Case dismissed against squirrel rescuer

The State’s case against Maria Vaccarella was dismissed in Howell Municipal Court this morning.

Doris Lin, Esq., Vaccarella’s pro-bono defense counsel, argued that the statute that her client was charged under does not apply to rescuing abandoned baby squirrels, but rather to the possession of exotic pets and animals.  Judge James M. Newman, the Presiding Judge of Monmouth County Municipal Courts, agreed and dismissed the charges.

Vaccarella came to the aid of a squirrel that had fallen out of a tree last year and then gave birth to two infants.  Vaccarella left the babies outdoors in cage for a day and then took them in when the mother failed to return.  She named the baby squirrels George and Lola and bottle nursed them for four months after a registered wildlife rehabilitators refused to take them, she said.

Vaccarella shared photos and videos of the growing a squirrels on her facebook feed, which led to a visit from Fish and Wildlife officials who took the babies and sent her a summons that indicated a $500 fine.  During her first appearance in Freehold Township Municipal Court, the Judge told Vacarells that the fine could be $1000 and a six month jail sentence was possible.

Vaccarella rejected a plea deal with no fine and $35 in Court costs last month.

What are you doing this weekend?

• Tweet

Success strikes impossibly fast for Keansburg/Middletown rockers

KEANSBURG — In terms of a band’s life cycle, Can’t Swim is an embryo. The raucous Keansburg four-piece recorded its first EP over the summer, and has yet to rock a single gig. The band released its first single — the first bit of music anyone has ever heard from them — in December. But nevertheless,… Read the rest of this entry »

• Tweet

Obama signs International Megan’s Law

Congressman Chris Smith was the sponsor of the International Megan’s Law

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama on Monday signed legislation named for a Hamilton girl that’s designed to alert foreign governments when registered sex offenders travel abroad. The International Megan’s Law to Prevent Child Exploitation and Other Sexual Crimes Through Advanced Notification of Traveling Sex Offenders was sponsored by U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (R-N.J.) and cleared by… Read the rest of this entry »

• Tweet

Victim critical following Neptune Twp. shooting

NEPTUNE TOWNSHIP — A person identified only as a male was shot and critically wounded Monday night, police said. The shooting occurred in the 1300 block of 7th Ave.around 8 p.m. The victim was transported to Jersey Shore University Medical Center with a single gunshot wound. An hour later and several blocks away, shell casings from… Read the rest of this entry »

• Tweet

Frank J. Pallone, father of congressman, dies at age 92

WASHINGTON — Frank J. Pallone, father of U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone Jr. and Long Branch council member John Pallone, died Sunday at the Monmouth Medical Center in Long Branch. He was 92. The elder Pallone was a longtime Democratic committeeman in Monmouth County and active in the Long Branch Democratic Party. He also served on the… Read the rest of this entry »

• Tweet

Selika Josiah Gore Joins Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

Selika Josiah Gore

Selika Josiah Gore of Marlboro, NJ has been appointed the Director of Field Programs at the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.  

FMCSA is the federal agency that regulates heavy duty vehicles. Its mission is to reduce crashes, injuries and fatalities involving large trucks and buses.

Gore for the last five years was the Deputy Administrator of Operations at the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission where she was responsible for customer service at all 39 MVC branch offices, the vehicle inspection and emissions program, business and motor vehicle dealer licensing, state bus inspections, capital planning.  At MVC she oversaw a staff of 1800 and managed an annual budget of $330 million.

Read the rest of this entry »

• Tweet

Rabid Pitbull May Have Infected Puppies, County Health Department Seeks Info On Cliffwood Pitbull Pups

Two of the four pit bulls that were in contact with the rabid dog that bit three people during the last three weeks in the Cliffwood section of Aberdeen Township are lactating, which indicates that they may have may have passed on rabies to their puppies.  The Monmouth County Health Department is asking that anyone who may have acquired, purchased, adopted or come into contact with pit bull puppies in the Cliffwood section of Aberdeen in the past three weeks contact them immediately.

The Monmouth County Health Department phone number is 732-431-7456, ext. 8580. After regular business hours, call 732-845-2004.

Read the rest of this entry »

• Tweet

Driver who hit cop directing traffic was high on drugs, police said

FREEHOLD –The 21-year-old driver of a car that hit and seriously injured a West Long Branch police officer directing traffic at a high school football game was high on drugs at the time of the incident, authorities said on Thursday. Michael Reyes of Oceanport was under the influence of heroin and marijuana when he hit West… Read the rest of this entry »

• Tweet

Rabies confirmed in Aberdeen dog

UPDATE: Health Department Officials are looking for pitbull puppies bought or adopted in the last three weeks.  Anyone who has come in contact with a pit bull puppy from the Cliffwood section of Aberdeen is urged to call the Monmouth County Health Department at 732-432-7456 ext. 8580. After business hours, call 732-845-2004.

Monmouth County officials have confirmed that an Aberdeen dog that bit at least three people in the past three weeks tested positive for rabies.

MoreMonmouthMusings has confirmed that the dog, a 2 year old black male pit bull with a white neck, is from the County Road area of the Cliffwood section of the Township.  The dog was three feet tall and weighed 90 pounds.

The dog did not have a current rabies vaccination. The Monmouth County Health Department (MCHD) is urging area residents who may have been bitten by a dog in the past three weeks to contact the health department at 732-431-7456, ext. 8580 immediately.

Read the rest of this entry »

• Tweet

Greg’s List: Things to do in Monmouth County this weekend, February 5-7, 2015

By Greg Kelly

Like this?

Friday, February 5

• William Shatner at Count Basie Theatre (Red Bank) – MORE INFO
• College Men’s Basketball: Monmouth U. vs. Fairfield (WLB) – MORE INFO
• To Be Young, Gifted and Black at Algonquin Arts Theatre (Manasquan) – MORE INFO
• Substance of Bliss by NJ Repertory Company (Long Branch) – MORE INFO
• Lives of Reason at TRT (Red Bank) – MORE INFO
• Rumors by South Street Players (Spring Lake) – MORE INFO
• NJ State Council on the Arts Fellowship Exhibit (WLB) – MORE INFO
• 19th Century New Jersey Chairmaking Exhibit (Freehold) – MORE INFO
• Radio Technology Museum Open at InfoAge (Wall Twp.) – MORE INFO

Read the rest of this entry »

• Tweet