Newsletters and Press Releases

Press Releases

Sustainable Raritan River Awards Announced at 9th Annual Conference – June 21, 2017
Sustainable Raritan River Initiative Accepting Awards Nominations – April 26, 2017
Rutgers Raritan River Consortium Awards Five Mini-grants for Work in the Raritan River, Basin and Bay – February 14, 2017
Sustainable Raritan River Collaborative Recognizes Eight Stewards of the Raritan River and Bay – July 13, 2016
Sustainable Raritan River Collaborative Recognizes Nine Stewards of the Raritan River and Bay – June 23, 2015

Newsletter Archive

	October 2017
Sun	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat
1	2	3 Heroes of the Harbor 2017 by Waterfront Alliance Heroes of the Harbor 2017 by Waterfront Alliance Starts: 6:00 pm Ends: October 3, 2017 - 9:00 pm Description: Join the Waterfront Alliance for their 10th Anniversary - Heroes of the Harbor Awards Dinner and Parade of Boats. Tuesday, October 3, 2017 The Lighthouse Pier 61 at Chelsea Piers Hudson River Park, NYC Parade of Boats and Cocktails at 6pm Dinner and Awards with Live and Silent Actions at 7pm To Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/heroes-of-the-harbor-2017-tickets-35382792886 More Information: http://waterfrontalliance.org/ You don’t have to let go of summer! Join us for a beautiful evening on the waterfront on October 3rd as we celebrate the Waterfront Alliance’s 10th anniversary and host the 2017 Heroes of the Harbor Awards Dinner and Parade of Boats at The Lighthouse, Pier 61, at Chelsea Piers. We will mingle and raise a glass with old friends and new along the riverside terrace as we enjoy the beauty of the boats sailing by with a sunset backdrop. After cocktails and the boat procession, we will take our seats for dinner and honor Donald Capoccia, developer of the exciting new Empire Outlets project on Staten Island’s North Shore; The Rockefeller Foundation’s Peter Madonia, a worldwide leader in the resiliency movement; and the founders of the Waterfront Alliance, a group of enlightened individuals who launched the organization 10 years ago. The invitation with full details can be found below; tickets and sponsorships can be purchased online. We look forward to enjoying a beautiful evening with you on our waterfront! Sincerely, Roland Lewis, President and CEO More details... •	4 Green Brook Flood Control Commission Meeting Green Brook Flood Control Commission Meeting Starts: 7:30 pm Ends: October 4, 2017 - 9:30 pm Description: Green Brook Flood Control Commission Meeting Wednesday, October 4, 2017 - 7:30 PM Scotch Hills Golf Club, 820 Jerusalem Rd, Scotch Plains In response to the 1971 and 1973 floods, a local movement achieved a new level of recognition. The Green Brook Flood Control Commission was authorized by the State of New Jersey and consists of volunteer representatives appointed by the flood-affected municipalities and counties, working in cooperation with state and federal representatives. The Commission regularly holds open meetings to discuss their goal of a comprehensive flood control solution for the entire Green Brook Basin, as well as to get updated information on the progress of the project. http://www.gbfcc.org/ More details... •	5	6	7 Canoe Trip on the South Branch Canoe Trip on the South Branch Starts: 8:15 am Ends: October 7, 2017 - 3:30 pm Description: Sat., Oct. 7: South Branch (back-up: Delaware) 8:15 AM to about 3:30 PM, Arboretum, ages 8 through adults, $35 Hunterdon County Division of Parks & Recreation Office: H.C. Arboretum, 1020 Route 31 North, Lebanon, NJ 08833 Mailing address: P.O. Box 2900, Flemington, NJ 08822 Phone: (908) 782-1158 Fax: (908) 806-4057 More details... •
8 Raritan Headwaters' Old Fashioned Country Fair Raritan Headwaters' Old Fashioned Country Fair Starts: 11:30 am Ends: October 8, 2017 - 4:30 pm Description: For more information: https://www.raritanheadwaters.org/ Raritan Headwaters is pleased to announce that our 38th Annual Old Fashioned Country Fair will be held Sunday, October 8th from 11:30am to 4:30pm – RAIN OR SHINE – at our Fairview Farm headquarters in Bedminster, NJ. We hope you will join us by participating as a sponsor or donor and providing vital support for RHA’s mission. Please help us make this year’s event a success! Please contact me at (908) 234.1852 ext. 320 or email jmarcus@raritanheadwaters.org with any questions. Learn more about the campaign here: https://donate.constantcontact.com/lp/pages/de271635-3720-4696-bb99-f954856507d8 More details... •	9	10 Wonderful World of Trout Wonderful World of Trout Starts: 8:00 pm Ends: October 10, 2017 - 10:00 pm Description: Tuesday, October 10, 2017 This Wonderful World of Trout Dave Rothrock American Legion Hall 137 New Market Road Dunellen, NJ Meeting starts at 8 PM - Non Members are always welcome! www.cjtu.org Dave Rothrock We all know why we go trout fishing with a fly rod: our goal is to fool some trout. The program “This Wonderful World of Trout” expands the focus of our adventures pursuing trout beyond that of just the quarry: the environment in which trout reside includes so much more, and it even goes beyond that! This world is the angler's world and there's so much to see, to experience. Once the angler opens his or her mind we can realize the depth of beauty and wonder the wonderful world of trout truly has to offer. There's definitely a lot here about trout and the stream since they are the ultimate motivators for a trip; however, there's a lot to see along the way as well as when we're on the stream. Dave Rothrock has been pursuing trout, and other species, with a fly rod since the mid-1960's and he's been tying flies for