West Caldwell Environmental Commission

The township of West Caldwell’s Environmental Commission was approved by the Council in the mid ‘70’s.  It has public meetings the second Thursday of the month at 7:30 p.m. in the Municipal Building.  For 2008, the Environmental Commission will continue to expand the Wrensch Park project, update the web site, select beautification award winners and begin new initiatives.

There are seven volunteer members who are as follows:

Mark Cohen, Chairman
Jack Kupcho, Vice Chairman
Betty Hansson, Secretary
Joe Emmanuelle
Joan Hamilton
Beth McGovern
Richard Mudd, Liaison to the Planning Board

West Caldwell Town Council is represented by Councilman Joe Cecere..

Over the past several years, the commission has worked towards the long term development of Wrensch Park into a passive park.  Presently a half loop trail is being considered that will be cleared by a group of volunteers from the James Caldwell Environmental Club.  A member from the NJ Audubon Society has also walked the park and will give us helpful tips on how to attract birds so that bird watching will be made available to our citizens.  It also is overseeing the streetscaping along the islands of Bloomfield Avenue.  It has reinstated the Beautification Award given out each year to five businesses whose property is maintained and landscaped in a level that is worthy of this award.

Over the next several months, we will continue to develop this web page to keep our citizens informed of issues that affect our environment and our community.  We hope to also offer healthful tips on gardening and landscaping around your home for whichever season we are in.  Any input is always welcomed from the public.

Helpful Hints for November

 Lawn Care

  • Feed lawn in late November (this will eliminate the need to feed in early spring)
  • Lower the cutting height of the lawn
  • Lime lawn if needed

 Plant Care

  • Keep plants well-watered  before winter sets in
  • Planting of all hardy shrubs, trees, and evergreens can continue through November
  • Start a compost pile from fallen leaves
  • Cut back perennials
  • Protect broad leaf evergreens from winter burn and death by applying anti-desiccant spray while temperatures are still above forty degrees

Helpful Hints for December/January

  • Cover around perennials, shrubs, and evergreens with two to three inches of mulch
  • Feed birds
  • Dormant pruning (do not prune spring blooming trees or shrubs with buds if you want them to flower)
  • Cut back roses
  • Remove heavy snow from evergreens (do not remove ice)