NEWARK, N.J. – A Virginia man was convicted for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, U.S. Attorney Philip Sellinger announced today.
Djavon Holland, 37, of Virginia, was convicted on April 15, 2024, by a federal jury of two counts of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl following trial before U.S. District Judge Peter G. Sheridan in Trenton federal court.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial:
In August 2021, law enforcement officials received information that Holland was engaged in narcotics trafficking in or around the Virginia area and New Jersey. On Aug. 12, 2021, a confidential source working with the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office contacted Holland to arrange a meeting with a confidential source working with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). On several occasions, Holland drove to New Jersey and sold fentanyl to ATF’s confidential source.
The narcotics offenses each carry a minimum penalty of five years in prison, a maximum potential penalty of 40 years in prison, and a fine of $5 million. Sentencing will be scheduled at a later date.
U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of the ATF, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Bryan Miller, and the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer, with the investigation leading to the conviction.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Megan N. Linares and Jenny Chung of the Office’s Criminal Division in Newark.
By: John Paff of Transparency, NJ and Chairman of the New Jersey Libertarian Party’s Open Government Advocacy Project.
ROBBINSVILLE, NJ (MERCER)–Transparency New Jersey reported that in a confidential agreement dated November 15, 2024, the Robbinsville Board of Education (Mercer County, NJ) agreed to pay $115,000 to settle a lawsuit brought by a 63-year-old former high school nurse who alleged age discrimination in her termination.
In her September 2023 lawsuit, Ruthann Jennings claimed that she received an April 6, 2023 termination notice from former Superintendent Bryan Betze, effective June 30, 2023. The notice cited a reduction in force due to budget cuts. Jennings said that she requested an explanation and was informed that her name had been placed on the reduction list by school administrators and later approved by Betze. Jenning said that she began her employment with the Robbinsville Board as a nurse on September 1, 2019.
According to Jennings’ lawsuit, three younger, less experienced nurses with fewer certifications were retained, even though selecting any one of them for termination instead of her would have resulted in greater cost savings for the district. Jennings argued that her termination constituted age discrimination in violation of the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination.
Of the $115,000 total settlement, $82,000 was issued directly to Jennings with the remaining $33,000 going to her attorney. According to the settlement, both Jennings and school officials agreed not to make disparaging statements about each other and Jennings agreed that her employment with the Board is permanently severed and that she will not seek future employment with the school district. The Board agreed that when contacted by Jennings’ prospective employers, it will provide only the dates of Jennings’ employment and her last position.
The case is captioned Ruthann Jennings, R.N. v. Robbinsville Board of Education, Docket No. MER-L-1787-23 and Jennings; attorney was Thaddeus P. Mikulski, Jr. of Pennington. The lawsuit and settlement agreement are in a combined, tabbed PDF file available on-line here.
The settlement agreement contains a confidentiality clause preventing the parties from publicly discussing the terms. However, these clauses cannot override the public’s right to access government-related settlement agreements under New Jersey’s Open Public Records Act (OPRA).
On Friday, January 17, 2025, Robbinsville Board of Education President Peter Oehlberg, Current Superintendent Patrick Pizzo, Defendant’s attorney Regina Mckenna Philipps, and Plaintiff’s attorney Thaddeus P. Mikulski, Jr. were all contacted for comments; however, none provided a response except for Miulski who responded “no comment.”
It is important to note that none of the allegations in Jennings’ lawsuit have been proven or disproven in court. The settlement agreement explicitly states that the Robbinsville Board of Education denies all allegations of wrongdoing, asserting that the settlement was reached solely to avoid the costs of litigation.
The reasons behind the Board’s decision to settle remain speculative. It could have been a strategic move to save on further legal expenses or to avoid the risks of a trial over potentially exaggerated or meritless claims. Alternatively, the Board may have sought to prevent public embarrassment or reputational damage if the claims were valid. This uncertainty underscores the inherent difficulty of discerning the full truth in cases resolved outside of court.
Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer and Brick Township Police Chief David Forrester announced that on July 17, 2024, Daniel Santaniello, 46, of Brick Township, was charged with Theft and Uttering a Forged Instrument relative to his position as Director of Recreation for the Township of Brick.
