What You Need to Know
THSD’s monthly online newsletter
March 2006 Issue
In this Issue:
Saturday, April 8, 2006
It’s almost Dog Walk time! Keep these facts in mind to make registration and the Big Day go smoothly:
You get:
March 5, 2005 (Sunday), Austin
$2.50 of every ticket sold through THSD’s website donated!
Charity code: 0200
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Each artist started out with the same huge hunk of Texas limestome.
Using imagination, talent and lots of muscle, sculptors from around the globe have transformed them into stunning, unique pieces of art.
Bid on your favorite at the Silent Auction. Browse the creations of other local artists and enjoy food and music while benefiting Texas Hearing and Service Dogs.
Parking at Dripping Springs High School (111 Tiger Lane @ Hwy 290 West) with free shuttle to Carved Stone.
Tickets $10 online; $15 at the door.
Click here to see the sculptures that have already been completed.
Click here for more information.
Here are some of the participating artists for this year's event:
Melodie Greider 
Melodie Greider is a Texas Commission on the Arts "Texas Original Master Craftsman". She creates distinctive, colorful, and durable stoneware tiles and murals. Her hand carved peices are suitable for all interior and exterior tile applications.
www.stickhorsestudios.com
Ricardo Puémape
Ricardo Puémape was born in Lima, Peru. He is on the teaching staff at the Austin Museum of Art at Laguna Gloria where he teaches stone sculpture and wood sculpture. Some of his sculptures are in private collections in Europe and the United States. Ricardo is a practicing Registered Architect in the State of Texas.
To view Ricardo's sculpture in progress, please visit his website at artssculpture.com
Hearing Dog “Patty” to Learn Baby’s Cry Alert for Expecting Mom
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| THSD Senior Trainer Susan Ramsbottom, Graduate Nicole Bloxom with Hearing Dog Patty, THSD Founder & President, Sheri Soltes, Sponsor Caroline Wright |
By Caroline Wright
There is no shortage of magic moments at the THSD Training Center in Dripping Springs. With every dog, trainer and partner, it’s a daily occurrence. Yet there was a uniquely rare magic moment in late January when a Graduate, Hearing Dog, Trainer and Sponsor were united for the first time.
Nicole Bloxom received her Hearing Dog Patty nine years ago when she lived in San Antonio. Since then, she married, moved with her new Air Force husband to Washington, D.C. and continued her career as an occupational therapist.
While back in Texas to visit her parents, Nicole visited THSD’s new Training Center with her husband, Graham and her father, Gene Palmieri. Caroline Wright traveled from Houston to meet the Nicole and Patty for the first time. Caroline and her family sponsored Patty’s training in 1997, naming the little Hearing dog in memory of Caroline’s mother. Patty’s trainer, Susan Ramsbottom, also was on hand for the reunion.
“I can’t begin to describe what a wonderful and fulfilling experience it was to see first hand the profound impact that Patty has made on Nicole’s life,” said Caroline. “Patty is a very sweet and attentive dog. I know that my mother would have absolutely adored her. It was also deeply touching to see a photo from Nicole and Graham’s wedding and that Patty was in wedding party. I confess that it brought a tear to my eye.”
Nicole and Graham had some special news to share. They are expecting their first child. Therefore, Patty will assume a new and even more vital role as a Hearing Dog. She will learn to alert Nicole when the baby cries for her mother.
Nicole has been diligent in reinforcing Patty’s training and expressed her eagerness to prepare Patty for her new tasks. Nicole sought the Susan’s advice as to how she could train Patty to add new baby sounds to her sound alerts. Susan shared several techniques.
Caroline expressed eagerness to share the news with her own family and friends.
“I am very impressed with the progress that THSD has made, especially now with their new facility. It’s a brilliant, structured, well-executed program. Every donation is thoughtfully and appropriately applied. I have shared the news about Nicole and Patty with the rest of my family who contributed to Patty’s training and I am encouraging them to support THSD in the future.”
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| Camping in December | Here Comes The Bride! |
March |
2006 |
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Sunday |
Monday |
Tuesday |
Wednesday |
Thursday |
Friday |
Saturday |
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3 Austin Home & Garden Show – Heavy Petting Booth |
4 Austin Home & Garden Show – Heavy Petting Booth |
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5 Austin Home & Garden Show – Heavy Petting Booth |
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7 Texas Independent Living Conference, El Paso |
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10 |
Art show, food, music |
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13 |
14 |
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16 |
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18 Sunset Valley Farmers Market – Meet THSD |
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28 BookPeople Shopping Night & Heavy Petting |
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Mar. 3, 4, & 5 Meet THSD! Austin Home & Garden Show, Austin Convention Center
Mar. 7, Tues. THSD Presentation Texas Independent Living Conference, El Paso
Mar. 11, Sat. Stone Sculpture Challenge, Carved Stone, Dripping Springs www.sculpturechallenge.com
Mar. 28, Tues. THSD Heavy Petting & Shoppers’ Night @ BookPeople, Austin – 10% of purchases donated to THSD, download form to fill out and bring with you.
Apr. 8, Sat. Mighty Texas Dog Walk, Tony Burger Center, Sunset Valley (SW Austin) Register now!
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| Ace is one of the dogs currently up for adoption |
We NEVER return a dog to a shelter that euthanizes, so the dogs who, for whatever reason, are not suitable for a career with THSD are now available for you to meet and adopt.
Thanks to your great response, we recently adopted Meli, Apollo, Rio and Oso.
For photos and bios of available dogs, just click here. Ace, featured here, is one of our available pet adoption dogs.
LCRA United Charities
Austin Fitness Council
Central Texas Veterinary Specialty Hospital
Gift Ideas
Media Sponsors:
KXAN-TV
CBS Radio: Majic 95.5, Mix 94.7, The Beat 104.3, Talk Radio1370 am
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