Sustainable Ewing Green Team

And the Winners Were…

October 27, 2015October 17, 2016Leave a comment

Last Saturday, October 24^th was all that you could hope a fall day to be. It was crisp and cool, but sunny – the perfect day for a gathering of autumn devotees and trick or treaters at the Ewing Green Team’s 2^nd Annual Scarecrow Contest and the Township Recreation Department’s annual Trunk or Treat event.

Thirteen scarecrows showcased the creative and recycling talents of Ewing’s cub scouts and girl scouts, high school students, seniors, and area residents. We had Zombies, a Scare (i.e. bar)-tender, Madam Von Gotcha, an Aloha Grandma, a Cowboy, Scarecrow Gothic entries and more.

The judges, consisting of township officials and members of the Arts Commission, had their work cut out for them, they were all so creative and unique. However, the decision had to be made and in a very close event the winners were:

1^st Place – Aloha Grandma – $100
By the Ewing High School Class of 2017
2^nd Place – Linda – $50
By Khiya and Cora
3^rd Place – Scare tender – $25
By Stephanie Prettyman

Check the photos for details of our entries. We’re hoping that you’ll all be back for more creative fun next year!

Trifecta of “Green” Events This Saturday, Oct 24th

October 21, 2015October 17, 2016Leave a comment

It’s going to busy a busy day in town this Saturday for those who wish to join in with the EGT to green their lifestyles just a bit. Three events are running which will help you to do so, the Ewing Fall Spin, the final 2015 Shred Day, and the EGT’s 2nd Annual Scarecrow Contest.

The Fall Spin, Ewing’s First ever Bike Tour organized to promote a more bikeable Ewing, will start at the ESCC at 8 a.m. Participants will ride out promptly at 9 to complete an 11 mile journey through the western section of town. Riders will have a police escort and there will be a number of stops at points of interest as well as a rest stop at the River Horse Brewery. (So sorry, but you will have to return after the ride for one of their excellent tours and tastings). The fee is $20. That covers the cost of tee-shirts (if available). If there are insufficient tee-shirts left, we will arrange for you to receive one after the day.

Date: Saturday, October 24th
Time: 8 a.m. – 11 a.m.
Location: Ewing Senior and Community Center, 999 Lower Ferry Rd.

You may also dispose of your sensitive documents safely and securely at Ewing’s final Shred Day of the year, Saturday, Oct 24th from 9 – 1 at the municipal building. Document shredding will be done on site. This service is for Ewing residents only and proof of residency is required.

Members of the Ewing Green Team will be on hand to assist.

Date: Saturday, October 24th
Time: 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Location: Municipal Building

We will finish up the day with our 2nd Annual Scarecrow Contest. The Scarecrows will be on display at the Ewing Community Center at 999 Lower Ferry Road starting Friday, October23^rd. The judging and awarding of cash prizes of $100, $50 and $25 will be during Ewing’s Fall Festival of Fun which includes, a fun ‘Trunk or Treat’, make your own life-size scarecrows to decorate your yard, pumpkin painting, face painting and refreshments.

The day’s event is a joint collaboration with the Ewing Arts Commission; they organize the popular annual ‘Trunk or Treat’ and help judge the Scarecrow Contest along with Mayor Bert Steinmann.

Members of the Ewing High School Arts Club will offer the pumpkin painting and face painting.

The event is from 2:00-4:00 pm and is a wonderful opportunity for residents of Ewing to get together and celebrate the fall season.

Date: Saturday, October 24th
Time: 2 p.m. – 4 p.m..
Location: Ewing Senior and Community Center [ESCC]

So join us at one or all events – on our Bike Tour, Shred 3 for 2015, and the Festival of Fun/Scarecrow contest and help us to promote healthy lifestyles, a more bikeable Ewing, as well as furthering both recycling efforts in town and the arts.

Ewing Fall Spin

October 7, 2015October 17, 2016Leave a comment

Register today to join the Ewing Green Team and the Ewing Bike Advocacy Group, a contingent of citizen volunteers interested in promoting a more bikeable Ewing, at the Ewing Fall Spin on Saturday morning, October 24th. This small coterie of Ewing cyclists have melded their various relevant experiences together to set up a first ever bicycle tour solely within the bounds of Ewing Township. We want to promote sociable, healthy lifestyles, and accessible, safe alternatives to the automobile in getting around. We are sure there will be a debriefing with lessons learned from the event, in the hopes that an annual Ewing ride can be spawned.

We will ride out from and return to the Ewing Senior and Community Center (ESCC) and enjoy a leisurely tour of the western and northwestern sections of our township (west of Rte. 31 – Pennington Road.) Pre-registration is required to guarantee a tee-shirt. The cost is $15 (for registrations received prior to October 17th) to cover the cost of tee-shirts. Registrations received after the 17th, including the day of the ride, cost $20. We will attempt to provide tee-shirts for late registrants but they may not be received in time for the ride.

So plan to join us at our first Ewing Fall Spin, as we work to raise awareness of bicycle safety and promote healthy lifestyles and a more bike friendly town. If you are 18 or older, and live in or near Ewing Township, please join us on the morning of October 24th at the ESCC, 999 Lower Ferry Rd. To register, find printable pages at https://ewinggreenteam.org/ewingfallspin/. We ask that you patronize the sponsors whose logos appear thereon.

