Retired New Jersey school teacher faces 36 counts of animal cruelty

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Cheryl Hanna



Bradley Beach resident Lorraine R. Smith faces 36 counts of animal cruelty after local firemen were called to her vacant house on 511 La Reine Avenue early Sunday morning and found dead cats on all three floors of the home. Even though there was no fire, Bradley Beach Police Chief Leonard A. Guida stated the alarm could have been set off because of the odor of decaying animals.Accompanying the fire department was Monmouth County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Chief Victor "Buddy" Amato, who stated the house will likely be condemned as a result of the filth and health dangers.

"When I went into the house it was just a nightmare,” Amato said. “It looked like a lot of the animals were cannibalizing one another.”

According to the Asbury Park Press, Smith, 65 moved to nearby Neptune to care for an elderly relative and was likely overwhelmed with the expense and commitment of so many cats as well as other demands on her time.People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals  (PETA) state that hoarders are now recognized as having a mental illness or compulsion. Once viewed as "collectors," the consequences of animal hoarding are devastating to the animals, hoarders, families, and communities. These people fail to provide the most basic physical and social needs for animals - among them water, food, shelter, veterinarian care, and sanitary living conditions..."  More

The Orion School's Outdoor Classroom "Green Space With Grace"

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We are so excited about The Orion School's proposed outdoor classroom - Green Space with Grace. The Orion School was founded to create a school that educates students who have neurobehavioral challenges including ADHD, Asperger's and anxiety. Our students need an active and vibrant program to experience the success more traditional school programs just can not offer. Our curriculum has such an experiential focus that we have been making some amazing community connections the past six years. We are now ready to formalize what we are already doing in so many ways and create a model urban outdoor classroom at The Orion School! Stay tuned for progress on this exciting way for our school to connect in even more concrete ways to the community we are in!  We have connected The ADDed View blog to The Green Space With Grace blog to make a journal of our Outdoor Classroom project. Check daily to see our progress!

Today was a productive day with regard to our project. The support for our Outdoor Classroom is growing. So far we've begun partnerships with Trees Atlanta, Earth Savers Club, Canton Creek Farm, and Farmer D Organics. Yay!

Who's In Charge? Understanding Executive Functioning

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Next Tuesday, May 22^nd The Orion School (www.theorionschool.org) will sponsor a free presentation called Who’s In Charge: Understanding Executive Functioning facilitated by Orion Educator and counselor Michael Largin, MA and Orion Assistant Director Beth Brieske. The evening will offer information, tips and strategies for both home and school to help parents of children who have executive functioning disorder and related challenges including ADHD and Asperger's Syndrome.

The evenings are free and light refreshments will be served.

Time:6:30-8:00

Location:
The Orion School
458 Ponce de Leon Ave.
Atlanta, GA 30308

Contact: 404-551-2574 or info@theorionschool.org to rsvp

The Orion School sponsors monthly Parent Educational Support Series as an opportunity for parents of complex children to learn and connect in a socially supportive setting. Meeting other parents and professionals who understand can offer the kind of support that is not always found in the day to day when raising a child with special needs. The evenings will be facilitated by professionals and Orion School staff who have expertise supporting parents of wonderfully complex children with social, emotional and behavioral differences; including ADHD, Asperger's, and anxiety.

Fundraiser for Orion's Greenspace with Grace Program!

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Join us this Wednesday, May 23^rd for Spirit Night FUNdraiser at Uncle Maddio's!
The Orion School is having a Spirit Night Fundraiser at Uncle Maddio's Pizza Joint in Toco Hills on Wednesday, May 23^rd. Between the hours of 5pm and 8pm, 10% of proceeds go straight to The Orion School’s Greenspace with Grace Outdoor Classroom Program. If you live in Atlanta please come eat at Uncle Maddio's and support this exciting educational project! Our outdoor classroom will give us the ability to extend the experiential learning opportunities we can offer our students who have neurobehavioral challenges including ADHD, Asperger's and anxiety.  
 