a bit longer than he's been fishing them. Dave has fished throughout the East, into the Midwest, and Europe where he fished great waters in Austria and Slovenia. Dave's articles have appeared in Fly Fisherman, American Angler and Pennsylvania Angler magazines as well as other publications. His fly patterns have have graced the pages of various publications, books and calendars. He has presented programs on fly-fishing related topics to groups throughout the Eastern U.S. and Canada. Dave is also a co-author of the book “Keystone Fly Fishing: The Ultimate Guide to Pennsylvania's Best Water.” In 2004 Dave and George Daniel teamed together to compete in the northeast regional qualifier for Barrett Productions' Fly Fishing Masters competition. As a team they placed first out of 36 teams in the two day casting competition. In the past Dave has worked as an instructor in the L. L. Bean fly fishing schools and has taught fly fishing, casting and fly-tying classes for various fly shops. Dave currently guides and teaching fly fishing and casting through his business, Salmo-Trutta Enterprises. He utilizes many of the best trout streams in central and northcentral PA as his classroom environment. More details... •	11	12 3rd Annual - Imagine a Day Without Water 3rd Annual - Imagine a Day Without Water Starts: 12:00 am Ends: October 12, 2017 - 11:59 pm Description: The third annual Imagine a Day Without Water will be held on October 12, 2017. Will you join us to raise awareness and educate America about the value of water? Register today! Why should you participate? We all need safe and reliable water to ensure that we can go about our daily lives without interruption. Our nation's water infrastructure is aging and in need of investment--and when our water is at risk, we are all at risk. Far too many communities in America already know how impossible it is to imagine a day without water. We invite everyone who has a vested interest in educating their peers and policymakers about the value of water to join us--and that means you. In 2016, nearly five hundred organizations nationwide joined us to communicate the importance of safe, reliable water infrastructure. Across the country, organizations held press events, open houses, student art contests, authored blogs and op-eds, issued resolutions, and more. We're hoping to make an even bigger impact in 2017! In whatever way you can engage, we hope you will join the Value of Water Campaign and hundreds of participating organizations for our day of education and action. You can find resources such as a message framework, frequently asked questions, and more on our website. As Imagine a Day Without Water draws closer, we will continue to add resources to help you plan for your event--register today and we will keep you updated every step of the way. If you have any questions about participating in Imagine a Day Without Water, please contact Madison Heuston at mheuston@uswateralliance.org. For more info, visit: http://imagineadaywithoutwater.org/ More details... Bayshore Regional Watershed Council Meeting Bayshore Regional Watershed Council Meeting Starts: 8:00 pm Ends: October 12, 2017 - 10:00 pm Location: Hall Place, Hall Pl, Keyport, NJ 07735, USA Description: Monthly Meeting of the Bayshore Regional Watershed Council The watershed council is an all-volunteer organization. Since 2000, we have been dedicated to improving water quality and restoring wildlife habitat along Raritan Bay and Sandy Hook Bay. Please consider joining the watershed council. Membership is always free. We depend on the time and generosity of volunteers for everything we do. Join us for a watershed meeting. Meetings are always informal and a great way to learn about your watershed. We meet the second Thursday of every month at 7:30pm inside Keyport Borough Hall located on Front Street. www.restoreraritanbay.org More details... • •	13 ANJEC 2017 Environmental Congress - Leading with Location Action ANJEC 2017 Environmental Congress - Leading with Location Action Starts: 9:00 am Ends: October 13, 2017 - 4:30 pm Description: 2017 Environmental Congress Leading with Local Action: Engage, Protect, Restore Friday, October 13 9:00am -4:30pm The Conference Center at Mercer County College 1200 Old Trenton Road West Windsor The Environmental Congress is an annual statewide gathering of environmental commissions, local officials, agencies, citizen groups and environmental organizations. Keynote address: Mayor Dawn Zimmer, Hoboken Plenary Panel Speakers: James Florio -Former New Jersey Governor Lisa Plevin -Former Chief of Staff, USEPA Region 2 Cindy Ehrenclou, Executive Director, Raritan Headwaters Assoc. 2017 Environmental Achievement Awards Application now available Application deadline, Friday, September 8. Check back soon for registration information. Visit www.anjec.org for more information. More details... Native Plant Sale Native Plant Sale Starts: 3:00 pm Ends: October 13, 2017 - 5:00 pm Description: D&R Greenway Land Trust’s Friday Fall Native Plant Sales will be held from 3:00 – 5:00 pm on Friday, September 29, and October 6, 13, & 20 at D&R Greenway’s Native Plant Nursery at the Johnson Education Center, One Preservation Place, Princeton. During the Native Plant Sales, D&R Greenway nursery staff and volunteers will be available to advise on the best choice of plants for gardening projects. Free. 609-924-4646 www.drgreenway.org More details... • •	14 Edison Boat Basin Cleanup Edison Boat Basin Cleanup Starts: 9:00 am Ends: October 14, 2017 - 12:00 pm Description: Spend your Saturday morning at the Edison Boat Basin. Help paint, mulch, prune and cleanup at this beautiful Waterfront. Gloves and bags provided. October 14 from 9 to 12 Meadow Road, Edison 08817 For more information: 732-993-8503 Volunteer! More details... •
15 Rutgers Fall Festival Rutgers Fall Festival Starts: 12:00 am Ends: October 15, 2017 - 11:59 pm Description: Save the Date Next year the Fall Festival will be held on Sunday, October 15, 2017. Please check back as we get closer to see all the exciting things we have planned. http://rutgersgardens.rutgers.edu/FallFestival.html More details... Clean up Mile Run Brook Clean up Mile Run Brook Starts: 10:00 am Ends: October 15, 2017 - 1:00 pm Description: October 15 – Clean-up of Mile Run Brook with NB Environmental Commission October 15 @ 10:00 am - 1:00 pm ~VOLUNTEERS NEEDED~ Join the Lower Raritan Watershed Partnership and the New Brunswick Environmental Commission for a clean-up of Mile Run Brook WHAT: a clean-up of Mile Run Brook on Sunday October 15th from 10AM to 1PM WHERE: Corner Of Hamilton Street And Woodbridge Street, New Brunswick. This Event is Co-coordinated by the Lower Raritan Watershed Partnership and the New Brunswick Environmental Commission. With special thanks to the New Brunswick Department of Public Works. Please wear closed toe shoes and clothes you are willing to get dirty. Gloves and bags will be provided! * For more information contact Heather hfenyk@lowerraritanwatershed.org * More details... Sandy Paws Walk Fur Clean Water - COA Sandy Paws Walk Fur Clean Water - COA Starts: 10:30 am Ends: October 15, 2017 - 12:00 pm Description: Clean Ocean Action www.COASandyPaws.org Join Clean Ocean Action for the 3rd annual Sandy Paws dog walk! Host a walk, participate from any location, or join the main pack in Asbury Park, NJ! Walk the beach with your dog, participate in a clean-up, explore pup-friendly vendors, join the costume contest, and much more dog-gone fun! To register: https://www.crowdrise.com/SandyPaws2017 More details... • • •	16 Lower Raritan Watershed Partnership Meeting Lower Raritan Watershed Partnership Meeting Starts: 10:00 am Ends: October 16, 2017 - 12:00 pm Description: October 16 – LRWP monthly meeting October 16 @ 10:00 am - 12:00 pm The October 16 LRWP meeting will be held from 10-noon in the Middlesex County Planning Offices at 75 Bayard Street, New Brunswick, NJ – 5th floor mid-size conference room. The EPA has authorized release of findings from the Summer 2016 pathogens monitoring with NY/NJ Baykeeper and civic science volunteers. Meredith Comi from NY/NJ Baykeeper will join us at our meeting Monday Oct 16, 10-noon to share a summary of findings. Parking is validated for those parking on floors 5 and higher in the RWJ Wellness Parking Deck located at 95 Paterson Street, New Brunswick, NJ 08901. Be sure to bring your ticket to the meeting for validation. For more information contact Heather: hfenyk@lowerraritanwatershed.org More details... •	17 The Shore of the Future - NJF half-day Symposium The Shore of the Future - NJF half-day Symposium Starts: 9:00 am Ends: October 17, 2017 - 12:15 pm Description: New Jersey Future - The Big Conversation Event Series More information: http://www.njfuture.org/events/special-events/the-shore-of-the-future/ Sea level rise associated with climate change is a clear and growing coast-wide threat facing every resident and business in all of New Jersey’s shoreline communities. Assessing and addressing this risk effectively requires a coast-wide plan of action. The framework for forging a coast-wide response strategy was the focus of a round-table discussion during New Jersey Future’s 2017 Redevelopment Forum. All of the participants agreed that this important topic is so broad, and the obstacles so numerous, that a wider conversation is needed in order to explore the implications fully and outline a course of meaningful action. To continue this conversation, New Jersey Future invites you to a symposium, the first in our series of Big Conversations, specifically to discuss what a coast-wide response to climate change and risks associated with sea-level rise should entail. Date: Tuesday, October 17, 2017 Time: 9:00 am – 12:15 pm Location: War Memorial, 1 Memorial Dr., Trenton. Use side entrance on Lafayette St. closest to the next door hotel. (get directions and parking info) Registration: The event is free, but you must register at: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdC7ce72OL16rD-KHGgf9_-7unam4VQy3k2UvrQvu9Sg2BcjQ/viewform This program has been approved for 2.75 AICP certification-maintenance credits. Use #njfshorefuture to share your photos and thoughts on social media! More details... Vermi-Composting - Middlesex County Vermi-Composting - Middlesex County Starts: 6:30 pm Ends: October 17, 2017 - 8:30 pm Description: County to Offer Composting Workshops If you are a Middlesex County resident who is concerned about the environment, now is the time to learn how to reduce waste and improve soil, all in your own backyard. By attending one of our free composting seminars, you’ll learn about all the benefits of composting yard waste and kitchen scraps. These free events are being held at the Middlesex County EARTH Center in Davidson’s Mill Pond Park, 42 Riva Ave., South Brunswick. Classes run about two hours. Backyard Composting Vermi-Composting (using worms) 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 21 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 17 Please call the Middlesex County Office of Solid Waste Management at 732-745-4170 or e-mail solidwaste@co.middlesex.nj.us to register for these free workshops. Workshop attendees may also pick up pre-purchased compost bins at the workshops. Call the Solid Waste