Date: Fri 20-Jun-1997

Publication: Bee

Author: ANDREA

Quick Words:

snapshot-Helen-Reid

Full Text:

SNAPSHOT: HELEN REID

Occupation: I own Snow-Tara Kennels; I groom and board dogs. I've been showing

and breeding dogs since 1950 - mostly Alaskan Malamute and Norwich Terriers

lately, too. I've had about 15 champions. I have two Dobermans, and I show

them.

Where do you show: I go all over the country. Most of the showing is from

Virginia up to Maine and out to Ohio. National specialties might go to Chicago

or California - wherever they're having the shows. It's every weekend. There

are circuits. In the spring the Cherry Blossom Circuit with 10 days of shows.

It's fun. You win some, you lose some.

How long in Newtown: Since 1957; 40 years. I should write a book.

Biggest change: There have been a lot of changes. We didn't have a police

department then, we had a couple of constables. If there was any trouble you

had to call the state police. Of course, the population has grown. The post

office was where the first selectman's office is now.

Family: My oldest [child], Kolleen, is a RN in North Scituate, R.I. The next

is Mari-Jo and she lives in Plymouth, Conn. Both she and her husband work at

Curtis [Packaging]. Heidi helps me at the kennel everyday. She lives in

Southbury. My son, Drew, he lives in Southbury, and works for [an] optical

company in Ridgefield.

Other pets: Two cats. The Siamese is Ty, and the Russian blue is Ivan - what

else?

Organizations: Past Queen in the Daughters of the Nile - we do philanthropic

work [connected with] the Shriner's burn and orthopedic hospitals for

children. I belong to Newtown Kennel Club, and am a charter member of Alaskan

Malamute Club of America. Of course, I was dog warden in town from 1975 to

1983.

Goal: To retire to my property in Franconia, N.H. It's a little town in the

White Mountains, 10 minutes from Littleton.

Hobbies: I cross-country ski. I can run my dogs on a sled team up in New

Hampshire - I have three sleds. There's a lot of room up there and all kinds

of logging trails. I like to bowl but not in a league. And I like swimming.

I'm a football freak - a Giants and Redskin fan. I was a cheerleader in high

school. I have a small satellite dish, for the sports. I like ice hockey - the

New York Rangers. But I'd rather play baseball and basketball; I don't like

watching it. I like rough camping - I don't want another house to clean. I go

in the woods of Maine and New Hampshire. The colder and snowier it is, the

better I like it. One of my hobbies is looking for The Bee's Buck; I give my

[winnings] to the Newtown Ambulance.

Most memorable event: I remember the train wreck on Church Hill Road in the

50s. A freight train went off the trestle. Nobody was hurt but the road was

closed off for days. 84 wasn't here then; we had old Route 6.

Favorite food: I like all food. I like crab meat, lobster, chicken and steak.

I'm an ice cream freak. On my corn flakes I have vanilla ice cream instead of

milk for breakfast.

Personal philosophy: I have a few philosophies. Live by the Golden Rule. Do

unto others. I think people should lighten up more and look at the funnier

side of things. I think people can handle life better that way. The trouble

with most parents today is they don't set an example.