The 2012 Spring Rakeout Schedule is here! There are crocuses out there already so not too early to take note of when yard debris pickup will start in the spring.

 

Next Green Drinks is Monday, February 27th at 7:00 pm. at 1978 Maplewood Arts Center at 1978 Springfield Avenue, Maplewood.

Green Drinks is a global effort that began over 30 years ago to help raise awareness of environmental issues, and now takes place in many cities around the world. It's a great chance to relax and network, talk about environmental issues, meet people, develop new ideas, and make new friends.  Everyone is welcome, so spread the word!

Next Green Team meeting is Monday, January 23rd, 7:30 pm at DeHart Center.

 

Join us for the Green Team holiday party!

When:  Monday, December 12, 2011

7:00 - 9:00 PM

  

Where:  DeHart Community Center

120 Burnett Avenue

Maplewood, NJ  07040

 

What:  No speaker this month.  It's a Green Team party!  Come celebrate the holidays with the Green Team.  We will have artisanal pizzas from Roman Gourmet, organic beer and wine.  Please let us know you are attending so we can order the right amount of food.  Register here by sending us an email.  

 

If you haven't yet taken the Green Challenge, you can do so before December 9th and be eligible for the drawing which will be held at the party -- the winner gets an iPad!  All are welcome.  $8 cover at the door.  

 

The next Green Team Meeting is Monday, November 28, 2011, 7:30 pm at DeHart Community Center, 120 Burnett Avenue, Maplewood. 

Stop by to learn about all of the new environmental developments in Maplewood, upcoming Green Day 5, the Maplewood Green Team holiday party, and more!

Shred-It at the Maplewood Recycling Center

Bring your personal documents to be shredded on site at the Maplewood Recycling Center on Saturday October 29th from 8 am till 12 noon or until the truck is full.  Once the truck is full, it's gone for the day  You can see a video of our first "Shred-a-thon" in the spring of 2010 here.

 

Next Green Drinks is Monday, October 17th, 2011 (7-9 pm)

Location: 1978 Maplewood Arts Center, 1978 Springfield Avenue, Maplewood, NJ

This month's speaker will be Chris Murphy, owner of Smart Little House in Roseland, NJ (smartlittlehouse.com).  Smart Little House is several things -- a showroom, a materials business, a collaborative design practice, and a concept. They specialize in innovative and eco-friendly building and craft products.  With decades of experience in construction and interior design, they are collaborative design partners who develop unique solutions with other design professionals.  They also sell green building materials that they vet themselves, choosing not to rely on someone else's definition of "green."

 

The Maplewood Green Team is proud to bring this tradition to you. At these events, held periodically, you will meet many members of our community, both those actively involved in our green initiatives and those just finding out more. It's a great opportunity to make new friends, to learn all the latest environmental information, and to help make a difference in our town.  Everyone is welcome, so spread the word! 

 

There is a fee of $8 at the door which covers organic wine, beer, and snacks.  Click herefor more information.

 

Register here by sending us an email.  

 

Green Drinks -- September 19, 2011

Our speaker was Dave Hogenauer, the historian and hike leaded for the South Mountain Reservation.  

Dave Hogenauer is a former Columbia High School teacher, 45-year Maplewood resident, Reservation historian and experienced hike leader. His brief talk will feature the history of the South Mountain Reservation which was designed by landscape architect Frederick Olmsted in the last century.  There will also be information about the various volunteer opportunities at the Reservation.

 

Meet Your Farmer on Tuesday June 7th

 

Come stop by Morrow Memorial Church (600 Ridgewood Road in Maplewood) on Tuesday June 7th from 2:00 pm until 7:00 pm.  Learn about Maplewood's own Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) Program.  Sign up for the CSA on June 7th and receive your first share of produce that day.  

The Maplewood CSA for Rogowski Farm returns for 2011. Fresh organically grown, vegetables will delivered each Tuesday for 25 weeks in Maplewood from June 7 to November 22. Pick up will be Tuesdays from 2-7 pm at Morrow Church parking lot (near Lenox Place entrance). 

