N.J. Environmental Federation Annual Conference. Rutgers Law School. Newark.  By Calvin Schwartz. (“I’m Sick and Tired of Being Sick and Tired”)

I wonder why more citizens here in New Jersey don’t make the time to attend the New Jersey Environmental Federation Conference; an annual event held at Rutgers Law School in Newark. At very least, it’s an exercise in expanding the mind, by learning, listening, growing; it’s just a better thing to do than sleeping to 10 AM on a Saturday, watching television for an hour and making two passes around Costco’s bakery department. One summer back in 1967, I worked in an industrial bakery in Newark and I fell in love with the bakery smell; so that’s why occasionally I make two passes through Costco’s; it’s a close enough smell and it takes me back to the days of the  ‘Lone Ranger.’

So where does this expression come from? “I’m sick and tired of being sick and tired” One of my heroes, Fannie Lou Hamer said this. She was instrumental in organizing Mississippi Freedom Summer for the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), and later became the Vice-Chair of the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party, attending the 1964 Democratic National Convention in Atlantic City, New Jersey.  She believed fervently in the righteousness of the cause of civil rights. This past Saturday, I attended the New Jersey Environmental Federation Conference in Newark at Rutgers Law School. I’ve been going for years, especially looking forward to Dr. Nicky Sheats talk about environmental justice; one of the causes that mean so much. For me, being in college during the decade of civil rights in the 1960’s and then attending the very first Earth Day on April 22nd 1970 and now seeing civil rights and environment become concentric circles of commonality is painfully relevant in 2012.

After breakfast and introductory speeches, the conference separated into workshops. I circled the ‘Enough is Enough’ workshop;  needed to learn how the cumulative effect of pollution in water, air and food is making people sick and what we can do about it. The speakers were amazingly credentialed; Dr. Nicky Sheats, Phd, Center of Urban Development, Steve Anderson, Research Scientist, Peter Montague, PhD, Environmental Research Foundation(I love listening to his rational dire global warming warning words) and Henry Rose, State Coordinator, NJ Environmental Justice Alliance. Henry was passionate and right on when he uttered “environmental apartheid.”   I learned that Hess (Oil) Corporation plans to build a 655-megawatt natural gas power plant in the East Ward (Ironbound) section of Newark, a city and a section dangerously overburdened by an onslaught of environmental affronts, degradation and pollutants.  By a 7-1 vote, the Newark board approved a measure last Thursday night and despite grass roots opposition, the board gave the project the go-ahead in a 15-minute meeting. When I heard this, I raised my hand and suggested that the title of this workshop should be changed to “I’m sick and tired of being sick and tired.”

My using Fannie Lou Hamer’s words simply mean I’m sick and tired of hearing year after year about blatant examples of environmental injustice. There are enough graphs and statistics which clearly show the amount of pollution is related to the color of skin and how much money someone has in their pocket.  People’s health around this new Hess energy center is going to be impacted again. Since the 19th century, Newark Ironbound has been a manufacturing hub, producing everything from iron to beer to paint. In the 1950s and 1960s, Ironbound’s Diamond Alkali/Diamond Shamrock Chemicals Corp. produced Agent Orange, a carcinogenic chemical weapon used extensively in the Vietnam War.

Last year at the Conference, I was outraged when PurGen wanted to build a coal firing plant in Linden and the reason officials gave me was that Linden(already off the charts in asthmatic rates) had the infra-structure in place to support a plant which needed an ocean to dump waste into and railroad tracks to move coal. I raised my hand and pointed out that exactly the same railroad tracks and ocean run up and down the rest of the east coast. There was silence; always silence

Environmentally our time is running out. I voiced this to one of my favorite PhD speakers after his talk.  Global warming and climate change is so here. The Pentagon even knows this and is beginning to project huge population shifts from coastlines and how it impacts our future security. I’ve been observing attitudes that if we put a man on the moon so fast, we can do anything but maybe once we can’t.  Then I got cute. I told the PhD scientist about the movie ‘The Graduate’ when Dustin Hoffman’s character, Benjamin Braddock hears the word “plastics” at his graduation party.  I’ve done the same thing to a myriad of graduates over the years. Most graduates never know what I’m talking about when I whisper, “plastics.” I recently whispered, “water” to my son instead.  “America will get out of debt with China one day when we start shipping them water,” I said semi-seriously. But then the PhD smiled at me.

