Some half-dozen people linked to NJSPCA have been interviewed or will soon be by State Commission of Investigation
After failing to file state and federal financial statements for years, a misstep that resulted in the loss of its tax-exempt status, the New Jersey Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is the subject of a State Commission of Investigation probe for the second time in less than 20 years.
While the SCI would not confirm or deny any investigative activity, at least half-a-dozen people connected with the NJSCPA say they have already been interviewed or are about to be, as part of the probe. Earlier this spring, NJ Spotlight published a look at the controversial organization, detailing its financial problems and its lack of oversight.
The NJSPCA, a private organization with a 100-plus-year-old charter from the state, has been the focus of controversy for almost two decades. Charged with protecting animals, the group’s senior members are given the power of arrest, carry guns, and yet have little state oversight. The steady drumbeat of criticism reached a crescendo late last year when it was discovered that the organization had lost its tax-exempt status and yet continued to accept public donations without informing donors that their contributions were no longer tax-deductible.
VILLAGE OF RIDGEWOOD VILLAGE COUNCIL REGULAR PUBLIC MEETING
MAY 10, 2017
8:00 P.M.
Call to Order – Mayor
Statement of Compliance with the Open Public Meetings Act
Roll Call – Village Clerk
Flag Salute and Moment of Silence
Acceptance of Financial Reports
Approval of Minutes
Proclamations
National Cancer Survivors Day
Emergency Medical Services Week
Proclaim May as Mental Health Month
Proclaim May as Older Americans Month
Proclaim June as Gay Pride Month
Proclaim June 2nd as National Gun Violence Awareness Day
Comments from the Public (Not to exceed 3 minutes per person – 40 minutes in total)
Scoping Hearing – Green Acres Diversion on South
Broad Street
Adoption of Ordinance 3592 – Establish a CAP Bank
2017 Budget Hearing
Overview of 2017 Budget
Village Council’s Comments
Public Hearing on 2017 Budget
Resolution 17-126 Adopt 2017 Budget
Village Manager’s Report
Village Council Reports
ORDINANCES – INTRODUCTION – RIDGEWOOD WATER-NONE
ORDINANCES – PUBLIC HEARING – RIDGEWOOD WATER-NONE
RESOLUTIONS – RIDGEWOOD WATER
THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION, NUMBERED 17-127, WILL BE ADOPTED BY A CONSENT AGENDA, WITH ONE VOTE BY THE VILLAGE COUNCIL. THERE IS A BRIEF DESCRIPTION BESIDE THE RESOLUTION TO BE CONSIDERED ON THE CONSENT AGENDA. THE RESOLUTION WILL BE READ BY TITLE ONLY:
17-127 Award Professional Services Contract – Engineering Services for Suez Corrosion Control (NTE $15,000) – Awards a Professional Services Contract to Mott MacDonald, 111 Wood Avenue South, Iselin, NJ
ORDINANCES – INTRODUCTION
3599 – Amend Chapter 260 – Trees and Shrubs – Establishes rules and regulations for the planting and removal of trees on both public and private properties
3600 – Amend Chapter 212 – Parks and Recreation Areas – Prohibition of Dogs Off-Leash in Certain Parks – Prohibits dogs who are off-leash in both the Irene Habernickel Family Park and the Schedler Park Property
ORDINANCES – PUBLIC HEARING
3593 – General Capital Ordinance ($6,241,000)
3594 – Water Utility Capital Ordinance ($5,745,500) 3595 – Parking Utility Capital Ordinance ($210,000)
3596 – Amend Chapter 265 – Vehicles and Traffic – Parking Restrictions – Bogert Avenue and Cambridge Road
3597 – Amend Chapter 265 – Vehicles and Traffic – Parking Restrictions – Pomander Walk
3598 – Construction of Handicapped Ramp at Irene Habernickel Family Park ($70,000)
RESOLUTIONS
THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTIONS, NUMBERED 17-128 THROUGH
17-139 ARE TO BE ADOPTED BY A CONSENT AGENDA, WITH ONE VOTE BY THE VILLAGE COUNCIL. THERE IS A BRIEF DESCRIPTION BESIDE EACH RESOLUTION TO BE CONSIDERED ON THE CONSENT AGENDA. EACH RESOLUTION WILL BE READ BY TITLE ONLY:
17-128 Title 59 Approval- Replacement of Firehouse Roof – Approves the plans and specifications for Roof Replacement at the Main Fire House, 201 East Glen Avenue in the Village of Ridgewood prepared by the Engineering Division, pursuant to Title 59
17-129 Award Contract – Replacement of Firehouse Roof (NTE $126,760) – Awards a contract to the lowest responsible bidder, NDP Construction, LLC, 200 White Road, Suite 207, Little Silver, NJ