These charges are the result of a joint investigation by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Economic Crime Squad, Brick Township Police Department, Brick Township Police Department Internal Affairs Unit, and Brick Township Police Department Detective Bureau. The investigation revealed that in his position as Director of Recreation, Santaniello was responsible for issuing permits to private organizations for utilizing the township’s recreational facilities, including the township’s various softball fields. Private organizations wishing to utilize the fields were charged fees for their usage. The investigation further revealed that Santaniello required certain organizations wishing to use the township’s fields to pay him directly in cash, rather than issuing checks to the township. Instead of depositing the cash into the township’s accounts, Santaniello kept the monies for himself. In order to conceal his theft, Santaniello provided the private organizations who paid him in cash with fraudulent permits.
On July 17, 2024, Santaniello was taken into custody at his residence without incident by Detectives from the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Economic Crime Squad and Brick Township Police Department. He was processed and served with the charges via summons pending an upcoming first appearance in Ocean County Superior Court.
“This investigation remains active and ongoing. Anyone with additional information concerning Santaniello’s conduct is urged to contact Detective Joseph Mitchell of the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Economic Crime Squad at (732) 929-2027, extension 3532, or Lieutenant Paul Catalina of the Brick Township Police Department at (732) 262-1100,” Prosecutor Billhimer stated.
Prosecutor Billhimer and Chief Forrester commend the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Economic Crime Squad as well as the Brick Township Police Department, Brick Township Police Department Internal Affairs Unit, and Brick Township Police Department Detective Bureau, for their collaborative efforts in connection with this investigation.
The charges referenced above are merely accusations and the press and public are reminded that all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
TRENTON – Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin and the Division on Civil Rights (DCR) announced today that DCR has entered into a Consent Order and Decree resolving a complaint alleging that Mercer County Community College discriminated against an employee who contracted COVID-19 by firing the employee rather than extending his medical leave or allowing him to work remotely.
Under the Consent Order announced today, Mercer County Community College will be required to rehire the complainant and pay him $50,000 as compensation for his lost wages and benefits and damages for his pain and suffering. The Consent Order also requires the College to ensure that its policies and practices comply with the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination (LAD), including by ensuring that its policies expressly acknowledge that the College must engage in an interactive process with an employee who requests a disability accommodation and that a leave of absence may be a reasonable accommodation under the law. Through an interactive process, employers and employees work together to identify and select reasonable accommodations that allow the worker to perform the essential functions of the job.
Under the Consent Order, the College must also pay $10,000 to DCR, must train its employees to comply with the LAD, and must provide regular reports to DCR about how it handles accommodation requests it receives.
“Under New Jersey law, an employee who suffers a serious illness or disability may be entitled to an accommodation that allows them to recover and heal rather than be fired because they are unable to return to work,” said Attorney General Platkin. “We will continue to pursue disability discrimination complaints on behalf of those workers who have not been treated fairly, justly, or with respect.”
“October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month, and our message is clear: We will hold accountable any employer who discriminates on the basis of disability, including against employees who have contracted COVID-19,” said Sundeep Iyer, Director of the Division on Civil Rights. “The LAD’s protections against disability discrimination in employment are robust, and enforcing them remains a key priority for our office.”
New Jersey’s Law Against Discrimination is one of the strongest anti-discrimination laws in the country. Among other things, the law prohibits discrimination in employment, housing, and places of public accommodation on the basis of an actual or perceived disability. This means that employers, housing providers, or places of public accommodation cannot deny equal treatment to any person because of a disability. It also means that an employer must provide reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities unless doing so would impose an undue hardship. “Reasonable accommodations” can include, among other things, job restructuring, modified work schedules or leaves of absence, job reassignment, and making facilities usable by persons with a disability. The law also requires employers to engage in an “interactive process” with the employee to determine a suitable accommodation.
According to the Finding of Probable Cause issued by DCR in this case, the employee was hospitalized in critical condition on a ventilator in December 2021 and subsequently developed pneumonia, kidney failure, sepsis, and motor issues. Several months later, his sick time and sick bank credits were exhausted. He submitted medical documentation indicating that he needed an extension of his leave until September 2022 while he recovered. When he was unable to convince the College to extend his leave beyond July, he asked if he could work a hybrid schedule. But the College denied his request and terminated him. His replacement was hired in October, nearly three months after he offered to work a hybrid schedule and a little over a month after his doctor anticipated he would be able to return to work. DCR concluded in its Finding of Probable Cause that the college offered no evidence that granting the employee’s request for an extension of leave, or allowing him to work a hybrid schedule, would have imposed an undue hardship on its business operations.
