Protect Our Local Watershed at Our Annual Stream Cleanup in Ewing

Calling all our Ewing Friends and Neighbors: Let’s work together to show the West Branch of the Shabakunk Creek some much needed TLC on Saturday, April 15th 1 -11 am. Pre-registration required.

Mayor Bert Steinman, the Ewing Green Team, and The Watershed Institute have partnered to offer a Ewing Township stream cleanup for an early celebration of Earth Day 2023. Volunteer with friends and neighbors to help remove trash, litter, and debris from the West Branch of the Shabakunk Creek. Over the past decade, 7,900 enthusiastic volunteers have removed more than 141,000 pounds of trash from local area communities. These cleanup events are a great way to get outside, work together to keep our waterways clean, and improve wildlife habitat.  

This Ewing event will concentrate cleanup efforts at the West Branch of the Shabakunk Creek at the Home Depot location, 1621 North Olden Ave., Ewing.

Pre-registration is required! 

This is a rain or shine event.  Long pants, gloves, and closed-toed shoes are highly recommended.   Please don’t forget to bring the gloves and your reusable water bottle!  This is an in-person program. Masks are optional. A parent or legal guardian is required to attend with all children. To attend this event, you must agree to the terms of the waiver included during registration.

Thank You Giveaways!

Trees NOT Tees! This year The Watershed will be offering cleanup volunteers a complimentary tree sapling to say thank you for helping keep our waterways clean! We will not be offering stream cleanup t-shirts as we typically do to reduce our environmental impact and conserve limited natural resources. One cotton t-shirt takes 650 gallons of water to produce while a single oak tree can host 532 species of caterpillars, 147 species of birds, 120 species of mammals, and 60 species of reptiles and amphibians. In addition, one mature white oak can absorb over 2000 gallons stormwater per year which can reduce stormwater runoff pollution, flooding, and recharge groundwater.   

Sponsors

The following generous sponsors make these cleanups possible. Bloomberg, Colgate-Palmolive, Eli Lilly & Company, American Rivers, and New Jersey Clean Communities have provided funding, volunteers, and supplies.  

Event Summary

Event: Stream Cleanupat the West Branch of the Shabakunk Creek.
Date: Saturday, April 15th
Time: 9 – 11 am
Location: Home Depot Parking Lot, 1621 North Olden Ave., Ewing.
Cost: a couple of hours of your time
Pre-registration required: Click Here

MCIA Shredding Event This Saturday, October 8th

The Mercer County Improvement Authority will be sponsoring a County Document Shredding event this Saturday, October 8th from 9 am – 12 noon.  It will be held at 641 South Broad Street, Trenton, Lot 4, across the Mercer County Administration Building.  

A maximum of eight boxes and/or bags of paper per vehicle will be accepted.  This event is for paper only, no household chemicals will be accepted.

This Shred Day is open to Mercer County residents only; no commercial businesses will be allowed. 
Proof of residency (driver’s license) will also be required.

For more information call 609-278-8086 or visit www.mcianj.org.

The final Ewing Township Shred Day of 2022 will be Saturday, October 15 from 9 am – 1 pm at the Municipal Building.

It’s Scarecrow Time Again!  Ewing’s Annual Scarecrow Scavenger Hunt Returns!

Ewing Township’s All-Around Town Scarecrow Scavenger Hunt is back again this year for the 4th year running. 

Mayor Bert Steinmann said that the previous years’ events had seen great success, with hundreds of people participating and sending in photos of people on the hunt. “People love scavenger hunts,” he said. “It’s a great way to learn more about the community, for businesses to gain recognition, and for families and kids to have a great time on the hunt.” 

The All-Around Town Scavenger Hunt arose from the Ewing Green Team’s original Scarecrow Contest, where residents would create their scarecrows and bring them to the Ewing Senior and Community Center to display and compete for People’s Choice prizes at the Annual Trunk or Treat event. 

The Scavenger Hunt, sponsored by the Ewing Green TeamEwing Arts Commission and Art Has No Boundaries, was born of the idea to involve and promote local businesses, as well as residents and organizations, and through some innovative clues, help hunters to learn more about the community.   It lasts almost the whole month of October, beginning on October 1st, and ending on Oct 27th at 4:30 pm.  Winners will be announced at the Recreation Department’s Trunk or Treat event on Saturday, Oct 29th.

