The Lowdown on Alcohol Addiction Treatment

Frank L. Cahill
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The Lowdown on Alcohol Addiction Treatment

MORRIS COUNTY — You’ve told yourself dozens of times it’s time to cut back on alcohol, yet there you are popping into a liquor store again. You know drinking too much is harmful to your health, and that you’re not fully present in your life when you’re buzzed. You’re tired of waking up groggy. You’re afraid to tally up how much you’ve spent on booze. But still…

“When you want to stop drinking and have made the decision to stop drinking, but are still drinking, it’s time for treatment,” NewBridge Services Director of Addiction Services Derk Replogle. “The first step is often is the hardest, and that’s asking for help.”

For National Recovery Month, Replogle offers insight into the various types of treatment.

Sobering Statistics
Alcohol abuse has increased significantly during the COVID-19 pandemic, with people imbibing more frequently at home out of stress, anxiety, or even boredom, Replogle said. When drinking becomes a habit or a means of suppressing emotions, it can indicate addiction. Replogle said people in recovery have relapsed over the past six months.

Addiction statistics were already worrisome before the pandemic. According to the most recent National Survey on Drug Use and Health, conducted in 2018, more than 21 million people in the U.S. aged 12 or older — one in 13 —needed substance use treatment. Only 11% received treatment at a specialty facility, the report said.

Heavy drinking — that’s having more than four drinks on a single day or 14 a week for men and more than three drinks in a day or seven a week for women — has serious health ramifications, raising risks for liver disease, heart disease, a number of cancers, and accidents. Because alcohol
suppresses the immune system, drinkers are more susceptible to contracting COVID-19, and experiencing more severe effects of the virus, Replogle said.

Abusing alcohol can also damage close relationships, affect careers, and result in costly legal problems, he said.

September is National Recovery Month
You likely have a drinking problem if you answer yes to two or more of the following questions, taken from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism website. In the past year, have you…
• Had times when you ended up drinking more, or longer than you intended?
• More than once wanted to cut down or stop drinking, or tried to, but couldn’t?
• Spent a lot of time drinking? Or being sick or getting over the aftereffects?
• Experienced a strong need, or urge, to drink?
• Found that drinking — or being sick from drinking — often interfered with taking care of your home or family? Or caused job troubles? Or school problems?
• Continued to drink even though it was causing trouble with your family or friends?
• Given up or cut back on activities that were important or interesting to you, or gave you pleasure, in order to drink?
• More than once gotten into situations while or after drinking that increased your chances of being harmed?
• Continued to drink even though it was making you feel depressed or anxious or adding to another health problem? Or after having had a memory blackout?
• Had to drink much more than you once did to get the effect you want? Or found that your usual number of drinks had much less effect than before?
• Found that when the effects of alcohol were wearing off, you had withdrawal symptoms, such as trouble sleeping, shakiness, irritability, anxiety, depression, restlessness, nausea, or sweating? Or sensed things that were not there?

The NIAAA website, Rethinking Drinking, offers a wealth of resources for gauging your situation and figuring out the best treatment approach for you.

Treatment Options
If you are ready for treatment or have questions about treatment, contact 1-844 ReachNJ (1-844-732-2465). Alternatively, start by speaking to your primary physician, who can help you develop a plan of action and make referrals. Professional treatment for alcohol addiction begins with a clinical assessment. Treatment needs to be tailored to the individual to be successful, Replogle said. Treatment will likely involve a combination of approaches.

Detoxification, the process of eliminating alcohol or another drug from the body, is a pre-treatment step that can take several days to more than a week. People whose brain and central nervous system have developed a dependence on alcohol may experience severe withdrawal symptoms and need to detox under medical supervision due to the risk of seizures and/or possible death, Replogle said.

Outpatient Treatment
Outpatient treatment is most appropriate for people who have a stable home environment and are willing and able to attend counseling sessions. NewBridge Services provides this type of treatment, with clients attending one-on-one and/or group sessions two to three hours a week, Replogle said. NewBridge uses evidence-based practices to help clients alter harmful behaviors and prevent relapse. Individuals can continue working and living at home. Medication and support groups may be part of outpatient treatment.