More information about W. Rogowski Farm available at www.rogowskifarm.com or www.moreveggiespleasemom.blogspot.com for last year's weekly delivery lists.

 

Green Drinks is tonight, May 16th at 7:00 pm

Come join us on Monday, May 16th from 7-9 pm (note earlier time) at 1978 Maplewood Arts Center (note new location), located at 1978 Springfield Avenue in Maplewood.

Our speaker will be Tammy Toad Ryan, a local beekeeper who will teach us about bees and beekeeping and treat us to a honey tasting.  

 

Tammy Toad Ryan started keeping bees in British Columbia in 2007 because of her innate curiosity in how to work with nature in a harmonious way. Being told that one could only raise bees by feeding them sugar and chemicals she decided to begin her own path of study.  Tammy is studying treatment free beekeeping and is working on growing her apiary in NJ.  Tammy views beekeeping from a holistic model and enjoys finding lasting ways of relating with the little creatures.  As well as keeping bees, she has been practicing and studying biodynamic agriculture for over a decade and is currently starting a 5 acre farm in Clifton, NJ for City Green.  

 

Bike to Work Week is May 15-May 21

 

Spring is in the air! The second annual South Orange Maplewood Bicycle Coalition (SOMbike) BIKE TO WORK WEEK is scheduled for May 15- May 21. As part of National Bike To Work Week, both towns have issued proclamations in support of Bike To Work Week.  SOMbike urges everyone to bike to the train stations, their jobs or try cycling for fun, fitness or errands. 

 

Bike to Work Week events are as follows:

 

• A kick-off family ride led by the gals from Fringe Salon on Springfield Avenue on Sunday, May 15th, starting from the Baird Center Parking Lot (5 Mead St., South Orange) at 10:30 AM, and ending at May Fest on Springfield Ave. Participants will receive goody bags from Fringe. (Raindate: Sunday, May 22nd)

• A free bike clinic (get air in your tires, your helmet adjusted, etc.) at Fringe Salon, (1874 Springfield Ave.), Maplewood, during May Fest. (Raindate: Sunday, May 22nd)

• On Tuesday, May 17th, at 7 PM,  author Micheal Gabriele,  gives a free talk on his recently published book, "The History of Bicycle Racing In New Jersey" at the South Orange Public Library, (65 Scotland Rd., South Orange). Raffle of signed copies of his book. 

• Wednesday,  May 18th is Commuter Ride To The Train Day (Raindate: Thursday, May 19th) From 4-7 PM, SOMbike will give out the brand new SOMbike bumper sticker and discount coupons to High Gear Cycle Shop to bike commuters at the South Orange and Maplewood train stations.

For the latest information on BTWW: Check SOMbike.com

 

 

 

 

 

Kill A Watt!

As part of the larger project to make Maplewood greener, the Maplewood Green Team has made Kill a Watts available at the Maplewood Libraries.

Kill a Watts are Electrical Usage Monitors which can help you reduce your power bill. Plug an appliance into the Kill a Watt and then plug the Kill a Watt into an outlet and it will tell you how much energy the appliance uses, helping you eliminate power-wasting appliances.  They are available to be checked out by anyone with a Maplewood Library Card. 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

21st Century Thinking Skills -- Education for Sustainability

Come join us at Seton Hall for sustainability workshops aimed at students, educators, and administrators with the vision and skills needed to create a sustainable future.  You can go online to sign up.

Green Drinks at a new location  

 

Come by Green Drinks on Monday, February 28th, 2011 at 7:30 pm.  We are meeting at CODA, 177 Maplewood Avenue in Maplewood village.  

In addition to having drinks with your friends and neighbors you will hear Susan Switalski speak to us about green residential cleaning.  She is the owner of Ecomaids in Fairfield, NJ, and her focus is on more than just your basic cleaning.  It will be about improving indoor air quality; protecting the health and safety of customers, pets, cleaning workers, and the general public; and do it all in a sustainable manner that minimizes its overall environmental impact.  No fee, cash bar, all are welcome!  

