest, goalball

Farewell and Thank You to BORP Driver, Joe Melancon! +Meet BORP’s New Drivers

By Sarah-Dawn Smith on February 15, 2018 No Comments
Joe behind the wheel of the BORP Bus

Joe behind the wheel of the BORP Bus

Everyone here at BORP wishes to express our gratitude for Joe Melancon, our BORP bus driver who retired at the end of 2017. Joe safely transported program participants for many years. He applied his knowledge of Bay Area backroads, highways and byways to ensure the best route possible for BORP adventures. The youth enjoyed talking to Joe about school, music, sports, and life goals during their shuttles. Joe’s cheerful nature, story sharing, and bonus tour guiding will be sorely missed! We hope to see him at BORP functions this year and possibly riding at the Cycling Center.

 

Meet our new part-time BORP bus drivers: 
We welcome Michael Connor to the BORP team! He has experience working in the nonprofit sector and with youth and adults with physical disabilities. He enjoys the outdoors, driving, and has been a great driver and support on outings.
We welcome Mahasin Musawwir to the BORP team! She has experience working with youth and seniors with physical disabilities and loves the community that BORP serves. She is excited to share her excellent driving skills with the youth and adult program participants.
Categories : adventures-and-outings, BORP Cycling, BORP General Interest, BORP Transportation, BORP Youth Sports

Basketball Season Underway for BORP Youth

By Betsy Dorsett on December 14, 2017 No Comments
The Jr Road Warriors (group shot) before playing at Oracle Arena

The Jr Road Warriors (group shot) before playing at Oracle Arena

The BORP kids have had a great couple of months as they have prepared for the beginning of the season. The kids were able to play a pre-game scrimmage at the Warriors game on Nov. 24, just before the Warriors took on the Chicago Bulls at Oracle Arena. After a few nervous minutes on the court, Ben Thornton took over and ran the court like a pro. Cutting through the defense he was able to score at will. Ella Rodriguez settled down to start hitting her outside shot and kept the scrimmage exciting.

Thanks to everyone that supported the event by purchasing tickets to the game.
The Varsity team went on to open their season at the Western Regional Tournament in Phoenix, AZ. The team is in a rebuilding year, having lost several of their starters from last year, and are in a position where all the kids are having to understand new roles within the team. The kids had a rough tournament, going 0-5 on the weekend, but were able to get better each game and really start working with each other much better. Only five players made the trip, which meant that there were no substitutions or breaks for the kids.  As much as it is never fun to lose, the team was amazing at how they continued to work their butts off through the weekend. They played until they dropped and at the end of the day they pretty much passed out on the bus.
It was a great trip, even with the losing record, and the team is already working hard to prepare for the next tournaments in January.
Categories : BORP General Interest, BORP Youth Sports, youth-wheelchair-basketball

BORP Goalball Invitational XXIII Recap

By Jonathan Newman on December 14, 2017 No Comments

In my various roles during the BORP Goalball Invitational, I am generally too busy to reflect on the events and tenor of the day while it is happening.  And year XXIII was no different as we crammed 12 exciting games into an 8-hour period. However, in immediate contemplation post-competition (and with the help of a cold beer(s)), I was most struck by the camaraderie among the athletes and teams and the support the veteran players provide to the less experienced. So, while this event is very much a competition, for me it also embodies the sports experience at its best for the athletes, spectators, and volunteers! It wouldn’t be possible without all of you!

Scot Goodman Galleries:

Gallery on Smugmug
Gallery on Facebook
Please contact Scot for purchase or permission to use his photos: sgoodman@lmi.net

Bryanna Stubbert throws the ball

Bryanna Stubbert throws the ball

GAME 1: Honey Badgers versus Seriously! Seriously! was not able to field a full squad for this game and played with only 2 players: Bryanna Stubbert and Brandon Young. The Seriously! 2 put up a valiant fight but Honey Badgers were able to find the gaps and hold off Seriously!’s late surge and won 7-4. Chris Lucero had 4 goals for the Honey Badgers and Brandon Young had 4 on the losing side. The Badgers other 3 goals came from Michelle Yoo.

GAME 2: Replicas versus Walking Dead. Two powerhouse teams took the court and both came out firing bombs! Replicas took an early 3-0 lead behind Joe Hamilton’s 3 goals but that lead was gone in a jiffy as Grej Pesjaka scored 5 unanswered goals in a minute and a half to put the Dead up 5-3 at halftime. In the 2nd half the Hamilton/Pesjaka duel continued but the Replicas slowly crept ahead as Replicas’ Roger Acuna found the net for 2 critical goals. The Replicas again fashioned a lead late in the 2nd half and their defense steadied just enough in the final 3 minutes to capture a 10-8 victory. Joe Hamilton had 8 goals for Replicas and Grej Pesjaka had 8 for the Walking Dead.

GAME 3: Seriously! versus Cal Bears. Early nerves put Cal in a 4-1 halftime hole as the defense was slow to get into gear. Seriously!’s goals in the 1st half came from Mandy Gargano (3) and Brandon Young (1). The second half was more of the same as Young (2) and Gargano (1) led Seriously! to a 7-2 triumph over the Bears. Sergio Lopez and Tiffany Zhao each had a goal for Cal.

Christella Garcia throws the ball

Christella Garcia throws the ball

GAME 4: Honey Badgers versus Replicas. An early goal by Replicas’ Christella Garcia was the only score in the 1st half as both teams played superlative defense. In the 2nd half the Replicas built their lead to 3-0 with goals coming from Garcia and Casimir Werda. Starting at the 3:22 mark the Honey Badgers offense came alive and goals from Lucero (2), Jeshua Aveno (1) and Yoo (1) put the Badgers ahead 4-3 with 14 seconds left. This only left time for one more throw from the Replicas’s and Garcia made it count with a goal and a 4-4 tie.

GAME 5: Cal Bears versus Walking Dead. A re-grouped Bears team shed their first game jitters and took a 3-0 lead in the 1st half with goals from Lopez (2) and Jessica Adams (1). Walking Dead’s Pesjaka led a 2nd half surge with 5 goals but the Bears kept up their scoring as Lopez tallied 3 and Adams 1 to earn a 7-5 win.

GAME 6: Seriously! versus Replicas. Replicas blistered the nets throughout the 1st half and took a 6-3 lead with goals from Hamilton (3), Acuna (2) and Garcia (1). Both teams came out with a defensive mindset in the 2nd half and shot after shot was blocked with each team getting only one more goal and Replicas eventually taking the 7-4 win.  Replicas final goal tallies were: Hamilton 3, Acuna 3 and Garcia 1 while Seriously! had 2 from Khemnesuel Fisher, 1 from Bryanna Stubbert and 1 from Young.

GAME 7: Walking Dead versus Honey Badgers. Walking Dead got an early goal and never took their foot off the gas pedal against the Honey Badgers. Badgers got 2 late goals in the 2nd half but no answer for the Dead onslaught and lost 9-2. Dead goals came from Pesjaka (5), Victor Hakopian (2), Jon Marcotte (1) and Elena Hodges (1). Honey Badgers’ Aveno and Lucero had 1 goal each.

GAME 8: Replicas versus CAL Bears. Team defense was the story of this game with Replicas Building a 3-1 lead behind goals from Acuna (2) and Micah Aveno (1). In the 2nd half Cal scored an early goal to pull within 1 but could not break through and lost the nail-biter 3-2. Sergio Lopez scored both Cal goals.

GAME 9: Walking Dead versus Seriously!. Young and Fisher led the offense for Seriously! while Pesjaka was in top form for Walking Dead. When the dust had settled Dead had an 8-6 win with all 8 goals coming from Pesjaka. Fisher (4) and Young (2) had the Seriously! goals.

Jeshua Aveno dives to block the ball.

Jeshua Aveno dives to block the ball.

GAME 10: Cal Bears versus Honey Badgers. Brilliant defense characterized the first half of this match. At halftime, the score was 1-1 with Lopez scoring the Bears goal and Aveno the Badgers lone tally. The 2nd half was similar through the first 2 minutes but then the Bears went on a goal-a-minute spree, with 2 goals each from Lopez and Adams, and rolled to a 5-1 triumph.

With Pool Play complete the matchups for the playoffs were set with Walking Dead facing Honey Badgers in the 3rd Place game and Replicas and Cal Bears in the title match.

GAME 11: 3rd Place: Walking Dead versus Honey Badgers. In pool play Walking Dead had made quick work of Honey Badgers but the 3rd Place game was a different story. Both teams were in good defensive form and half #1 ended in a 2-2 tie. Dead’s 2 goals came from Hakopian while Badgers got 1 apiece from Aveno and Lucero. In the 2nd half the Badgers crept ahead 4-2 with goals from Aveno and Lucero, but that lead evaporated quickly as the Dead’s Pesjaka blasted 3 quick goals through the Badgers defense. The Badgers got a tying goal (5-5) from Yoo with 1:35 left but Pesjaka found the net one more time with 40 second left and secured the 6-5 3rd Place victory for the Walking Dead.

Cal Bears embrace after winning the tournament

Cal Bears embrace after winning the tournament

GAME 12: 1st Place: Cal Bears versus Replicas. The Bears who started the day with a shaky defense, re-found their mojo to get in the title game while the Replicas used their all-around game play throughout the day to earn their spot. Cal owned the first half and the first 6 minutes of the 2nd half and had a 4-0 lead with 1 minute left behind 4 goals from Lopez. Quick back-to-back goals from the Replicas’ Hamilton put the result in doubt with 32 looong seconds left. However, with the game on the line, Cal tightened up their defense and won the title of BORP Goalball Invitational XXIII, 4-2. Go Bears!

billEnd of an Era

Bill Johnson, BORP goalball volunteer, for almost 3 decades is moving to Grant’s Pass Oregon.  BORP Goalball commissioned a tribute book for Bill from Scot Goodman including photos from his career at BORP and the following text.

“Bill Johnson Loves Goalball!

And the BORP Goalball Program and all our participants benefited from that love for almost 30 years. Bill wore every hat the program has, including: player, coach, referee, driver. floor taper, fundraiser, team sponsor (Autopsychic.com) and ambassador. Nearly every week (thanks, Teresa) Bill showed up early to help set up the court, coach early arrivals and rookies, play, referee, shag balls, clean up and ferry people to BART or Lane Splitters for post-practice “analysis”. Known in his playing days as InvinciBill (or InvisiBill) he is definitely IrreplaceaBill and his contributions to the long term success of BORP Goalball will never be eclipsed.”

Individual scoring totals for BGI XXIII (1st number) and career  (2nd number)

Cal Bears
Lopez: 15, 70
Adams: 4, 19
Zhao: 1, 2
Cabrera: 0, 3

Replicas
Hamilton: 13, 114
Acuna: 7, 121
Garcia: 4, 34
Aveno: 1, 1
Werda: 1, 1

Walking Dead
Pesjaka: 30, 47
Hakopian: 4, 127
Hodges: 1, 1
Marcotte: 1, 21

Honey Badgers
Lucero: 9, 14
Aveno: 5, 5
Yoo: 5, 13
Salazar: 0, 0

Seriously!
Young: 10, 180
Fisher: 6, 94
Gargano: 4, 10
Stubbert: 1, 10

Brother versus sister: Jeshua Aveno scored 5 goals for Honey Badgers and finished in 4th Place while Micah Aveno had 1 goal for Replicas but finished in 2nd Place.

THANKS

Group shot of players and volunteers at the BORP Goalball Invitational XXIII

Group shot of players and volunteers at the BORP Goalball Invitational XXIII

As with every tournament, there are numerous people and businesses that contribute to the success.

SPONSORS

BORP – 23 years – www.borp.org

Nakashima Fine Arts – 23 years – www.nakfinearts.com

Sue Johnson, Custom Lamps and Shades – 22 years – https://www.suejohnsonlamps.com/

Scot Goodman Photography – 22 years – https://scotgoodman.smugmug.com/

Vision Faire Optometry – 18 years – https://www.visionfaire.com/

Zander Associates, Environmental Consultants – 17 years – http://www.zanderassociates.com/

Ikeda/Greenwood Family – 8 years

Golden Gate Labrador Retriever Rescue – 5 years – http://www.labrescue.org/index.html

Special thanks to Delta Gamma, Gamma Chapter for billions of hours of volunteer support (tournament, BORP and Cal Programs) and Kate Simonds DG for coordinating volunteers for the last year

And a note of appreciation for event support to James Kenney Community Center staff, Kim’s Sandwiches, Alliance Graphics, UC Berkeley Goalball.

All Day volunteers! Scot Goodman, Leslie Zander, Victoria Cabello DG

VOLUNTEERS – morning and afternoon
Bill Wyatt
Mariah Gasch DG
Maeve Hanafin DG
Loring Barker
Susan Adams
Johnetta Kollie
Leslie Zander
Janet Ziegle – 20 years
Larry Joe
Don Misumi
Phil “Wheats” Wiegand – 20 years
Nicole Lipe DG
Amanda Wiley DG
Bre Bianchi DG
Chasiri Sherron DG
Emma Sims DG
Jesse Grove DG
Claire Jilbert DG
Andy Jokelson – 20 years
Madison Javier

Categories : BORP Adult Sports, BORP General Interest, goalball
Tags : Adaptive Sports, borp, BORP Goalball, Disability, goalball

New Reservation Requirements at Muir Woods

By Bonnie Lewkowicz on December 8, 2017 No Comments
Picture of fence-lined trail through redwoods at Muir Woods

Picture of fence-lined trail through redwoods at Muir Woods

Beginning January 16, 2018, reservations will be required to visit Muir Woods for all vehicles, including those needing accessible parking, and shuttle riders. Visitors will have the option to reserve either a vehicle parking space for $8 per car or a seat on the shuttle for $3 per adult. A vehicle or shuttle reservation provides the visitor with a timed arrival with no restriction on the length of stay for the remainder of the day. Reservations can be made online or by phone beginning January 1.

The shuttle is wheelchair accessible and can accommodate 2 people in wheelchairs. Shuttle pick up locations are at the Pohono Street Park & Ride Lot in Sausalito and the Sausalito Ferry Terminal. It will run every weekend and holiday beginning January 20, 2018, and on weekdays during peak summer months.

This plan is being implemented to address the significant increase in visitation to the park that has caused major traffic congestion and overcrowding. Click here for more information.

Categories : Access Northern California, adventures-and-outings, BORP General Interest

Ride the BORP bus from Monet, to Manet, to Matisse

By Sarah-Dawn Smith on October 18, 2017 No Comments

BORP BusDid you know the De Young and Legion of Honor Museums in San Francisco have Access Days? These occur on one or two Mondays during their temporary exhibitions. The entrance and guided tours are reserved for those who would benefit from visual, hearing, or mobility accommodations. Do you want to plan a group trip for your staff, clients, or organization members? This is just one example of many local trip destinations. BORP vehicles are accessible, which makes it possible for your entire group to travel together to destinations that would be difficult to reach with basic public transport. We seek opportunities to serve more organizations in our community!

If you are interested in planning a group trip and want information on how a BORP bus could help with your transportation needs, contact BORP Transportation Coordinator, Sarah-Dawn Smith, at transportation@borp.org or call (510) 849-4663 x 1378 or MOBILE (949) 205-9058.

BORP’s accessible group trip transportation service is made possible by funding from Alameda County Transportation Commission through the Special Transportation Program for Seniors and People with Disabilities (Measure B funds). This service is aimed at improving the mobility of people with disabilities and increasing access to sports and recreation activities by supplementing conventional fixed route service and addressing the current gap in accessible group trip options for youth and adults with disabilities in Alameda County.  More information about this project can be found on our website and at alamedaactc.org.

Categories : adventures-and-outings, BORP General Interest, BORP Transportation
Tags : Accessible Transportation, Transportation

Helping Victims of North Bay Fires

By Betsy Dorsett on October 18, 2017 No Comments

This week’s fires in the North Bay have impacted the entire Bay Area, including the BORP Community. We were deeply saddened to learn that Christina Hanson was a victim of the fire in Santa Rosa and send our condolences to her friends and family. Christina was a BORP youth program participant from 2002 to 2006 — Click here to read a touching tribute to Christina from childhood friend and former BORP teammate, Christine Burke.

We have been in contact with many BORP participants who have been displaced as a result of the fires to ensure they have everything they need. All those impacted are invited to join a Facebook group we’ve set up to connect the BORP community with resources, temporary housing, and to meet other needs as they emerge.

