Dog Park!

LAKE MARY -- City commissioners voted unanimously Thursday night to set up the city's first ever dog park.
The park would be located in the south section of Liberty Park, and dogs would be able to run off-leash.
Money Magazine ranks Lake Mary as the fourth best small city to live in. Residents believe a dog park could lift it to first.
"This is absolutely pristine because you can walk your dog to the park,” said Pat Blake, a dog owner. “Not only are u getting exercise, but your dog is going to get exercise."
"It's one of those things we can point to, and realtors can point to, as one of the enhancements of why Lake Mary, why should you move to Lake Mary,” said Darrel Jarvis from Trailblazers. “We have those facilities. Including in that, ‘Oh by the way, do you have a dog? We have an off-leash dog park you can use.’"
A charitable organization known as the Trailblazers is spearheading the effort to raise money to open the park.
The dog park is expected to cost around $70,000.
There is no word yet on when the park will open.

VOICES OF AUTISM: THE HEALING COMPANION: STORIES FOR COURAGE, COMFORT AND STRENGTH. 243p. (Voices of Series). photos. LaChance 2008. pap. $16.95. ISBN 978-1934184-05-9. LC number unavailable.
Adult/High School–This is a rich collection of essays not only by those who have been diagnosed with conditions along the autism spectrum, but also by their parents, siblings, teachers, caregivers, and doctors as well. In
“An Aspie’s Guide to Everyone Else,” a teen who has Asperger’s syndrome attempts to explain the differences between him and those he calls “neurotypicals” or “NTs.”
Another boy opens “The Price of Talk” with these words: “My name is Michael. I am 14, and I have autism. Some say that I am nonverbal, but I can communicate…. Not being able to talk is very frustrating. My mind knows what I want to say but my lips, tongue, and breath can’t make it happen.” In “My Special Brothers,” a 13-year-old girl writes, “I think it is the coolest thing to have brothers with autism. Anyone can learn a lot from them; I have.” In “The Reward,” a parent with autistic twins says, “…I learned that until you are confronted with severely life-changing situations, you can never know the extent of your capacity to love.” For teens whose lives have been touched by this baffling condition, and even for those who just want to better understand it, this book is an invaluable resource.–Pat Bangs, Fairfax County Public Library, VA