In years past, each scarecrow had its own unique riddle which would lead the way to its location.  This year, the group is trying something new with picture clues.  Hunters must track down each of the 36 scarecrows on the ballot and enter its name in the form.  The more scarecrows you find, the more entries you get into the Grand Prize drawings. 

We’re keeping many of the prizes from last year and adding some new surprises. You still get to vote for your 2 (two) favorite scarecrows – a favorite residential winner and a favorite business/organization will each get $ prizes. And the Green Team will still select the one scarecrow that best ‘upcycles’ and/or uses recycled materials. And we will still have a raffle winner from all the hunters’ entries!  

Also returning this year is our very own Stan By Mee, our scarecrow that will be at 4 different Ewing locations during the month.   Each week in October, on Sunday, check the Ewing Green Team’s Facebook page for a new clue for “Where’s Stan?” Once you find him at his new location; take a selfie of someone in your ‘hunting party’ and email the Ewing Green Team at ewinggreenteam@gmail.com for a chance to be entered into the Stan By Mee drawing.

“We love Halloween,” stated Scarecrow Chairwoman Lisa Feldman. “Celebrating the fall holidays and the arrival of cooler weather with our Scarecrow Scavenger Hunt is a lot of fun for us as well as our participants.   Scavenger hunters regularly send us great comments about how much they enjoy figuring out the clues and finding our scarecrows.   We believe it’s a fun time for scarecrow hosts and hunters alike and a wonderful way to celebrate the Ewing community.”

The All-Around Town Scarecrow Scavenger Hunt begins on Saturday, October 1st and ends on Thursday, October 27th at 4:30 pm, giving you plenty of time to hunt them all down.  Winners will be announced at the Trunk or Treat event at the Ewing Senior and Community Center, 999 Lower Ferry Road on Saturday, Oct 29th at 4:30 pm.  Contest rules and ballots can be found online at https://ewinggreenteam.org/scarecrow-scavenger-hunt-rules/.  Paper ballots can also be picked up at the Ewing Community and Senior Center (ESCC) at 999 Lower Ferry Road or Hollowbrook Community Center at 320 Hollowbrook Drive.

So, come on out and enjoy the hunt!  It’s a great way to meet your neighbors, perhaps discover some businesses you weren’t aware of, and enjoy our community.  Challenge yourself to find our ‘crows, earn chances for a variety of prizes, and begin your autumn adventure.      

Community Fest Bike Rodeo

For Kids ages 4 – 12

Kids, bring your bike (and helmet) to Community Fest!

Community Fest Bike Rodeo

Kids ages 4 -12 are invited to the Ewing Police Department’s and Ewing Green Team’s free 2022 Community Fest Bike Rodeo.  Aimed at teaching the rules of the road, as well as some safety tips for both the rider and their cycle, the event will run from 11 am to 1 pm, Saturday, September 24th at the parking lot next to Barnes & Noble in TCNJ’s Campus Town.

Officers, along with volunteers from the Ewing Green Team and TCNJ students, will teach hand signals to be used while riding, as well as provide additional safety tips.  Participants will also test their skills on the obstacle course, which will feature educational stops along the way.  They’ll also learn when to watch out for pedestrians at cross walks and to watch out for cars.

Our bike rodeo also stresses how important it is to wear a helmet while riding. Helmet fittings and replacements will be provided by Capital Health (while supplies last).  Kids will learn how to properly put on a helmet and when it’s time to transition to another bike or helmet.

Bicycle Safety Checks

Staff from Hart’s Cyclery Bike Shop and Ewing Police will be on hand to perform basic safety checks for those whose bikes need some attention. 

Registration

Pre – registration is recommended to make your experience at the Rodeo go more smoothly, but not required. For more information, contact our Community Relations officers Detective Irving Bruno at 609-882-1313 ext. 7013 or Detective Danielle Bethea at 609-882-1313 ext. 7781.

Recycle Your Bicycle

Our Bike Rodeo is also an excellent opportunity to help make a child happy with a new bike while decluttering your garage and storage areas!  Bring your old and dilapidated bikes to the rodeo during our hours of 11 am – 1 pm.  They will be refurbished by the volunteers of the Boys and Girls Club Bike Exchange at Capitol Plaza in Ewing and put to good use. 

(All proceeds benefit the Mercer County Boys & Girls Club.  The Boys & Girls Clubs of Mercer County Bike Exchange is a volunteer-led enterprise that repairs donated bicycles and sells them at modest prices at its Ewing location at Capitol Plaza, raising funds for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Mercer County and promoting biking for transportation and pleasure among low-income families.)

Sponsors of the 2022 Bike Rodeo include Ewing Township, Ewing Police Department, the Ewing Green TeamThe College of New JerseyCampus Town, and Capital Health.

With the support of our event sponsors, everyone can bike safely in the community. This event will be held rain or shine.  Cancellation of event in case of truly inclement weather will be uploaded on Ewing Township’s social media outlets.

Event Details

Date: Saturday September 24th
Time: 11 am – 1 pm
Location: Parking lot next to Barnes & Noble in TCNJ’s Campus Town
Cost: FREE
Ages: Kids, age 4 – 12
Bike Checks| Bike Skills Course | Bicycle Safety Education | 
Free Helmet Fittings | Replacements provided by Capital Health (while supplies last)

Requirements

  • Bring your bike and helmet
  • All participants must be accompanied by an adult.
  • Registration and waiver required (please register in advance to help things run more smoothly at the event)

Come Ride with the Ewing Green Team at the 7th Annual Community Fall Spin Bike Tour Set for September 24th

Mayor Bert Steinmann, the Ewing Green Team and the Ewing Recreation Department invite you to ride with the Ewing Green Team at the 7th Annual Community Fall Spin Bike Tour on Saturday, September 24, 2022 from 8:15 a.m. to 11 a.m..  Pedal your way through town with your fellow Ewingites, with a guided Police escort, and enjoy a morning of exercise, fun and camaraderie. 

The Fall Spin will kick off Ewing’s Community Fest celebration at TCNJ, starting and ending at Campus Town.  Each year event proceeds are donated to a different charity.  This year’s charity is Mercer Street Friends, a local non-profit dedicated to providing services that build community, nurture self-worth and independence, and offer resources for children, families, and communities to overcome poverty and its lasting effects.

Individuals or teams, ages 18 years and older are encouraged to register early as there is a maximum number of 50 riders allowed. “We would love participants to sign up as individuals or come as a team of friends, family members or co-workers,” says EGT Member and Bike Tour Chairperson, Garry Keel. The Fall Spin registration fee is $25 prior to September 17th and $30 thereafter.  We will attempt to provide tee-shirts for late registrants, but they may not be received in time for the ride.  All persons registering by September 17th will receive a T-shirt. Day-of-event registration will begin at 7:45am.

Participants will enjoy a leisurely paced, 11-mile ride through Ewing Township neighborhoods. The tour will be escorted by Ewing Police, and rest stops and free bike inspections will be available.

 So, plan to join us at our Annual Bike Tour of Ewing, as we promote healthy lifestyles, raise awareness of bicycle safety and promote a more bikeable Ewing.  

For more information on the Ewing Fall Spin, please visit https://ewinggreenteam.org/ewingfallspin, email ewinggreenteam@gmail.com or call Garry M. Keel at 609-902-8722. 

Ride Details

Date: September 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 fill out the form with your computer or sign up using CommunityPass)
Meet Up: 7:45 a.m.  at Campus Town
Ride Start: 8:15 a.m.
Cost
: $25 per person (includes a free tee shirt if your registration is received by September 17th.) $30 per person if received after Sept 17th.
Police Escort:  The Ewing police will once again escort us through intersections.
Registration:

  • Online:
    You must create a user account (a one-time requirement for all Ewing programs) and fill out all required information.  This will populate our registration form and waiver.  There is an additional $3 fee to cover processing costs.  Do not use this system if you are being comped for the ride.
  • In Person:
    Register and pay at the ESCC Recreation Department Office, 999 Lower Ferry Road.
  • Phone in registration by Credit Card
    Call 609-883-1776 Ext. 2
  • By mail
    Fill out the registration form and mail it along with your check made out to the Ewing Twp. Recreation Departmentto:

Ted Forst (Director)
Ewing Recreation Department
Ewing Senior and Community Center
999 Lower Ferry Road
Ewing, NJ 08628

Registrations and payment must be received by Saturday, September 17th to be eligible for the $25 rate.

Standard safety gear (helmets) and road compliant bicycles are REQUIRED.   Specific rules are on our CUE SHEET (coming soon).

The EGT requests that you say NO to those single use plastic water bottles…

Riders are encouraged to bring their own re-usable water bottles and fill them at our rest stops.

Printable Event Flyer