For those of you who are Gluten Free, Uncle Maddio's has the best tasting GF pizza around. Uncle Maddio's also has Daiya brand Dairy-Free Cheese. Yum!

Understanding Executive Functioning

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This past week was our last Parent Education support series this school year. Orion's Assistant Director Beth Brieske and Family and Student Coordinator Michael Largin, M.A. presented an informative and supportive evening for parents at Orion and in the community as well as fellow educators. Below are the bulleted notes from the presentation for anyone who was unable to join us.



 Who’s In Charge? Understanding Executive Functioning
Presentation by The Orion School Educators Beth Brieske & Michael  Largin, M.A.
What are Executive Functions? The executive functions are a set of processes and abilities that all have to do with managing oneself and one’s resources in order to achieve a goal. It is an umbrella term for the neurologically-based skills involving mental control and self-regulation.
n   Executive functions help you manage life tasks of all types. For example, executive functions let you organize a trip, a research project, or a paper for school.
n  These processes and abilities include:n  Maintaining attentionn  Controlling impulsesn  Keeping free of distractionsn  Engaging in mental planning and problem solvingn  Maintaining flexibility n  Time managementn  Setting prioritiesn  Organizing n  Executing a task
Hallmarks of Executive Dysfunctionn Easily distracted by external or internal stimulin Difficulty in initiating activityn Difficulty in maintaining effortn Difficulty in recognizing and/or utilizing feedbackn Difficulty in completing activities without cues
Executive Dysfunction in Childrenn  May present with academic, social, or behavioral difficulties that do not qualify students for Special Education servicesn  May be described as lazy, unmotivated, unable to get work done, and/or confusedn  May be extremely disorganizedn  Executive Function deficits can affect all areas of life and can hamper a child academically, socially and emotionally. Children who have neurobehavioral challenges including ADHD and Asperger's have overlapping executive functioning deficits.n  The long-term goal is not to "fix" executive functioning,  but to be able to send your child out into the world armed with a set of skills he can use to tackle these problems on his own. n  Is this child with executive function disorder your child?·          Keeps a messy room and a disorganized desk ·          Has difficulty following multi-step instructions ·          Has trouble sitting still when others don’t·          Needs to be nagged repeatedly to get ready to catch the bus ·         Loses things regularly, from jackets to permission slips ·         Has a meltdown when it’s time to clean her room·          Has difficulty planning and managing time·          Forgets to turn in homework even when it’s complete·          Fails to control his impulse to lash out when frustrated·          Forgets to pay attention to where she’s going when talking on her phone·          Engages in risk-taking or thrill-seeking behaviors (poor judgment)
At School Structure is most important for students with executive dysfunction:

n  Structure is one of the most critical elements. n  Provide structure through clear communication, expectations, rules, and consequences. n  Structure tasks by breaking long-term assignments into manageable increments. n   Teachers need to carefully structure the schedule, alternating active and quiet periods/activities. n   Students require assistance structuring their materials and workspace.
Teach using multisensory strategies:
n  Use hand signals or words that are agreed upon privately.n  Use visual strategies (e.g., outlining, diagramming).n  Use auditory strategies (e.g., discussion, music).n  Use tactile or kinesthetic strategies (e.g., manipulatives, fidgets).
Use organizing tools for students with executive dysfunction
n  Use a Time Timer.n  Use cuing techniques n  Use a notebook with color-coded dividers.n  Use agenda
Modify student’s self-regulatory skills in the classroom      n Make rules simple and clear.

 n Establish routine

 n  Student who struggle with multi step directions need tasks broken down into workable and obtainable steps.

  n  Use reminder charts.

