NEWS

Morris area sustainability champs to be recognized at Sunday Supper event

Eva Abreu
@EvaAbreuNJ

Nominations are in for the fourth annual Daily Record Grassroots Awards and the third annual Sustainable Morristown Triple Bottom Line Awards, celebrating leadership in sustainability in Morris County.

Covanta is a supporter of The Community Soup Kitchen and Outreach Center in Morristown and regularly holds collections of food and other donations to support the work done of the Center. Marla Drury, Community Soup Kitchen director of development/community outreach, left, with Sue Ryan, Covanta.

The awards were open to groups, individuals, businesses and governmental entities and based on activities that took place in Morris County or Morristown. Winners will be announced at the sixth edition of the Morris County Sunday Supper Series Sept. 21 at the Hyatt Morristown.

Want to celebrate with the nominees and learn more about their work while sampling dishes and drinks made with locally sourced ingredients by some of the best chefs in the Morris County area? Read more about the Morris County Sunday Supper Series, a fundraiser for Sustainable Morristown at DailyRecord.com/grassroots and purchase tickets at http://sustainablemorristown.org.

SEE ALSO: Sunday Supper returns to Morristown http://dailyre.co/1tQ2MFa

A new sponsor of the event this year is Covanta Energy Corporation, based in Morristown. The company provides sustainable waste management and renewable energy services to municipalities around the country and in New Jersey.

According to Kenneth E. Armellino, director of environmental science and community affairs, Covanta operates four 'Energy-from-Waste' facilities in N.J. "These facilities process approximately 6,000 tons of waste per day into 140 megawatts of renewable electricity – enough to power approximately 100,000 homes," he said.

Armellino said Covanta's annual support of Sustainable Morristown and this year's Morris County Sunday Supper Series event are important activities for the company. "The active practice of corporate citizenship, as well as the support of the communities in which we operate, is integral to the success of our business," he said.

In Morristown, Covanta supports such local organizations as the Morristown Soup Kitchen and Outreach Center. "Twice a year, the company holds a food drive and employees volunteer to prepare and serve meals to those in need," said Armellino.

For more information about the company, visit www.covanta.com.

DAILY RECORD GRASSROOTS AWARD NOMINEES:

Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation

The Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation has given almost $400 million to nonprofits during its 40 years of existence. Its environmental efforts aim to "encourage comprehensive thinking about how to safeguard our water and reinforce our natural systems in order to promote more sustainable communities," according to the organization's website. The Foundation supports ongoing, careful stewardship of land, which includes efforts to support sustainable agriculture and develop regional food systems that offer plentiful access to fresh, local foods. It's Sustainable Jersey Program offers a small grants program to help registered towns complete sustainability projects, and it helps the state of New Jersey direct federal and state dollars to participating towns which can reliably and effectively utilize them.

Kings Arthur's Castle

Matt and Nicole Gillette of Rockaway Township repurpose antique furniture to give them "a new life and ensure that fewer things end up in landfills." As part of their business model's commitment to the community, the couple says they support suppliers who help others, including Habitat for Humanity and the Salvation Army and also donate 10 percent of proceeds to such local charities as the Lake Drive Foundation in Mountain Lakes for children who are deaf and hard of hearing.

Land Conservancy of New Jersey

Founded in 1981, The Land Conservancy of New Jersey is a member-supported nonprofit land trust dedicated to preserving and protecting natural lands and water resources. The group works to inspire and empower individuals and communities to take action to preserve land and protect the environment in New Jersey. The Conservancy has preserved 20,000 acres of land and helped towns secure $230 million in county, state, and federal grants for their land conservation projects. Accredited by the National Land Trust Accreditation Commission in 2009, The Conservancy joins other organizations nationwide recognized for meeting the highest quality standards for protecting open space, upholding the public trust and ensuring that its conservation efforts are permanent.

Lake Hopatcong Floating Wetland Islands Project

Lake Hopatcong Commission, Jefferson Township, installed a system known as Floating Wetland Islands to deliver better water quality to Ashley Cove and Lake Hopatcong and create a cleaner lake by directing nutrients that aid in the growth of algae away from the main water and towards the floating islands. The floats are made of woven, recycled and plastic material and are an alternative to watershed-based constructed wetlands, which would have been a lengthy and more difficult process.

Sustainable Madison Committee

The Sustainable Madison Committee was created via municipal ordinance in 2012 and now includes 11 members who are dedicated to encouraging sustainable practices in Madison. In 2013, the committee helped the borough get certified as a silver Sustainable Jersey community with the highest point total for any mid-sized community. The committee promotes recycling, water conservation, sustainable energy usage, the community garden, green cleaning and numerous other topics. The group also works with existing borough agencies, including the Madison Environmental Commission, the Parks Advisory Committee, the Shade Tree Management Board and the Open Space, Recreation and Historic Preservation Advisory Committee to keeping sustainable practices part of every discussion.