I was pleased later in the day at the second workshop when I heard NJ State Senator Jennifer Beck mention how she voted against her Republican Party and Governor on certain environmental issues. We need more courage and commitment like that. I keep looking at big picture of things; the planet and how we keep ignoring, violating and nothing changes. Amy Goldsmith, State Director, was honored for her amazing dedicated years of service and unlimited energy. Lisa Plevin, Chief of Staff USEPA, Gray Russell (a former rocker too) Environmental Coordinator, Montclair, John Weber, Northeast Regional Manager, Surfrider Foundation and Robert Westreich, Esq. (he never lost a case with First Amendment right to canvass neighborhoods throughout the state for over 20 years) all received Conference Awards. By the way, the luncheons are worth the price of admission alone.

In the keynote address, Retired Brigadier General Steve Anderson electrified with his candor and passion for environmental change. Here’s a few of his quotes rapid fire. “We’ve got to get off oil. We won’t exist.”  “The increased competition for oil is a threat to our security.”  “Green economy is where the money is.” “President Obama was absolutely right when he stopped the Keystone pipeline.”  General Anderson made a point as soon as he started to speak, saying he was a Republican.  Sometimes he fooled me and other audience members.  He just cares.  “It’s a 20 year process to get off oil. We need to do it under our terms.”  “1000 Americans died moving oil around over there. We spend $20 billion a year on oil. The Pentagon is the world’s largest consumer of energy.”  “We are funding both sides of war. We buy oil and the money ends up in Iran.”  “What troops need is renewable energy.  Afghanistan has 340 days of sun; so harness solar. And wind, geothermal and waste to energy systems.” “How do we help?  Pressure the Department of Defense (DOD).”

At the birthday party after the conference for the 40th year of ‘Clear Water Action,’ General Anderson was quite accessible. I managed to pay him my highest compliment, when I said, “Listening to you, I don’t think anyone could tell what political party you’re in which means you care about doing the right things for people.” He smiled and we took a picture together.  Finally my exhortation to all those within earshot of me; “Get thee to the NJ Environmental Federation conference next year.” I’ve heard it through the grapevine that it increases cerebral vascular circulation which makes you smarter.

Calvin Schwartz

Industrial operations began in 1912 on this site, so I pointed out to the assembled this is the 100th anniversary. I can only wonder why, in the most densely populated state, they allowed an oil reclamation facility to operate from 1950 to 1969 removing metals and PCBs from waste oil. Another company operated on this site and made arsenic pesticides. The poor soil and underground water; an awful lot of it was excavated and disposed of in the cleanup beginning in 2004.

Superfund was established in 1980 to address the country’s most hazardous waste sites. The program was enacted in the wake of Love Canal and its toxic waste dumps back in the 1970’s. Tara-Jean Vitale and I represented NJ Discover TV. At the conclusion, as dignitaries sought car shelter from a hard rain, Farnaz Saghafi accompanied us on a tour of the grounds; the new top soil brought in, a myriad of varieties of newly planted grasses and trees, a pond fed by a nearby stream, sand pits where the newest residents of the site now live; turtles (not teenage nor mutant as the site is clean and constantly monitored by the EPA), a couple of geese surveying new digs and in the distance just beyond a fence, a new bike path( for humans) just beyond the “No Trespassing” sign. I asked Farnaz about the pond, pretending I was in the desert and it was the only water around. “Could I drink that water now?” “If you like muddy water, you can,” she answered scientifically, with an advanced degree in chemical engineering.

 Earlier I asked Mayor Hornik about his recollections of this toxic site. “I was 13 and here with my father who was mayor and this place really scared me.” He smiled broadly and proudly throughout the press conference. When I greeted Congressman Pallone, I reminded him about our past meetings at the environmental Clearwater Festival in Asbury Park the last few summers. Consistency is a desired quality for a Congressman; he is a great supporter of environmental causes. During his comments, he mentioned Superfund losing dollars to the causes of funding jobs for Americans during this recession. Eloquently he said, “Superfund cleanup actually provides a lot of jobs, so it’s a misconception.”

Finally it was announced that the land here is for sale. Part of the sale proceeds goes back to the federal government and Marlboro Township. I stared at the landscape and wondered if I could get a good deal on the property with all I know now.                                        -           Calvin Schwartz  May 2nd 2012

Submitted by Girl Scout Leader Sandy Buccine & Senior Troop 1795

“This was our 3rd year working with Jeff Weiss and the Shade Tree Committee, and we feel each year it gets Bigger and Better!

“It all started when we asked our retired GS leader Pat Ondar, part of the Shade Tree Committee, if we could sit in on a meeting to fulfill a requirement in the “Breathe Journey”. Our girls became inspired and asked if we could assist, as well as Participate in Arbor Day.”

“We make the activity booklet, posters, and assist with the set up and planting of trees. Everyone on the committee is so appreciative and kind, we feel blessed that they welcome us back year after year!”

“If you look closely, you can see that our tree was made completely out of recycled materials. The trunk is an old brown paper bag, and the leaves were cut out of colorful old magazines. The grass consists of last year’s activity booklets. Troop 1795 wanted to send the message that … Recycling is a good thing, and when we recycle, we help save trees.”

“Thank you Mr. Jeff Weiss, the entire Shade Tree Committee, and Mayor John Hornik for making this special day possible, and making Marlboro a Peaceful and Beautiful town I’m Proud to live in!”

By Calvin Schwartz

First of all let me explain the article title which is a stream of consciousness derived from the book and 1973 movie ‘The Paper Chase,’ about a first year law student at Harvard; his love of law, a girl and the difficult journey presented by both. One of my favorite movies; it may’ve forever dissuaded me from studying law; a long hard consumptive undertaking. I like the word ‘chasing.’

We all pass by cemeteries and I’ve never given much thought until my parents were being settled into a local one. Once I took my eleven year old son to see his maternal grandparents in a Newark cemetery. The front gate looked locked so I climbed over a metal picket fence, cut my arm and leg while my son pushed open the gate. It wasn’t locked.

Six weeks ago, my co-producer and writer at NJ Discover, Tara-Jean Vitale and I were coming back from covering a Seaside Heights event and were near Marlboro State Psychiatric Hospital and the cemetery across the street. We decided to visit the solemn place, so I followed Tara-Jean down a dirt road to the edge of an expansive field of grave markers. The hospital closed down years ago not before 924 people died from 1920 to 1960 and are buried with just numbered markers from 1 to 924 as the only form of identification of a human’s life.  Separately we walked around, absorbing and pondering people with misfortunes of being diagnosed with mental illness and hospitalized probably for and with their lives. I wondered about women buried there and how much they had to endure above and beyond because they were defenseless. A clump of trees in the distance provided shade for a concrete structure which memorialized the names and passing dates of all 924 people. I stared, occasionally letting my finger trace the outlines of a few names. We both felt something but didn’t verbalize to each other. Reluctantly I took pictures; didn’t want to disturb the silence with the click of a camera.  Did Trenton (NJ State Capital) have any information on these people?  Proportionally did more people pass in 1942?  I wondered why. This place of solemnity is a few miles (or two traffic lights) from my house.  I’ll be back, I thought.

