ANJEC 2014 Congress

ANJEC Recognizes Six Towns for Environmental Achievement

Mendham – The Association of NJ Environmental Commissions (ANJEC) will present its prestigious Environmental Achievement Awards to six local environmental commissions at the organization’s 41st Annual Environmental Congress on Friday, Oct. 24, at Raritan Valley Community College in Branchburg, NJ.

Former New Jersey Governor Thomas Kean will be the keynote speaker at the event, focusing on the theme: Environmental Leadership - Rising to the Challenge. Judith Enck, USEPA Region 2 Administrator, will also address the assembly of about 200 environmentalists from around the State who are expected to attend.

ANJEC, a 45-year-old nonprofit based in Mendham, organizes the day-long, annual event to provide opportunities for local environmentalists and organizations to share knowledge on a wide range of topics affecting New Jersey communities, such as: climate change; coastal resilience and adaptation; open space preservation; water supply issues; energy; and leadership skills and tools.

The ANJEC Environmental Achievement Award program recognizes exceptional projects carried out by environmental commissions to protect natural resources, health and open spaces in their towns. Environmental commissions are comprised of volunteers appointed by their municipalities or counties to advise on environmental issues, lead programs to protect natural resources and educate community members about conservation.

This year’s Award winners include Environmental Commissions from Chatham Township, Manalapan, Oakland, Verona, West Windsor and Westville. The Hawthorne Environmental Commission earned honorable mention.

An awards committee comprised of ANJEC Trustees and staff members selected the winners based on project impact, originality, educational value, innovation, and response to a need. ANJEC has been presenting the coveted annual awards since the mid-1970s.

For Jennifer M. Coffey, this will be her first Environmental Congress since stepping into her new role as ANJEC’s Executive Director. “I’ve participated in the Congress many times in past years as a cosponsor, speaker or attendee, but this year it’s especially exciting to help create this highly respected event from the inside,” Coffey observed. “As a former environmental commission member in Upper Freehold, I know how much creativity, dedication and effort go into these award winning projects. This year’s Achievement Award winners have really earned the recognition.”

Descriptions of the award-winning projects are provided below. For contact information for the winners and more details, please email Julie Lange Groth at jlange@anjec.org or call (973) 539-7547.

Award winning projects

Chatham Township Environmental Commission & Southern Blvd School PTO Environmental Awareness Committee
SOUTHERN BOULEVARD SCHOOL RAIN GARDEN
Inspired by The Nature Conservancy NJ chapter’s contest “Show Us Your H2O,” the Chatham Twp. Environmental Commission (CTEC) entered and won a grant for rain garden materials, an educational sign and help with design and labor. The contest challenged schools and civic groups to submit creative entries to answer the question “Where does your water come from?” CTEC worked with the Southern Blvd school staff, parent volunteers, The Nature Conservancy members and Hazel England of the Great Swamp Watershed Association to dig, soil prep and teach how to plant perennials and bushes. The school’s PTO Environmental Awareness Committee weeded the rain garden and made enhancements to increase the garden’s functionality. The garden has attracted different varieties of native bees, goldfinches, butterflies and other insects since its installation. It has also become a valuable educational tool for teachers and students.

Manalapan Environmental Commission
MONARCH BUTTERFLIES TELEVISION SHOW
Concerned about the endangered Monarch Butterfly migration and their population decline, the Manalapan Environmental Commission (MEC) developed a multi -pronged approach to increase awareness and inspire action. MEC worked with volunteers and the Manalapan Department of Public Works to build a demonstration monarch way-station. MEC also worked with Manalapan Township Television Network (MTTN) to create and produce a 27-minute show about the garden as well as the lifecycle and plight of monarchs. The goals were to educate and inspire residents to build their own monarch butterfly habitat and create awareness about habitat destruction. The television show is available for viewing through Vimeo (http://vimeo.com/101666491) and will be specifically promoted during spring planting season. The garden itself has increased habitat for the monarch as is evidenced by the identification of empty chrysalis. MEC received recognition for their efforts by the Mayor, which helped to increase awareness of MEC and its mission.

