Paws of War Helping Children with Autism by Pairing Them with a Service Dog

April was Autism Awareness Month and the first anniversary of the autism pilot program by Paws of War. A year ago this month, they paired a child with a service dog, and they are pleased to say that it›s been a successful program so far. When 11-year-old Cale’s dad was deployed with the U.S. Marines, it created a lot of anxiety and stress in his son, who has autism. Paws of War stepped in and provided the child with a service dog named Lexi, and it’s made a world of difference.

“This is the first time we have placed a dog with someone who has autism, so we are excited that we can help in this situation. This is a dedicated military family to whom we are thrilled to give back,” explains Robert Misseri, co-founder of Paws of War. “Unfortunately, not every child with autism will benefit from a service animal, but in Cale’s case, it’s ideal. It’ll help him navigate anxiety and sleep issues, and Lexi will play many roles in his life as a service animal and therapy animal. It’ll give Cale the ability to give back. We know the dog is perfect for Cale, and he will work with Lexi regularly with a trainer to accomplish everything he wants.”

Cale lives in Alexandria, Virginia, with his parents, Brandi and Chris Nolting. Chris serves in the U.S. Marines and often works demanding hours. During this, Cale becomes deeply unsettled, struggling with insomnia, anxiety, and being overwhelmed. Nothing worked to help him, so he had to resort to medication. During a doctor’s visit, Cale met a therapy dog, and his parents noticed how he gravitated to the dog and was comfortable in his presence.

That chance encounter led to reaching out for assistance from Paws of War, which typically provides service dogs for Veterans with traumatic brain injuries and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, the organization has the means and wants to help a hero’s son - knowing the difference service dogs make.

Misseri delivered Lexi, a rescued 3-yearold English cream, to the family to ensure she would be the perfect match when Cale and Lexi instantly connected. She has been by his side since. Cale is doing well, and he and Lexi have formed a strong bond. His level of distress has greatly reduced, and the hope is that he will be able to gradually reduce his medication as he becomes even more confident and can regulate his routine.

Cale also feels much more confident now that he has Lexi by his side during stressful situations like school assemblies or fire drills. In fact, she even helps him get through difficult conversations with other kids who don’t understand his disability. The bond between these two has grown stronger every day since they met last spring. Cale has also been able to learn responsibility through his training with Lexi. He knows that he must care for her as she cares for him, and this has helped him develop an understanding of the structure and outcomes of his actions.

“They can rely on each other. With her being a rescue, she can learn from Cale, I hope. They can grow together and have a better foundation among each other,” adds Chris Nolting. “If we could do anything to further Paws of War’s cause, it would be a win for everybody if other kids like Cale were able to receive similar support.”

The presence of a service dog in the home brings peace of mind to military members who have to leave for deployment - knowing the dog is a comfort to their child and the family. Service dogs provide friendship, confidence, and calming ability to children who find social interaction and many daily situations over-stimulating, and the dogs offer calm reassurance. They can reach children on a level that other people often can’t. Paws of War provides ongoing training for Lexi and assistance for the family. To help support the pilot program, visit its site at: http://pawsofwar.org. To see Cale’s story, visit YouTube

According to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, 1 in every 68 children has autism spectrum disorder. It’s a condition that affects children from all racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic backgrounds. They report that there is no “cure” for autism

May 12, 13, 19, 20

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May 21 3pm spectrum disorder, but several interventions can help children learn essential skills that improve everyday life.

Paws of War currently has three other service dogs in training. Due to the success they have seen with Cale, they will be placing the other dogs as well. Currently, they are providing service dogs to children of veterans, active military, and first responders.

Paws of War has been operating worldwide since 2014, helping the military save the animals they rescue while deployed overseas. They have helped veterans with numerous issues, including suicide prevention, service and support dogs, companion cats and dogs, food insecurity, veterinary care, etc. Paws of War has a large loyal following of supporters and looks forward to working with new corporate sponsors to support these life-saving programs. To donate, visit its site at: http:// pawsofwar.org

About Paws of War

Paws of War is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) charitable organization that assists military members and their pets, rescues and trains dogs to be service dogs and provides companion animals to veterans. To learn more about Paws of War and the programs provided or donate, visit its site at: http:// pawsofwar.org.

