I am very dismayed and disappointed to learn of the National Park Service’s approval of the Middlesex County government’s plan to transform county-owned Thomas A. Edison Park into a major sports complex destination.

Despite hundreds of public comments opposing this project sent to the National Park Service, it has the appearance of a done deal on the part of the county commissioners, U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone, D-6th Dist., and even Gov. Phil Murphy. This is before many in the community even learned about the plan, reacted to it and commented on its environmental impact.

This project in Edison Township would eliminate a free neighborhood park with established trees in favor of a fee-based venue that would bring traffic, air pollution, noise and lighting, to an already high-traffic area. It would be in addition to a new baseball stadium and other construction on the campus of nearby Middlesex College.

Importantly, creating 14 plastic turf fields, some converted from natural grass, and a 1,300-space asphalt parking lot is environmentally wrong. This will create heat islands, utilize surfaces that will make sports injuries more likely. and possibly contaminate ground water when the plastic and rubberized particles break down and leach out of the fields.

The Lower Raritan Watershed Partnership wrote an excellent letter to the park service opposing this project based on science. Apparently, our political leaders are willing to bypass the input of the community they are supposed to serve, put the health of their constituents and the environment at risk, and negatively affect the quality of life in our area, in order to bring in the bucks.

Esther Barcun, Edison

Morris team best for environment

As a concerned resident and advocate for Morris County’s natural environment, I am writing to express my support for county board of commissioners candidates Justin Strickland, Jonathan Sackett and William “Bud” Ravitz, in their commitment to addressing one of the most pressing issues facing our community: overdevelopment.

Morris County, with rich history, scenic landscapes, and precious open spaces, is under increasing threat from unchecked development that endangers both our environment and our quality of life.

Democrats Strickland, Sackett and Ravitz understand that growth is inevitable, but it must be managed wisely.

They will work to steer development toward areas that can support it, such as already developed or underutilized sites. while protecting vulnerable habitats and green spaces. This will reduce sprawl and maintain the character of our communities.

Strickland, Sackett and Ravitz will push for thorough environmental reviews before any major development project is approved, to ensure that projects do not threaten our local ecosystems, water quality or public health. Their commitment to transparency means that these assessments would be made available to the public.

This trio will ensure that community stakeholders have a seat at the table when it comes to development decisions. Public hearings and consultations will be a key part of the process,

The Democratic candidates have pledged to prioritize open space preservation and work with local conservation groups to acquire and protect more land. They understand that parks, forests, and farmlands are crucial for maintaining biodiversity and providing recreational opportunities for future generations.

Morris County is at a crossroads. We can either allow short-term gains to dictate long-term consequences, or we can elect leaders who are willing to fight for a sustainable future. Strickland, Sackett and Ravitz will stand up for smart, responsible growth while safeguarding the natural beauty that makes the county special.

Irene Sergonis, Budd Lake

Note: Democrats Strickland, Sackett and Ravitz are running against incumbent Republicans Deborah Smith, John Krickus and Stephen Shaw, for three seats on a seven-member board that is currently all-Republican.

Time to send Gottheimer packing

Choosing between congressional candidates is a very personal matter. In the 5th District, should we continue in “La-lLa-Land,” as we have for the last several years with incumbent Democrat Josh Gottheimer, or shore up our britches and confront reality.

Gottheimer focuses on issues like pregnancy crisis centers that do not offer abortion as an option, while he ignores commenting on boys and girls that are being subjected to pre-K drag queen shows, public school libraries stocked with deviant pornographic reading materials, and school counselors ready to explore with children the gamut of sexual practices and gender preferences.

Whereas Gottheimer cautiously limits himself mostly to being an advocate of low taxes, his Nov. 5 opponent, Republican Mary Jo Guinchard, tackles all the aforementioned issues.

She also addresses that New Jersey is being overrun by an estimated 450,000 unauthorized immigrants. Gottheimer expresses little concern that non-citizens could be voting illegally in our elections. But Guinchard understands that a flood of non-citizens may not be bound by any respect for America’s laws and culture, something that may lead to serious problems for society.

Refusing to acknowledge serious societal issues is Gottheimer’s approach to winning an election, as long as the majority of the public also continues to ignore the consequences f But, if a majority of voters becomes more aware of the negative impact of these recent controversial events before Nov. 5, they can choose a true representative of their best interests by voting for candidate Guinchard.

Andrew Godfried, Park Ridge

Tell ‘em why your vote counts

Perhaps you’ve heard a younger person say this year, “I’m not voting.” Perhaps you asked, “Why?” And they said, “Why bother? What difference does it make?”