17-130 Title 59 Approval – School Bus Transportation Services – Approves the plans and specifications for School Bus Transportation Services prepared by the Parks and Recreation Department, pursuant to Title 59
17-131 Award Contract – Rebid of School Bus Transportation Services – Day Camp (NTE $21,000) – Awards a contract to the lowest responsible bidder, Durham School Services, 248 Goffle Road, Hawthorne, NJ
17-132 Award Contract Under County Contract – Rock Salt (NTE $56.86/ton) – Awards a contract under County Contract to Mid-American Salt, LLC, 4528 Hillegas Road, Fort Wayne, IN
17-133 Authorize Additional Funding for Special Attorney for RCRD Lawsuit (NTE $15,000) – Awards an additional $15,000 for the Special Attorney in the RCRD Lawsuit, Peter Scandariato of Eastwood, Scandariato, & Steinberg, 336 President Street, Saddle Brook, NJ
17-134 Authorize Application – Designate Graydon Park – Historic Designation – Authorizing application to Historic Preservation Office of the State of New Jersey to add Graydon Park to the State and National Registers of Historic Places
17-135 Authorize Shared Services Agreement – Borrowing of County Equipment (Bergen County) – Authorizes a Shared Services agreement with Bergen County for the sharing of emergency and non-emergency equipment
17-136 Suspension of Ordinance for Certain Illuminated Signs – Suspends the ordinance for certain illuminated signs in the Central Business District until December 31, 2017
17-137 Approve Encroachment Agreement – The Office Restaurant – 32-34 Chestnut Street – Approves an Encroachment Agreement for a canopy over the doorway of The Office Restaurant which extends over the Village’s sidewalk and is minor in nature. Also authorizes the Mayor and Village Manager to sign the Encroachment Agreement.
17-138 Authorize Addition of World War I Ridgewood Resident Veteran Killed in Action to Memorial Plaque – Authorizes the addition of the name of Anthonie J. Wendels, a Ridgewood resident, who was an Army Veteran killed in action in World War I, to the plaque at Memorial Park at Van Neste Square. Also authorizes the Village to pay the cost of doing so.
17-139 Recognize the Designated Public Forum Space in Memorial Park at Van Nest Square – Display of the Gay Pride Flag – Designating the Public Forum space in Memorial Park at Van Neste Square, resolving to display the Gay Pride Flag for all of June 2017 in recognition of Gay Pride Month.
Comments from the Public (Not to Exceed 5 minutes per person)
Resolution to go into Closed Session
Closed Session
A. Legal – COAH, Valley Hospital
B. Personnel – Appointments to Boards and Committees; Appointments of Professionals
C. Contract Negotiations – Consideration of Purchase of Property 24. Adjournment
VIDEO: THIS VIDEO SHOWS EPISODIC-LIKE MEMORY IN DOGS (CANIS FAMILIARIS): RECALL OF OTHERS’ ACTIONS AFTERINCIDENTAL ENCODING REVEALED BY THE DO AS I DO METHOD. view more
CREDIT: CLAUDIA FUGAZZA, ÁKOS POGÁNY, AND ÁDÁM MIKLÓS / CURRENT BIOLOGY 2016
People have a remarkable ability to remember and recall events from the past, even when those events didn’t hold any particular importance at the time they occurred. Now, researchers reporting in the journal Current Biology on November 23 have evidence that dogs have that kind of “episodic memory” too.
The study found that dogs can recall a person’s complex actions even when they don’t expect to have their memory tested.
“The results of our study can be considered as a further step to break down artificially erected barriers between non-human animals and humans,” says Claudia Fugazza of MTA-ELTE Comparative Ethology Research Group in Budapest, Hungary. “Dogs are among the few species that people consider ‘clever,’ and yet we are still surprised whenever a study reveals that dogs and their owners may share some mental abilities despite our distant evolutionary relationship.”
Evidence that non-human animals use episodic-like memory has been hard to come by because you can’t just ask a dog what it remembers. In the new study, the researchers took advantage of a trick called “Do as I Do.” Dogs trained to “Do as I Do” can watch a person perform an action and then do the action themselves. For example, if their owner jumps in the air and then gives the “Do it!” command, the dog would jump in the air too.
