Welcome to the Sierra Club Central Jersey Group Home Page

Serving the communities in Mercer County and adjoining communities in Burlington, Middlesex, Monmouth, and Somerset Counties

Our meetings and outings are free and open to all - members and public alike. Come join us, make new friends, and share conservation ideas! See details below and in the Jersey Sierran quarterly newspaper.

For the latest events and opportunities see the Central Jersey Group Online Calendar.

To receive infrequent e-mail meeting and event reminders and notices of local happenings subscribe to NJ-CENTRAL-NEWS.

NJ Chapter Sierra Club Mission Statement:

To explore, enjoy, and protect the wild places of the earth;

To practice and promote the responsible use of the earth's ecosystems and resources;

To educate and enlist humanity to protect and restore the quality of the natural and human environments.

NOTICES:

Thursday, Jan. 14 Special Event

Dinner, Film, and Discussion in conjunction with Princeton Public Library's Environmental Film Festival (details below)

Mercer County Residents:

Household Chemical and Electronics Waste Disposal Day - Saturday, March 20, 2010 John T. Dempster Fire Training School, Bakers Basin/Lawrence Stations Rds., Lawrence Twp from 8:00am-2:00pm, rain or shine.

Burlington County Residents:

Electronic Waste Disposal open daily for disposal Monday through Saturday Burlington County Resource Recovery Complex, Route 543, Mansfield/Florence

REMINDER: Those old TVs are very toxic!!!!!

As we transition to HDTV realize that ALL electronic devices including TVs, VCRs, computers, monitors, etc. should be disposed of ONLY through hazardous waste disposal for electronic goods and NOT with the general trash. Contact your town or county for details.

For an appreciation of how toxic these items can be, check out the clip from the "60 Minutes" TV show: Following The Trail Of Toxic E-Waste. Get more eco tips at Sustainable Lawrence.

Sierra Club New Jersey Chapter Action Center

The easiest way to learn about and take action on pressing issues.

The Central Jersey Group has a critical need for your help.

Do you care about the environment and our future? Please volunteer a few hours or more of your time. Help with a meeting or a mailing or do what you do best. Together we can enhance the environment locally and globally.

Upcoming meetings

• Thurs Jan 14: 5:30 pm. Dinner at Panera Bread, 134 Nassau Street, Princeton. Purchase your meal, then pull up a chair and join Sierra folks and friends at tables towards the rear.
• Thurs, Jan 14, 7:00 pm. FILM: Garbage Moguls & TALK: Tom Szaky, TerraCycle Founder
  Princeton Public Library, 65 Witherspoon Street, Princeton. View this pilot by the National Geographic Channel in their documentary series on TerraCycle. Then hear TerraCycle founder, Tom Szaky, discuss the company's transformation from humble “Worm Poop” idea to one of the fastest growing companies in US. (Arrive early for seats.)

GENERAL MEETINGS

• Feb 16 (Tues) Invasive Species and County events. Jennifer Lear, County Naturalist, Mercer Co. Park Commission will discuss invasive species and also announce her new spring programs and volunteer opportunities. This is a don't miss program as you plan your garden and get to sign up for some great spring events.
• Mar 16 (Tues) Legislative Update. Assemblywoman Linda R. Greenstein (D-14 will discuss the status of bills and legislative activity in NJ under the new administration. Come and learn what's happening and how you can help.

WHAT WE DO:

Current issues of particular importance to members include:

Hydrologic drilling methods for natural gas extraction. Stopping drilling in the Delaware River Watershed and NYC watershed in NYS. Find information at Delaware Riverkeeper Network

Stable long term funding of the Garden State Preservation Trust

Passage of the Smart Container Act (NJ A121)

Global Warming and Population

Mountaintop Removal and Clean Water Restoration (US HR2169)

Stop relicensing of Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station in Lacey Township, NJ

WHERE WE GO:

CENTRAL OUTINGS:
Outings Chair Leona Fluck has assembled some great paddling, hiking / walking, and history outings for this fall. Unless otherwise indicated all outings will be led by George & Leona 609-259-3734 or Leona@pineypaddlers.com. ALWAYS check with outing leader for cancellations, etc. ALL paddling trips require pre-registration.
Do you have an idea for an outing? Would you like to try co-leading? Please contact Leona.

VOLUNTEER SERVICE OPPORTUNITY
Mar 27 (Sat) 9am to noon: On-Land Cleanup of Roebling Park/Marsh (Mercer Co) Joint with Mercer Co. Parks and D&R Greenway Land Trust.. Bring gloves if you have them, water to drink; wear long sleeves, long pants. Meet at Spring Lake - Roebling Park (end of Sewell Ave., Hamilton (Rain cancels.) Leader: Terry Stimpfel (609) 731-7016 or terystimb@hotmail.com Visit Friends for the Marsh for details and maps.