Mount Olive Braille Trail

A open trail through the woods designed specifically for the blind and visually impaired was officially opened in April as the first part of what is being called the Morris Canal Greenway Braille Trail, a one-mile path starting on Plane Street in Stanhope, traveling along the towpath of the Morris Canal to Continental Drive in Mount Olive. The Braille Trail features guide ropes so the vision impaired can safely follow along. There will also be benches and kiosks installed, telling the story of the Morris Canal.

Leonard J. Soucy, Raptor Trust (posthumous)

The Raptor Trust, founded more than 30 years ago by Len Soucy, who passed away in June, and his wife Diane, has grown to be one of the largest, most comprehensive facilities of its kind in the nation. From 1982 until 2005, more than 60,000 hawks, owls and other wild birds have been cared for at facility. Soucy's work has been recognized locally and nationally, and he has received awards from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the New Jersey Veterinary Foundation and the Humane Society of the United States.

SEE ALSO | Sunday Supper Dining Spotlight:

Morris Tap & Grill; Paragon Tap & Table

http://dailyre.co/1s5cNlz

Sunday Supper Spotlight: The Taco Truck

http://dailyre.co/1s3Oncb

SUSTAINABLE MORRISTOWN TRIPLE BOTTOM LINE AWARDS:

Morris Arts

Arts and culture are key components of a community's quality of life. Sustainable Morristown looked at Morris Art's full body of work from a broad definition of sustainability. The work they do in schools and collaborations in the community are two high points. Of special note: the ongoing leadership around Creative Morristown/Master Plan process, the Parklet demonstration project, contributing to the Sustainable Jersey Arts actions criteria, bringing arts activities to Sustainable Morristown's sustainability-themed events and the recent addition of 'Meet Me in Morristown' which is leveraging the arts to bring economic activity and benefit to our community.

Morris School District

Providing our young people — the world's next generation of leaders — with the skills to become lifelong learners is paramount to a sustainable community. Supported by the school administration, school board and Morris Educational Foundation, Morris School district educators bring their creative best to ensure that the tenets of sustainability are weaved throughout the lessons being taught. Of special note: a sustainability track in the new STEM Academy at MHS, an outdoor ecology center at Alexander Hamilton School, proposed green roof classroom extension at MHS and the writing of a new sustainability-based character education curriculum to be implemented in grades 3-5, district-wide beginning this fall.

Church of the Redeemer, Morristown

Historically known for being at the forefront of progressive initiatives, the Church of the Redeemer is all about people – of all walks of life. The Church is now leading the faith community in becoming more green & sustainable. It has become the first faith institution in the Morristown area to earn the coveted Green Sanctuary certification from Green Faith, a rigorous 2-year program that shepherds a congregation through a multitude of steps to green its worship, facilities and stewardship practices. Not only did Redeemer meet the programs requirements, it also worked tirelessly to support the entry of two additional local churches in the program as well; the Presbyterian Church and Bethel AME are now about halfway through their 2-year journeys.

Submitted by Sustainable Morristown

SUNDAY SUPPER SERIES

The Daily Record is partnering with Sustainable Morristown to bring the Morris County Sunday Supper Series to the Hyatt Morristown from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Sunday. An award presentation announcing the winners of the Daily Record Grassroots and Sustainable Morristown Awards will be a part of the evening's planned events.

Sponsored by the Highlands Dinner Club, Covanta Energy, Hyatt Morristown and Kings Food Market, the Sunday Supper event will feature live music by A.L.L. Trio. Musicians Mike Alexander, Evan Lane and Pete Lister met at the County College of Morris and have been playing together for over ten years. An open bar and silent auction will also be offered.

The A.L.L. Trio group will peform Sunday at the Morris County Sunday Supper Series at Hyatt Morristown.

The following restaurants, farms and food suppliers will be participating at the event: Morris Tap & Grill, Paragon Tap & Table, The Artist Baker, Wholly Wholesome, The Taco Truck, Harvest Group, Shore Catch, Valley Shepherd Creamery, Ralston Farms, Tassot Apiaries, Griggstown Quail Farm, Jeff's Organic Produce, Glenmalure Farm Branchville, Jersey Artisan Distilling, Weyerbacher Brewing, Smartworld Coffee, Hudson Whiskey and Phila Distillery.

Some spots are still available for vendors, food establishments, chefs and farmers; for more information, call Martine Rothstein at 973-610-3058 or email locallygrown@sustainablemorristown.org

Share your sustainability story; email eabreu@dailyrecord.com

IF YOU GO:

Morris County Sunday Supper

Farm-to-table tastings, live music, open bar, silent auction and award presentation

When: Sunday, 4-7 p.m.

Where: Hyatt Morristown, 3 Speedwell Ave., Morristown

Tickets: $100 for a single ticket, $175 for a pair; purchase online or at the door.

Online:http://sustainablemorristown.org

SEE MORE GRASSROOTS STORIES | https://www.dailyrecord.com/grassroots