Office before the workshop for a list of available compost bins. The backyard composting seminar will introduce the basics of collecting kitchen scraps and yard waste in a compost bin, and allowing the natural breakdown to create compost. If you do not have a yard of your own, you can still learn about composting and benefit from it at the second workshop, which teaches vermi-composting. In this process, the breakdown of waste is performed by worms in a plastic container. “I encourage residents to attend one of these informative events,” said Freeholder Kenneth Armwood, Chair of the County’s Business Development and Education Committee. “Keeping conservation in mind today will ensure that the County remains a beautiful and healthy place to live.” Freeholder Director Ronald G. Rios said: “These workshops present simple but very effective ways to help residents eliminate waste while creating a resource that gives back to the environment.” For more information on programs offered by the Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Middlesex County, call 732-398-5260. Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Middlesex County educational programs are offered to all without regard to race, religion, color, age, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, or disability. More details... • •	18 National Paddlesports Conference National Paddlesports Conference Starts: 12:00 am Ends: October 22, 2017 - 11:59 pm Description: National Paddlesports Conference The ACA provides a range of recreational opportunities and has been established as one of the premier standards of paddlesports safety and education. As part of the ACA's leadership role in the paddlesports community, we have initiated this conference to target all facets of the paddlesports community. Don't miss out! This year's conference takes place October 18-22 at the Natahala Outdoor Center in Wesser, North Carolina, and has a great deal in store for you. Offerings include exceptional educational sessions, instructor updates, navigation classes, outdoor activity opportunities, and exciting events for paddlers of all experience levels. To learn more, visit http://www.americancanoe.org More details... BCONE Presentation on Environmental Insurance Market - Brownfields BCONE Presentation on Environmental Insurance Market - Brownfields Starts: 4:00 pm Ends: October 18, 2017 - 5:00 pm Description: The Evolving Environmental Insurance Market: Mitigating Risk and Opportunities for Brownfields Development Sponsored by WCD Group and Advance Realty The NJ Center of Excellence at Bridgewater 1041 Route 202/206 Building K Auditorium Bridgewater, NJ 08807 2 hour presentation followed by 1.5 hour Cocktail Reception 2 Regulatory CECs have been approved for NJ LSRPs. Cost: $50 for LSRP and CLE credit recipients $25 for BCONE members not seeking credits $75 for non-members http://brownfieldcoalitionne.org/event-2633812 More details... • •	19 NJ Woodland Stewards Program NJ Woodland Stewards Program Starts: 12:00 am Ends: October 22, 2017 - 11:59 pm Description: The 2017 New Jersey Woodland Stewards Program is now open for registration. Only a limited number of participants are accepted, so register today! Speak for the Woods The New Jersey Woodland Stewards Program is an outreach effort for those who embrace a forest stewardship ethic, who want to learn more about sustainable forest management, and are willing to share what they learn with others. Location of 2017 NJ Woodland Stewards Program The program is scheduled for 3-1/2 days from October 19th thru 22nd, 2017 at the YMCA Camp Linwood MacDonald, One Flatbrook Road, Sandyston, New Jersey by Stokes State Forest in Sussex County. The program starts with registration on Thursday at 4:30 - 5:15 pm with dinner served at 6:00 pm and ends on Sunday at 3:15 pm. Registration The $75 registration fee for the 3-1/2 day program includes all meals, lodging, supplies, handouts, indoor meeting areas, and study in the surrounding forest. In return, each participant will volunteer 30 hours promoting Forestry in New Jersey. To register, copy/past the below link into your browser. Registration, including payment, must be received no later than October 7, 2017. Due to limited space, registrations will be accepted on a first come, first served basis. If you have any questions about the application process or NJWS Program, please contact Lori Jenssen by phone (908-832-2400), or by e-mail (info@njforestry.org). Registration Link: http://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/event?oeidk=a07eecz9p56f25853c9&llr=9byatnbab More details... •	20 Native Plant Sale Native Plant Sale Starts: 3:00 pm Ends: October 20, 2017 - 5:00 pm Description: D&R Greenway Land Trust’s Friday Fall Native Plant Sales will be held from 3:00 – 5:00 pm on Friday, September 29, and October 6, 13, & 20 at D&R Greenway’s Native Plant Nursery at the Johnson Education Center, One Preservation Place, Princeton. During the Native Plant Sales, D&R Greenway nursery staff and volunteers will be available to advise on the best choice of plants for gardening projects. Free. 609-924-4646 www.drgreenway.org More details... •	21 COA - Fall Beach Sweeps COA - Fall Beach Sweeps Starts: 9:00 am Ends: October 21, 2017 - 12:30 pm Description: Fall Beach Sweeps Pre-registration is Now Open! Join us on October 21st for Clean Ocean Action's Fall 2017 Beach Sweeps! Since launching the region's first Beach Sweeps program in 1985, over 115,800 COA volunteers have participated and removed over 5.9 million pieces of debris from New Jersey's beaches and