2008 News
April 17, 2008
Commissioners Underscore “Green” Commitment, Springing Into Action
Bi-Monthly Meeting at Silver Lake Nature Center Celebrates Earth Day, Bucks County Government Environmental Initiatives
Tucked on Bristol Township’s Bath Rd., Silver Lake Nature Center is one of three nature centers that fall under the aegis of the Bucks County Park & Recreation Department. Along with Churchville and Peace Valley Nature Centers, it stands as a suburban oasis of beauty and environmental education. Yesterday, during the Board of Bucks County Commissioners bi-monthly meeting, Silver Lake Nature Center served as an appropriate setting for a session that was dedicated to the April 22 worldwide observance of Earth Day.
“This is sort of a homecoming for me, in that for many years I was on the board of the Friends of Silver Lake Nature Center,” commissioner Chairman Jim Cawley told a packed room inside the facility’s auditorium.
“Earth Day was first celebrated on April 22, 1970,” explained Silver Lake Nature Center Naturalist Bob Mercer, “but I do want to recognize that Bucks County had started thinking environmentally before that. They started the Parks Department in the 1960’s, and the first nature centers were opened in that decade. This nature center opened summer only in 1966, and full time in 1972.” Mercer recalled skipping school to attend the initial Earth Day celebration in Philadelphia’s Fairmount Park.
Commissioners Cawley, Charley Martin and Diane M. Ellis-Marseglia, LCSW presented an Earth Day proclamation to Geri Rush, community relations coordinator for Waste Management, Inc. Each year, Waste Management and Calkins Media’s Newspaper In Education program sponsors an Earth Day Poster Contest. This year’s winners included:
- Zoe Ganiszewski, Upper Black Eddy--Grade K, Durham Nockamixon
- Dasha Bagriy, Feasterville--Grade 1, Ferderbar Elementary
- Samantha Seamone, Morrisville--Grade 2, Valley Day School
- Katherine Schramm, Philadelphia--Grade 3, Nazareth Academy Grade Schl.
- Jessica Bergiven, Holland--Grade 4, Hillcrest Elementary
- Elizabeth Rifkind, Holland--Grade 5, Hillcrest Elementary
- Keith Lee, New Hope--Grade 6, Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Schl.
- Liz Zbinden, Yardley--Grade 7, Wm. Penn Middle School
- Krista Titus, Warminster--Grade 8, Log College Middle School
- Michela Favaro, Bensalem--Grade 9, Bensalem High School
- Rebecca Dorman, Newtown--Grade 10, Council Rock North HS
- George Reyes. Levittown--Grade 11, Valley Day School
- John Ruthrauff, Morrisville--Grade 12, Morrisville High School
The meeting also was memorable from a historical environmental perspective as the commissioners unanimously adopted a “Cool Counties” resolution that makes Bucks County the first in Pennsylvania to do so. Prior to that adoption, Consumer Protection Director Michael Bannon presented an update on the activities of the Bucks Employees Green Initiative (BEGIN) committee.
The meeting’s tone of celebration was set in motion by representatives of the Bucks County Jazz Festival, including Art D’Angelo, who accepted a proclamation from the commissioners. Also recognized was Marcia Straka of the Bucks County Head Start program, who accepted a proclamation on behalf of the Week of the Young Child (April 13-19).
Each year, the National Association of Letter Carriers and the U.S. Postal Service conduct a one-day food drive. The event is scheduled for Saturday, May 10, throughout Bucks County. The commissioners presented a proclamation to representatives of “Letter Carriers’ Food Collection Day,” including John Greer. During 2007, 300,000 letter carriers nationwide collected over 70.7 million pounds of food, including nearly 240,000 pounds in Bucks County. On May 10, residents are encouraged to place non-perishable items beneath their mailbox for collection and sorting by postal employees.
The fifth proclamation of the morning recognized Infant Immunization Awareness Week (April 21-28). It was presented to Janice Anastasi, R.N., and Bee Diddy, the Bucks County Health Department’s immunization mascot. Last year, the Health Department administered nearly 10,000 vaccinations to Bucks County residents under the age of 18.
During the business portion of the agenda, the commissioners approved resolutions for 15 departments, although Commissioner Ellis-Marseglia cast nay votes for four individual items, including an amendment to the Bucks County Conference and Visitor’s Bureau hotel tax distribution, which increased available funding for marketing, special events and capital projects. She also opposed a contract increase and extension for the rental of washers and dryers at the Men’s Community Corrections Center, a new respite care services contract for Mental Health/Mental Retardation, and a laundry chemicals contract for Corrections and Neshaminy Manor.
For a full audio account of the April 16 meeting, please click here.