A 'fine' ending to a Mother Goose tale

Livia Prochnow didn't realize it then, but her beloved Canada geese were feasting on an expensive meal: An appeals court has upheld $2,006 in municipal fines and $33 in court costs after she was caught serving the flying fowl corn kernels along the waterfront in Edgewater.

The appeals panel branded Prochnow a "repeat offender" who must be stopped. She now has until next Friday to pay up or go to jail.

Following separate trials, a local judge convicted Prochnow of twice violating an Edgewater ordinance that prohibits feeding wild animals. A state judge in Hackensack agreed, and Prochnow appealed.

The first time Prochnow got in trouble, she was feeding corn kernels to more than a dozen geese on the River Walk on May 26, 2008. David Raindorf, a resident who lives nearby, came out of his townhouse and asked her to stop.

She refused.

Raindorf was upset about the frequent presence of geese "massing next to [his] house," he later told police.

The next summons was issued on June 25, 2008 by Helen Ciccarelli, an Edgewater code official who just happened to be riding her bicycle along the walk when, she said, she saw Prochnow surrounded by more than 25 geese.

Ciccarelli said Prochnow was feeding them "greenish-yellowish seeds from her pocket."

Prochnow, who lives in North Bergen, says she's been visiting the geese for about 18 years and has become acquainted with three generations of regulars. The geese recognize her and gather around, Prochnow says, insisting she doesn't feed them.

The appeals judges refused to get into a their-word-against-hers evidence argument. The state judge already took care of that, they said.

However, Prochnow also told the appeals panel she considers the fines excessive. The judges, in turn, said she already had been warned and been given a summons.

"Considering the need to deter a repeat offender, we conclude that the sentence does not shock the judicial conscience," they wrote.

It's been tough finding Prochnow. We've tried for two weeks now. If you know her, or someone who can reach her, please contact CLIFFVIEW PILOT. Write: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Or call: 201.943.2794

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Susan Harvey said:

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This is crazy.. I think the fines she was issued are a little over the top.. I think the geese will flock where they want to whether or not she is feeding them.. I live in PA and we have tons of them just milling around the neighborhood, parking lots, golf courses etc.. I never knew there was a law against feeding them??? I have a picture in my head of the woman in Home Alone ll Lost in NY...

October 22, 2009
Votes: +0

Lorraine said:

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I never knew there was a law against feeding them either! Is it breaking a law to feed the geese and ducks in the park by the lake? I've done that here and there over the years. I've also fed squirrels in the park, right out of my hand in the past. Was I breaking a law?

This is crazy. If the woman made friends with them and they are used to her feeding them, then she should be able to continue doing so. I think the law needs to be done away with. As for those people who rep0rted her, they need to lighten up and get a heart!