Chef arrested for allegedly neglecting his two dogs
Young chef Benjamin Smallman, who works at a museum in New York, claimed to have been overworked when he was arrested on Friday, Nov. 16 for allegedly starving his two dogs, Ozzie and Zeus, according to Animal Control Officer Lisa Menendez.
Animal control officers Geoffrey Santini and Menendez went numerous times to Smallman’s home based on a complaint, although they would not say who made the complaint.
When they were found, one dog allegedly was “severely” malnourished and the other one had “moderate” malnourishment, according to a police report. The report said that “The two dogs were drinking water out of the bathroom tub which was filled with water.”
The dogs are currently doing better as they are under the care of Dr. Carlos Triana of Summit Animal Clinic in Union City.
Smallman was charged with four counts of cruelty of animals and was taken to Hudson County Correctional Center in Kearny with $2,500 bail with no 10 percent option. He was released on bail, as of Nov. 19. His next municipal court hearing is Dec. 11 at 1:30 p.m. at the North Bergen Municipal Court Building.
Ozzie and Zeus are recovering at the Summit Animal Clinic. (Summit Animal Clinic has many animals who are up for adoption. For further information contact the clinic at 201-392-9200.)
According to Menendez, Santini has been trying to speak with senators and assemblymen to put those charged with animal abuse on an offenders list just as is done with sex offenders.
“Geoffrey always goes above and beyond to try to help people and educate the community,” said Menendez. “Animal control isn’t the enemy. We’re here to educate you and enforce you to be safe from animals and for animals to be safe from you.”
Appleview Planning Board meeting
The next Planning Board hearing for the Appleview development project will be held Tuesday, Dec. 4 in the Chambers of the Municipal Building, 4233 Kennedy Blvd. at 7 p.m.
The proposed Appleview condo development is controversial for a number of reasons. Residents are concerned that it will be built near a high-pressure natural gas line. It’s also being built at the Palisades Cliffs, and preservationists are concerned about removing portions of the land.
The town and county planning boards have been holding hearings on the application for over three years.
Car found in Secaucus pool; driver from North Bergen
The driver of the blue Cadillac sedan that was found floating in the Secaucus Swimming Pool Wednesday morning was identified as 26-year-old Joshua Goyes from North Bergen, according to Sgt. Detective Thomas O’Keeffe.
Goyes turned himself in around 9:30 p.m. Wednesday night and later released that evening after posting bail. Police responded to a call at 7:36 a.m. about a vehicle submerged in the town pool, according to O’Keeffe. A dive team was called in to search the pool. A crew was also called in to remove the blue 2005 Cadillac CTS from the pool.
Goyes was charged with reckless driving, leaving the scene of an accident, and possession of drug paraphernalia because police removed a suspected marijuana roach from the vehicle, according to the police.
O’Keeffe said he could not disclose any details on whether Goyes was the same individual who refused medical treatment by the EMS around 3 a.m. Wednesday morning after the individual was found walking along Route 3 East by the Sunoco station in soaked clothing.
O’Keeffe said the police are working on determining the details related to how the car ended up in the pool. Goyes was also wanted by Secaucus Police for a local town ordinance violation in the amount of $94 according to the police. He is due to appear in Secaucus Municipal Court on Dec. 5 at 5:30 p.m.
Colon Cancer Month at the North Bergen Free Public Library
A colon cancer informational event has been rescheduled for Wednesday, Dec. 5 at 7 p.m. Gastroenterologists Peter Caride, MD and John Sotiriadis, MD will be available to discuss colon cancer. This is made possible by the Hispanic Outreach Program and Holy Name Medical Center for Wellness Wednesdays. It will be held at the North Bergen Free Public Library which is located at 8411 Bergenline Ave.
Guttenberg blood drive
The Galaxy Social Committee, Mayor Gerald Drasheff, and The Town Council invite residents to a blood drive. It will be held at the Galaxy Mall at 7004 Kennedy Blvd. on Thursday, Dec. 6 from 4 to 9 p.m. To make an appointment visit www.redcrossblood.org and use the sponsor code 02211887. For donor eligibility guidelines call 1-800-RED-CROSS. Those interested must bring a photo ID and remember to eat before donating blood.