  n  Capitalize on the child’s interest and hobbies


At Home

n  Children with executive functioning disorders may notmake logical leaps to know what to do. They need external structure to help organize.n  Strategies to use at home: n  Reward good behavior.n  Alter the room to reduce distractions and noise interference.n  Limit noise or insulate study areas.n  Use to-do lists for chores and schedules to meet deadlines.n  Keep a visual calendar to help organize time.n  Be consistent when modifying behavior.n  Positive Reinforcement and Natural Consequences Use positivereinforcement to help kids stay on task. One way to do this is verbally. Say three positive things for every one negative thing. Tell child what they are doing that they need to be doing at every turn.Another positive reward is a “carrot” to dangle to motivate the child. This would be a reward that child can work towards for doing what they need to. This helps keep their focus. Rewards can be a thing or a privilege.
n  Havenatural consequences if that is not enough motivation.  n  Provide a visual checklist for classes and home chores Create  First______ Then______ charts.
 Example:
· FIRST: Homework
· THEN: 15 minutes video games

n  Be as explicit and specific as possible with instructions. Example: When you tell your child to clean her room, she may have a melt down because of feeling overwhelmed and not knowing where to start and what the steps are. You may easily assume she is melting down because she does not WANT to clean their room. Give specific direct instruction such as “Put your clothes in this hamper” or “Put all your Lego toys in this box.” to help your child organize and feel successful.

Homework Tipsn  Set a regular time for homework. n  Complete all homework.n  Use color coding for different subjects.n  Check that it is complete, accurate, and neat.n  Set completed homework in a special place.n  Have a check list in binder for child to turn completed homework in on time.n  Remove distractions.
Executive Functioning Disorder is an INVISIBLE DISABILITY
One of the most important things to remember about executive functioning disorders is that this is as much of a disorder as any other. Although it is an invisible disability, it can have a profound effect on all aspects of a person's life. Be prepared to share this information with teachers, co-workers, or supervisors as needed to ensure the disorder is not mistaken for laziness, carelessness, or defiance.

Staying Cool

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SPRING! It's spring time, which is my favorite time of year. Everything is turning green, I get to hang out on the porch, I go on longer walks, I just love it! :) AND ... perhaps best of all Catherine starts to take me hiking, one of my most favorite things to do. Check out this video of me at Red Top Mtn from this past weekend. Red Top is north of Atlanta and a fun quick getaway from the city life.

While I was so excited to be out in the woods, smelling new smells - trotting along - leading the way - seeing the squirrels and deer (oh its all so wonderful) man was it hot out! It's only April and already quite hot ... is that why they call it "HOT-lanta"? I think there is a directly proportional relationship between the temperature outside and the length of my tongue! hahaha - my family calls it Long Tongue.

Anyway, I just wanted to remind everyone that while the summer is approaching and it begins to heat up, make sure you keep your beloved dogs and animals safe and cool. Here is a link for some ways to help prevent heat stroke in dogs. Yes, we are just as susceptible to heat stroke as you humans are! Did you know that we don't have sweat glands like you do, so we pant to cool off? So inefficient I know, but what can you do?

Check this out for some more information - http://dogs.about.com/od/dogandpuppyhealth/qt/heatstroke.htm

Peace Out and Stay Cool

Buzzter

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Michael had an invention convention at school and created an invention called the "Buzzter". This is an alarm he puts on his door so he can tell if his sister enters his room. This is a great idea for keeping his sister out of his room. However, I don't think he thought enough about me! Dogs hate high pitched sounds and I love to sleep in his room. This is going to drive me crazy and put me on edge. What should I do??? I am thinking if I can get my hands on the remote that sets his alram and chew it up, I can make it STOP! Rocky~

