SustainableEHC

Egg Harbor City, NJ Green Team

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Egg Harbor City to host Doug Tallamy at Cedar Creek High School

EGG HARBOR CITY – The city will host renowned environmentalist, conservationist and author Doug Tallamy, 7 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 10 in the Dr. Adam C. Pfeffer Performing Arts Center at Cedar Creek High School, 1701 New York Ave.

“An Evening with Doug Tallamy” will include information contained in Tallamy’s most recent book, “The Nature of Oaks,” and the oak-pine forests of the NJ Pinelands National Reserve.

Tallamy, a professor of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology at University of Delaware, is the founder of Homegrown National Park, a nationwide park made up of patches of native vegetation planted in back yards across the country. He stresses the importance of the fragile relationship between insects, birds and native plants and trees in landscaping and gardening, especially oak trees that provide crucial habitat for hundreds of animal and insect species. By creating Homegrown National Park, Tallamy’s goal is to shrink lawns and create 20 million acres of native plantings in the U.S.

He is the author of best-selling books, including New York Times best-seller “Nature’s Best Hope” and “Bringing Nature Home: How You Can Sustain Wildlife with Native Plants.”

The talk is free thanks to a grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forestry Program in partnership with Hispanic Access Foundation, but registration in advance is required. CEUs will be available. Students of Cedar Creek High School are encouraged to attend.

To register, see www.sustainableehc.org. For more information, contact Nanette LoBiondo Galloway at [email protected] or 609-457-2514.

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Egg Harbor City awarded $1 million tree maintenance grant

EGG HARBOR CITY – U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced Sept. 14 that the USDA Agriculture Service has awarded more than $1 billion in grants from the Inflation Reduction Act to plant and maintain trees to combat extreme heat, climate change and to improve access to nature in cities, towns, and suburbs across the United States.

Egg Harbor City was awarded $1 million for its plan to hire a certified tree expert to provide maintenance for its aging street trees, monitor two city parks, plant trees on streets undergoing reconstruction, and develop a plan to remove invasive species from public and private lands. “We are beyond grateful for this grant award. The funding will provide a small city like ours the ability to properly maintain, restore, enhance and preserve our trees and forests for future generations to enjoy,” Mayor Lisa Jiampetti said. The U.S. Community Forestry Service awarded 385 grants from 842 applications requesting $6.4 billion in funding, an indication of the urgent need to plant and maintain urban trees across the nation. “The city’s urban tree canopy is in jeopardy because our trees are nearing the end of their lifespan, many have been removed during street reconstruction projects, and felled in major storm events,” said Councilwoman Nanette LoBiondo Galloway, who also chairs SustainableEHC, the city’s green team and who advocated to apply for the grant. “This grant will provide the city with the funding needed to hire a certified tree expert to properly trim our street trees for health, safety and beauty, extending the lifespan of still-healthy trees that were planted in the rights-of-way of our avenues more than 80 years ago.” The grant comes after the green team conducted two major tree planting projects funded by the NJ Community Forestry Service that replaced 102 trees lost in the freak derecho storm of July 2012, and a recent project that planted 67 new street trees. The grant will also fund a plan to tackle invasive tree species on public and private property, such as the Tree of Heaven (Ailanthus altissima), the host tree for the dreaded spotted lanternfly. Community education and involvement is a key component of the city’s forestry management plan. The benefits of street trees are many, Galloway said, including providing wind breaks in winter, shade for pedestrians in summer and reduced home energy costs. They also provide shelter for wildlife, reduce crime, and increase property values. “Today’s landmark funding from the U.S. Forest Service will increase urban access to nature, improve air quality, keep city streets cool during sweltering summers, tackle the climate crisis, and create safer, healthier communities in every corner of America,” Senior Advisor to the President for Clean Energy Innovation and Implementation John Podesta said. “That makes a big difference for the grandmother who doesn’t have air conditioning, or the kid who has asthma, or the parent who works outside for 10 hours a day.” The announcement is part of the Biden administration’s effort to advance environmental justice and job creation. Egg Harbor City’s allotment of funding came through the Biden administration’s Justice 40 Initiative, which reserves 40% of funding opportunities for overburdened communities. 

