Widmaier. Cindy traveled to Santa Rosa, CA to spend two weeks in training at Canine Companions for Independence, one of only a handful of certified service dog facilities in the country. The non-profit training facility was built on land donated to CCI by Charles Shultz, the cartoonist who created Snoopy.

As a dynamic duo, Cindy and Lynette have not always found full acceptance in their own community, having been denied access to a number of local business establishments.

Lynette is dressed in an official working dog’s uniform when they go out in public, but most people still do not understand the role this dog plays in Cindy’s safety. Lynette uses her sensitive ears to identify potentially dangerous sounds and then alerts her handler. The dog responds to 49 verbal and hand signal commands.

Lynette once saved Widmaier’s life by sitting down and refusing to cross the street, seconds before a Washington DC cab raced by.

“When a person denies me access because of Lynette - the one thing that makes me able to function more like I used to, it’s personal and painful to me,” says Widmaier. “We are a team and she is part of who I am.”

Widmaier feels that the access denials are related to her disability being “invisible,” as even her speech is perfectly normal. She uses hearing aides, but the devices are hidden under her long hair.

“I often get, ‘But you look so normal,’ from people,” the 37-year-old reports.

Federal law guarantees access to all public establishments for persons using service dogs, whether they’re for hearing assistance, guidance for the blind, or for ambulatory assistance. ADA regulations also apply to service dogs in training.

“Having a dog with you should call attention to the fact that there is a disability they need to be aware of, but that only happens if people make the connection, and not everybody does,” according to Widmaier.

Most service dogs are raised in volunteer puppy homes for the first year of their lives, and partnered with a disabled person at age 2. The total cost of breeding and training a service dog can be up to $45,000. The average working career of a service dog is 10

Board of Commissioners Meeting

Oct. 17, 2007 (Wednesday)
6:30pm at St. James Episcopal Church
Aston Lions Club 59th Charter Night

Oct. 22, 2007 (Monday) 
10:45am at St. James Episcopal
Church,  Concord Rd 
AARP Aston-Chichester Chapter
General Meeting

Oct. 22, 2007 (Monday)    
7pm at SWDCMA, 1 Gamble Lane, Aston
Southwest Delaware County Municipal Authority Public Meeting

Oct. 22, 2007 (Monday) 
7pm at Community Center
General Federation of Women's Clubs
General Meeting

Oct. 23,  2007 (Tuesday)    
7pm in Municipal Building
Ordinance Committee

Oct. 23,  2007 (Tuesday)      
7pm in Municipal Building
Zoning Board Meeting

Oct. 24, 2007 (Wednesday)      
7pm in Municipal Building
Planning Commission Meeting  

Oct. 25, 2007 (Thursday)
6pm at American Legion Post 926
on Concord Rd.
Aston Lioness Club Psychic Fair

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Welcome One and All

The public is invited to a free lecture sponsored by Chester-Ridley-Crum Creek Watersheds Association at 7 pm on Oct. 2 at Delco Field and Streams Association, 713 Chester Creek Rd. Retired aquatic biologist Ed Perry will present ‘The Impact of Global Warming on Pennsylvania’s Wildlife.’ Refreshments will be served.

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The Sun East Federal Credit Union will be hosting a flea market in their parking lot at Pennell and Duttons Mill rds. on Saturday, Oct 13 (rain date: Oct. 14) from 9am to 2pm. Spaces are available for $10 (bring your own tables), with all proceeds benefiting Camp Dream Catcher, which helps children with or affected by AIDS. Call Paula Williamson at 610-485-2960, ext. 541 for more information.