Upper Twp News Notes > Edition of Feb. 1, 2012

Last Updated on Wednesday, 01 February 2012 14:49 Written by Staff Reports Wednesday, 01 February 2012 14:49

Upper Township man charged with killing dog

PETERSBURG – A Petersburg resident was charged Monday with killing his Brittany Spaniel dog after it bit him.

Josh Rosiak was the target of a two-week investigation by the New Jersey Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (NJSPCA) after he sought medical treatment for a dog bite. Veterinarians at Shore Animal Control of Upper Township brought the matter to the NJSPCA’s attention.

Linda Gentille, a Petersburg resident and member of Animal Guardian Angels, photographs of the dog could not be released because they were so graphic.

Rosiak has been charged in Upper Township Municipal Court with needless killing of a living creature, infliction of unnecessary cruelty upon a living creature, and torment and torture of a living creature.

Rosiak faces several fines as well as up to 18 months in jail. The matter will continue in the Upper Township court in the coming weeks, Gentille said.

‘Cape May County Report’ to air Feb. 5

CAPE MAY COURT HOUSE – County treasurer Edmund Grant will provide an overview of the 2012 proposed county budget during "Cape May County Report" TV show Sunday, Feb. 5.

The county budget for 2012 is $139.1 million and was expected to be introduced during the Board of Freeholders meeting Tuesday. The adopted 2011 budget was $143.7 million.

The county has 967 employees and 45 seasonal and temporary positions. The county pays more than $44.9 million in salaries and wages.

“This year’s budget keeps our tax rate increase less than one cent and our tax levy just at a one percent increase," Freeholder Director Gerald Thornton said. "Keep in mind that most of this tax rate increase is directly attributable to the loss of ratables.”

Public comment and adoption of the budget is scheduled Feb. 28. The meeting begins at 4:30 p.m. in the county administration building in the Crest Haven Complex.

Also during the half-hour "Cape May County Report" program, Thornton will discuss the direction of the new freeholder board. The show starts at 9:30 a.m. on NBC 40.

The news and information program focuses on county programs and issues and is shown the first Sunday of each month. The program is hosted by county communications director Lenora Boninfante.

For more information, call 463-6678 or see www.capemaycountygov.net.

Health department honored

CAPE MAY COURT HOUSE – Cape May County Department of Health is part a health coalition that received national honors for efforts to provide information about vaccinations.

National Public Health Information Coalition awarded a bronze medal to the New Jersey Southern Regional Governmental Public Health Partnership for creating and circulating a smartphone application titled “The Truth About Vaccines.”

“Our public health professionals found a way to tap into the popularity of smart phone ‘apps,’ and are using it to communicate with our residents about vaccines, by exploring the myths and making sure they have correct information, including the science behind the truths,” said Freeholder Kristine Gabor. “With so much information circulating about vaccines, especially those for school age children, it’s important that families have access to the data compiled by their own local health officials.”

The Southern Regional Governmental Public Health Partnership is an eight-member board.

“As a recipient of a NPHIC award, your department has been designated by an independent panel of judges as among the year’s best in public health communication,” stated NPHIC President William Gerrish.  “Congratulations on helping NPHIC pursue our mission to ‘make public health public.”

The Southern Regional GPHP includes Health Departments from Cape May, Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cumberland, Gloucester, Ocean, and Salem.