Helping Pets One Step at a Time

                Ethel was born with three crippling conditions: the parasite Neospora caninum, severe bilateral hip dysplasia, and cervical spinal stenosis.  Though she is happy, healthy, and finally pain free, it didn’t happen overnight – it’s been a journey.  The first step was physical therapy to straighten her malformed leg; the second was diagnosis and treatment of the parasite that caused the debility. Next, we faced the need for total hip replacement.  In just two weeks, strangers and friends had raised the funds for her surgery and the idea to form a local charity for family pets was born.  In her third year, Ethel was slowly becoming paralyzed and her supporters, once again, rallied to provide the surgery to rebuild her neck.

                Now that she’s recovered, Ethel and I are taking steps to pay forward the generosity that afforded her a life filled with love, play, and good health.  Each time we take a walk, I log into resqwalk.com, an application for smart phones (both Android and iOS) that measures the distance we travel.  Each month, corporate sponsors make a donation that is distributed according to the number of miles walked in each charity’s honor.

                So far, over 1,000 miles have been walked and the Ethel Fund has been supported by participants in the Annual 10K/5K Race and Daily American Challenge as well as by walkers at the Bandshell Bark.  Use of the app is not limited to organized events, nor do you need a dog at your side.  In fact, it’s not even limited to walking.  You can use ResQwalk while riding a bike, jogging, running, or any activity that is measureable by GPS at a speed up to 14 mph.

                ResQwalk is a great way to further the work of the Ethel Fund without having to spend a cent.  The application is free and it doesn’t use any of your cellular data.  In just ten simple steps, you can join our team, and every step will help provide assistance to family pets with catastrophic veterinary needs, give sanctuary to the pets of women escaping domestic abuse, and facilitate the pairing of service dogs to people with disabilities.

Step 1: with your smart phone, go to resqwalk.org (or find it in Google Play or the App Store)

Step 2: download for free and click OPEN

Step 3: choose to ALLOW ResQwalk to access your location while using the app

Step 4: click on GET STARTED

Step 5: click on SIGN UP

Step 6: search and select The Ethel Fund Inc., then click NEXT

Step 7: click on the START ResQwalk  button to begin your walk

Step 8: click on FINISH at the end of your walk

Step 9: choose if you’d like to share your walk on social media and click DONE

Step 10: repeat steps 7-9 every time you take a walk

Change your mind about the Georgian Inn

                While being able to set specific goals then follow them through to completion is an attractive quality, the ability to listen to what others have to say and change your mind is a truly beautiful thing.  When developer Charles Charrie purchased the Zimmerman Mansion in 2010, his goal was to provide upper-scale office space.  However, as he began to speak with residents and learn more of the building’s history, he did something he rarely does (just ask his wife, Stephanie) – he changed his mind.

                Just after he’d purchased the property, Charles began his unique style of market research; he walked the streets of uptown Somerset during the Fire and Ice Festival and spoke with the people.  Though his original intent was to gauge the business market, he instead found himself in the role of investigative reporter.  Surprised to see the image of his new acquisition on postcards, wall art, and community literature, Chuck began to ask of his property, “What is that place?”

                People called it by different names: the Zimmerman Mansion, Manor Hill, The Inn at Georgian Place, even “Somerset’s most pretentious home” from some old-timers whose parents had witnessed its creation.    Construction of the Georgian era mansion began in 1915 solely for the living and entertainment needs of one family: Daniel Burnside (D.B.) Zimmerman, his wife Lizzie, their son Ralph, and daughter Sally.  Designed by architect Horace Trumbauer, the opulent home would employ cutting edge technology of the day, including a whole house vacuum system that would not be available to the public for several years. 

                The people of Somerset seemed to love talking about the mansion, pointing out that it had been listed with the National Registry of Historic Places; relaying that a local architect, E.H. Walker, had some input into its design, and that engineer Harvey Hostetler had supervised its construction.  They had as much to say about its owner, who had made his fortune in cattle in the West and coal in the East.  Father and son worked together in business while daughter, Sally, acted as official hostess of the many parties held “up on the hill.”  Wife and mother, Lizzie, has been reported to be both a simple homebody and a strong-willed woman ahead of her time.

                To Charrie, it seemed that the people of Somerset shared a sense of ownership and he decided right then to promote and cultivate that sentiment.  With an average crew of thirty, working 16 hours a day, in just sixty days, The Georgian Inn of Somerset was preserved, restored, and “given back to the community.”

                When asked to explain, Charles speaks with enthusiasm.  Each surface of the mansion was carefully examined; paint and coverings were removed one layer at a time, checking for hidden murals or designs, then painstakingly restored to the exact colors and finishes that had graced the mansion in its youth.  The native woods paneling – the rich dark finish of the master suite, attractive but functional wood accents in the servants’ quarters, the aromatic 30-drawer cedar closet – all have been restored and preserved, rather than replaced.

