Sustainable living highlighted at the annual Mercer Green Fest
The Mercer Green Fest, in its 14th year, has now become a family tradition. Come one and all to this annual FREE, fun, entertaining, and educational festival! Rain or shine, we are expecting over 100 vendors including sustainable businesses, farmers market, non-profit organizations, school and student projects, art, energy programs, and much more.
There will be lots to do and see. Electric cars are becoming so popular and the Green Fest will feature one of the largest displays on the east coast. Speak with an expert while checking out the different kinds of makes and models available. The Mercer Transportation Management Association (TMA) will be handing out copies of their new trail network plan just in time for your family to plan a spring bike ride.
Fun for the Kids…
The Green Fest is a family-friendly event with a fantastic live music and show line-up:
11:30am-12:30pm Miss Amy’s Band
12:30pm-1:00pm Tucker’s Tales Puppet Show
1:00pm-2:00pm Eyes of the World Zoo
2:00pm-2:30pm Tucker’s Tales Puppet Show
2:30pm-3:30pm Solar Man
At least 7 schools and scout groups will be showcasing their sustainable science projects. Children can make their very own puppets. Food and snacks will be available by Terhune Orchards all day with treats such as cider, donuts, soup, chili, cookies, and apples. Plan to spend the afternoon with us!
Date: Saturday, March 14, 2020 Time: 11am-4pm Location: Rider University Student Recreation Center, 2083 Lawrenceville Rd, Lawrenceville, NJ. Cost: Free and open to the Public
Help shape Ewing’s (and New Jersey’s) future with your response.
This year in 2020 the U.S. government will begin its decennial count of the population. Sometime in mid-March you should receive an invitation to complete the 2020 Census in the mail. With your response you will continue a process that first began in 1790 and has occurred every ten years since on years ending in “0.” The United States census is constitutionally mandated and attempts to count every person living in the U.S. once, and only once, where they live. Your response is requested by phone, by mail or online.
It is vitally important that each Ewing resident is accounted for in the Census.
What’s at Stake
Fair Representation
The results of the census are used for the reapportionment of seats for the House of Representatives for the coming decade. Census results will determine how many seats New Jersey is entitled to in the House and will help ensure that any redistricting of congressional districts which takes place after the census will be fair. Officials will also redraw the boundaries of legislative districts for representation in the state Assembly.
How does the 2020 Census Affect Representation?
Funding
You’ve probably heard that (overall) New Jersey is a “donor” state which means that New Jerseyans send to Washington more funds than are returned to us in the form of federal funds, grants, and support for the state, counties and communities. That money is spent on hospitals, schools, roads, public works, and other vital programs and includes school lunches, plans for highways, support for firefighters and families in need… The Decennial Census provides the benchmark data for how the funds are distributed. An accurate count is vital in guaranteeing that funds are fairly returned to New Jersey residents through these programs.
How the Census Affects Federal Funding
Data Analysis
Census data is analyzed by local government, universities, non-profits, the business community to inform their research and planning. Governments use the census for public safety and emergency preparedness. Businesses use the data for market research and decisions such as where to build plants, offices and stores which create jobs. The data is used for infrastructure and transportation planning, medical research, and much more.
What You Need to Know
If you live in the United States, you are required by law to complete the 2020 Census.
In 2020, for the first time ever, the U.S. Census Bureau will accept responses online. You still have the option of responding by phone or mail if that is your preference.
You will be asked a few simple questions such as name, age, date of birth, sex, race, relationships, and the number of people who live in your home, including children. The goal is to count people once (and only once) where they live on Census Day (April 1st).
They will inquire about national origin (Latino, Hispanic or Spanish) to monitor compliance with anti-discrimination provisions, such as under the Voting Rights Act and the Civil Rights Act.
They ask whether a home is owned or rented to create statistics about home ownership and renters. This serves as an indicator of the nation’s economy and helps in administering housing programs and informing planning decisions.
You will NOT be asked to supply your Social Security number, bank or credit card numbers, for money or donations, or anything related to political parties.
Count everyone under your roof as of April 1, 2020. If there are special circumstances such as students, foreign citizens, US military personnel, snow birds, etc. please check the Special Circumstances section on the Census Bureau’s Who to Count page.
The Census Bureau will ask for a phone number in case they need to contact you. They will never share that number and will contact you only if needed for official Census Bureau business.