Oakland Environmental Commission
STEWART WOODS/RAMAPO VALLEY PARK
The Ramapo Valley Park contains a historical and environmentally sensitive piece of land that contains natural springs and was the site of one of George Washington’s encampments in 1777. When the 6.6 acre wetlands property was proposed for townhouse development, local resident Dorothy Stewart advocated for preservation, and in 2005 the town purchased the land with State and County open space grants. In 2012, the Oakland Environmental Commission (OEC) initiated a long term project to establish walking trails on the property. OEC cleaned up the site and elementary school classes helped plant native grasses and herbs. Eagle Scout Matt Richards and BSA Troop 49 built a shaded woodchip walking trail around the native wetlands on three acres of the property. OEC purchased benches, trail signs, and garbage receptacles with funding from the Borough’s Open Space Trust Fund. Oakland’s DPW installed the equipment and a plaque to honor Dorothy Stewart’s dedication and persistence. Maintaining the property continues to be a community effort with Oakland’s DPW and OEC.

Verona Environmental Commission
VERONA RECYCLING 101
The Verona Environmental Commission (VEC) embarked on a multi-tiered recycling education campaign after noting an increase in residents’ disposal of cardboard boxes with regular garbage. Residents also seemed confused about how to properly recycle other items. VEC consulted with the town’s recycling vendor and researched recycling compliance campaign strategies, then reached out to the High School Environmental Club to partner with them on a video about recycling. Three students and the town’s recycling manager filmed a six-minute video about what should be recycled in Verona. VEC members wrote the content and coordinated the video shooting with the Verona DPW. In June 2014, the Commission presented the “Verona Recycling 101” video at aTownship Council meeting and arranged for it to air throughout the summer on local Verona TV. The video was watched 300 times in the first two months on YouTube (youtube.com/watch?v=LJAYVXjiej4). VEC will re-promote the video quarterly and do a special promotionduring the December holidays when gift packaging materials are at a high. The Commission requested new signage at the recycling center and more recycle bins around town, updated the town’s website and social media, developed a brochure and sent articles to local newspapers.

West Windsor Township Environmental Commission
ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION CENTER AT SCHENCK FARMSTEAD BARN
In 2011, $150,000 from a developer was earmarked for creation of an environmental center for the town. The West Windsor Environmental Commission (WWEC) took on the challenge of bringing the project to fruition. WWEC worked with an architect and builder to help design and create the facility within a preserved barn that is part of the Schenck Farmstead historical site. Some of the Commission’s key educational objectives were to present information about prehistoric land conditions of the site, historical accounts from elderly West Windsor residents, and current plant and wildlife species, and to incorporate the site into the 4th grade school curriculum since the Schenck Farmstead is the grade level class field trip. A local resident who is also Curator of Natural History at the NJ State Museum had a critical role in developing the exhibits and building the process for sharing with other organizations. The center will open this fall, staffed by members of the historical society. It will serve as a distribution point for information on environmental activities and concerns in the region and help to provide perspective on how environmental preservation and sustainability can be maintained in a developing municipality.

Westville Environmental Commission & Parkview Elementary School
ARBOR DAY PENNY TREES
Inspired by the memory of when Arbor Day was an all-day learning activity and celebration in local schools, the Westville Environmental Commission (WEC) approached the Parkview Elementary School about doing an Arbor Day planting project. The principal, board of ed and public works department were on board and WEC worked closely with school liaison Kelley Baker to implement this project. Students were asked to donate one penny a day for five months to help pay for the native trees up to a maximum $1.50/child. WEC was to conduct an Arbor Day school program and coordinate the purchase and installation of the trees. The project had to overcome numerous obstacles including the Township Council’s request that the Commission should conduct a resident survey and get the approval of homeowners whose river view would be blocked by the new trees (which they did). The resourceful Student Council hosted candy cane sales, Bingo, and ice cream socials to raise $429. WEC’s expectations were far exceeded because students learned not only about Arbor Day history and the environment, but also economics, marketing, salesmanship, teamwork, creativity, goal setting and overcoming adversity. On May 6, 2014, five trees and two bushes were planted along with a plaque acknowledging the school donation.

