Clinton Township Newsletter

2 7 m a r c h 2 0 2 3 r e m e m b e r t h e a l a m o ! by Diane Romano "Remember the Alamo!" We have all heard that phrase at some point during our elementary school years. Those of us who are "of an age" surely remember how Davy Crocket, Jim Bowie, Daniel Boone and a small band of soldiers built a fortress at the Alamo mission to defend the City of San Antonio against the mighty army of Santa Ana. There were no more than 180 defenders of the Alamo, comprised of Europeans, Mexicans, and Americans from different states in the Union, against the Mexican Army that numbered between 4,000 and 6,000. The Alamo contingent fought to the death for thirteen days ending on 6 March 1836 when Santa Ana's forces breeched the walls, killing those within. The date of 6 March now commemorates the siege. The first time I visited the Alamo mission that was still extant among modern skyscrapers in the heart of San Antonio (note that I said "the first time"), I was with a dear friend, who whispered to me within those sacred walls, "Why are we supposed to 'Remember the Alamo?" It was an honest question and I answered it succinctly as being part of the fight for Texas independence from Mexican control. It also became a symbol of fierce resistance for the people of Texas and a rallying cry proclaimed by one of Sam Houston's men during the Mexican-American War. Ironically, the American Government did not declare independence from the Mexican Government until 2 March 1836, and because the battle began on 23 February, the men defending the Alamo died not knowing that independence actually had been declared. There are many different versions of the battle's circumstances, not all jibing with the version of the John Wayne movie, from which, let's face it, is from where most ideas of the battle come. I have no intention of defending one version over another of the events leading to, or consequences of, the battle as people will believe that which conforms to their personal ideology or education; I am merely acknowledging their existence. Regardless, the fact is that these men of different races and nationalities came together to fight for that which they believed; that this land claimed by the American Government, was worth the dying. For that, I tip my metaphorical hat to the "thirteen days of glory at the siege of Alamo." t h e h C q u i l t i n g g u i l d The Hunterdon County Quilting Guild will have their meeting on March 17 at 9:30 am. It will be a member-led, in-house workshop. We love to welcome new members at our Zoom meetings, workshops and lectures! Check out our website for additional information email: hunterdoncountyquiltingguild@gmail or visit: https://hcquiltingguild.wixsite.com/ hcquiltingguild for our schedule of meetings and events and consider joining our guild. We look forward to hearing from anyone interested in becoming a member! Combined, Anthony P. Kearns and Victor A. Rotolo have been serving the local community for over 60 years. Call Kearns Rotolo today 908.534.7900 to discuss any legal situation confronting you. Your half-hour consultation is free of charge! Their attorneys and staff are ready to serve your legal needs. Kearns Rotolo Law . 502 US 22 West, Lebanon, NJ 08833. www.KearnsRotoloLaw.com d o g s i n t h e W o r K p l a C e – b e n e f i t o r l i a b i l i t y ? It may be true that pets can elevate moods, reduce stress, and promote a happier work environment, but allowing dogs—the # 1 pet in the U.S.—in the workplace raises a serious question: If a dog bites someone while on a business' property, is the business liable? The answer to that question depends on the circumstances surrounding the specific incident. Businesses have an obligation to provide a safe environment for employees, vendors, and customers. A dog-friendly business that is aware of the aggressive behavior of a particular dog on its premises and takes no action can be held liable for any injuries that dog causes. In an office setting where the same people and the same dogs are present regularly, it shouldn't be too difficult to identify aggressive behaviors and take preventative measures. A retail setting is different. Courts recognize that retail businesses may have a hard time identifying potentially dangerous dogs and that requiring them to do so puts an unreasonable burden on that business. That doesn't release the business of liability though. If a retail employee notices that a customer is not following the store's policy regarding pets or sees signs of aggressive behavior by an animal and doesn't ask the customer to leave, that employee opens the business up to liability should anything happen. Ultimately dog owners are responsible for the actions of their pets; however, in the case of dog bites or other injuries caused by dogs in the workplace, liability can be shared. To help protect your business in these circumstances, be sure to: • Post signs clearly alerting visitors to the possible presence of dogs. • Instruct employees to recognize and report aggressive behaviors in dogs and/or violations of the business' policies regarding animals. • Require customers / visitors to keep their pets on a leash, or in a cart or carrier while on premises. Dogs may be man's best friend, but it's important to remember that a dog may snap if frightened or provoked. – Victor Rotolo 502 U.S. 22 Lebanon, NJ 08833 908∙534∙7900 www.KearnsRotoloLaw.com Tony Kearns and Vic Rotolo Working Together to Protect What's Important to You

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