The Weekly Newspaper of Manhattan Beach Herald Publications - El Segundo, Manhattan Beach, Hawthorne, Lawndale, & Inglewood Community Newspapers Since 1911 - Circulation 30,000 - Readership 60,000 (310) 322-1830 Vol. 9, No. 5 May 7, 2015 Inside This Issue Certified and Licensed Professionals...................6 Classifieds............................2 Community Briefs...............2 Film Review..........................4 Food.......................................5 Looking Up...........................4 Pets........................................7 Seniors..................................6 Tech Talk...............................4 Weekend Forecast Friday, May 8 Scattered Thunderstorms 64˚/56˚ Saturday, May 9 Partly Cloudy 64˚/55˚ Sunday, May 10 Sunny 69˚/57˚ Mira Costa High Students Awarded Neptunian Academic Scholarships Spotlight on Mira Costa High students awarded $42,000 in scholarships plus the Dr. James Withers Dental Scholarship: (L-R, Front Row): Katherine An (Dr. James Withers Scholarship), Katherine Robak (Music), Gassia Ashikian (Academic), Reilly Edmonds (Academic), and Madeline Taylor (Art). (L-R, Back Row): Alexandra Yee (Music), Armace Sherman (Academic), Jimmy Shaw (Academic), Colette Grubman (Academic), and Sabrina Callendar-Clewett (Academic). Matthew Faustgen is not pictured due to an AP physics exam. See story, below. Photo credit: Tracy Breshears Snoopy’s Dog Therapy Success Story See Snoopy, page 3 By Lynne S. Gross Ten multi-talented college-bound seniors from Mira Costa High School received scholarships from the Neptunian Woman’s Club. The philanthropic organization raised $42,000 for scholarships, divided into seven academic, two music and one art. Awards were based on member interviews with ambitious students who combined a high grade point average with community service commitments, artistry, school activism, and financial need. Senior Katherine An won the additional $500 Dr. James Withers Dental Scholarship, a special recognition grant for a highly qualified student and athlete with dentistry interests. Local architect and UCLA graduate Miles Pritzkat, an original Mira Costa recipient of a Neptunian Women’s Club scholarship thirty years ago, praised the club and spoke about what this honor meant to him.”I feel as proud of the achievement now as I did then,” he said, opening the By TerriAnn Ferren Photos by TerriAnn Ferren Last week former Torrance City Council Member, Maureen O’Donnell relayed an amazing story to me about Snoopy, the dog she was fostering. To tell you the truth, it was a story that seemed so amazing I wondered how it could be true. That led me to investigate the entire saga of this little full-blooded Beagle named Snoopy. On Thursday, February 5th, Maureen visited the Torrance Animal Control Office to pick up a duplicate license for her Yorkie and while she was in the office she discovered a dog rescued by Animal Control Officer Doris Cattouse. The dog was dragging his paralyzed legs behind him as he scooted along the floor in the office. Maureen told me, “The Good Samaritan saw him being abandoned by a couple with two children and as I understand it, the Good Samaritan picked him up, brought him home and called Torrance Animal Control, and as required by law, Officer Cattouse took him to an emergency vet. The veterinarian was under the opinion that the situation was hopeless and suggested euthanizing him. Officer Cattouse said no, and brought him back to the office.” Maureen went on to tell me that by Monday, no rescue group had come forward for the dog that was suffering from Intervertebral Disc Disease. Now, Maureen had had a disc problem herself and opted for physical therapy over surgery and it worked for her. That made her think. It was then that Maureen offered to make an appointment with a specialist to examine the dog. On February10th, Animal Control, along with the dog, met Maureen at the specialist’s office. This doctor also concluded that the dog’s condition was hopeless and there was only a 30 percent chance of recovery, even with surgery. So Maureen asked about physical therapy but the Neptunians Award Scholarships to Top Student Achievers awards ceremony lunch held April 14 at the historic Neptunian Clubhouse. Each student onstage was introduced and took the opportunity to voice appreciation and explain future goals, dreams and aspirations to the appreciative audience of parents and Neptunian members. Prior to this event, Neptunian Woman’s Club granted seven profession-specific scholarships in the amount of $10,500 to deserving El Camino Junior College students, two in nursing, one in engineering, one in science, one in radiology, and one in business. Fashion clothier Trina Turk donated funds for one design scholarship. Formed in 1909, Neptunian Woman’s Club of Manhattan Beach is dedicated to philanthropy and volunteerism directed toward raising funds for worthy local charities and expanding educational opportunities for deserving and needy students. Charities include the Manhattan Beach Fire Department, Cheer for Children, Miller Children’s Hospital, and the USO. • doctor still said – only a 30 percent chance of success was expected. It was then that Maureen said, “I’ll take the chance,” and promptly decided to take ‘Snoopy’ as she named him, to Dr. Christine Pott, who suggested acupuncture might be helpful. So Snoopy began acupuncture treatments with Dr. Jin Choi. Really? Acupuncture for a dog? I had never heard about acupuncture for animals and was completely fascinated. Was I not up to date with my ‘Dog Whisperer’ episodes? Maureen also explained that on the suggestion from a technician at the emergency vet to Officer Cattouse, that Jean Brusavich from Tranquil Pet, specializing in swim therapy, also might help Snoopy. Swim therapy? This is when I really got interested in the story. I had never heard about swim therapy for dogs either. “So, we went to see Dr. Pott on the 11th, he had his first acupuncture on [February] the 15th, and his first Swimming on the 18th,” said Maureen. I was very interested in the swimming therapy and met Maureen last Friday for one of Snoopy’s sessions. When I first saw Snoopy, I was surprised he was walking, jumping, and thoroughly excited to get into the water. Somehow, I thought that Snoopy
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