Why bother, indeed.

Remember the first time you voted? Why not share your story about that with a young person who states that their vote won’t matter?

As an 18-year old, I remember as the curtains of the voting booth closed behind me, feeling immense responsibility and privilege. In that space, I made a difference in our democratic process.

To younger people, I say, I vote because my maternal grandmother couldn’t vote until 1920, although her brothers could — since they were men. I tell those younger people, ”Talk to your older relatives and friends. Find out what those experiences of voting or being denied the vote felt like.”

If you don’t “like” a particular candidate, consider being a multi-issue voter. Consider all of the issues and not personal biases, because we live in a multifaceted country and world.

I vote because I believe in generations helping each other, older to younger; younger to older. This year, and every year, I cast my vote for our future.

Jane Egan, North Haledon

Supply chain goes bananas

Before the three-day-old dockworkers’ strike was ended by a partial contract settlement, panic buying and hoarding were back in full swing.

I shopped in a big-box store early last week and was surprised to see hordes of shoppers buying up products made in the United States. The same goes for the grocery stores. These items generally do not need to use port facilities.

However, shelves containing the bananas and other tropical fruit that must be imported, usually via international cargo ship, were piled high.

What am I missing?

Elizabeth Bride, Gillette

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Over the last few years, a North Jersey Girl Scout has turned a pandemic project into a statewide effort to promote awareness for monarch butterflies as well as protect and improve wildlife habitats in her town and around the state.

The monarch butterfly, according to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, is the most iconic butterfly in North America. Monarchs hold scientific and environmental value as well as economic and cultural value in Canada, the United States and Mexico.

Tourists once flocked to Cape May to see the monarchs fly through New Jersey on their annual fall migration to Mexico. However, over several decades, the monarch population has steeply declined.

Monarch butterflies are currently listed by the NJDEP as a species of interest.

During the pandemic in 2020, Elizabeth Gillen, 17, of Mountain Lakes joined a competition with her friends to improve something within the community. Although it was challenging as much of life was still virtual, they decided to turn to social media and connect with butterfly enthusiasts around the state.

The group created a Facebook page called Morris Monarchs and shared a survey in online gardening groups, offering free milkweed seeds to anyone who wanted to plant them before the winter of 2021.

Milkweed is vital to monarch butterflies as it is the only plant upon which monarch caterpillars can live and feed, according to the NJDEP.

Over 1,000 people responded, and Gillen and her friends began sending out seeds and tracking the seeds’ location on a map. This effort won them first place in New Jersey in the competition.

As June 2023 approached, it was time for Gillen to start working on her gold award, the most prestigious award that a Girl Scout can receive.

“My gold award was a natural continuation of the seed giveaway,” said Gillen, who is a senior at the Morris County School of Technology. “I wanted to continue to raise awareness for monarch butterflies.”

In obtaining her gold award, Gillen worked with Mountain Lakes local leadership to connect the borough with the National Wildlife Federation’s Mayors’ Monarch Pledge. According to the National Wildlife Federation’s website, by taking the pledge you are “committing to both restore habitat in your community and encourage your residents to do the same.”

Mountain Lakes Mayor Khizar Sheikh signed the pledge in 2023.

Gillen also connected the borough to the National Wildlife Federation’s Community Wildlife Habitats program, which partners with “communities of all kinds to become healthier, sustainable, and more wildlife friendly.” Gillen is the community manager for the Mountain Lakes Certified Wildlife Community.

“I am fortunate that Mountain Lakes is a borough that has a strong history of protecting wildlife and maintaining the natural beauty of the area,” said Gillen. “Everyone I approached in the borough supported my proposal.”

October is Monarch Butterflies Month in New Jersey

Another goal that Gillen set out to accomplish while obtaining her gold award was to dedicate a month to monarch butterflies in New Jersey.

“I researched existing town and county proclamations for monarchs across … I could not find any state dedicating a month to monarchs and wanted New Jersey to be the first,” said Gillen.

At the beginning of the year, Gillen wrote a detailed letter to Gov. Phil Murphy, sharing what she had accomplished with her friends during the pandemic and the work she has been doing since then in Mountain Lakes.

She described how a proclamation would complement the many existing conservation efforts in the state by New Jersey Fish and Wildlife, the New Jersey Audubon, and many other organizations dedicated to preserving land for the benefit of native plants and insects like the monarch.

Gillen submitted her request to the state in early 2024 and it was signed by Murphy on Sept. 13, proclaiming October of 2024 as Monarch Butterflies Month in New Jersey.