​​SustainableEHC is Egg Harbor City’s green team, working to preserve the environment, adopt sustainable practices in the home and support local business, industry and farming.

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The SustainableEHC green team Oct. 4 was awarded a $5,000 Atlantic City Electric Sustainable Communities grant. From left, AC Electric Director of External Affairs Kristin McEvoy, Egg Harbor City Mayor Lisa Jiampetti, Sustainable Jersey Executive Director Randall Solomon, EHC Chief Financial Officer and green team member Jodi Kahn, SustainableEHC Chairwoman Nanette LoBiondo Galloway, and SustainableEHC volunteers Michael Sheridan, Hazel Mueller and Rick Dovey.

Egg Harbor City awarded $5,000 Sustainable Communities grant

EGG HARBOR CITY – SustainableEHC, the city’s green team, Oct. 4 was awarded a $5,000 Atlantic City Electric Sustainable Communities grant.

The grant was offered to green teams in the Atlantic City Electric coverage area to support the development of environmental, open space and resiliency projects across South Jersey. 

One-time grants of up to $5,000 each, were awarded to 10 municipalities to support nature preservation, safer parks, and enhanced resiliency for local communities. This funding was made available through the Sustainable Jersey program and awarded at a breakfast meeting for grant recipients hosted at the Teamsters 331 Union Hall in Egg Harbor City.

“We are so pleased to help our local communities bring these projects to fruition and to support in ways that will have lasting impacts on not only the community, but the environment as well,” Atlantic City Electric Director of External Affairs Kristin McEvoy said. “We remain steadfast in our climate goals and recognize supporting our communities through these grants will foster a cleaner and safer environment.”

SustainableEHC will use the grant to continue upgrades to City Lake Park by cleaning up the north shore area of the park, restoring the historic Sibbel Shaler gravesite and providing interpretive signage about the cultural and historical significance of the Shaler family.

“In our work to help communities thrive in the face of a changing climate, these funded projects will build local resilience and preserve natural resources,” Sustainable Jersey Executive Director Randall Solomon said. “We're excited to partner with the Atlantic City Electric to produce actionable steps that address the state’s climate challenges and support a sustainable New Jersey.”

This year, Atlantic City Electric and Sustainable Jersey also awarded grants to the following municipalities:

Atlantic City ($5,000) – The grant will be used to support the development of the open space and recreation element of the City’s master plan.

Somers Point City ($5,000) – The grant will be used to update the landscaping and playground at local senior citizen center, including a temperature moderation project.

Commercial Township ($5,000) – The grant will be used to purchase an osprey nature sign at the local park.

Maurice River Township ($5,000) – The grant will be used to construct and install two large shade structures for the Delmont and Port Elizabeth Recreation areas.

Deptford Township ($5,000) – The grant will be used to restore and rehabilitate the Fasola Park steps.

East Greenwich Township ($5,000) – The grant will be used to redevelop Mickleton Park by removing invasive plants and develop a native plant nursey.

Upper Pittsgrove Township ($5,000) – The grant will be used to enhance signage along Elephant Swamp Trail to improve safety and cleanliness of the trail and guide residents to connecting trails and parks.

Medford Township ($5,000) – The grant will be used to develop a weather station and begin the second phase of a lightening detection system in the township to prepare residents for severe weather, save lives and reduce storm damage.

Long Beach Township ($5,000) – The grant will be used to build a resilience and restoration demonstration display.

The Sustainable Communities Grant program is part of Atlantic City Electric’s Climate Commitment, a multi-faceted, action-oriented effort to help the state of New Jersey achieve its clean energy and climate goals. To date, Atlantic City Electric has provided $275,000 in grants supporting environmental, open space and resiliency efforts in the communities it serves.

More information on the Sustainable Communities Grant Program is available at atlanticcityelectric.com/SustainableCommunities.

To learn more about Atlantic City Electric, visit The Source, Atlantic City Electric’s online newsroom. 

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The SustainableEHC green team Oct. 4 was awarded a $5,000 Atlantic City Electric Sustainable Communities grant. From left, AC Electric Director of External Affairs Kristin McEvoy, Egg Harbor City Mayor Lisa Jiampetti, Sustainable Jersey Executive Director Randall Solomon, EHC Chief Financial Officer and green team member Jodi Kahn, SustainableEHC Chairwoman Nanette LoBiondo Galloway, and SustainableEHC volunteers Michael Sheridan, Hazel Mueller and Rick Dovey.

Egg Harbor City awarded $5,000 Sustainable Communities grant

EGG HARBOR CITY – SustainableEHC, the city’s green team, Oct. 4 was awarded a $5,000 Atlantic City Electric Sustainable Communities grant.

The grant was offered to green teams in the Atlantic City Electric coverage area to support the development of environmental, open space and resiliency projects across South Jersey. 

One-time grants of up to $5,000 each, were awarded to 10 municipalities to support nature preservation, safer parks, and enhanced resiliency for local communities. This funding was made available through the Sustainable Jersey program and awarded at a breakfast meeting for grant recipients hosted at the Teamsters 331 Union Hall in Egg Harbor City.

“We are so pleased to help our local communities bring these projects to fruition and to support in ways that will have lasting impacts on not only the community, but the environment as well,” Atlantic City Electric Director of External Affairs Kristin McEvoy said. “We remain steadfast in our climate goals and recognize supporting our communities through these grants will foster a cleaner and safer environment.”

SustainableEHC will use the grant to continue upgrades to City Lake Park by cleaning up the north shore area of the park, restoring the historic Sibbel Shaler gravesite and providing interpretive signage about the cultural and historical significance of the Shaler family.

“In our work to help communities thrive in the face of a changing climate, these funded projects will build local resilience and preserve natural resources,” Sustainable Jersey Executive Director Randall Solomon said. “We're excited to partner with the Atlantic City Electric to produce actionable steps that address the state’s climate challenges and support a sustainable New Jersey.”

This year, Atlantic City Electric and Sustainable Jersey also awarded grants to the following municipalities:

Atlantic City ($5,000) – The grant will be used to support the development of the open space and recreation element of the City’s master plan.

Somers Point City ($5,000) – The grant will be used to update the landscaping and playground at local senior citizen center, including a temperature moderation project.

Commercial Township ($5,000) – The grant will be used to purchase an osprey nature sign at the local park.

Maurice River Township ($5,000) – The grant will be used to construct and install two large shade structures for the Delmont and Port Elizabeth Recreation areas.

Deptford Township ($5,000) – The grant will be used to restore and rehabilitate the Fasola Park steps.

East Greenwich Township ($5,000) – The grant will be used to redevelop Mickleton Park by removing invasive plants and develop a native plant nursey.

Upper Pittsgrove Township ($5,000) – The grant will be used to enhance signage along Elephant Swamp Trail to improve safety and cleanliness of the trail and guide residents to connecting trails and parks.

Medford Township ($5,000) – The grant will be used to develop a weather station and begin the second phase of a lightening detection system in the township to prepare residents for severe weather, save lives and reduce storm damage.

Long Beach Township ($5,000) – The grant will be used to build a resilience and restoration demonstration display.

The Sustainable Communities Grant program is part of Atlantic City Electric’s Climate Commitment, a multi-faceted, action-oriented effort to help the state of New Jersey achieve its clean energy and climate goals. To date, Atlantic City Electric has provided $275,000 in grants supporting environmental, open space and resiliency efforts in the communities it serves.

More information on the Sustainable Communities Grant Program is available at atlanticcityelectric.com/SustainableCommunities.

To learn more about Atlantic City Electric, visit The Source, Atlantic City Electric’s online newsroom. 

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SustainableEHC awarded operational grant funds

EGG HARBOR CITY – SustainableEHC, the city’s green team, has been awarded a $2,000 Sustainable Jersey grant funded through the PSEG Foundation. Egg Harbor City is one of 57 New Jersey municipalities to receive funds in this year’s round of funding.