Woodcliff Christian Harvest Food Pantry
Woodcliff Christian Harvest Food Pantry is held every second and fourth Saturday each month from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. for those in need of food.
The Divine Thrift Store is located on the second floor which is open during the same hours. The thrift store offers a variety of fashions for men, women and children at low prices. All of the proceeds from the sales go towards helping the church with its ministries.
Woodcliff Community Reformed Church is located at 7605 Palisade Ave.
Donations of food, gently used clothing, housewares and other items are welcome.
For more information contact Win Powers at (201) 869-4555 from Monday to Saturday during the hours of 9 a.m. to noon.
North Bergen Board of Commissioners meeting
Despite a relatively short agenda, the North Bergen Commissioners discussed various issues at their meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 20.
The agenda noted the retirement in August of North Bergen Department of Public Works Superintendent James Wiley, who afterward pleaded guilty to using town employees for his household chores, construction projects at his home, and political campaign work in nearby towns. The agenda noted that his sick, unused vacation, and compensatory time through the “Salary & Wage Adjustment Program” comes to a total of $70,871. However, the town will not have to pay out all that money, due to his criminal charges. The township is entitled to $10,820 in restitution, based on a letter dated Oct. 25, 2012 from the division of Criminal Justice. The town will also get an additional $16,193 in related expenses, for a total of $27,013.
Wiley will be paid the rest of the money in two equal installments.
Also at the meeting, residents discussed the proposed Riverfront Park in North Bergen and Guttenberg. Some members of a citizens’ group have questioned how much it will cost, and whether the property is contaminated.
An ordinance related to park funds was introduced on Nov. 7 and adopted at the recent meeting. To complete the park, the towns are getting New Jersey Green Acres Grants in the amount of $928,000, a New Jersey Green Acres Loan in the amount of $572,000, two Hudson County Open Space Grants in the amount of $1,011,150 and reimbursement funds of $338,854 from North Bergen.
New Jersey Meadowlands Commission Sunday events
The New Jersey Meadowlands Commission will run a “Disposal Road Raptor walk” on Sunday, Dec. 2 from 9 to 10 a.m. Attendees will be looking for peregrine falcons, northern harriers, and possibly a bald eagle or two. The meeting location is across from the Carillon on Disposal Road.
The First-Sunday-of-the-Month Nature Walk with the NJMC and BCAS will be Sunday, Dec. 2 at 10 a.m. The free two-hour program features a walk along Disposal Road in Lyndhurst and North Arlington, followed by a short talk and slide show on the raptors of the Meadowlands by the NJMC’s Jim Wright. Meeting location is along Disposal Road across from the Carillon, and then drive a half-mile to the Meadowlands Environment Center in DeKorte Park. The walk is run by the New Jersey Meadowlands Commission and the Bergen County Audubon Society. The rest of DeKorte Park remains closed during the event. NJMC as well as BCAS ask participants to not attempt walking to the park grounds or trails during the visit. Visit meadowblog.net for directions, last minute updates and weather advisories. Participants will have to sign a standard liability release for NJMC/BCAS events throughout the year. To RSVP, contact Don Torino of the BCAS at greatauk4@aol.com or call (201) 230-4983.
DeKorte Park Cleanup with the NJMC and BCAS will also be on Sunday, Dec. 2 from 10 a.m. to noon. Several trails will be cleaned up, trash picked up and recyclables. Participants must wear work gloves, protective clothing, footwear and sign a liability release. (The liability release is available Sunday or can be downloaded in the upper left-hand corner of the Meadowlands Nature Blog, www.meadowblog.net.) The meeting location is at the visitors parking lot which is inside DeKorte Park. The Meadowlands Commission will provide coffee and doughnuts to volunteers. Partcipants must be at least 16 years old. For those who are 16 and 17-year-old, they must have the liability release signed by a parent or guardian. To receive email notifications for future cleanups or for more information contact NJMC’s Jim Wright at jim.wright@njmeadowlands.gov. Also email Jim if you plan to participate so that he can plan accordingly.