 

 

Maplewood Community Garden 2011 Season 

An informational Meeting for prospective members will be held on: February 9 from 7-9pm the at the De Hart Center, 120 Burrnett Ave. 

In person registrations on: 

February 16th from 1-3pm in Town hall & from 7-8:30pm at De Hart Center 

It is necessary that even those who signed an interest sheet on Green day in Memorial Park register.

Green Team Meeting

The next Green Team meeting is Monday, January 24, 2011, 7:30 p.m. at the Burgdorff Center. 

Tree-cycling

Recycling your tree is easy and free of charge. Put your holiday trees out to the curb during the month of January and the Department of Public Works will pick them up to be mulched. Plastic bags around trees allowed but they prefer them without. You can also put out your wreaths and garlands. Please remove all metal from wreaths and garlands. They can only be mulched if the metal is removed.  If the metal cannot be removed, you can put them out with your regular garbage.

Maplewood Green Drinks

Come by Green Drinks next Monday, November 22, 2010 at 7:30 pm to discuss raising backyard chickens.  Grace Chow Grund, of the Montclair United Chicken Keepers (MUCK) is coming by to share her experiences raising chickens.  Whichever side of the fence (or coop) you are on, come by and have a lively chat.  We meet at O'Reilly's Bar and Grille (2208 Millburn Ave. in Maplewood).  No fee, cash bar, all are welcome!

Maplewood wins Capacity Building Grant from Sustainable Jersey

Maplewood has yet another feather to put in its environmental cap.  We have been awarded a $1,000 Capacity Building Grant from Sustainable Jersey which will be used to enhance online and offline environmental outreach and communications. The funds are already being used at the "tabling events" which the Green Team has been running every other Saturday. Green Team members set up shop in Maplewood Village to talk to residents about recycling, energy efficiency, and other environmental issues. They have been encouraging residents to take the Maplewood Green Challenge, which they can do in person or online.  We are shooting for 1,000 residents by the end of the year, so if you haven't done it yet, take a minute and take the challenge right now.  In addition to the tabling events, the Green Team Communications Committee will be surveying residents to learn more about their consumption habits and the challenges they face in their efforts to become more "green."  If you are interested in joining the Green Team, please contact the webmaster. 

Sustainable Jersey wins the national Strong Communities competition!

Thanks to all of you who voted, worked on the Green Team, and pitched in in myriad ways to make our community a more sustainable community.

 

Fred Profeta, Jr., Chair of the New Jersey State League of Municipalties Mayors' Committee for a Green Future said, “Sustainable Jersey has empowered our municipalities and citizens to work together for a more sustainable future and our network of supporters certainly rallied during the on-line voting.”  Sustainable Jersey led the voting by a significant margin, capturing approximately 52% percent of the total vote. 

 

Sustainable Jersey is the most successful statewide municipal sustainability certification program in the country.  Over 6,700 people in New Jersey have participated in statewide training and outreach events in 2010. The program has distributed over half a million dollars to New Jersey communities to support an estimated 1,500 actions taken "on the ground" to make communities more livable, environmentally friendly and prosperous. 

 

 

Details can be found at the Sustainable Jersey site.

 

Second Maplewood Shredathon Will Be Held at Green Day on Saturday, October 9th.

A great way to declutter your life in a quick, safe, and secure way. Start going through your documents now and be ready early on Green Day (starting at 11 am). Once the truck fills up, the shredathon will be over! For guidelines on which documents to keep and which to shred, click here. Use it over the weekend to get through your piles of unnecessary paperwork.

 

Have a look at this video from the last Shredathon.  

 

Maplewood Green Day is Saturday, October 9th.

Don’t miss the biggest green event of the season! Join us for the fourth annual Maplewood Green Day fair.

You'll enjoy live music, how-to demonstrations, delicious organic and local food and over 80 eco-vendors. Special shows include Kid Power and the Planet Protectors, Live Animals of the Rain Forest and planet-friendly kids activities by Liberty Science Center and others. 

