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Tuesday the 19th was a big day in Pelhamī's Chester Park. Two enterprising young children, Meaghan DelliCarpini and Ryan Taverna, organized Chester Park's first ever dog show. They passed out flyers, downloaded the necessary background music (Hound Dog, Puppy Love, etc.) and even shamelessly solicited two well-known Pelham entities, Paws on Fifth and DeCicco's Market, for their prizes. Earlier that day, their mothers sat them down and counseled them on being prepared for no one to come. "This is a vacation month," they said. "People are busy with back-to-school," they said. |
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Meaghan and Ryan nodded impatiently and ran off to set up the park. Snacks were provided for the people by Katrina Taverna and homemade doggie treats were prepared by Chef to the Dogs, Casey DelliCarpini - really just a proud mom! Ryan manned the sound system while Meaghan greeted the dogs and their people and made sure everyone was situated. So much for being prepared for the worst! |
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" "Alfie" |
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Dog after dog arrived, small, large, with bows and some with dresses (kudos to Alfie, the somehow missed but not unloved Chester Park favorite)! Opening words were spoken by Michael Mackay, treasurer of the Chester Park Association. The entrants were judged in three categories: tricks, appearance and plain, old, wonderful doggy-ness. |
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Congratulations to the winners, Molly, Phoenix and Cujo! Molly and her person, Ms. Gilberg, took home a $45 gift certificate, generously donated by Paws on Fifth Grooming Salon. Phoenix, owned by Susie and Sofia Gugliotta, went away with a squeaky new chew toy and Cujo, owned by Jason Manos and Janice Martinez, is probably ripping into that box of Scooby Snacks as this is written! All three winners also trotted off with delicious rawhide bones which were donated by DeCiccos Market on Fifth Avenue. |
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| Meaghan DelliCarpini is a newcomer to Chester Park and to Pelham, yet in the short time that she has been here, with the help of Ryan, she has created a day that many residents will long remember. Can't wait for next year! |
Ladies
and gentlemen, kids and canines, welcome to the first annual Chester Park Dog
Show! Please wag your tails in appreciation for the show's co-producers,
Meaghan DelliCarpini and Ryan Taverna. They have really put the
"wow" in "bow wow." I haven't seen such enthusiastic
competitors since the Yale bulldogs took on the Princeton tigers in '79.
To children animal-lovers I offer the following advice: Try to be the kind of person your dog thinks you are: wise and generous, someone who performs small miracles many times each day. To the dogs out there: realize that the children entrusted with your care are only human. Like their parents, they are bound to make mistakes. As a species, we people are far from perfect, though our hearts are usually in the right place.
Starting tonight, let's enjoy the remaining dog days of summer in a spirit of loyalty and friendship: a fetching sense of community so well known in Chester Park.
Michael Mackay
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