Chilling out Maxing, Relaxing all cool

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I don't know about you all, but it was a gorgeous weekend in Atlanta. Friday night we had a bad storm pass through, but Saturday and Sunday were sunny and warm. Perfect. My family was at a spring fling in Moultrie GA, but Catherine was around to take care of me. All in all it was a pretty chill, relaxing weekend.
I went on a lot of walks through the neighborhood, smelling everything and strutting about. And because it was so nice out, I got to do a lot of my second favorite thing of all time - and that was sitting on the porch chilling out. And taking note of all that was going on in the street, kids playing, dogs in the park across the street playing ... I live in a great neighborhood.
Anyway, Catherine kept saying - you are so funny Rocky, and "who loves you more than me?" LOL well I bet my family does, but after that ... I'm sure its you! Here is a picture of me with my frisbee. I kept picking it up on the porch, playing with it - hoping Catherine would get the hint. She finally did, and we went to the dog park to play. I'm not a retriever, I'm a boxer so I'll go get the frisbee when its thrown - I'll even bring it back - but then you are going to have to fight me for it. :)
So, mostly I'm just enjoying this weather and hope that all you dogs and dog owners are as well. Now that spring has arrived, pups get your humans to take you outside for something fun - it will be good for both of you! Here is a list of some fun ideas ...
*Take a Walk *Play Fetch in the Backyard or Dog Park*Try a hiking adventure - a personal favorite of mine *Take a swim in a pond, lake or stream*Try some dog agility parks, trails or training
Peace out and have some fun!

First Communion

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This past weekend I was so proud of my sister, Olivia, as she took her first Holy Communion. She was a beautiful angel in her white dress. I didn't get to go to mass during her service (I guess dogs don't get to go to church), but afterwards Mom threw an afternoon get together to celebrate the occasion.

It was a beautiful scene at the house... a large white tent in the cul-de-sac, tables, chairs, drinks, and best of all food! I was so excited, and ready for the festivities. But then - I got put in the back yard. Seriously? All the new people to smell, food to taste, kids to play with, snow cone shaved ice to chomp on. sigh. It was disappointing to say the least.

But then ... my Catherine came along. When she got to the house, of course she came to say hello to me first in the back yard. When she was closing the gate to join the party, I saw my opportunity and I took it. I'm good at that, I just dart out the gate when the person is not looking and least expecting it! I'm pretty fast too. :) So I headed straight for the people, and the food and the wonderfulness in the cul-de-sac. Everyone was screaming, "Rocky!" I was like, yep its me - I'm here!

I wasn't sure who to visit first - there was my mom, my brother and sister, some more of my favorite pet sitters, kids, grass, FOOD ... ahhhhhhh it was heaven. But, alas - after slipping through several hands I finally was caught. I guess I wasn't welcome just yet.

Back to the yard. About an hour later, when things had quieted a bit - Poppa Centola came for me. He might not admit it, but I think I'm growing on him. He lead me to the party and let me off the leash. And I showed everyone how good of a dog I am becoming! Mostly I laid in the grass, sniffed the kids, had some cool water, smelled around for any spare food left behind, and of course played with my dog buddy, Bear. All in all it ended well. I am starting to prove myself to the parents ... yes sir e bob I'm growing up.

Hope everyone has been enjoying the gorgeous weather and living it up!

Can't we all just get along?

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I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving Holiday and stuffed themselves! I traveled to NC and was the center of attention at the holiday family gathering. Everyone loved me and said what a great dog I was ... Heck Yeah! :)

I was exhausted after all the travel, and when I got home I was ready to just hang with my buddy Pickles. Here we are on a lazy, dreary Sunday morning. awwwwwww now why can't we all just get along like this... side by side and squishy faced!?

I hope you all are geared up for the holiday season. Please be safe if you are traveling, and enjoy your friends and family! I know I will!!

AND Don't forget to book your holiday pet care needs with Buckhead Pet Pals - the sooner you book the better! :)

Ciao for now!
Rocky

That time of year...

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Hey everybody! Its that time of year again to get out there and vote for your favorite local businesses! Mom's company, Buckhead Pet Pals has again been nominated for Best of Smyrna Vinings 2011 Pet Sitting. If you get the itch, please go ahead and vote for us! You can do so from this link ... http://www.smyrnavinings.com/smyrna-vinings-2011-pet-sitting-poll/ . Its very quick and painless! In fact, I just did it and I'm a dog! :) Happy Friday everybody - and stay cool out there in this scorching heat!
Peace Out ~Rocky

I prefer black pickles to green ones :)

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Ok, so let's get technical here ... I've never actually eaten a pickle before in my life as a dog. But if you asked me I'd say I love them (or him)!
It's time for me to introduce you all to the newest addition to the Centola household, Pickles the cat! Pickles was adopted by Olivia a few weeks ago from the Atlanta Humane Society and has been fitting in nicely at the casa.
At first, I was so excited to meet the new baby cat! But I was a little TOO excited so mom and Olivia kept him sequestered in Liv's room for an adjustment period. Then, mom thought - well this cat has come from the Humane Society and surrounded by tons of other animals, so she figured he could stick up for himself. Once again she was right.
Pickles is my new best friend. I have so much fun playing with him. When he is around he will play and "box" with me... and he lets me lick him! Mom says that when she comes home, she can tell that we have been playing because I have licked him so much that his hair is standing straight up! Who needs hair gel? Of course, as a little cat he can escape and take respite from me upstairs. But I love him so much and just want to play with him all the time! I've been ready for a friend and I'm thrilled to have Pickles finally in my life. Now, if we could just get Sydney girl (the other feline in the house) to lighten up it would be the perfect animal house! :)
Who else besides me is diggin' on this fall-ish weather? Woo Hoo - Finally I can breath again! I'm loving it! Peace out people.
~Rocky

Take a Hike! :)

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I hope everyone had a safe and fun Halloween weekend! Can you believe December is almost here? I love this time of year - the leaves are falling, the temperature is dropping ... I get a new kind of energy now that I can breath better! It's the best.

One of my most favorite things to do in the fall is to go hiking and run around outside. I had so much fun in September when the whole family went up to the North Georgia mountains to celebrate mom's birthday. We stayed in a cabin, and I had a ton of fun frolicking in the woods with Mac and Liv. This year, the leaves have been especially gorgeous with the red, orange and yellow colors! The picture is from a few weeks ago, when my Catherine went up into the mountains with a couple of my buddies, Luigi and Shadow. I was disappointed I couldn't go, but I know that they had fun! I'm pretty sure there was no more room in the car for me anyway with the big Great Dane! :)

Did you know that your dog can also go for a fun hike this year? Or even a run? Buckhead Pet Pals can offer you more than just in home pet sitting!

Contact Buckhead Pet Pals and book a Hike in the Mountains where a pet sitter will pick up your dog and they will go for a minimum 2 hour hike nearby. Or you could book a 30 or 45 minute dog run to set some of that extra energy free! Trust me your dog will thank you for it!

Happy fall everyone and happy hiking!

~Rocky

Can't we all just get along?

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I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving Holiday and stuffed themselves! I traveled to NC and was the center of attention at the holiday family gathering. Everyone loved me and said what a great dog I was ... Heck Yeah! :)

I was exhausted after all the travel, and when I got home I was ready to just hang with my buddy Pickles. Here we are on a lazy, dreary Sunday morning. awwwwwww now why can't we all just get along like this... side by side and squishy faced!?

I hope you all are geared up for the holiday season. Please be safe if you are traveling, and enjoy your friends and family! I know I will!!

AND Don't forget to book your holiday pet care needs with Buckhead Pet Pals - the sooner you book the better! :)

Ciao for now!
Rocky

Customer Service and Referral Program!

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Hey Everybody - it's your old buddy Rocky.  I know it has been a while, but my "type-er" has been busy (that whole opposable thumbs thing)!  I'm just here to let you all know about Buckhead Pet Pal's referral program and to talk a little bit about customer service.  My mom's business, Buckhead Pet Pals, strives to provide exceptional customer service and prides itself on operating the business under this mantra.

