Cleanup leaders honored
BY DAVE BENJAMIN Staff Writer

JACKSON - Mayor Mark Seda thanked the coordinators of the Clean Communities program who helped to rally 400 volunteers for a community cleanup held April 12.

"The Clean Communities program would not be possible if it weren't for the two coordinators, Patricia Wood and Connie Sidor, who did so much to put it all together and get over 400 people out on the road to help clean Jackson," Seda said during a recent meeting of the Township Council.

Seda presented Wood and Sidor with a certificate of appreciation.

"Your outstanding service has contributed to the betterment of the community. Thank you so much," the mayor said.

The Clean Communities program was created in 1986 with funding from taxes levied on the sale of litter-generated products. In 2002, the Clean Communities Fund was reauthorized. All 21 Garden State counties and 559 municipalities were eligible to receive funding during 2007.

"This has been one of the most exciting programs we've done in a long time," Wood said of the April 12 cleanup. "We had over 400 people out and in two hours we picked up over three tons of garbage and recyclables. That's a lot."

More than 150 children participated in a poster contest in conjunction with the cleanup effort. The posters will be on display at town hall.

The winners of the Clean Communities "Litter-Free You and Me" poster contest include: first-place winner in the kindergarten to grade two category, Ashley Koutras, and second place, Nicole Burnside. Both children are in the second grade at the Rosenauer School.

In the third to fifth grade category, Page Rigney won first place and Madelyn Poley received second-place honors. Both children are fourth-graders at the Holman School.

Each first-place winner received a $50 gift certificate for an ice cream party at Farleys. Second-place finishers received a $25 gift certificate for an ice cream party at Farleys.

The teachers of the first-place winners each received a $100 check to purchase supplies for their classroom.

Honorable mention ribbons were presented to: Kristen Grace O'Brien, Rosenauer; Sandra Zomora, Rosenauer;Alaina Pobok, Switlik; Gillian Durante, Rosenauer; Olivia Rogers, H.C. Johnson; Connor Lowery, Switlik; Jessica Whitteaker, Switlik; Chealsea Czayskowski, Holman; Kamile Lukosiute, Rosenauer; Isabel Hennings, Holman; Kimbey McDonald, H.C. Johnson; and Kaylynn Marie Zinsman, Holman.