Details

Written by Melissa Hellman

Published: 05 August 2014

Created: 05 August 2014

Last Updated: 05 August 2014

Hits: 8925

This week's Good Work section is a guest essay from Larchmont resident Mary Dell Harrington. Ms. Harrington is a writer and co-founder of the blog Grown & Flown  where this essay originally appeared. She is originally from Texas and has in past incarnations worked in television and media. In addition to her blog, you can find her writing on Huffington Post, ASPCA, Next Avenue, and 12 Most.

My introduction to Ms. Harrington came through my volunteer work at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital in White Plains. This campus is the hospital's dedicated psychiatric facility. One of my assignments is coordinating parts of the hospital's pet therapy program. I am continually inspired and impressed by the therapy dogs and their incredible handlers. This program brings so much joy to patients in the hospital and Ms. Harrington's essay perfectly captures the contributions and rewards of participation.

Mary Dell writes: I come from a long line of talkers, gregarious Texans who delight in telling tales and learning the backstories from strangers. My upbringing served me well while I worked in media, marketing NBC shows like the Smurfs or Saturday Night Live as story-telling opportunities. Yet now, as a pet therapy volunteer, I struggle to find words while watching my partner, a chocolate Labrador named Moose, communicate fluidly.

Five years ago, while casually thumbing through a New York-Presbyterian newsletter, a small-print headline "Volunteers with Dogs Needed" grabbed my attention. I was struck with the idea that this would be the perfect volunteer job, one that could help fill a growing gap in my life. With our eldest child a high school senior and the youngest increasingly independent, an empty nest loomed. Plus, I am a big dog lover – we have owned four Labs during our two-decade marriage. Yet the mostly likely candidate to be my partner, Moose, was still a rowdy and marginally obedient two-year old puppy, and I questioned his suitability.

Until we walked up the steps to the hospital for our initial screening, I had never set foot on the grounds although I had driven by the entrance hundreds of time. The buildings on the 200-acre wooded campus are set far away from the road, hidden from the nearby commercial hustle-bustle. It is was only after we arrived and checked in for our evaluation that I learned that this branch of NY-P is a psychiatric hospital whose roots in this spot go back to 1894.

That fall night, Moose was excited and I was nervous. My treat-filled baggie did little to help me prevent him from rushing toward other prospective therapy teams, terrifying the Yorkies and Bichons. He jumped up on Stacey, the evaluator, who, with her own leap of faith, accepted us into training beginning with an obedience class followed by the pet therapy course. Within six months, Moose had become a better (far from perfect) behaved dog and I learned the skills and protocol I needed to pass the Pet Partners certification test. Our assignment was to pay a visit every Monday to the "Second Chance Program," where our patients* (all names changed below) would be adults suffering from schizophrenia.

Every Monday we ride the elevator to the third floor, ring a bell and hear the key unlocking the door on the other side.

"Moose!" We are greeted with enthusiasm from a few of the residents. "Hey, hi, how are you? Are you coming to down to Pet Therapy?" I ask, encouraging them to attend.

Joey* crouches down and calls out loudly "Moose, Moose, come here." He tugs at the leash while we hurry down the hall. Petting, hugging, tail wagging commence.

We continue our walk toward the meeting room, stopping for two men seated on a hallway couch to give Moose quick scratches behind the ears. Some of the residents are asleep and others look elsewhere, disinterested.

Pet Therapy is an "elective" and those who attend are rewarded through a therapeutic strategy of positive reinforcement. When behavior points add up to a certain level, privileges like walking around the grounds or having meals off the floor are granted. Generally half of the thirty residents arrive or drift in and out. Sometimes people join but fall asleep during the session.

Moose and I have visited this unit for five years. We have seen many patients in their very first days when their health challenges seemed almost insurmountable. Some pace silently, join us for a while and leave. I talk about the cold outside, NFL playoffs and seek out any fans who might want to talk about their teams. I bring stacks of magazines I harvest from our house, hoping a cover photo might trigger an interchange.

I tell stories about Moose and our other dogs, past and present. I hear about their dogs, those they had during childhood and others given up when their owners could no longer care for them. Maggie* shows me a tattered photo of her teacup poodle, whom she misses terribly. Moose is a substitute and Maggie sits on the floor at every session giving him extensive belly rubs.

Anna* was afraid of dogs and never wanted Moose to come near. Over the months of our visits, she gained confidence in him (and me) and began to take the soft white baby brush I offer at each session. The first time, I held his head away from her. She learned to trust him and offered him a treat with a steady hand. On the last day before she was discharged, she asked to hug Moose which she did for a very long time. He leaned into her as a knot grew in my throat.

I sometimes talk about my life and our kids. When I discuss my daughter's soccer games, I am later asked if she won or lost. When our son graduated from college, they congratulated me, for him. When I travel and miss a Monday session, I am asked how my vacation was. We know little about each other but we share details of our lives.

The group is fluid, with men and women being dismissed and others taking their places. Many have spoken to me about their frustration of waiting for a bed to open in an adult house. One was a patient named Marlene* who left and, three weeks later, returned. Formerly a Moose-enthusiast, she turned her head away as we walked in.

We celebrate the holidays with cupcakes and Christmas cards. In July, on Moose's birthday, we sing "Happy Birthday" with more cupcakes. Weekly, I offer a bit of conversation but mostly I bring them Moose who, for a speck of time, is a comfort. Now a settled seven-year old, he is obedient and patiently cuddles with anyone wanting to draw him close. He leans into their hugs, often collapsing onto his back, paws up and readily accepting the attention and petting. (For a dog, really, it may not ever be better than this.)

