Dog Park for Oakland Project Leader and Founder Ryan Schwertfeger has announced the members of his newly formed fundraising committee to help continue organizing and raising funds for the dog park effort.
“I am very excited to get to work with the new fundraising committee and I truly believe the committee is a cross section of people who live in and are involved in town and can bring the kind of experience needed to get the ball rolling even faster,” Schwertfeger said. “I am excited to see the passion about this project emanate from these individuals to in turn help produce what I hope will be a favorable outcome in raising the necessary funds to build a dog park in Oakland at long, long last. I look forward to having healthy discussions about what fundraising ideas and strategies could work best and then using teamwork to get those ideas to be successful.” On the committee are Oakland residents Bill Wyckoff, Josephine Kukla, Grace Nappi, and Lisa Fomchenko. Also serving on the committee: Thomas “Chopper” Russo, an Oakland resident and real estate agent at RE/MAX Traditions in Oakland, John Fugazzie, who spearheaded the successful efforts to get a dog park at Bergen County’s Van Saun Park, and Oakland resident Charlie Delman, a real estate agent at Coldwell Banker in Ridgewood. Local business owners Brian Kresge, manager of Pet Supplies Plus in Oakland, Gregg DePhillips, owner of J-B Pet Supplies in Oakland, and Dr. Robert Gordon from the Oakland Animal Hospital are also members. Committee member Grace Nappi moved to Oakland just five years ago with her two children and feels that while Oakland is a great town, having a dog park would be a fantastic addition. With her fundraising experience doing tricky trays and serving on the PTO in her former town, she hopes to bring the Oakland community together and use her previous successes in raising the needed funds to make the dog park a reality. “I am looking forward to being part of this great team and getting this dog park up and running,” said Nappi. Committee member Brian Kresge resides in neighboring Wayne, but chose to open a business in Oakland and is excited about the prospects of getting a dog park in town. “I’m very excited to be helping the committee. Oakland needs a first-rate dog park and Ryan is doing a great job of seeing it through,” said Kresge. “Our store is devoted to all the pets of Oakland and anything we can do to improve things for them we’re eager to support.” Margot Williams, the office manager at the Oakland Animal Hospital, said the hospital is supportive of the local community and the dog park efforts. “Dr. Gordon and myself have both been here for over 40 years, and are active in the K9 community,” said Williams. “We are both happy to work toward a safe place for dogs to exercise and socialize.” The committee plans to have their first meeting in the coming weeks. The first large scale fundraising event for the dog park will be September 15th from 6 to 10pm at the Oakland Senior Center where ice cream and desserts will be served and several items will be part of a silent auction to raise additional funds. To learn more, visit www.dogpark4oaklandnj.org. |
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May 2021
(c) 2021 Dog Park for Oakland, NJ
Ryan Schwertfeger
Founder, project leader and Oakland dog park advocate since March 2009. Now a college graduate wanting to complete his 8th grade project from Valley Middle School for the humans and dogs of his community. |