A Winsted resident who hosts one of the most recognized radio shows in the region will be honored next month by the Connecticut Main Street Center (CMSC) during the organization’s annual Main Street Awards Gala Monday, June 6, at the Warner Theatre’s Nancy Marine Studio Theatre in Torrington.John Dankosky, news director at WNPR and host of the network’s live call-in show, “Where We Live,” will accept a Connecticut Light and Power (CL&P) Award for Outstanding Contributions to Main Street Revitalization on behalf of the network and his popular radio show, which explores timely events and issues in communities throughout the state.Already a winner of numerous journalism and broadcasting awards, Dankosky said this week that this particular award is special for him. “When people who don’t have to give you an award just give you something out of the blue and clearly understand what you’re trying to do, that makes you feel good,” he said. “We’ve been focusing on a lot of the same issues that Main Street organizations have been focusing on for years.”Dankosky, 41, moved to Winsted 12 years ago with his wife, Jennifer, and has watched with interest as the town’s Main Street has evolved. A public Main Street Enhancement Project completed its first phase in the early 2000s, and Winsted became an official Main Street community under the guidance of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Locally, the Friends of Main Street organization maintains Winsted’s membership with the CMSC.“In one of our early shows we did a walk-and-talk down Main Street in Winsted, but we’ve been to Norwich and a number of other Main Street communities,” Dankosky said. “Community revitalization is a big topic for us. We really want to focus on communities that are trying to revive themselves in some way.”Some Main Street projects seem to catch on faster than others, but Dankosky said it is the shared enthusiasm among all of the people involved that he sees as inspiring and newsworthy. “One of the real positive things about Main Street projects is you have built-in activists who can talk about their work toward revitalization. It may not be entirely successful right away, but they all seem to point in a positive direction.”Dankosky was a resident of Hartford and prior to that, Pittsburgh, before settling in the Laurel City. “We were living in the West End of Hartford and we wanted to buy a house,” he recalled. “We knew about Winsted because we had been coming out to the Gilson Theater, this place where we could have food, drink beers and watch a movie. We started coming out on Saturdays and Sundays because we liked the place a lot.”The Dankoskys settled on a Hillside Avenue home and have been happy residents ever since. “We love living here,” he said. “It’s a nice part of the world. We hike on weekends and travel to Great Barrington and the Berkshires all the time. We’re thrilled to be close to so much interesting stuff.”A broadcaster and journalist for the past two-plus decades, Dankosky is also a jazz aficionado and drummer. He regularly engages in a bit of historic preservation of his own by interviewing noted jazz musicians. One of his favorite memories is an onstage interview with Dave Brubeck at the Litchfield Jazz Festival in 1998 (www.cpbn.org/program/where-we-live/episode/dave-brubeck-and-paquito-driv...). During state and federal elections, Dankosky organizes up-to-the-minute coverage of the polls on Connecticut Public Radio and each day manages some of the most information-filled news broadcasting in the world. Each day, he finds the time to deliver a live, hour-long broadcast of “Where We Live,” which in the past week has covered health care reform, reactions to the death of Osama bin Laden, a discussion of Afghanistan and Pakistan with Congressman Chris Murphy, a small business breakfast in Bridgeport and what it means to have good friends in your life.The CMSC’s annual awards ceremony will take place Monday, June 6, 5 p.m., at the Nancy Marine Studio Theatre, 69 Main St., Torrington. A Welcome to Main Street reception will be followed by the presentation of awards. For more information, visit www.ctmainstreet.org.
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Marsala is eager to go home with you.
Tiffany Lemelin, shelter manager, brushing Marsala upon arrival.Provided
The Little Guild is an animal shelter at 285 Sharon-Goshen Turnpike in West Cornwall. Founded in 1957, the organization rescues animals from local surrenders and under-resourced shelters. When a rescue animal arrives at The Little Guild, staff begins a careful intake and transition process to ensure the animal is safe, healthy and ready for adoption.
New arrivals are quarantined in-house. Vaccinations are verified as up to date, and staff assesses each animal’s medical, behavioral and placement needs. Rescues receive medical care, daily support and behavioral training to ease shelter stress. Once a dog has finished quarantine and is ready for a home, its profile is published at littleguild.org.
Michael DeBarba, certified dog trainer working with Marsala.Jennifer Almquist
Prospective adopters fill out an online application with information about their household and veterinary and personal references.
The next step is for the prospective adopter and family members to meet the dog. If there is already a dog in the household, a meet-and-greet is scheduled so the dogs can get acquainted.
The animal care staff offers guidance based on its knowledge of each animal’s personality, needs and quirks to help families find the best fit.
Marsala wins a heart.Jennifer Almquist
Once a match is made, the adoption contract outlines aftercare. Adopters agree to return the animal to The Little Guild if the adoption doesn’t work out. The organization’s commitment continues after adoption, with six months of free training and follow-up from staff to answer questions or address concerns.
