Rocky’s first portrait

Posted on September 20, 2015 by Howard Owens

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For those who don’t know the story of Rocky: While in the care of his previous owner, he was scalded with boiling water, suffering second and third degree burns on his neck and shoulders. The owner and her boyfriend were charged with crimes and the owner agreed in court within days of her arrest to surrender ownership.

He then sat in the animal shelter a couple of weeks with nobody expressing any real interest in adopting him. I found this out when he walked with Volunteers for Animals in the Oakfield Labor Day Parade. I felt like he and I hit it off and made a few visits and Billie and I talked it over and decided to bring him into our family.

He’s been a great companion and willing learner with no apparent behavioral problems.

Stories from The Batavian:

Barbershops

Posted on September 18, 2015 by Howard Owens

When I worked in Lemon Grove I discovered a barbershop called Lou’s. Three chairs, always filled, a shave and a haircut, $15, with a little shoulder rub to finish it off, while Sinatra or Martin played on the stereo. I’ve always liked a good barbershop.

A role model of a good cop

Posted on September 9, 2015 by Howard Owens

I grew up on Adam-12. I’ve watched every episode at least three times. As a police officer in the USAF, my partners and I would habitually immitate the patter of the show … “One Adam-12, see the woman … ”

Officer Pete Malloy was not a bad role model for a young gun with a badge.

He wouldn’t be a bad role model for young officers, today, either. Level headed, fair, by-the-book, and abiding by the rule of law (rather than his personal prejudices or any sense of self-aggrandizing badassedness), Malloy usually found a way to do the right thing.

Unrealistic? Sure. It was only a TV show. But life is just acting. Fake it until you make it. You become who you try to be.

Pete Malloy was of a time when role models still mattered.

RIP Martin Milner.