By:Merle Citron
Max was an abused dog, so abused that as a puppy, Max lost the use of his hind legs when he was thrown down cellar steps.
According to Heather Edwards who adopted Max in early April, "Max was saved last November by Annie Trinkle of Animal Allies.
Today, Max is a sleek, loving and energetic 3-year-old. Many animal aid centers and veterinarians have worked to help Max recover the use of his hind legs. He has undergone physical therapy and receives acupuncture every week. Max has been to an orthopedic dog and cat specialist, a holistic vet in Fairless Hills, and the bills are paid by Animal Allies.
"Animal Allies is a truly wonderful group of people," Heather said. "Max’s legs are getting stronger every day, so much so that he no longer needs his special wheelchair."
Heather told me there is a Web site called www.abledogs.com for animals with special needs. Heather said Max hated his wheelchair, which could partially explain why he began to walk again.
"Although he still has trouble sitting easily, I think Max started to walk again because he is so motivated," she said.
Heather is probably right. Despite his wobbly legs, Max pulled her along for our entire walk on the towpath.
Heather is a perfect match for Max. She is a young woman who thrives on helping others, people as well as animals. Her educational background is in helping those with special needs. She graduated from Mt. Holyoke College and went to work at an education and retreat center. At the same time, she began work with dogs with disabilities.
Heather holds a master’s degree in an intensive special needs program from Simmons College. She has worked at the New England Center for Children and for the past two years, she has taught children with autism in Montgomery, N.J.
Heather said she loved living in Lambertville, but her landlord wouldn’t let her keep Max so as of June 1, Heather and Max moved. Our loss is Flemington’s gain.
Judy and Chris Colt, their 13-year-old son, James, their 17-year-old cat, Amadeus, and their 5-month-old black Lab puppy, Abby, live on the corner of Delaware Avenue and George Street.
Judy and Chris have been in town for 15 years. Their son is one heck of a ball player.
"Jamie is a fabulous baseball player, who has already been scouted for a traveling baseball team," Judy beamed.
Judy and Chris are both educators. Judy is a special education instructional support teacher in the Council Rock School District where she works with kids with special behavior and academic needs.
Chris taught at Lambertville Public School for eight years, and he now teaches computers at East Amwell Elementary School.
And then there’s Abby, the new kid in the Colt house. Abby is named after Abenaki, a boat the Colt family takes to get to their vacation retreat in Cliff Island, Maine.
I first met Abby as I watched with envy and amazement as she sat and stayed on Judy’s command at each street corner. I couldn’t believe my eyes. A few days later, my two dogs, Louie and Elliott, and I were on our walk down George Street when I espied Ron Gendaszek of Delaware Avenue contentedly sitting in the Colt backyard, reading while Abby romped in the yard.
Judy explained, "We desperately wanted a dog, and Ron lives across the street and is retired. He volunteered to come over and let Abby out during the day while we’re away at work. Ron is a wonderful man."
I agree.
Wendy Robert and her two young children, Summer Lee and Christopher, moved to North Franklin Street a few years ago.
In a very short time, Wendy has made friends with her neighbors. That’s probably because of her bright smile and her terrific gardening skills. Wendy loves to make beauty.
Two weeks ago, I had the pleasure of viewing the plantings she put in for her neighbor, Steve Skillman, who, in return, painted and installed lattice work for the front of Wendy’s house.
"I love to make gardens," Wendy told me, "and I love to barter. Steve knows how to build things, and so we bartered our skills. Some of my other neighbors are interested in having me make gardens for them, too. A few can pay me, which is great, and I intend to barter with others."
Any way you cut it, North Franklin Street is definitely in bloom this season, especially because of Wendy’s love of plants and flowers.
A few weeks ago while at Sneddon’s, Jackie Sneddon handed me a framed poem Joe Treceno of North Union Street wrote about Sneddon’s Restaurant.
Joe is an artist, who is also a poet.
"What got me started writing poetry was 9-11," he told me a few months ago. "It was like a dam burst. I’ve read my work at poetry group meetings at Elaine Restifo’s house, and some of my poetry is also in ‘The River,’ a local poetry publication."
If you’re in Sneddon’s, don’t forget to ask to read Joe’s poem. Father Leon of St. John’s Church is mentioned in it, and he loved it!
Carol Schoenleber is a very energetic woman who loves to teach.
She has lived in Solebury for the past 10 years, and we retired together from public school teaching in Ewing Township two years ago. Carol taught school for 30 years before retiring, 28 of which were spent in Ewing.
"I taught French, primarily, as well as English, and in the last five years before retirement, I made up and taught a course called human relations," she said. "I feel blessed that I was called to a profession where I truly feel I have made a difference in this world."
Carol also has taught yoga for many years. Working full-time as a classroom teacher is exhausting enough, but after she taught a full day of school, Carol also taught a yoga class for very stressed teachers.
I am glad to learn she teaches yoga at Mary Bode’s L’Avantage in New Hope.
"I have been practicing and teaching yoga since 1969," she told me. "That’s 33 years! The practice of yoga has kept me feeling young, flexible, strong from within, open-hearted and open-minded, connected with nature and more consciously devoted to my family and friends."
Since her retirement, Carol loves spending more time with her family, which has grown to include three grandchildren.
"I am finding grandmotherhood an extraordinary gift," she added.
Jan McCurdy of South Union Street told me she has taken Carol’s yoga class for years and says she loves it.
"It’s called Sivananda yoga," Jan explained, "and it’s very gentle, relaxing and stress-reducing. I go every Monday night, and I swear, it sets me right for the week."
Jan is a partner in a home help and care management company called Senior Care Management located in Pennington.
"We give advice and support as well as provide home health services," Jan explained.
She told me her husband, Bob, still works for the State of New Jersey in the Division of Medical Assistance and Health services.
"Our daughter, Sarah, is doing very well," she said. "She is very much the poet and will attend a school in Hamilton in the fall. Our son, Andrew, is an avid basketball player and will enter South Hunterdon in the fall.
And there you have it folks, a little chit and a little chat.