We love to know and hear that if you do receive excellent customer service that you will tell others about your positive experience!  Positive word of mouth exposure is every business person's dream for their company, and this must stem from exceptional customer service and customer experience.

If you have a great experience, you are likely to share it with your friends and family.  At Buckhead Pet Pals, we have a special referral program for this highest compliment.  For each new client that books service from your referral, we will send you a special gift.  For no reason other than to thank you for talking to others about our service.  We do this not only for our clients, but our pet sitters, and other industry professionals that help spread the word about a long standing pet sitting business.

We believe that a positive approach to business and life is a successful approach ...  What you put out there you get in return!  Remember the secret!?  :)


Now check me out with my new bone!  I got it for being a good boy when I come to work at the office!  Apparently the girls (especially Catherine) love it when I insist on coming in with mom in the mornings.  Yes that is right, I insist on coming in and my mom obliges.

Ciao for now humans,
Rocky

Experiential Project Based Learning at the Atlanta Humane Society

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Experiential, project based learning is now considered best practice in education and is not just the domain of the special education world. We know this approach is essential at the Orion School where we educate reluctant learners who have neurobehavioral challenges that might include ADHD, anxiety or Asperger’s. High interest curriculum is the cornerstone of inquiry based learning and the key to reach bright students who have social and emotional differences. This spring the Orion School 4^th-6^thgrade students are participating in ongoing activity based project learning at the Atlanta Humane Society. Each week offers a chance for learning and reflecting through hands on experiences.

Throughout the spring this group of students has:·        Explored the relationship between genetics and the characteristics of different dog breeds as well as how individual characteristics can change with maturity. ·        Learned about the biological and social differences between cats and dogs as well as how and why these differences are actually adaptations used to survive in specific environments. ·        Compared general characteristics of the eyes, head, ears, tail, body, and feet while observing verbal and non-verbal communication.·        Learned and watched how cats and dogs show affection.·        Learned and experienced how to approach and interact with cats and dogs.·        Learned and researched the types of toys that are appropriate for cats and dogs. ·        Learned and experienced how to properly care for cats and dogs
Most recently the students have started a supply drive for The Atlanta Humane Society. During a recent visit, each student developed and asked a question to a Humane Society employee regarding necessary materials and supplies. After receiving a donation list, each student then developed their own informational flyer and created boxes to store donated supplies. In the coming weeks, the students will take a tour of the facility to see where all of our supplies are stored and how they are used. They will learn why the supplies they asked for were chosen over other alternatives and how those supplies affect the health and safety of the animals. The spring Humane Society project will come to a close as the students raise money and supplies to support a cause they now know and care about.
It has been an affirming process for this group of  Orion School students to leave their comfort zone and become engaged and passionate. Through interacting with the animals then transferring this interest into actions they have learned their actions can impact their community in a positive way.

Why the Orion School Sponsors a Soccer Clinic for the Community

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Children who have conditions like Asperger's Syndrome, ADHD,  or anxiety are often shut out of the competitive world of the youth sports in towns like Atlanta. There is no room for players who need direct instruction following the rules, struggle with attending, or need to take a break during a game if they get overwhelmed or frustrated. Even children with special needs who are able to maneuver more traditional programs are often not connecting to the socially aggressive world that comes with sport leagues.
The Orion School Free Soccer Clinic was started a few years ago to give a supportive yet competitive place for all children to enjoy recreational sports. Each season this program grows and evolves to offer an even more professional program for participants. There are experienced coaches guiding the players through drills and ensuring success during scrimmage games. Skills are nurtured and developed. Competence increases self esteem.  Yet there remains the warm and welcoming culture that defines The Orion School and all programs we offer. The whole family is encouraged to brings healthy treats, play together and connect with each other.

Yesterday was the last day of the Spring 2012 Soccer Season at Orion. At the end of a spirited game with participants coming and going there was an awards ceremony for all participants including siblings. All children who showed up were beaming as they received end of season medals. Inclusive means that everyone participates on their own terms.