"Hey...I want to come too!"

by Rosemary Serluca-Foster

Though signs were posted at the May Street Fair, I apparently did not notice that pups (or any other animal, amphibian or reptile) were banned from our local street fairs.

Come on, really? I see people with their dogs all the time!

If you’re like me, every time you leave the house without your favorite, furry friend (and I don’t mean your spouse or partner), you feel a pang of guilt for not taking her with you. Ginger, our Buddha-natured Shih Tzu, follows me to the door, sits on her haunches and stares up with yearning eyes that resemble gargantuan, chocolate-malted milk balls, making my exit even more heart wrenching.

So, whenever there’s an opportunity to bring her somewhere, especially to an outdoor event, I get very excited, my disproportionate guilt assuaged for the moment. Such opportunities come right here in Nyack whenever there is a street fair. Or so I thought.

I have taken her a few times now and here’s how it goes: she doesn’t like to walk in crowds; people nearly always accidentally step on her; I inevitably end up carrying her because she tires out; my arms begin to ache and get sweaty from transporting her.

So, who’s having fun? Certainly not Ginger. And at the last fair, I was very graciously informed (and not given a ticket) that even though Ginger is adorable, and yes I was carrying her, I was still breaking the ordinance.

“Didn’t you read the signs?”

“Signs? What signs?”

“The ones posted all over place that say no animals allowed.”

I guess we see what we want to see, when and if we want to see it.

So now I know. And, guess what? I totally agree. Here’s what Chapter 17 Article III of the Nyack Village Code has to say on the matter of dogs and street fairs:

The Village Board, having reviewed the matter of the presence of dogs and other animals at street fairs and other authorized assemblies, has concluded that recent experiences wherein domestic animals have been brought by their owners to street fairs and other places of assembly which occasion high degrees of pedestrian density have involved a potential for accident or danger which is unacceptable.

So this Sunday, July 18th, as you head out the door to our fun and fab street fair, please leave your pets at home. In the end, they’ll be glad you did. I know Ginger will be. Better still, I will bring her back a special treat for having retained her Buddha-like tranquility while I was away. There will be quite a few vendors with lots of pet goodies to choose from:

* My Buddy ‘N Me on South Broadway, a pet shop specializing in organic food and holistic pet care and supplies, plus the new pet grooming station.
* Dognique featuring dog products and pet accessories will have a booth on Main St.
* Natural Herbal Supplement for Dog Tears to remove unsightly stains will have a booth on Main St.
* And if you want to help an animal in need, stop by the Hi-Tor Animal Care Center’s booth on Main St. and learn more about pet adoption.

Please spread the word to your out-of-town friends and family who may not be aware of the ordinance. We certainly don’t want folks coming to enjoy the fair and not be able to because they unknowingly brought their pets.

Our informal discussion will be followed by an interactive Q and A, so all are encouraged to participate.

You can register and receive conference information by going to www.agapelive.com.

Hope to hear from you during the teleconference.

Rosina traveled to Italy at the age of 2, grew up in the charming town of Ceccano, married her beloved Cesare D’Annibale at the tender age of 18, and gave birth to two children Pasquale and Fabrizia, whom she loved with a tremendous force which knew no limits. She crossed the ocean once again at the age of 38, and she and her family made America their permanent home, settling in Mt.Vernon, NY.

She became a doting, loving grandmother three times with the births of Larry, Lisa and myself. And it was through the blessed arrival of her three great-grandchildren, Lauren, Antonia and Joseph, that her love, affection and joy grew even larger.

Let me share with you some of the wonderful qualities of this angel, which will keep her in our hearts forever.

She was courageous and strong, leaving behind a life in Italy that no longer served her family, and started a new one, in a foreign land, where she did not speak the language.

She was a generous spirit, graciously giving of her food, recipes, advice, love, and life. Her heart was a deep well, which knew no bottom.

She was direct and forthright – when she witnessed something that was unjust, she had no problem in telling you straight out what she thought. As she used to say, “I say what I see, and what I see is not right.”

She was independent, often stubborn, and liked to do things her own way, which earned her the title of “the general,” by her grandchildren.

She was a hardworking seamstress, and what little money she made, she saved and sacrificed, always putting her family first.

She was a skillful negotiator. Grandma could make a vendor at a farmer’s market sell his vegetables for half price, and in the process, make him feel grateful for having made less money.

She was a master cook—we loved her panetone at Christmas, her cheesecake at Easter, and her savory polenta, pizza, and homemade pasta. We made our sauce with her preserved, Bell-jarred tomatoes, and smeared our toast with her fresh grape jelly, which she skillfully made by hand every autumn.

She was an intuitive and talented designer, able to create outfits without the use of patterns; and knit blankets, sweaters, and baby clothes, all while having a conversation with you, and never once looking down at the yarn and needles.

She loved the TV show JAG, a series about a former Navy fighter pilot. She was a committed fan, even when no else was watching, or had ever heard of the show.

She was a teacher, friend, and wise woman who touched the lives of many. And if you were lucky enough to be hugged by her, engulfed in her strong, protective arms, then for sure you have been blessed forever.

These are just a few of her many, precious qualities. The qualities of an angel. For when we embody these virtues, and live in a loving, creative, generous, and courageous way as she did, we will not only become better for it, but we will be honoring our beloved Rosina, simply by the wonderful example we put forth in our lives. We will miss you grandma, but we know your Spirit lives on in all of us.  Thank you so much sweet angel, for gracing us with your beauty.