Volunteers Help Beautify Berkeley Heights
Submitted by Downtown Beautification Committee
Summer is here and the Berkeley Heights Adopt-A-Sign program is in full swing, bringing hands-on volunteer opportunities for families, businesses, and community organizations to make the town green and beautiful.
In recent years, new Berkeley Heights branded signs were installed around town. These include welcome signs on entrance roads to town and marker signs at parks. To ensure well-maintained plantings at the base of each sign, the Berkeley Heights Downtown Beautification Committee (DBC) and the Environmental Commission teamed up to launch Adopt-a-Sign.
Once volunteers have selected a sign location, they care for that sign by adding plantings at its base and maintaining them through first frost. Besides buying and planting flowers and greenery, volunteers are watering, weeding and mulching the plants; keeping the immediate area free of leaves and litter; and washing the signs if needed.
Julie Lloyd, chair of the DBC, said “We have asked volunteers to raise their hands and get them a little dirty, so to speak, to make a positive difference for their town, their family and their neighbors. Now 16 groups of Adopt-a-Sign volunteers are doing an awesome job.”
The DBC and Environmental Commission thank the following families, community groups and businesses who have already adopted a sign:
· Bartholomew Family
· Chaleff Family
· Cruz Family
· Facey Family
· Girl Scout Troop 42065
· Girl Scout Troop 40254
· Girl Scout Troop 40178
· Girl Scout Troop 40568
· Hagen Family
· JL Franchino Masonry
· Lawrence-DiLullo Family
· Manieri Family
· Ortega Family
· Scorzafava Family
· Thayer Family
· The Connell Company
· Varnerin Family
“This is a great initiative that combines environmental awareness for decorative, local flowers and plants with an opportunity for families to participate in a community service project together outdoors,” said Kim Diamond, a member of the Environmental Commission. “Volunteers appreciate the flexibility of their simple commitment, as they just perform their responsibilities when they have time.”
Check out the DBC Instagram page to see pictures of these plantings and signs. To learn more about the program check out the Township’s Downtown Beautification Committee and Environmental Commission web pages, or email DBC@bhtwp.com.
