Vol. 25 - No. 30
In This Week’s Edition
THE BERKELEY
TIMES
FOR BREAKING NEWS
JERSEYSHOREONLINE.COM
Your FREE Weekly Hometown Newspaper For Bayville, Berkeley, Beachwood, Pine Beach, Ocean Gate and South Toms River
Animal Advocate: Neglect Law Needs Change
Should Public Records Act Be Amended?
By Chris Lundy BERKELEY – The Open Public Records Act provides for transparency in government by allowing people to see official documents. However, municipal clerks from around the state say it’s time to amend the law. The Municipal Clerks’ Association of New Jersey is calling for a study commission to review the law. The Association noted that while the law does a lot of good, it can be abused and misused. It has had unintended
Community News! Don’t miss what’s happening in your town.
Pages 12-14.
Dr. Izzy’s Sound News
(Records - See Page 7)
Page 18.
Senior Services Facing Funding Cuts
Dear Pharmacist Page 19.
Inside The Law Page 23.
Business Directory Page 24-25.
Classifieds Page 26.
Horoscope Page 31.
Wolfgang Puck Page 31.
| January 4, 2020
—Photos Provided by Ocean County Animal Facilities Southern Shelter Hazel, Sadie, and Harley were taken from the Peters home. Some of the Peters’ dogs have found new families. By Bob Vosseller OCEAN COUNTY – Residents seeking better care for animals have been vocal in the last several months about the need for new laws and more transparency in animal abuse cases. In late November, a vigil for three dogs that died after being left abandoned in a Lacey Township residence drew more than 50 people to Lacey’s Gille Park. Those present called for stricter laws pertaining to cases of animal cruelty and neglect. Another vigil was held on December 6, in front of the Ocean County
Prosecutor’s Office recalling the incident of a trapped raccoon that was clubbed to death by teenagers in December 2018. Those at that vigil wanted to learn more from the Prosecutor’s Office about what punishment was issued to the two youths involved. Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer said that due to existing law and the fact that those responsible were juveniles, his office was not at liberty to provide details on that case. Manahawkin resident Kathleen Ruskin is a volunteer at the Southern Ocean Coun-
ty Animal Shelter and is providing a voice for animals. She feels that some of them could find new homes if not for a current law that allows for those accused of animal neglect to retain ownership of their animals. They keep ownership even in cases where they have violated local laws that restrict the number of dogs in a household unless it is a kennel or shelter. One recent example of this scenario involved Luke Peters, 49, and his wife Allison Peters, 42, of Bayville who were charged with 24 counts of animal neglect after a complaint led police
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to their Berkeley home on October 11. Inside, officers found 24 dogs living in deplorable conditions. The dogs were safely transported to the Southern Ocean County Shelter where they received medical care. Berkeley Township Animal Cont rol responded to the scene where the homeowners voluntarily surrendered their dogs due to the unsafe living conditions. Neighbors were concerned about the possibility of neglect and alerted police which led to the Peters’ arrest. The couple faced a municipal judge (Dogs - See Page 4)
By Kimberly Bosco OCEAN COUNTY – Home to one of the largest senior populations in the state, Ocean County is facing some troubling cuts to essential senior programs. Officials are urging the state to reinstate funding for certain service programs offered to Ocean County seniors. “Many of our seniors are vulnerable and the programs and services provided are lifelines in many ways,” said Ocean County Freeholder Joseph H. Vicari, Chairman of the Ocean County Office of Senior Services. “State cuts reduce our ability to provide essential services to our seniors. Vicari added that increases in the cost of everyday living combined with the cuts in state funding do not bode well for our seniors, who “are forced to make decisions on whether to pay to keep a roof over their head or purchase life sustaining medications…No one should have to face making that kind of decision,” he said. Ocean County serves a senior population of over 173,000, 30 percent of which rely on Social Security to cover basic living expenses. Despite the recent 1.6 percent increase in Social Security - which provides seniors about an additional $400 more per year - Vicari emphasized that it is never really enough. “When you have utilities increasing by 10 percent (Senior - See Page 9)
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