DEAR PAW’S CORNER:When I’m staying in a rental home at the coast, where is the best place for my dog, “Riley,” to stay: the rental home or a kennel close by? — Todd Y., Neotsu, Ore.
DEAR TODD: If you’re bringing your dog on vacation with you (which is fantastic, by the way), he should stay with you if at all possible. A kennel tends to be a stressful place for dogs, even if you come to pick him up every day. If you’re vacationing in an unfamiliar place, you may not know how well the kennel is run, if the dogs that stay there are kept healthy and happy, and if illnesses like kennel cough are kept to a minimum.
Riley will benefit from his owner being with him in an unfamiliar place, particularly at night. So, Riley should stay with you. If you’re bringing him on vacation, he should experience the vacation with you.
A caveat, however, always get clearance from the rental home’s owner before bringing a pet. Vacation-rental agreements often stipulate that no pets are allowed in the house. This happens, sadly, because not all pet owners control their pets, and damage can be done to the rental property.
Many rentals that allow pets will charge an extra fee, sometimes per pet, to cover any potential damages. The fee is usually nonrefundable — but in my experience it’s much cheaper than the cost of keeping your pet in a reputable kennel.
If the vacation rental you’re considering does not allow pets, look for another house in the area. Several sites on the Internet list pet-friendly rentals.
If you’re not familiar with Damien and Tourie Escobar, they are the fabulous Nuttin’ But Stringz (NBS), the urban rock violin twosome and “America’s Got Talent” finalists. “I hope people are inspired by our concerts,” Damien said. “We put a lot of inspiration and effort into our performances, and we hope people, after a concert, when they’re home, apply a little bit of it to their lives.”
In a recent telephone interview, Damien told me that some of his musical influences are Michael Jackson, U-2, The Beatles, and Bon Jovi.
He’d like people to know, he added, “We write our music, arrange it, and produce it. It’s all original.” Damien said that most enjoyable and rewarding about performing “is healing people. We get emails that say ‘your concert helped me get through the day.’”
“The guys are simply amazing,” said Anne Waitkins, publicist, Lizzie Grubmam Public Relations and NBS’s publicist. According to Anne, a few of NBS’s accomplishments are: “They were accepted as the youngest students, age 10, at Julliard. They performed in NYC subways to earn extra money. They opened for Aretha Franklin at The Kennedy Center for Martin Luther King Day and [have performed] at the White House for President George W. Bush.”
My curiosity aroused, I went to YouTube to listen to President Bush’s introduction. “Tourie and Damien discovered their love for the violin in the third grade, and soon found themselves studying classical music at New York’s finest conservatories,” he said. “They formed a group called Nuttin’ But Stringz, and perform a fusion of classical, R&B, and Rap. I look forward to them.”
Judges Sharon Osbourne and David Hasselhoff of “America’s Got Talent” praised Tourie and Damien’s work, “The tone you get from your instruments is sensational,” Sharon opined. “The most perfect tone I’ve ever heard from any violin player. It’s so nice to see young, good looking guys playing the violin because usually violinists are old and bald… I think you guys are going to be responsible for a lot of young kids going for violin lessons.” David proclaimed, “You also move us with your music. You can make us rock, you can make us dance, you can make us feel. Man, keep it comin’.”
Here’s a suggestion. Watch and listen to NBS’s electrifying work on YouTube, and I predict – in fact, I guarantee – you’ll be hooked by this hugely talented duo. You’ll find they bring the violin – that most wonderful and perhaps mysterious of instruments - into the 21st century; that in their hands, it becomes relevant for music lovers of any age. And yes, once you’re hooked you’ll want to see them live in concert. Damien and Tourie performed at Mohegan Sun Casino in January, and they like New England, which means there’s a good chance they’ll return. Let’s hope it’s very soon.