Demonstrations all day including backyard composting, local food cooking, rain gardens/rain barrels and fitness demos in yoga, kids fitness, hooping, dancing and IntenSati. 

Join the eco-bike tour to visit local examples of solar, native plantings and xeriscaping and bring your old paperwork for shredding at our free Shred-A-Thon. 

Planet-friendly fun activities include a giant 40-foot tall rock climbing wall, a petting zoo, face painting, chair massages,  kid’s environmental games, and much more.   Click here for more information.

Green Drinks is Tuesday, September 14th, 2010 at 7:30 p.m.

Our speaker will be Amy Rowe, Environmental and Resource Management Agent for Rutgers in Essex County.  She will be speaking to us about rain gardens and how to use a rain barrel in your garden.

Amy will be speaking at around 7:45 pm (note the earlier speaking time).  She will have rain barrel and rain garden handouts, speak for about 15 minutes and take questions.

There will also be an opportunity to learn about the upcoming Green Day (October 9th). 

Bring a friend!  No fee, cash bar.

 

Details:

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

7:30 PM

  

O’Reilly’s Bar and Grill

2208 Millburn Avenue

Maplewood, NJ 07040

 

Maplewood Green Team to start bi-weekly outreach around town

 

Maplewood's Green Team, over 50 strong and growing, will be reaching out to the community every second and fourth Saturday of the month from March through November (weather permitting).  

 

We will be setting up an information table in Maplewood Village and other locations around town.  Stop by and sign up for the 2010 Maplewood Green Challenge, find out the many things that you can recycle (and how, and where), learn about the Greenway for the Rahway project, and the many other sustainability initiatives that are being taken on by the dedicated volunteers.  

 

 

Green Drinks is Monday, June 21st at O'Reilly's

Chris Czech, a local landscape designer, will be at Green Drinks on Monday, June 21st at 7:30 p.m.  Her topic will be attracting nature to your garden.  

There will be a discussion of design techniques and particular plant material which birds, butterflies, etc. will respond to.  Also, there are some elements, such as water, which make for a "critter-friendly" ecosystem for your yard.

All are welcome, so invite your friends!  O'Reilly's is located at 2208 Millburn Avenue, across from the Audi dealership.

No fee, cash bar. 

 

Rogowski Farm CSA has started delivering local vegetables to residents

The Maplewood CSA for Rogowski Farm returns for 2010. Fresh organically grown, vegetables will be delivered each Tuesday for 25 weeks in Maplewood from June 8 to November 23. Pick up will continue to be from 2-7 pm at Morrow Memorial United Methodist Church parking lot.

Rogowski Farm is a second generation family farm in the magnificent black dirt region of Pine Island in the Town of Warwick in Orange County, NY. Transitioned from the typical onion farm to a diverse operation consisting of 150 acres of fertile muck soil. They grow over 250 varieties of produce each year utilizing ecologically friendly and environmentally sound practices.

Questions -- call Kerry Tilden at 973-903-8989 or csa_maplewood@morrowmem.org.  More information about W. Rogowski Farm available at http://www.rogowskifarm.com.

 

 

Cooking Oil is now being recycled at the Maplewood Department of Public Works

The container arrived and is ready to be filled. Just bring your used cooking oil (the stuff you probably store in jars under the sink and then throw out) to the Department of Public Works at 359 Boyden Avenue.  This will add one more item to our recycling list and will help grease blockages in sewer lines.

 

This service is available for residents and businesses alike, so our local restaurants can start bringing their used cooking oil over as of this posting.  

 

If you don't already collect your used cooking oil, just keep your clean, used glass jars under the sink and pour your oil into it after you've finished cooking with it.  

 

Any questions, please call the Department of Public Works at 973-762-1175.

 

Solar Carnival on Saturday, May 22nd, at Memorial Park.

