Thanksgiving is served at Senior Center in Medina
Photos by Ginny Kropf: Members of the Senior Center of Western Orleans were treated to a free Thanksgiving dinner on Monday, catered by Chap’s Diner from Elba. At left, owner Sandy Chappius, server Belinda Conners and Sandy’s husband Doug Chappius serve turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing and squash to Jim and Sally Lindsay of Medina. Waiting in line at the end of the table is Charles Silvernail of Basom.
MEDINA – Members of the Senior Center of Western Orleans filled the Senior Center on Monday for the November board meeting and annual free Thanksgiving dinner.
The meeting included election of officers for 2019. Elected were Lynn Creasey, president; Lee Smith, vice president; and Sherry Tuohey, secretary.
After the meal catered by Chap’s Diner in Elba, K-9 officer Lt. Todd Draper with the Medina Police Department demonstrated the abilities of his dog Kye.
Kye is a Belgian Malinois, a breed raised in Holland for its ability to assist in police work. Kye is certified in patrol, tracking and narcotics detection.
The Belgian Malinois is the same breed which accompanied soldiers when they went after Osama bin Laden, Draper said.
Medina K-9 officer Lt. Todd Draper and his dog Kye presented demonstrations at the Medina Senior Center Monday after their Thanksgiving dinner. Watching at left is Senior Center president Lynn Creasey. Director Kelly Shaw is seated at right in the rear.
“A Belgian Malinois’ nose is 1,000 times more sensitive than a human’s,” Draper said. “We can smell a pizza, but Kye can separate every ingredient on it.”
A police dog can be trained in arson, bomb detection or narcotics. Kye is used for narcotics detection, such as marijuana, heroin, hash, cocaine and crack cocaine. Draper demonstrated how the substance they want Kye to detect is put in a towel and then hid. As in an actual situation, Draper gave Kye a sniff of a towel, then locked Kye in the kitchen while he hid the towel. It was only seconds after he was let loose before Kye discovered the towel in a cabinet.
Interestingly, Draper gives Kye his commands in Dutch. He only needs about six words (such as heel, sit, stay), and Draper said it was easier for him to learn Dutch than it would have been to teach the dog English.
Draper said he and Kye are a team. They work and live together (although Kye is kept in a dog house), and it is Draper’s hope when Kye has to be retired as a police dog, he will be able to keep him.
Lt. Todd Draper, K-9 officer with the Medina Police Department, watches as Kye, his Belgian Malinois, locates a hidden object during a demonstration Monday at the Senior Center of Western Orleans in Medina.
