Spring 2016, Volume X IX, Issue 1
HackensackRIVERKEEPER®is the independent, non-governmental advocate for the Hackensack River.
NJDEP’s Unfair Public Access Rule Struck Down
Hackensack Riverkeeper continues to fight for fair and equitable public access legislation.
By Andrea Leshak
In a unanimous decision
released on December 22, 2015,
the New Jersey Appellate Division sided with Hackensack
Riverkeeper and struck down the
“Public Access Rule” promulgated
in 2012 by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection
(DEP). Hackensack Riverkeeper,
along with NY/NJ Baykeeper,
brought the action challenging the
rule in order to address problems
with it, most notably the rule’s inequitable restrictions on the public
access that our urban waterfront
communities could provide. The
court’s decision found the 2012
rule to be outside the scope of
DEP’s legal authority (ultra vires
in legal jargon), and therefore
struck down the rule in its entirety.
The court’s clear finding that DEP
lacked the authority to promulgate
its 2012 rule was a huge victory
for Hackensack Riverkeeper and
for our northern waterfronts, as it
made clear that public access is an
important policy issue that must
be addressed by the legislature.
Within days of the Appellate
Court’s decision striking down the
DEP’s Public Access Rule, media
outlets, developers, and even the
DEP itself began questioning
whether the DEP still retained
authority to require public access
as a condition of issuing development permits. Hackensack Riverkeeper believes that the Court’s
decision did not impact DEP’s
authority in this regard; however,
given the public confusion on this
point, we supported a legislative
stopgap fix that would clarify
DEP’s continuing authority to require public access as a condition
Continued on page 3
EPA Begins Superfund Testing This Spring
US Environmental Protection Agency will sample lower Hackensack River sediments.
By Hugh M. Carola
By the time you read these
words, federal contractors will
most likely be engaged in taking
core samples of the riverbed between the Hackensack’s mouth at
Newark Bay and the head of tide at
Van Buskirk Island in Oradell, NJ.
The work represents the first major
step to determine if the Hackensack
River warrants listing as a Super-
fund site – a step we urged the
agency to take last year, and which
it agreed to last September.
It’s true that the lower Hackensack River has gone through
many positive changes since the
Clean Water Act was passed in
1972, including: modernization of
wastewater treatment, the end-
ing of industrial discharges, the
Phase II stormwater rules, ongoing
cleanups of contaminated sites,
new individual CSO permits, and
of course the protection of all
8,400 acres of wetlands and waterways in the Meadowlands. Despite
all those victories and the fact that
large numbers of wildlife species
Continued on page 4
Inside
At the Helm
Identifing Community CSOs EarthFest Overpeck 2016 Eco-Program Listing
Reservoir Paddle Series
World Series of Birding
2
3
4
5
8
9
Watershed Field Notes
Waterkeeper loses a Hero
Volunteer Corner
Thank You Supporters!
Ambassador Update
Upcoming Events
10
12
13
15
22
24
Hackensack Tidelines-Spring 2016
Page 2 A word from
Captain Bill
231 Main Street
Hackensack, NJ 07601-7304
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photo © Al Knight
Dear Tidelines readers­— I’d originally planned to write about the
ill-conceived proposals to develop portions of Liberty State Park
when our good friend and colleague Greg Remaud had the following
Op-Ed published in The Record on February 28. Upon reading it, I
realized I could do no better so we’ve reprinted it here for you.
Thank you, Greg! — Captain Bill
Liberty State Park By The Numbers
By Greg Remaud,
Deputy Director, NY/NJ Baykeeper
Liberty State Park is about
people, freedom, history and
America’s great melting-pot
culture. It’s about picnics, friends,
family, kites and free fireworks
above Lady Liberty on the Fourth
of July. It’s about everyone having
access to a nature that is near to
home. But to the Christie administration, the park is merely real
estate and numbers. Worse still,
the administration’s development
proposals are bad and their figures
are questionable.
NJ Department of Environmental Protection’s recent proposal, The Future of Liberty State
Park, recommends building a
private hotel where the historic
Central Railroad Train shed is
located, an indoor sportsplex that
charges for playing time where
a free outdoor playing field for
everyone should be, and other
commercial activities where the
cherished local Camp Liberty
calls home. Leasing parkland to
developers is needed to close a
“$2 million deficit” at the park,
so the administration contends.
Wrong: the $2 million is a standard operating budget for a park
that serves up to 5 million visitors
per year and generates millions of
dollars in ancillary spending. It’s a
bargain.
Those and other commercial
proposals would occur on what
they say is “only 38 acres” of the
park. However, the associated
parking, traffic and development
creep would affect the free access
to public amenities throughout the
Continued on page 23
Phone:
(201) 968-0808
Fax:
(201) 968-0336
Hotline: 1-877-CPT-BILL
info@hackensackriverkeeper.org
www.hackensackriverkeeper.org
Board of Trustees
Ivan Kossak, CPA, President
Rob Gillies, Vice President
Frank Massaro, Secretary
Dr. Beth Ravit, Treasurer
Robert Ceberio
Susan Gordon
Virginia Korteweg
Kelly G. Palazzi
Ellie Spray
Margaret Utzinger
Nancy Wysocki
Honorary Trustees
Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.
William “Pat” Schuber
Executive Director
Captain Bill Sheehan,
Hackensack Riverkeeper
HRI Staff
Hugh Carola, Program Director
Caitlin Doran, Outreach Coordinator
Jennifer Gannett, Grant Writer
Jodi Jamieson, Project Manager
Mary Knight, Operations Director
Andrea Leshak, Staff Attorney
Mike Panos, Donor Relations
Elizabeth Balladares,
Watershed Ambassador
Jodi Jamieson, Managing Editor
Hugh Carola, Copy Editor
We gladly accept submissions of articles,
photography and advertisements from
the community; however, we retain editorial discretion. We do not necessarily endorse any individual or company whose
advertisements are found in these pages.
Hackensack Tidelines
is published quarterly
on recycled paper.
Riverkeeper is a registered trademark and
service mark of Riverkeeper, Inc. and is
licensed for use herein.
Waterkeeper is a registered trademark and
service mark of Waterkeeper Alliance, Inc.
and is licensed for use herein.
Hackensack Tidelines-Spring 2016
Page 3
Public Access rules
continued from page 1
of development permits.
Within a month of the Court’s
decision, on January 19, the New
Jersey Legislature passed and
Governor Christie signed into
law Senate Bill No. 3321, thereby
clearly affirming the Department
of Environmental Protection’s
(DEP) authority to require public
access as a condition of granting
permits under the Coastal Area
Facility Review Act (CAFRA) and
the Waterfront Development Act.
This stopgap fix was important to
clarify the DEP’s ability to continue requiring developers to include
public access as part of development projects. Yet comprehensive
legislation is still needed to provide the DEP with clear guidance
and standards that will guarantee
the public’s longstanding right of
access to New Jersey’s beaches,
tidal waterways, and adjacent
shorelines. To address the need
for fair public access legislation,
Support for keeping the Public in Public Parks!
On President’s Day, February 15, two hundred activists led by Friends of
Liberty State Park President Sam Pesin (4th from left), rallied against the
Christie proposal to develop portions of the park. Riverkeeper staff and
volunteers led by Captains Bill Sheehan and Hugh Carola lent their voices
to the effort.
Senator Bob Smith (D-Middlesex)
has commissioned a Public Access
Task Force charged with developing a set of recommendations for
what should be included in the
legislation.
The Public Access Task Force
must provide recommendations to
Senator Smith by April 26, 2016.
Hackensack Riverkeeper is an active member of the Task Force, and
our main goal is to push for legislation that ensures fair and equitable
public access for all of New Jersey’s coastal communities, particularly our northern urban communities. We look forward to resolving
years of DEP’s faulty and illegal
regulatory schemes by developing
inclusive legislation that protects
the public’s longstanding rights of
access.
CSO Update:
Now You Can Identify CSOs In Your Community!