 

Maplewood Community Garden Pilot Project Takes Root

Under the auspices of the Green Team, the Maplewood Community Garden Pilot Project began behind town hall on Saturday, May 1.   Wood, soil, compost, saws, drills, adults and children all ‘mixed it up’ to build and setup the 28 planting beds.

There are many Community Gardens throughout the area – Newark, South Orange, Millburn to name a few.  Here in Maplewood, we see ourselves getting even greener with the addition of the garden.  Irene Dunsavage came to the Township Committee wanting to begin the garden this year.  Since planning usually takes many more months than we had, the process to get the Pilot Project going was intense.

Plantings, mostly vegetables, will be in the soil within a couple of weeks.  Children will learn and work with the rest of the gardening community.  A bed will be dedicated to raising food for local food pantries.

Stop by to see the progress and check back here for an announcement of the first tomato which turns red!  We also invite you to join the Parks and Gardens Committee of the Green Team to enjoy helping Maplewood’s sustainable efforts.  (Photo courtesy of Joy Yagid)

 

Solar Power Demonstration at 3 Rutgers Street in Maplewood on Wednesday, May 5, 2010 fro 1:00-4:00 p.m.

Come watch the system get turned on and the electric meter will start running backward!

 

Have a look at Maplewood's first ever Shred-a-thon. Over 4 tons of documents shredded!

Solar Powered Home Demonstration

Wednesday, May 5th, 2010 from 1:00-4:00 p.m. at 3 Rutgers Street in Maplewood

Come see the meter spin backwards!

Come see the first residential solar system installed by the Home Depot Superstore under the new NJ Clean Energy Program in Maplewood, the GREENEST TOWN IN NJ! 

 

Meet other homeowners who have “gone solar”,  and take a tour of the system, and get Green Team Information.

 

For more info call Kevin Kraft 973-763-6333 or go to www.NewJerseySolarFunding.com.

MAPLEWOOD'S HOME ENERGY SAVINGS AND WEATHERIZATION FAIR

Maplewood's Home Energy Savings and Weatherization Fair was a great opportunity to learn about generous NJ funded programs, in addition to Federal income tax credits, that are available to both owners and renters who pay PSE&G bills. There were service providers on hand who could analyze your home and install cost-effective energy efficiency measures (based on what your home needs) including: weather sealing around windows and doors, insulation upgrades (attics, walls), heating/cooling equipment maintenance, energy saving thermostats, water heater and water pipe insulation, energy efficient appliances and lighting, and other measures.  

Of particular note:  If you use your home as your primary residence, pay a PSE&G bill heat your home with gas or electricity, and have income below certain guidelines you can learn about a great program, Comfort Partners, that may provide these services and products to you for FREE - and sign up on the spot.  Even if you don’t meet all of the income guidelines, there are programs that offer significant discounts. 

 

EARTH WEEK 2010 

Monday, April 12th 9:00 am -- Tree Planting A  Maple tree, which was generously donated by Pleasantdale Nurseries in West Orange last Green Day (October 11, 2009), was planted in Memorial Park, behind Memorial Library and across the stream. The American Red Maple (which is native to this area) spent the winter in the town's greenhouse.  According to Todd Lamm, the Supervisor of Parks and Shadetree, the tree will be treated with a biostimulant to help it acclimatize and grow.  The biostimulant is basically cold water sea kelp, which makes the roots more porous and increases their ability to take up nutrients and water.  Trees were also planted up on Irvington Avenue today.  For more coverage, see Maplewood Patch. 

 

       

Saturday, April 17th, 9-11:30 am  -- Village Alliance Spring Planting and Cleanup  Sponsored by Valley National Bank.  Volunteers welcomed spring by helping to beautify our lovely Village with a cleanup and flower planting

 

Saturday, April 17 10:00 am - noon -- Home energy conservation literature distribution  DeHart Community Center.  The Green Team energy conservation group distributed information on the attractive NJ Clean Energy programs to provide financial support for households that take energy conservation measures.  There are excellent programs to provide financial help and advice on ways that almost all Maplewood households can reduce their energy waste but too few people know about them and take advantage of them.  