Five $20,000 grants, 12 $10,000 grants and 40 $2,000 grants were distributed to recipients across 17 New Jersey counties for sustainability projects.

Egg Harbor City will use its funds to establish an e-newsletter to keep residents informed about community projects, events and opportunities, such as participating in a local community solar project that provides discounts on the cost of electricity. The green team also plans to update its Brownfields inventory and address animals in the community by partnering with the Atlantic County Humane Society to provide a low-cost chipping clinic.

The newly formed Port Republic Green Team also received a $2,000 start-up grant and will use a portion of its funding to create a community mural. Go Green Galloway was awarded a $10,000 grant to remove invasive species and create a pollinator garden at an underutilized park on Route 9.

“These sustainability projects will strengthen New Jersey by helping local communities become more livable, environmentally friendly and prosperous,” Sustainable Jersey Executive Director Randall Solomon said in a release.

“PSEG cares about people and the planet, which is why we’re so proud to be a prime supporter of Sustainable Jersey,” PSEG Foundation President Calvin Ledford said, noting that the PSEG Foundation has contributed $3.1 million dollars in funding to the Sustainable Jersey grants program over the past 12 years.

For more information or to join the effort to create a more sustainable community, see www.sustainableehc.org, SustainableEHC on Facebook, or call Chairwoman Nanette LoBiondo Galloway at 609-965-5681.

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POSTPONED Belated Arbor Day Tree Planting

EGG HARBOR CITY - SustainableEHC, the city’s green team, will be having a belated Arbor Day Celebration, 11 a.m. Saturday, May 20 at Peace Pilgrim Park, 500-block London Ave.

The public is invited to join the team in planting a river birch tree near the serpentine creek in the park. River birch trees like to be near water and can be found in nature along streams and rivers in New Jersey.

The team will also be replanting the Mighty Salem Oak tree sapling in a larger vessel next door at City Hall. 

The oak sapling was presented to the city two years ago and is the progeny of the 500-year-old white oak tree that grew in a cemetery in Salem County. The the tree toppled over, mostly from old age, and the  New Jersey Forestry Service collected the acorns and planted them at a nursery. Saplings from the tree were presented to every municipalities in New Jersey.

When Egg Harbor City’s oak tree matures, it will be transplanted to an appropriate location where it can grow and provide beauty and shade, hopefully for as many years as its parent.

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Egg Harbor City residents invited to tap their own maple trees

EGG HARBOR CITY – City residents are invited to participate in Stockton University’s ongoing Maple Project.

The program to tap hundreds of maple trees at the Galloway Township campus started three years ago and was funded with two grants from the U.S. Department of Agriculture totaling $900,000.

The sap, which looks and tastes like water, is boiled down to syrup consistency at the campus “sugar shack.” Stockton plans to sell its locally harvested maple syrup this year.

Last year, the university expanded it outreach to Cedar Creek High School and the REACH program at the Egg Harbor City Community School, where students are tapping trees to turn sap into maple syrup.

Now, residents who have sugar or red maples on their properties are being invited to participate in the program at no cost.

Residents will be provided with collection buckets and taps. The trees should have a minimum diameter of 6 inches. Participants are required to record yields and allow a Stockton research assistant to sample soil and vegetation at the property. The tapping process includes drilling a hole 1.5 inches deep to accommodate a tube, which allows the sap to flow into a food safe container.

Trees must be tapped during the winter season from Jan. 1 to March 31 when evening temperatures drop below freezing and the days are warmer.

Anyone interested in tapping their own maple trees can sign up at sustainableehc.org.

For more information, contact Mayor Lisa Jiampetti at [email protected]

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NJ State Forester John Sacco and SustainableEHC Chairwoman Nanette LoBiondo Galloway

SustainableEHC receives state recognition for planting trees

CHERRY HILL – SustainableEHC, Egg Harbor City’s green team, was recognized Oct. 13 by the NJ Community Forestry Council and NJ Forest Service for improving the city’s environment by planting trees in the community.