Your answers to the 2020 Census are safe, secure and protected by federal law. Your answers can only be used to produce statistics. They cannot be used against you in any way by any government agency: not by the FBI, the CIA, DHS, or ICE! By law, all responses to the U.S. Census Bureau household and business surveys are kept completely confidential.
The Census Bureau has a robust cyber-security program that incorporates industry best practices and federal security standards for encrypting data.
Census Timeline
March 12 – 20: You should receive an invitation to respond online to the census questionnaire.
March 16 -24: A reminder letter will be sent out.
March 25 – April 3: You will receive a reminder postcard if you haven’t responded yet.
April 1st: Census Day observed.
April 8 – 16: Another reminder letter and a paper questionnaire.
April 20 -27: A final reminder postcard before they follow up in person.
May – July: Census takers will begin visiting homes that haven’t responded to the 2020 Census to help make sure that everyone is counted. If someone comes to your home to collect information for the 2020 Census, check to make sure that they have a valid ID badge, with their photograph, a U.S. Department of Commerce watermark, and an expiration date. Census workers may also carry Census Bureau bags and other equipment with the Census Bureau logo. 2020 Census Job Opportunities
December: The Census Bureau will deliver apportionment counts to the President and Congress as required by law.
Your response matters
We ask that over the next few months you complete your census information and help get the word out about the importance of a complete census for Ewing Township. Look for more information and reminders to come, on our Facebook page, and posters around town as we work to ensure that every Township resident is counted.
Though still in the planning phase, the green teams and environmental commissions of the Mercer County Sustainability Coalition expect to see around 100 ecofriendly businesses, organizations, and schools offering information and incentives to help your family go green and save money at this year’s Mercer Green Fest. So save the date – Saturday, March 14, 2020 from 11am-4pm and join us at the Fest at the Rider University Student Recreation Center on the main campus, 2083 Lawrenceville Rd, Lawrenceville, NJ.
All Mercer County residents are invited to come have fun while learning how to make more environmentally friendly decisions such as “refuse, reduce, reuse, repurpose and recycle”. Bring the whole family and invite your neighbors! The Green Fest is free and open to the public, rain or shine. Local eco-vendors and non-profit organizations, as well as our local school representatives are invited to inform visitors about healthy & clean water, electric vehicles, new biking paths & walking trails, plastic & food waste recycling, wellness & fitness, and other community projects. To register go to our Vendor Sign Up page at mercersustainabilitycoalition.org/green_fair/vendor-sign-up/
There will be plenty of exciting activities for the kids too! This year’s event will feature the Grammy Award nominated Miss Amy’s Band from 11:30am-12:30pm. Miss Amy’s performance isn’t just about listening to the music. She will get the kids up and dancing which is lively form of exercise. Eyes of the Wild will be back and presenting a show on wildlife from 1-2pm. They will showcase fascinating wild animals for children to interact with. Lyle Rowling, owner of Advanced Solar, AKA Solar Man, will demonstrate how solar energy is made with a solar panel from 2-3pm. Listen to the sounds of School of Rock from 1-3pm.
Local artists will display and sell pieces made of upcycled trash. Demonstrations throughout the day will show visitors how to make their own art from transformed by-products and waste materials.
The Ewing Green Team invites you to get into green living this spring at the Mercer Green Fest. This event is still in the planning stages, but typically around 90 ecofriendly businesses, organizations, and schools join us to offer information and incentives to help you go green and save money. This year’s Green Fest will be held on Saturday March 14, 2020 from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. at the Rider University Student Recreation Center, which is located on the main campus, 2083 Lawrenceville Rd, Lawrenceville, NJ.
The Mercer Green Fest, which promotes green living for Mercer County families, is presented by Mercer County Sustainability Coalition. All Mercer county residents are invited to join in on having fun going green! Bring the whole family and invite your neighbors.
The fair is free and open to the public, rain or shine. Visitors can learn about a wide variety of sustainability issues and exciting community projects such as energy efficiency; electric cars -let us inform your next car purchase with our display of over 30 EVs, the largest display in NJ; walking and bike trails; recycling information; science fair and robotics projects from area schools and groups; and much more.
Don’t forget to check out our indoor farmers market which will feature a great variety of locally produced fruits, vegetables, cheeses, and pickles as well as flowers, plants, herbs, and artisan food products.
