INSIDE Habitat for Humanity honors long-time volunteers for service > See page 3
Volume 62, Number 14 • April 6, 2017
Oilville native Wright serving aboard USS Lake Erie. See page 10 Diving right in: Raley hits the pool for a good cause
Contributed photo
According to Goochland Fore/EMS Chief Bill MacKay, this Maidens Road blaze on March 31 cost over $650,000 in damage.
Two houses destroyed by separate fires Both homes were located in areas without access to hydrants, says fire chief
Contributed photo
Goochland Schools superintendent Jeremy Raley wasn’t content to sit on the sidelines during a recent school trip. Instead, Raley joined nearly 50 students from Byrd Elementary during a Learn to Swim class at the Goochland YMCA. For more on this story, see page 8.
Volunteer ‘puppy raisers’ making big impact
By Roslyn Ryan Editor
Last week was a devastating one for two Goochland families after two separate fires left each without a home. Authorities are still investigating the cause of the March 31 blaze that left a Maidens Road home completely destroyed. According to Goochland Fire and EMS Chief Bill MacKay, fire crews responded to 1581 Maidens Road just after 11:30 a.m. and found the see Fires > 3
But for volunteer puppy raisers like Oilville resident Jenifer Strozier, saying goodbye to a dog is an act of love. As volunteers with Canine Companions for Independence (CCI), a national non-profit organization providing highly trained assisBy Roslyn Ryan tance dogs for children and adults with disEditor abilities, Strozier and her husband Owen help For most dog lovers, voluntarily handing prepare dogs for an intensive training program over a beloved pup is not something they that will ultimately lead to the animals being matched with the people who need them. would ever be willing to consider.
Residents help socialize dogs before they begin service animal training
The first puppy Strozier’s family raised, a black lab/golden retriever cross named Elana, is now serving as an assistance dog for a young girl with Down ’s syndrome. Established in 1975, Canine Companions for Independence is the largest non-profit provider of trained assistance dogs in the United States. Relying on donations — and the work of dedicated volunteers like Strozier see Volunteers > 9