The fact that dogs can be trained in this way alone wasn’t enough to prove episodic memory. That’s because it needed to be shown that dogs remember what they just saw a person do even when they weren’t expecting to be asked or rewarded. To get around this problem, the researchers first trained 17 dogs to imitate human actions with the “Do as I Do” training method. Next, they did another round of training in which dogs were trained to lie down after watching the human action, no matter what it was.
SMITHTOWN, NY, While many people are familiar with the many U.S. soldiers serving in the Middle East, they are not aware of the dogs that often serve alongside them. Some of the dogs serve in official positions helping the military effort, while others are strays that the soldiers become attached to. Rather than having to leave those dogs behind, two U.S. soldiers will be adopting the dogs they have formed bonds with. The dogs will be transported from the military zone in the Middle East where they are stationed, and will be waiting for them upon their return back to the States, thanks to the work of Guardians of Rescue.
“We realize how important these dogs are to the health and well being of the soldiers who have been caring for them and working alongside of them,” explains Robert Misseri, president of Guardians of Rescue. “We are excited that we will be keeping these two dogs with the men who mean so much to them and vice versa. It’s a small gesture that we do for our soldiers that has a big impact.”
The two soldiers, both in the Army, who will be adopting the dogs are Sergeant Christian Cox and Specialist Michael Fenton. They contacted Guardians of Rescue, asking for assistance to help them get the dogs safely back to the U.S. Cox will be adopting Ghost, a stray dog that he has formed a bond with, while Fenton will be adopting Amigo, a bomb detection dog that was just retired of his duties.
The plans are currently under way for Guardians of Rescue to fly to where the two soldiers are stationed in the Middle East, and bring the two dogs, Amigo and Ghost, to Pennsylvania, where they will be placed with the soldiers’ families and wait for the return of the soldiers themselves. Both dogs are currently being cared for by the soldiers, and the organization is working as quickly as possible to bring them safely to the U.S. In addition, Guardians of Rescue is sending one of their retired military members to escort and ensure the dogs have safe passage to America.
“We are very honored to be helping the military and these dogs,” adds Misseri. “But we need your support to accomplish our goal of raising $10,000 – which is the funds required to get the dogs out of the Middle East and into their forever homes in America.”
Guardians of Rescue provides assistance to animals out on the streets, helping to rescue them, provide medical care, food and shelter, and find foster-home placements.. They are also instrumental in helping military members with their pets, and to provide service dogs to veterans suffering from post traumatic stress disorder. To learn more, get involved, or to make a donation to support the Guardians of Rescue, log ontowww.guardiansofrescue.org.
About Guardians of Rescue
Based in New York, Guardians of Rescue is an organization whose mission is to protect the well being of all animals. They provide aid to animals in distress, including facilitating foster programs, rehabilitation, assisting other rescue groups, and providing support to families, both military and not, who need assistance due to economic factors. To learn more about Guardians of Rescue, visit the site at www.guardiansofrescue.org.
Ridgewood NJ, This garbage can is overflowing with dog-poop that has been carefully bagged by the responsible owners. But the can is totally jammed.
The Dunham Trail which runs between Grove Street and Spring Avenue. It seems dog owners and dogs always get such a bad rap from the haters in town……but here you have a clear example that the owners are absolutely trying their best to pick up all the poop, even from a woodsy nature trail, yet no one empties the garbage can.
Whose responsibility is it to empty the cans in the Village parks?
Ridgewood NJ, Blessing of the Animals and celebration of the life and ministry of St. Frances of Assisi at Christ Episcopal Church in Ridgewood has become an annual event .
Everyone brought their favorite pets: dogs, cats, goldfish, rabbits and even stuffed animals….any beloved creature, great or small. A short service celebrating all animals was followed by individual blessings of each animal. Mayor Susan Knudsen stopped in for a visit .
By Craig McCarthy | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
on September 21, 2016 at 9:43 AM, updated September 21, 2016 at 9:47 AM
Two Rutgers law professors say that owning pets is immoral and would be considered torture if humans were forced to endure the same treatment.
Although Gary Francione and Anna Charlton live with six rescued dogs, the couple calls their abused animals refugees, and says they have the right to be free regardless of their quality of life with humans.
“Although we love them very much, we strongly believe that they should not have existed in the first place,” the two wrote in an essay in a digital publication onAeon. “We oppose domestication and pet ownership because these violate the fundamental rights of animals.”
