January 31, 2020

1. East Windsor Township Awarded $450,000 Grant from the New Jersey Department of Transportation for Construction of the Union Transportation Trail Extension. The highly competitive grant, successfully obtained by Mayor Janice S. Mironov and Council Members, was announced by NJ Department of Transportation Commissioner Diane Gutierrez-Scaccetti at a recent press conference in the Township municipal building. East Windsor was the largest recipient and only one of three statewide awardees, despite 41 municipal applications being submitted. The Union Transportation Trail extension in East Windsor will commence at the current trail terminus at the Monmouth/Mercer County border in the Assunpink Wildlife Management Area near the intersection of Old York Road and Sharon Road. The trail plan will extend approximately 3.5 miles passing near the Working Dog Winery, continue over the New Jersey Turnpike at Windsor Perrineville Road, pass through two local parks, Woods Road Community Park and Turnpike Park, and ultimately connect to a proposed trail head and parking area at the intersection of Route 33 and Airport Road. With this East Windsor extension, the UTT system would run for over 12 miles to the Ocean County/Monmouth County line near Crosswicks Creek Park. The Township is in the process of preliminary design and engineering funded by a $135,000 grant from the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission. CLICK HERE to view the press conference announcement.
   
   
   
   
   N.J. Department of Transportation Commissioner Diane Gutierrez-Scaccetti (right) announces the award of a $450,000 Bicycle Program grant to East Windsor Township for construction of the Union Transportation Trail Extension during a press announcement at the East Windsor Municipal Building, in the presence of local officials Deputy Mayor Peter Yeager, Council Member John Zoller, Council Member Denise Daniels, Council Member Alan Rosenberg, Mercer County Freeholder Ann Cannon, Council Member Perry Shapiro, and Mayor Janice Mironov.
   
2. Conceptual Plans Publicly Presented by the Township Architect for Expansion of the East Windsor Senior Center. The proposed concepts, developed by the Architect and a Mayor appointed subcommittee, propose adding significant space of about 5,000 square feet to the rear of the building and a small 785 square foot addition to the north side of the building, to accommodate the significant growth in the senior citizen membership. A $1 million Mercer at Play grant and a newly announced highly competitive $400,000 New Jersey CDBG Small Cities facilities grant, successfully obtained by Mayor and Council, will be used to support the project. The additional space and its designated location is intended to maximize use of the current site and to provide flexibility in space configuration, to best accommodate and enhance access to the full-range of fitness, social and educational programs and activities offered at the Senior Center. The concept plan information presented by the Architect can be viewed at (CLICK HERE). Public comments can be directed to the Mayor’s Office at the Municipal Building.
   
   
   
   The above boards on display during the Architect public presentation and currently at the Township Senior Center demonstrate the proposed building elevations, proposed to remain consistent with the existing architecture, and the location and layouts for the proposed additional spaces.
3. East Windsor Township 2020 New Year's Food Drive Continues. Mayor Janice S. Mironov and Council Members are asking area residents and businesses to drop off donated non-perishable food items at the East Windsor Municipal Building (16 Lanning Boulevard) during business hours, the East Windsor Police/Court Building (80 One Mile Road) 24/7, or at East Windsor Volunteer Fire Company No. 2 (69 Twin Rivers Drive). The food drive will benefit the food pantries of RISE and St. Anthony's Church, area-based organizations that provide assistance to local individuals and families.
4. East Windsor Township Awarded 2019 Clean Communities Grant of $53,739. The NJ Clean Communities is a state-wide litter abatement program created by State legislation and managed by the NJ Department of Environmental Protection and the Clean Communities Council. The Clean Communities Act establishes a funding mechanism for the program by placing a user fee on manufacturers, wholesalers and distributors who produce litter-generating products. The grant supports many Township budget expenditures and well as many community activities and programs to promote community recycling and litter clean-up, including Township-wide recycling events, the East Windsor Township Adopt-a-Spot program, the annual Earth Day Recycling Poster Contest for elementary school students, Litter Free recognition for local businesses, participation in the Mercer Green Fest, educational programs about the environment for local elementary schools, and other outreach and education initiatives. The volunteer members of the East Windsor Clean Communities Advisory Committee help propose, plan and carry out these many activities, including the recent Adopt-A-Spot wrap up event.
   
