Montgomery basks in Earth Day glow

Cleanup and beautification efforts have been under way all week.

By: Kara Fitzpatrick
   MONTGOMERY — Today might be Earth Day, but the people here have been celebrating in an eco-friendly fashion all week. From residents to students to corporate groups, efforts to improve the environment have been widespread for days.
   "We’ve gotten a really good response," Environmental Commission Co-Chair Gwen Farley said.
   Several members of the community turned out to assist in clean-up projects, which included picking up debris on township roads and parks.
   On Saturday, members of the Interact Club from Montgomery High School cleaned the Mary Jacobs Library grounds. Also on Saturday, Girl Scout Troop 518 conducted a storm-drain stenciling project.
   On Monday, the Montgomery Woman’s Club beautified Lubas Field, and on Wednesday, ConvaTec volunteers cleaned Orchard Road — and 3M volunteers did the same on Route 601.
   "We’re very pleased that these groups are coming forward," Earth Week organizer and Environmental Commission member Jan Narayan said. "We have a wonderful town and I think everyone likes to keep it that way."
   In addition, the Open Space Committee is planning two landscape-restoration and tree-planting projects in light of Earth Week.
   On Saturday morning, the committee is planning to beautify Hobler Park. And on April 30, the committee and other volunteers will work to plant trees, install birdhouses, cut back invasive plants and more in the lands surrounding Stonebridge at Montgomery and the 1860 House.
   The efforts have extended throughout the schools, as well. Ms. Farley said first-graders at Orchard Hill Elementary School held a "rainforest bake sale" this week, with proceeds going to benefit those endangered lands.
   Also, Montgomery Middle School is holding a full day of events today. The students’ day will include assemblies, Earth Day banner-making and outdoor planting sessions.
   Even though Earth Day "is just one day that we get to show our appreciation," Ms. Narayan said she hopes it will be a pattern that continues throughout the year.