Intensive Outpatient
An intensive outpatient program is geared for people who need more supervision in their recovery. It provides at least nine hours of service a week, usually broken into three-hour sessions. It can be a stepping stone from inpatient treatment to outpatient care.

Residential Treatment
Residential treatment is suitable for individuals who face a host of drinking triggers at home and need a more structured living environment. Providing 24-hour supervision, residential treatment is an option for those who were not successful in outpatient programs. People in short-term facilities typically stay for one to three months. Long-term residential treatment is more intense, with residents enrolled for up to a year. In addition to addiction treatment, they learn skills to manage day-to-day life and participate successfully in their community.

Addiction and mental illness often go hand-in-hand, Replogle noted. About a third of people who have a mental illness also have a substance abuse problem, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness. Among people living with a severe mental illness, the rate of co-occurring disorders is 50%. Those statistics are mirrored among people with substance abuse problems, NAMI reported.

Medication-Assisted Treatment is a growing field for treating alcohol abuse as well as other addictions, Replogle said. Medications approved by the Food and Drug Administration can be used in conjunction with evidence-based treatment options to reduce the likelihood of drinking alcohol. Naltrexone, for example, blocks the euphoric effects and feelings of intoxication, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration. Another, Disulfiram, causes a person ill effects if they consume alcohol.

No matter the treatment option, all require follow-up care to prevent relapse. Peer support groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous and other 12-step programs can play an important role.

“People can and do recover from addiction,” Replogle said. “If you are struggling, start the process of recovery now. The future you will thank you.” To schedule an evaluation with NewBridge, call (973) 316-9333.

About NewBridge
NewBridge Services, a 501c(3) nonprofit, is a leading provider of counseling services, housing, and educational programs in northern New Jersey serving nearly 8,000 adults and seniors last year alone. NewBridge treats mental illnesses and addictions; teaches skills for coping with stress, grief, and challenging relationships; helps children who have been abused and neglected — and their families — heal; builds and manages affordable housing; offers school-based programs that teach children and adolescents resiliency skills for healthy emotional development; helps young adults succeed in their education and prepare for careers; and supports seniors so they can remain independent. Throughout its 57-year history, NewBridge has remained true to its mission of bringing balance to people’s lives by tracking shifts in communities’ needs and providing innovative, effective programs to meet them.

Partial Reopening Planned for Morris County Library

Frank L. Cahill
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Partial Reopening Planned for Morris County Library

MORRIS COUNTY — The Morris County Library, which has been closed to the public since the COVID-19 pandemic hit the region, announced today that a partial reopening will begin Tuesday, September 29, 2020.

Only 30 patrons will be accommodated inside the Hanover Avenue facility in Whippany at one time, and some sections and departments of the library will remain off-limits.  Additionally, state-mandated COVID-19 precautions remain in place, so facial coverings over the nose and mouth are mandatory for anyone who plans to enter the building, and provisions have been made to keep patrons and staff socially distanced.

“The library is taking a justifiably cautious approach to re-opening, but we are hopeful we will soon see a full restoration of services there. The Morris County Library is a treasured part of our great quality of life. I am not sure everyone realizes just how many people rely on that important resource or the services it provides, not only to students, academics, and voracious readers, but also to professionals, business owners, and the public in general,” said Morris County Freeholder Director Deborah Smith.

“One Way” directional signs have been posted in the library and patrons will be asked to, please, follow all directional signage.

“The Morris County Library began curbside service on June 23.  Since that time, it has been well received with an average of 75 car visits per day.  In addition, the library resumed its ‘Libraries-by-Mail’ service to homebound patrons.  Beginning September 29, we are pleased to announce that patrons will be allowed to enter the library in limited numbers for modified services.  Staff is eager to greet and serve you,” said Darren O’Neill, Director of Library Services.

