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DEP Recognizes Students and Local Tree Care Programs at State Arbor Day Celebration
(04/45) Haddon Heights – The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Community Forestry Program, the New Jersey Community Forestry Council, the New Jersey Tree Foundation and more than 200 volunteers today celebrated Arbor Day by planting a variety of trees at Hoff’s Park in Haddon Heights, Camden County. DEP also presented Tree City USA awards, the prestigious Joyce Kilmer Award and awards to this year’s student winners of a state calendar art contest.
“Governor McGreevey has made a commitment to plant thousands of trees in New Jersey to benefit our communities,” said Bradley M. Campbell, DEP Commissioner. “Arbor Day gives us the chance to reflect on the many benefits of trees – beautifying neighborhoods, improving local air quality, buffering noise and reducing air temperatures.”
The DEP’s prestigious Joyce Kilmer Award was presented today to Tina L. Wells, a 4th grade teacher in the Oaklyn Public School system in Camden County and a former New Jersey Teacher of the Year recipient. Ms. Wells, a teacher for 26 years, creatively incorporates urban forestry themes throughout an entire month of her curriculum .
Also participating in today’s Arbor Day ceremony were communities representing the Tree City USA program, which recognizes cities, counties, and military bases that have developed a comprehensive tree management program, and promotes tree planting and tree care. New Jersey leads the northeast in the number of communities that have earned Tree City USA status with 139 communities, representing approximately 2.4 million residents.
This year’s Arbor Day also marked the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement establishing an alliance among the U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the New Jersey Department of Labor, and New Jersey’s major tree organizations. This alliance will provide information, guidance and access to training resources that will help protect employees’ health and safety, particularly in reducing and preventing exposure to hazards and injuries associated with the tree care industry.
Today’s celebration was made possible through the assistance and cooperation of many partners, supporters and volunteers who promote the efforts of the New Jersey Forest Service Community Forestry Program which facilitates the development of state approved Community Forestry Management plans in municipalities, counties, and military bases across the Garden State.
During today’s ceremony a total of 13 Tree City USA Anniversary awards were presented to 25th, 20th and 1st year communities participating in the Tree City USA program.
TREE CITY USA ANNIVERSARY AWARDS FOR ARBOR DAY 2004
| 25th Year |
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West Windsor |
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Mercer County |
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Millburn |
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Essex County |
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Dover |
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Morris County |
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Medford |
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Burlington County |
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| 20th Year |
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Maywood |
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Bergen County |
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New Brunswick |
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Middlesex County |
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Verona |
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Essex County |
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| 1st Year |
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Linden |
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Union County |
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Lopatcong |
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Warren County |
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Tenafly |
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Bergen County |
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Westwood |
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Bergen County |
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Haddon Twp. |
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Camden County |
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Palmyra |
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Burlington County |
More than 300 pieces of original artwork were entered into this year’s student Arbor Day art contest. Following are this year’s winners.
NEW JERSEY STATEWIDE STUDENT ARBOR DAY CALENDAR ART CONTEST WINNERS
| Grade K |
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Sumin Ko, Mrs. Doris Clark |
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T. Baldwin Demarest Elementary School of Old Tappan |
| Grade 1 |
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Avoun Carney, Ms. Maida |
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Elberon School of Long Branch |
| Grade 2 |
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Madison Roos, Ms. Jillian Herrigel |
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Milton Avenue School of Chatham |
| Grade 3 |
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Jennifer Chen of Parsippany, Mrs. Scholz |
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Lake Hiawatha School of Lake Hiawatha |
| Grade 4 |
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Jessica Sayre, Mrs. Andrea Wallin |
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Hillview Elementary School of Pompton Plains |
| Grade 5 |
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Grace Ko, Ms. Camille Helsley |
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Charles DeWolf Middle School of Old Tappan |
| Grade 6 |
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Sierra Binondo, Mrs. DeConde |
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Lake Riviera Middle School of Brick |
| Grade 7 |
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Eric Heinz, Miss Susan Butkosky |
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Terrill Middle School of Scotch Plains |
| Grade 8 |
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Sonia Sunny, Mrs. Nancy Cerdas |
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Ridgefield Park Junior Senior High School |
| Grade 9 |
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Argie Kantilierakis, Ms. Jann Rudnick |
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Edison High School of Edison |
| Grade 10 |
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Sindy Cristancho, Mrs. Joanne Schulman |
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Passaic County Technical Institute of Wayne |
| Grade 11 |
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Ognjen Topic, Mrs. Joanne Schulman |
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Passaic County Technical Institute of Wayne |
| Grade 12 |
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Adam Ramsey, Mrs. Carol Stauss |
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Saddle Brook High School of Saddle Brook |
MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT SIGNATORIES
TREE CARE SAFETY ALLIANCE BETWEEN OSHA IN THE US DEPARTMENT OF LABOR,
THE NJ DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, & NEW JERSEY’S MAJOR TREE ORGANIZATIONS
Patricia K. Clark, Regional Administrator
US Department of Labor, OSHA
Phil Peist, Area Director
US Department of Labor- OSHA
Parsippany Area Office
Lisa Levy, Area Director
US Department of Labor-OSHA
Hasbrouk Heights Office
Robert D. Kulick, Area Director
US Department of Labor- OSHA
Avenel Area Office
Gary Roskoski, Area Director
US Department of Labor- OSHA
Marlton Area Office
Leonard Katz, Assistant Commissioner
NJ Department of Labor
William J. Porter, Executive Secretary
NJ Shade Tree Federation
Stephen M. Chisholm, President
NJ Board of Certified Tree Experts
Pamela Tappen, President
NJ Society of Certified Tree Experts
Richard Maloney, President
NJ Arborists Chapter of International Society of Arboriculture
John E. Perry, President
NJ Committee of Advancement of Arboriculture
John S. Watson, Jr., Assistant Commissioner
NJ Department of Environmental Protection, Natural and Historic Resources
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OFFICIAL SITE OF THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY