Dog Parades, Pet Adoptions, & All That Jazz

The Pear Tree Project has embarked on a summer long journey to highlight the arts, in particular music. There is no denying that the beats, rhythms, and melodious crooning have carried us through the dog days of summer.  

However, there is another cause near and dear to our hearts, DOGS, as well as other furry friends. We were fortunate enough to enjoy a little bit of each this past weekend and we encourage you, our readers, to do the same …

/jaz/ a type of music of African American origin characterized by regular or forceful rhythm, emerging at the beginning of the 20th century. Brass and woodwind instruments and piano are particularly associated with jazz, although guitar and occasionally violin are also used; styles include Dixieland, swing, bebop, and free jazz.

The OSPAC Annual West Orange Jazz Festival produced by Pleasant Valley Productions celebrated their 18th season on Saturday, September 20, 2025. The festival ran from 1:00 pm to 8:00 pm and was hosted by Monifa Brown, radio host of WBGO’s “Saturday Evening Jazz” and “Hard Bop Café.”

The festival was once again held outdoors at OSPAC, (Oskar Schindler Performing Arts Center), a picturesque pavilion located in West Orange, New Jersey. Since its inception, it has presented a dazzling cross-section of local and world-renowned artists.

The thrilling non-stop, seven-hour line-up featured percussionist Bobby Sanabria & Tres Magos, alto saxophonist Bruce Williams’ Quintet, pianist and vocalist Champian Fulton’s Trio, Matthew Whitaker’s Organ Trio, harpist Riza Printup’s Trio, and The Rutgers University John Coltrane Ensemble. Attracting hundreds of patrons every year, the one-day event has become a favorite destination for locals, in West Orange and its neighboring communities.

OSPAC was established in 2001 and honors Oskar Schindler, a German industrialist who miraculously and heroically saved over 1,000 Jews during the Holocaust and is the subject of Steven Spielberg’s Oscar-winning film Schindler’s List. Larry Pantirer of Millennium Homes, donated OSPAC in memory of his father Murray, who was one of the many people rescued. 

The event was an energetic celebration of improvisation, syncopation, and rhythmic surprises. As Louis Armstrong said, “If you don’t feel it, you’ll never know it.” It appeared the crowd understood “Satchmo,” as was evidenced by the enraptured eyewitnesses.

/BARKtoberfest/ is a general name for many different pet-friendly festivals held across the United States, most commonly in the fall. These events typically feature activities such as pet costume contests, pet adoption events, vendor booths with pet-related items, live music, and food trucks, all with the goal of supporting animal welfare organizations. 

The northeast corner of the United States has proven to be a successful place for animal shelters. Finishing only behind Rhode Island and Connecticut, New Jersey ranked number three. In fact, of the top three, New Jersey has 348 rescue groups. 

Fueled by Generation Z’s lifestyle, social values and housing realities, cat adoptions are climbing in New Jersey and reshaping the pet adoption landscape. But, behind the feel-good feline adoption trend lies a troubling gap: dogs, larger breeds in particular, are getting left behind in shelters.

According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals 2024 U.S. Animal Shelter statistics, the length of time dogs are staying in shelters has jumped over the past five years. 

BARKtoberfest in West Orange refers to two different events: the first, an inaugural Halloween-themed dog parade in October 2018 that raised funds for the West Orange Animal Welfare League. The second, an ongoing annual pet adoption event and marketspace hosted by Essex County Turtle Back Zoo starting in 2017, to support animal welfare through pet adoption and vendors. The first event was community-organized, while the second was a larger zoo-sponsored event that included a pet costume contest.

Taking on a tempestuous tyke was tantalizingly tempting, but that day will have to wait (for now). However, you can be sure when a pooch is purchased an appropriate moniker will be manifested. 

Perhaps Thelonius, yeah, I like the sound of that.     

Did You Know? The history of freedom of speech begins in ancient Athens with the concept of parrhesia (free speech) and evolved into a democratic ideal, later codified in the U.S. First Amendment after being influenced by documents like the English Bill of Rights. While the idea has roots in 16th-century England with parliamentary privilege, the concept expanded significantly in the 20th century with landmark Supreme Court cases that applied these rights to state governments and protected new forms of expression, though limits on speech such as incitement to violence and obscenity remain.