Date: Saturday, March 14 Time: 11 am – 4 pm Location: Rider University Student Recreation Center, 2083 Lawrenceville Road, Lawrenceville, NJ Cost: Free and open to the public
We love the holidays! It is wonderful time of celebration, of family, of good food and good times. However, despite all of the good times and feelings, it can also be a time of excess, waste, and great stress. With a little thought, we think that you can green your holiday rituals and celebrations and make them more meaningful. Read on for a few tips on how to celebrate the holidays more sustainably.
The Christmas Tree – Real or Fake?
Real
Christmas tree farms encompass many thousands of acres across the US and Canada, keeping an awful lot of carbon out of the atmosphere. And for every tree that is harvested each year, it is typically replaced by more tree seedlings which will continue to sequester carbon dioxide for us.
They provide desperately needed food and habitat for many of our wild creatures.
Make sure that you are buying local to reduce your transportation duns on the environment.
Fake
Fake trees are primarily made of plastic and mostly in China. Transportation costs are high for this option, as are environmental ones from the non-biodegradable plastics to the possible metal toxins such as lead.
Invasive insects such as grubs could also have hitched a ride so they might pose an additional challenge.
However, it is possible that some people with allergies to pollen or terpenes will likely benefit from use of a fake tree. In that case, be sure to store the tree carefully so that it’s many usages over the years will overcome its high carbon footprint.
Consider using a potted tree. It has the advantage of being able to be used for a number of years and then when it becomes too big to move, it can be planted in your yard.
Make the switch to LED lights that use one tenth as much energy as conventional holiday lights and last much longer.
Recycle your old lights. Home Depot offers a recycling option before the holidays, but for those of you just reading this article that certainly won’t work. Holiday LEDs (www.holidayleds.com) offers a year round recycling option. Send them your old lights and they will send you a 15% coupon towards a purchase of new LED lighting. For details, go to their recycling information page.
Use your lights sparingly. Turn them off during the day and when most people are in for the night. Timers are an effective way to manage this. Don’t keep them on when no one is around. This also helps to reduce potential fire hazards.
Gifting
Give the gift of an experience. Whether a show or sporting event you will make memories to cherish.
Buy less. Give the gift of your time. It can be promising to take an elderly relative on errands or doing yard work or other house work. Make homemade coupons or certificates!
Buy local. We can’t emphasize this enough. Not only does it reduce transportation costs, but it also supports your local community.
Minimalize your consumerism. Instead of giving to everyone, have a Secret Santa gift exchange. Add a twist to it with a White Elephant gift exchange and you can have a lot of fun trying to come up with the best gift in the exchange. (Rules)
Give to favorite charity for your group.
Give handmade gifts. They are always so appreciated. From your homemade breads, cookies, or jams to knitted or crocheted items, the list of possibilities are endless.
Give gifts of books and magazines to help spread the “green” bug.
Wrapping
Çhoose sustainable gift wrap. Use recycled wrapping paper. Avoid use metallic or glossy paper that are not so environmentally friendly.
Use gift bags. They are easily reused year after year.
Choose alternatives to commercial gift wrap. This can include fabric, handkerchiefs, bandanas, scarves, thin towels, newspaper, and discarded paper items. Put your gift in a pretty reusable basket.
Ribbons are easy to save and reuse. Cut down used wrapping paper and reuse.
Save your holiday cards and use to make gift tags.
Your Holiday Dinner
Don’t forget to avoid using disposable products – no paper napkins or plates or glasses. This is the time to bring out your holiday tableware. Washing dishes afterwards is a small price to pay to reduce your trash output.
Food. Buy local, free range and organic. All of these options reduce the impact of your food choices on the environment. They also have the added benefit of being the healthier choice.
Avoiding buying beverages in individual containers will also reduce waste.
Don’t forget to compost as much as you can from the holiday leftovers.
These are just a few suggestions out of the many possibilities for minimizing your environmental impact during the holiday season. We think that employing them will help you minimize the amount of waste from your celebrations and also help to minimize your stress levels.
Have a happy and healthy holiday season from the Ewing Green Team!
The Mercer Green Fest, in its 14th year, has now become a family tradition. Come one and all to this annual FREE, fun, entertaining, and educational festival! Rain or shine, we are expecting over 100 vendors including sustainable businesses, farmers market, non-profit organizations, school and student projects, art, energy programs, and much more.
Sustainable Ewing Green Team 