Library Hours:

  • Tuesday and Wednesday: 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
  • Thursday: 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
  • Friday and Saturday: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
  • The library will be closed on Sunday and Monday

What Is Open:

On the first floor, main stacks of the library will be open to browsing.

Additionally:

  1. The Circulation Desk, in the main lobby of the library, will be the primary location for patrons to pick up materials and place materials on hold.
  2. Quick browsing is permitted in the “Readers Services Department” ONLY.
  3. Computer usage is limited to one hour, once per day per patron, via a sign-up process. No reservations can be made. Six computers will be available for patron use, including four seated stations and two standing stations.
  4. “Children’s Department” material will be checked out and collected from the “Children’s Pick-up Station.”
  5. Patrons requiring reference material must contact the library 24 hours in advance for assistance.

Important Notice: Some Areas & Services Remain Closed

The second floor of the library, its snack bar, the public meeting rooms, and the study rooms will remain closed. Additionally, there will be no general seating or work areas, aside from the computer stations. The Music & Media Department also is currently closed and the library will not be able to circulate any materials from that department.  A notice will be issued when those services resume.

Patrons should monitor the Morris County Library website for updates by clicking here.

Curbside service, offered since June 23, will remain available and is the preferred method for circulating library materials. Book Returns will only be accepted via book-drop bins located outside the front entrance, and the library will continue to quarantine material for 96 hours before release it back into circulation.

If you have any questions or concerns, please call ahead at (973) 285-6930. The Morris County Library is located at 30 East Hanover Avenue, Whippany.

A Peaceful Rally to Support Police, Small Business and Trump was held in Parsippany

Frank L. Cahill
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A Peaceful Rally to Support Police, Small Business and Trump was held in Parsippany

PARSIPPANY — Another beautiful Sunday afternoon for Morris County Republican Club Rally to support President Trump, Police, and Small Business. The rally was held on Gibraltar Drive, Route 10, Parsippany.

The large enthusiastic crowd came out in their pro-Trump attire to mingle and discuss politics with old and new friends and to cheer on the many guest speakers.

Special Guest speaker NYPD Police Commission Ret. Bernard Kerik addressed the crowd along with Parsippany Republican Chairman Louis Valori, Morris County Republican Chairwoman Laura Ali, Senator Joseph Pennacchio, Assemblywoman BettyLou DeCroce, Freeholders Tayfun Selen and John Krickus, Morris County Clerk Ann Grossi, Morris County Surrogate Heather Darling, Morris County Young Republican Chairman Justin Musella and Parsippany Resident and Businessman Edward Mosberg. Mr. Mosberg is a 94-year-old Holocaust survivor, who is a very strong supporter of President Trump and our police officers.

 

Morris Hills Magnet and Academy Students Run a Laptop Drive

Frank L. Cahill
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Morris Hills Magnet and Academy Students Run a Laptop Drive

MORRIS COUNTY — In light of the ongoing pandemic and the shift to a virtual culture, Juniors from the Morris Hills Magnet program and MCST Academies created a Laptop Drive in association with the American Tamil Medical Association (ATMA), a national nonprofit organization of Doctors, to help those in need.

The team members had collaborated via Zoom during July and Aug 2020. They had brainstormed a strategy to reach out to people and created a website, campaign email account, and canvassed about the project with their community, friends, families, local businesses, and eWaste companies. The team of juniors worked tirelessly through the summer, reaching out to local companies and communities. In a span of three weeks, the team collected and refurbished more than 20 laptops costing over 8000 dollars in original value to be donated to help socio-economically challenged students in need to continue their education virtually.

The laptops were refurbished by our magnet students, by backing up data, formatting, creating bootable windows disks, installing newer versions of Windows, checking network connectivity. Team also ordered new parts such as chargers, batteries, and web cameras as required for the laptops. The team then cataloged and arranged laptops donating them to High school and college students in the Tri-State area.

