Somerville Residents will “Clean-up” to Celebrate Earth Day
Saturday, April 23rd 9am
On Saturday, April 23rd, in honor of Earth Day, Somerville residents and local organizations will clean up litter and other debris throughout the borough's parks, brooks and other public areas. Last year’s event yielded many large garbage bags of litter, as well as bicycles, tires, shopping carts and construction materials which had been deposited in the brooks. The event is sponsored by the Somerville Environmental Commission, Somerville Public Works Department, and the NJ Water Supply Authority.
Volunteers are now being sought. Anyone able to donate an hour or two to participate in this Earth Day Clean-up should meet at the Somerville High School Parking Lot at 9 a.m. Saturday, April 23rd where clean up assignments will be given. No pre registration is needed. Work gloves, trash bags, and refreshments will be provided. Tree seedlings pick up information and May 1st Arbor Day event agenda will also be distributed. Educational displays and speakers will be present to answer questions and give guidance on tree planting and rain gardens.
Local Girl Scout, Boy Scout, school, and youth groups are welcome to help in the clean-up. Adult volunteer groups are encouraged to assist. The Commission also encourages neighbors to get outside during the week and clean up their streets of litter, clear storm drains, and alleviate rain water run off to storm drains by directing roof gutters to the ground and installing rain barrels. For complete information on rain barrel workshops, rain garden installations visit the New Jersey Water Supply website.
In honor of Arbor Day, Girl Scouts will transplant trees from their Culver Street tree arbor into the community on May 1st. The arbor was founded in 2012 with 100 trees planted to celebrate 100 years of Girl Scouting. The award winning mini nursery now boasts an inventory of nearly 200 trees of which a portion of are transplanted annually into local parks.
Somerville Environmental Commission members volunteer their time at monthly meetings on behalf of improving the environmental practices in town and on managing municipal shade trees. Members also facilitate the Green Team, which has earned Somerville to be recognized as Bronze status community in the Sustainable NJ program. Other past activities include rain barrel workshops, tree pruning workshops, environmental advocacy, and tree plantings. For information on upcoming projects or to share your concerns or interest in trees or the environment, visit the Somerville Borough website at www.somervillenj.org, go to the Living tab, then click on Committee Boards/Commissions.