Bernardsville Kicks Off Community “GREEN CHALLENGE”

Community members are invited to Bernardsville Public Library on Wednesday, April 6 at 7:00 pm to hear members of the Bernardsville Green Team unveil details of a community-wide Green Challenge. The Challenge is designed to raise awareness that small individual steps can collectively lead to significant changes. It is comprised of a twelve attainable “green actions” which aim to motivate individuals, families and businesses to change their behavior in support of the community’s goals for sustainability. These twelve actions focus on issues such as home energy efficiency measures, water usage, recycling, waste reduction, transportation, local and sustainable food, composting and environmental activities. Participants pledge to complete five actions, but are encouraged to meet as many challenges as possible.

When residents accept the challenge, they will receive a pledge form to fill out as they complete the various action items. Once the pledge form is returned to the Team, each family will receive a lawn sign for display that acknowledges they are a GREEN CHALLENGE HOME. The hope is that this will create a buzz around town and generate more community involvement, thus moving Bernardsville closer to achieving the Silver Level Certification under the Sustainable Jersey program (www.sustainablejersey.com).

The program is modeled after Maplewood’s successful challenge in which over 200 households have participated. We are very fortunate to have Fred Profeta, the Deputy Mayor of Maplewood and a state leader for Sustainable Jersey, as the keynote speaker at the Library. In addition, Harry Strano, Sr. Environmental Scientist, for the firm of Amy S. Greene Environmental Consultants, Inc., in Flemington, NJ will present an overview of our “Environmental Resource Inventory” for the borough, and Wanda Knapik, Bernardsville Community Garden Director, will give an update on the opening of the community garden.

Door prizes, such as a private hike for eight at the Great Swamp, items from the Audubon Society, memberships for Upper Raritan Watershed Association and Schiff Wildlife Preserve, a VIP car wash and more, will be awarded that evening. To learn more or download The Challenge Form, visit: www.bernardsvillegoesgreen.org or www.bernardsvilleboro.org

There is no charge to attend the library program, but advance sign-up is requested. Register online at www.bernardsvillelibrary.org and follow the link under Adult Programs, or call the library at 908-766-0118 to sign up.