Adopt a Spot
Environmental Commission
Adopt-A-Spot
CUB SCOUT PACK 207 ADOPTS THE HIGHLAND WOODS ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION RESERVE
(South Plainfield, May 30.) Brian Wilson, Den Leader of Cub Scout Pack 207, Franklin School, has signed a new agreement with the South Plainfield Clean Business Association to adopt the Nature Center at the Highland Woods Nature Reserve. For the past year, Pack 207 has shared the care of the Woods with the Pender Family. The Pack, which has 55 members to draw on, will continue to remove all litter from around the Nature Center, to keep the entranceway inviting. Working on the last Saturday of every month, ten – thirty cub scouts and adults will walk the trails, removing litter and clearing the trails of fallen branches, to ensure the trails are safe for hiking and nature study.
The Nature Center, at 115 Sylvania Place, is at the Nature Reserve trail head. The Reserve is a wooded area nestled behind the residential neighborhood from Carmine Avenue to Highland Avenue off New Market, and the industrial properties on South Clinton Avenue. Two streams flow through it and the trail system offers visitors a chance to see wildflowers and wildlife in a variety of forest habitats.
Many studies have shown that litter can be very harmful to animals. They may become entangled, may be injured on sharp objects, and some may mistake various plastic items for food. As one of the few natural areas left in South Plainfield, the Nature Reserve needs to be maintained as a safe refuge for wildlife as well as for the human members of the community.
For more information about the Adopt-A-Spot program, contact the Clean Communities Coordinator at (908) 226-7621 or e-mail atempel@southplainfieldnj.com .
BOURBEAU FAMILY RENEWS ADOPT-A-SPOT CONTRACT
(South Plainfield, March 29.) Ms. Mary Ann Bourbeau has renewed her family’s Adopt-A-Spot agreement with the South Plainfield Clean Business Association for the coming two years. They will continue to do litter cleanups along the stream that crosses Tompkins Avenue near Maltby Avenue. Their cleanups include clearing debris from the street curbs and storm drains as well as from the surrounding open space area.
The Bourbeau Family first joined the CBA’s Adopt-A-Spot program in 2009. They became interested in adopting this spot after seeing the work the Zielinski Family was doing further down the road in the Tompkins Avenue Open Space Parcel. They noted how quickly litter can accumulate and spoil the appearance of otherwise pleasant wooded areas, and how regular cleanups can make a real difference in the neighborhood.
The adopted spot is part of a stream that runs through neighborhood backyards and wooded, vacant land from the Plainfield border past Baker Avenue and Tooz Place. It is piped underground, and joins with another stream before emerging through an outfall into Walnut Street Park. The Bourbeau’s work upstream removes litter before it can wash into the stream bed in the park.
The CBA is looking for more adopters for parks and open spaces. Walnut Street Park and Shadyside Park are available for adoption. For more information about the Adopt-A-Spot program, contact the Clean Communities Coordinator at (908) 226-7621 or e-mail atempel@southplainfieldnj.com
T. ROBAK ASSOCIATES RENEWS ADOPT-A-SPOT CONTRACT
(South Plainfield, February 23.) Mr. Terrence Robak has renewed his Adopt-A-Spot agreement with the South Plainfield Clean Business Association for the next two years. He will continue to clean debris and litter from the Borough’s Open Space parcel on Belmont Avenue between Arlington Avenue and Tremont Avenue. This plot of forested wetlands absorbs stormwater, noise and carbon dioxide, and provides oxygen, shade and wildlife habitat. Unfortunately, like most undeveloped land in New Jersey, it also attracts litter and illegal dumping.
Mr. Robak first approached the CBA about adopting this spot in 2010, after participating in the South Plainfield Business Association’s adoption of the Lakeview Overpass. He has improved the parcel considerably since then, patrolling regularly and picking up litter as it appears. Adopt-A-Spot volunteers often find that keeping an area clean reduces the amount of new litter.
The CBA is looking for more adopters for open space locations. The Open Space area on the other side of Belmont Avenue, and the vacant land between Garfield and Wooden Avenues are available for adoption.
For more information about the Adopt-A-Spot program, contact the Clean Communities Coordinator at (908) 226-7621 or e-mail atempel@southplainfieldnj.com .
ROSEO FAMILY RENEWS ADOPT-A-SPOT CONTRACT
(December 19, 2017) Lisa Roseo has renewed her Adopt-A-Spot agreement with the South Plainfield Clean Business Association for the next two years. She and her family have been maintaining Morris Avenue and the stream crossing at Cedarbrook Avenue for the last twelve years. They will continue doing cleanups at least quarterly along the roadside and the adjacent field and forest.
This wooded area near Riley School and the Senior Residence attracts litter and illegal dumping, so it is important to have regular cleanups. Studies have shown that litter attracts more litter, but clean places tend to stay clean. The stream crossing has also been adopted by the Cedarcroft Bible Chapel, which does their cleanups in alternate months.