Magnet Junior Akash Puzhakkal said “I truly enjoyed this experience. During this pandemic, kids should be able to have access to computers to continue their education, and those of us who have spare laptops should provide help to those who unfortunately cannot afford laptops. Thankfully, I was able to provide help to other kids. The Tamil Task Team helped provide more than 20 laptops to those in need, thus giving a future to 20+ kids. Without a doubt, I am glad to be a part of this group, as helping people during these pandemic times should be a priority.”

Magnet Junior Mihir Vemuri said “As someone who really likes technology, it was an intriguing possibility to be able to fix laptops and donate them for a better cause. I was able to install windows 8 onto a Windows XP laptop, which was quite a challenging task. It is a great feeling that kids will be able to use these laptops for their virtual education, seeing as the current COVID 19 situations have made it hard for some families to purchase workable machines. I am so glad to be a part of something that will truly help. I enjoyed reaching out to various local companies for laptops and planning along with our peers”

“I joined the COVID-19 Tamil Task Team’s laptop drive to put my passion for tinkering with PCs and Smartphones to a cause that would greatly benefit the community. After working over the span of a few weeks, I could not be more satisfied with the result and impact we will have on those in need of educational resources. I feel ecstatic that, along with my peers in the COVID-19 Tamil Task Team, I was able to utilize my passion for the benefit of my community,” said Magnet Junior Rahul Mehta.

Magnet Junior Mukilan Karthikeyan said, “My motivation for this project came to from the knowledge that in our current situation the schools would rely on virtual learning, but many of the students may not have the resources to do so. With the beginning of school quickly approaching us we set up a virtual Laptop Drive in association with the COVID-19 Tamil Task Team. We created a website and flyers reaching out to hundreds of people in our community. I reached out to many eWaste companies and corporations such as Chase and Bank of America. Although we were not able to get a corporate donation, we received a great response from our community. During this project, I learned a lot about computers from isolating hardware issues to booting up new Operating systems. Creating the drive was a great experience. I am grateful for the opportunity to help students continue learning during this time need.”

“My childhood idol, astronomer Carl Sagan once said, “If we crave some cosmic purpose, then let us find ourselves a worthy goal.” Such delectable words especially resonated with me as we gave a helping hand in creating a laptop drive. After being able to help organize a drive for the COVID-19 Tamil Task Team that will assist impoverished students in getting an education that they deserve, has truly brought a sense of delight to my heart. After all, to contribute to something bigger than ourselves is one step in a fulfilled life,” stated Magnet Junior Siddhant Kapoor.

Magnet Junior Rithvik Mani said, ”This laptop drive was an amazing and rewarding experience and I am very grateful to be a part of it. Learning about computers, helping people, and getting hands-on experience were all reasons that helped motivate me to do this drive. Some of the difficulties I faced included parts not arriving and issues fixing my laptop. Solving these problems allowed me to learn from my experience and let me more efficiently fix other laptops. From this drive, I learned a lot about the inner workings of laptops, and it was great to have the opportunity to help other kids like me in need. Thank you!”

“I volunteered with the COVID-19 Tamil Task Force to donate laptops to kids in need. The way it worked was that you would donate your old working laptops and we would refurbish them and send them to kids in need. So I enjoyed it a lot because it allowed me to work with computers, which I love, and spend that time working on an honorable cause. I enjoyed the challenges that came along with working on the laptops and the issues that might arise. I would do this again if I had the chance,” said Academy of Comp Science Sophmore Rohan Parikh.

Academy Junior Ananya Rath said, “In these challenging times, many students are struggling and I wanted to do something to help out.  I volunteered in this Laptop drive as a part of the High School volunteering team for the COVID19 Tamil Task Team, to collect 20 Laptops for students in need during this pandemic  As education is becoming more reliant upon computers and technology, this drive helped aid those who are less fortunate. I was also able to learn more about computers with this experience as I had to learn to change their batteries, update their operating systems, and fix driver issues. Reaching out to our community and finding help in this time of need is really important and I am glad that I was able to find a way to make a difference.“

Senior student Akhil Kalapatapu from Cherokee High School supported the team and commented. “My motivation for doing this drive was the cause. I have volunteered for charitable organizations in the past and I feel that donating to those in need is a really good thing. I want to be as involved as possible when it comes to things like this. As for my experience, it was a bit difficult trying to find laptops to collect, but after finally collecting and donating them, I felt that it was a good experience.”