Sunday, April 18, 9:30-noon Forest Regeneration Corps.  The South Mountain Conservancy held its first activity of the year.  Volunteers removed invasive plants, and planted native plants.  

Monday April 19th, 7:30 p.m.  -- Green Drinks Steve Tesoriero of Renewable Resource Systems spoke about home energy efficiency.  O’Reilly’s Bar and Grill, 2208 Millburn Avenue.  No fee, cash bar. 

 

Wednesday, April 21, 7-9 pm at Memorial Library (downstairs)  -- Organic Gardening Lecture given by Jan Zientek, Essex County Master Gardener Coordinator.  We learned what an organic garden is and how you can start one of your own.  Free and open to the public. 

 

Friday, April 23, 7:30 pm at Ethical Culture Society, 516 Prospect Street. Food, Inc. by filmmaker maker Robert Kenner lifts the veil on our nation's food industry, exposing the highly mechanized underbelly that's been hidden from the regulatory American consumer with the consent of our government's agencies, USDA and FDA.  

 

Saturday, April 24, 10 am -- Composting Workshop Virginia Lamb Falconer will lead a composting workshop at the Recycling Center, 359 Boyden Ave.  Learn how to turn your household waste into valuable fertilizer while reducing your trash.  $10 workshop fee.  

 

Saturday, April 24, 8 am-noon -- Shred-a-thon Event  Many people took advantage of the Shred-a-thon to clear out your old financial and personal records.  They brought their old papers and watched them get shredded on the spot.  At the Recycling Center, 359 Boyden Ave.  Free and open to the public.  Over 4,000 pounds shredded!

 

Saturday April 24th, 10 am-12 noon -- Rahway River Cleanup  Volunteers met at Memorial Park off Dunnell Road near the walking bridge to get an assignment to help clean up the Rahway River.  

 

Saturday April 24th, Noon-5 pm  Look for the Environmental Advisory Committee table at Maplewood Village’s Spring Open Market.  For more information, contact Julia Doran at 973-762-4566.

 

 

Maplewood's First Shred-a-thon!

No time like the spring  to clean out your old files…..

Take advantage of Maplewood’s first ever town wide Shred-a-thon. Many households are full of old paperwork, bank statements, financial records that are outdated and not necessary to keep. Wouldn’t you like to unload them in a quick, safe and secure way? A shred-a-thon is just that way. On April 24^th, a shredding truck will be parked at the Maplewood DPW at 359 Boyden Ave from 8:00 am to noon. You can bring your old papers and watch them get shredded on the spot. No need to worry about your personal information getting in the wrong hands.

 

What is necessary to shred?  You want to shred papers with account and/or social security numbers, e.g.; old checks, bank statements, utility bills.  They should not be disposed of with the regular paper recycling.  

 

Click here for some guidance on which documents to keep and for how long.  Get those documents together now and join us on Saturday April 24th!

 

Rahway Greenway meeting

On Thursday, March 4th, 2010, at 7:30 p.m., there will be a public meeting about the Rahway Greenway project.  Everyone is invited and we welcome your input.  This project is in the initial planning stages, so let us know your thoughts, hopes, and concerns.

 

Green Drinks at O'Reilly's 

 

On Tuesday, February 23rd, 2010, at 7:30 p.m., we met at O'Reilly's Bar and Grill on 2208 Millburn Avenue in Maplewood (right across from the Audi dealership).  

 

Matthew Morra, from Green Energy People, provided us with information on the latest local changes in residential solar funding. These changes will make solar much more affordable for Maplewood and South Orange residents.  

