ESSEX COUNTY FREEHOLDERS HONOR

THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION

RECIPIENT OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

(Newark, NJ) – The Essex County Board of Chosen Freeholders honored the Essex County Environmental Commission, recipient of an Environmental Achievement Award granted by the Association of New Jersey Environmental Commissions (ANJEC), during a special presentation at the Hall of Records.

As one of six local environmental commissions awarded, the Essex County Environmental Commission received an Environmental Achievement Award for its exceptional projects and efforts to protect natural resources, health, and open spaces. The award celebrates the Commissions project impact, originality, educational value, innovation, and response to needs.

During the presentation, Freeholder At-Large Patricia Sebold and District 4 Freeholder Leonard M. Luciano presented Co-Chairs Jennifer Duckworth and Gray Russell and members Ann Marchioni, Karina Schafer, Joseph McCartney, and Nicholas D’Ambrosio with the Board’s Commendation for their innovative efforts to host conversations between professionals, experts, members of municipal environmental commissions, and green teams about environmental issues and improvements.

The Essex County Environmental Commission provides advice, outreach, and education to the Offices of the Essex County Executive, the Board of Chosen Freeholders, and the municipal Environmental Commissions in order to protect, restore, and renew Essex County’s natural resources. The Commission also serves to increase environmental awareness, ensuring that all Essex County citizens can enjoy a healthy environment and an enhanced quality of life within a sustainable regional community.

Since 2010, the Commission has hosted a series of roundtable programs twice a year to foster conversations about environmental developments. These roundtable discussions have focused on a variety of topics, including: open space, urban forestry and tree ordinances, water-wise communities, environmental funding for municipalities, and alternative-fuel vehicles in municipalities. The program also allows local representatives to share the latest developments and projects in each of their individual municipalities.

The Commission is comprised of the following individuals: Tara M. Casella (Essex County Liaison/Environmental Coordinator); Freeholder At-Large Patricia Sebold (Freeholder Liaison); Jennifer Duckworth (Co-Chair); Gray Russell (Co-Chair); Dawn Spango; G. Michael Bellinger; Eric Benson; Nicholas M. D’Ambrosio; Joseph P. McCartney; Karina Vera Rosa Schafer; and Ann Farr Marchioni.

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For Additional Information:

Medinah E. Muhammad, Public Information Officer

Essex County Board of Chosen Freeholders

465 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd.,

Newark, New Jersey, 07102

(973)-621-4452

mmuhammad@freeholders.essexcountynj.org