Parsippany Community Update September 21, 2020

Frank L. Cahill
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Parsippany Community Update September 21, 2020

PARSIPPANY — Mayor Michael Soriano Declares September 2020 Childhood Cancer Awareness Month in Parsippany-Troy Hills Childhood cancer is the leading cause of death by disease in children.

Too many children are affected by this deadly disease, and more must be done to raise awareness and find a cure. “I encourage all residents of the Township of Parsippany-Troy Hills to observe Childhood Cancer Awareness Month and support this cause that so deeply impacts families in every community across the country,” said Mayor Soriano.

For more information on Childhood Cancer Awareness, or to get involved, please visit the American Childhood Cancer Organization by clicking here.

How to Start a Small Business in New Jersey

Focus contributor
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How to Start a Small Business in New Jersey

MORRIS COUNTY — Amidst the coronavirus pandemic and the economic difficulty it has caused, the state of New Jersey has begun to position itself as a hub for startup activity. This is something of an ambitious notion, but the fact is that the economy will begin to recover at some point. And when it does, New Jersey will have an opportunity to benefit from new, local businesses.

One reason for this sense of optimism is that the existing New Jersey Innovation Evergreen Fund is well-positioned to help new companies emerging in the months and years ahead. Spotlight News wrote about the NJIEF and conveyed that the fund is poised to pump much-needed capital into new businesses and help to get people of New Jersey back to work in good-paying jobs. Also notable is the fact that Governor Phil Murphy recently made the notion of angel investment more attractive in New Jersey. Murphy’s signing of Bill A5604 in the summer of 2019 increased the angel-investor tax credit from 10% to 20% — effectively incentivizing investment in new and emerging businesses.

Government funds and incentive strategies of this nature may not always make headline news. But at a time like this, they’re exactly the kinds of behind-the-scenes efforts that can lead to surges in innovation and entrepreneurship. So, in support of innovation throughout the state, we decided to address the most fundamental question hopeful entrepreneurs may have: How do you actually start a business in New Jersey?

As is made clear in a ZenBusiness guide to forming an LLC in New Jersey, there are basically six formal steps involved. To list them quickly, they are as follows: naming the business; choosing a registered agent; filing Articles of Formation; registering the business for tax filings; creating an Operating Agreement; and applying for an EIN for taxes. To explain the process in a little bit more detail, we’ll address these points one by one.

Naming the Business – This is almost as simple as it sounds, though there are a few things worth keeping in mind. First is that the name must be unique in New Jersey (and you can check the New Jersey Business Record database to make sure that it is). Second is that the company must formally be called “LLC” or “Limited Liability Company.” Beyond these notes though, it’s as simple as making the name you want official.

Choosing a Registered Agent – A registered agent is either an individual (over 18) or a “business in good standing” in New Jersey, who is authorized (and required) to formally accept any legal papers the business may need to receive. You simply need to make a decision as to who or what your registered agent will be, and make it official with the state.

Articles of Formation – The Articles Of Formation are basically a form you have to fill out online, at the Division of Revenue Business Formation. In order to fill them out and submit them, you’ll need basic information about your company (address, type of business, name, names of managers, etc.) and $125 to pay a fee.

Register for Tax Filing – For this step you simply need to approach the New Jersey Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services, either online or via mail, to register your LLC as a business entity. This is important to do even if you’re an independent business owner without employees because in New Jersey such a business still has to pay a (small) minimum state tax.

Create an Operating Agreement – This is actually not an official step required by the state of New Jersey, so much as one recommended for businesses in general. Per The Balance’s overview of operating agreements, this is a “what if?” document that “serves as a guide through the process of dealing with questions of ownership and business management.” It’s essentially a thorough write-up of business details, from the LLC’s name and intended duration, to what the termination process is for employees, to the company’s liability clause. A thorough, well-composed operating agreement can be an essential point of reference, particularly for a growing LLC.