To volunteer or offer suggestions, call Pete Boughton at 609-313-5021or email petejbo742@aol.com. Pete Boughton, Immediate Past Chair

Date: October 24th (Rain or shine) In case of really inclement weather and the event has to be cancelled, we will try to contact you by phone and/or email. (so please print legibly on the registration form)
Meet Up: 8 a.m. at the ESCC
Ride Starts: Promptly at 9 a.m.
Cost: $15 per person (includes a free tee shirt if your registration is received by October 17th.) $20 per person if received after Oct 17th.
Registration: You may register and pay at the ESCC Recreation Department Office or mail the filled out the registration form along with your check made out to the Ewing Twp. Recreation Department to:

Joanne Mullowney (Co-Chair)
Ewing Green Team
Ewing Municipal Building
2 Jake Garzio Drive
Ewing, NJ 08628

Registrations and payment must be received by Saturday, October 17th to be eligible for the $15 rate.

The Ewing police will escort us through intersections.

Standard safety gear (helmets) and road compliant bicycles required. (Specific rules will be forthcoming.)

Ewing Fall Festival of Fun at the Ewing Community Center

September 29, 2015October 17, 2016Leave a comment

by Lisa Feldman

The Ewing Green Team is partnering with the Ewing Recreation Department and Arts Commission on Saturday, October 24th to expand Ewing’s annual Trunk or Treat to include pumpkin painting; the displaying, judging and awarding of the cash prizes for the our 2nd Annual Scarecrow Contest; and a special ‘fun’ fall home project – the opportunity for people to make their very own scarecrow to take home to decorate their yards, plus refreshments.

2nd Annual Ewing Green Team Scarecrow Contest

Register today to participate in our 2nd Annual Scarecrow Contest with cash prizes of $100, $50 and $25! Entries will be judged on originality, creativity, design and durability. Let’s see how creative you can be with recycled materials.

All entries must be made of at least 80% of recycled materials in order to qualify. All Ewing residents, organizations, schools, families, businesses are welcome to participate. (And it’s free!) Pre-registration is required. Go to our scarecrow contest page for details and to register. Any questions, call Lisa at 609-620-0722.

Judging will be on Saturday, October 24th at 4:00 during the Ewing Community Center’s Fall Festival of Fun. Judging will be done by our Ewing Arts Commission and own Mayor Steinmann* (schedule permitting). Completed Scarecrows must be dropped off at the Ewing Community Center no later than Friday, October 23rd, by 4:00 in order to be included in the contest. We ask that entries remain at the center until Nov 1st and may be picked up after that date.

Some limited supplies will be available at the Fall Festival to enable last minute registrants to participate in the Scarecrow contest. However, you must register and complete your Scarecrow by 3:30 in order to be displayed for judging at 4:00.

*There are 15 wooden frames for your scarecrows available on a first-come-first-serve basis 6’ tall x 3’ wide if needed. Please check off on registration if you are interested in frame. *

Date: Saturday, October 24th
Time: 2 – 4:30 p.m.
Location: Ewing Senior and Community Center
Cost: Free
Requirements: Just bring your creativity and willingness to join in the fun!

Busy Saturday for Recycling – RX Disposal in Ewing and MCIA Hazardous Waste Disposal Day

September 26, 2015October 17, 20161 Comment

Two unrelated recycling events will be occurring today, the MCIA’s Hazardous Waste Disposal Day and a drug disposal day. Please be sure to take advantage of this opportunity to dispose of your recyclables or unwanted prescriptions safely. Read on for more information.

Hazardous Waste Disposal Day

The MCIA will be running its final Household Waste and Electronics Disposal Day of the year today, September 26th from 8 a.m. – 2 p.m. It will be held at John T. Dempster Fire School, Lawrence Station Rd in Lawrence Twp.

Accepted for recycling are the following:

Materials Not Accepted:

For Mercer County Residents Only. Only Residential Waste will be accepted, i.e. no Commercial Business waste. Proof of Residency will be required (Driver’s License). For more information call 609-278-8086 or visit WWW.MCIANJ.ORG.

National Take Back Day

The Ewing Police Department will be participating in the DEA’s biannual National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. This is a great opportunity for those who missed the previous events, or who have subsequently accumulated unwanted, unused prescription drugs, to safely dispose of them. Just go to the Ewing Police Department at 2 Jake Garzio Drive. Enter the main door and make a left to go down the hallway to the Police Department. The Ewing Police will have an officer available between 10 and 2 to take the items. All medications are accepted, prescription and over-the-counter, as well as liquids.

All medications are accepted, prescription and over-the-counter, as well as liquids. Hypodermic needles are not accepted. The disposal is handled completely securely; all accepted medications with any labels that you leave on the containers are placed in a large cardboard box, lined with plastic. At the end of the day the contents are taken to the prosecutor’s office. The DEA will pick up and incinerate.

Guidelines for Drug Disposal

If you are unable to participate on the day the FDA’s guidelines for proper drug disposal follow:

Follow any specific disposal instructions on the drug label or patient information that accompanies the medication. Do not flush prescription drugs down the toilet unless this information specifically instructs you to do so.

If no instructions are given on the drug label and no take-back program is available in your area, take them out of their original containers and mix them with an undesirable substance, such as used coffee grounds or kitty litter — to make the medication less appealing and unrecognizable — then put them in a sealable bag, empty can, or other container to prevent the medication from leaking or breaking out of a garbage bag.

You should also remove any identifying information on the label to protect your identity and privacy.

Despite the safety reasons for flushing drugs, some people are questioning the practice because of concerns about trace levels of drug residues found in surface water, such as rivers and lakes, and in some community drinking water supplies. However, the main way drug residues enter water systems is by people taking medications and then naturally passing them through their bodies. That said, the FDA does not want to add drug residues into water systems unnecessarily. The agency reviewed its drug labels to identify products with disposal directions recommending flushing or disposal down the sink. This continuously revised listing can be found at FDA’s Web page on Disposal of Unused Medicines.