   
   Members of the Township Clean Communities Advisory Committee come together after hosting a highly fun and successful Adopt-a-Spot wrap up event at the Senior Center. Pictured (from left to right) are: (back row, standing) Nilesh Patel; William Egbert; Jerry Ford, Student Member; John Donnelly, Clean Communities Committee Chairperson; Mayor Janice S. Mironov; Douglas Greene; Abhinav Mahesh, Student Member; Council Member/Committee Liaison Alan Rosenberg; (front row, kneeling) Dayne Wolf, Student Member; Bhavya Kilambi, Student Member; Aneesh Acharya, Student Member, and Maanasri Balasubramanian, Student Member.
5. East Windsor Clean Communities Committee Holds 2019 Adopt-A-Spot Wrap Up Event to Recognize and Thank Program Participants. Under this program, participating groups "adopt" a public property and keep it clean during the year. A placard is erected on the site indicating that it has been "adopted by" with the name of the group. The groups are expected to perform clean-up 3 times a month from April 1 through November 1. Adopt-A-Spot is a great program in not only ensuring public areas of our community are well-maintained, but also has been a wonderful educational tool for teaching young people social responsibility and community pride. To participate, interested groups should send a letter to East Windsor Clean Communities, ATTN: Mayor Janice S. Mironov, 16 Lanning Boulevard, East Windsor, NJ 08520. Congratulations to the 2019 Adopt-A-Spot Participants: Beth El Synagogue; Boy Scout Troop 59; Boy Scout Troop 5700; Cub Scout Pack 53; Girl Scout Troop 71331; Girl Scout Troop 72350; Girl Scout Troop 72702; Girl Scout Troops 71436, 70106, and 71905; East Side Ballerz Basketball Team; East Windsor Police Athletic League; St. David's Episcopal Church, and Wells Fargo Bank!
   
   
   Girl Scout Troop 71905. Pictured (from left to right) are: (back row, standing) Aania Abdullah; Eliana Winters; Carmen Horana, Adult Leader; Isabella Bebawi; Namita Ipe, Adult Leader; Kayla Horana; Kimberly Bebawi, Adult Leader; Adriana Cepeda; Mayor Janice S. Mironov; (front row, kneeling) Luke Ipe, and Trivena Azer.
   
   
   Cub Scout Pack 53. Pictured (from left to right) are: (back row) Robert Lisk, Pack Committee Chair; Gayle Wilton, Den Leader; Natesha Felton, Activities Leader; (front row) Theodore Wilton; Cody Lisk; Xavier Felton, and Mayor Janice S. Mironov.
   