Ridgewood NJ, Today’s the day! Open your heart and home to a friend for life at our 11th Adopt-A-Pet Day, 11am-4pm, Rain or Shine! We have 25 rescue groups and shelters coming with dogs, cats, puppies and kittens, all ready to find their furever homes! We will see you soon!
Ridgewood Veterinary Hospital
320 E Ridgewood Ave
Ridgewood, NJ 07450
(201) 447-6000
Open
Today 8:00AM – 5:00PM
Sun, September 18, 2016
Time: 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Location: Ridgewood Veterinary Hospital, 320 E. Ridgewood Ave., Ridgewood, nj 07450
If you have room in your home and heart, we will have 30 shelters and rescue groups with 300 pets for adoption. Experience the joy of unconditional love. Someone is waiting for you. . .
Ridgewood NJ, If you have room in your home and heart, they will have 30 shelters and rescue groups with 300 pets for adoption. Experience the joy of unconditional love. Someone is waiting for you. . .
Ridgewood Veterinary Hospital hosts Adopt A Pet Day
Sunday, September 18, 2016 from 11:00 AM until 4:00 Pm
Ridgewood Veterinary Hospital, 320 E. Ridgewood Ave., Ridgewood
BERLIN (AP) — Scientists have found evidence to support what many dog owners have long believed: Man’s best friend really does understand some of what we’re saying.
Researchers in Hungary scanned the brains of dogs as they were listening to their trainer speaking to determine which parts of the brain they were using.
They found that dogs processed words with the left hemisphere and used the right hemisphere to process pitch — just like people.
What’s more, the dogs only registered that they were being praised if the words and pitch were positive. Meaningless words spoken in an encouraging voice, or meaningful words in a neutral tone, didn’t have the same effect.
“Dog brains care about both what we say and how we say it,” said lead researcher Attila Andics, a neuroscientist at Eotvos Lorand University in Budapest, said in an email. “Praise can work as a reward only if both word meaning and intonation match.”
Andics said the findings suggest that the mental ability to process language evolved earlier than previously believed and that what sets humans apart from other species is the invention of words.
by: Lorena Inclan, Action News Jax Updated: Aug 23, 2016 – 9:01 AM
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office has identified a man killed in a dog attack as 83-year-old Michael Downing.
Downing was killed by his neighbor’s dogs at about 4 p.m. Friday, officials said.
The hole in the fence where witnesses said the dogs came through is now boarded up.
Witnesses Mackenzie Partin and Eddie Edwards said Downing’s body may have been dragged into the dog’s yard because they saw his body on the other side of the fence.
The Franklin Arms apartment community is mourning the loss of Downing, whom they described as a helpful neighbor and happy man.
“He always had a big smile on his face,” said neighbor Mark Jones.
Police roped off an area near the Dumpster where Edwards and Partin spotted the body.
“By far it’s probably the worst thing I’ve ever seen in my life,” said Partin. “There was only 30 percent left of his body probably.”
I have an observation that people around here are taking out their anger and aggression with their pet dogs.
I have been accosted by dogs on their leash on side walk!! when taking walks. The dogs will attempt to run up to me and jump on me. The owners are sloooow to pull dog away, physically or verbally.
Just last Sunday a man let his huge dog jump on me on Meadowbrook. I think this should be against the law and justifiable reason to call the police. I have never walked with cell phone before, as I only walk a few blocks, near my house, but for now on I will never leave house without my cell phone.
Please don’t say I don’t like dogs; I love love love dogs; I regularly dog sit a family dog from out of state, when it comes to Ridgewood, very well behaved dog; and I grew up with a dog.
Dog owners around here ARE NOT training their dogs not jump on people. And it is sooooo easy to do. They are not training dogs because they HATE PEOPLE and its aggression. They say, hey, it’s not me; it’s my dog. But it is you, because it is sooooo very easy to train a dog not to jump on a stranger, or run up to a stranger. And you guys aren’t you the smartest as well as the richest. You know better than me. Any dog that touches me or comes within one inch of me is going to get that police call, dog owner.
I heard there was a big dog bite at HealthBarn last week? Can anyone confirm? I heard it was just under the eyes ON the face and it was BAD?
Yes if someone can confirm that would be great. It is not shocking that it happened since habernickel park is now filled with healthbarn private clients. By this I mean children paying healthbarn directly. Not Ridgewood. Yet Roberta calls it a partnership. Yet it is just a tenant/ landlord relationship. No reports of profits from healthbarns business coming to Ridgewood parks and rec. I hope because of her ” so called ” partnership Stacy doesn’t advise her client to sue Ridgewood too!