 

Green Drinks is a global effort that began over 30 years ago to help raise awareness of environmental issues, and now takes place in many cities around the world. It's a great chance to relax and network, talk about environmental issues, meet people, develop new ideas, and make new friends.  Everyone is welcome, so spread the word!  (No admission fee, cash bar)

 

 

Rahway Greenway meeting

On Friday, January 29, 2010, at 2:00 p.m., a public meeting was held at the Municipal Building, 574 Valley Street, Maplewood, New Jersey to discuss the Rahway River Corridor study.  The discussion was led by Robert Bratt, Acting Township Engineer, Jan Saltiel of Edgewater Design and Kerry Miller, Assistant Director of ANJEC.

 

Here is the Rahway River Corridor as it is today. 

 

Green Team Meets Again

The quarterly meeting of Maplewood's Green Team took place on Monday, January 11th, 2010 at Town Hall.  You can read all about it on Patch.  You can also read the meeting minutes here.  

 

Plastic Bag Recycling Program

Maplewood Memorial Library’s Hilton Branch Library and Fringe Hair Salon have teamed up to rescue plastic bags from landfills where they can take up to 1000 years to degrade.  Just drop off your clean, dry plastic grocery bags in the lovely bins located at Fringe (1874 Springfield Avenue) and Hilton Branch Library (1688 Springfield Avenue) from January through April 2010.  Sign up for our monthly workshops devoted to repurposing plastic bags. On January 21st, Kari from Kari’s Café will be leading a workshop making baskets out of “plarn” – yarn made from plastic bags. Register by phone or in-person at Hilton Branch: 973/762-1688.  (no crochet or knitting experience necessary) Ages 10 to adult.

 

Questions? Comments? Ideas?  Please call Betsy Wald, Branch Manager, Hilton Branch: 973/762-1688.

 

Tree-cycling

Recycling your tree is easy and free of charge.  Put your holiday trees out to the curb during the month of January and the Department of Public Works will pick them up to be mulched.  Plastic bags around trees allowed but they prefer them without.  You can also put out your wreaths and garlands.  Please remove all metal if possible from wreaths and garlands.  They will get picked up regardless, but can only be mulched if the metal is removed.

 

December Green Drinks

Tuesday, December 8th was the latest Green Drinks get-together.  

Dennis Percher, Chair of the South Mountain Conservancy, and Tricia Zimic, Board member, gave us a great introduction to the South Mountain Conservancy and its activities with emphasis on the $800K multi-year forest regeneration project with the County.  In October, the Conservancy and Essex County announced the completion of a unique planting program to accelerate the restoration of the forest in the South Mountain Reservation.  Through this aggressive initiative, 48,000 native plant species were reintroduced into the reservation to reverse destruction caused by the overbrowsing of deer.

 

Here is an excerpt from the evening.

 

Maplewood wins the Sustainable Jersey™ Leadership Award

 

Once again, Maplewood has been honored for its environmental leadership and accomplishments.  The first ever Sustainable Jersey™ awards luncheon took place at the New Jersey League of Municipalities Conference on Tuesday, November 17, 2009.  Maplewood was recognized as the municipality that contributes the most to the Sustainable Jersey program through demonstrated regional and statewide leadership.  

 

So far, 30 communities have been certified through the fledgling Sustainable Jersey program.  Sustainable Jersey is a certification program for municipalities in New Jersey that want to go green, control costs and save money, and take steps to sustain their quality of life over the long term.  Sustainable Jersey identifies concrete actions that municipalities can implement to become "certified" and be considered leaders on the path to sustainable community; provides clear guidance and tools to enable communities to make progress on each action; and provides access to grants, and identifies existing and new incentives for municipalities to make progress toward the actions.

 

DeHart Park Groundbreaking

On Saturday, November 14th, 2009, ground was broken for the renovation project for DeHart Park.  The project is expected to be completed in Fall of 2010.  The DeHart renovation was originally slated to involve artificial turf fields but when the project was put to a referendum in town, it was voted down.  It will now include organic grass in addition to other improvements.    More information about the project and its history is included here.

 

The first shovel honors went to the Town Council.  Pictured here from left to right are Jerry Ryan, Kathy Leventhal, Mayor Vic DeLuca, and Fred Profeta.  (Photo courtesy of Bob Dlugos)