The second series of Community Meetings to be held May 9-11 will allow all interest Bergen County residents to discuss conceptual ideas for the parks using what was learned from previous public sessions & more than 2100 survey responses!
This is your opportunity to voice any ideas, concerns and desires for the future of County parks.
The Hillsdale Council, Hillsdale DPW and SiteOne Landscape Supply teamed together to replace the Centennial Tree that was lost last year from Dutch Elm disease. A new elm was planted in a different area of Veterans Park, located in the town center, during a week of Arbor Day plantings around the town.
The Hillsdale Council and Hillsdale Environmental Commission also arranged for the planting of four trees for Arbor Day celebrations at Hillsdale schools. All trees were graciously donated by SiteOne Landscape Supply of Mahwah,NJ.
Meadowbrook School received a Red Oak, George White a Pink Dogwood and St. John’s Academy planted a Purple Plum.
Pictured below is the Eastern White Pine planted at Ann Blanche Smith School where Councilman Frank Pizzella helped officiate the dedication with an inspiring speech.
TRENTON – Following months of sufficient precipitation, Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Bob Martin today lifted a drought warning for 12 of 14 counties in the northern, central and northern coastal regions of New Jersey and removed a drought watch for four counties in the southwestern part of the state.
Commissioner Martin signed an Administrative Order removing, Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Morris, Ocean, Passaic, Sussex, Union and Warren counties from drought warning status and removing Burlington, Camden, Gloucester and Salem counties from drought watch. These advisories had been in place since October.
Mitigating Deer in the Residential Landscape – 3 Alternatives for Homeowners
Fence individual plants (tubes, netting, caging plants)
Fence the perimeter (fence needs to be 6’ high or double fence spaced 4’ apart)
Electric fencing
OverPeck County Park
If you believe in keeping our Bergen County parks among the best in the state; in preserving and protecting the natural areas they contain now and in the future, we urge you to participate in the Rutgers study for the Bergen County Parks Master Plan.
OUR county parks are important to wildlife. Birds like the Bald Eagle, Osprey and Peregrine Falcon have made a comeback due in part to the protection of our park system.
OUR county parks are also important to our quality of life here in Bergen County. They are a place to enjoy nature, an area for public recreation and education, a place to provide communal spirit as well as a way to ensure open space.
Should the parks be less commercialized? More accessible? Have better amenities and improved public facilities and recreation? Please CLICK HERE FOR THE QUICK SURVEY. It is both anonymous and quick!
The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection has issued a quarantine for residents of New Jersey advising them against the transportation of wood or ash trees outside of the area of origination.
This is due to the increasing threat of the emerald ash borer and the spreading of the EAB by movement of wood while the beetle is in its pre-pupae stage. When warm weather arrives in spring, the beetle emerges, leaving behind its trademark ‘D’ shaped hole. Most of the damage done by the EAB is done in the larva stage as they feed on the tree creating winding ‘S’ shape patterns, known as galleries, under the bark.
The Emerald Ash Borer, non-native pest, is known to stay within one mile of its host tree and can survive winter temperatures down to -22 F.
Hillsdale is one of the towns in Bergen County that has confirmed EAB presence.
See our Emerald Ash Borer page for information on the quarantine as well as links to more information about the EAB.
For those who may have a cut tree for the holidays, consider this method of disposal:
After clearing tree of all decorations, place tree in a corner of your yard. There are all sorts of birds that do not migrate during the cold winter months. Cardinals, bluejays, sparrows and goldfinches (the Eastern Goldfinch is our state bird!) are just some of New Jersey’s year-round birds that need food, water and shelter in the winter. They will love having a little extra place to hang out during the cold winter months.
Next spring, needles can be composted. Despite myths, they will not acidify the soil so there is no need to worry about where you will put the resulting compost. Small branches can be mulched, chipped or used as kindling for outdoor fire pits. The larger branches and trunk can be cut and used as garden edging or in outdoor fire pits next fall. Do not use the soft wood of pine trees with indoor fireplaces since the wood is too soft and burns too quickly for this use.
It may be a little extra work come spring, but the tree will have served a useful purpose long after the holiday season is gone. Even a dead tree can be a gift that keeps on giving!
If you are still not convinced, Hillsdale will be having its Christmas tree pick up January 6th and 13th. Do NOT place your tree in a bag!
Story by : NorthJersey.com (The Record)
The people who study and repair the pipes that transport your drinking water beneath New Jersey streets want to let you know what those pipes look like these days.
It’s not pretty.
“Our folks are digging up old terra cotta and wooden pipes,” said Anthony Attanasio, executive director of the Utility and Transportation Contractors Association. “You should see some of the scary things we’ve seen – in some cases the dirt compacted around the pipes is all that’s keeping the pipes together.
“The problem is enormous, and what we feel is necessary is a statewide capital plan.”
Looking to get in one final planting before the hard frosts of December? With nurseries having deep discounts on shrubs and trees it may not be too late if you act now. After all, fall is the best time to plant new trees and shrubs. Check out the Recommended Tree List for suggestions of trees for our area.
Trees need about 6 weeks to get established before the first hard freeze. First hard freeze is defined as 4 continuous hours of 25 degrees or colder. This usually occurs in northern New Jersey mid to late December. So while planting time is running out, it’s not too late to add beauty to your home and helping the environment.
Some reasons to plant trees:
Plant this week and you will be thankful not only in the spring, but for many years to come!
Hillsdale Environmental Commission 