By Andrea Leshak
Throughout New Jersey and within the
Hackensack River watershed, there are Combined
Sewer Overflows (CSOs), which effectively dump
a mixture of sewage and stormwater directly into
New Jersey’s rivers and bays during rain events.
For years, New Jersey only regulated CSOs with
a very lax general permit. Under pressure from
Hackensack Riverkeeper, however, New Jersey issued much stronger individual permits to
municipalities and treatment plants with CSOs;
those permits went into effect in July 2015. Since
then, there have been multiple permit obligations,
including the submission of monthly Discharge
Monitoring Reports, quarterly Progress Reports,
Compliance Monitoring Work Plans, and System Characterization Work Plans. In addition,
permittees had to install CSO outfall
signs to notify the public of CSOs in
their communities – before January 1
of this year, there was no requirement
to notify the public of CSO outfalls!
Interested persons can also locate
CSOs through the DEP’s new CSO locator (go to http://www.nj.gov/dep/
dwq/cso-basics.htm and scroll to the middle
of page). Thus far, it appears that permittees
are in 100% compliance with the permit
terms. Hackensack Riverkeeper will
continue to monitor permitee
obligations under the new individual permits to ensure that
New Jersey finally tackles
its CSO problem!
Hackensack Tidelines-Spring 2016
Page 4 EPA Superfund Testing
have returned to the river in recent
decades, the river bottom remains
a major unknown variable.
“At first I was very conflicted
over whether to reach out to the
EPA because it seemed like we’d
be admitting defeat,” explained
Captain Bill Sheehan. “But the
more I thought about it, the more
I realized that our advocacy alone
could only go so far – that at some
point we had to break through the
river’s polluted history in order to
bring it back.”
That history includes over a
© Jonathan Green
continued from page 1
Sampling vessels like this will
soon be seen on the Hackensack.
century’s worth of industrial activity stretching from Jersey City and
Kearny upriver to Hackensack
and Bogota. Gas works, ink and
dye-making, metal plating, chemical manufacture and more saw
the river polluted with mercury,
chromium, nickel, cadmium, lead.
In addition, dioxin from the Diamond Shamrock Superfund site
on the Passaic River was carried
up the Hackensack by the tides
from the 1950s to the 70s. Unlike sewage–nasty as it is–which
natural processes can break down,
the witches brew listed above can
only be dealt with by physically
removing it. But first you have to
know what exactly is down there.
And that’s what the EPA is going
to discover.
Vendors, Sponsors, and Regatta Entrants
3
there is still time to get ready for the
rd Annual Bergen County Parks
EarthFest
Overpeck County Park, 45 Fort Lee Road, Leonia, NJ
Overpeck
May 14
• Recycled Regatta
• Fishing Derby
Rain date
Sunday, May 15, 2016
• Green Vendors
• Live Music
• Children’s Activities
• Food and More!
EarthFest Overpeck is hosted by the
Bergen County Department of Parks and
Hackensack Riverkeeper Inc.; more info on
the parks@ www.co.Bergen.nj.us/parks
For more information contact: Festival@HackensackRiverkeeper.org; EarthFestOverpeck.com; or 201-968-0808
Hackensack Tidelines-Spring 2016
Page 5
2016 ECO-PROGRAM SEASON
© Jonathan Green
Once again, we’ve got a jam-packed schedule
and plenty of charter opportunities to get you on
and about the river. We’re offering forty Open
Eco-Cruises, plus nine Full and near-Full Moon
Guided Paddles out of Laurel Hill Park, and
eleven River Cleanups. So give a look-see,
give us a call, and we’ll see YOU at
the river!
2016 Eco-Cruises
OPEN ECO-CRUISES:
Open Eco-Cruises are scheduled
in advance & are open to individuals, couples, families, etc.
Seats are available for a donation
of $25 each ($30 for Newark Bay
trips) and $10 each for kids 4-12.
To reserve yours, call Capt. Hugh
at 201-968-0808. Note: Open
Eco-Cruises are not available for
group outings.
CHARTER ECO-CRUISES:
Charter Eco-Cruises for large
groups can be arranged for any
available date/time other than
those listed below. An Adult
Charter (14 persons max per boat)
can be arranged for a donation of
$325 per boat; a Youth Charter
(14-17 persons max per boat) for
$275 – all for the itinerary of your
choice. Call Capt. Hugh to book.
COMBINATION PROGRAMS:
Combination Environmental
Education programs can be arranged for school, Scout and
camp groups of up to 34 persons.
“Combos” include a pair of 1.5hour Eco-Cruises backed with
age-appropriate landside activities
over a 3-4 hour period for a donation of $350. Call Capt. Hugh for
more details.
WE OFFER THREE DIFFERENT ECO-CRUISE ITINERARIES
MEADOWLANDS DISCOVERY (M)
BOATING THROUGH BERGEN (B)
EXCURSION AROUND THE BAY (E)
This is the original Hackensack
River environmental education
tour! Watch wildlife, explore
wetlands and learn all about the
natural and human history of the
Hackensack Meadowlands. Bring
your binoculars & cameras!
Travel from the southern Meadowlands to the heart of Hackensack following the route once
traveled by schooners carrying
cargo to and from Bergen County
a century ago. Plus, we’ll see
some great birds along the way.
We motor down the Hackensack
River to Newark Bay, passing
busy Port Newark & Port Elizabeth, to Staten Island, NY. On
the way back we explore the
Bayonne Bayshore, home to
many parks and historic sites.
2016 Open Eco-Cruise Schedule
Sun
May 1 Sat
May 7 Sun May8
Sun May22
Sat
May 28
Sun
May 29
Sat
Sun
Sat
Sun
Wed
Tue
June4
June5
June18
June19
June22
June28
Noon
Noon
3PM
Noon
5PM
5PM
M
M
M
M
M
E
5PMB
5PMM
6PMB
6PME
6PMM
6PME
Fri July1 6PMB
WedJuly 6 6PME
Mon
Thu
Mon
Tue
Sat
Sun
July11 6PMM
July14 6PMM
July18 6PMB
July26 6PME
July30 10AMM
July 31 10AM
M
WedAug 3 6PMM
Sat
Aug 6 10AMB
Tue Aug9 6PMM
Thu Aug11 6PMM
Sat Aug20 5PME
Sun Aug21 5PMM
Sat Aug27 5PMM
Sun Aug28 5PMB
Sat
Sat
Sun
Sat
Sun
Sat
Sun
Sept3 5PME
Sept 10
5PMM
Sept11 5PMB
Sept17
3PMM
Sept 18
3PME
Sept 24
3PMB
Sept25 3PM E
Sat
Oct
1
Noon
M
SunOct2Noon E
Sat Oct8Noon B
SunOct9Noon E
Sat Oct15 Noon M
To reserve your Eco-Cruise,
call Capt. Hugh at 201-968-0808.
Continued on page 8
Hackensack Tidelines-Spring 2016
Page 6 Overpeck Park Kayak Center, Teaneck, NJ
Spend some time with us on the
calm, quiet waters of Overpeck
Lake. With neither tides nor currents, Overpeck is the perfect
paddling destination for novices
and families with kids. Adult &
youth group paddling events can
be arranged; call Capt. Hugh at
201-968-0808 for details.
CANOE & KAYAK RENTALS
The Center is open Wednesdays thru
Fridays from noon to sunset; week-
ends/holidays 9AM-6PM conditions
permitting from April 23 through
October 30. All rentals are to parties
of 2 or more. Sorry, no solo paddlers.
Program donation: $15 per paddler for up to two hours; $10 per
paddler for each additional hour.
Reservations are not required but
you can call the Center (201-9573085) to check on weather, water
conditions & boat availability.
Overpeck Notes:
• Rentals can only be arranged by
an adult, 18 or older.
• Children 12 yrs. and up can
paddle a SINGLE KAYAK when
accompanied on the water by a
parent or adult guardian.
• Children 8-12 yrs. can paddle
a TANDEM KAYAK or CANOE
with an adult in the rear seat.
• Children 5-8 yrs. ride FREE as
a CANOE passenger with
two adult paddlers.
