Volunteers in Front of Meadow Message Board Before Starting Work

On a sunny Sunday morning (September 13), the Environmental Committee of Congregation Ahavas Achim (216 1^st Avenue) and members of the Environmental Commission had a work session at the Meadows. We had a total of 24 volunteers including members of Boy Scouts from Troop 55 and Girls Scouts from Troop 81455. The volunteer worked on the restoration of the Meadows by removing significant amounts of  invasive Mugwort from both sides of the bicycle path and from the Meadows trail, and the removal of invasive grape vines overgrowing several trees.

Girl Scout in Gloves About to Start Work

Bicycle Path Next To Meadows

Couple Cutting Mugwort

Cutting More Mugwort

Girl Scout Carrying Away Cut Mugwort

Adult Volunteer Carrying Away Cut Mugwort

Volunteers Cutting Wild Grape Vines Over Running Tree

Mike Rosenberg, HP Environmental Commission, Cutting Mugwort

Girl Scouts Pulling Up 1st Year Mugwort on Meadows Trail

The photographs of the happy and productive volunteers were taken by Mason Resnick.

The Environmental Commission thanks the EC Committee of Congregation Ahavas Achim and the scouts for their assistance in the effort to restorie the Meadows to a more native state,  for their interest in the environment, and for their public service activities.

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If you leave litter behind, how long does it take to break down? You mights be surprised.

Glass Bottle  ……………. 1 million years

Fishing Line ……………… 600 years

Plastic Bottle ……………. 450 years

Disposable Diaper ……… 450 years

Aluminum Can ………….. 80-200 years

Foam Coffee Cup ………… 50 years

Plastic Bag …………………. 10-20 years

Cigarette Butt ……………. 1-5 years

Source: US National Park Service; Mote Marine Lab, Sarasota, FL

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Thus, leaving our garbage in the outdoors has a significant effects for a very long time!

See also our blog of May 12, 2009

HP Meadows - the site of a RIVERPALOOZA Cleanup

The Highland Park Environmental Commission is co-sponsoring with NJ Community WaterWatch a cleanup of the Meadows (see map below) as part of the RIVERPALOOZA Event (see Home News Tribune article) on August 8, 2009. There will be a kick off and breakfast at 10:00 AM.

Purpose:

To clean up the HP Meadows by removing trash from the banks of the Raritan River, pull weeds from various areas, and remove invasive vines from trees.

When:

Saturday, August 8, 2009, 10:00 AM-1:00 PM

Where:

Highland Park Meadows, Corner of Valentine Street and South 5th Avenue

Equipment:

Work gloves if you have them. Gloves and tools will be supplied.

Requirement:

Volunteers will need to sign an HP Volunteer Release Form or a Waterwatch Release From. HP form can be obtained here.

Questions:

Send us a message.

Juvenile Osprey in the process of being banded. Photos by George Pitcher (6/25/09)

Better view of juvenile osprey

Local Highland Park resident George Pitcher participated in the banding of two juvenile ospreys at a tidal marsh in Cheesequake, NJ and took the above pictures. The birds were approximately 3-4 months old and were expected to fledge (begin flying) in two weeks. Volunteers and wildlife officials banded the birds, which were sitting on the nesting platform. They used a ladder to remove the birds from the platform, banded them, and then replaced them on the nest.  The juveniles ospreys did not appear stressed by the process and the circling osprey parents did not attack the volunteers. The banding is part of a federal/state program to track these previously endangered birds.

During the summer, ospreys can frequently be seen soaring above the Raritan River. They hover and then dive into the river for fish. They are frequently seen above the river.  Donaldson Park and Johnson Park are good places to observe them.

Link to Wikipedia Article on Osprey

The invasive weed Garlic Mustard (Alliaria petiolata)

Purpose: To help remove the invasive weed Garlic Mustard from the Meadows

When: June 27 and June 28. 9:00 AM – 12:00 Noon

Where: Highland Park Meadows, Corner of Valentine Street and South 5^th Avenue

Equipment: Work gloves

Requirements: Volunteers will need to sign a Volunteer Waiver; Volunteers under 18 will need a parent to co-sign waiver form. Waiver Form can be obtained here.

Questions: Send us a message.

Arnold Henderson, Environmentalist

Arnold Henderson, long term resident of Highland Park, Vice Chair of the Environmental Commission and Co-Chair of the Shade Tree Advisory Commission and his wife Natalie will be moving to California to be near his daughter and grandchildren later this summer. Arnold has resigned from the Commission and Advisory Committee.

The Mayor and Borough Council honored Arnold for his years of service to Highland Park on June 3, 2009 with the following resolution:

Resolution

BOROUGH OF HIGHLAND PARK

Resolution No. 6-09-192

WHEREAS, ARNOLD HENDERSON, a long-time involved resident of the Borough of Highland Park, is a strong advocate for the environment and one of the Borough’s most active naturalists and environmentalists; and

WHEREAS, ARNOLD HENDERSON was a member of the Highland Park Environmental Commission since 1990, having served as Vice Chairman; and

WHEREAS, ARNOLD HENDERSON was also a member of the Highland Park Shade Tree Advisory Committee since 1990, having served as Co-Chairperson; and

WHEREAS, ARNOLD HENDERSON was the sole author of the 2001 Community Stewardship Incentive Program/Tree Planting Grant; a major author of Highland Park’s Community Forestry Management Plan; a major contributor to the 2000 Urban Forestry Grant; and a contributor to Highland Park’s shade tree inventory;

WHEREAS, ARNOLD HENDERSON is an author on nature for resident’s guides and environmental newsletters, sharing his knowledge and expertise generously and enthusiastically; and

WHEREAS, ARNOLD HENDERSON is a tireless volunteer at the Borough’s Native Plant Preserve and was instrumental in various projects in the Borough such as the Meadows Trail and the Eugene Young environmental Education Center, and

WHEREAS, ARNOLD HENDERSON and his family are preparing to move from Highland Park to California and will be sorely missed by the Governing Body and the community at large.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Mayor and Council of the Borough of Highland Park, County of Middlesex, State of New Jersey, hereby commend ARNOLD HENDERSON on his many accomplishments and his service to the Borough and wish him continued success and happiness in his new home.

MERYL FRANK, Mayor

ELSIE FOSTER-DUBLIN, Council President

JON ERICKSON, Councilman

GARY MINKOFF, Councilman

PADRAIC MILLET, Councilman

JEFFEY MORRIS, Councilman

LEWIS PINCHINSON, Councilperson

Adopted: June 3, 2009

Attest:

JOAN HULLINGS, Borough Clerk

The Environment Commission wishes Arnold and Natalie much happiness in the next phase of their life.

Here’s the first post on the beginnings of the Edible Garden project.

Sign at Sunset Beach, Cape May Point, New Jersey

We were recently in Cape May, NJ for a birding weekend and came across this sign at a shop on Sunset Beach, Cape May Point. It outlines how long it takes man’s trash to degrade in the ocean. A disposable diaper (not biodegradable) has an estimated lifetime in the ocean of an astounding 450 years!!

“Leave nothing on the beach except your footprints – take care of our land and seas.”

The signs say it all!