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FOUR SEASONS BREEZE | DECEMBER 2023 51 We continue to organize a fund-raising activity for The Trevor Project for January 2024. This nonprofit organization provides suicide prevention and crisis intervention services for LGBTQ young people. We encourage you to visit their website at https://www.thetrevorproject.org/ and also to view the film, Trevor (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1geRc8LaZfs), which won the Academy Award in 1995 for Best Live Action Short Film and served as the basis for the creation of The Trevor Project. This month our selection for the Famous LGBTQ Americans series is Admiral Rachel L. Levine, a transgender woman, nominated by President Joe Biden and confirmed by the U.S. Senate in 2021 as the 17th Assistant Secretary for Health for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Levine is also the head of the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, one of the eight uniformed services. Its mission is to "protect, promote, and advance the health and safety of our nation" by responding to public health crises, national emergencies and international crises. Levine was born in 1957 and assigned male at birth. She was raised in Massachusetts. She graduated from Harvard College and Tulane University School of Medicine. Trained in pediatrics and adolescent medicine at Mt. Sinai Medical Center in New York City, she focused on treating the mental and physical health of children, adolescents, and young adults. She was also a Professor of Pediatrics and Psychiatry at the Pennsylvania State College of Medicine. During her 40s, Levine addressed her gender identity and began experimenting with her gender expression. By 2011, at the age of 54, she had fully transitioned. Subsequently, at Penn State Hershey Medical Center, she helped to develop what became known as the "Levine Policy" that defined gender identity and expression as protected categories in the institution's non-discrimination policies. In 2018, she was named Pennsylvania's Secretary of Health. She focused on Pennsylvania's opioid crisis, maternal health, and immunization rates among children. She issued an order regarding the anti-overdose drug, Naloxone, estimated to have saved thousands of lives by allowing police to carry the drug and Pennsylvanians to buy it without a doctor's prescription. In her present capacity as the 17th Assistant Secretary for Health, Admiral Levine is the highest-ranking openly transgender government official in the history of the United States. For a longer bio of Admiral Levine, go to the Rainbow Group's Facebook page or request a copy by emailing us at rainbowgroup@ myyahoo.com. ~ Dan Hazeltine and Frank Galvan Rainbow Group Travel Group Exploring the World Together In October, our meeting buzzed with excitement as 70+ members gathered. Greg Baxter dazzled us with insights on river cruises, and Jeff Geston shared his ocean cruise expertise. November was equally thrilling with three fantastic trips: exploring wind farms, indulging in L.A.'s Farmers Market, and visiting the Grove. December's meeting takes a pause, letting the holiday spirit take over. Enjoy the festivities with loved ones. We're back in January with more thrilling journeys and some great day trips. To join the Travel Group or change membership info, contact Irene at irenewelker55 @gmail.com, for all other questions or information call Joni at (661) 390-5512 or email me at jonitruelsen@yahoo.com. Wishing you a joyous holiday season! Stay safe and see you next year. ~ Joni Truelsen jonitruelsen@yahoo.com Community Garden Club Park West will be taking a detour from their usual garden-themed holiday event on Wednesday, Dec. 6 from 10:30 am to 12:30 pm. Their event will be covering beautiful ways to entertain with trendy "Butter-boards." Everyone will go home with their own little cutting board and the recipes for the butter boards. (You can be creative with your winter vegetables on a butter board.) The Garden Club is back on Saturday, Jan. 13 at 10 am in the RCN for our next free speaker event: Gardening and Critical Benefits to Your Well-Being and Health. The physical benefits have been well documented, but researchers are spotlighting the ways that gardening supports our mental well-being. These benefits are of value to all of us, especially as we age, whether we physically work in our gardens or just enjoy our natural surroundings. In addition, we will discuss gardening for our area during the winter months. In the meantime, enjoy the holidays! For info, email pwayne1@outlook.com. ~ Pat Wayne