• We cannot accommodate
children under age 5.
Paddling Center @ Laurel Hill Park, Secaucus, NJ
Head out with a friend or join a
Guided Paddle and explore the
Sawmill Creek Marsh, Anderson Creek Marsh & other great
wildlife areas. Treat yourself to
a heron’s eye view of our amazing urban wilderness – the real
Meadowlands!
CANOE & KAYAK RENTALS
The Center is open weekends
9AM-6PM conditions permitting;
and rents boats to parties of 2 or
more on weekends and holidays
from April 23 through October 30.
Call 201-920-4746 to check on
conditions and boat availability.
OPEN GUIDED PADDLES
Explore the river and its wetlands
by paddling a kayak under the
guidance of our experienced staff.
We’ve got Full Moon paddles and
birding paddles to choose from.
All Guided Paddles are great for
experienced and novice paddlers
alike. Please note: Full Moon
paddles are for adults only.
Program Donation: $30 per paddler, $15 per canoe passenger &
$15 per paddler with their own
boat(s). Call Capt. Hugh for more
info or to reserve your spots.
Program Donation: $30 per paddler,
$15 per canoe passenger & $15
per paddler with their own boat(s).
Call Capt. Hugh for more info or
to reserve your spots.
PRIVATE GUIDED PADDLES
Got a posse of fellow paddlers?
We can take you on a private tour
for just $25 per paddler (minimum
total donation: $200). For more
info call Capt. Hugh.
Please remember: Our paddling
guides work to ensure your safety
while on the water. They cannot
maintain a running commentary
about birds or the river’s history but they will guide you back
safely to the dock.
Laurel Hill Notes:
• Rentals can only be arranged
by an adult, 18 or older.
• All paddlers MUST be 16 years
or older.
• All boats MUST have one adult
aboard.
• We cannot accommodate
children under age 7.
2016 Guided Paddle Schedule @ Laurel Hill Park
Sun
Sun
Fri
Sat
May
May
May
May
1
8
20
21
10AM
1PM
7PM
7PM
Sat June 18 7:30PM
Sun June 19 7:30PM
Low tide/birding
Outgoing tide/birding
Pre-Full moon
Full Moon
Pre-Full Moon
Pre-Full Moon
Tue
July 19 7:30PM
Full Moon
Thu
Fri
Aug 18
Aug 19
Full Moon
Post-Full moon
7PM
7PM
Sun Sept 11
10AM
Fri
Sept 16 6:30PM
Sat Sept 17 6:30PM
Low tide / birding
Full Moon
Post-Full Moon
Hackensack Tidelines-Spring 2016
Page 7
2016 River Cleanup Program
These active conservation activities allow you to give back to the
environment and your community.
Despite strong anti-littering and
stormwater management rules, tons
of debris end up in and along our
waterways each year. It’s sad and
infuriating but true. In response, we
need volunteers to step up and make
a difference for clean water.
We provide the necessary
equipment and refreshments; all
you have to do is show up. There’s
no cost or registration for individuals and families; just look for
our Mobile Cleanup Unit, check
in with our Outreach Coordinator
Caitlin Doran, and get started.
Group participation: Civic groups
from local communities are welcome at Public Cleanups. But we
ask that leaders register in advance
to ensure we have enough supplies
on hand. Got a BIG group? Caitlin
can help you organize a cleanup
event in your town.
Corporate River Stewardship: Looking for a green team-building activity
for your employees or co-workers?
Join our Corporate River Stewardship Program and conduct your own
cleanup with us. To learn more, call
Caitlin or email outreach@hackensackriverkeeper.org, and come be
part of the solution!
2016 Public Cleanup Schedule
Sat
Sun
Sat
Sat
Sun
Sun
Sat
Sat
Sat
Sat
Sun
April
April
May
June
July
Aug
Sept
Oct
Oct
Oct
Nov
23
30
7
18
31
21
17
1
8
29
6
10AM-2PM Woodcliff Lake reservoir
9AM-Noon Hackensack city parks
9AM-1PM KBG Park, River Edge
9AM-1PM Laurel Hill Park, Secaucus
1PM-3PM Mackay Park, Englewood
Noon-4PM Rutkowski Park, Bayonne
10AM-2PM Oradell Reservoir, Closter
TBD* Lake DeForest reservoir (NY)
Noon-4PM Oradell/New Milford/River Edge
9AM-Noon Hackensack city parks
Noon-3PM Ben Porat Yosef School, Paramus
*Call or check our website for Clean-up dates
One last bit: Please call or visit our Website for info about personalized guided Bird Walks led by Capt. Hugh and about
indoor presentations offered by him and Capt. Bill to your group’s meeting. Otherwise, we’ll see you at the river!
Hackensack Tidelines-Spring 2016
Page 8 2014
EVENTS TO BENEFIT HACKENSACK RIVERKEEPER
LAKE DEFOREST DAY
Come enjoy a paddle on Lake DeForest!
Sunday, May 22
New City Little League Field , Clarkstown, NY
5 K & 1 0 K R a c e s • O p e n P a d d l e s • M a y o r ’s C u p • C o r p o r a t e C u p C h a l l e n g e
RESERVOIR CHALLENGE
5K RACES & OPEN PADDLES
10K,
• Single Kayak Races ONLY
• Men’s and Women’s Categories
$25 per paddler per event
$25 per boat rental
REGISTRATION AFTER JUNE 5: $30 per paddler
Saturday, June 11
CORPORATE CUP CHALLENGE
R E L AY R A C E
$250 per four-person team
REGISTRATION DEADLINE: JUNE 5
LAKE TAPPAN PADDLE DAY
Rain Date: Sunday, June 12
Lake Shore Drive, Haworth, NJ
Saturday, Aug 13
Family Open Paddle Day
Rain Date: Sunday, Aug 14
ADVANCED REGISTRATION REQUIRED FOR ALL PADDLE EVENTS
Events hosted by
Call 201-968-0808 or visit HackensackRiverkeeper.org
for more information and to register for all events.
Hackensack Tidelines-Spring 2016
Step Up For
Page 9
HackensackRIVERKEEPER
It’s that BIRDY time of year again!
Support our World Series of Birding team –
it’s our Fifteenth Anniversary!
On May 14 from 4AM til 9PM, your Hackensack
RiverCreepers will take to the habitats of our watershed region to list as many bird species as we
can to support the ongoing work of Hackensack
Riverkeeper. This year marks our fifteenth year
participating in NJ Audubon’s World Series of Birding (WSB) and we hope you’ll join the celebration.
The ‘Creepers are sponsored by the good folks at
ShopRite Supermarkets, whose support allows
us
to participate as a Level One team alongside some
of the world’s greatest birders. Our partners at
Toyota of Hackensack have once again loaned us a
vehicle so we can travel safely. Here’s how you can
join us without even leaving the house or getting
up at 3AM (ouch!):
• Per-Species Pledge—use the coupon below. After the
WSB, we multiply our species total by the amount you
pledge and send a receipt letter & envelope for your
tax-deductible donation. Or you can e-mail your pledge
to Hugh@hackensackriverkeeper.org. Please include
your mailing address & phone number when you do.
• WSB-earmarked Donation— use the coupon and
mark “WSB” on your check’s memo line OR go to
www.hackensackriverkeeper.org and click the DONATE
button at the top of the home page. Please be sure to
check the World Series of Birding option.
However you choose to support us, you’ll be helping Hackensack Riverkeeper protect, preserve and
restore the Hackensack River for birds, wildlife
and people alike.
Sign me up to support the Hackensack RiverCreepers in the 2016 WSB!
Name _______________________________________________________________________
Address ______________________________________________________________________
City, State, Zip _________________________________________________________________
My pledge is $_________ per bird *
– or –
I’ve enclosed a donation of $_____________
I’d like to pledge/donate by plastic! Here’s my credit card info: (circle one) Visa
M/C
Amex
Card Number:______________________________ Expiration Date:______ CVV code:_______ Phone # (required) :_________________
Mail to: Hugh Carola, Hackensack Riverkeeper, 231 Main St., Hackensack, NJ 07601. Thanks!
