The NJ Library for Blind and Handicapped’s 2005 Fall Festival was the best yet! Over 300 people attended the fair from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m., Saturday, October 15, 2005, at the NJ Library for the Blind and Handicapped (NJLBH) in Trenton. Martha Harmon Pardee, a popular National Library Service narrator who records Talking Books, gave the keynote address, “Insights and Excerpts: Anecdotes from a Narrator’s Life.” Ms. Pardee, a former New Jerseyan, is the narrator of over 575 Talking Books and the winner of the Torgi Award and the Alexander Scourby Award.
Peter Campione, dog handler, trainer and owner of Kindred Souls Canine Center in Howell, NJ, presented a program for children and adults from 1 p.m. until 2 p.m. The program, “The Best Dog for You . . . How to Choose and Train Your Canine Companion and Pal,” was a “hands on” experience for the children and other audience members. The audience had the opportunity of touching each dog and learning the anatomy and distinctive features of each breed.
Paws on Wheels offered interaction with the animals in their petting zoo from noon – 2:00 p.m. Numerous vendors were available from 9:30 to 3:00, including: Access Link New Jersey, C Tech, Creative Adaptations for Learning, DeWitt & Associates, Friends of NJLBH, Guiding Eyes for the Blind, Hallmark, Interpretype®, Low Vision Solutions, MAVIS: Music Association of Visually Impaired Students of NJ, Maxi Aids, MetDESK®: MetLife's Division of Estate Planning for Special Kids, Midnight Crafts, National Federation of the Blind of New Jersey, New Jersey Association of the Deaf-Blind, New Jersey Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired, New Jersey Council of the Blind, New Jersey Division for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, N.J. Library for the Blind and Handicapped, Pulse Data Humanware, Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic, Signs of Sobriety, and VisAbility.
 |
 |
 |
A crowd of more than 300 enjoyed the program at the Fall Festival. |
From left to right: Interpreter and NJLBH Director applaud as Karen Messick is honored for winning the New York Times Librarian of the Year Award. At far right is NJLBH customer Kristen Witucki, who nominated Karen Messick for the award. |
Keynote speaker Martha Harmon Pardee entertains the audience. |
 |
 |
 |
Paws on Wheels staff members Kathy Mangiaracina, Susy Berg, and Bette Wedo brought animals including a hedgehog, goat, rabbit, cockatoo, snake, and insects for NJLBH customers to touch and enjoy. |
Saimi Saar with Rio the deaf dog assist dog trainer Pete Campione with his presentation. | Ward Biondi and William Wright of MAVIS: Music Association of Visually Impaired Students of NJ entertain the crowd. |
 |
 |
 |
NJLBH Youth customer Jon Gabry, who is deaf and blind, enjoys the program through tactile interpretation given by Special Service Provider Allen Reposh. |
The New Jersey Division of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing was represented at the Festival by Jason Weiland and his therapy dog, Claudia Lopez, and Patricia Long. |
NJLBH customers Susan Hart and Joanie Leonard learn about new adaptive technology products from Pulse Data Humanware representative Carrol Stone. |
All photos courtesy of photographer Howard Bascome