There was something there. Even now I feel strange, empty and curious. A few weeks later Tara-Jean and I were coming back from a preliminary meeting with officials at  Regal Pointe, a senior living complex in Middletown, New Jersey where we were planning to interview Emily Cook, a spirited and wondrously charming 102 year old resident. On the way back, Tara-Jean yelled, “Stop. Look at that old cemetery across the street,” which reminded me of little Natalie Wood in the movie ‘Miracle on 34th Street,’ yelling near the movie’s end, “Stop.” I made a U-Turn and we entered an old Revolutionary War cemetery where some markers indicated passing before America was born in 1776. How strange I thought. And it was cloudy, cool and unusually quiet. The cemetery is the “Presbyterian Burial Ground circa 1684” and it was adjacent to the Hendrickson Family Burial Ground 1798-1913. What haunted the most is that many buried here did not know what happened to the colonies and America; near one marker, I tried to send something communicative about how amazing America is today and thanks.  Heading home, we passed a few more old looking cemeteries but decided to save for another day. It hit me; we have been engaging in Cemetery Chasing which was perfect for NJ Discover. By definition and business plan, NJ Discover discovers and explores a plethora of institutions and people here in central Jersey.

With no forethought about creating cemetery chasing happenings, I thought perhaps it’s a matter of spiritual synchronicity, our being taken down a road for reasons. A few weeks ago, we had a NJ Discover TV breakfast meeting at a pancake establishment. On the way back, I drove up a rural country road in Colts Neck, Monmouth County, New Jersey, passed this magnificent old church. I made an illegal turn and stopped to read a sign: “Dutch Reformed Church completed and erected in 1856.”

With camera always by my side, I snapped a few and posted the pix on the wall of NJ Discover to which a Facebook Florida stranger asked if there was a cemetery in the back and if so, it could very well be where her mother and grandparents are buried. I didn’t know if there was a cemetery but something (a favorite word) made me respond, by offering if I ever return (which was doubtful) to investigate and try to find her mother’s grave stone.

A few days later, I was down the Jersey shore, a few towns over from my beloved Asbury Park, in Belmar. After a large helping of caffeine sweetened with a dark brown liquid confection, I headed to my favorite jetty in the world and meditated by the Shark River. A fierce seventy degree warm wind blew virginal sand in my face as my feet rested on jetty boulders. I saw a ship heading to Kilimanjaro and the bridge over a troubled Shark River water lifted to let a boat pass under.

Then something (the force) directed me back to that country road and that church, reasonably far out of the way. In the rear was an old cemetery as the stranger on Facebook described. A spiritual quality was there even in the way the trees bent in the wind.  While taking pictures, I forgot the stranger’s name; when I saw that certain headstone, I knew it was her mother’s. A special good deed accomplished, I was about to make a get-away; somehow taking pictures in a reverent place still bothered me. A man of rural authority approached. “I’m from NJ Discover TV,” I quickly spoke and told the story of the woman Facebook stranger. Tom (the caretaker) asked if I’d like to learn cemetery history.

The marker of Ryers Crummal, the last Indian chief from the Sand Hill Nation, part of the historic Lenni Lenape Tribe, was inches away from my shoe, frozen in soft soil, afraid to move closer. Then Tom pointed to the far end of the cemetery where no graves were, yet one lone grave stood. James Miller, an African-American (the only one buried there) without family or friends had died in 1901 and the church provided. “Would you like to meet Reverend Scott Brown now?”  I did meet the Reverend and told him my story. Meeting him was magic too. Later I emailed the picture of her mother’s grave to the Facebook stranger (no more, we’re friends now) who wrote a beautiful emotional thank you message.

A few days ago, I was contacted by another Facebook friend who was fascinated with my cemetery pictures and stories. This friend has unusual abilities and can contact spirits of those who passed a long time ago. I felt like the cowardly lion listening to the pronouncements, thinking “I do believe. I do believe.” And I do. So one warm Saturday in May, we’re going ghost-busting of sorts, but with extreme reverence and curiosity and maybe we’ll take our NJ Discover cameras along for the verification. Indeed this cemetery chasing continues and miles to go before I sleep. We’ll keep you posted. You keep visiting NJ Discover’s site, we’ll do the documented chasing.

The Invisible World. Everybody has one. It’s called a “haunt detector.” It’s the little alarm that goes off in our heads whenever we detect that something mysterious or supernatural has occurred.

http://www.amazon.com/Invisible-World

You could be sitting around relaxing one day at home, and for no special reason you start thinking about someone. Maybe you haven’t thought about this person in years. Then the phone rings; you pick it up, and amazingly, it’s that person! Many of us have experienced this phenomenon.