Mrs. Roseo is an associate member of the Environmental Commission as well as the commission secretary. She helps organize Volunteer Litter Cleanup Week every spring. She and her family join in all the town-wide cleanups and trail maintenance events at the Highland Woods nature reserve, in addition to maintaining their adopted spot.
The CBA is looking for more adopters for roadsides and open spaces. New Market Avenue and Belmont Avenue Open Space are available for adoption. For more information about the Adopt-A-Spot program, contact the Clean Communities Coordinator at (908) 226-7621 or e-mail atempel@southplainfieldnj.com .
AUSTIN FAMILY RENEWS ADOPT-A-SPOT CONTRACT
(South Plainfield, November 20.) Ms. Elizabeth Austin has renewed the Austin Family’s Adopt-A-Spot agreement with the South Plainfield Clean Business Association for the coming two years. She and her son will continue to do monthly litter cleanups along Plainfield Avenue between Maple Avenue and the 7-11 at the corner of Sampton Avenue.
In renewing the contract, Ms. Austin noted that they are finding much less litter now than when they first began doing their cleanups. Possibly this is supporting evidence for the hypothesis that steady litter removal reduces the amount of new litter. People are less likely to litter in a clean area than in a dirty space.
The Austin Family first joined the CBA’s Adopt-A-Spot program in 2006. They have played an important role in maintaining the streetscape in this busy part of town. Borough municipal facilities flank the County’s Spring Lake Park. Ms. Austin volunteered to adopt the area because so many residents pass along this route, and visitors form their impression of the Borough here.
The CBA is looking for more adopters for roadsides in the downtown area. South Plainfield Avenue and Oak Tree Avenue attract litter. Another street that needs attention is the stretch of Plainfield Avenue between Sampton Avenue and the Middle School. For more information about the Adopt-A-Spot program, contact the Clean Communities Coordinator at (908) 226-7621 or e-mail atempel@southplainfieldnj.com .
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CUB PACK 224 ADOPTS VETERANS PARK
Emily Raphel , new Cubmaster of Cub Scout Pack 224 Riley School, has signed a new agreement with the South Plainfield Clean Business Association to remove litter from Veterans Park. The park offers various amenities: a picnic area, playground, basketball, softball and soccer fields; so, there is something going on there in most seasons. And in New Jersey it seems that when people congregate for nearly any purpose, they leave litter in their wake.
As many as twenty cub scouts and adults will walk the park on the first Sunday of each month. They will survey the grounds and equipment for any needed repairs, and notify the Recreation Department. They will remove litter, recyclables and trash from the woods line, grounds and parking lot. The park lies between the Cedar Brook and the Bound Brook, so litter removal is especially important to prevent floatables from washing into the streams. Plastic pollution in streams and lakes damages the aquatic environment. Litter carried downstream can end up in the ocean, threatening wildlife.
Veterans Park is part of the civic center of the Borough, adjacent to the Senior Center and the Fireman’s Memorial. CBA President Joe Diegnan is happy to have this Spot included in the network of adoptions in this area. If many groups each take responsibility for a small segment of the Borough, the town stays a clean, attractive place to live and work with less cost to the taxpayer.
For more information about the Adopt-A-Spot program, contact the Clean Communities Coordinator at (908) 226-7621 or e-mail atempel@southplainfieldnj.com . 
NU XI OMEGA CHAPTER OF AKA SORORITY ADOPTS PUTNAM PARK
(South Plainfield, August 31.) Ms. Tanya Clifton-White, Environmental Ownership Chairman of the Nu Xi Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., has signed an agreement with the South Plainfield Clean Business Association to adopt Putnam Park for one year. Ten or more people will collect litter and vegetative debris from the grounds. The group is also prepared to clean playground equipment, paint structures when needed and plant flowers and trees. The agreement is for quarterly cleanups.
Nu Xi Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. is a graduate chapter dedicated to upholding the standards of its parent organization, which was founded in 1908 at Howard University by nine students and now has 290,000 members. Nu Xi Omega has served Somerset and Middlesex Counties since 1980. Its members range from recent college graduates to those with more than 50 years of dedicated service. In 2001 Nu Xi Omega established P.E.A.R.L.S. Inc. (Pursue Education and Really Learn Something), the charitable arm of the organization that provides scholarships to local high school students and benefits the community through global community outreach initiatives in educational enrichment, health promotion, family strengthening, environmental ownership and global impact.
A key part of the Environmental Ownership target is “Restore, Refresh and Renew,” and South Plainfield’s Adopt-a-Spot program is a perfect fit. The goal of the initiative is for local chapters such as Nu Xi Omega to adopt a playground to improve within their community. The target is 1,908 playgrounds globally.
CBA President Joe Diegnan is happy to have Putnam Park find a Sponsor again, as it has been on its own since the Pilgrim Covenant Church had to give it up some years ago. This park, situated adjacent to two large shopping centers, is subject to a constant input of wind-blown trash from outside its fences in addition to the litter from those using the park.
For more information about the Adopt-A-Spot program, contact the Clean Communities Coordinator at (908) 226-7621 or e-mail atempel@southplainfieldnj.com .
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