The settlement announced today requires Mercer County Community College to take the following steps:
Rehire the complainant into a position with the same salary he previously had;Pay the complainant lost wages equivalent to the amount the complainant would have made had he not been terminated as well as compensatory damages for pain, suffering, and humiliation, with the total amount paid to the complainant totaling $50,000;Pay $10,000 to DCR;Calculate future promotions and payment for the complainant based on his time in the position as if he was not terminated;Agree to a two-year period during which the College will report to DCR on, and DCR will monitor, all accommodation requests from employees;
Revise the College’s anti-harassment and anti-discrimination policy to include additional detail on the right to request a reasonable accommodation, and train staff on that policy.
When you change your clock, it is good practice and a reminder to check your smoke alarms, carbon monoxide alarms, and kitchen fire extinguisher.
In New Jersey, all single station, battery operated, non-hardwired smoke alarms are required to be replaced with one with 10-year sealed battery units. If you have a 110v interconnected system, they have a backup battery in each detector and it is a good time to change those batteries before they go bad. See flyers below provided by the Monmouth County Fire Prevention and Protection Association. Remember after 10 years smoke alarms lose their effectiveness and need to be replaced, a date of manufacture or expiration date is printed on the back of detectors, if you don’t know replace your detectors. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions on installation and maintenance of all alarms.
If you have an attached garage, fuel burning appliances such as gas stoves, heaters, oil burners, etc., the home also will need a carbon monoxide detector installed in the immediate vicinity of sleeping areas. Each unit comes with manufacture’s instructions, read and follow the directions on placement and maintenance. It is also good to have a carbon monoxide alarm on each level of the home besides in the vicinity of the sleeping areas.
A large number of residential fires start in the kitchen. In New Jersey it is required to have a fire extinguisher of proper size mounted withing 10 feet of the kitchen. See flyer below for proper sizing and contact a local fire extinguisher service company for service tags. The New Jersey requirement for residential kitchens, the size is 2A 10 BC, a qualified fire extinguisher service company can help you select the proper extinguisher for any hazard.
Other fire safety tips:
Another area that is often overlooked are dryer vents that can clog with combustible lint. It is a suitable time to have dryer vents cleaned to remove build up and perform any maintenance before the winter season.
Do not use extension cords in place of permanent wiring, and do not overload outlets. Do not run extension cords under rugs, though walls or doors. If using a power strip make sure it has built in fuse protection.
Have heating appliances should be serviced by a qualified company before the winter heating season. Keep a minimum of three feet of clearance around any heater.
Have your chimney inspected and cleaned by a professional chimney sweep before the wood burning season and inspect regularly for buildup. It is a good idea to have a 2.5 gallon “water” type fire extinguisher in the vicinity of your wood burning stove or fireplace. Water will quickly knock down the fire if the fire gets out of control in Class-A wood fires. Multi-purpose ABC dry chemical fire extinguishers are also acceptable.
When cleaning fireplaces or wood stoves use a steel can with a cover to remove ashes, and make sure ashes cool down before you dispose of them properly. Have proper fireplace tools and fire gloves to clean and maintain the fire. Make sure there is three feet of clearance all around the stove and no combustible items near any wood burning stove or fireplace.
If you have any questions or need assistance, contact your local fire department for help.
The alarm on the left had battery door open to shut alarm off and stop the chirp of bad battery. Those alarms are not compliant with the NJ Uniformed Fire Code and these type of alarms need to be replaced with units that have 10-year sealed tamper resistant batteries. The alarm holder on the right, the alarm was removed from the ceiling and batteries were taken out of the alarm. Follow all manufacture’s instructions with each alarm and replace alarms like these with units that have 10-year sealed tamper resistant batteries.
Check and test your carbon monoxide alarms to make sure they are working. Check and replace their batteries or backup battery installed if a plug-in unit. This alarm above would not sound if there was a carbon monoxide issue in the household.
Make sure your kitchen fire extinguisher has proper pressure, is the correct size and is tagged with a service tag from an approved fire extinguisher service company.
TRENTON – The Murphy Administration today asked residents and businesses to conserve water as the state continues to experience a persistent period of hot and dry weather.
The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection is responsible for monitoring and protecting the state’s water supply to ensure ample clean, safe water for drinking and other needs. DEP’s Division of Water Supply and Geoscience has been closely monitoring the drier than usual conditions this summer.
While these conditions have not significantly impacted drinking water supply indicators statewide, persistently hot and dry conditions could adversely affect water supplies. It is important that residents and businesses take proactive steps to help moderate their use of water to help ensure ample supplies throughout the summer.
