go green galloway - a task force for sustainable galloway
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ONGOING PROGRAMSSPECIAL PROJECTSINITIATIVES & ACCOMPLISHMENTSTRANSCRIPT
A TASK FORCE FOR A SUSTAINABLE GALLOWAY
ONGOING PROGRAMS
SPECIAL PROJECTS
INITIATIVES & ACCOMPLISHMENTS
TASK FORCE FOR A SUSTAINABLE GALLOWAY
Go Green Galloway worked with Cross County Connection to
begin the process of reducing vehicle trips within Galloway
and increasing awareness for mass transit alternatives and
creating a bicycle friendly community.
We applied for and received a fully-funded NJ DOT “Bicycle/Pedestrian”
comprehensive planning grant to facilitate the study of bikeways throughout
Galloway. A Bicycle Master Plan for Galloway has been prepared; to
summarize the findings and recommendations of the study. The plan is in
final review and should be brought to Council in early January.
The purpose of this study is to determine the bicycle compatibility of
roadways identified in the Township's bicycle circulation map, perform bicycle
crash analysis, develop recommendations for roadways that are not bicycle
compatible, and provide a plan for implementation with prioritization.
TASK FORCE FOR A SUSTAINABLE GALLOWAY
Galloway's goal is to provide bicycle
connections between employment,
commercial and population centers, as well
as schools and recreation areas in the
Township and to surrounding municipalities.
Our Go Green Galloway group is set to work on grant opportunities to
fund this plan and to further community outreach activities.
TASK FORCE FOR A SUSTAINABLE GALLOWAY
2009: Galloway became certified as
one of the inaugural Sustainable
Jersey communities.
Only 34 other towns Statewide
achieved this prestigious
certification and Galloway was the
only town in Atlantic County
to accomplish this.
2010: Galloway receives news
that we achieved SILVER
Certification!
TASK FORCE FOR A SUSTAINABLE GALLOWAY
• GGG is pursuing the “Eat Local” and “Slow Food” movements.
• Galloway applied for Greenhouse Gas Reduction grants through the NJ DEP.
• Galloway continues the No Net Loss Reforestation project, which has planted
over 1400 trees in public areas of the Township.
• The Community Forestry Management Plan called for a tree assessment to be
started in 2009. A Stockton College student interned in Spring, 2009 and
completed this project in June.
• An outside consultant completed a Township facilities
Energy Audit paid for through a BPU Energy Efficiency
and Conservation Grant.
• Galloway is expecting to break ground on the Galloway
Road Landfill Solar Project.
• The Township is a partner and endorser of EPA’s WasteWise Program.
TASK FORCE FOR A SUSTAINABLE GALLOWAY
The Community Garden was made possible through a Sustainable
Communities Grant from the Municipal Land Use Center of the College of New
Jersey and the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation.
All construction on this garden, with the exception of the fencing and the pavers,
was done by volunteers. Included in this group were Go Green Galloway
members, Boy Scouts, Richard Stockton College students, 4th grade students
and local businesses.
TASK FORCE FOR A SUSTAINABLE GALLOWAY
The Community Garden opened in May of 2009 and has been a tremendous
success. All the garden beds were rented
both years and the agriculture
production has been amazing.
Several workshops were held throughout
the summer and fall, thanks to our Master
Gardener partners. Most of the gardeners
returned this year and are hoping to garden
again in 2011
This garden project was done as a pilot
project in hopes that other organizations in Galloway would start their own.
There has been much interest from homeowners associations within the
Township and organizations from other municipalities.
TASK FORCE FOR A SUSTAINABLE GALLOWAY
The Township was a recipient of a $10,000 grant from the Sustainable
Jersey Small Grants Program funded by Walmart. Work has begun on the
Environmental Resource Inventory that this grant will make possible.
New for 2011: We will partner with a local
business group, Historic Smithville, to bring a
Jersey Fresh Farmers Market to Galloway.
This Market will take place on Saturday
mornings and will feature farm products from
our region. We are planning lectures and
music; and Go Green Galloway exhibits will
enhance the Market.
TASK FORCE FOR A SUSTAINABLE GALLOWAY
2009 EVENT HIGHLIGHTS
April 2009: The Forsythe Refuge Earth Day
Cleanup. Tree seedlings were given out as an
Arbor Day contribution and reusable shopping
bags were the 2009 giveaway.
May 2009: GGG Shredding Event. Tabled
and collected 84 Energy Star Pledges, 96
residents dropped off electronics for
recycling, 100 reusable shopping bags
were given out and we partnered with
Project Porchlight to distribute CFLs (with
a pledge).
