Dennis Leonardi - Board President
Lea Nagy - Secretary
Jacob Rosen - Vice President
Dylan Feierabend - Treasurer
Our Staff
Stuart Altschuler
Shannon Chavez, MD
Our Staff
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4th Anniversary Speaker Highlights
Waterfront Celebrates Staff Graduations
College of the Redwoods Spring 2022 graduation was a family affair for Waterfront Recovery Services. Staff member Jeremy Campbell shown here with WRS Medical Director Dr. Ruby Bayan (above left) and WRS Board member and CR professor in the Addiction Studies Program, Stuart Altschuler (above right). Campbell graduated with 3 degrees!
AS Social Work & Human Services
AA Liberal Arts: Behavioral Social Science Addictions Studies Certificate
Randy Patton, WRS SUD Counselor (right) with Professor Altschuler graduated with an Addiction Studies Certificate.
Community Steps Up To Honor
John McManus and Support WRS
Sunday June 5th. Click here for info.
John McManus 1964 - 2022
raising the bar for care in our community. McManus walked the walk and showed others the way. We will forever be indebted to this tenacious and compassionate man.
Family, friends and community collaborators came together at his memorial to celebrate the life of this powerhouse that ended too soon due to ALS. Speakers shared stories about McManus as loving father, smart, compassionate advocate, amazing musician and most of all, hilarious friend. Laughter marked most interactions with him and this occasion was no different. There was a general sense of appreciation that we had this wonderful man in our lives.
It is with great sadness that we acknowledge the passing of Alcohol Drug Care Services’ Executive Director and Waterfront co-founder John McManus. He was a fearless, street-smart visionary who insisted on
Waterfront Celebrates Four Year Anniversary!
Waterfront Recovery Services observed our 4th Anniversary on November 1st with a celebration that especially honored co-founder, John McManus. Guests, staff and officials from local government and health agencies shared stories about all of the hard work and the unique collaborations that served to raise the bar for delivering Substance Use Disorder services in Humboldt County. Details in slide show below.
Our lobby is now dedicated to co-founder John McManus.
John and Dr. Bayan greet attendees.
Mike Wilson delivers Humboldt County Board of Supervisors Resolution
Miles shares his working and personal relationship with John McManus.
Eureka City CSET officers work closely with Waterfront.
Joy shares a message from Martha Shanahan, St. Joseph Health Community Investments Manager.
Board members Caren and Jon listening to speaker.
The head of Humboldt County Health & Human Services talks about working with WRS.
Eureka City Mayor Susan Seaman and Supervisor Mike Wilson smile for the camera.
As always, Jesse, Jessica Pearson and the WRS kitchen staff make holiday celebrations special. Halloween was no exception this year. The food was great and staff went all out with their costumes!
Don’t Go Alone
Support comes in many ways, but having someone you trust by your side at gatherings can provide a sense of added comfortability during times when we may feel triggered. During the holidays we may be in the company of people who do not fully believe in us, which can lead to a variety of feelings. But to have another person with us who fully supports where we are in the recovery journey can bring balance and strength to those moments.
Volunteer
Volunteering at local food banks or other places is a great way to feel connected if you feel isolated during the holidays. Volunteering at places providing free holiday meals is a way to be around others and feel a sense of self-worth in giving back.
Self-Care
The holiday season can be incredibly stressful and triggering. Taking care of ourselves during this time is often overlooked, but when we allow the time and space to give back to ourselves we can truly enjoy special holiday moments even more.
Start a New Tradition
Traditions had to begin somewhere, and the holiday season is a great time to start something new. This is an opportunity to bridge relationships into the future with the people who we are close with. The best thing about traditions is that there are no guidelines to what is considered special. Gather with your close friends and family and have a discussion on a collective experience that would bring joy to everyone involved during this time of year.
Holiday Outings
Holiday outings are often equated with a financial burden. However, there are many different ways to gather that are very low cost, or even better, no cost at all. Here are a few suggestions:
Drive/Walk around to explore decorated neighborhoods
Christmas movie night w/ popcorn and hot chocolate
Board games
Baking cookies
Spend time in nature
Be Kind to Yourself
Most importantly, be kind to yourself. We often feel obligated to others during the holiday season which can leave us with a multitude of feelings, and simply exhausted. This is a great time of year to give yourself permission to sleep in or go to bed early, to treat yourself with something our of the ordinary, or to just simply allow yourself to breathe. The most important part of the holiday is you, so be kind to yourself!
Free Local Thanksgiving Meals
If you are alone for this Thanksgiving there are a variety of places offering free holiday meals.
Follow this link for places to visit:
https://lostcoastoutpost.com/2023/nov/20/need-meal-heres-list-places-serving-free-thanksgiv/
Healthy Holiday Celebrations
Waterfront decorations are always a part of the the holiday cheer from Jesse & Jessica Pearson and their crew.
