The Stanhope House Preserving the Music and Animal Rescue Groups

The Stanhope House in Stanhope NJ was built in the 1790’s. They take great pride in keeping the building as original as possible from the wood floors to the original tin ceiling, and everything in between. This landmark is a time capsule of late 20^th C musical history of legendary performances held at the House. Surprisingly, this former private home, stagecoach stop, general store, post office, tavern, and rooming house had the best room accommodations for a two-function indoor charity event that presented shelter dogs up for adoption while also having ticket donations for the staged rock band performances - Rock N' Rescues Animal Benefit & Adoption Event.

Cassie Prisco president of nonprofit 501c One Step Closer Animal Rescue – OSCAR had the reception parlor room of the House. The volunteer staff has worked wonders in rehabilitating rescued dogs to become playful pets once again. The OSCAR team were enthusiastic in engaging their selected rescued dogs to future pet owners. Volunteers Jen and Nicholas Curry brought leashed dogs Apples and Tyler into the crowded room of animal lovers. Nicholas Curry at age 13 and in the 7^th grade, has learned how to work with rescued dogs and coaches them back to happy dogs. Located in Hopatcong on 155 Stanhope Sparta Rd, this rescue shelter is by appointment (973) 810-2853 for those interested in adoptions. OSCAR continues to get rave reviews from Google reviews such as: “Our dog adoption with one step closer could not have been better! It was so clear that all parties - the agency and the fosters - wanted to find very good homes for the animals. The dog we adopted is a total joy, personality and needs were just as described in the website. The care and concern for their animals was reflected in every step of the adoption process and I recommend them without reservation!!!!” OSCAR can be found on Facebook and have their own website http://oscaranimalrescue.org/ for more info on volunteering and donating to this animal loving rescue group,

The team of a Hopatcong –nonprofit 501c H.P. Project Safehouse was also there. Safehouse was co-founded by Wendy Ciardi and Ed Van Orden in 2011 through local donations and major building construction funds from Loew’s Heroes program at three of its stores. The local Loew’s team identified Wendy and Ed’s undertaking as a “community improvement project that will make a difference in their community”. Initially their facility was there to help the borough’s animals the local government pound couldn’t handle. That is past history of when Hopatcong Borough had its own volunteer health dept. board with a dedicated Animal Control Officer under it. Now there is less mutual teaming being done. Never less, the need for this place that specializes in lost and abandoned cats in the regional area has not been diminished. The Hopatcong Pound Project Safehouse is located at the corner of Durban Ave. and Flora Ave and welcomes donations and volunteers who love cats. Please call if you are looking to adopt a cat 973 479 3659. Their Facebook page is Project Safehouse for more info.

This fundraiser was a success from the contributing musical talents that ranged from local voices of Hopatcong’ Ruth Schepartz Fouda to Milan Valencik - a Czech Republic born music composer and artistic painter of Milan Art (see Facebook page for his video performance).