Hillsdale Environmental Commission

Natural Resource and Preservation Hillsdale, NJ

Author Archives: hillsdaleec


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Sapling Distribution on April 15th!

Free Seedlings for Hillsdale residents and neighbors- week of April 15-20. “New Jersey Tree Recovery Campaign Provides Free Tree Seedlings to Residents in New Jersey.”

Pick-up locations: Hillsdale, NJ at George White School, Meadowbrook School, St. John’s School, Ann Blanche Smith School and Hillsdale DPW (Tues-Sat or as long as supply lasts).

FREE TREE SEEDLINGS will be available during the school day on Monday April 15 outside the entrance of the above locations. Pick up for George White is on the basketball court. Any remaining seedlings for pick up will also be available at the Hillsdale DPW from April 16-April 20.

The seedlings will come with instructions on how to store, care for and where to plant them. Instructions also included on website listed below. Residents should plant the seedlings within two days after receiving them to prevent the roots from drying out.

The New Jersey Tree Recovery campaign is a partnership between the Arbor Day Foundation and the New Jersey of State Forestry Service


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Upcoming Events

Upcoming events being planned in Hillsdale:

Spring events currently being planned for the upcoming spring season are the Bi-State Clean-Up on April 27th and a sapling distribution (supplies limited) on April 15th. Stay tuned. Details to follow!

Upcoming seminar at FDU  *Free and Open to the Public* 

Handling our Trash: Getting to a Circular Carbon Economy – nfrpp.org

Americans live with waste every day — a growing problem. Recycling is one of the ways we can have a positive impact on our environment.  Recycling can also provide us with renewable sources of energy which help reduce greenhouse gases. A zero waste recycling strategy only works if we understand our shopping, consumption and disposal habits, with the goal to move toward zero trash sent to landfill and incineration.  This knowledge will not only make us better recyclers but also better voters as we help shape local, state and national environmental policy. This program will clear up confusion and address how to achieve renewable energy and a low carbon economy.

February_21__2019_Flyer


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Native Plant Garden created at Hillsdale Library

Marissa Rack & Faith Macchione have earned a  Girl Scout Silver Award for creating a native garden at the Hillsdale Library.

The native garden incorporates plants native to New Jersey and the Northeast as well as plants that encourage and sustain wildlife like Monarch butterflies.

Milkweed, asters, viburnum, coneflowers and rudbeckia are among the plants adorning the two areas the pair of scouts have created on the eastern side of the library parking lot. Thank you girls for what you have done to improve our community!


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Beechwood Cleanup

The Pascack Bible Church cleaned up and refreshed the hiking trails around Beechwood Park on June 9th and the trails have never looked better!

Thank you to all the hard working volunteers who gave their time and energy to keep one of our parks in prime shape for the upcoming summer season. We are so lucky to have such an extraordinary group of people with such energy and dedication.

We would like to take this opportunity thank them all for donating their time and energy to make our park cleaner and more attractive for everyone!


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Tree Saplings – free!

Trees are an indispensable part of our environment! Replace lost or damaged trees from winter storms or simply add more trees to your property.

Through the NJ Tree Recovery Program, free saplings will be given away at the following locations on Friday 4/20 from 10am until 4:00 pm

Ann Blanche Smith School – Hillsdale Ave, front entrance

Meadowbrook School – Piermont Ave, front entrance

George White School – Magnolia Ave, basketball court

St. Johns’s Academy – Hillsdale Ave, front entrance

 


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Environmental Cleanup 4/28/18 9am-11am

Join the Hillsdale EC, Hillsdale Scout Troops and numerous other organizations and towns in the Hackensack River Watershed as we clean our communities and waterways.

Check in anytime from 9:00-11:00 on Saturday April 28th, 2018.

Please register (especially groups) with name and approximate number of participants by email to hec@hillsdalenj.org. Pizza lunch thank you provided at noon for volunteers (please bring your own reusable water bottle). High school participants receive community service hours.


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Storm Recovery for Trees

In the aftermath of a storm, we must first take care of tree damage that poses a risk to lives and properties.  When the dust settles we must then deal with less severe tree damage caused by these increasingly violent and frequent storms. The Arbor Day Foundation has shared the following information regarding post storm recovery for our trees. Please be sure to visit their page on STORM RECOVERY FOR TREES.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For more information, contact:
Danny Cohn, 402-473-9563dcohn@arborday.org

Arbor Day Foundation Offers Post-Storm Tree Recovery Resources to Homeowners in Wake of Disaster

Lincoln, Neb. (03/12/2018) – In the wake of a storm, the first priority is to protect life, safety and property. But once the emergency response has ended, addressing damage to neighborhood trees becomes central to long-term recovery.

