AAUW Bag of Books Sale Coming this June
34 JUNE 2021 | TheJournalNJ.com
BY LORI DRAZ
Prepare your summer reading list and gather books at the AAUW
Northern Monmouth County Bag Sale on Saturday, June 26 from 9
history, resource guides, current topics, cookbooks, coffee table books,
The sale is open every Saturday from 9 am to 1 pm at the Old First
Church, 69 Kings Highway in Middletown.
Proceeds from the AAUW Used Book Sale provide university and
college scholarships for women and girls and support local projects that
promote STEM education for middle school girls. They also provide leadership
training for high school girls and offer workshop training in salary
negotiations for college students and women returning to the work force.
The Northern Monmouth County Branch of AAUW has been making
a difference in the community for more than 90 years and welcomes new
members to join them in advancing equity for women and girls.
For more information, visit aauw-nj-nmcb.org or call 732-275-2237.
Monmouth Invasive
Species Strike Team Works
to Tackle Thorny Problems
BY LORI DRAZ
The problem of invasive plant species overgrowth continues to
plague most of Monmouth County. Ann Sherwood, of the Colts
Neck Shade Tree Commission, reported, “You may have noticed
many changes in the plants as you drive along Monmouth County’s
roadways. For instance, Callary pear trees have escaped from yards
poison ivy, and nonnative, such as wisteria and thorny mile-a-minute
for sunlight. While the white pear blossoms and the cascading lavender
berries of mile-a-minute weed are eye-catching, they do not provide the
food sources and habitat that songbirds, small animals and pollinators
need to survive. And they crowd out the plants that these other species
depend on. The Monmouth Invasive Species Strike Team (MISST) is a
newly formed group that wants to do something to help.”
The team teamed up with the Eatontown Environmental Commission
at the Bliss Arboretum on Wyckoff Road for the inaugural MISST
practices for managing invasive plants. Laura Bagwell, chair of the Environmental
Commission, explained, “We recognize the interdependence
of plants, trees and pollinators that evolved together over millions of
years. Since human activity has largely been at fault for the widespread
distribution of invasives, we hope this training results in a team of volunteers
who will help undo some of the damage and protect the healthy
plant ecology in Monmouth County.”
The next training session is being planned for July in Colts Neck
with the date still being determined at the time of this writing. Please
contact MISST for the new date and location. For fact sheets and other
information about invasive species, visit fohvos.info/invasive-species
strike-team. To become a member or to ask any questions, email
MISST@gmail.com.
Free Uber Rides to Local
for Monmouth Residents
In an effort to help vulnerable
constituents without
access to transportation get
vaccinated, Senator Vin Gopal
and Assembly Members
Eric Houghtaling and Joann
Downey have arranged a partnership
with Uber that will
provide 5,000 free rides to
local vaccination sites for residents
of Monmouth County.
The rideshare company is working cooperatively with Affordable
addressing the overwhelming need for quality, affordable housing in
Monmouth County, to administer the rides. Participants will be given a
promo code giving them free transit to and from vaccine sites for both
required doses.
“The Affordable Housing Alliance is grateful for the opportunity
to be a part of such an important initiative,” said Randi Moore, chief
resources to our communities has been a constant force in the work we
-
tionately affected Monmouth County’s most vulnerable residents so we
are thrilled for this opportunity to work with Senator Gopal, Assemblywoman
Downey, and Assemblyman Houghtaling to provide free Uber
rides to ensure residents can be vaccinated.”
Uber spokesperson Alix Anfang added, “This initiative will help
Monmouth County residents without access to transportation get the
vaccines they need. We are proud to be working with Senator Gopal,
Assemblyman Houghtaling, Assemblywoman Downey and an excellent
organization like Affordable Housing Alliance with a track record of
helping people in need and we look forward to helping these residents
get the protection they deserve.”
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