NJ State Forester John Sacco presented the Urban and Community Forestry Achievement Award during the 97th annual Shade Tree Federation Conference held at the Doubletree Hotel by Hilton in Cherry Hill. More than 500 people attended the conference to share information about caring for the state’s trees and forests.

SustainableEHC received a beautiful handmade wooden plaque made by woodworker Steve Owens, for “improving the environment through wise management and a self-sustaining local UCF program for trees and forests.

The green team secured $30,000 in funding from the NJ Community Forestry program to replace 102 trees lost in the freak derecho storm of 2012 and it is currently in the midst of planting 67 street trees with a second grant totaling $30,000. The tree plantings fulfill the recommendations in the city’s third Community Forestry Management Plan.

“SustainableEHC is grateful to be recognized for its care and concern about preserving and protecting the city’s existing tree canopy,” SustainableEHC Chairwoman Nanette LoBiondo Galloway said. “While these tree planting projects are not without challenges, it is important for us to educate the public about the importance of trees and their effects on the well-being of citizens.”

Other communities and organizations receiving awards include Sustainable Jersey City for “enhancing beauty and sustainability in NJ with programs and projects for trees and forests"; and NJ Audubon for “improving the environment in NJ's communities through education and wise management of all trees and forest resources.” Don Donnelly of NJ Audubon also received an NJUCF Achievement Award for "exceptional effort and contributions to the field of forestry.”

In addition to the NJUCF Achievement Awards, NJUCF also recognized West Cape May Shade Tree Commission Emeritus Todd J. Land for his lifelong commitment to tree planting and conservation. 

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Egg Harbor City receives grant to establish nature trail at City Lake Park

HAMMONTON – Egg Harbor City was one of 15 South Jersey communities to receive an Atlantic City Electric Sustainable Communities grant at an awards ceremony held Sept.30 at Hammonton Canoe Club.

Representatives of Atlantic City Electric and grant administrator Sustainable Jersey presented a total of $75,000 to municipalities for their work in environmental stewardship and resiliency. Grants were awarded for open space preservation, improvements to parks and recreation and environmental conservation. Egg Harbor City received $5,000 to establish a nature trail at City Lake Park.

“We are very grateful to receive the 2022 Sustainable Communities Environmental Stewardship grant funded by Sustainable Jersey and Atlantic City Electric to create a Nature Trail at Egg Harbor City Lake Park. It is the third time our partners at Atlantic City Electric have stepped forward to fund projects that benefit the environment and improve recreational opportunities for our residents and visitors,” Egg Harbor City Mayor Lisa Jiampetti said.

Atlantic City Electric previously awarded Egg Harbor City a $10,000 resiliency grant to shore up the bulkhead at City Lake Park, and a $5,000 stewardship grant to install signage identifying 16 different species of trees at Lincoln Park.

SustainableEHC applied for the grant after team member Michael Sheridan submitted a written proposal to establish markings to identify cultural resources along a 3-mile trail in the southeast section of the 400-acre park. The project includes a head-of-trail kiosk, signage, installation of rustic benches in a sandy clearing, planting trees, and revegetating areas stripped away by ATV riding.

Jiampetti commended the green team for “brainstorming outstanding projects that enable our residents to get outdoors, relax and enjoy nature. Outdoor recreation is critical to maintaining health, wellness, and balance during these uncertain times.”

Atlantic City Electric Region President Doug Mokoid said the company is committed to helping communities achieve “our collective climate goals.”

“This program is an extension of that commitment and just one of the many ways we are taking a leadership role in helping to foster a cleaner and safer environment for us all,” he said.  

Atlantic City Electric launched the Sustainable Communities Grant Program in 2020 with Sustainable Jersey administering the grants to local communities.

“As we experience the devastating effects of extreme weather and a changing climate on New Jersey communities, these grants support projects that build up local climate resilience and preserve our natural resources,” Sustainable Jersey Executive Director Randall Solomon said. “We value our partnership with Atlantic City Electric and the investment is making a difference in a sustainable New Jersey.”

