A dog making a difference

Since Jasper became certified by Caring Canine Visiting Therapy Dogs Inc. in September, he and Stuler have made more than 30 visits to assisted living facilities, nursing homes, day and residential programs, and special education classes. Established in 2001, the all-volunteer, nonprofit organization has more than 100 dog and handler teams in Greater Boston.

According to Stuler, Jasper’s “super-gentle’’ demeanor and fondness for people make him an ideal therapy dog. While he doesn’t do fancy tricks, his big, brown eyes earn instant trust and affection. People also enjoy seeing his holiday costumes and coats, which Stuler began designing to ease his dislike of rain and cold weather.

A percentage of the proceeds from her petwear, available at www.acmecouture.com, support greyhound and other dog rescue charities.

Jasper’s “career’’ highlights have included coaxing a withdrawn adolescent girl into talking and playing with him, and standing patiently next to a nonverbal Alzheimer’s patient until she slowly reached out, stroked his ears, and smiled.

“It’s an absolute thrill when this magical human-animal connection happens,’’ Stuler said. “People think I’m crazy, but I’m telling you, Jasper trots out of visits with a sense of satisfaction. He can tell he made a difference to someone that day.’’

For more information, go to www.caringcanines.org.

ONE-ROOM SCHOOL: As a preservation-minded trustee of the Norfolk Public Library, Harvey Boulay welcomed the idea of incorporating his hometown’s one-room schoolhouse into plans for an expanded, modern library. The resulting structure is the only one of its kind, as far as town officials know.

Built in 1845, according to Boulay, the schoolhouse was dismantled and relocated to the town center around 1900. It was used as a fire station, industrial arts school, and storage facility before it was included in the library’s 10-year expansion project ending in 2005. Restoration of the schoolhouse, which was recently completed after four years of work, reflects the 1910-1915 period when electricity would have been installed.

Today, visitors can enter the Norfolk Library Schoolhouse Room through the library, which envelops two-thirds of the schoolhouse structure. The space is used as a conference room, study area, museum featuring historical artifacts, and living example of how a one-room school looked and functioned.

“We’re really proud it came out so well,’’ Boulay said. “It will be a great resource for the town for years to come.’’

DANCING FOR A CAUSE: Jothi Raghavan learned the bharata natyam dance when she was a little girl growing up in India. Now a teacher and choreographer, she and the senior students from her Nrityanjali dance schools in Westford and Bedford will demonstrate the classical Indian dance at a public performance this afternoon.

Even though Raghavan has taught Indian dance for more than 30 years, she still enjoys its intricate footwork and graceful body movements. Through hand gestures and facial expressions, dancers tell stories from Indian epics and mythology.

According to Raghavan, today’s performance of the “Bhavayami Raghu Ramam’’ will bring the Ramayanam epic to life through poems and music. Local performers include Revathi Ramaswamy of Lexington, who plays the veena, and dancers Sowmya Varada of Bedford, Nityasri Shankar of Boxborough, Mamtha Raj of Canton, and Nashua residents Pranathi Kaki and Bhavana Kaki.

Proceeds will benefit the LearnQuest Academy of Music, a nonprofit organization that provides Indian music classes in Waltham, Acton, and Andover.

“We enjoy dancing so much,’’ said Raghavan, who lives in Westford. “It’s wonderful we’re able to raise money for a good cause through this art form.’’

Today’s performance of the “Bhavayami Raghu Ramam’’ will take place at 5 p.m. in Littleton High School’s auditorium. Tickets are available at the door.

VISITING SCHOLARS: The Newhouse Center for the Humanities at Wellesley College is welcoming 12 scholars this fall.

While several will teach undergraduate courses and faculty seminars, all of the scholars will collaborate throughout the school year with the Wellesley College community. Their topics include religious conversion in Japan and India, and acoustics and aesthetics in the 19th century.

Deborah Klimburg-Salter of Austria, professor of Asian art history at the University of Vienna’s Institute of Art History, is the Mary Cornille distinguished visiting professor in the humanities.

Visiting faculty are Wellesley residents Colin Channer, an author, and Bryan Turner, who is researching the comparative sociology of secularism.

The Newhouse fellows are Laura Quinney of Arlington; T. James Kodera of Sudbury; Pat Giersch and Amanda Leff of Natick; Caroline Jones and Alexander Rehding of Cambridge; and Charlie Fisk, Carlos Ramos, and Maria San Filippo of Wellesley.

For more information, go to www.wellesley.edu/nch.

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