The field of Cyber Security has been identified by the Pentagon and the President of the United States as a top priority for national security.

Red Bank Regional Academy of Information Technology, located at Red Bank Regional High School, in Little Silver, NJ entered their students into the Cyber Foundation Competition.  The competition featured 2,034 students from 169 schools, 32 states and three U.S. territories. The non-for-profit Center for Internet Security (CIS) which sponsored this cyber competition encourages students toward this vital and high-demand career.

RBR students scored the top three positions in the State of NJ: Ryan McVeety, Little Silver, who also finished #25 in the nation; Jared Katzman, Little Silver who finished 26th in the nation; and Michael Terpak, Union Beach, who finished #38 in the nation. A fourth student, Luke Matarazzo, Neptune City, also finished #57 in the nation. these finishes are within the top 10% scores in the competition.

The studen’ts IT teacher, Mandy Galante, (who was also named the New Jersey IT Teacher of the Year by the Air Force Association and this year’s RBR Teacher of the Year) created the curriculum to offer RBR students a study concentration and career path in cyber security.  This year, Mrs. Galante’s students also took First Place in the national NYU-Polytechnic High School CyberForensic Competition.  For the past three years, RBR students have taken the top three NJ winner prizes in multiple categories in the Future Business Leaders of America technology competitions.

Judy Feinstein: Always Moving Forward. Video courtesy of HooplaHa.com
Produced by NJ Discover.

Several months ago NJ Discover reporters Calvin Schwartz and Tara-Jean Vitale happened into ‘Flying Saucer’ antique store in Asbury Park on a pilot mission to discover people and places in New Jersey and Monmouth County. In actuality, we were interviewing an impresario of sorts in the local music business and asked the woman proprietor of the antiques store if we could use the far back room which had this vintage kitchen table from the early 1950’s to film. She agreed and then said, “When you’re done, why don’t you interview me?” And I said, “Why?” Judy Feinstein said, “Because I was one of New Jersey’s early female pilots back in the 1960’s, taught flying to young women, was one of the charter members of an Amelia Earhart flying group.” We interviewed Judy again and again; each time mesmerized with her energy and accomplishments. I particularly like the bit when she was flying into Washington, DC at the invitation of Vice-President Ford for an awards ceremony and the air traffic controller interrupted and told her she’s flying to close to the White House. Judy’s assessment was that he just wanted to see what I look like when I landed. Enjoy Judy’s video. And again much thanks to hooplaha.com for graciously sharing the video. Cal Schwartz, writer, NJ Discover.

Sickles Market Produce, Since 1908 Sickles Market has become a favorite destination for the best produce, plants, gourmet foods, garden accessories, and gifts at the New Jersey Shore.

Family owned and operated for four generations, Sickles continues to delight a growing community of customers and neighbors – from around the corner and around the globe – with the unparalleled quality and selection of its products, outstanding customer service, and dedication to community support.

In Belmar and Lake Como, the NJ Discover team was on the scene to celebrate the St Patrick’s Day Parade on a brisk Sunday in March.  The parade was led by the Pipers from Friendly Sons of the Shillelagh of the Jersey Shore. Bag pipes, green dogs, beautiful Irish colleens and dashing Irish lads marched down Main Street through the cheering crowds of thousands! This was truly a day to celebrate – Irish style!

All of New Jersey celebrated St. Patrick’s Day at Belmar and Lake Como over the weekend! The wearing of the green and luck of the Irish was everywhere to be seen! Erin Go Bragh!

http://www.youtube.com/embed/QjVaC-WwvZU

Candle Light Vigil for the Long Branch victims.

Mayor Adam Schneider and community volunteer Krysta-Lynn Landolfi are interviewed by NJ Discover Reporter Tara-Jean Vitale during the Candle Light Vigil for the victims of the February 13th West End Fire in Long Branch.