Historic Long Street Farm, Holmdel. Photo Source: Amber Mallm

Monmouth County Environmental Newsletter:  Spring 2022

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Bill Errickson Named Educator of the Year

Monmouth County Rutgers Cooperative Extension Agricultural Agent, Bill Errickson (left), was honored at the 2021 New Jersey Nursery and Landscape Association (NJNLA) Awards Dinner. Photo Source: Rutgers University

The New Jersey Landscape Contractors Association recognized Bill Errickson, Monmouth County Rutgers Cooperative Extension Agricultural Agent, as Educator of the Year. 

Read the full story to learn about Errickson's accomplishments. In a statement  provided to the School of Environmental and Biological Sciences/NJ Agriculture Experiment Station Newsroom, Errickson shared this, "My long-term goals involve supporting the New Jersey nursery and landscape industries in their efforts to promote native plants and sustainable landscaping practices that reduce inputs while increasing the bottom line. These green industries have tremendous potential to not only improve the aesthetics of our landscapes, but also to restore and enhance the biodiversity and ecological functions of the entire state."

Addressing Range Anxiety to Encourage Electric Vehicles 

The NJ Public Electric Charging Locator maps includes details on the 650 public charging stations throughout the State. 

In a recent Yale Insights article,  Kenneth Gillingham, Professor of Environmental & Energy Economics, Yale School of the Environment, discussed ways to encourage electric vehicle usage including increasing electric vehicle charging stations. Prof. Gillingham acknowledged that people can be resistant to purchase an electric vehicle due to "range anxiety," the fear of running out of power, being unable to find a charging station and the time it takes to recharge.

There are many initiatives to increase charging stations and reduce range anxiety in New Jersey. The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection's Drive Green initiative offers a host of information to address some of the common concerns regarding electric vehicles including a breakdown on different chargers and resources to aid in installing charging stations at public, at workplaces, single family, and multifamily residential sites.  NJDEP also launched an Electric Vehicle Charging Locator Map, identifying 650 charging stations throughout the State. 

Ashley Reese Speaks at New Jersey Agricultural Convention

Ashley Reese, member of the Monmouth County Environmental Council and sales manager at Eastmont Orchards in Colts Neck, recently spoke at the New Jersey Agricultural Convention. Her speech was highlighted in a recent issue of the New Jersey American Farmer.   Reese describes the lessons she learned from operating during the coronavirus pandemic including the increased amount of visitors welcomed in 2020, “We realized based on the influx of customers that we were no longer just selling apples and peaches. We were actually selling a really safe place for people to gather and bring their families.” Read the full article for more. Photo Source: Richard Skelly.

AmeriCorps and Ocean Township Intermediate School Clean up Asbury Park Beach

Trash collected at Asbury Park Beach is hauled away by Monmouth County Clean Communities. Photo Source: Samantha LaRocca.

On Saturday April 2, Watershed Ambassador of the Monmouth Watersheds, Samantha LaRocca, partnered with Ocean Township Intermediate School to host a clean up of Asbury Park Beach. A total of 22 volunteers came out on the wonderfully sunny afternoon to collect 20 bags of trash, mostly consisting of small plastic debris. Since the beginning of the school year, Samantha has given a total of 18 presentations to the sixth, seventh, and eighth graders at Ocean Township Intermediate School about the hazards of microplastics polluting New Jersey beaches. Many students were eager to make a positive impact after hearing about this issue by coming out and volunteering their time to clean their local area of plastic debris. 

Monmouth County Master Gardener Spring Plant Sale is Back!

Visit the Monmouth County Agricultural Building in Freehold on Friday, May 13 and Saturday, May 14 for the Master Gardener Plant Sale.  Guests can purchase plants and hear free garden talks provided by Rutgers Master Gardeners. Visit the Master Gardener's webpage or view this flyer more information.  Photo Source: Rutgers Cooperative Extension

Looking for volunteer hours for students? The Monmouth County Park System always has opportunities. Visit the Monmouth County Parks Volunteer page to browse current opportunities, or join the Earth Day Shore Planting event on April 22 to enhance the dunes at Bayshore Waterfront Park. On April 23, help American Littoral Society with one or two projects: the Earth Day Dune Grass planting in Asbury Park, or Slade Dale marsh restoration in Point Pleasant.  American Littoral Society is also looking for volunteers for the Annual Lobster Run on April 30. Volunteers are needed to assist with registration, on the racecourse, and with the after party at Langosta Lounge. Contact Lindsay McNamara at lindsay@littoralsociety.org for more details.

Ocean Fun Days Returns In Person! NJ Sea Grant presents Ocean Fun Days with hands-on marine and environmental programs and exhibits, giveaways and fun for the whole family. May 21, 2022 at Island Beach State Park, Seaside Park May 22, 2022 at New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium on Sandy Hook Both locations 11 a.m. -3 p.m. rain or shine Free admission and free parking!

About This Newsletter

The purpose of the newsletter is to inform Monmouth County citizens on the health of their environment and list environmental outreach events in their community. The newsletter is produced by the Monmouth County Division of Planning Section of Environmental & Sustainability Planning in coordination with the Monmouth County Environmental Council. The County of Monmouth and the Board of County Commissioners do not necessarily share the viewpoints of any environmental group mentioned in this newsletter.

If you have questions, comments, or wish to have an event listed in the newsletter, please contact: Amber.Mallm@co.monmouth.nj.us