“Now is the time for New Jersey to be especially mindful of water usage and proactively moderate our consumption,” said Commissioner of Environmental Protection Shawn M. LaTourette. “Although our reservoirs and other indicators are healthy, persistent hot and dry weather coupled with the high water demands of summer can quickly impact water supply. Simple steps, like reducing lawn and landscape watering, go a long way in preserving our water supplies and avoiding the necessity of significant restrictive measures.”
Current water demands are being met and New Jersey’s water systems are capable of handling periods of low precipitation. Reservoir levels are near long-term averages for this time of year and groundwater supplies are near normal, with the central and southern portions of the state tending to be drier. Local conditions can vary, so it is normal for individual water systems and municipalities to periodically request that their customers reduce water use.
The DEP will continue to monitor water supplies very closely and advise the public, local governments, and water systems as appropriate. For a DEP microsite on water conservation measures visit https://dep.nj.gov/conserve-water/
The most up-to-date information about the status of New Jersey’s water supplies can be found at www.njdrought.org, where you can also find more water conservation tips for your community.
Other government and academic institutions also prepare drought-related indices and maps. One well-known example is the US Drought Monitor, which defines drought more broadly than DEP. These other resources may suggest drought or pre-drought conditions are present before actual water supplies are technically determined to be below normal by DEP’s Division of Water Supply and Geoscience.
NEW YORK — A unified command composed of the Coast Guard, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and Monmouth County, New Jersey, continued their response, Friday, to earlier reports of tar balls on the beach from Sea Bright, New Jersey, south to Asbury Park, New Jersey.
Manual cleanup efforts have been effective in removing recoverable tar balls and debris. To date, response crews have removed approximately 1,000 pounds of tar balls and oiled debris from impacted beaches.
Friday’s cleanup efforts were primarily focused along the shoreline in Long Branch, New Jersey.
Rain and changing wind conditions are forecast to impact the area this evening and over the weekend. Crews will monitor the shorelines throughout the weekend looking for any new signs of tar balls.
Response crews from the Coast Guard, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Monmouth County and the National Park Service completed initial shoreline assessments Wednesday. Shoreline assessments were conducted from Sandy Hook, New Jersey, to Asbury Park, New Jersey, to locate and document the extent of tar balls present. Additional assessments will take place early next week to monitor the status of cleanup efforts.
There are no reports of broader impact to the environment or wildlife at this time. Coast Guard Air Station Atlantic City conducted an overflight of the area Tuesday to identify any oil pollution in the water. No oil was observed in the water during the flight.
The source of the tar balls is unknown and remains under investigation.
Assisting agencies include:
– Coast Guard Sector New York
– Coast Guard Sector Delaware Bay
– National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration
– U.S. National Park Service
– U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
– New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection
– Monmouth County Sheriffs Office of Emergency Management
– Monmouth County Health/HAZMAT Department
– Long Branch Office of Emergency Management
Coast Guard Sector New York received initial reports of tar balls ranging in size from approximately 1-2 inches and smaller near Seven Presidents Oceanfront Park Tuesday and dispatched pollution response personnel to investigate.
Beach goers and mariners are advised to avoid contact with the tar balls. Anyone who notices any tar balls or oil sheen in the area should contact the National Response Center at 1-800-424-8802.
A unified command composed of the Coast Guard, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and Monmouth County, New Jersey, continues its response, Thursday, to earlier reports of tar balls on the beach from Sea Bright, New Jersey, south to Asbury Park, New Jersey. Manual cleanup efforts have been effective in removing recoverable tar balls and debris. To date, response crews have removed approximately 1,000 pounds of tar balls and oiled debris from impacted beaches. (U.S. Coast Guard video by Chief Warrant Officer Brandyn Hill)
By: by Assemblywoman Victoria Flynn, 13th Legislative District of New Jersey
March 15, 2024
If New Jersey hopes to accomplish real victories to combat climate change, one thing is clear: it won’t get there by filing pointless lawsuits against New Jersey’s energy producers.
That is the avenue the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office chose to resolve the statewide debate on climate change, suing all in-state fossil fuel energy producers to seek damages for the losses incurred from Superstorm Sandy.
New Jersey should learn from what just happened in Delaware, where a court rejected claims filed by the Delaware Attorney General to advance an aggressive “green” energy policy, reminding the State of Delaware that these issues are to be decided on the federal level, not through state-based claims.
