Community Corner

Bernards Beautification's Cleanups Around Town This Saturday

Residents can still volunteer to take part in "Bernards Township Community Pride Day" on April 13.

The Bernards Township Beautification Task Force has announced that plans have been finalized for a “Bernards Township Community Pride Day” this Saturday,  when volunteers will be deployed to help clean up designated areas around the township.

Mayor Carolyn Gaziano said at Tuesday's Township Committee meeting that residents can just show up at 8:30 a.m. Saturday at the Community Service building on Stonehouse Road to take part as volunteers.
  
The task force, in partnership with the Bernards Township Community Service Department, is again sponsoring the clean-up activities to further enhance and beautify Bernards Township. In previous years, the task force and volunteers pitched in to remove trash from ramps at the I-287 intersection off North Maple Avenue.

This year's Community Pride Day efforts will focus on a few public areas, including the Allen Street gazebo by the center of Basking Ridge, and the paths and areas near the Ridge High School athletic fields. Other sites are being identified for the community project.

The event is scheduled to begin with an orientation and welcome at 8:30 a.m. at the Community Service Building on Stonehouse Road. The project is scheduled to run until noon.

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Ridge High School students volunteering for the morning will meet at the high school for a separate welcome and orientation. In the past, the task force's Beautification Day projects have attracted volunteers from the Veteran's Administration Hospital in Lyons, the Basking Ridge Garden Club, Fellowship Village, Bernards Township Committee and the local Rotary Club.

Others in community welcome to join

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The township Community Service department will provide the volunteers with equipment and materials. All residents are encouraged to attend and participate — and are asked to bring work gloves.

"This is our fourth year hosting a Community Pride Day, and every year we add more participants and expand our mission," said Laura Begg, Beautification Task Force Chair.

This year, the task force is drawing in participating students from Ridge High School, William Annin Middle School and Mount Prospect Elementary School on a number of new initiatives both at those schools, and around town, she said.

"Taking a few hours to enhance the appearance of one's hometown is important and rewarding for us all," Begg said. She said the task force invites all residents, either as individuals ro groups, to come out on April 13 and to, "Take pride in Bernards!"

The organizers said they look forward to the involvement of past participants, along with the additional involvement of the Bernards Township Schools and anyone in the community interested in coming out in support of the beautification of the Township.

Lynn Mourey, Task Force Member and Community Pride Day Coordinator said, “This event has grown each year to include more members of our active community.  We are particularly pleased with the interest shown by our school communities this year.  Instilling in our young residents a sense of pride in their community and responsibility for its beauty and improvement plants the seed for their continued community involvement and contribution in the future.”

For further information, contact Mourey at 908-766-3656 or via email at: beautification@bernards.org for further information on this event. More information on the Bernards Township Beautification Task Force is available on the township’s website.


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