Apply for an EIN – This is something you can do online with the IRS. It’s a simple application that results in your new business being assigned an Employer Identification Number, which is required for filling out taxes. Note that this step is not necessary if you’re the only member of your LLC and have no employees.

And that’s the whole process! Naturally, there’s much more you’ll need to do in order to set up the business itself. But making it official with the state requires only that you go through the steps above.

Hopefully, this will be of assistance to any of you who may be thinking about starting companies as New Jersey looks to rebound with a focus on local innovation.

Assemblyman Bergen Introduced Legislation to Prevent Municipal Double-Dipping

Frank L. Cahill
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Assemblyman Bergen Introduced Legislation to Prevent Municipal Double-Dipping

PARSIPPANY — Assemblyman Brian Bergen (R-Morris) introduced legislation to prevent elected officials from holding paid jobs in their own municipalities.

Several towns currently have Mayors who also hold paid positions. Mine Hill Mayor Sam Morris is also the business administrator, sewer administrator, the water administrator, and the special district administrator. He draws four salaries from the township totaling $137,957.42.

Woodland Park Mayor Keith Kazmark recently left his post as a Parsippany business administrator in order to take on the same role in the town where he is the Mayor. Years ago dual office holding was eliminated, but this loophole for municipal officials was left unresolved.

“The people of New Jersey deserve better. This legislation shouldn’t be necessary, but it is because people are using their public position to take advantage of the system for personal gain. It’s disappointing,” said Bergen.

The legislation would preclude any elected official from holding office in a municipality in which they are also an employee. It will go into effect immediately if passed.

“If a mayor or other member of the governing body thinks they are the best fit for a paid position in the town, then they should take that position and resign as the elected official. It’s that simple. Sometimes they make the argument that they are ‘saving the town money’, but the fact is they are depriving them of multiple opinions and points of view. That makes the town worse off, not better,” concluded Bergen

Morris County’s Latest News on Voting This November

Frank L. Cahill
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Morris County’s Latest News on Voting This November

MORRIS COUNTY — The Morris County Board of Elections continues to update voters on what to expect as Election Day, November 3, 2020, nears under Governor Phil Murphy’s order for a primarily vote-by-mail election.

Some quick facts:                                                          Vote Campaign Buttons

  • All registered voters will receive a Mail-In Ballot via the U.S. Postal Service on or before October 5.
  • If you are an active, registered voter you will automatically receive a Mail-In Ballot.
  • No application for that ballot is required for registered voters.
  • Registered voters have alternative means by which to cast their Mail-In Ballots:
    • Deposit the marked and sealed Mail-In Ballot into one of the 15 Drop Boxes being established throughout Morris County. There are currently five drop boxes in place. Another ten locations will be installed and will be available by Monday, September 28.
    • Mark, seal, and return the Mail-In Ballots via the U.S. Postal Service. The ballots must be postmarked on or before November 3 and received by November 10.
    • Drop off the marked and sealed Mail-In Ballot on November 3, Election Day, between 6:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. at the polling site established in your town.
    • Each municipality has at least one in-person polling site where voters may drop off their Mail-In Ballots or vote in-person using paper provisional ballots provided at the polling location. A postcard providing your consolidated polling location will be mailed to you on or before October 23. (Click here to find a polling site.)
  • Voter Registration Deadline for the General Election is Tuesday, October 13. (Click here to register)
  • Sample Ballots will not be mailed out this election but may be viewed on the Morris County Clerk website by clicking here.

Onyx Acquires Nine Mack-Cali Office Buildings in Parsippany

Frank L. Cahill
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Onyx Acquires Nine Mack-Cali Office Buildings in Parsippany

PARSIPPANY — In one of the largest office transactions since the beginning of COVID-19, Onyx Equities, along with partners Taconic Capital Advisors, L.P., Axonic Capital LLC, and Machine Investment Group, acquired a ten building, 1.5 million square foot office portfolio in Morris County from Mack-Cali.