“I hope New Jersey’s proclamation inspires monarch lovers in other states to request similar proclamations. Proclamations show symbolic support for monarchs and raises awareness of their importance,” said Gillen, who hopes that her project will help create more appreciation for monarchs and other pollinators and will encourage people to experience monarchs first-hand.

Gillen was awarded her gold award in August.

Going forward, Gillen plans to continue managing her Facebook pages, Morris Monarchs and Mountain Lakes Wildlife, and connecting with butterfly enthusiasts.

She will be giving away milkweed seeds to plant through the end of October. If you are interested, you can contact girlscoutgold7707@gmail.com.

Monarch butterfly population in decline

Monarch butterflies have a large habitat range, according to the NJDEP, spanning across the entire North American continent.

In the Garden State, they are among the group of native pollinators that assist in the reproduction of crops, playing a crucial role in the success of New Jersey’s agriculture and economy.

Every fall, migratory monarch butterflies fly through the state on their trek to Mexico for the winter, stopping in Cape May to rest before continuing their journey across the Delaware Bay.

“Cape May, New Jersey is a crucial stopover for monarch butterflies during their migration. Cape May is perfectly situated along the monarchs’ migration path,” said Suzanne Tilton, also known as the Butterfly Lady. “The peninsula acts like a natural funnel at the southern tip of New Jersey, drawing thousands of butterflies as they travel from Canada to Mexico.”

Cape May is home to the New Jersey Audubon’s Monarch Monitoring Project, which has been tracking and studying monarchs for over three decades, helping scientists understand their migration patterns and the challenges that they face.

Unfortunately, monarchs currently face many challenges including habitat loss, extreme weather, predators, toxic pesticides and climate change, which have all taken a toll on fragile populations, according to the New Jersey Audubon.

“The destruction of milkweed plants, which are essential for monarch caterpillars, is a significant threat. Urban development and agricultural practices, especially the use of herbicides, have reduced the availability of milkweed which is the only plant monarchs use to lay their eggs,” said Tilton. “Changes in climate affect the migratory patterns and breeding grounds of monarchs.”

She continued, “Extreme weather events and shifting temperatures can disrupt their life cycle and migration routes. Perfect example is Hurricane Helene wreaking damage along important migrating routes monarchs use along the Appalachian Mountains.”

Tilton also pointed out the fact that pesticides, particularly neonicotinoids can be harmful to monarchs, killing them or reducing the availability of nectar plants and milkweed.

Finally, Tilton said that deforestation in their wintering grounds in Central Mexico reduces the areas that monarchs cluster for warmth and protection.

According to the NJDEP, the monarch population is estimated to have declined some 90% between 1990 and 2014, dropping from approximately one billion butterflies to 35 million butterflies.

“The monarch is an umbrella species, it tells us how other pollinators are struggling,” said Tilton. “The monarch butterfly is a great indicator, and we need to start paying attention. If the monarch butterfly is struggling, other pollinators and insects are struggling too.”

According to Tilton, the most important thing that people can do to help is to create a habitat in their yards for monarchs by planting milkweed for the caterpillars and flowers for the adults to feed on. It is also extremely important to stop using pesticides in our gardens.

“People need to realize the importance of protecting and creating habitat for monarchs,” said Tilton. “Projects like Lizzie’s help bring awareness to the public.”

The game between the Northeast Generals and the visiting New Jersey Titans finished 4-3.

New Jersey’s victory puts an end to a six-game losing streak.

The Generals opened strong, at the beginning of the game with

Benjamin Campeau

scoring in the first period, goal assisted by

Masen Culley

and

Jake Boulanger

.

The Titans’

Jack Hillier

tied the game 1-1 late in the first period, assisted by

Ryan Shaw

and

Kyle Kim

.

Logan Renkowski took the lead with a goal in the third period, assisted by Jack Hillier and Owen Leahy.

Kai Dunits

tied it up 2-2 with a goal three minutes later, assisted by

Jack DeMoura

.

James Schneid

also took the lead with a goal two minutes later, assisted by Jack Hillier and

Blake Jones

.

Shawn Leary

then increased the lead to 4-2 with a goal three minutes later.

The Generals narrowed the gap to 4-3 with 01.07 remaining of the third period after a goal from

Joseph Mcgraw

, assisted by Benjamin Campeau.

Coming up:

The Generals travel to Danbury on Friday at 6 p.m. CST at Danbury Ice Arena. The Titans host Danbury to play the Hat Tricks on Tuesday at 7 p.m. CST at Danbury Ice Arena.

Read more NAHL coverage

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