To learn more about the communities receiving funding, see https://www.sustainablejersey.com/news/social-media/news-single-view/?tx_news_pi1%5Bnews%5D=426&tx_news_pi1%5Bcontroller%5D=News&tx_news_pi1%5Baction%5D=detail&cHash=294482d0674feff54e047b4074cf769a

To learn more about Atlantic City Electric’s Sustainable Communities Grants, see https://www.atlanticcityelectric.com/SafetyCommunity/Community/Pages/Environment.aspx

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Three Atlantic County communities unite for Shredding Event

EGG HARBOR CITY – Three Atlantic County communities are collaborating on a Shredding Event scheduled for 9 a.m. to noon, Saturday, Nov. 5 or until truck is full to help residents safely dispose of sensitive unwanted documents. Residents are encouraged to protect themselves from identity theft by bringing old documents and papers to the site for shredding and recycling.

Residents of Egg Harbor City, Mullica Township and Port Republic can bring personal documents to the shredding machine set up in the parking lot of the old Crossfire Bar and Grill on the White Horse Pike (Rt. 30) and New York Avenue in Egg Harbor City.

Only personal/confidential documents may be shredded. Remove clips or wires. No businesses permitted. Magazines should be recycled curbside. All trash, plastic bags or containers must be returned home. No registration required.

The event is partially funded through the NJ Clean Communities and Recycling Tonnage programs.

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SustainableEHC Green Drinks

SustainableEHC is hosting a Green Drinks event 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 13 at Firehouse Bar & Grill, 105 Philadelphia Ave., EHC.

Join like-minded individuals for a social event. Only the conversation is green. 

Food & drinks are on your own. Firehouse will provide a small bite.

Let is know if you are coming. See sustainableehc.org, SustainableEHC on Facebook or call 609-457-2514.

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Egg Harbor City awarded $25,000 Energy Planning Grant

EGG HARBOR CITY – The city is one of 46 New Jersey municipalities to be awarded a Community Energy Planning Grant by the NJ Board of Public Utilities through the Sustainable Jersey program.

The BPU June 8 awarded $820,000 to municipalities to create energy plans that combat climate change and save money on the cost of energy. Twenty-four of the 46 municipalities are considered “overburdened” and received the maximum award of $25,000, including Atlantic City and Pleasantville. Other municipalities received $10,000 awards.

“This grant award will help Egg Harbor City create a long-term plan that meets the needs of our unique community,” Mayor Lisa Jiampetti said. “We greatly appreciate receiving this funding from the Board of Public Utilities to help us reach our energy goals.”

SustainableEHC Chairwoman Nanette LoBiondo Galloway and Chief Financial Officer Jodi Kahn applied for the grant after attending several online training sessions.

“Strategies to be investigated in the plan include EV charging stations, greening our municipal fleet, reducing emissions, solar and geothermal installations, green building and zoning, microgrid sharing, and most importantly, helping residents maximize their energy efficiency to reduce their monthly energy bills,” Galloway said.

The city will have 18 months to complete the plan. The program was designed to help municipalities align their energy goals with the state’s Energy Master Plan, which provides a roadmap for New Jersey to achieve 100% clean energy by the year 2050.

“Municipalities have tremendous authority over our energy future,” said Randall Solomon of Sustainable Jersey, which provides technical assistance to grant recipients.

The city will contract with an engineering firm to do the investigation and planning document. The process will also include engaging the community through outreach and educational campaigns.

Since its inception in 2009, SustainableEHC has secured nearly $110,000 in outside funding for sustainability projects, including solar, resiliency, stewardship and tree planting grants, and to support green team operations.

For more information or to become part of the SustainableEHC movement, see sustainableehc.org or call 609-457-2514.

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Egg Harbor City plans Arbor Day Celebration

EGG HARBOR CITY – SustainableEHC, the city’s green team, is planning an Arbor Day Celebration 3-5 p.m. Friday, April 29 at Lincoln Park, Rt. 30 and Buffalo Avenue.