waterways. Pre-Registration: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfUpJsNvWdkWEKahrYeJkdZ5gkFIC5nv-tSsaz45H92LHFvAg/viewform For more information, please contact Clean Ocean Action at programs@cleanoceanaction.org or 732-872-0111. More details... Raritan Bay Waterfront Beach Sweep Raritan Bay Waterfront Beach Sweep Starts: 9:00 am Ends: October 21, 2017 - 12:00 pm Description: Oct. 21: Beach Sweep with Middlesex Co. & Clean Ocean Action October 21 @ 9:00 am - 12:00 pm Come out and help Middlesex County Conservation Corps and Clean Ocean Action keep our shores beautiful and debris-free in this annual event held on the Raritan Bay Waterfront! Supplies provide. Registration required. Please contact Griffith Boyd #732.746.3064 or griffith.boyd@co.middlesex.nj.us to RSVP and for more information. More details... Sourland Stewardship Leaders Training - Part 1 Sourland Stewardship Leaders Training - Part 1 Starts: 9:30 am Ends: October 21, 2017 - 12:30 pm Description: Sourland Stewardship Leaders Training In this three-part course, you'll immerse in a hands-on stewardship project at Baldpate Mountain. Learn ecological restoration fundamentals including site analysis, goal articulation, implementation, and monitoring, and help return a natural area to diversity and function. Interact with professionals in the field as well as a community of fellow stewards. The Sourland Conservancy is offering this program to dedicated participants with the aim of developing a select group of experienced stewardship volunteers who can lead future projects in the Sourlands. If you're committed to being a caretaker of the natural world, this course is for you! Participants must attend all three classes, 9:30am-12:30pm - October 21, November 18, and a date TBD in April or May 2018 - before leading future Sourland Stewardship projects. To Register: https://form.jotform.us/72634683384162 For more information: http://sourland.org/ More details... Chingorora Creek Cleanup Chingorora Creek Cleanup Starts: 10:00 am Ends: October 21, 2017 - 12:00 pm Description: Bayshore Regional Watershed Council Public Clean-ups along Raritan Bay & Sandy Hook Bay in 2017 Saturday, March 11, 2017 Comptons Creek Time: 10:00am to 12:00pm Meeting Location: 19 Broadway, Port Monmouth, NJ 07758 Saturday, April 22, 2017 Mouth of Many Mind Creek Time: 10:00am to 12:00pm Meeting Location: 5 Avenue A, Atlantic Highlands, NJ 07716 Sunday, May 6, 2017 Mouth of Flat Creek Time: 10:00am to 12:00pm Meeting Location: Brook Avenue, located off Front Street, Union Beach, NJ 07735 Saturday, September 23, 2017 Waackaack Creek Time: 10:00am to 12:00pm Meeting Location: Near 130 Church Street, located near Creek Road, Keansburg, NJ 07734 Saturday, October 21, 2017 Chingorora Creek Time: 10:00am to 12:00pm Meeting Location: TBD Sunday, November 19, 2017 Matawan Creek, River Gardens Park Time: 10:00am to 12:00pm Meeting Location: Near 400 Riverdale Drive, Cliffwood Beach, Aberdeen Township, NJ 07735 Horseshoe crab Monitoring & Tagging Dates: Training: Thursday, April 28, 2017 7:00pm – 8:00pm Bayshore Waterfront Park DATES & TIMES TO MONITOR & TAG HORSESHOE CRABS IN 2017 WEDNESDAY, MAY 10 STARTING AT 8:30PM THURSDAY, MAY 25 STARTING AT 8:00PM FRIDAY, JUNE 9 STARTING AT 8:45PM FRIDAY, JUNE 23 STARTING AT 8:00PM Seine the Bay Day in 2017 Sunday, June 11, 2017 from 10:00am to 3:30pm Sunday, September 10, 2017 from 10:00am to 3:30pm Visit the Bayshore Regional Watershed Council's Website at http://www.restoreraritanbay.org/ for more information. More details... Backyard Composting Workshop - Middlesex County Backyard Composting Workshop - Middlesex County Starts: 10:00 am Ends: October 21, 2017 - 12:00 pm Description: County to Offer Composting Workshops If you are a Middlesex County resident who is concerned about the environment, now is the time to learn how to reduce waste and improve soil, all in your own backyard. By attending one of our free composting seminars, you’ll learn about all the benefits of composting yard waste and kitchen scraps. These free events are being held at the Middlesex County EARTH Center in Davidson’s Mill Pond Park, 42 Riva Ave., South Brunswick. Classes run about two hours. Backyard Composting Vermi-Composting (using worms) 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 21 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 17 Please call the Middlesex County Office of Solid Waste Management at 732-745-4170 or e-mail solidwaste@co.middlesex.nj.us to register for these free workshops. Workshop attendees may also pick up pre-purchased compost bins at the workshops. Call the Solid Waste Office before the workshop for a list of available compost bins. The backyard composting seminar will introduce the basics of collecting kitchen scraps and yard waste in a compost bin, and allowing the natural breakdown to create compost. If you do not have a yard of your own, you can still learn about composting and benefit from it at the second workshop, which teaches vermi-composting. In this process, the breakdown of waste is performed by worms in a plastic container. “I encourage residents to attend one of these informative events,” said Freeholder Kenneth Armwood, Chair of the County’s Business Development and Education Committee. “Keeping conservation in mind today will ensure that the County remains a beautiful and healthy place to live.” Freeholder Director Ronald G. Rios said: “These workshops present simple but very effective ways to help residents eliminate waste while creating a resource that gives back to the environment.” For more information on programs offered by the Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Middlesex County, call 732-398-5260. Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Middlesex County educational programs are offered to all without regard to race, religion, color, age, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, or disability. More details... • • • • •
