FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Anthony Puglisi

November 7, 2008 973-621-2542

Lauren Shears

973-621-1590

ESSEX COUNTY EXECUTIVE DIVINCENZO ANNOUNCES WINNERS

OF ANNUAL ESSEX COUNTY CANINE HALLOWEEN CONSTUME CONTESTS

Over 60 Residents and their Pets Participate in Parades

at South Mountain Dog Park and Brookdale Dog Park

Essex County, NJ – Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr. presented awards to the participants in Essex County’s Annual Canine Halloween Costume Contests on Saturday, November 1st. About 60 residents and their pets participated in the two events - a morning parade at the South Mountain Dog Park in Essex County South Mountain Reservation and an afternoon parade at the Brookdale Dog Park in Essex County Brookdale Park.

“Our Dog Parks have become popular places for dog owners to bring their pets, and our Canine Halloween Costume Parades are another opportunity for the public to enjoy our historic Park System,” DiVincenzo said. “I am always amazed and impressed with the creativity of the costumes. Congratulations to the winners,” he added.

Award winners at the South Mountain Dog Park Contest are as follows:

Scariest Costume: First place: Karen Bennett of South Orange and her pet Maggie dressed as a pirate. Second place: Dorothy and Henry Zheng of Millburn and their pet Leah dressed as a pumpkin witch. Third place: Kayla Shusto of South Orange and her pet Curly Q dressed as a skeleton.

Most Original Costume: First place: David Spence of Maplewood and his pet Oliver dressed as James Beagle – 00K9. Second place: Joanna Heller of Livingston and her pet Skippy dressed as a race car driver. Third place: LaSondra Willliams of Newark and her pets Cloud and Barbie dressed as a prisoner and police officer.

Cutest Costume: First place: Dixon Ortiz-Rodriguez of Newark and his pet Scrappy dressed as a prisoner. Second place: Bobbi Berrebi of West Orange and her pet Bisou dressed as Pocahontas. Third place: Willa McNorton of Orange and her pet Isaiah dressed as a K-9 Cop.

Best in Show: First place: N. Onuferko and S. Latham of Maplewood and their pets Magee and Jesee dressed as Fred and Wilma Flintstone. Second place: Harry Young of Summit and his pets Dallas and Fargo dressed as Miss Texas and Miss North Dakota. Third place: Tom and Carolyn Fig of West Orange and their pets Bubba and Nelson dressed as Deputy Dogs.

Best Owner Costume: First place: John and Karen Schwarz of Bloomfield and their pets Billy and Tommy dressed as Captain Hook, Peter Pan and Tinkerbell. Second place: Kayla Shusto of South Orange and her pet Curly Q dressed as a skeleton. Third place: LaSondra Willliams of Newark and her pets Cloud and Barbie dressed as a prisoner and police officer.

Award winners at the Brookdale Dog Park Contest are as follows:

Best Owner Costume: First place: Chelsea Iglody of Little Falls and her pet Mikay dressed as a lady bug. Second place: Kristen Schack of Paterson and her pet Norman dressed as a pumpkin.

Cutest Costume: First place: Laura Nardelli of Glen Ridge and her pet Gizmo dressed as a T-Bird. Second place: Ward Johnson of Newark and his pet Boomer dressed as Elvis. Third place: Rickie Dooley of Nutley and her pet Rita dressed as The Great Pumpkin.

Most Original Costume: First place: Jenn Craft of Fairfield and her pet Simon dressed as a scarecrow. Second place: Donna Brenner of Clifton and her pet Jake dressed as a New York Yankee. Third place: John and Tonia Manago of Nutley and their pet Reggie dressed as a boxer.

Best in Show: First place: Jenn Britting and Joe Decangi of Lincoln Park and their pets Caillou and Caiden dressed as Dumbo and Timothy Mouse. Second place: James Catela of Lodi and his pet Duke dressed as a horse. Third place: Suzanne Miller of Little Falls and her pet Harley dressed as a ballerina.

Scariest Costume: First place: Thelma Alvarado of Bloomfield and her pet Randy dressed as Dracula.

Honorable Mention: David Smith of Montclair and his pet Ludo dressed as “Tragedy.” Ron Devito of Glen Ridge and his pet Killlian dressed as a dragon. Lynne Goldin of Montclair and her pet Pogo dressed as a horse and rider.

The Essex County Park System was created in 1895 and is the first county park system established in the United States. The Park System consists of more than 6,000 acres and has 18 parks, five reservations, an environmental center, a zoo, ice skating rink, roller skating rink, three public golf courses, golf driving range, three off-leash dog facilities and a castle. Essex County’s three dog parks are located in Brookdale Park in Bloomfield/Montclair, South Mountain Reservation in Maplewood/Millburn and Watsessing Park in Bloomfield/East Orange.