The celebration commemorates Arbor Day, which encourages Americans to plant trees and focus on the environment. The Arbor Day Foundation is celebrating 50 years of planting trees that provide shade, clean the air, filter stormwater, and provide a habitat for wildlife.

The celebration includes the unveiling of signage identifying 16 different tree species growing in Lincoln Park. The tree identification project was funded through the support of Atlantic City Electric, an Exelon company, through its grant administrator Sustainable Jersey.

Participants will be able to tour the park and learn about the trees before selecting a species to plant on their own properties. Horticulture Program Associate Belinda Chester of Rutgers Cooperative Extension in Atlantic County will conduct a talk about the benefits of planting native trees and plants and avoiding invasive species.

Summersweet Native Plants, Earth First Native Plant Nursery and Fairacres Organic Produce will be selling native plants and vegetables. Additionally, SustainableEHC will be sharing information about how to obtain a street tree for the city’s fall tree planting campaign, and the Egg Harbor City Garden Club will be sharing information about upcoming gardening projects. Grubbin’ Gringos food truck will also be onsite during the event.

Arbor Day would not be complete without a tree planting but due to current drought conditions, SustainableEHC will postpone planting a tree in the park until the fall planting season.

For more information, see sustainableehc.org, or call 6009-457-2514.

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Nominate your property or block for new street trees

EGG HARBOR CITY – Residents can nominate their property or block for new street trees to be planted in the fall, thanks to a grant from the NJ Urban and Community Forestry program.

Residents on streets effected by past road reconstruction projects were given first priority to obtain street trees. Now it’s your turn to nominate your property or street for trees.

“Because we have lost so many of our aging street trees due to old age and extreme weather events, some of our streets are devoid of street trees in certain areas,” SustainableEHC Chairwoman Nanette LoBiondo Galloway said.

The SustainableEHC green team is working to preserve the beauty and character of the city’s tree-lined streets and has been awarded $30,000 to replace some of the trees lost over the last 10 years.

“Street trees not only provide beauty and a home for birds and wildlife, they also help clean the air of toxins, absorb rainwater and reduce home energy costs,” Galloway said.

It is the second tree-planting grant the forestry service has awarded to the city. In 2017, the city was awarded a similar grant to plant 109 trees lost in the freak derecho storm of 2012. New trees were planted along New York Avenue leading to Cedar Creek High School, around the high school, and at the Charles L. Spragg School and Lincoln Park.

Residents can request a street tree to be planted along the curb line in front of their property or talk to their neighbors to nominate their block. In an effort to plant the right tree in the right location, a pre-approved list of mostly native trees that offer spring blossoms or fall color includes small, medium and large species appropriate for the location. Trees will be planted depending on the location and availability.

Requests must be submitted no later than April 30. Download the application at sustainableehc.org where you will find more information about trees and other green team activities. Questions? Call 609-457-2514.

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Egg Harbor City awarded second $30,000 tree planting grant

EGG HARBOR CITY – SustainableEHC, the city’s green team, has announced that Egg Harbor City is the recipient of a second $30,000 New Jersey Forestry Service Urban and Community Forestry Stewardship grant to plant new trees on city streets. It is the second tree planting grant the city has received from the Forestry Service.

The first grant totaling $30,000 was received in 2015 to plant 109 trees lost during the freak derecho storm of 2012. In that round of funding, trees were planted at Lincoln Park, the Charles L. Spragg Elementary School, Cedar Creek High School and along New York Avenue leading to the high school.

“These grants provide municipalities and counties with funds to assist with the implementation of forestry goals and objectives,” said Michael Martini of the Forestry Service.

“This grant will allow us to replant approximately 100 of the 200 street trees that were removed during road reconstruction projects over the last 10 years,” SustainableEHC Chairwoman Nanette LoBiondo Galloway said. “Affected residents will have the option of having a new tree planted in the right-of-way in front of their homes.”