The lesson learned from Delaware and other court decisions demonstrate that it is incumbent upon the elected officials in New Jersey to work alongside all interested groups to develop a common sense and cooperative plan to address our energy and environmental needs. It should not be the judiciary’s job to resolve policy decisions steeped in political differences of opinion.
I am struck by the state’s decision to choose litigation to somehow resolve this debate, especially since New Jersey is not blameless in mismanaging environmental needs. Why is the State relying upon the Attorney General’s Office to solve these environmental concerns, when that State is also simultaneously advancing laws that will result in overdevelopment in towns across Monmouth County and statewide?
I’m also deeply concerned about the ripples this lawsuit will have upon an important component of our state’s economy. New Jersey has championed renewables and pushes unattainable policies, but we’re still one of the top 15 largest petroleum consuming states. For good or for bad, New Jersey’s economy is dependent upon fossil fuel companies. It is not conducive to sue companies that we depend upon to support our vast energy needs.
In light of the irreparable harm that may be caused to New Jersey’s energy industry by this lawsuit, it begs the question: Is legal action really about combating climate change or do they just simply serve the goal of positive talking points for PR purposes?
These frivolous suits only serve to line the pockets of trial lawyers who prey upon states who are engaged in a false crusade of climate change legal actions for their own self-interests.
Consider who is really behind these lawsuits – a San Francisco-based plaintiffs’ attorney firm, Sher Edling, LLP., is initiating more than 20 lawsuits nationwide, including the one filed by New Jersey’s Attorney General’s Office. These lawyers know that the likelihood of success on advancing these actions relying on state nuisance and trespass laws is ridiculously low, especially because anyone who is sincerely concerned about taking credible action to address the climate needs for our country understands it can only be addressed on a larger scale.
I question how New Jersey’s lawsuit against companies in its State – which support its economy – will address damage caused to the climate by other countries. For instance, China emits 27% of all carbon dioxide – a third of the world’s greenhouse gases. Yet, New Jersey seeks to torpedo a significant contributor to its own economy without a chance of making so much as a dent in carbon emissions.
Ironically, the energy producers named in these suits have also committed billions to renewable technology. Just recently, ExxonMobil announced a commitment to invest $17 billion towards its low carbon business, while Chevron earmarked $10 billion for carbon capture investments. Shell and BP have recently delved into an emerging renewable industry, agrivoltaics, which combines solar energy production with agricultural activities.
We should seek practical, bipartisan solutions – with input from our business community – to make New Jersey’s energy policies more resilient, rather than haphazardly sue the state’s energy producers. That’s obviously not going to be the answer.
HAMILTON TOWNSHIP, NJ (MERCER)–Trooper Brandi Slota from the New Jersey State Police, Public Information Unit told Midjersey.News that there was a fatal crash on I-195 early this morning. The crash was reported at 12:10 a.m. on I-195 westbound at milepost 0.2 in Hamilton Twp, Mercer County.
A Hyundai Elantra, a Western Star 4700 dump truck, and a Mitsubishi Outlander were traveling westbound on Interstate 195. In the area of milepost 0.2, the front of the Hyundai impacted the rear of the Western Star dump truck. After impact with the Western Star, the rear of the Hyundai was impacted by the front of the Mitsubishi. The driver of the Hyundai, identified as Torrey Flim, 23, of Hamilton sustained fatal injuries as a result of the crash.
Early morning MidJersey.News story here:
BREAKING: I-195 Closed In Hamilton Due To Serious Crash Investigation
TRENTON, NJ (MERCER) – The Murphy Administration is proposing to remove the bald eagle and osprey from the state’s list of endangered species, reflecting decades of work to restore these iconic birds to New Jersey’s landscape, Environmental Protection Commissioner Shawn M. LaTourette announced yesterday.
The proposed de-listing is contained within a Department of Environmental Protection rule proposal published today in the New Jersey Register and is based on a finding that populations of these birds have recovered to the point where the survival of these species in the state is no longer in jeopardy.
The rule proposal makes additions, deletions and conservation status updates to the state’s endangered species list and list of nongame wildlife. It also restructures the state’s endangered species list to be consistent with legislative intent. The DEP will accept public comment on the rule proposal through August 2, 2024.
“The de-listing of eagles and ospreys is a milestone in the history of wildlife conservation in New Jersey and is a testament to the dedication of DEP professionals and volunteers who over the years stood watch over nests in all forms of weather, nurtured hatchlings, and worked tirelessly to educate the public about the importance of sustaining wildlife diversity,” said Commissioner LaTourette.