*Last year we listed 125 bird species. Based on that tally, a $1 per-species pledge equaled a $125 WSB donation.
Hackensack Tidelines-Spring 2016
Page 10 Hackensack Watershed Field Notes
By Hugh M. Carola
Proper management of wildlife habitats and species is necessary in our highly developed watershed
region. One need only look at the near-explosive
spread of invasive plant species and the threats they
pose to native ecosystems to understand that a proactive approach is required. Add things like unremediated pollution plus the growing white-tailed deer and
feral cat populations into the mix and its clear that
“letting nature take its course” isn’t a viable option.
As I see it, the only way to determine a correct course
of action is by looking to science.
Of course wildlife biologists or wetland ecologists don’t usually work in the service of pure research; more often they work for elected officials and
career bureaucrats. Two situations – each involving
a different native species of wildlife and each with a
different outcome – illustrate the problems inherent
in such a relationship. Let’s start with bears.
It’s no secret that I’m no fan of New Jersey’s
Black bear hunt. One reason is that the NJDEP’s
Division of Fish & Wildlife never seems to change
the number of bears it estimates live in NJ: Pre-hunt,
post-hunt, mild winter or bad winter, the number
always hovers around 3,500. To be clear, it’s not the
hunt I object to per se, but rather the use of what
many consider questionable data to support it. Also,
allowing hunters to attract bears with bait like stale
donuts and bacon grease goes against the Fair Chase
ethic and wrongly reinforces the humans = food dynamic. It seems to me that NJ’s bear season is driven
less by sound wildlife management practices and
more by politics.
The Northern diamondbacked terrapin is
a strikingly patterned aquatic turtle that inhabits
brackish water habitats like the Meadowlands. For
centuries terrapins (a culinary term for edible turtles)
were taken by the thousands from estuaries along the
Eastern Seaboard and Gulf Coast, in traps or by being
raked out of their hibernation burrows by commercial
fishermen. While local demand is near nonexistent,
New Jersey and New York still maintain no-limit
commercial seasons. It’s the only reptile so managed
in either state but that may soon change. On January
20, NJDEP Commissioner Bob Martin ordered the
season closed – for the second year in a row – based
in large part on agency research regarding population
trends. Legislation is also pending in New Jersey to
reclassify the Terrapin as a nongame species.
There they are: two species, both seemingly well
studied but managed very differently. I wonder what
the situation would be if bears were small and rarelyseen; and terrapins were the ones that raided garbage
cans and haunted children’s books. But now, our list…
American Woodcock – The first report of 2016
was, as is customary, from Laurel Hill County Park
in Secaucus. Several were heard calling and seen in
display flight in the early evening of 2/23.
Bald Eagle – After our last issue hit the streets,
we received late info regarding nesting successes
of our local eagles. For starters, the Ridgefield Park
pair “Al & Alice” fledged not two but three young
in 2015. Also, the Alpine pair in Palisades Interstate
Park fledged two, as did the pair at Oradell Reservoir
and the pair at Woodcliff Lake. Add the two eaglets
that fledged from the new nest at Kearny Point and
our watershed produced an amazing eleven Bald
Eagles in 2015.
Overwintering eagles were slow in coming due to
the late start of the cold weather. Nonetheless, by mid/
late January eagles began showing along the river up
in the Hackensack-Teaneck area, including a pair of
immatures that were seen near the mouth of Overpeck
Creek on 1/29. Two days later, nine eagles were tallied
during a Bergen Audubon walk along the Hackensack
River Greenway through Teaneck. By mid-February
our local pairs were already incubating eggs.
Barn Owl – At night on 2/16 one of these striking
birds was seen gliding over the parking lot at the NJ
Turnpike’s Vince Lombardi Rest Area in Ridgefield, NJ.
Black Drum – A large number of this normally
ocean-dwelling fish were being caught in the Hackensack River at Laurel Hill Park during December 2015.
Brant – As always, the best place in our area to
see large flocks of this saltwater goose species is the
southern end of Liberty State Park by the flagpoles.
The location delivered on 2/15 during a Friends of
LSP rally when a flock of 100+was seen.
Carolina Wren – A calling wren was heard and
seen up close and personal in a Maywood, NJ yard
on St. Stephen’s Day (12/26). FYI, check out the cool
wren/day reference on Google.
Common Merganser – Flocks of this diving duck species numbering in the hundreds were
Hackensack Tidelines-Spring 2016
observed on Oradell Reservoir beginning in early
December to the delight of both birders and the overwintering Bald Eagles that feed on them.
Common Raven – A single bird was observed
flying over the river near the Hackensack campus of
Fairleigh Dickinson University on 2/8.
Cooper’s Hawk – A large juvenile female visited
a Rutherford, NJ backyard in search of prey on 1/26.
Older communities with mature tree cover (like Rutherford) are often good habitats for forest-dwelling
raptors like “Coops”.
Eastern Coyote – During late December and early
January, upwards of three coyotes were heard yipping
and howling in the wee hours of the morning in the
vicinity of Overpeck Park/Preserve in Leonia, NJ.
Great Horned Owl – A pair of owls has taken up
residence (and been letting everyone know it by their
hooting) in the vicinity of Borg’s Woods Preserve in
Hackensack/Maywood, NJ. Another GHO woke a
slumbering Maywood resident at 2AM on 1/29 while
yet another was seen in Little Ferry throughout January and into February.
Green Frog – Amazingly, one was reported at
Greenbrook Sanctuary on Christmas Day, 12/25
thanks to early winter’s unseasonably warm weather.
Harbor Seal – We received several reports of
seals in both the Hackensack River near River Barge
Park and the Hudson River of Hoboken in February.
Horned Grebe – A pair of these fairly typical
winter resident waterbirds was observed off the south
end of Liberty State Park on 2/15.
Iceland Gull – A true rarity in our area, an immature bird was observed at Oradell Reservoir on
12/6 in the company of hundreds of our common
Ring-billed Gull (flocks of which you’re likely to
encounter at the mall parking lot). It’s the dedicated,
hardcore birder who sifts through the flocks to find
the gem.
Killdeer – Uncommon in our area during winter,
nonetheless six of these plovers were observed flying
over Liberty State Park on 2/15.
Lesser Scaup – A flock numbering upwards of
1,000 ducks was seen on 2/24 roosting on the calm
waters of Mehrhof Pond in Little Ferry, NJ.
Monk Parakeet – This South American species
continues its expansion in the metro region, roosting in large numbers for warmth during the winter.
A flock of at least 25 individuals was observed in
Secaucus on 1/17.
Page 11
Muskrat – On February 11, we received word
from a longtime friend and trapper (and perhaps the
last person running trap lines in the Meadowlands)
that in his considered opinion, the regional population
of this once-common, ubiquitous rodent had crashed.
Both he and we have reached out to the NJDFW with
this troubling observation.
Purple Finch – Increasingly rare in our watershed region, nonetheless, a single male was observed
post-blizzard on 1/24 at a Maywood birdfeeder where
it both fed and chased other birds away from its
bounty of sunflower seeds.
Red-tailed Hawk – A Hackensack driver got
a major scare when one of these birds struck his
windshield on 1/10. Fortunately both driver and hawk
were unharmed.
Thanks to all our spotters and a tip o’ the naturalist’s hat to: Anonymous, Joe Augeri, Pete Bacinski,
Scott Barnes, Judith Cinquina, Ray Duffy, Ken
Habermann, Thomas Halter, Patricia Hilliard, Mary
Knight, Joseph Labriola, Angie Miller, Mike Panos,
Mike Ruscigno, Gabrielle Schmitt, Bill Sheehan, Don
Smith, Chris Takacs and Kate Wade.
Freedom Bank proudly supports
Hackensack Riverkeeper
on its mission to provide environmental advocacy,
education and conservation programs
to the local community.
Freedom...to grow your business.
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201-599-3000 | www.freedombanknj.com
Hackensack Tidelines-Spring 2016
Page 12 The Waterkeeper Movement Loses A True Hero
We remember Long Island Soundkeeper Terry Backer: 1954-2015
By Captain Bill Sheehan
I first met Terry Backer in 1998 at a meeting of
the small and loosely organized – but fiercely determined – “International Alliance of River, Sound and
Baykeepers”. We gathered in Washington D.C. at the
historic Capitol Pump House on the Anacostia River
to chart the course for what was to become Waterkeeper Alliance. At the time, Hackensack Riverkeeper
had been on the scene for less than a year or so. Even
though I was approaching 50, I was the “new kid” in
the movement. Long story short, the meeting was
a grand success and set the stage for the Alliance’s
founding conference later that summer on Long Island,
which was hosted by Soundkeeper Terry Backer.
What most people don’t know, but what I’m
proud to relate here, is the profound effect that meeting Terry had on me – then, and for as long as I knew
him. For starters, people may think I’m a “rough and
ready” sort of guy but believe me, I had nothing on
Captain Backer,
Long Island
Soundkeeper
in one of the last
photos taken of
him aboard the
R/V Soundkeeper.
Terry. A third-generation commercial fisherman, he
was a bear of a man who could wrestle fishing gear
on a pitching deck and handle anything that came his
way. Like me, he held a US Coast Guard Master’s
license and had an intense love of being on the water,
at the helm of his boat. We also came from similar
backgrounds, some might say hardscrabble, so it was
no surprise that we hit it off as friends.
But while we shared vocations as Waterkeepers
and clean water advocates, Terry went a BIG step further. From 1992 until his all-too-soon passing at age
61 last December, he was also known as State Representative Terrance E. Backer (D-121) in his home state
of Connecticut. He was a twelve-term legislator who
truly talked the talk, walked the walk, and lived the
life of one totally committed to making the lives of his
fellow citizens better on every level. Terry’s legislative
accomplishments – like his environmental victories
– are far too numerous to list here but believe me, a
Google search of him is a real eye-opener.
Sadly, the cancer that took him and robbed us of
the Sound’s greatest champion also prevented Terry
from celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Waterkeeper movement. Fortunately, the editors of Waterkeeper magazine made sure his was the face on the
cover, and that his story was told throughout pages
of the January 2016 Anniversary Issue. His strength
was failing and his time wasn’t long, yet he loved the
chance to share what his vocation meant to him:
“Who am I? I’m the Long Island Soundkeeper. I
can’t think of anything more worthwhile that I could
have done, and I am very grateful to my belief in God
and to have been put here and to have found a way to
be useful in my work.”
Amen. Rest in Peace my brother.
Hackensack Tidelines-Spring 2016
Page 13
V
lunteer Corner
Cheeseburger in Paradise
Volunteer Appreciation Dinner
By Caitlin Doran
teers together as possible in one room, the appreciation dinner is held to honor the Volunteer of the
Year: an individual, or individuals who go above and
beyond in their commitment to the organization and a
clean Hackensack River. We were thrilled to present
this year’s award to three long-time volunteers–
Michele Gillies, Rob Gillies and Frank Verrone.
Helping present the awards, Bergenfield Mayor
Norman Schmelz issued official proclaimations for
these three super volunteers. We also had the support
of other local elected officials, including Demarest
Mayor and Suez Watershed Manager Ray Cywinski
and River Edge Councilwoman Kathleen Murphy.
Be they river cleanup volunteers, event support,
in-office support, event committee members, or
Board of Trustee members, the folks we acknowledge
at the Volunteer Appreciation Dinner are the backbone of all that we do. Because of their commitment
to Riverkeeper and to clean water, we are able to do
so much more than we ever thought possible. Here’s
to a promising 2016 season, with their (and your)
help!
Allow me to set the scene at our most successful Volunteer Appreciation Dinner in recent memory.
Sandy beachscapes graced each table; beach balls
bounced around the room; sharks “swam” menacingly above the heads of nearly 100 bright Hawaiian
shirt-clad guests. There were over 200 cheeseburger
sliders, prepared by Tommy Fox’s public house, being served onto plates. Games were played, awards
were given out, shakers of salt were found (and
exchanged for paddling gift certificates). And, in
between all the festivities, Al Knight strummed his
guitar as everyone sang along to a reprise of “Riverkeeperville”, a play on “Margaritaville” from 2013’s
Roast The Riverkeeper. These were the sights and
sounds of this year’s Jimmy Buffett-inspired volunteer dinner – another one for the books!
Of course, to pull off a Cheeseburger in Paradisethemed appreciation dinner, you need help creating
paradise. This dinner simply wouldn’t have been possible without the support of two event sponsors, Panasonic and Rockwood Corporation, and the in-kind
use of the Bergenfield Elks’ lodge. Thanks go out
also to Tommy Fox’s for handling such
a tall burger order; to Yankee Linens
for the elegant table cloths; to everyone
who brought a dish to share (we’re still
talking about “Nadine’s Beans” ala Lisa
Pacechnick); and to volunteers Jen Romanoff, Jeff Raskin, Angie Miller, Terry
Glover, and Charlie Stelling for helping
us set up on what should have been their
night off!
(L) Cheeseburger aka Caitlin Doran and 2014 VOY Lynn Kramer help
Captain Bill (R) present the 2015 award to Rob and Michele Gillies.
A great way to get as many volun-
Kelly Palazzi, Frank Massaro, Jeff Raskin,
and Michele Gillies pose in the photo area.
Polly wants an award, so does Rob!
Michele swimming with the sharks!
Page 14 Hackensack Tidelines-Spring 2016
Hackensack Tidelines-Spring 2016
Page 15
Sincerest Thanks to All Our 2015 Supporters!
The following includes monetary, in-kind, event, and program donations.
Please inform us of any unintentional omissions.
IN HONOR OF:
Captain Lenny
LaVerghetta
Tony and Peggy Esposito
Ronald Folger
Michael and Beth Guerra
Vincent and Mary La Verghetta
Jack nd Joyce Moninger
Vincent and Lucille Primavera
James and Virginia Schlesinger
A. Joseph Schneider
Richard and Mary Ann Sherger
Frank Zaccaria
IN MEMORIAM OF:
Morrill J. Cole
Alfred Sanzari Enterprises
Jack Lerman
Eliot Lerman
R. John Muller Sr.
Hetty Muller
Edward Tripp
Donald Tripp
C. Lawrence West
C.F. West
BUSINESSES
A. Conway Plumbing & Heating
Alfred Sanzari Enterprises
All American Ford
All American Sewer Service
American Architectural
Window & Door
Apple Food Services of NJ
Aunt Vicky’s Bicky’s LLC
Axiom Communications
Bank of New Jersey
Beattie Padovano LLC
Beckmeyer Engineering
Becton Dickinson
Ben & Jerry’s
Beveridge & Diamond PC
Blue Dog Graphics
BMW Financial Services
Coughlin Duffy LLP
Cranbury Therapeutic Massage
Creamer Construction
Direct Supply WHS
Donald Nuckel and Company
Edison Properties, LLC
Elizabeth Hays Communication
EZ Docks Unlimited LLC
Fairmount Car & Truck Rentals
Falafull LLC
Fantastic Thai Cuisine LLC
Fellowship Senior Living
Freehand Custom Carving
Goldman, Sachs & Co.
Golub Isabel & Cervino, PC
GoodSearch
Grand Dynamics Inc.
Hackensack University
Health Network
Haftek CWS, Inc.
HNH Fitness
ING Financial Services
Inserra/ LML Supermarkets Inc.
JB Offset Printing
JBS Group LLC
Jersey Johnny’s House of Dogs
JM Sorge, Inc
John F. Kindergan, Inc.
Joseph M. Sanzari, Inc.
Kearny Federal Savings Bank
Keep Food Brokers
Keep Yourself Smelling Sweet
Kodomo Services
Kulite Semiconductor
Products Inc
Lakeland Bank
Langan Eng. &
Environmental Svcs
Levi Strauss & Co.
Lexis Nexis
Lincoln Landscaping Inc.
