20 JUNE 3, 2021 RIDGEWOOD TIMES WWW.QNS.COM
Maspeth High School welcomes new therapy dog
BY JULIA MORO
EDITORIAL@QNS.COM
@QNS
Eli, a 4-year-old border collie, started working
as a therapy dog for Maspeth High School last
week to help students with their mental health
aft er a challenging year.
Right now, about 33 percent of Maspeth High
School students are taking classes in the building,
but Vice Principal Jesse Pachter said Eli will make
the most impact when all students return to school
in the fall.
“There’s a lot of social isolation,” said Pachter. “A
lot of students who have shown they’re anxious,
they’re feeling depressed, they’re feeling lonely,
and we’re hoping that by coming back to school
full-time next year and bringing Eli on board, will
be a positive impact to help these students work
through social and emotional problems.”
David Blauner works at Maspeth High School as a
school counselor and has owned Eli for four years.
Because of Eli’s temperament and age, Blauner
thought he’d be the perfect support dog for the
students.
Blauner and Eli were trained and certified
through The Good Dog Foundation’s Comfort Dog
Program, teaching the dog and handler to be a team
in providing intervention in educational and therapeutic
environments.
“I’m thinking about the ninth-grader that comes
into our school in September, who has not been
in a school building for 18 months, has not felt a
positive connection with a trusted adult in their
life outside of their family,” said Blauner. “Eli will
assist in that.”
According to Blauner, of the over 60 dogs involved
in this program, only four or fi ve are in
high schools.
“We have an opportunity to be a real leader for
the city and for the program to show what kinds
of interventions and what kinds of outcomes are
going to be benefi cial for a high school population,”
said Blauner.
Eli comes into the school three times a week,
assisting in building confi dence, learning and
Eli, the 4-year-old border collie, on his fi rst day of work. Photo courtesy of David Blauner
socialization.
“We have students perform debates, and a lot of
students get very nervous,” said Pachter. “So in order
to alleviate some of their stress and worry, we
bring Eli in where he would be partnered with a student
or group of students experiencing anxiety.”
Maspeth High School had to go through an approval
process that consisted of site visits by the
Comfort Dog Program, ensuring the faculty was
adequate for the dog. Aft er applying to the program
in 2019, the school was approved just this month
and Eli got to work.
Addabbo to host free Father’s Day prostate screening event
BY BILL PARRY
BPARRY@SCHNEPSMEDIA.COM
@QNS
As Father’s Day approaches, state
Senator Joseph Addabbo Jr. is
reminding the men in his district
to be sure they stay on top of their
health and schedule a free prostate
screening through his offi ce in June.
On Friday, June 18, just two days before
Father’s Day, medical professionals
from Integrated Medical Foundation
(IMF) will set up shop at Addabbo’s
Middle Village district offi ce, located
at 66-85 73rd Pl., from 10 a.m. to noon
giving free PSA blood tests to men who
register before the event.
“As men age, it is vitally important
that they take care of their prostate
health through annual exams because
if something is wrong, it is essential to
catch prostate cancer early,” Addabbo
said.
The free screening event is open
to men aged 40 or older who have
never been previously diagnosed and
treated for prostate cancer, whether
or not they have insurance. Unlike in
past years, men who participate will
not need to bring a self-addressed,
stamped envelope with them to the
screening.
This year they will need to bring
with them a form of photo ID and
provide their name, address, phone
number, email address and date of
birth at the time of registration.
Appointments for the screening
session are required as space is limited.
Anyone interested in attending
must call Addabbo’s Howard Beach
office at 718-738-111 to schedule an
Photo via Getty Images appointment.
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