As always, Jesse, Jessica Pearson and the WRS kitchen staff make holiday celebrations special. Halloween was no exception this year. The food was great and staff went all out with their costumes!
Don’t Go Alone
Support comes in many ways, but having someone you trust by your side at gatherings can provide a sense of added comfortability during times when we may feel triggered. During the holidays we may be in the company of people who do not fully believe in us, which can lead to a variety of feelings. But to have another person with us who fully supports where we are in the recovery journey can bring balance and strength to those moments.
Volunteer
Volunteering at local food banks or other places is a great way to feel connected if you feel isolated during the holidays. Volunteering at places providing free holiday meals is a way to be around others and feel a sense of self-worth in giving back.
Self-Care
The holiday season can be incredibly stressful and triggering. Taking care of ourselves during this time is often overlooked, but when we allow the time and space to give back to ourselves we can truly enjoy special holiday moments even more.
Start a New Tradition
Traditions had to begin somewhere, and the holiday season is a great time to start something new. This is an opportunity to bridge relationships into the future with the people who we are close with. The best thing about traditions is that there are no guidelines to what is considered special. Gather with your close friends and family and have a discussion on a collective experience that would bring joy to everyone involved during this time of year.
Holiday Outings
Holiday outings are often equated with a financial burden. However, there are many different ways to gather that are very low cost, or even better, no cost at all. Here are a few suggestions:
Drive/Walk around to explore decorated neighborhoods
Christmas movie night w/ popcorn and hot chocolate
Board games
Baking cookies
Spend time in nature
Be Kind to Yourself
Most importantly, be kind to yourself. We often feel obligated to others during the holiday season which can leave us with a multitude of feelings, and simply exhausted. This is a great time of year to give yourself permission to sleep in or go to bed early, to treat yourself with something our of the ordinary, or to just simply allow yourself to breathe. The most important part of the holiday is you, so be kind to yourself!
Free Local Thanksgiving Meals
If you are alone for this Thanksgiving there are a variety of places offering free holiday meals.
Follow this link for places to visit:
https://lostcoastoutpost.com/2023/nov/20/need-meal-heres-list-places-serving-free-thanksgiv/
Healthy Holiday Celebrations
Waterfront decorations are always a part of the the holiday cheer from Jesse & Jessica Pearson and their crew.
Music Program Honors Co-founder McManus
As a way to honor co-founder and talented musician, John McManus, Dr. Ruby Bayan has added a Sunday afternoon music program that aligns with the Waterfront inclusion of creativity in the healing process. Facilitated by staff members Wade Mallett and Jamie George, residents and program graduates gather to share and learn music, often joined by some of McManus’ musician friends and family. Generous donations of instruments from the community are greatly appreciated. Full story on our Community page.
Waterfront Celebrates 5th Anniversary!
On November 1st we celebrated the 5th anniversary of Waterfront Recovery Services. The year seems to have zipped by with so many changes and challenges that it almost got away from us! The 4th anniversary celebration focused on honoring our visionary co-founder, John McManus. He lost his battle with ALS in May and we have been working hard to fill the void he left. Our team is doing an amazing job of staying true to the mission and growing into the long-term Waterfront Recovery Services vision.
On this 5th anniversary, we have so much to celebrate. Medical Director and co-founder Dr. Ruby Bayan formally introduced our new Executive Director Jeremy Campbell to those in attendance. Some of those in attendance have been collaborators from the beginning and some are new partners from other parts of Northern California working with us to implement the crisis triage center. This was the last project John McManus prioritized as his health declined. It’s incredibly rewarding to now have a team of professionals, local and from other regions, engaged and contributing to making this much needed program a reality. We’ll keep you updated as this exciting project develops.
Two program graduates who now work at Waterfront shared their stories and touched hearts. As always, the food from the kitchen was beautiful and delicious!
Staff member shares her success after going through program. With Dr. Bayan and Director of Admissions Jamaica Bartz.
Martha Shanahan, St. Josephs Health Community Invesatments Manager has been with WRS from the beginning.
Board chair and sister of co-founder, John McManus celebrate WRS 5th anniversary.
Staff member shares her success after going through program. With Dr. Bayan and Director of Admissions Jamaica Bartz.
Wishing a Happy and Healthy Holiday Season to All
The holiday season is in full swing at Waterfront, led as always by the amazing Jessica and Jesse Pearson from our kitchen. The comfort and caring they bring creates a sense of family - and includes family! They start shopping for gifts early. This year warm socks and blankets for residents. In December Toys for Tots is their go-to for the children of Waterfront clients. Jessica demonstrates gift wrapping and her mom sews stockings for everyone. Decorations and fabulous food make the holidays festive and fun and most importantly healthy and sober!