Honorable Mention

Hawthorne Environmental Commission/Green Team
BUY LOCAL CAMPAIGN PROGRAMS
The Hawthorne Green Team, Hawthorne Chamber of Commerce and Well Read Bookstore (Team) have been partnering since 2012 to promote buying from local businesses in order to create a more sustainable community. They launched a “Hawthorne First Shop Smart Shop Local” website to announce and advertise local businesses and events, and have sponsored several rounds of “Where’s Waldo,” “Holiday Buy Local” and “Book store Bingo” campaigns using ‘passports’ and prizes, which have encouraged residents to shop local, while also promoting the town’s Green Map. Along with increasing local commerce, the campaigns have encouraged a healthier lifestyle by promoting biking/walking within the community.

Former Governor Thomas Kean with ANJEC Executive Director Jennifer Coffey at the ANJEC Environmental Congress

Gov. Kean affirms importance of local environmental action

Branchburg, NJ – Former Governor Thomas Kean told over 200 environmentalists gathered at the 41st Annual ANJEC Environmental Congress that a strong, healthy environment in New Jersey depends on leadership at the local level. The Association of NJ Environmental Commissions (ANJEC) hosted its flagship event on Friday, Oct. 24, at Raritan Valley Community College in Branchburg. “I find it inspiring to be in the company of hundreds of committed environmental volunteers who work countless hours to protect the natural resources in their communities.,” Kean said. “Their leadership is critical to keep New Jersey's air and water clean and abundant.”

Judith Enck, USEPA Region 2 Administrator, also addressed the assembly of environmentalists from communities around the State about federal programs affecting New Jersey communities. She highlighted the EPA’s Clean Power Plan, a recently released draft of greenhouse gas emission reduction regulations for existing power plants. As a group, these coal-fired power plants are the single largest sources of climate changing C02 pollution in the US. The new rules are expected to produce a 20 percent reduction in C02 emissions by 2020 and 30 percent by 2030 (based on 2005 levels).

Environmental achievement
Nelson Dittmar and Nancy Tindall, outgoing and incoming Presidents of ANJEC’s Board of Trustees, respectively, presented Environmental Achievement Awards to six local environmental commissions from Chatham Township, Manalapan, Oakland, Verona, West Windsor and Westville. The Hawthorne Environmental Commission earned honorable mention.

The ANJEC Environmental Achievement Award program recognizes exceptional projects carried out by environmental commissions to protect natural resources, health and open spaces in their towns. Environmental commissions are comprised of volunteers appointed by their municipalities or counties to advise on environmental issues, lead programs to protect natural resources and educate community members about conservation.

Vote YES on 2
The day closed with a networking reception and rally in support of Public Question 2, providing long-term funding for open space, farmland and historic preservation. Senator Kip Bateman, R, District 16, said he encouraged all New Jersey voters to come out and vote yes on Question 2 on the November ballot. The measure dedicates a small percentage of existing state revenues, without increased taxes, to replenish the now-depleted Green Acres, Blue Acres, farmland and historic preservation programs, and continue funding to improve water quality, remove and clean up underground storage tanks, and clean-up polluted sites.

“The environment is a bi-partisan issue. Question 2 will provide stable funding for preservation programs to protect New Jersey’s drinking water and preserve farms to keep the garden in the Garden State.,” said Senator Bateman.

ANJEC, a 45-year-old nonprofit based in Mendham, organizes the day-long, annual event to provide opportunities for local environmentalists and organizations to share knowledge on a wide range of topics affecting New Jersey communities, such as: climate change; coastal resilience and adaptation; open space preservation; water supply issues; energy; and leadership skills and tools.

Chatham Twp. Environmental Commission Chair Kathy Abbott, center, with ANJEC Past President Nelson Dittmar and Jennifer Matthews

Manalapan EC Chair Jenine Tankoos, right, and EC member Rachel Dawn Davis with former Gov. Tom Kean.

ANJEC Past President Nelson Dittmar with Oakland EC members Linda Arns, center, and Jerri Angermueller

Verona Environmental Commission Chair Gloria Machnowski, center, and member James Loudon, right, accept the ANJEC Environmental Achievement Award.

Members of the West Windsor Environmental Commission with Nelson Dittmar

Westville EC Chair Joyce Lovell, center, accepts the Commission's 5th ANJEC Achievement Award since 2009.