b25c5b87769b3033f34e94d1daabce13.jpg

PRINCETON AREA: SCENES: ‘Water Works’ at the Watershed: Gala raises $118,000

Stony Brook-Millstone Watershed Association/Photos by Nina Brenner

    Dressed in finery and wellies, more than 250 friends of the Stony Brook- Millstone Watershed Association, central New Jersey’s first environmental group, enjoyed an evening of food, music and fun at the Watershed Association’s 35th Annual Watershed FEST: “Water Works.”
    Held Saturday, Oct. 2, at the 860-acre Watershed Reserve in Hopewell, the event celebrated the region’s water and environment, while grossing more than $118,000 to support the nonprofit Watershed Association’s critical conservation, advocacy, science and education efforts.
    “‘Water Works’ for us in so many ways,” said Jim Waltman, Watershed Association executive director. “We depend on clean water for industry and recreation, healthy habitats and our very survival. For more than 60 years the Watershed Association has worked diligently to protect clean water and the environment throughout central New Jersey.
    “From restoring thousands of feet of stream and hauling more than 10 tons of trash out of area waterways, to securing state-level protections and essential funding for our water and open space, we’ve made significant strides, but there’s more work to be done,” he said.
    Earlier this year, the Watershed Association released its first State of the Watershed Report, which combined water quality, environmental policy and land use analysis to illustrate the health and status of our watershed region. The report found that “people pollution” — everything from trash and excess fertilizers, to leaking septic and sewer systems and pet waste — is having a big impact on the health of our water and environment.
    Individual action, strong policies at the local and state level, and smart land use decisions are needed to improve the health and quality of our water and environment. (Read the report online: thewatershed.org).
    “It’s up to each of us to make a difference for our water and environment,” said Mr. Waltman. “The support of our friends and community at the Watershed FEST is critical to ensuring we have clean water and healthy habitats today and for future generations to enjoy.”
    The FEST began at 6:30 p.m. with cocktails, hors d’oeuvres and a silent auction under a hand-decorated tent at the 860-acre Watershed Reserve. The event concluded with dinner served by Emily’s Café and Catering and a live auction featuring trips to Costa Rica, Ashford Castle in Ireland, HF Bar Ranch in Wyoming, and Kiawah, South Carolina; the chance to name your own ice cream at The Bent Spoon in Princeton; an “Ultimate Pizza Party” with Nomad Pizza in Hopewell; a restaurant package featuring dinner for two at a Terra Momo Restaurant Group establishment, The Brothers Moon in Hopewell, One53 in Rocky Hill, Lahiere’s in Princeton, and Witherspoon Grill / Blue Point Grill / or Nassau Street Seafood and Produce in Princeton, with the chance to review one eatery with Watershed Association trustee Tom O’Neill and his wife, Kate, and more.
    “Water Works”: The 35th Annual Watershed FEST was co-chaired by Watershed Association trustee Bill Carmean, Advisory Board member Nancy Ross, and trustee Marylou Ferrara.
    “I am proud to be a part of this important event,” said Mr. Carmean. “The Watershed FEST provides essential support for Watershed Association’s conservation, advocacy, science, and education efforts.”
    Ms. Ferrara agrees. “For 35 years, the community has shown it cares deeply about our water and environment with the Watershed FEST,” she said.
    “The FEST’s success is a tribute to the generosity of this community and critical nature of the Watershed Association’s important mission,” added Ms. Ross. “Special thanks go out to the dedicated volunteers and staff who made this event possible, our corporate and individual sponsors, and to all those whose generous donations made the 2009 Watershed FEST a resounding success.”
    Notable attendees included Mercer County Executive Brian Hughes, East Windsor Mayor Janice Mironov and Hopewell Borough Mayor Paul Anzano.
    The Watershed FEST’s 2010 corporate sponsors Bloomberg; Bristol-Myers Squibb Co.; Church & Dwight Co., Inc.; Farewell, Mills, Gatsch Architects; Ortho-McNeil-Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc.; PNC Bank and PNC Wealth Management, and PSEG.