And for me, what do I receive? Frequently, someone will look me straight in the eye and thank me for coming. Juliet* tells me "God bless you, Mary Dell." My words fail me and I struggle to croak back, "God bless you, too." My heart breaks for these men and women who face such serious health challenges. I wish them well when they confide that they are leaving and I pray they are successful. I pray for those who remain. Each Monday, I thank the group for being so friendly to Moose and me. He conveys his happiness with ears back and tail wags. I don't have the words to express my deepest gratitude.

If you are interested in learning more about pet therapy, visit www.thegooddogfoundation.org and www.petpartners.org. If you would like to learn more about volunteering at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, please visit www.nyp.org/volunteer. Do you have your own inspiring volunteer experience you'd like to share? Contact us at [email protected].

This piece originally appeared on Grown & Flown which you can find on Facebook and Twitter.

Details

Written by Joanne Wallenstein

Published: 14 August 2014

Created: 14 August 2014

Last Updated: 14 August 2014

Hits: 15047

Assistant Village Manager John Goodwin will be leaving Scarsdale to take a new job in the Finger Lakes Region as the Assistant City Manager in Canadaigua, New York. During John's four years in Scarsdale he's seen the Village through some tough times and thorny issues such as Hurricane Sandy and the tax revaluation. Goodwin was unfailingly polite, respectful and willing to help. Well-liked by his peers and residents too, Goodwin will surely be missed. We asked him a few questions about his experience here and plans for the future and here is what he shared:

When did you come to Scarsdale and how did you learn about the job? I was a recent graduate from Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy, SUNY Albany and had been working for several months for the Town of Rye as an independent consultant when my professor Bob McEvoy called and told me there was a great position open in Scarsdale. I applied shortly thereafter and started in Scarsdale on March 1, 2010.

What was your prior educational/work experience? I received my BA in Political Science from the University at Albany in 2008 and my MPA from Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy, University at Albany in 2009. During my time in Albany, I had interned for the New York State Assembly, New York State Racing and Wagering Board (now New York State Gaming Commission), New York State Department of Civil Service and with the Schenectady County Manager's Office. I also spent time as an independent consultant for the Town of Rye prior to coming to Scarsdale.

What are some of the initiatives that you worked on? What are you most proud of? I have been active with many projects in my time with the Village, but am most proud of the stormwater management projects such as the South Fox Meadow Stormwater Improvement Project and Library Rain Garden Project. I know that I am not the only one to drive out to Cooper Green and George Field Park during a rain event to witness the detention basins filling up and see the benefit to the community.

What were some of the biggest challenges of the position and what did you enjoy about the job? Every day brings a different challenge, some bigger than others, but that is what makes the municipal management enjoyable.

What do you anticipate will be the big differences between life in Westchester and life upstate? There are cultural differences between Downstate and Upstate some more obvious than others. The difference, especially Western New York is the amount of snow! I am a native Western New Yorker and can deal with the snow and have seen the cultural differences first hand. The example that I always note is that in Upstate, when you walk down the street and pass someone you look them in the eye and say good morning; where that is not common custom in Downstate. Another example is that I will be able to call soda by its true name again, "pop."

Tell us something about Canandaigua: Where is it? How big is it and what are the issues they face? Canandaigua is a small city in the Finger Lake Region about 30 minutes south of Rochester. It is a beautiful community located on the top of Canandaigua Lake. I am from Olean, NY which is about 2 hours southwest from Canandaigua, so I will be a lot closer to my family.

Like most municipalities in New York, the major issue is maintaining municipal services with the 2% Tax Cap. Canandaigua also has some major re-development projects that will need to be managed and coordinated. Another issue that is not too dissimilar to this area is protecting the watershed. The Finger Lakes Region is driven by the lakes, so protecting that vital resources is an important issue.

What is the title of your new job and what responsibilities will you have? I will be the Assistant City Manager. I will be responsible for a wide variety of administrative work, human resources and budgeting work.

What will you miss when you leave? I will miss working with the dedicated people that serve Scarsdale every day. It is the people that live and work in Scarsdale that make it special and I will miss them. I am a father of two young children and in reading them a story the other day, I came across a line in Winnie the Pooh that sums it up nicely, "How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard." I have been very lucky to have had the opportunity to work with and learn from many wonderful people here and saying goodbye is hard.

Details

Written by Joanne Wallenstein

Published: 31 July 2014

Created: 31 July 2014

Last Updated: 31 July 2014

Hits: 9213

Team Strong As Steele swam in Swim Across America 2014 on Saturday, July 26 and raised over $55,000 to raise awareness for cancer research, prevention and treatment through swimming-related events.

The team, composed principally of Scarsdale residents, swam in Long Island Sound in Larchmot in memory of Will Steele, a marathon runner in his mid-30's who died of a rare form of cancer, leaving behind his wife and three young children. Overall, more than 500 swimmers participated in the event, swimming distances of 2K, 5K and 10K, and raising more than $1.1 million on behalf of Swim Across America.

Scarsdale participants on Team Strong As Steele included: Eldad Blaustein (5K), Peter Doyle (2K), Josh Glantz (10K), Razy Hirschberg (2K), Debra Hyman (2K), Joe Kaufman (10K), Blaine Marder (5K), John Needham (10K), Doug Rachlin (2K), Chip Rich (5K), Miles Rubin (2K), Joel Talish (2K) and Carol Wolfe (2K). Chris Shannon also participated with the team as a volunteer kayaker.