The Gossip Column: September 12, 2025

With the retirement of professional handler GREG STRONG we have lost one of the nicest and professional care takers in our sport. He was one who was included in the list of handlers who could trim and show dogs in all seven groups. A talented man who kept to himself and just went about doing the job he was hired to do and with great success. Quiet and not boastful, he had a loyal client list and served them well. I’m proud to call him a longtime friend and will miss seeing him at the dog shows. Fortunately, GREG will not give up his very successful handling classes that so many have relied on. All of us at DOG NEWS wish him and ANNIE all the best in his retirement. Two very talented professional handlers REBECCA CROSS and TRACY SZARAS just returned from China where they conducted a grooming seminar on trimming terriers. It’s nice when we send our best to represent us. This weekend’s four-day cluster that included RAMAPO, TUXEDO PARK, SOMERSET HILLS and  WESTCHESTER, is always the kick off for the Fall shows, which always includes some heat, some cold, some sun and some clouds and of course some rain. But it all ended on Sunday with the sun shining. The  WESTCHESTER club dinner was held at the home of ANDREW & AMY (who serve a double role as a club president and show chairman). Among the club members and guests were PEGGY HELMING, INGRID LYDEN, PETER GREEN, BETH SWEIGART, MARI-BETH O’NEILL, ROZ KRAMER, KAREN JUSTIN, MICHAEL FAULKNER, HELEN CHAN, DOUG & SUE TACK, MICHAEL & MICHELLE SCOTT, ANIA KELLY, PETER KUBACZ, DESI MURPHY, STAN & KAREN KMAN, TREVOR GERARDI MILLER, RICHARD TODD JACKSON, LIZ GALLIZZO, DINA MOORE TZOURIS, PAM LAMBIE, JOAN & ERIC LIEBES, APRIL & TODD CLYDE, GREGG KANTAK. Also on Saturday evening friends of  KIM CALVACCA helped her celebrate her birthday.  This is a special one for KIMMIE and all of us at DOG NEWS especially me wish her the very best birthday ever. Anyone getting up to Boston in the near future might want to visit the JFK PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY that has a special feature on PRESIDENTS AND THEIR DOGS. FALA president FRANKLIN DELANO ROOSEVELT’S Scottish terrier is the most famous of the presidential dogs. He was constantly at the president’s side and is even included in the statue that graces his memorial in Washington. Dogs were not the only pets to roam the lawns of the White House, there were cats, ponies and even a raccoon that was walked on a lead. Retired judge DAWN VICK HANSEN has passed away. DAWN was a multiple  group judge popular with exhibitors for her easy going manner and kindness in the ring. She was part of the Mid-West - Chicago group that included the KODNERS, WELSH, MARTINS, SCHWARTZS, COOPERS,  ISLANDERS and a regular visitor to the Knolland Farm of ED JENNER and LUC BOILEAU. After retiring several years ago, I would occasionally get a thank you note from DAWN thanking DOG NEWS for keeping her abreast of the present-day news in the sport. A wonderful lady, she will we be missed by those who knew her.