West Orange Volunteers Clean Debris From Peckman River

WEST ORANGE, NJ — A group of volunteers in West Orange that included elected officials, first responders, students and Scouts recently teamed up to clear debris from the Peckman River.

Earlier this month, a community cleanup effort took place at the river, which is a tributary of the Passaic River and begins in West Orange before winding its way to Woodland Park.

The effort was intended to decrease incidents of local flooding, which the United States Army Corp of Engineers attribute to increased storms and heavy rainfall, according to Mayor Susan McCartney, who helped to spearhead the event.

McCartney was joined by West Orange Environmental Commissioners Mike Brick, Cyndy Walsh Rintzler, Ken Alper, Justin Goldsman, and Joe Berwind. Open Space Chairman Joe McCartney, Assemblyman John McKeon, Township Forester Walter Kipp, Health Inspector Daniel Gomez, West Orange Fire Fighters Frank Noborine, Guiseppe Chirico, Bruce D'Amato, and West Orange Police Officer Brett Wagner all assisted in the effort.

West Orange Troop 2 Scouts lead by Jack Dean, West Orange High School students and several other community-minded volunteers also lent a hand in the successful river cleanup.

The West Orange Environmental Commission meets on the last Wednesday of each month in the Town Hall conference room. Meetings are open to the public.

Upcoming events sponsored by the commission include:

• May 7 - Bio-retention rain garden planting at Washington Street, Redwood, Kelly, Roosevelt or Liberty between 1 to 3 p.m.
• May 21 - Keeping plastic toys out of landfills by donating to Second Chance Toys at the West Orange Environment Recycling Center 590 Mt. Pleasant Avenue from 1 to 3 p.m.

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