The first-ever Fanwood Green Fair took place Saturday, July 23 on the front lawn of Fanwood Borough Hall. The event was presented by the Fanwood Green Team, Mayor Colleen Mahr and the Fanwood Borough Council. Despite the extreme 95-degree heat, there was incredible attendance and support from community members of all ages. The fair included 24 contributors including business vendors, nonprofit organizations, Scotch Plains-Fanwood schools and community groups.
With a brief inaugural address by Councilman Tom Kranz and an impressive performance by the SPF High School jazz band, the fair commenced around 11 a.m. and continued on until 4 p.m. Throughout the day, there were visitors from not only Fanwood and Scotch Plains, but also neighboring towns such as Bound Brook, Springfield, Union and Westfield.
The overall objective of the fair was to encourage people to “go green” and lead ecofriendly lifestyles that foster environmental sustainability. In order to do so, the fair offered an array of organic and naturally-derived products, as well as handmade gelato and sorbet by the artisans at Lickt. Visitors were also educated about environmentally-friendly actions, such as making a lasagna garden and investing in gutter protection, CFL bulbs and energysaving systems like solar panels. The electric Tesla car was an additional display of a beneficial, low-impact source of living. The fair also directed attention to the effects of climate change through advocacy groups like Citizen Climate Lobby. Plainfield Municipal Utility Authorities representatives were also on site to explain the new curbside recycling program to Fanwood residents and answer questions about the new program.
Aside from promoting an earth-conscious lifestyle to help the environment, the fair was equally designed to prove how this can help your wallet as well. Local vendors, like Parker Gardens from Scotch Plains, sold native plants and Techni-Art LED bulbs at reduced prices. With their help, the Green Team was successful in sending the message that being green is affordable, practical and easy.
On behalf of the Borough of Fanwood, we would like to especially commend the hard work of the Green Team and Erin Hernandez, an SPF Ambassador Girl Scout. Recognition is also owed to all of the volunteers who helped set up, run and clean up the event. The event earned the Borough of Fanwood 10 points toward Silver Certification in the Sustainable Jersey program. Further, the eco-friendly production of the event (“greening of the green fair”) earned the town another 10 points.
Fanwood Girl Scout Erin Hernandez helped to organize the Fanwood Green Fair as a project to earn her Girl Scout Gold Award. 17-year old Hernandez is going into her senior year at the Union County Academy for Performing Arts and has been in Girl Scouts since 1st grade.
In a statement about the project, Hernandez wrote, “The Girl Scout Gold Award is the highest achievement in Girl Scouting. I picked this Gold Award because I really care for the environment. I believe that the environment gives us so much and we do not properly take care of it.
I think many people are aware that the environment needs to be taken care of, but are not aware of how to do it. …. Also, I love my town. I think Fanwood is an amazing place to grow up and I want others to enjoy that same joy.“
(above) The Fanwood Green Team, organizers of the Green Fair.