TASK FORCE FOR A SUSTAINABLE GALLOWAY
August 2009: GGG resource table at
National Night Out. We collected 155
pledges to use reusable shopping bags
and/ or reusable water bottles. We gave
out 100 of each. We had 114 residents
sign Energy Star Pledges. Project
Porchlight partnered and distributed CFLs.
October 2009: Make a Difference Day
community cleanup at the Edwin B.
Forsythe Wildlife Refuge. Our first
attempt at a “mostly green” event.
TASK FORCE FOR A SUSTAINABLE GALLOWAY
2010 EVENTS
April 24: Earth Day Clean Up of Wildlife Drive at the Forsythe National Wildlife
Refuge. GGG handed out tree seedlings and Energy Efficiency information.
April 24: Spring Awakening at the Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge. Go
Green Galloway tabled.
April 25: GGG team inside ShopRite
Supermarket for
reusable bag
distribution and
information.
TASK FORCE FOR A SUSTAINABLE GALLOWAY
May 15: GGG Annual Shredding &
Environmental Event GGG tabled with
information, the EQ CHALLENGE
game, pledge forms and giveaways.
There were mini-composting
workshops, a rain barrel on display,
and rain garden information available.
Project Porchlight gave
away CFLs and New
Jersey Clean Energy sold
very reasonably priced
lamps, CFLs and LED
bulbs.
TASK FORCE FOR A SUSTAINABLE GALLOWAY
2010 EVENTSMay 19: The Galloway Environmental Commission and Go Green Galloway
hosted a Pinelands Preservation Alliance program.
August 3: National Night Out. GGG tabled with displays of energy efficient
lighting, energy auditing equipment, a composter and a rain barrel. Residents
who played the “TAKE THE EQ CHALLENGE” game could register to win a free
home energy audit. A local Boy Scout manned the Project Porchlight table as
his Eagle Scout Project.
September 9: Our first Home Energy
Audit Workshop. Residents in
attendance listened to guest speakers
from the NJ Clean Energy Program, a
case study from a local resident’s
perspective and several contractors
who perform energy audits.
TASK FORCE FOR A SUSTAINABLE GALLOWAY
HOW DID WE GET HERE?Partnerships!
Through the years we have found it beneficial to partner
with many organizations to accomplish our goals.
Among them:
RICHARD STOCKTON COLLEGE OF NEW JERSEY:
We have an ongoing working relationship with Stockton
professors and students through internships and service
projects. Together we completed a Municipal Carbon
Footprint, a Community Carbon Footprint, our first
Energy Audit of municipal properties, the Community
Garden, the Patriot Lake habitat buffer, a Rain
Garden, and, most recently, a Tree Assessment for
our Community Forestry Management Plan.
TASK FORCE FOR A SUSTAINABLE GALLOWAY
PATRIOT LAKE: This former drainage
basin has been transformed into
Galloway’s premier park. With the help of
a Green Acres Grant, volunteers and
sponsors, this basin now has all the
amenities a community could hope for.
TASK FORCE FOR A SUSTAINABLE GALLOWAY
SCOUTS: Both Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts have contributed to various
sustainable projects within our Township. They have helped to create gardens,
built a Home Composting Demonstration Site, and participated in many public
lands cleanups.
TASK FORCE FOR A SUSTAINABLE GALLOWAY
THE GALLOWAY TOWNSHIP BUSINESS ASSOCIATION: This group is a
new partner. We are working together to make sustainable business practices
the rule, not the exception, in Galloway.
THE EDWIN B. FORSYTHE NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE: We have
partnered with the Refuge for many years for two public lands cleanups: one
for Earth Day and one for Make a Difference Day. We are working together to
make these GREEN EVENTS.
THE GALLOWAY TOWNSHIP SCHOOL DISTRICT: We meet regularly with
the Human Resources Director (a member of Go Green) to make sure that all
buildings are recycling properly and practicing energy efficiency. We are also
discussing joint purchases of recycled paper. A new program, KIDS GO
GREEN IN GALLOWAY, is set for launch in 2011.
TASK FORCE FOR A SUSTAINABLE GALLOWAY
ABSEGAMI HIGH SCHOOL: One of the most
creative endeavors of GGG was accomplished
this past Spring, when the local high school
media group made the promotion of reusable
shopping bags their media challenge for the year.
Sixteen teams competed; and the result was
campaigns that included radio ads, print ads and
PSAs to promote the use of these bags. The
winning PSA will run on G-TV, our government –
access cable station and, hopefully, on the
checkout monitors at ShopRite Supermarket.
This effort has reinforced one of our most
concentrated efforts: to have all residents in
Galloway think before taking yet another one-
use bag at the store.