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Suburban News & Hamlin-Clarkson Herald.
September 17, 2017
Issue No. 38
www.westsidenewsny.com
NORTH EDITION
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Hilton-Parma
Second annual Dog Bowl comes to Spencerport by Tami Raco The second annual Dog Bowl fundraiser, designed to help support Freedom Guide Dogs, will be held at Spencerport Bowl on October 1 from 1 to 4 p.m. Freedom Guide Dogs is a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization based in Upstate New York, which breeds, raises, trains and places guide dogs with the blind and visually impaired through a distinctive program called Hometown TrainingTM. Freedom Guide Dogs’ services are available to people in the Eastern United States at no cost. Eric and Sharon Loori founded Freedom Guide Dogs 25 years ago. Many successful placements have been
Yellow Lab Guide Dog as a puppy and now as an adult. Provided photos.
LaForce Gazebo. Provided photo.
Gracious gardening Hilton resident uses her gardening expertise to make village sign welcoming by Grace Griffee Driving into Hilton from South Avenue, one cannot help but notice the beautiful flowers and decorations around the “Welcome to the Village of Hilton” sign. Such a display doesn’t happen by accident. It’s the work of Donna LaForce, who lives nearby in her 1870s home that she shares with her husband, Richard. The village installed the sign in 2009 and one year later, LaForce decided that the property around it could use some prettying up. So that Memorial Day weekend, she began buying flowers during her trip to visit her daughter, Shari, who lives in Maryland. When she returned home, she supplemented them with flowers from local farm markets, and added in a few decorations. “I pick a different theme each year,” said LaForce. “This year, I’m using a gazebo that was the card box at my daughter’s wedding years ago. I thought it was appropriate because of the gazebo in the village.” As for the flowers, LaForce said that she has to choose varieties that will tolerate direct sunlight due to the location. She credits her neighbor, Douglas Speer, for keeping the grass around the sign looking like a golf course. “He cuts it every two or three days and even mulches it by cutting it twice,” she said. LaForce’s own gardens at her home of 40 years are equally impressive. She finds time for her hobby in between working 40 plus hours at the Kathleen Anne Tenny Animal Shelter in the village. She began volunteering there even before it opened in 2002. “Every year I look forward to see what Donna does and I am so impressed with it! It’s great to have residents that take such pride in where they live,” said Mayor Joe Lee. “I encourage anyone who lives near or passes by any of the other three signs to consider ‘adopting’ one. It would be a perfect neighborhood project.”
Black Lab Guide Dog as a puppy and now as an adult. Provided photos.
accomplished and are attributed to their own dedication and that of those who work with them in the process of readying a guide dog for placement. Puppies begin their training from a young age. They play on little obstacle courses with toys, and while they happily interact with humans and each other, they are increasing their balance, patience and mental acuity. The puppies are then raised by volunteers called “Puppy Raisers” for approximately one and one-half years, some of which are located right here in the Rochester area. They are socialized, house broken and cared for with dedication and love, prior to beginning their training as guide dog partners for the blind and visually impaired. According to Jeff Butterman, area Guide Dog Trainer, “Training a Guide Dog takes time and dedication.” The placement of the Guide Dogs is done at no charge to the recipient. That is accomplished through fund raising and donations. There are several ways to participate in this great event. To help support the Freedom Guide Dog program, either send a donation to Freedom Guide Dogs or attend the bowling fundraiser at Spencerport Bowl for bowling, food and fun. All proceeds go to the Freedom Guide Dogs. For more information, visit www.freedomguidedogs.org or contact Jeff Butterman at 964-8815.
The Judo Club at The College at Brockport. Tom Flaherty, a Freedom Guide Dog graduate (front), and his guide dog partner Biscuit. Provided photo.