The Rotary Club of Ridgewood AM is privileged to have Pam Perron as a longstanding member. Many of you know Pam as The Village of Ridgewood Deputy Mayor and long time resident of Ridgewood. We celebrate Pam’s environmental activism. Thank you Pam for all that you do.
For planting more than 200 trees and other environment friendly measures, Ridgewood was one of only a few towns to get a NJ designation. (Sustainable NJ)
RIDGEWOOD, NJ — Ridgewood was cited recently by a New Jersey environmental organization as being one of 40 towns to complete environmentally friendly measures in the past year that make them eligible for grants.
That meant that Ridgewood achieved the Sustainable Jersey certification at the bronze-level for 2023. Certified towns were announced at the Sustainable Jersey Annual Luncheon on Nov. 14 at the New Jersey State League of Municipalities Conference in Atlantic City. The majority of communities in New Jersey participate in the program and may be eligible for grants, but only a few dozen achieved bronze certification this year, officials said.
In 2023, Ridgewood earned Sustainable Jersey credits for planting 280 trees, publishing a natural resource inventory as part of its recent Master Plan update, installing four electric vehicle charging stations in the town’s new parking garage, purchasing a Styrofoam densifier for its Recycling Center, adopting a tree protection ordinance, and developing a Community Forestry Plan.
Ridgewood Deputy Mayor Pamela Perron said this week, “Our Green Team does a terrific job pursuing the Sustainable Jersey path to a healthier planet. With creative initiatives such as No Mow May and Project 1,000 Acres, we hope to attain Silver certification in 2024.”
Bronze-level certification requires that a town meet a minimum of 150 points, earned by completing measures such as planting trees and avoiding pollutants. Certified towns also did well in areas such as improving energy efficiency, health and wellness, reducing waste, sustaining local economies, protecting natural resources and advancing the arts.
“We’re proud to recognize the 2023 award winners and certified towns who have made sustainability an integral part of their municipality,” said Randall Solomon, director of Sustainable Jersey. “Thank you for your leadership, hard work and vision. You exemplify the commitment we need to achieve a sustainable New Jersey.” Sustainable Jersey says that it "provides tools, training and financial incentives to support communities as they pursue sustainability programs. As New Jersey faces issues such as the climate crisis, a growing equity divide and environmental pollution, municipalities want to be a part of the solution to these challenges. Sustainable Jersey participants (municipalities and schools) have successfully implemented and documented over 25,569 sustainability actions. Sustainable Jersey has provided over $7.6 million in grants to municipalities, school districts and schools for community-based projects that create healthy and sustainable communities in New Jersey."
More information is available at: www.SustainableJersey.com.