With a new leader in the White House, you can’t help but catch the excitement of President 44 Barack Obama’s words, “New Beginnings”. We are on the brink of CHANGE and it’s the mystery that keeps things interesting. Just ask the successful Women In Biz advertising in this issue. Read about these proactive businesswomen and discover how they are positioning their enterprises to WIN. Find out about their dedication to their family, business and community…all inside our most popular Women In Biz issue.
The Resident is especially grateful to businesswomen Lisa Konicki, Barbara Stillman, and Toni Parker-Johnson for sharing their coverage of the Inauguration here. Fabulous work!
As a Woman In Biz for the past 27 years, you might say, “I learned a lot!” Go to page 23 for 7 Ways To Succeed by a 27-year Veteran Woman In Biz.
Meet Dr. Elsa M. Nuñez, the first Latina president of Eastern Connecticut State University here. Since becoming the sixth president of Eastern, Elsa led the rededication of a remodeled and expanded student center, a new child development complex and the opening of a $56M state-of-the-art math and science building. WOW! A special salute to Dr. Nuñez!
Check out Chris Annino’s coverage of the Softball Legends who visited the Mohegan Sun. Tony and Don’s coverage of the Mohegan Sun’s WineFest is here.
Thanks for reading the Resident, the Good News that Rocks! Please remember to patronize our advertisers as they’re helping to make the “good news” happen.
As president of Eastern CT State University since 2006, Dr. Elsa M. Nuñez has embraced the position and immersed herself in the momentum of a very successful era for Eastern. Since becoming Eastern’s sixth president, Elsa oversaw the rededication of a remodeled and expanded student center, a new child development complex, and the opening of the $56-million Science Building that is the state-of-the-art home to the math and science departments. These projects are just a sampling of the continuing, decade-long campus facelift that also featured a new library and residence halls. A new police station is currently in the works and Eastern is committed to establishing a new fine arts instructional/performance facility.
Elsa was born in San Sebastian, Puerto Rico. Her family immigrated to New Jersey when she was young and although her family was of modest means, her parents urged her to pursue a college education. She earned a Bachelor’s Degree from Montclair State College in 1970 and a Master’s Degree in English from Farleigh Dickinson University in 1973. She went on to receive a doctorate in linguistics from Rutgers University in 1979.
Prior to being named president of Eastern, Elsa was Vice Chancellor for Academic and Student Affairs for the University of Maine system and prior to that was Chief Academic Officer at Lesley University and The City University of New York. Her administrative career began at The College of Staten Island of The City University of New York where she was dean of the faculty from 1986 to 1992. She was also a tenured faculty member at Ramapo College of New Jersey and held tenured faculty positions at the College of Staten Island and Lehman College.
Elsa stresses diversity and unity both on campus and off since coming to Eastern. She specifically focuses on the University’s relationship with the surrounding town of Willimantic. The University recently held the second annual Day of Giving – a town-wide event that featured a full-course Thanksgiving dinner for patrons of local soup kitchens and food pantries, as well as families subsidized by the Willimantic Housing Authority. A campus-wide food drive supplemented the event with 10,000 donated canned goods. Willimantic also benefits from another initiative, “Eastern Hits the Streets,” where large numbers of student volunteers clean streets, pick up trash, and paint buildings. Eastern students also routinely volunteer over 25,000 hours annually at more than 40 social service agencies and non-profit organizations.
According to Elsa, “Our students come from all walks of life, but all share the same opportunity to be transformed by the power of a liberal arts education. The result is students receiving statewide and national awards, alumni achieving success in Connecticut and beyond, and faculty members who are being recognized locally and internationally for their expertise and scholarship.”
Eastern’s commitment to being Connecticut’s public liberal arts university has served it well. Enrollment increases as Eastern is becoming the institution of first choice for an increasing number of Connecticut students, as well as students from around the nation. Since Elsa’s inauguration, Eastern always benefited from several large philanthropic gifts.
Elsa is the first Latina president of a Connecticut State University. She is married to Richard Freeland, former president of Northeastern University. They have two children, Maria and Antony. Elsa is also a very proud grandmother.