Magnify Brewing Company
Meadowlands Chiropractic
Modcup LLC
Morgan Stanley
Native Art, Minerals & Fossils
NJ Manufacturers Insurance
Northeast Kettle Korn LLC
Northmarq Capital, LLC
Oakwood Counselors
Oasis Children’s Services, LLC
Orange & Rockland Utilities, Inc.
Panasonic Corp.
of North America
Paris Gourmet
Pascack Community Bank
Phoenix Specialties, LLC
Physical Medicine of
New Jersey LLC
Pillows N Thangz
PSE&G Services Corp.
RCL Agencies
RCM Ceberio, LLC
Renaissance Equity, LLC
Ricca Auto Body
River Terminal Development
Rockwood Corporation
Royal Bank of Canada
Samsung Electronics America
Scarinci Hollenbeck, LLC
Seasons Catering
Secret Garden Soap of Madison
Select Safety Sales LLC
SHB Group, LLC
Sorce Companies
Sweet Beginnings, LLC
TD Bank
Teaneck Marriott at Glenpointe
Toufayan Bakery Inc.
Triple Five Worldwide
Organization, LLC
U.S. Trust Company
Unilever United States, Inc.
United Water New Jersey/SUEZ
Vita Group LLC
Wakefern Food Corp.
Weinberg & Cooper, LLC
Wells, Jaworski & Liebman, LLP
Whitestone Associates Inc.
Whole Foods Market Ridgewood
Wholesale Copies, Inc.
William Cahill & Associates PC
With Wings
XChange at Secaucus Junction
Yankee Linen
Zipp & Tannenbaum LLC
FOUNDATIONS
EDUCATION
GOVERNMENT
Academy of the Holy Angels
Adult School of Montclair
Bayonne Board of Education
Bergen Community College
Bergen County Special Services
School District
Bloomfield College
Biology Dept.
Chatham School District
Cornerstone Day School
Fairleigh Dickinson University
Hawthorne High School
Hudson County
Community College
Hunterdon County
Parks Department
Jackson Township
Board of Education
Jose Marti Freshmen Academy
Mahwah Township
Board of Education
Montclair Cooperative School
Montclair State University
New Jersey City University
Passaic River Institute at
Montclair State University
Rutgers CUES
Rutgers University
Science Adventure Kids
Stevens Institute of Technology
The Elisabeth Morrow School
The Willow School
Upper Saddle River
Board of Education
Waldwick High School
ATF Jean’s Foundation
Ball Family Foundation Fund
Enterprise Holdings Foundation
Gallagher-O’Flaherty Family Fund
Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation
Helen & William Mazer
Foundation
Huisking Foundation, Inc.
IBM International Foundation
Joan & Edward Johnson
Charitable Trust
Johanette Wallerstein Institute
Landsberger Foundation
Round River Foundation
The Beatman Foundation
Verizon Foundation
Victoria Foundation
Bergen County
Board of Education
Bergen County
Clean Communities Program
Bergen County Freeholders
Bergen County
League of Municipalities
Bergen County
Department of Parks
Bergen County Utilities Authority
Borough of Bergenfield
Borough of Bloomingdale
Borough of Westwood
City of Hackensack
City of Newark
County of Bergen
Hudson County
Department of Parks
Hackensack Tidelines-Spring 2016
Page 16 Thank You Supporters!
John Hogan for County Clerk
New Jersey Department of
Environmental Protection
New Jersey Sports & Exposition
Authority
Oradell Environmental
Commission
Saudino for Sheriff
State of New Jersey
Town of Secaucus
Township of North Bergen
ORGANIZATIONS
ANJEE
Bayonne Nature Club
Bergen County Ethical Culture
Society
Bergen County PBA Conference
Bergen Volunteer Center
Bergenfield Elks Lodge
Bowes Oddities
Closter Nature Center
Crystal Springs Nature Club
Democratic Commitee of Bergen
County
Earth Share of New Jersey
First Presbyterian Church
of Rutherford
Flat Rock Brook Nature Center
Garfield PBA
Girl Scouts Troop 19
Girl Scouts Troop 4706
Girl Scouts Troop 74
Great Swamp Watershed
Association
Hackensack River Canoe &
Kayak Club
Harrington Park Women’s Club
Ironbound Community Corp.
Mahwah PBA
Master Gardeners of
Bergen County
Master Gardeners of
Essex County
Metropolitan New York
Library Council
National Council of
Jewish Women
Network For Good
New Jersey State PBA
NJ Botanical Gardens
Nutley Community Preservation
Partnership
NY/NJ Baykeeper
Oasis
Paramus PBA
Puffin Camera Club
Ridgewood AM Rotary
Ridgefield Girl Scouts
River Edge Pack 95
Rockland Audubon
Rotary Club of Maywood
Saddle River PBA
St. Bartholomew’s Church,
HoHoKus
Science Adventure Kids
Secaucus Youth Alliance, Inc.
Senior Citizens Club of
Ridgefield Park
Sheet Metal Workers
Local No. 25
Sun Dial Garden Club
Utility Workers of America
Waterkeeper Alliance
Whippany River Watershed
Action
Wyckoff Area Garden Club
INDIVIDUALS
Ethel Abrams
Martin Adamkiewicz
Michael & Mercedes Aglialoro
Lawrence & Katherine Alexander
Bill & Alice Allured
Sheela Amrute
Marvin Anderman
Eric Andersen
Brian and Debra Anderson
John and Joyce Andrew
June Anton
Gloria Antoniuk
Jill Arbuckle
Marianne Ardito
Peter Ardito
Fred Armstrong
Peggy Armstrong
Rosetta Arrigo
Joseph Augeri
Donald Azuma
Paul Babiar
Andrew Babij
Arline Babka
Gregory Babula
Lisa Bagwell
James and Barbara Bailey
Dominick Balzano
S. Banks
William and Anne Baretz
Joann Barker
Sheila Barkow
Carolyn Barr
Diana Barral
Margaret Barry
Virginia Barta
Robert Barth
Mike and Katie Bartholome
William Basralian
Joel and Janet Bauer
Violet Baumann
Steve Bautista
Marion Bavolar
Bonnie Bayardi
Frank Bayersdorfer
Denise Beckman
Steve and Barbara Beigel
Paula Belem
Ellen Belisle
June Bell
Margo Beller Anderson
Christine Belli
Lauren Bellon
MaryAnn Belvedere
Robert Belz
Laurence and Hailey Benson
Serena Benson
Joan Berchtold
Fred Berghahn
Everett and Anne Bergman
Doris Bergquist
Laszlo and Edna Berkovits
Neil and Noreen Best
Ute Betancourt
Barbara Bettigole
Despina Betza
Evie Bharucha
Barbara Bias
Judith Bihaly
Frederick Binder
Mike Bird
Mayor John and Susan Birkner
Diana Bjorge
Susan Blakeney
Ed and Carol Blakeslee
Melissa Blanco
David Bland
Megan Blank
Mary Bleckman
Arnold Block
David Blood
Fred and Heike Bloom
Larry and Larraine Bogert
Amy Bolliger
Gary and Annie Bonavita
Edward Bonnano
James Bordone
Sylvia Borer
Jennifer Bowen
Carolyn Brady
Mike Brailove
Harold and Virginia Brandmaier
Tom Branna
Marie-Louise Brauch
Jane Breazzano
Nancy Breitweiser
Edward and Louise Breuer
Han Broekman
Tom Brophy
John Brotherton
Joe and Sibyl Brotman
Jennifer Broughel
Jill Brown
Tamara Browning
Gail Brumale
Barbara Brummer
Cornelia Brummer
Tom Bryant
Elizabeth Brzek
Lynn Buckingham
John Buckley
Helen Buczek
John Bueckner
Rachel Bunin
Patricia Burchell
Michael Burgess
Jane Burkhardt
Dee-Dee Burnside
Shail Busbey
Geraldine Byrne
Frank Cadden
Sonia Cairo
Carmen Cajamarca
Sharon Caldwell
Joel Caminer
John Campanile
John Campoli
Linda Cane
Richard Cantor
Senator Gerald Cardinale
Pamela Carlsen
Marian Carlson
Hugh and Dorothy Carola
Edward Carpenito
Chris and Viola Carter
Elizabeth Caruso
Margaret Cassano
Hilary Cassells
Janet Castronovo
Patricia Catanzaro
Joseph Cattelona
James Caulfield
Ann Cavanaugh
Gail Cebular
Mark and Loreen Celeste
Daniele Cervino
Janet Chambers
Robert and Kathryn Chambers
Joyce Chapin
Ruth Charnes
Tina Chen
Yee Cheung
Steven & Sharon Chiger
Stephen and Dianna Chipkin
Michael Chodroff
Barbara Christenberry
Chris Christiansen
Tod and Barbara Christianson
Barbara Chubb
Stephan and Susan Chval
William Ciardi
Sharon Cieszynski
Hackensack Tidelines-Spring 2016
Page 17
Thank You Supporters!