The action is set in Truvy’s beauty salon in Chinquapin, Louisiana, where all the ladies who are “anybody” come to have their hair done. Helped by her eager new assistant, Annelle (who is not sure whether or not she is still married), the outspoken, wise-cracking Truvy dispenses shampoos and free advice to the town’s rich curmudgeon, Ouiser, (“I’m not crazy, I’ve just been in a bad mood for forty years”); an eccentric millionaire, Miss Clairee, who has a raging sweet tooth; and the local social leader, M’Lynn, whose daughter, Shelby, is about to marry a “good ole boy.”

Filled with hilarious repartee and not a few acerbic but humorously revealing verbal collisions, the play moves toward tragedy when, in the second act, the spunky Shelby (who is a diabetic) risks pregnancy and forfeits her life. The sudden realization of their mortality affects the others, but also draws on the underlying strength—and love—which give the play, and its characters, the special quality to make them truly touching, funny and marvelously amiable company in good times and bad. Play running time 2 hours and 20 minutes (includes a 15-minute intermission)

$25 $20

NJ Starz: Mark Piatkowski Hometown: Rockaway

By Steve Sears

Mark Piatkowski certainly has had his success as an American Rally car driver, he the overall 2022 Sno*Drift Rally winner as well as the 2021 American Rally Association LN4 National Champion. He now has attained another goal, racing in Europe for the first time in his career. In March, Piatkowski took part in the 2023 Rally Della Val D’Orcia, which is the opening round of the Italian Gravel Championship. More on that in a moment.

Piatkowski lives in Rockaway, but he grew up in East Brunswick. “Central Jersey is certainly close to my heart,” he says. “Having grown up there, I know the area like the back of my hands. It is a great place to grow up, it is half of south Jersey and half of north Jersey. You have both the Taylor Ham, egg, and cheese crowd, and you also have the Pork Roll crowd. It is funny how they both mesh together.”

Piatkowski feels it is most important to speak about his father, from whom his passion for rally racing stemmed. Andy Piatkowski grew up in Poland, and he in the 1970’s was a rally racer in his homeland, and then in the 1980’s in the United States. Piatkowski says, “When I was born in 1990, it was in my blood. I have been to a rally every year since I was two years old.” His first was the national level Pennsylvania Susquehanna Trail Performance Rally. “I have a lot of fond memories there, but it is not like he (his dad) has ever pushed me into it. For me it was inevitable because it was just in my blood. I have always held a Matchbox car or Hot Wheels car in my hand since I can remember, so it was only a matter of time before, I would not even say caught the bug, but that I began rallying myself.”

Piatkowski, 33, attended and graduated from East Brunswick High School, and then went on to study business and marketing at Montclair State University, from where he graduated in 2012. He is Senior Director of Marketing at Freedom Mortgage.

Piatkowski was 20 years old when he took part in his first race in 2010 – at the Pennsylvania STPR – so things had come full circle for him, and his first rally car was his first “regular” car: his beloved Subaru. Piatkowski says, “I have I have a lot of sentimental value for those cars. When I got my license, I drove the car for a little bit, and then I would say a year later, I started stripping it and building it for my eventual first rally. It was all self-funded, and based on what my dad had taught me and what I was reading online, it was a learning experience. It was just a matter of time before I got out on the on the racing circuit.”

Why a Subaru? There is an interesting backstory, and Piatkowski tells it. “When I was growing up, there was a famous rally car driver called Colin McRae. He won the world championship in 1995 in a Subaru. I was five years old at that time, and my dad was also looking for a new car, and I said, ‘You have to try Subarus!’ Since 1995 he has had a Subaru ever since, and that is how our love affair for that brand started. Before Subaru was heavily involved here in America, both my dad and I were huge fans of them.”

Piatkowski’s first Subaru has been sold. “I upgraded to a newer model Subaru, but the car that I race right now here in the States is that same model from back in 1995 when they won the world championship,” Piatkowski explains. “It is crazy to say that that car is like vintage for me. I have bolted a lot of modern parts to it and made it quite modern, but it certainly takes me back, and I think I am proud to say that this is a car that when I was growing up won a world championship but has also won several championships for me as well. It also brings me back to my childhood, for sure.”

Piatkowski at age 23 was the Eastern Open Light Champion early in 2013, and Rally America named him Eastern Region champ that same year. “It was kind of the chunk of a dream come true,” Piatkowski says. “For me it was a great milestone. Obviously your first whatever in life is so special, and your first championship that you have worked hard for was certainly a milestone. But I did not want it to end there; it was just a stepping-stone for the next big thing, and that is how I framed it. I am not one to look back; I am always looking forward and asking myself, ‘What’s next?”

After his 2013 win, Piatkowski eyed national level success. He bought a higher-class Subaru with funds from the sale of his first car, in addition to his college budget funds. “It didn’t go very well,” he says. “Stuff was starting to break, and you need to take shortcuts because you do not have funding to do things properly. That is when that dream fell apart because of the lack of funding and then, also to write it all off, I had a big accident.”

He purchased a third Subaru, continuing to stay with a vehicle that was both familiar and cost-effective, and in 2021 entered a national competition. Piatkowski says, “As I kept doing events, I kept winning my classes and doing well not only in my class, but so much on overall scale that halfway throughout the season, a lot of my friends were calling me saying, ‘You have a great chance at winning the national title. You should really consider this.’ I won my first national championship (the ARA LN4), which was honestly a dream come true. Especially when you do not plan for that at the beginning of the year.”

The one major challenge Piatkowski has had is attaining funding. All his racing endeavor funds have primarily come from himself. “I have pretty much done everything with my own two hands, from building my car, towing my car to events, to gathering up a team of friends and volunteers, and financing everything. It is a lot of work, but it is certainly very rewarding when it all comes true,” he explains.

Entering and driving with a Volkswagen Polo N5 car in Italy, Piatkowski had his power steering fail early in the race, and he had to drop out. He does not, however, let it get him down. “Having won the national championships and having won a rally outright, I went further than I would have ever imagined was possible with my machinery. I was really longing for the next thing on how to kind of progress as a driver, progress in my skill set, and trying not only new experiences overseas, but also trying faster machinery. And so that is what led me to start exploring different options in Europe.” When his power steering broke, he was second in his class against drivers more familiar with the roads and vehicles being used. “To be an American on their soil and to do well for me was an accomplishment, and I also made a lot of great contacts.”

Rally driving has, according to Piatkowski, prepared him well for his busy career and professional life. “It has shown me a good work ethic, that maintaining a cool, calm, and collected manner is good professionally. To take everything in a levelheaded stride, trying to be calm throughout the whole process not only works well in the car, but also works well professionally.”

Moving forward, Piatkowski still has his vision in international competition. “Where I stand in life, it will certainly be trying to give it my all and rally, seeing where I can be on an international scale. I think I still have a shot. Being 33 years old may seem to some people from a sporting perspective that I am actually quite senior, so I think this is my time to shine. These next I would say five or so years are my time to try to make whatever moves I can on an international scale. I would certainly like to take the experience that I have learned and see what I can do. I am just trying to fulfill a dream and see how far it can go.”

Piatkowski is also exploring mentoring and coaching younger drivers in his future. “My experience so far that I have had is probably more than a lot of people in the United States, so I am slowly starting to see if I can coach some people both from a racing perspective, or a mental perspective, or logistics perspective. As I grow more senior in my career, I will certainly explore coaching and being a mentor, seeing if I can kind of cultivate new and younger talent. I will take a slightly different seat as a grow older.”

For more information about Mark Piatkowski, visit www. MAP-Rally.com

Almost every get together – whether it’s family, friends or neighbors – always has one dish that’s the star of the show time after time. It’s usually a staple dish, but that doesn’t always mean it’s the main course.

It can be a side dish that pairs with almost everything else on the table. The kids gobble it up, and the adults ask “Can I have that recipe?”

Side dishes can be some of the most enjoyed foods at every meal. There is a large variety of options and a multitude of possibilities and variations of almost each and every classic side dish.

There are a lot of elements that go into making a stellar side, however. It must have lots of flavor and the seasoning needs to be on point.

Next time you’re looking for a versatile, delicious side dish nearly everyone will love, try these Horseradish Mashed Potatoes. They have a perfect potato texture and are full of creamy goodness with a horseradish kick to savor.

To make these potatoes, start with 2 quarts of water in a large pot. Add 1 teaspoon of salt and 3 pounds of Yukon Gold potatoes then boil 15-20 minutes. Reserve 1/2 cup of water from the pot.