“Because of their efforts, people across the state today can thrill at the sight of bald eagles gliding above their massive tree-top nests or ospreys diving into a coastal creek to snare a fish,” Commissioner LaTourette continued. “While we celebrate these successes, we must remain vigilant in ensuring that these species continue to thrive and be ever mindful that endangered species continue to need our help.”
“The recovery of these species from near extirpation during the 1980s in New Jersey is a dramatic example of what is possible when regulations, science, and public commitment come together for a common purpose,” said David Golden, Assistant Commissioner of NJDEP Fish & Wildlife. “With focused attention on other species of greatest conservation need, future recovery success stories are also possible.”
proposal-20240603aDownload
Under the New Jersey Endangered and Nongame Species Conservation Act, which celebrated its 50th anniversary this past December, NJDEP Fish & Wildlife’s Endangered and Nongame Species Program (ENSP) is responsible for protecting threatened, endangered and nongame species.
The proposed de-listing of bald eagles and ospreys is made possible by work ENSP has implemented over the years with the help of many partners and volunteers that resulted in steady increases in the populations of these species, increases that became particularly pronounced over the past 10 to 15 years.
Today, bald eagles can be found in virtually every area of the state, with their highest numbers found along Delaware Bay, rich in protected marshlands and coastal creeks that provide ideal habitat.
In 2023, New Jersey boasted a record 267 nesting pairs of bald eagles, of which 255 laid eggs. In the 1970s and into the early 1980s, New Jersey had just one remaining bald eagle nest, a pair in a remote part of Cumberland County. The state’s population had been devastated by widespread use of DDT and other threats, including habitat degradation and human disturbances.
Once used widely to control mosquitoes, DDT is a synthetic insecticide that had lasting impacts on the food chain, accumulating in fish that eagles eat and causing eagles to lay thin-shelled eggs that could not withstand incubation. The federal government banned DDT in 1972, marking a pivotal step in the ultimate comeback of the species.
Recovery efforts in New Jersey began in the early 1980s, with reintroduction of eagles from Canada and artificial incubation and fostering efforts that started to pay discernible dividends throughout the 1990s. Active nests surpassed 100 for the first time in decades by hitting 119 in 2012. Ten years later, the total had more than doubled to 250. “The recovery and de-listing of bald eagles and ospreys is a huge milestone for our state,” said ENSP Chief Kathy Clark. “Many people have worked for years and decades to bring these species back from the brink, including biologists, volunteers, and all those who protect and steward habitat for rare wildlife. This is an achievement for all those who work on behalf of the natural ecosystems of New Jersey.”
The federal government removed the bald eagle from its list of endangered species in 2007, reflecting strong gains in the population throughout the nation. The current bald eagle protection status in New Jersey, however, remained state-endangered during the breeding season and state-threatened for the non-breeding season, reflecting caution about nest disturbance and habitat threats. Under the rule proposal, bald eagle status will be changed to species of special concern.
Osprey, also known as fish hawks, are typically found along the coast, where they hunt fish from marshes, creeks and bays. They are currently listed as threatened in New Jersey and will be classified as stable under the rule proposal.Also affected greatly by DDT use, the number of osprey nests left in the state dwindled to about 50 by the early 1970s. In the early 1970s, state biologists began an innovative recovery effort to place young and eggs from nests where DDT was not used as heavily into nests that failed to produce young. In addition, they coordinated efforts to supply nest platforms for the birds, substitutes for snags and trees that were lost as the coastline became more developed in the 1950s.In 2023, biologists for NJDEP Fish & Wildlife and Conserve Wildlife Foundation of NJ documented a record 800 occupied osprey nests.
Click here for more information from NJDEP Fish & Wildlife on bald eagles and ospreys in New Jersey, including annual population trend reports, biology and history. For a video about the DEP’s bald eagle project, visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oGD__79KUPQ
Photo by Sora Shimazaki on Pexels.com
The alarm on the left had battery door open to shut alarm off and stop the chirp of bad battery. Those alarms are not compliant with the NJ Uniformed Fire Code and these type of alarms need to be replaced with units that have 10-year sealed tamper resistant batteries. The alarm holder on the right, the alarm was removed from the ceiling and batteries were taken out of the alarm. Follow all manufacture’s instructions with each alarm and replace alarms like these with units that have 10-year sealed tamper resistant batteries. 
Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com
