Bernards Clean Up Day Scheduled for May 14

Plans have been announced for "Bernards Clean Up" day on Saturday, May 14, to hold another community project to remove trash from the Route 287 ramps into the township. Volunteers are still being sought.

Mayor John Malay announced he will hold the service project in partnership with the Bernards Township community service department and, with the assistance of the Bernards Township Police Department, will sponsor clean up activities to help beautify and enhance the entrances into the township at the highway ramps.

The event will begin with an orientation and welcome by the Mayor beginning at 8:30 a.m. at the Community Service Building on Stonehouse Road.

Community organizations that already have agreed to participate in this program include the Rotary Club of Bernardsville, the staff, and Veteran’s Administration staff. The Bernards Township community service department will provide the volunteers with equipment and materials and the township police will assist with traffic control.

“I am extremely pleased with the effort to organize this program to enhance the beauty of our township," Malay said. "Bernards Clean Up Day brings together an extraordinary collaborative effort of community organizations and individuals." The mayor said the teamwork of those organizations and citizens, along with township resources, will improve the township's physical beauty.

Township resident Kippy Piedici, Clean Up Event Coordinator said, “This event will not only enhance the Township’s attractiveness, but also raise citizen awareness of the need to pitch in and keep our Township clean.”

Piedici said there has been a large accumulation of more trash at the highway entrance and exits that were cleaned upas a project organized by a township beautification task force. She said the garbage piles up quickly despite regular removal by the municipal community service staff.

Last fall, volunteers reportedly collected 50 large trash bags worth of  lunch bags, beer cans and other discarded trash, much of it apparently tossed from vehicles heading along entrance and exit ramps for Route 287 interchanges 30A and 30B.

For further information, contact Piedici at kpiedici@gmail.com.