BORP has hosted the annual Revolution Ride & Festival in Sonoma for 15 years and each year the community opens its arms to help us organize this important event, with local businesses and groups donating everything from coffee and bagels to pop-up tents and water coolers. We are deeply indebted to the region now devastated by fires. We reached out this week to ask the BORP community to donate supplies for shelters serving evacuees and you responded generously and selflessly, bringing enough bedding, air mattresses, toiletries, water, and other items to fill the large BORP van. We delivered those items on Thursday morning to a distribution center in Benicia, CA and from there they will be sent to shelters across the region based on their needs.

When one distribution center volunteer saw the van full of supplies, she exclaimed: “You all are amazing.” We couldn’t agree more. Thank you to everyone who donated goods.

Van full of donated supplies for victims of North Bay fires.

Van full of donated supplies for victims of North Bay fires.

Categories : BORP General Interest

Serene Lodging Atop Mt. Tamalpais

By Bonnie Lewkowicz on October 18, 2017 2 Comments
West Point Inn's Accessible Emig Cabin

West Point Inn’s Accessible Emig Cabin

Perched on the upper south slope of Mt. Tamalpais is the historic West Point Inn; a magical getaway close to the San Francisco/Bay Area. Built in 1904 as a stopover and restaurant on the Mill Valley/Mt. Tamalpais Railway line, this rustic inn sits above the fog belt offering stunning panoramic views of the East Bay, San Francisco, the Marin Headlands and one tower of the Golden Gate Bridge. At night stars fill the skies.

Rustic and accessible don’t often go hand in hand but this gem of an Inn is one exception with the caveat that the one-mile dirt road to reach the cabin may be problematic for some lowered floor vans due to road erosion; driving slowly helps. The Emig Cabin, a purposefully built accessible cabin (the other cabin and Inn rooms are not accessible) was built summer 2017 and features a private bathroom with a roll-in shower, a double and twin bed, and a small porch. Reclaimed wood paneled walls from Marin Municipal Water District’s water towers enhance the rooms rustic charm. Unlike the other cabins or guest rooms at the Inn, the Emig cabin has electricity, heat, and hot water.  There is an accessible path of travel connecting the Emig cabin to the Inn and van accessible parking—the Inn is hike-in only unless you have a disabled parking placard. Other features of the Inn, all of them accessible, include a community kitchen, dining area, large living room and a spacious deck with expansive views. Guests will need to bring their own bedding and food; there is none on-site or nearby. Escape to this special place and you will likely not want to leave but to continue the magic, from the inn you can drive a short distance to the top of Mt. Tam and hike the wheelchair accessible Verna Dunshee loop trail.

It’s best to make reservations by calling the innkeeper, 415-388-9955. Rates for non-members are $50 per person and require a two-person minimum per-cabin / per-night.

Categories : Access Northern California, adventures-and-outings, BORP General Interest
Tags : accessible cabin, cabin, camping, hiking, Marin, Mt Tam, Mt. Tamalpais, Northern California

Remembering Christina Hanson

By Christine Burke on October 16, 2017 2 Comments

Christina HansonOn October 9th former BORP Bay Cruiser, Christina Hanson, tragically lost her life in the wildfires that devastated Wine Country. Christina’s family has lost a daughter, the disability community has lost one of their own, and on a personal note, I have lost a childhood friend. Growing up, my parents often talked about our summer playdates at the pool and get-togethers at the Spina Bifida Association’s picnic events. As we got older, I fondly recall trips to Christina’s house where we couldn’t wait to start on our latest art project venture, all of course while being serenaded by the greatest Canadian pop diva of all time, Celine Dion. Aside from seeing Christina at Saturday basketball practices, we also found ourselves attending many of the same sports camps. Christina brought a sweet presence wherever she went; my heart truly breaks for her father Michael, whose love for his daughter was a force to be reckoned with, and stepmother Jennifer, who was a fierce advocate and warrior for Christina. Rest peacefully, you are loved and will be greatly missed.

 

A memorial fund has been set up for Christina’s family. Click here to donate.

Categories : BORP General Interest, Uncategorized
Tags : In Remembrance, Northern California, Santa Rosa Fire, Tubbs Fire
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