2017 November PASO Magazine

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RESTORATIVE PARTNERS COMES TO PASO The Language of Humanity Survive to Thrive CHAPTER 2 By Chuck Desmond Last month in PASO Magazine, we explored the foundation of a relatively new program called RESTORATIVE PARTNERS. We'll now look at this important work being specifically done in Paso to help women suffering from addiction to rebuild their lives. I know you still have last month's issue so might I suggest you read (or re-read) that chapter beginning on page 40 before starting this one. Addiction doesn't play favorites. It's ruthless and it'll take whomever it can snare. Here in our county, it's hard to imagine there are women who are trafficked. It happens. Often to gain control over them, drugs are introduced and from then on, addiction owns its slaves until there is an intervention. And even then, it probably won't “hold” unless there are follow-on programs for the few who have a chance to break free. Children, soccer moms, stressed dads, the homeless, unemployed, the privileged and the not-so-luckys are all prone to drug and alcohol abuse that leads to escalating crimes. That's bad enough, but what is far worse is the ripping-apart of families — principally, children who are taken away and put into the foster system. Too often, the father in the picture is long gone and the moms are deemed unable to care for the children. They are so close to the edge that only a slight nudge can knock them spinning out of control. When these are piled up on the back of a 'usually younger' woman, it's simply being boxed in with nowhere to go and no way out. Awful! For everyone! And, it exists right here in our safe pueblo! Most people agree that humans are born with an innate hidden-gene to be good and caring. It's “life” that shapes the course of that path toward either end of the bell curve. Each of us undoubtedly knows folks on both ends. When Sister Theresa Harpin began Restorative Partners, one of the first things on the list was having children of the women she served, to be in reunited families. Fund-raising to pay for children's transportation is always on-going. Children-Jail-Addiction: three words that don't belong together, do they? How in the world does one get people coming out of jail for substance-abuse and a criminal lifestyle back together with their families and start over? Bigger still — how does one keep the cycle from Sister Theresa Harpin repeating itself — and, how are people and resources to be found who can put those programs together? As the committed-to-sobriety men and women are scheduled for release, they have to be ready and that requires help. The call for help went out. Everyone has uttered the words,“There but for the Grace of God, go I.” Soon, big-hearted, dedicated and caring people began to come out of the woodwork. Their saying became,“There but with the Grace go I.” Mentors, funds-raisers, retired professionals, community members, Cal-Poly faculty and interns signed on to help Sister Theresa and her work. Sister was much more at ease in her comfort zone of South SLO County. She knew her way around, knew the people and she knew the issues and challenges of her mission to 'get in the face of addiction's victims' and do something about it. Up here in Paso, it was foreign territory. Two homes in Los Osos — one for men and one for women — were acquired and began Restotative Partners is the work of many hands. Please see RESTORATIVE page 18 16 PASO Magazine, November 2017
November 2017, PASO Magazine 17
Page 1: PASOMAGAZINE.COM
Page 4 and 5: 4 PASO Magazine, November 2017
Page 6 and 7: CONTENTS NOVEMBER A Monthly Look at
Page 8 and 9: CONTENTS NOVEMBER 2017 DEPARTMENTS
Page 10 and 11: Wrapping my head around the enormit
Page 12 and 13: THIS ‘N’ OPERATION CHRISTMAS CH
Page 14 and 15: PASO PEOPLE filled downtown Paso Ro
Page 18 and 19: Mighty Oaks leaders create resource
Page 20 and 21: ROUND TOWN Every time I ask someone
Page 22 and 23: TRAVELING REUNION OF VIETNAM VETERA
Page 24 and 25: Beyond waving flags, salutes and pa
Page 26 and 27: VETERANS DAY ACTIVITIES 2017 World
Page 28 and 29: By Meagan Friberg oin all of us at
Page 30 and 31: NEIGHBORS from page 28 • Monetary
Page 32 and 33: “I would like to thank and honor
Page 34 and 35: Organizers are officially seeking d
Page 36 and 37: PASO’S POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS A NE
Page 38 and 39: WHAT’S HAPPENING in Templeton thi
Page 40 and 41: COUNTY PERSPECTIVE ROUND TOWN By Br
Page 42 and 43: BUSINESS GROUNDBREAKING SET FOR SPR
Page 44 and 45: LOCAL GOODS REPORT MORNING GLORY FA
Page 46 and 47: What’s Happening By Millie Drum o
Page 48 and 49: EDUCATION & CULTURE A GALA CONCERT
Page 50 and 51: A HOLIDAY FAMILY TRADITION By Heath
Page 52 and 53: By Melissa Chavez Founder and direc
Page 54 and 55: THE NATURAL ALTERNATIVE NUTRITION C
Page 56 and 57: SPORTS SNAP AFTER SNAP, THE BEARCAT
Page 58 and 59: HOOFBEAT By Dorothy Rogers In all o
Page 60 and 61: Nov. 3-5 California Cow Horse Assoc
Page 62 and 63: By Melissa Chavez All events are ch
Page 64 and 65: TIME & PLACE GriefShare All Saturda
Page 66:
LAST WORD PASO CARES Opens The Warm
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