                The technology that was cutting edge when the Zimmermans took up residence in 1916 is just as extraordinary in 2016.  It was designed to last a lifetime and, under the careful maintenance of caring craftsmen, it still works today.  The polished brass and silver wall fixtures, and crystal and gold leaf chandeliers are controlled by push buttons rather than toggle light switches, and the flow of electricity is still funneled through tiny glass fuses.  The crank and rotary phones can still be used to call between rooms.

Doorknobs are glass, brass, or porcelain.  Carpets are deep, lush; tapestries and drapes of sophisticated design. Bathtubs have black-painted claw feet.  Furniture and decorations are true to the period.  Each of the nine fireplaces is functional and marble-fronted.  Everything in the twenty-some rooms of this structure speaks one word: luxury.

One thing has changed, though.  That luxury is now available to the public rather than by invitation-only.  Suites may be rented for a night or an extended stay.  Space is available for meetings, parties, weddings, or banquets.  Casual and formal dining is available on a walk-in basis, while breakfast and afternoon tea is for guests only or by reservation.  The 1915 Lounge offers a fine selection of wines, scotches, and aperitifs.

Charles Charrie has changed his mind about a number of things since coming to Somerset in 2010.  He left behind the idea of an office building in exchange for a luxury hotel.  He’s changed his mind about its name.  In celebration of its 100^th year and in deference to the community he has come to love, the Zimmerman Mansion is now Centennial Hotel: The Georgian Inn of Somerset.  And, he’s changed his mind about how long he’s going to stay.  Charrie usually invests about five years in one of his development projects before moving on to the next.  Next month, he will have been part of our community for six years.  If the joy he exudes as he tell the story of what the Inn was, is, and will be is any indicator, Charles and Stephanie just might be in Somerset long enough to write some history of their own.

Transparency

Behold that which you created

does it frighten you,

that secret you deny?

are you afraid that loving your creation

will erase all that is left of the One You Love,

her precious memory?

rest, gentle artist - take a breath

love doesn’t work that way.

Helping Women and their Pets Escape Domestic Abuse

                She is a beautiful woman with a soul both strong and tender.  The pup catches her eye and, in their silent exchange, even a casual observer can see that theirs is a relationship of trust and gentle love.  As we walk along the forested trails, she tells us of her journey.

                At a low point in her life, she met a man facing similar challenges.  Sharing a common goal of sobriety, they offered support to one another and soon became close friends.  He was kind, attentive, and made her laugh.  The relationship blossomed into romance, they became engaged, and began to build a life together.  It felt almost as if she were living inside a fairy tale with her handsome Prince Charming, but not every story ends with “they lived happily ever after.”

                His interest in conversation waned; it seemed as if he no longer cared to share the details of his day, and became agitated when she spoke of hers.  His tone moved from kind to cruel, he became suspicious and controlling, going so far as to tell her whom she could speak with at their shared place of employment.  At first, she tried to comply and be supportive, hoping that they could navigate this rough patch together, but it seemed that her efforts only made matters worse.  The abuse escalated from emotional to physical and was visited not only on her, but on the pup they had adopted, as well.  In the end, it may have been his violence toward the pup that propelled her to action – maybe she could “handle it”, but she couldn’t tolerate witnessing fear in those innocent brown eyes. 

                Waiting for him to leave for work, she began to formulate a plan to enter the women’s shelter near their home.  She gathered her most critical belongings and took the first step, only to be halted when there was nowhere safe to leave her four-legged friend.  As the staff of the Women’s Help Center, Inc. discussed the dilemma, one of them called the Ethel Fund for advice.  A remarkable network of volunteers pulled together and began what she likens to an underground railroad.

                Later that evening, she and a dear friend found themselves in a convenience store parking lot, close to tears and afraid as they waited to meet a total stranger who would take her companion until pet-friendly housing could be found.  The young couple that greeted them quickly set her mind at ease.  The husband was gentle and kind; the wife compassionate, with a sense of cheerfulness that allowed her to relax just enough to bear the painful parting.   To ensure the safety of both canine and humans, the pup was then taken to an undisclosed location to be fostered by yet another pet-loving volunteer. 

                The separation was tough but the network kept in contact.  In times of doubt, she’d remind herself of the coordinator’s promise: “She’s in good hands.  I would trust this woman with my own dogs, and that’s the same as saying I’d trust her with my life.”

The day of their reunion was emotional.  She visited the foster’s home and was greeted with such exuberance that the heartbreak of the ordeal was nearly forgotten.  The pup bounced about her feet and dashed around the yard, as if to show the many wonderful things she’d been doing: chasing ducks, swimming, herding goats, and stealing the hearts of all she’d met. 

They are safe now, out of reach of their abuser.  Their new home is a happy one, their bond has grown, and she is a stronger woman.  She tears up, as does the author, when she speaks of how she could concentrate on rebuilding her life, knowing that her beloved pet was safe and well cared for.  A note is passed that reads, “You helped a bad situation become a success story.  I hardly even know you but I love you for that.”