   
   Girl Scout Troop 72350. Pictured (from left to right) are: Denise Tsilionis, Co-Leader; Deborah Dorfman, Co-Leader; Shelby Field; Bella Stylianou; Mayor Janice S. Mironov; Juliette Rosario; Cameron Kenny, and Cori Kenny, Co-Leader.
6. East Windsor Township Seeking Residents and Business Owners to Serve on the 2020 Census Complete Count Committee established by Mayor Janice S. Mironov and Council to encourage all residents to participate in events and initiatives that will raise the awareness of the 2020 Census and increase participation to ensure an accurate count of all persons within the community. The U.S. Census Bureau is required by the United States Constitution to conduct a count of the population every ten years. Census data, which is confidential and protected by law, helps determine how many seats each state will have in the U.S. House of Representatives and is necessary for an accurate and fair redistricting of state legislative seats and local voting districts. Federal and state funding is allocated to communities, and decisions are made on matters of national and local importance based, in part, on census data. Interested Township residents and business owners should contact the Mayor’s Office at (609) 443-4000, ext. 252.
7. East Windsor Township and the NJ League of Municipalities Offer Scholarship Opportunities to Junior and Senior High School Students. Three $1,000 scholarships are being offered through the Louis Bay 2nd Future Municipal Leaders Scholarship Competition. This statewide scholarship competition centers on the theme "What My Municipal Government Does Best" and seeks to advance the virtues of elected and volunteer members of the community, while raising awareness of municipal government in general. An appointed committee will select a semi-finalist and forward the semi-finalist's entry to the scholarship committee of the New Jersey League of Municipalities for their consideration. The State League Scholarship Committee will select 15 finalists and 3 winners from the State. A full application package can be obtained from the Municipal Clerk's office at the municipal building (16 Lanning Boulevard) or by calling (609) 443-4000, ext. 238. All entries should be returned to the East Windsor Mayor's Office by Wednesday, March 11.
8. Womanspace Domestic Violence Victim Response Team Is Seeking Volunteers. East Windsor Township Police, in collaboration with Womanspace, is recruiting volunteers who work in conjunction with the police to provide support, information and referral at the time of a domestic violence situation. Applicants must be 18 years of age or older, possess a valid driver's license and access to transportation, and submit to a background investigation, including fingerprinting. Bilingual individuals are encouraged to participate. An 80-hour mandatory training course is provided and scheduled to begin in early March. Applications are now being accepted and are available at the East Windsor Police/Court Building (80 One Mile Road) or visit www.womanspace.org. For more information, contact Detective Brian Gorski at (609) 448-5678, ext. 236.
9. REMINDER: East Windsor Dog Owners Must Secure or Renew Licenses By January 31. All dogs seven months of age and older are required to be licensed. An additional late fee of $1.00 per month will be charged after January 31. Rabies vaccination must be valid through November 1, 2020 to obtain a 2020 dog license. Dog License applications are available from the Municipal Clerk’s Office or the Township website (CLICK HERE). For questions or more information, contact the Municipal Clerk’s Office at (609) 443-4000 ext. 237.
10. East Windsor Township Mayor and Council Encourage Citizens to Volunteer in the New Year for Township Boards and Committees. Citizens can apply to serve on the Clean Communities Advisory Committee, Commission on Aging, East Windsor Municipal Utilities Authority, Economic Development Committee, Environmental Commission, Health Advisory Board, Planning Board, Recreation Commission, Zoning Board of Adjustment and the East Windsor Municipal Alliance for the Prevention of Substance Abuse. Residents interested in volunteering can obtain an application form from the municipal clerk or can fill out this form (CLICK HERE) and return by email to clerk@east-windsor.nj.us, by fax to (609) 443-8303, or by mail to Mayor Janice S. Mironov and Township Council, East Windsor Township Municipal Building, 16 Lanning Boulevard, East Windsor, New Jersey 08520. For further information, call the Municipal Clerk's Office at (609) 443-4000, ext. 240.
11. Recreation Department Offers Trip to New Jersey Devils vs Washington Capitals Hockey Game on Saturday, February 22 (for 1 P.M. Game) at the Prudential Center in Newark. The bus will depart from the Municipal Building parking lot (16 Lanning Boulevard) at 11 A.M. The $86 cost per person includes motor coach transportation, a ticket for entry to the game in Section 132 and a NJ Devils drawstring bag. Attendees under age 16 must be accompanied by an adult. For more information, call (609) 443-4000, ext. 225 or (CLICK HERE) to register.
12. Recreation Department Offers Snow Tubing Trip to Mountain Creek on Saturday, February 29 at Mountain Creek Resort in Vernon, New Jersey. The bus will depart the Municipal Building parking lot (16 Lanning Blvd.) at 8 A.M. The $56 cost per person includes motor coach transportation, 2 hour lift ticket for snow tubing session and lunch. Snow tubing participants must be at least 5 years of age and 42” tall. Attendees under age 16 must be accompanied by an adult. For more information, call (609) 443-4000, ext. 225 or (CLICK HERE) to register.