The Arbor Day Foundation offers resources on how to properly assess damage to trees and provide needed care through a comprehensive Storm Recovery Kit. The kit contains both written materials and videos, and broadcast-quality DVDs are available upon request.

The Foundation’s materials address the dual priorities of both responding to present disasters and becoming better prepared for future storms. Key tips include:

  • Don’t panic. If a tree is not an immediate hazard, it is usually okay to wait a few weeks or months before making your final decision.
  • Seek professionals. To find an arborist certified by the International Society of Arboriculture, visit treesaregood.org/findtreeservices/FindTreeCareService.aspx.
  • Watch out for scam artists. After a storm, it is common for people claiming to be tree specialists to show up offering their services.
  • Follow best practices. If you decide to care for a damaged tree yourself, be sure to follow proper safety precautions and best practices.
  • Prepare trees for future storms. With proper care, severe damage to trees and property can be prevented.

“Trees are assets to a community when properly planted and maintained,” said Dan Lambe, president, Arbor Day Foundation. “They help to improve the visual appeal of a neighborhood or shopping district, increase property values by up to 18%, reduce home cooling costs, remove air pollutants, and provide wildlife habitat, among many other benefits.”

The Foundation suggests hiring professionals to evaluate tree damage but be cautious of people knocking on doors offering to remove or repair your trees. Most of these door-to-door workers lack the proper training and expertise.

Continue reading →


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NJ to create more EV charging stations

Using a $10 million grant from the federal government, NJ will begin installing more charging stations for electric vehicles and marine vessels. Let us know… would you like to see charging stations here in Hillsdale?

Federal Grant to Go to EV Charging Stations, Reducing Diesel Emissions

| December 6, 2017

Nearly $10 million will be used to deploy electric-vehicle charging stations at workplaces, trimming emissions from refrigerated trucks

The state is using part of a $9.5 million federal grant to accelerate the installation of electric-vehicle charging stations at workplaces across New Jersey.

The U.S. Department of Transportation funding also is expected to provide money to reduce diesel emissions from refrigerated trucks unloading and loading shipments, as well as emissions from passenger ferries.  See more at NJSPOTLIGHT.com


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Another Asian insect, more dangerous than the Emerald Ash Borer

The Emerald Ash Borer is a pest that threatens to destroy all Ash trees in its path if left unchecked. While the debate still rages on how to handle that pest, using pesticides that may hasten bee colony collapse versus importing predatory wasps, a new more lethal insect may be on the doorstep of New Jersey. The spotted lanterfly has no known enemies, even birds do not like to eat them. But unlike the EAB, which only has an appetite for ash trees, the lanternfly enjoys pine trees, stone fruit trees (peach, plum, etc), and grape vines among the 70 species of trees it can destroy as it feeds and reproduces.

Right now, it has only been spotted in Pennsylvania. But it is nearing the New Jersey border.

See Tree-Destroying Bug article from North Jersey News, written by Scott Fallon for more information.

The discovery of the spotted lanternfly in eastern Pennsylvania has prompted a quarantine. (Photo: Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture)
A cluster of immature spotted lanternflies. (Photo: Courtesy of Penn State Extension)


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Beechwood Clean up

Beechwood Park, Hillsdale (June 3, 2017)

Thanks to the hard work of volunteers from the Pascack Bible Church and donations from Kuiken Brothers, Beechwood Park in Hillsdale has a bright refreshed look and is ready for summer! Hillsdale residents can now enjoy hiking on the freshly cleared, mulched trails and then relax for a quiet lunch using the rebuilt picnic tables as a result of a clean up done on June 3rd.

The event, sponsored by the Hillsdale Environmental Commission, is becoming a tradition. Frank Pizzella, Hillsdale Councilman and Environmental Commission Liaison, was quick to point out that this is what makes Hillsdale unique.

“It is wonderful to see the community pull together for a project like this. It is a beautiful day with special people making our community a better place. Couldn’t be nicer!”

The volunteers from Pascack Bible Church included over 50 adult and youth congregation members, some of whom also helped with planning and preparing food for the event.

Donations of the lumber used for repairs came from the efforts of Jeff Henig at Kuiken Brothers.

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