Christopher and Catherine
Cirrone
Alice Clark
Winston Clarke
Mary Ann Claxton
John Cline
Emily Cobb
Carol Cohen
Esther Cohen
Judy Cohen
Nancy Cohen
Greg Cokorinos
William Coleman
Thomas and Sarah Colgan
Arthur and Helen Collard
Edward and Ruth Collier
Charleen Collins
Ken Colombo
Harold Condie
Brooke Coneys
Helen Conly
Anne Connolly
Michael Contento
Mary Conway
Robert and Raye Cooke
Brian Cooley
Keith and Lora Cooper
Frances Corbett
Carolyn Cornell
Ellen Corrigan
Elizabeth Costello
Joyce Coulter
Joan Cowlan
Peter Coy
Mike Crabtree
Linda Crawford
Vincenza Crevier
Ruby Cribbin
James Cular
Shirley Culman
Barry Cunningham
Timothy and Jenine Cunningham
Joe and Lisa Cuoco
Robert Cuocolo
Joe and Christine Curley
Sara Cyrus
Philip and Jean Dahlen
Margaret Dalton
Tim Daly
Gerald and Beverly Dalzell
Ted and Paula D’Amico
Bart & Sylvia D’Andrea
Joseph D’Angeli
Ruth D’Angelo
Loren & Susan Daniels
Donald Daume
Maryellen DeBoer
Dean DeClue
Michael DeGennaro
Marilyn Dekan
Beth Dell
Elizabeth DelTufo
Marsha Demarest
Edward Dennis
Dennis & Laurel Deribin
John Derienzo
Barbara Deutsch
Fred Diangelis
Lynda Dickey
Barry & Carol Dickman
Diana Digirolamo
Anita Digiulio
Donald & Maureen Dillon
Patricia Dinella
Frank DiPalma
David & Karen DiSanto
Johan Dixon
Arthur & Harriet Dolgan
Gregory Dolin
Joe & Irene Dominique
John & Denise Dorans
Audrey Dorman
Michelle Dorsi
Norah Dowd
Joanne Downes
Donna Drake
Richard Dreiwitz
Peggy Dreker
Larissa Drennan
Lina Drillman
Bill Drummond
Pauline DuBois
Lia Dudine
Edna Duffy
Ray Duffy
Jeff Dugal
Frances Duggan
Susan Dumais
Roland Dumont
Caitlin Duran
Sean Durfee
Chithra Durgam
Cathie Duryea
Herta Dusebout
John & Gail DuVernay
David & Patricia Ebel
Robert Eberhart
Daniel & Helen Eberle
John & Susan Eckert
Nancy Edlund
Dino & Victoria Eftychiou
Joseph Egan
Kathleen Egan
David Ehrenfeld
Leonard Eisen
Mark & Wendy Elfant
Marie Ellis
April Elsasser
Ursula Enderlin
Carol Endl
Jamie Eng
Joan Enker
Carol Ennis
Wallace & Patricia Ennis
Estelle Epstein
Ludwig & Barbara Erb
Gregory Erdman
Cheryl Erenberg
Andrea Escudero
Dom & Claudia Esker
Gabrielle Esperdy
Tony & Peggy Esposito
Daniel & Talia Evans Farkas
Hugh Evans
Bill & Maryann Fahey
Kent Fairfield
Sharon Fallon
Barbara Fanelli
Michelle Fanelli
Lauren Farrell
Matthew Favaro
Michele Fazio
Danielle Fede
Bud Feder
Robert Feder
Carl Feinberg
Harold & Norma Feinberg
David Feldbaum
Daniel & Maria Feliciano
Robert & Victoria Fernandez
Nancy Fezell
Lynne Fields
Ina Fine
Marc Fink
Karen Finn
Rebecca Finnell
Aleta Fischer
William & Carolyn Fischer
David & Benita Fishbein
Kathleen Fisher
Roberta Fisher
Esther Fishman
Julia Fitzpatrick
Noreen Fitzsimons
Carol Flanagan
Ginny Flanagan
Donald Florczak
Elizabeth Flynn
Cynthia Focarino
Judith Foester
Lauren Foley
Ronald Folger
Diane Ford
Norman & Nina Forrest
Paul & Barbara Forste
George & Susan Fosdick
Zenobia Fox
Jakob Franke
Mike & Irene Frantz
Sigrid Frawley
Jerold Freier
Martin & Olga Freundlich
Ruth Friedkin
Kathy Friedman
Mike & Iona Friedman
Samuel & Dorrie Friedman
Jess Fuchs
Ryan & Renee Fulcher
Christopher Fullam
Carl & Linda Fuller
Lucinda Furlong
Russell Furnari
Alice Galmann
Marcela Gama
Bob & Mattye Gandel
Freeholder David Ganz
Margaret Garofalo
Philip & Arlene Gartenberg
James Garvin
Amy Gasc
Joseph & Anna Gassib
Caryn Starr-Gates
John & Janet George
William & Adrienne Gerken
Anthony Giannantonio
Ina Giardina
Assemblyman Thomas Giblin
George Gilbert
Rob & Michele Gillies
Joan Gilson
Sara Gilvary
Michael & Susan Ginch
Vicki Giuseffi
Stanley Glabicki
Janet Glass
Mitchell & Catherine Gleicher
Terry Glover
Carl & Suzanne Gobrili
Martin & Norma Goetz
Sol & Barbara Goldberg
Eileen Goldblatt
Bob & Jean Golden
Jeffrey Goldsmith
Alfred Goldstrom
Maggie Gonzales
Paul & Deborah Goodell
Jonathan Goodnough
Amy Gordon
Senator Bob Gordon
Lisa Gordon
Stephen & Susan Gordon
Uta Gore
Valerie Gores
Stephen & Alexandra Goulet
Maryanne S. Graham
Meryl Graime
Alfred Gramstedt
Richard Grant
Yvette Grau
Elinor Grayzel
Hackensack Tidelines-Spring 2016
Page 18 Thank You Supporters!
Jonathan Green
Ramon Green
Ruth Greenberg
Mindy Greenfield
Carol Greenwood
Garrit Greer
Brenda Griepenburg
Nicholas Griepenburg
James Grieshaber
David Grill
Peter Grisafi
John & Teri Grisoni
Eric Grob
John Grob
Ed & Marlaine Gruber
Robert & Denise Gruffi
Jean Gruja
Annemarie Guadagno
Michael & Beth Guerra
Monica Guinan
Sheila Gujral
James Gunning
Camille Gutmore
Robert Gutstein
Joan Gwozdz
Tara Gyorfy
Melissa Hacker
Alexander Haggis
John & Mary Haight
Dave & Nancy Hall
Judson & Lisa Hamlin
Bill & Valerie Hampson
Judith Hanlon
Jeff & Linda Harkness
Denise Harlem
Richard & Carol Harries
Archie J. Harrison, Jr.
Daniel & Eileen Harrison
Pearl Hart
Wayne & Susan Hasenbalg
William & Molly Haskins
Peter Haugk
Edwin & Carol Havens
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Hackensack Tidelines-Spring 2016
Page 19
Thank You Supporters!