22 Volunteer Day at Schiff Volunteer Day at Schiff Starts: 9:00 am Ends: October 22, 2017 - 11:00 am Location: 339 Pleasant Valley Road, Mendham, 07945 Description: October 22, 2017 (Sunday) 9-11 am Volunteer Day at Schiff Schiff Nature Center 339 Pleasant Valley Road, Mendham, 07945 Please join Schiff members, staff, and volunteers as we embark on an outdoor land steward project to improve the Schiff Natural Land Trust. Our volunteer work days are great for teens, adults, church groups, service groups, scout troops, or anyone else looking to earn community service or environmental karma credits! Come lend a hand with trail maintenance, fence repair, invasive species removal, native plant garden maintenance, and home repair. Wear weather appropriate clothes, sturdy work boots, and yard gloves. We will provide water, snacks, and insight into the importance of the preservation work we do here at Schiff. Ages 15+, please. Schiff membership is encouraged, but not required. Please register in advance so that we know you are coming! If you have questions, please emailtom@schiffnaturepreserve.org Contact: 973-543-6004 More details... Plant Ecology at Hutcheson Memorial Forest Plant Ecology at Hutcheson Memorial Forest Starts: 2:00 pm Ends: October 22, 2017 - 4:00 pm Description: We welcome the public to visit Hutcheson Memorial Forest on regularly scheduled tours which occur on Sundays throughout the year. These tours are led by Rutgers University faculty and researchers who volunteer their time. Depending on the expertise of the tour leader, the interest of the group, and what is flowering, flying, calling or crawling, various aspects of natural history, forest ecology, conservation issues and ecological relationships will be explored and discussed. Tours typically meet at 2 PM and take between one and two hours. All tours leave from the main entrance of the woods located at 2150 Amwell Road (Route 514) about 3/4 mile east of East Millstone, New Jersey. The trail through the woods may be muddy in places except in dry weather, so persons should come prepared. There is no charge, and reservations are not required on these guided public tours. Have a large group? Groups of more than ten (10) people, or people whishing a tour at some other time, must arrange for a private tour. Such groups are invited to contact HMF Center staff well in advance for special guided tours to be arranged at other times. Please include "HMF Tour Request" in the subject line. We regularly update the tour schedule, so please check back for updates! http://hmf.rutgers.edu/public_tour_schedule.html More details... Macro Sampling Demo & Fall Walk in RU EcoPreserve Macro Sampling Demo & Fall Walk in RU EcoPreserve Starts: 2:00 pm Ends: October 22, 2017 - 4:00 pm Description: Macros Sampling Demo & Fall Walk in Rutgers EcoPreserve October 22 @ 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm Join the LRWP, our Watershed Ambassadors, and Rutgers Professor Richard Lathrop (Director of the Rutgers University Ecological Preserve and the Sustainable Raritan River Initiative) for an afternoon ramble and macroinvertebrate sampling demonstration in Rutgers EcoPreserve. We will be sampling in Buell Brook, a headwater stream that flows through the Rutgers University Ecological Preserve before emptying into the Raritan River in Johnson Park. The EcoPreserve serves as a natural teaching area and outdoor recreation hub with over 7 miles of trails. Buell Brook’s riffles and pools provide habitat for such fishes as black-nosed dace, creek chub and American eels. Immature eels, known as glass eels, migrate up the river and seek refuge in these smaller tributary streams. We will meet at the kiosk across from the Business School on Avenue E. Park in the gravel lot near the Business School (100 Rockafeller Rd, Piscataway Township, NJ 08854) or in the RAC parking lot and cross over Avenue E. Wear appropriate clothing and footwear that can get wet. To RSVP: hfenyk@lowerraritanwatershed.org More details... • • •	23 Somerset Raritan Valley Sewerage Authority Somerset Raritan Valley Sewerage Authority Starts: 7:30 pm Ends: October 23, 2017 - 9:30 pm Location: 50 Polhemus Ln, Bridgewater, NJ 08807, USA Description: Meetings of the Somerset Raritan Valley Sewerage Authority are held the fourth Monday of each month. Meetings are held in the Authority conference room located in the Administrative Office. Open session meetings begin at 7:30 p.m. and there is an opportunity for public participation. Anyone from the public wishing to be heard should arrive promptly for the start of a meeting as the public participation portion is early on the agenda. http://srvsa.org/ More details... Stony Brook Regional Sewerage Authority Meeting Stony Brook Regional Sewerage Authority Meeting Starts: 7:30 pm Ends: October 23, 2017 - 9:30 pm Location: 290 River Road, Princeton, NJ Description: Authority Board Meeting Schedule A RESOLUTION SETTING REGULAR MEETING DATES FOR THE STONY BROOK REGIONAL SEWERAGE AUTHORITY FOR CALENDAR YEAR 2016 IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THE OPEN PUBLIC MEETINGS ACT Resolution No. 2015-78 BE IT RESOLVED by the Stony Brook Regional Sewerage Authority: That the regular meeting day of the Authority be held on the fourth Monday of each month, except in November, when it will be held on the second Monday, and June and December when the meeting will be