NEWS from the
TOWNSHIP OF IRVINGTON

"It is the goal of this administration to investigate and implement any initiative that will improve life in Irvington, and to do so with all due care, commitment and concern."
MAYOR WAYNE SMITH

The Township of Irvington's annual Earth Day celebration this year will include an observance of Arbor Day. Attendees of the event that kicks off in front of Town Hall at 10 am on Saturday, April 22, 2006 will receive free tublings (baby trees), pots and soil, courtesy of the NJ Tree Foundation. A planting demonstration will be given by Aubrey Malvasio, coordinator of the township's Clean Communities program. Literature on Earth Day, Arbor Day and environmental awareness will be available, and refreshments and giveaways of such promotional items as T-shirts and tote bags will be included. At 12 noon, adults will be dispatched for neighborhood cleanups with rakes, shovels, brooms and other implements provided by the Irvington Department of Public Works, while the children leave to continue the celebration at the Essex County Environmental Center in Roseland, where participants can canoe, flyfish and study bees, among numerous other nature-related activities. Tours of the center will also be provided. James Sanfillipo of Irvington-based Jimmy's Transportation donated the 47-passenger bus, which is due back at Town Hall at 4 pm.

The NJTF is also donating 12 baby silky dogwood trees for each of Irvington's public schools to raise during the year. At maturity, the trees will be planted at sites designated by each school during next year's Earth Day observance. "This would be a great project for the schools to incorporate into the science curriculum, and it will provide the students with hands-on experience," Malvasio said. Earth Day is co-sponsored by the Irvington Department of Public Works, NJ Environmental Federation, Keep Irvington Beautiful committee, Irvington Junior Environmental Club and the Earth Day committee. For more information about Earth Day or to reserve a seat on the bus or receive directions to the environmental center for individual drivers, contact Malvasio at (973) 399-6697. This year, the official nationwide observances of Arbor Day and Earth Day are April 20 and April 22, respectively.

"This program provides peace of mind and puts the security in social security for our senior citizens," the mayor said. Persons living or banking outside the U. S. are also eligible for the service. Those who wish to open a bank or credit union account should call the helpline for assistance.

Program officials cite the $120 million saved annually through the elimination of printing and mailing costs as another key benefit of Go Direct, as the funds are reserved in the Social Security Trust Fund.

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