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Hackensack Tidelines-Spring 2016
Page 20 Thank You Supporters!
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Hackensack Tidelines-Spring 2016
Page 21
Thank You Supporters!
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A Barrel of Laughs
Return of the Rain Barrel Workshop.
By Caitlin Doran
Our first rain barrel workshop
left us in quite a pickle. Although
the workshop itself went without
a hitch, there was the hardship of
finding, transporting, cleaning, and
prepping twenty pickle barrels.
That all changed this year when
SUEZ stepped in and sponsored the
program, including all the cleaning
and prepping. Thanks, SUEZ!
You streamlined the entire process,
and the benefits were passed on to
the registrants. Big thanks also go
out to the Johnson Public Library
for accommodating this workshop
two years running.
On Tuesday, March 8, our
Watershed Ambassador, Elizabeth
Balladares, led the workshop,
which began with a presentation
on the benefits of green infrastructure and ended with participants
grabbing tools and going to work
on their barrels, which was a proverbial barrel of laughs. We were
happy to also host folks who came
just to watch and learn, for a total
of around 40 people. In no time
flat, we turned twenty-six 55 gal.
pickle barrels into beautiful water
conservation instruments!
Liz wrangles the barrels at SUEZ.
Liz begins work on the demo barrel.
Alexa“disappears” inside her barrel.
Hackensack Tidelines-Spring 2016
Page 22 WMA 5 Ambassador Update
Winter is over and Spring has Sprung
By Elizabeth Balladares
Hello Tidelines readers! I hope you’re as ready
for spring as I am. After all the snow and frigid cold,
I’m looking forward to some nice warm weather
so we can get started on upcoming spring projects.
Winter, however, was not all bad. There was a lot
to keep me busy and I had the opportunity to create
some wonderful programs to give back to our watershed communities. For instance, in December, in
partnership with the Teaneck Creek Conservancy and
Bergen County Audubon, I conducted a Volunteer
Biological Monitoring Workshop. During the workshop, I provided participants with the training necessary to monitor the biological health of local streams.
With that training under their belts, those individuals
are now ready to assess streams on their own!
I had a great experience in January when I led a
shoreline cleanup of Thomas DiDomenico Park in
Bayonne with help from Hackensack Riverkeeper
volunteers and the Bayonne Nature Club. The cleanup is an annual event that’s been conducted by many
Watershed Management Area 5 Watershed Ambassadors and I’m more than happy to have kept the tradition going during my term of service. The cleanup
was a success; and despite a bit of rain, we removed
over forty 33-gallon bags’ worth of trash from the
shore of Newark Bay. Among them, six bags were
filled with recyclable materials and other interesting
finds including: (3) milk crates, (4) five-gallon pails
and a large piece of plastic dock. It was a wonderful
way to start off 2016 and get local residents involved.
It’s been a lot of fun conducting clean water presentations at different schools within WMA-5. While
it’s rewarding at any time to work with students who
are excited about taking action to help our environment, I particularly look forward to visiting more
classrooms in the spring and working closer with
students on what we can do to help keep our local
waterways clean and pollution-free.
We tackled an issue of pollutants entering our local streams through a rain barrel workshop conducted
with my host agency, Hackensack Riverkeeper. On
March 8, through combined efforts with SUEZ, and
local residents, we built a total of 26 rain barrels.
When all of them are set up, they’ll prevent a total
of 1,430 gallons of stormwater runoff during every
rainstorm. Since runoff can carry a mixture of con-
Liz conducting a
biological and
habitat assessment
at Bear Brook at
Atkins Glen Park
in Park Ridge.
taminants like fertilizers, pesticides, road salt, litter
and bacteria from pet waste into our local waterways,
our 26 barrels will go a long way toward preventing
nonpoint-source pollution. Many thanks to the Johnson Public Library for hosting this program.
I hope to continue the fun with more interactive
projects and educational programs in the upcoming months. For example, I’m looking forward to
conducting more Volunteer Monitoring Workshops
with different schools around the area. I’m excited
to work closely with schools in Hoboken to design
water-related murals around some of the storm drains
in town so passers-by will be reminded to be careful
about what goes down those drains. I am truly enjoying my time as your Watershed Ambassador thus far
and hope to continue making great memories until
the end of my term. I will always value the friendships I have made along the way and will always be
an advocate for preserving the bond we all share with
our community, watershed and the natural environment.
IMMIGRATION QUESTIONS?
Frank R. Massaro, Attorney at Law
Over 30 Years Immigration Experience
Member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association
212 244-3998
www.frankcitizenship.com
39 Broadway, 19th Floor, New York, NY 10006
Hackensack Tidelines-Spring 2016
At the helm
continued from page 2
park. Hudson County is one of the
most densely populated counties in the nation, with more than
14,000 people per square mile. In
contrast, Morris County is much
less crowded at 1,000 people per
square mile. In populous communities, every parcel of land
is valuable to residents, and the
majority of municipal open spaces
are smaller than one acre. In fact,
developing those 38 LSP acres
would be the equivalent of paving
over more than two dozen neighborhood parks.
Still, DEP Parks Director
Mark Texel touts that developing
38 acres of the park is insignificant. He does so while neglecting
to mention that his agency’s own
comprehensive outdoor recreation
plan indicates a 180-acre public
open space deficit in Jersey City.
Through its Green Acres Program,
the DEP is charged with offsetting this imbalance by acquiring
additional open space, not leasing
away existing parkland.
“The developed aspects ...
would take less than 2.4% of the total area of the park,” proclaims The
Future of Liberty State Park — an
unsubstantiated DEP proposal based
on a consulting report done by New
Jersey Future. But the number is
inaccurate. The 2.4% figure came
from dividing 38 acres by total park
acreage. But, while the DEP report
absurdly claims that the park occupies 1,600 acres, in truth the park
is only 1,200 acres with about
600 acres being tidelands and open
water, not dry land. Moreover,
nearly all of the remaining 600 acres
of functional uplands have dedicated public uses, such as barbecue and
picnic areas, nature and bike trails,
natural areas and festival fields.
Page 23
Unless the operating budget of every entity in the state is
considered a “deficit,” claiming
that Liberty State Park has a $2
million deficit is another misleading statement trumped up to allow
commercial leases in Liberty State
Park. The park has annual operating expenses of $3.5 million and
brings in $1.5 million in revenues.
The remaining $2 million comes
out of the $39 million already
budgeted for all state parks.
To put the cost of the park’s
$2 million annual operating budget in perspective: It’s only 20%
of what New Jersey taxpayers
have spent on the governor’s
$10 million legal fees on the
George Washington Bridge
scandal, and just 0.006 % of New
Jersey’s $33.8 billion state budget. The Christie administration
can mislead about the numbers at
Liberty State Park, but the numbers don’t lie: The development of
Public Trust lands at Liberty State
Park will not begin to solve the
state budget deficit, but it will certainly increase New Jersey’s urban
open space deficit and forever
mar one of America’s great public
places.
Greg Remaud urges everyone who
cares about the future of the park to
sign the petition at www.SAVELSP.org
and tweet #SAVELSP.
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yourself. Please show your support for environmental health and
conservation within the Hackensack River Watershed by making a
donation today. HRI is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Your
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Come see Hackensack Riverkeeper
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state.nj.us/dep/fgw/pequest.htm
Maywood Library Earth Fair
Maywood, NJ
maywood.bccls.org
Hudson County Earth Day
Liberty State Park
hcia.org
Northern Valley Earth Fair
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nv-earth-fai.org
Paramus Earth Day
Paramus Public Library
paramusec.org
Party For The Planet
Bergen County Zoo
co.bergen.nj.us/documentcenter/
view/5673
Hooked on the Hudson
Ross Dock Picnic Area,Ft. Lee, NJ
njpalisades.org/rossdock.html
Ridgefield Park Earth Day
Waterside Park
ridgefieldpark.org
Secaucus Green Festival
Xchange at Secaucus
secaucusnj.gov/departments/
environmental