Supplementalreportwithaddons 2

ANJEC awards 2024 open space grants By Elizabeth Ritter, ANJEC Deputy Director We are pleased to announce the winners of the ANJEC Open Space Stewardship Grant program, now in its eleventh year. One-year grants were awarded to 16 New Jersey municipal Environmental Commissions (ECs) for the 2024 grant cycle. Spotlight on ECs The primary objective of the grant program is to increase community awareness and appreciation of local open space, ultimately increasing public support and funding for open space stewardship. Another objective is to highlight the ECs who accomplish untold amounts of important work in their towns, but often operate under the radar. ANJEC's Open Space Stewardship 2024 Grant Program is underwritten by the Candace McKee Ashmun Grant Fund, established in 2020 with funds raised in memory of ANJEC’s first executive director and from generous donors like you. The winning projects for 2024 were varied, including: trail maintenance, pollinator gardens, invasive species education and removal, educational signage, rain gardens and a new innovative sports tournament to Francesca Mundrick, Pitman Environmental Commission, pictured with Joseph Postorino and Ken Goldstein from the LSRPAF in front of the Hitting 4 Habitat project funded through the 2024 grant round Credit ANJEC benefit habitat! The following communities were selected for 2024 grants: Chatham Township, Closter, East Greenwich, Emerson, Hackensack, Haworth, Jersey City, Lambertville, Lawrence Twp., Long Branch City, Madison, Norwood, Pennington Borough, Raritan Twp., Pitman, and Somerville. Watch for more information about these projects on our social media platforms in the months to come! continued on next page Veolia representative Sonja Clark pictured with representatives from Hackensack, Haworth, Closter, Emerson, and Norwood Environmental Commissions at Haworth Water Treatment Plant Credit Veolia SUSTAINABLY PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER ANJEC REPORT – Autumn 2024 25