Northwestern Connecticut Community College (NCCC) held its eighth annual Jeopardy Challenge on Friday, March 14, at the Founders Hall auditorium.This year’s tournament had the most student teams and competitors ever with six teams: the History Association, the Student Senate, Phi Theta Kappa (PTK), the Vet Tech Club, the Criminal Justice Association and the Early Childhood Education Club.Each group had to raise at least $250 as an entry fee, which is all donated to a charity chosen by participants.This year the teams collectively raised $1,750 for the Connecticut Food Bank.Playing host and “Alex Trebek” for the night was event organizer and history professor Todd Bryda, with college President Barbara Douglass taking part as a judge.“Our students are all awesome,” Douglass said. “I look forward to doing this every year. The Jeopardy tournament is something I never want to miss because there’s such enthusiasm and good sportsmanship at the tournament. To me, a good way to win at Jeopardy is to be quick on the buzzer but also being certain with your answer. You can only take a chance sometimes when you play Jeopardy because chances are very risky in this game.”In an interview before the game NCCC student Ben Schutz, who played on the PTK team, said he does not think there is a clear strategy when it comes to playing Jeopardy.“All you can do is try to answer questions,” Schutz said. “You never know what the questions are going to be. When you play Jeopardy, studying beforehand does not ever help You just have to be on your toes. Plus, Professor Bryda always has a poker face. He maintains a constant look. But we’re never stressed when we play.” Before the game, Erik Cain from the History Association said the association would win this year’s tournament.“Of course we’re going to win, we’re the smartest people here!” Cain said. “Our strategy? We’re going to know all the answers. I have a trivial mind.”While Schutz said his team would win this year’s tournament, Cain disagreed.“PTK? Win?” Cain said. “The ones who said last year that Mount Rushmore was in New Hampshire? No way.”“You just had to bring that up again,” Schutz told Cain. “That was terrible.”While the game may have been fun, there were parts of it that were not exactly easy for anyone.While the participants cheered on pop culture categories including “The graphic novel, anime, Adult Swim … oh, who are we kidding? Cartoons that college students love,” they cringed at scientific and math categories, including “More math. Mwah ha ha ha!”During the tournament, math professor Crystal Wiggins cheered on with glee from the audience whenever a student got a math question correct.“I love the math questions, especially because today, March 14, is Pi Day,” Wiggins said. “I think they’re doing pretty darn good and I’m proud of all of them.”Right before the tournament reached its final Jeopardy portion, the Early Childhood Education club was eliminated.Before they left the game, the team members received a round of applause for their efforts and for their colorful tie-dye T-shirts.“Our strategy? Winging it!” group member Morgan Thulan said before the tournament. “We’re so good we don’t even have a strategy.”The final Jeopardy question was, “As an economics philosopher, Karl Marx described the evolution of economic systems as this.”A huge hiss in audience was heard as Bryda read the answer: “What is dialectic materialism?”The Vet Tech Club answered with, “What is the downfall of society?” and ended up finishing the game with 29 points.The Criminal Justice Association answered with, “What is class warfare?” and finished with 11 points.PTK wrote a whole essay, according to Bryda, and got the answer wrong, finishing with one point.Both the History Association and the Student Senate got the answer correct, but the History Association risked more points and beat the Senate team by a score of 440 to 280, winning the game.
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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.
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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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