held on the third Monday of the month. http://www.sbrsa.com/ More details... • •	24 NJ Association of Floodplain Management Conference NJ Association of Floodplain Management Conference Starts: 12:00 am Ends: October 26, 2017 - 11:59 pm Description: 13th Annual Conference October 24 - 26, 2017 \| Bally's Hotel & Casino, Atlantic City NJ "Navigating the Waters of Change" INFORMATION AND TO REGISTER: http://www.njafm2017.com/ New Jersey Association for Floodplain Management 13th Annual Conference October 24-26, 2017 \| Bally's Atlantic City President Trump took office in January 2017, with new leadership at the Department of Homeland Security, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Environmental Protection Agency and other agencies. In addition, New Jersey citizens will elect a new Governor in November 2017. This new leadership at the state and federal level will result in uncertainties regarding floodplain management policies, priorities, programs, and funding. Regardless of these uncertainties, NJAFM’s commitment to sound floodplain management, hazard mitigation, technical assistance, and professional development remains at the forefront of our mission. The 13th annual NJAFM conference will highlight the activities that have proven effective in protecting people and property from the impact of floods and storms, and the importance of maintaining these core activities as we adapt to the programmatic challenges expected to result from new state and federal administrations. More details... NJ Complete Streets Summit NJ Complete Streets Summit Starts: 8:30 am Ends: October 24, 2017 - 4:00 pm Location: Rutgers Student Center, 126 College Ave, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA Description: Registration is open for the 2017 New Jersey Complete Streets Summit hosted by the New Jersey Department of Transportation and the Alan M. Voorhees Transportation Center. To REGISTER: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2017-new-jersey-complete-streets-summit-tickets-36838232144 Who should attend: This biennial Summit brings together planners, engineers, public officials, health professionals, and others involved with shaping communities throughout New Jersey. What is the Summit: This year's Summit features Tony Garcia from Street Plans as the keynote speaker, along with series of informative sessions on topic relating to Complete Streets, The sessions will be divided between two tracks – one for policy development and one for implementation. A listing of tentative sessions and descriptions is provided below. Additionally, six New Jersey communities, all which have excelled at Complete Streets implementation, will be presented with awards during a luncheon ceremony and their stories will be presented through short videos. Individuals who have been selected as "Complete Street Champions" will also be recognized and awarded. Morning refreshments and lunch will be provided. We are also currently working to offer AICP credits and PDHs for attendance. Why should you RSVP: To learn more about how New Jersey streets can be made safer and more accommodating to road users of all ages and abilities, including pedestrians, bicyclists, motorists, and public transportation users. More details... NY/NJ Baykeeper Annual Awards Reception NY/NJ Baykeeper Annual Awards Reception Starts: 6:30 pm Ends: October 24, 2017 - 9:30 pm Description: Join us for our Annual Fall Awards Reception! Honoring: Rally for the Navesink The Honorable Wilda Diaz and Ben Longstreth When: October 24, 2017, 6:30PM Where: Monmouth Boat Club, 31 Union Street, Red Bank, NJ 07701 Featuring an open bar, live music, raw bar, passed hors d’oeuvres, raffle, and beautiful views! http://nynjbaykeeper.org/annual-awards-reception/ More details... Lawrence Brook Watershed Partnership Members Meeting Lawrence Brook Watershed Partnership Members Meeting Starts: 7:00 pm Ends: October 24, 2017 - 9:00 pm Description: Membership Meeting on Tuesday, October 24th at 7PM, at the Milltown Senior Center, which will be our Annual Dinner Meeting. Speaker to be announced shortly. For more information, contact Alan Godber at agodber@turbousa.com More details... • • • •	25 USDA-NRCS Brown Bag Lunch Presentation USDA-NRCS Brown Bag Lunch Presentation Starts: 11:00 am Ends: October 25, 2017 - 12:00 pm Description: NJ Section American Water Resources Association presents: a USDA-NRCS Brown Bag Lunch Presentation Wednesday October 25th, 2017 11:00 am - 12:00 pm NRCS State - 220 Davidson Avenue, 4th Floor, Somerset, NJ 08873 Registration (free for members & NRCS Employees!/ $15 for non-members) To Register: http://nsawra.onefireplace.org/event-2657724 USDA-NRCS Brown Bag Presentation Presented by Christine Hall NRCS State Office 220 Davidson Avenue, 4th Floor Somerset, NJ 08873 11:00 am - 12:00 pm The United States Department of Agriculture – Natural Resources Conservation Service has a long history of working with landowners to improve water resources. Christine Hall, State Resource Conservationist and current Acting State Conservationist, will give an overview of USDA-NRCS programs and activities, with a focus on those that relate to water resources in NJ. She will provide examples of projects where USDA-NRCS has worked with partners and utilized NRCS programs to implement those projects so that NJAWRA members will be able to identify projects where NRCS could be a valuable partner. Christine Hall works for the United States Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service. Ms. Hall received a B.S. in Natural Resource Management from Cook College, Rutgers University. She is currently the State Resource