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Welcome to the Sierra Club Central Jersey Group Home Page

Serving the communities in Mercer County and adjoining communities in Burlington, Hunterdon, 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.
Check out NJ Chapter Positions including recent Press Releases, NJ Assembly Bill Table, and NJ Senate Bill Tables.

NOTICES:

SPECIAL EVENT: "Yak Attack" May 30 (Sat)
Kayak Demo with Eastern Mountain Sports Princeton. Details below

GOOD NEWS:
President Obama signed the Omnibus Public Land Management Act protecting some of southwest Utah's Zion-Mojave region.

The Central Group - NJ Sierra Club online Calendar
Now convenience at a glance - see all our meetings, outings, events and last minute updates. If you don't have a Google account, you may need to register to access the calendar. It's free and won't result in spam.

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

WHAT WE DO:

We are a group of volunteers dedicated to environmental protection. Although we focus on issues in central New Jersey, we take action on national and international issues as well.

Current issues of particular importance to members include:
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
Other local issues / actions include: C&A Rail Trail (Robbinsville), Klockner Woods (Hamilton Twp), Rte 33 By-pass (Hamilton, Robbinsville Twps), Princeton Ridge (Princeton Twp)

WHERE WE GO:

The Central Jersey Group leads outings. (Pictures from outings)

This winter Outings Chair Leona along with hubbie George will lead four great hikes and a bike ride as well as a paddling trip. And Don Carlo is back leading another great History Ramble! Be sure to watch the Central online Calendar for trail work and clean up opportunities later in March and April. Note: Unless otherwise stated leaders for all Central outings are Leona and George F. at 609-259-3734 or Leona@pineypaddlers.com

Upcoming outings include:

  • Apr 4 (Sat): SERVICE Assunpink Wildlife Management Area (WMA) Lake/Creek Cleanup (Monmouth Co.) Rain or Shine! Optional lunch. Joint with the Princeton Ski Club.
  • Apr 18 (Sat):SERVICE Trail Building at Assunpink Wildlife Management Area (Mercer Co.) Tentative. Check Central Group calendar to confirm before event.
  • Apr 19 (Sun): SERVICE Earth Day Paddle and Cleanup in the Hamilton-Trenton-Bordentown Marsh (Mercer Co.) Apr 26 (Sun): Paddle the Delaware River & Tour Lambertville’s 28th Annual Shad Festival (Hunterdon Co.)
  • May 5 (Tue): Paddle the Hamilton-Trenton-Bordentown Marsh on Cinco de Mayo (Mercer Co.)
  • May 25 (Mon): Memorial Day Paddle on D&R Canal and Delaware River (Mercer Co.)
  • June 3 (Wed): Paddle the Crosswicks Creek Water Trail (Mercer Co.)
  • June 14 (Sun): Paddle the Delaware River on Flag Day! (Hunterdon Co.)
  • "Yak Attack" SPECIAL EVENT May 30 (Sat) Kayak Demo with Eastern Mountain Sports Princeton and the Sierra Central Group at Mercer County Park. Are you interested in learning about kayaking? Not sure which kayak you'd enjoy owning? Having a hard time deciding among boats? Want to test paddle different kayaks? Sign up now for the Yak Attack! For more information, meeting time and registration, please contact Co-Leaders: Terry 609-731-7016, terystimb@hotmail.com or Leona leona@pineypaddlers.com 609-259-3734
For more details check the New Jersey Chapter statewide list of Sierra Club outings.

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.

Feb 17 (Tues) Off Shore Wind.
Presenter Kris Ohleth of Bluewater Wind, an offshore wind developer, will present an overview of the mechanics, environmental issues and policy status of generating energy with wind turbines in the ocean. Also see and hear wind turbines in a short video of a wind farm in Denmark.

Mar 17 (Tues) The Buzz About Bees.
Presenter Marie Springer, bee keeper and researcher, will discuss honeybees, native bees and wasps. Learn their differences and environmental benefits. Hear about current threats. See specimens and nests.

For details see the Central Group calendar. and the quarterly newspaper.

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


WHO WE ARE:

The information in this list is for serious inquiries only. Please do not use these addresses for mass e-mailings. Thanks!
Names denoted with "*" are voting members of the Executive Committee.
Chair Terry Stimpfel * 609-918-1149 terystimb@hotmail.com
Vice Chair OPEN    
Conservation Chair OPEN
Conservation Co-Chair OPEN    
ExCom Member at large Ruth Ann Mitchell * RAM400500@Verizon.net
ExCom Member at large Malcolm McFarland* 609-448-8699 jmalcolmmcfarland@verizon.net
ExCom Member at large Tamanna Mohapatra* 732-801-9629 tmohapatra@yahoo.com
Membership Chair Grace-Marie Beans 585-755-3430 beansgm@yahoo.com
Outings Chair Leona Fluck * 609-259-3734 leona@pineypaddlers.com
Political Chair Terry Stimpfel * 609-918-1149 terystimb@hotmail.com
Publicity Chair OPEN
Secretary OPEN    
Treasurer OPEN    

Are you a member yet? Why become a member? BECAUSE WE NEED YOU!!! JOIN

HAVE A FEW HOURS? WILLING TO HELP? CONCERNED? WANT TO TAKE ACTION? Please contact Terry.

Receive infrequent meeting and event reminders and notices of local happenings, subscribe to NJ-CENTRAL-NEWS.


New Jersey Sierra Club, 145 West Hanover St., Trenton, NJ 08618, USA

Sierra Club is a registered trademark.

Questions and comments about this web site may be sent to: Terry Stimpfel

For general questions about the Central Jersey Group, contact the Group Membership Chair.

Page URL: http://NewJersey.SierraClub.org/Central/index.asp
Page Last Modified 5/17/2009


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