The Morris County Office Portfolio follows Onyx Equities’ 2018 acquisition of Mack Cali’s Bergen County office portfolio.

The Morris County office portfolio consists of nine buildings in Parsippany and one building in Madison and complements Onyx’s already diverse base of office holdings throughout the state of New Jersey.

Like the rest of Onyx’s acquisitions, the assets will be upgraded through its classic capital improvement strategy that has been attracting tenants looking for high-quality buildings that are easily accessible to major highways and in close proximity to urban downtowns.  The acquisition venture believes this portfolio will be well-positioned to capitalize on tenants already in the suburbs looking for high-quality space as well as potential tenant relocations from New York City due to COVID-19.

“Historically, Onyx has completed some of our most complicated transactions in difficult economic climates and closing during COVID-19 certainly provided some unique challenges,” said John Saraceno, Jr. Managing Principal for Onyx Equities.  “Special thanks to the effort of the Onyx and Mack-Cali teams for never giving up and finding a path to get this transaction closed.”

“Onyx is excited to close its second large portfolio with Mack-Cali and we look forward to implementing our typical value add capital improvement business plan in order to upgrade assets that we already feel are some of the best in Morris County,” said Stephen Sullivan, Chief Investment Officer of Onyx Equities, LLC.  “Our goal is to continue to attract tenants already in the suburbs and also potential relocations out of New York City who desire both a superior product and the best locations.”

Onyx Equities’ suburban office portfolio includes a diverse base of office buildings in New Jersey, Westchester County, and Long Island.  Onyx is one of the largest office landlords in New Jersey and the largest landlord in Bergen County.

Jones Lang Lasalle facilitated the transaction.

Founded in 2004, Onyx Equities, LLC is a leading, full-service real estate firm, located in Woodbridge, specializing in investment, asset repositioning, and ground-up development.

Friendly Protest “To Save the Animals at Mt. Pleasant Animal Shelter”

Frank L. Cahill
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Friendly Protest “To Save the Animals at Mt. Pleasant Animal Shelter”

MORRIS COUNTY  — People of all ages came out “To Save the Animals at Mt. Pleasant Animal Shelter” protest on Saturday, September 19.

The message was very clear: “Save the Animals – Stop Animal Abuse, “Stop the Abuse,” “Honk to end Abuse,” “Animals denied Medicines and Vaccines,” “Animal Welfare Over Profit,” “Save the Animals at Mt. Pleasant Shelter,” “Animals Denied Vet Care,” “No Kill, Check the Freezer,” and “Fire Maureen.”  The Maureen they are referring to is Maureen Ryan-Van Artsdalen. Van Artsdalen was hired as Executive Director on January 2, 2019.

“As a former significant financial contributor to the shelter, I find the current leadership sadly lacking in compassion, direction, and managerial skills. The current Executive Director has used her position to make working conditions miserable for the staff and medically unsafe and unhealthily for the animals warehoused in the shelter. Installed in her position by a long gone, self-aggrandizing director, she is almost uniquely unqualified for the job. The animals and workers deserve far better than this petty tyrant,” said Gary R. v.Rotenbeeg.

You can join their FaceBook page by clicking here.

Sign their petition by clicking here. The petition states “The animals at Mt. Pleasant are being denied the medication and care they need for survival. The Executive Director has no Animal Welfare experience and has created an environment of hostility and secrecy. What was once a well run and compassionate shelter is now an environment that is not in the best interest of the animals. The fosters and employees must sign gag orders that they will not share anything negative that they see within shelter walls with the public. Animals are leaving the shelter without being neutered and spayed. The shelter was operating without a licensed vet supervising for an excess of months well before COVID. There is the improper record keeping of animals that come in and out of the shelter. There were animals in foster they had no record of existing, leaving the animal’s care completely in the hands of the foster with no proper guidance from the staff. Turnover of employees is just about 100% since the new ED took over either due to her firing them for fear they’d speak out or them quitting. The fosters that had worked there for years were fired for challenging the ED’s methods or lack thereof. The ED who has been there for 20 months has never learned or attempted to learn any of the shelter’s operations regarding how they function on a day to day basis. We have reason to believe she is earning over $100k, which is 40k more than any prior ED’s salary, and is money that could be used to treat sick animals that often have to wait weeks to months for much needed medical care/surgeries. They haven’t yet filed the necessary 990 paperwork that will help us confirm her salary. She was hired by the Board of Directors that had a friendship with her, regardless of her lack of animal welfare experience. The Board has been notified of everything listed and to date has done nothing about her behavior. We are demanding the shelter’s ED be replaced with a person with the proper animal welfare experience needed to return Mt. Pleasant to the well functioning organization it was before she joined. We are also demanding that the board add new members that have the animal’s best interest at heart and not just the dollars raised for the shelter.

Poster the protester prepared to get their word out

According to their FaceBook page “Mt. Pleasant Animal Shelter is a non-profit 501(c)(3) animal welfare organization that is 100% funded through donations. Our animals are our family until they become yours.”

In an email sent to their volunteers Sharise Spence, Volunteer Coordinator, “they were advised that Mt. Pleasant Animal Shelter has canceled all weekend volunteer activities for this weekend only. Volunteer activities will resume on Monday, September 21, 2020. Thank you for all being an important part of what we o at Mt. Pleasant Animal Shelter. Your support is greatly appreciated.”

In addition, the shelter had a planned fundraiser set for Saturday, which was abruptly canceled on Friday. On their FaceBook page they announced “Unfortunately, we are postponing our shredding event. We will update everyone when we have a new date.”

Mt. Pleasant Animal Shelter also hired the East Hanover Police Department to monitor the premises during the protest.

Based on complaints from fosters, adoptees, and ex-employees the protest group compiled a list of demands for change at the Mt. Pleasant Animal Shelter.

“After reviewing all the evidence presented to us, we believe the following is critical for the health and safety of the animals in the care of Mt. Pleasant Animal Shelter.”

  1. Replace Executive Director with a competent individual who has experience running an animal shelter.
  2. Make sure the Veterinarian and Vet Techs expedite medical care for sick and injured animals in their care.
  3. Train ALL staff in proper record keeping.
  4. Promote foster and volunteer relationships that benefit the welfare of the animals.
  5. Maintain basic equipment, supplies, medicines, and vaccines necessary for the health of the animals in their care.
  6. Stop bullying tactics to staff and volunteers by rewriting agreements and remove non-disclosure language
  7. Have financial records audited by an outside accounting firm and present a final report to the public via the website.
  8. Add/replace all members to the Board of Directors with members that can be trusted to oversee the shelter with compassion for animal welfare.
  9. Show transparency on the website by including the last 3 years of 990s, financial records, meeting minutes, and by-laws.
  10. Board meetings will be announced via the website and be held publicly.
  11. Return the shelter to an open environment where fosters, employees, board members, and volunteers have open communication throughout that benefits the welfare of the animals.
  12. Make Mt. Pleasant the amazing and compassionate shelter it was before the Executive Director took over.
  13. Rewrite the job description of the Executive Director.
  14. Create a separate position for a Fundraising Manager.
  15. All problem areas will be corrected in a timely manner in order to facilitate change at the shelter to benefit the animals, as well as the employees, volunteers, fosters, adopters, and the public at large.

Focus called Mt. Pleasant Animal Shelter for comment and was told Maureen was not in but was transferred to Cindy who could speak to me.  The call went to voice mail and Focus left a message, and hasn’t received a return call. Focus also reached out to Maureen on FaceBook, but messages went unanswered.

Focus will update this article when we receive comments from Mt. Plesant Animal Shelter and/or Ms. Maureen Ryan-Van Artsdalen.

On Monday, September 21 at 9:10 a.m., Ms. Maureen Ryan-Van Artsdalen submitted the following comment: “Mt Pleasant Animal Shelter provides excellent medical care for the dogs and cats waiting for their forever homes. We are very proud of this and will not be discouraged by unverified and inaccurate accusations.”

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