Galloway said the city will conduct a mail survey of affected homeowners over the winter months to determine where the trees will be planted. Residents on the 500-block of Cincinnati Avenue, 600-block of Chicago Avenue, 200-blocks of San Francisco and London avenues, and the 100-blocks of Boston and London avenues will have the choice of a street tree species on the city’s pre-approved tree list and may select up to two trees based on conditions at the site. Plantings will take place in the fall of 2022.

The project will help the city maintain its existing tree canopy, a goal the green team has supported for years. Many of the city’s existing street trees are nearing the end of their lifespans and will need to be replaced as they are lost due to storms or disease, Galloway said.

Replacing street trees complies with the city’s effort toward sustainability, reducing its carbon footprint and enabling effective stormwater management. It also prevents the heat island effect and reduces energy costs for homeowners.

“The beauty of Egg Harbor City’s tree-lined streets must be preserved,” Mayor Lisa Jiampetti said thanking the NJ Forestry Service for supporting the city’s tree cover goal. “These tree planting projects will enhance the social, economic, visual and environmental well-being of our community.”

Some of the goals of the planting project are to diversify the city’s street tree species, educate the public about the benefits of planting trees, and promoting tree stewardship.

The city was also recently awarded a $5,000 Atlantic City Electric Resiliency Grant to label mature trees in Lincoln Park, located on the White Horse Pike near the NJ Transit rail station. The signage will contain the tree’s common and Latin names and list its properties and natural habitat. Labeling the trees will help residents decide which tree species they would like to plant on their properties.

The green team will also create a color brochure containing information about the various tree species, many of which are native to New Jersey, and hold an Arbor Day tree planting and tour of Lincoln Park on the last Friday in April 2022.

Residents can request a tree by emailing [email protected]. Learn more at sustainableehc.org.

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BagUp NJ’s ‘Skip the Straw’ law goes into effect Nov. 4

TRENTON –– A provision of New Jersey’s commitment to reduce plastics pollution statewide will take effect on Thursday, Nov. 4 when food-service businesses may provide single-use plastic straws to a customer only upon request, the Department of Environmental Protection and NJ Business Action Center announced Wednesday.

Food-service businesses includes all restaurants, convenience stores and fast-food businesses, each of which must also educate their employees and customers about the restriction. Consumers will still be able to purchase packages of straws and beverages prepackaged with a straw, such as juice boxes, after Nov. 4.

The restriction on single-use plastic straws is part of a broader state law enacted in 2020 banning the sale or provision of single-use plastic carryout bags from stores and food-service businesses, single-use paper carryout bags from grocery stores larger than or equal to 2,500 square feet, and use of polystyrene foam food-service products. These additional provisions of the law take effect on May 4, 2022 and will supersede any established local laws at that time.

“When we move beyond single-use plastics, we can reduce our reliance on the fossil fuels that create plastic, remove a source of litter from our communities, and protect wild and marine life from the harm of ingesting or becoming entangled in plastic products,” DEP Commissioner Shawn M. LaTourette said.

The DEP, NJ Business Action Center and the NJ Clean Communities Council are working together to help businesses and communities understand and comply with the law. A new website at www.nj.gov/dep/plastic-ban-law/ includes helpful information for regulated entities, including a Frequently Asked Questions page, a list of establishments and how the law impacts them, a copy of the law, and more.

Additionally, the NJ Business Action Center has created a clearinghouse at https://business.nj.gov/bags/vendorclearinghouse to aid businesses in identifying vendors and manufacturers who sell the reusable carryout bags permitted by the new law.

To learn more about the Clean Communities Council’s Bag Up NJ campaign, visit www.bagupnj.com.

[sustainableehc]

They’re here…the dreaded spotted lanternfly!

EGG HARBOR CITY – The invasive spotted lanternfly has made its way from where it was first cited in Pennsylvania all the way to the shores of Absecon Island.

Attend a Zoom meeting 6 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 26 to learn more about this beautiful but deadly insect and what you can do to protect NJ crops and vineyards. Belinda Chester of Rutgers Cooperative Extension Master Gardener program will present information and answer questions.

Email info@sustainableehc to obtain meeting access information or call 609-457-2514.