We need your help on the many service opportunities planned for April! Later in February and March, check here and on the Central calendar for details. Please plan to participate.

Upcoming outings include:

• Jan 10 (Sun): Veterans Park (Mercer Co). 10am. 5 mi. Easy pace. Family friendly. Lunch option.
• Jan 29 (Fri): Clayton Park Hike (Monmouth Co). 10am. 5 mi. Easy/moderate pace.
• Feb 28 (Sun): NJ Audubon Soc. Plainsboro Preserve Hike. 1pm. 4 - 5 mi. Easy pace. Family friendly. Dinner optional.
• Mar 14 (Sun): Daylight Savings Time Hike at Turkey Swamp Park (Monmouth Co). 10am. 5 mi. Easy/moderate pace.
• Mar 31 (Wed): D&R Canal Towpath Bike Ride (Mercer Co). 10am. Easy 14-mile trip. Helmet!

Central Jersey Group outings are marked with "(C)". See the NJ Sierra Club Central Group calendar for any last minute updates.

WHO OUR SPEAKERS ARE:

• Linda Barth: The Delaware and Raritan Canal. Apr 2009
• Marty Johnson: Isles and the Green Community. May 2009
• Bonnie Tillery: Population & Global Warming: What's the connection? June 2009
• MacKenzie Hall: WHAT'S HAPPENING TO NJ'S BATS? Mar 2009
• Kris Ohleth: Off Shore Wind. Feb 2009
• Gregg Rackin: Wild and Scenic Lower Delaware River. Nov 2008
• Michelle Ruggiero: Know the Bear Facts. Apr 2008
• Leona and George Fluck: Paddling NJ’s Waterways - great put-ins and secret gems. May 2008
• Dave Mattek: The State-Wide Trail. June 2008
• Jackie Feinberg: Wild Utah: America’s Redrock Wilderness. Sep 2008

Take Action On Our Previous Topics

NJ Bats face serious threats including the recent discovery of white-nose syndrome.

Read more at Conserve Wildlife Foundation Report rare, threatened or endangered species sightings .

Gregg Rackin River Administrator for the Wild and Scenic Lower Delaware River was our guide to the Delaware River Greenway Partnership , and its complex relationships and broad-ranging programs to protect and preserve the river corridor. One potential threat to this precious resource is the proposed natural gas mines in PA communities along the corridor. The DRGP also creates and maintains recreational land and water trails and sponsors community-based stewardship projects and events. Sierra members are encouraged to investigate the DRGW and support their important work.

Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance

President Obama signed the Omnibus Public Land Management Act, which includes 130,000 acres of designated Wilderness and an additional 50,000 acres of strong protection within National Conservation Areas for southwest Utah's Zion-Mojave region. The re-introduced America's Red Rock Wilderness Act would permanently protect 9.4 million acres of redrock wilderness from drilling and mining, off-road vehicle damage, and other threats to this majestic landscape. Strong Congressional support is essential. See the positions of the NJ delegation SUWA - America's Red Rock Wilderness Act Thank the supporters and encourage others to publicly support the bill as Cosponsors.

Population and Global Warming"

'What is the connection between population and global warming, and what can we do about it?' Bonnie Tillery, Sierra Club Global Population and the Environment Program Committee and NJ Chapter Population Issues Coordinator. Feb. 2008

MOUNTAINTOP REMOVAL AND CLEAN WATER RESTORATION (HR2169)

Mark Schmerling discussed the coal fields of Appalachia with slides and explain the issues surrounding Mountaintop Removal; a mining practice that destroys landscapes, species and drinking water supplies.

WHEN and WHERE WE MEET:

We meet at the Wisk and Spoon meeting room, WHOLE FOODS MARKET, Windsor Green Shopping Center, ROUTE 1 SOUTH, Princeton. 7:30-9pm. Meetings are from 7:30 to 9:00 pm. Arrive early and enjoy your dinner with us.

Jan 14 (Thurs) Dinner, film and discussion

Feb 16 (Tues) Invasive Species and County events. Jennifer Lear, County Naturalist.

Mar 16 (Tues) Legislative Update. Assemblywoman Linda R. Greenstein (D-14)

To receive infrequent e-mail meeting and event reminders and notices of local happenings subscribe to NJ-CENTRAL-NEWS.

WHO WE ARE: