Five years after the Christie administration ordered scientists to remove oyster beds designed to clean pollution, the state Senate is poised this week to vote on a measure that could put the bivalves back into state waters… The bill would effectivel…
Healthier Cold Cuts: Does ‘Low-Fat, Low-Sodium’ Make A Difference?
No matter how you slice it, one thing seems clear when taking a number at today’s supermarket deli counter. A half a pound of turkey is no longer just a half a pound of turkey. It’s a half a pound of Boar’s Head Hickory Smoked Black Forest Turkey Breast – 40 Percent Lower Sodium, cut thin but not too thin, please… But in the end, what is this stuff, really? If you blindfolded someone, could they really tell which ham was the Maple Glazed and which one was the Virginia Smoked variety? Are we really doing ourselves any favors by ordering the low-fat liverwurst, and the low-sodium bologna? Or are we fools being seduced by the ever-smiling deli man or woman in their white butcher’s coat and name badge, and terms like “hand crafted,” “classic cut,” “premium” or “46 percent sodium free?”… “Just like with all foods, there are some deli meats that are better for you than others,” says Peggy Policastro, nutrition specialist at Rutgers University in New Brunswick. “An oven-roasted turkey breast will be on the healthier side, versus something like salami, which contains byproducts of different foods, higher sodium, etc.,” she says.
Boonton Resident is Among Winners at County Fair
Local residents received high honors at the Morris County 4-H Fair, held on July 15-19 at Chubb Park in Chester. Youth and 4-Hers from Morris County were welcome to compete in divisions such as photography, woodworking, fine art and crafts with projects completed prior to the fair. Projects were judge based on the Danish system; awarded excellent, very good, good or fair ribbons. These judged projects were on display during the fair… Also winning big in the foods division was Boonton native Arianne Grevesen, a member of the Buckanears 4-H Small Animal Club. She received a best in show for her cannoli cupcakes in the Backed Goods Unit Grades four-eight… The Rutgers Cooperative Extension 4-H Youth Development Program uses a “learn by doing approach to enable youth to develop the knowledge, attitudes, and skills they need to become competent, caring and contributing citizens of the world.”
It’s High Season For Jersey Tomatoes
No matter how you slice them, tomatoes are a big part of summer. They grow on big farms and small fields along the highways. Their leafy stalks and bulging red fruit dangle over white-picket garden fences or lean against fire escapes on apartment build…
Experts Says Man-o-War Mean Business — But Don’t Be Afraid to Go Swimming
North Jersey oceanographers say swimmers should not be overly alarmist about the recent influx of the potentially dangerous man-of-war jellyfish-like creatures on the Jersey Shore, as they have so far been few and far between and may soon be gone with a shift in wind patterns… But if you see one, remember- it’s not nice to fool with Mother Nature. “When I hear ‘man-of-war,’ I pay attention. I feel the pain,” said New Jersey State Climatologist Dave Robinson. “I know what it feels like to be stung by a man-of-war. Ever have a hot iron put to your foot? It wasn’t in New Jersey. It was in the Florida Keys, while I was doing marine science field work.”… Recently, there have been strong and prevalent northeasterly wind patterns along the Jersey coast, according to Josh Kohut, associate professor of oceanography at Rutgers University in New Brunswick.
Clifton Teachers Get Environmental Lesson
Passaic County teachers learned not only what a watershed is, but how to protect it using “green” solutions on Monday… “It’s really just all the land that drains to a water body,” said Christopher Obropta, an associate professor at Rutgers University… Storm water runoff into drains can cause overflow in subterranean drainage pipes. Rosana DaSilva, Rutgers graduate student, noted two major ways to reduce runoff: reduce impervious surfaces, which rainwater cannot penetrate, and by harvesting rainwater… Of total groundcover in New Jersey, 12 percent is considered “impervious,” said Obropta. Examples of impervious groundcover include sidewalks, parking lots, driveways, and building roofs. Water cannot penetrate these surfaces and run into storm drains, which in the case of heavy rainfall can cause flooding.
Butler Water Superintendent Named Operator of the Year
Keith Smith, the superintendent and water treatment operator for the Butler Water Department, has been named Operator of the Year by the New Jersey section of American Water Works Association (AWWA)… “The Harold V. Florence, Jr. Meritorious Operator Award is presented annually by the AWWA New Jersey Section to an operator who has brought a higher degree of excellence, learning, initiative, and resourcefulness to bear in the operations of a public water system,” said Frank Marascia, a member of the award committee, who is also production manager for the New Jersey American Water Co. in Short Hills… A graduate of Rutgers University with a degree in environmental science, Smith also holds several advanced certifications in water management and treatment. He also lectures at Rutgers.
West Milford 4-H Starts its ‘Critters Against Litter’ Campaign
While it’s typical for animals to be coming out of hibernation at this time of the year, certain critters may be catching the eyes of passersby in West Milford this week. A wander around the township will reveal eight critters that have been distributed, each with a sign hand-painted on both sides, asking the public to “Stop Litter!” and “Keep West Milford Beautiful,” as well as other Earth Day-related slogans aimed to raise awareness of the impact of litter… The eight critters were selected by 4-H Velveteens to represent both local wildlife and local farm animals with which the club members have actually worked. One is a bear that reminds residents: “Your trash attracts me!” The other painted animals include a chicken, a rabbit, a goat, a pig, a fox, a baby goose, and a fawn… 4-H, which is part of the land grant university system, is the youth division of Rutgers University in NJ, Cornell in N.Y., and Penn State in Pa. and exists in every county in America and in many countries around the world. It employs informal educational programs and promotes “learn-by-doing” to enable youth to develop the knowledge, attitudes and skills they need to become competent, caring and contributing citizens of the world.
Eaters Open Wide for More Nutritious Menu Options
After years of belly stuffing, some industry insiders say that even the most indulgent eaters among the American dining public may finally have gotten their fill. The people who never cared about salt before? They’re starting to ask about salt, now. Forget about extra crispy- the Sizzler crowd now wants their chicken healthy, and farm-raised. Diners who once asked for brown gravy or cheese sauce on their french fries now want the potatoes to be hand-cut, and baked. And macaroni and cheese? It’s been replaced by a side of beets… Peggy Policastro, nutrition specialist for the New Jersey Institute for Food Nutrition and Health at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, said that while it’s true more people are aware of healthy eating than ever, it doesn’t necessarily mean they are actually eating better… “It’s all about psychology,” said Policastro, who teaches a course at Rutgers called “The Hunger Frame,” focusing on what she terms “behavioral nutrition.”
Bergen Utilities Converting Sewage into Valuable Energy Source
The bright orange flame that routinely danced from a pipe on the roof of Ridgewood’s sewage treatment plant did not exactly serve as a welcome beacon for Christopher Rutishauser, Ridgewood’s public works director. Instead, it became a nagging reminder of lost opportunity…The facility was flaring off methane, a greenhouse gas created when bacteria break down sewage… The Ridgewood sewage treatment plant, in Glen Rock, has two anaerobic digesters to handle the 3 million gallons of raw sewage generated by Ridgewood daily. But about 80 percent of the methane generated comes from something other than sewage- Ridgewood accepts 2,000 to 7,000 gallons a day of fats, oils and grease trucked in from area restaurants… “Fats, grease and trap wastes are very good to put in a digester- they’re like candy for the bacteria,” said Dave Specca, a bioenergy expert at Rutgers University’s EcoComplex, the state’s clean energy incubation center. “They just chew away at the sludge.”
