Weekly Township Briefing for July 17, 2009

Public Works vehicles soon to be powered by biodiesel fuel
Cherry Hill Township is about to take a significant step toward reducing its carbon footprint with our participation in a state rebate program that will allow us to fuel municipal service vehicles with B20 biodiesel. Moving away from petroleum diesel has long been on my “to do” list, but the higher cost of alternative fuels was a deterrent – until now. We officially entered into the state’s Biodiesel Fuel Rebate Program at a July 13 Town Council meeting, clearing the fiscal roadblock to using greener fuel.

Administered by the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities, the rebate program funds the incremental difference in cost between biodiesel and its traditional, all-petroleum counterpart. The B20 biodiesel that will soon be powering our 40-vehicle service fleet is a 20-percent biodiesel/80-percent petroleum diesel blend that can be used in any diesel engine without the need for mechanical alterations. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, biodiesel blends, such as B20, reduce the emission levels and toxicity of diesel exhaust, substantially lowering the output of hydrocarbons, sulfate and particulate matter, among other hazardous air pollutants. If you have additional questions about this program, call my office at (856) 488-7878 or email me at MayorPlatt@CHTownship.com.

New Jersey to receive more than $8M in energy rebate funds
Earlier this week, Gov. Corzine announced that New Jersey will receive $8.33 million in U.S. Department of Energy funds for a rebate program to encourage the state’s consumers to purchase ENERGY STAR-qualified home appliances . The funding is part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and will build upon the state’s existing, award-winning Clean Energy Program, in which Cherry Hill is fully participating.

The state will begin to receive funding under the program with the submission of an initial application in August. New Jersey’s application is expected to include an increase in funding for existing appliance rebate programs as well as an expansion in the types of appliances eligible for rebates. The NJCEP currently offers rebates for ENERGY STAR window air conditioners, clothes washers and dehumidifiers as well as high-efficiency home heating and cooling equipment. With this influx of federal funds, it is expected that this successful rebate program will continue to expand. If you have questions about the CEP rebate program, visit www.NJCleanEnergy.com, or call my office at (856) 488-7878.

Township applying to be EPA ‘Climate Showcase Community’
I’m pleased to announce an exciting opportunity the Township is pursuing in accordance with our green sustainability agenda and through our partnership with the Sustainable Jersey program. We are teaming up with a consortium of government agencies, academic institutions and other green municipalities to apply for grant funding from the Environmental Protection Agency for the implementation of climate change initiatives that will help reduce local greenhouse gas emissions.

The EPA’s “Climate Showcase Communities” grant program will award nearly 30 cooperative agreements, each one ranging from $100,000 to $500,000. In collaboration with Montclair, Highland Park, the Board of Public Utilities, the New Jersey League of Municipalities, Rutgers University, and the College of New Jersey, we are crafting a proposal for the money that would create a replicable model of sustainable community action. The overall goal of the grant program, according to the EPA, is to generate cost-effective and persistent greenhouse gas reductions – aimed at meeting the state’s Global Warming Act goals – while improving the environmental, economic, public health, or social conditions in a community.

Music Under the Stars concert series continues this Tuesday
Everyone’s invited on Tuesday nights for free concerts and fun under the stars. Bring a chair, blanket, and even a picnic dinner, and enjoy great music and good times on the grounds of one of our most popular historic sites. This Tuesday features Asbury Fever, offering the sounds of Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band. The concert begins at 7 p.m. at the Barclay Farmstead (209 Barclay Lane). In case of inclement weather, concerts will be moved to the Barclay School (1220 Winston Way).

Music Under the Stars is presented by TD Bank with additional support from NJ TRANSIT, MY GYM of Cherry Hill, Comcast Cable and Cherry Hill Mall.  For more information, please contact the Recreation Department at (856) 488-7868 or e-mail Events@CHTownship.com.

Friends of the Library book sale on through Saturday
It’s your last chance to get bargain-basement deals with the Friends of the Cherry Hill Public Library’s highly-anticipated semi-annual book sale ending the evening of Saturday, July 18. Since its start Thursday, the annual sale has featured more than 10,000 books, with all proceeds benefiting library programs and activities. Held on the lower-level of the CHPL (1100 King's Hwy N), the books are organized into about 30 categories to make it easy for book-sale shoppers to find their next “must-read.” Hardbacks, audio books, CDs and videos are $2. Paperbacks are $1. Records, cassettes, series romance and small children’s books are 50 cents. This Saturday, a bag of books is $5. For more information about other events and activities at the Cherry Hill Public Library, visit www.chplnj.org, and remember to keep reading- this summer and always.

‘Tale of Two Cities’ youth musical opens July 23
The Cherry Hill Township Recreation Department and Robert D. Nation are proud to present the productions of Disney’s “High School Musical” and “A Tale of Two Cities…A New Musical.”  Both shows are produced by Cherry Hill’s own Mr. Nation and will star Cherry Hill-area youth and teens who are participating in the Recreation Department’s Summer Theater Camp.

Show dates and times are: “High School Musical” - Friday, July 24, at 11 a.m.; Saturday, July 25, at 2 p.m.; Sunday, July 26, at 2 p.m.

“Tale of Two Cities…A New Musical” - Thursday, July 23, at 7:30 p.m.; Friday, July 24, at 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, July 25, at 7:30 p.m.; Sunday, July 26, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets cost $12 per person ($10 for senior citizens with Cherry Hill Gold Card) and can be purchased at the Cherry Hill High School East Box Office (1750 Kresson Rd.) Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., beginning Monday, July 20.  For more information please call the Rec office at (856) 488-7868 or email Events@CHTownship.com.

For up-to-the-minute updates on any subject, call my office at 856.488.7878 or visit our municipal Web site: www.CherryHill-NJ.com .

Sincerely,

Bernie Platt
Mayor