A VERY SPECIAL SANTA FE DOG - ASSISTANCE DOGS OF THE WEST

                                       Photos by C. Whitney-Ward

MEET HOMER.  He's a happy and healthy seven-month old Labradoodle.

He romps, wags his tail and charms. But, don't let his innocent demeanor fool you, Homer is a serious scholar, learning the ropes of being a kind, smart and intuitive assistance dog.

Eleven-year old Hailey, a student at Rio Grande School,  is one of Homer's student trainers and they have formed a very special relationship. Both Hailey & Homer are enrolled in a unique, non-profit organization - Assistance Dogs of the West. ADW works with over 250 students each year and 12-15 hand-picked puppy/dogs. The end result - beautifully-trained assistance dogs that are partnered with clients with disabilities and special challenges.

I asked Homer if he would share some of his experiences with us:

Q. How old were you when you started the program?

H. Puppies usually start in ADW at 8 weeks (I started at 10 weeks) and are in class for 18-24 months.

Q. What is the training like?

H. It's fun , but it's a lot of work. Were really being trained 24/7. Before we graduate we have to learn a 100 commands.  But Hailey's real patient.

We even learn different ways to "sleep" depending on our clients needs - on the floor, in a crate, or on the bed. But if we sleep on the bed, we learn to be gentle.

Q. What do you like best about your training?

H. I love the positive attention that I get and  the treats, especially when I get it right!

Q. What's the most difficult part of your training?

H. Learning to stay still. It's tough on a puppy, but I'm learning.

Q. Will you miss Hailey when you graduate?

H. Yes!!!! She's quiet and sweet and has very "soft" hands. And she's intuitive; when a situation changes, she is quick to see it and help me do the right thing. Hailey is a great trainer for young dogs.

ASSISTANCE DOGS OF THE WEST

505.986.9748

SAVE THE DATE
ADW Graduation 2011
May 19th - 6pm
Santa Fe Convention Center
Tickets: 505.988.1234

SANTA FE - FIRST FRIDAY ART WALK

Santa Fe's First Friday Art Walk is just plain fun. The streets are filled with people, the atmosphere is festive...

Photos by C. Whitney-Ward

Mariachi music filled the air...

Folks dressed for the occasion...

And the gallery windows were all feted out in style.

                                       

 Even an Ark in the window of the Windsor Betts Gallery...

 And, best of all, you got to meet some amazing artists...

Artist J.D. Challenger - at Huey's Fine Art  - is as colorful as his paintings.

And some artists were creating art ...

Also at  Huey Fine Art

Beginning in clay...

And then casting in bronze...

Can't wait till the next First Friday.

Q & A'S OF SANTA FE - GREG HELTMAN

                                     Photo by C. Whitney-Ward

Greg Heltman, the delightful Founder & General Director of the Santa Fe Symphony Orchestra and Chorus, has a deep passion and commitment to music and the Santa Fe community. A New Mexico native, Greg was raised in a musical family - his mother was a vocal teacher and his father a conductor  - and by the age of twelve he knew that his life dream was to follow in his parent's musical footsteps.

In college he embraced the trumpet, graduating magna cum laude from the University of the Pacific.  He played with the Israel Sinfonietta, the Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival and the Santa Fe Opera Orchestra, and in 1984 he founded the Santa Fe Symphony Orchestra. For more than a quarter century he has been a champion of orchestral music in Santa Fe and this year he takes on an additional  role - President of the Rotary Club of Santa Fe.

Q. If Santa Fe were a symphony, who would have composed it?

Ottorino Respighi.  He was a 20th century Italian composer whose music is colorful and free in its use of descriptive melodies and harmonies. But his approach is immediately understandable.

Q. If you hadn't grown up here, what would have drawn you to Santa Fe?

The sense of possibility. Santa Fe allows a person to be entrepreneurial and adventuresome and to express their dreams.

Q. Describe your Santa Fe in three words.

Welcoming.   Genuine.   Comfortable.

Q. What surprises you most about Santa Fe?

The range of dichotomies that make up every aspect of Santa Fe society.

Q. If you had only one window in your house, what vista would you choose?

Looking west toward the Jemez Mountains...they're expansive. It's always nice to be reminded of the treasures that can be taken for granted.

Q. What do you like best about your job?

It fulfills my belief in the criticality of being actively involved in one's community. I was on the Santa Fe 400th Board or Directors; I conducted the Santa Fe Community Band, first established in the 1860's; and now I'm working with the Rotary Club, an organization committed to service to the community. 

Q. If you could invite any historical music figure to Santa Fe, who would it be?

Elmer Bernstein (1922-2004). He wrote over 200 film scores - Magnificent Seven, The Ten Commandments, To Kill a Mockingbird. He was an accomplished composer, writing for the concert hall as well as the movies. He championed the value of a full symphony orchestra to accompany film.

Q. Where would you go if you only had an afternoon to spend in Santa Fe?

If there was water in the Santa Fe River, I'd pack up the family and go up river near Patrick Smith Park.

THE SANTA FE SYMPHONY AND CHORUS

www.santafesymphony.org

505.983.3530

SANTA FE GLAM

NOT EVEYONE IN SANTA FE WEARS COWBOY BOOTS!

  

                            

A V.P. @ Ironstone Bank clearly dresses for success. 

These lovely gams were spotted @ il piatto.

Snazzy shoes worn by a Dallas babe at First Friday.

Photos by C. Whitney-Ward