Conservationist for NJ NRCS and is responsible for providing statewide technical leadership for conservation planning, as well as guidance in formulating and recommending procedures and policies in areas such as agronomy, biology, woodland conservation, plant materials, economics, water quality, and grazing. BYOS (Bring Your Own Sandwich); NJ-AWRA will provide light refreshments & snacks. NJ-AWRA will hold a short board meeting/conference call from 12:00-12:30 after the presentation. If you are unable to attend but would like to call in, please email us. More details... RMRFCC Meeting RMRFCC Meeting Starts: 7:00 pm Ends: October 25, 2017 - 9:00 pm Location: TBD Description: The Raritan & Millstone Rivers Flood Control Commission meets the fourth Wednesday of the month at 7:00pm at various municipal buildings, unless otherwise noted. The purpose of the Commission shall be to foster the design, construction and long-term mitigation for the effective flood control measures for the prevention and alleviation of flooding within the basins of the Raritan and Millstone Rivers, State of New Jersey through actions in the following priority areas: Communication / Education Legislation Policy http://www.rmrfcc.org/ More details... • •	26 Super Storm Sandy: Five Years Later - Meadowlands Conference Super Storm Sandy: Five Years Later - Meadowlands Conference Starts: 12:00 am Ends: October 27, 2017 - 11:59 pm Description: Meadowlands Conference Super Storm Sandy: Five Years Later October 26-27, 2017 Lyndhurst NJ Abstract Deadline for Oral Presentations and Posters May 31, 2017 Registration Deadline August 1, 2017 It’s been five years since Super Storm Sandy slammed the East Coast. The financial, human and environmental costs were enormous. Scientists agree a warming planet will make such extreme weather a larger part of the future of New Jersey and coastal cities around the world. This uncertain future leads us to some important questions. How can we best deal with storm surges and coastal inundation? How do we build resiliency into our urban coastal communities and structures while protecting the natural environment? How should we reimagine regulations regarding land use and environmental protection? In Sandy’s aftermath, environmental scientists, social scientists, economists, private consultants and government officials worked to answer such questions, compiling massive amounts of data, writing papers, and holding hearings. This conference, organized by the Rutgers University Meadowlands Environment Research Institute in Lyndhurst, New Jersey, brings together a community of scholars, researchers, urban planners, and policy-makers to share ideas and findings around the environmental, social and design challenges facing East Coast estuaries and bays under more frequent extreme weather events. More information at http://meri.njmeadowlands.gov/super-storm-sandy-five-years-later/. More details... •	27 Water Quality Seminar - River-Friendly Farms Water Quality Seminar - River-Friendly Farms Starts: 7:00 pm Ends: October 27, 2017 - 8:00 pm Description: Sourland Conservancy Water Quality Seminar Friday October 27, 7-8pm, East Amwell Municipal Building: "What are River-Friendly Farms and why should we care?" The program will include a discussion of what we - both farmers and non-farmers - can do to protect our water resources. Light refreshments will be served. Sponsored by EA Agricultural Advisory Committee, EA Environmental Commission, EA Farmland and Open Space Preservation Committee, Sourland Conservancy Sourland Conservancy \| 83 Princeton Avenue, Suite 1A 609-309-5155\| www.sourland.org \| info@sourland.org More details... •	28 Piscatawaytown Burial Ground Landscaping and Beautification Piscatawaytown Burial Ground Landscaping and Beautification Starts: 9:00 am Ends: October 28, 2017 - 12:00 pm Description: Piscatawaytown Burial Ground Landscaping and Beautification October 28, 2017 from 9am to noon 2136 Woodbridge Avenue, Edison, 08817 For more information - 732-933-8503 Volunteer for an hour or for the morning -- any help is appreciated. Tools needed: spades, rakes, shovels and wheelbarrows. Lunch provided. More details... •
29 Trees of Hutcheson Memorial Forest Trees of Hutcheson Memorial Forest Starts: 2:00 pm Ends: October 29, 2017 - 4:00 pm Description: We welcome the public to visit Hutcheson Memorial Forest on regularly scheduled tours which occur on Sundays throughout the year. These tours are led by Rutgers University faculty and researchers who volunteer their time. Depending on the expertise of the tour leader, the interest of the group, and what is flowering, flying, calling or crawling, various aspects of natural history, forest ecology, conservation issues and ecological relationships will be explored and discussed. Tours typically meet at 2 PM and take between one and two hours. All tours leave from the main entrance of the woods located at 2150 Amwell Road (Route 514) about 3/4 mile east of East Millstone, New Jersey. The trail through the woods may be muddy in places except in dry weather, so persons should come prepared. There is no charge, and reservations are not required on these guided public tours. Have a large group? Groups of more than ten (10) people, or people whishing a tour at some other time, must arrange for a private tour. Such groups are invited to contact HMF Center staff well in advance for special guided tours to be arranged at other times. Please include "HMF Tour Request" in the subject line. We regularly update the tour schedule, so please check back for updates! http://hmf.rutgers.edu/public_tour_schedule.html More details... •	30	31