“Please don’t pass Marsala by,” Lemelin said. “He loves people and other dogs. He’s a lap dog who lives for snuggles, cuddles and face kisses. Marsala deserves a family, a soft bed and a lifetime of being chosen.”
To find out about Marsala and other rescue dogs and cats, visit littleguild.org
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Sampson, a playful and independent blind hound mix, explores the rescue’s large yard.
Though she takes in dogs of all ages, including some with disabilities — and one resident cat — the rescue’s motto is “Giving old dogs new lives.”
Sadie, center, a Carolina dog, plays with her friend Negra, a terrier mix. Bella Linda, the small poodle, has since been adopted.L. Tomaino
Sadie, a sweet Carolina dog, was the first to greet visitors.
“She could really use a home,” Meade said.
Then came Bonnie and Clyde, rat terriers; Negra, a small terrier mix; Sampson, a blind hound mix; and Jay Z, a terrier mix who was emaciated when Meade took him in and has since filled out, with fur regrowing over previously bald patches. Wesley, a young, shaggy mix whom Meade calls “a very good boy,” is also in need of a home.
Wesley, a young, exuberant mix, is looking for an active home.L. Tomaino
Meade began rescuing dogs after going to Waterbury to adopt one and learning that, by the end of the three-day weekend, the dogs she was looking at would be euthanized to make room for others.
She went home and started her rescue in New Preston, Connecticut. After five years there, she moved to California, where she rescued dogs from overcrowded pounds for 13 years.
Meade, a busload of dogs and her cat moved back to the Northeast a little more than a year ago.
Ninety-nine percent of the dogs at the rescue come from pounds, both locally and in California and New York City.
“We are more than happy to place dogs with older people, and we are also willing to give support after the adoption,” Meade said, noting that some rescues will not adopt to people over 60.
Bonnie and Clyde, an affectionate terrier pair.L. Tomaino
For those who cannot adopt, the rescue needs donations of old blankets, dog and cat food, cleaning supplies, puppy pads and dog treats. Monetary donations are also welcome and can be made through the rescue’s website. Meade also welcomes volunteers to help with the dogs.
Contact Meade at 805-239-4004, 860-866-7986 or 4dots@att.net to arrange a visit or drop off donations. For available dogs and more information, visit meadecaninerescue.org.
Newtown Veterinary Specialists
For Berkshire County residents, VCA All Caring Animal Hospital, 440 Stockbridge Road in Great Barrington, can be a nearby first call. The full-service hospital offers diagnostics and hospitalization and asks clients with an emergency or a pet requiring immediate attention to call rather than use its online contact form. It is not a 24-hour emergency hospital, however. Current hours are 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday. It is closed Sunday. Call 413-528-8020.
Poughkeepsie also has several options for urgent care. Creature Comforts Animal Hospital, 64 Pine St., is a full-service veterinary hospital offering emergency and critical care during regular business hours. The hospital treats dogs and cats as well as birds, reptiles and other exotic pets. Hours are 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. It is closed Sunday. For after-hours emergencies involving dogs and cats, the hospital refers patients to regional emergency facilities. Call 845-625-2474.
Community Animal Care, 269 Titusville Road, offers urgent and emergency care during operating hours and asks pet owners to call ahead. Regular hours are 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday. Urgent care is available daily by calling ahead, with extended hours until 9 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays. The practice also offers after-hours veterinary triage by video to help owners determine whether a pet can safely wait or should be taken to a 24-hour facility. Call 845-471-7459.
When an animal needs care in the middle of the night, on a holiday or for a potentially life-threatening condition, the options become more limited.
Guardian Veterinary Specialists, 4 Hardscrabble Heights in Brewster, is a 24-hour emergency and specialty hospital, open seven days a week, 365 days a year. Its emergency department is staffed around the clock, with on-site imaging and laboratory services. No appointment is necessary for an emergency, although calling ahead is encouraged when possible. Call 914-704-3400.
Provided
Newtown Veterinary Specialists, 52 Church Hill Road in Newtown, Connecticut, also provides emergency care 24 hours a day, seven days a week, including holidays. No appointment is required for emergency care, although the hospital recommends calling ahead when possible. Call 203-270-8387.
Pet owners should remember that emergency veterinary hospitals operate much like human emergency rooms in that patients are triaged according to the severity of their condition, so animals with less critical problems may have to wait.
The best preparation is simple. Keep the number of your regular veterinarian and at least one 24-hour emergency hospital in your phone, and know roughly how long it will take to get there. If circumstances allow, call before leaving home to confirm where your pet should be seen.
When something goes wrong at 10 p.m. on a Sunday, knowing where you’re headed can make a frightening situation a little less overwhelming.
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