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Woodcliff Lake advocate Roger Woodhour to be honored as 2012 Person of the Year

SHOUT OUT: He’s a teacher at Woodcliff Middle School, a volunteer puppy-raiser for The Seeing Eye and a longtime advocate for the blind and visually impaired. Later this month, Roger Woodhour will be honored as the 2012 Person of the Year by the Woodcliff Lake Educational Foundation.

Photo Credit: Cliffview Pilot

Roger Woodhour

The Person of the Year Award is given to someone who, in the words of the foundation, “exemplifies [its] mission to enrich and enhance the educational experience for the children of the Woodcliff Lake school district.”

“We’re so happy to be honoring Roger Woodhour’s contributions,” Elizabeth Calderone, president of the Woodcliff Lake Educational Foundation and co-chair of the event said.

“He has worked tirelessly to provide a positive impact on the quality of education in our community and has instilled a sense of compassion and selflessness in the children that will last a lifetime.”

Two years ago, Woodhour and Dusty — the Seeing Eye puppy he was raising — were attacked. Although Dusty recovered physically, the psychological damage ended his training.

Woodhour, who lost a fingertip in the attack, pushed for legislation to protect service dogs and Seeing Eye dogs and puppies — circulating petitions, making television appearances and conferring with state lawmakers, including fellow Washington Township resident Assemblyman Bob Schroeder (R-Bergen).

The result: “Dusty’s Law,” still pending in the Legislature.

Woodhour is also a driving force behind The Seeing Eye’s monthly “town walk” in Morristown, in which instructors are blindfolded and follow a route with the dog they trained, as an evaluator watches. Woodhour narrates the walks — and even devised a primer for hosting the walks.

The Seeing Eye is the world’s oldest dog guide school.

The March 14 award ceremony, at the Tice Community Center, runs from 7 to 9 p.m. Tickets are $20 each and include music, a dessert buffet, coffee and tea.

Proceeds from the event will benefit the Woodcliff Lake Public School system.  Space is limited, so it’s first-come, first-sold. To RSVP: Contact Event Co-chair Lisa Yakomin (201-505-0162)

Donations can also be made via check payable to the WCLEF:

WCLEF
134 Woodcliff Avenue
Woodcliff Lake, NJ 07677






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