Last Thursday, I was thrilled to be walking around with a press pass in order to cover the roll out of Marlboro’s revolutionary and pioneering new ‘Shop Marlboro Property Tax Reward Program.’ Here’s the gist of  the program which has been in development for a year by Marlboro’s Economic Development Committee then I’ll throw some praise around, after all I’m a Marlboro resident. When Marlboro residents purchase goods (even gas) and services locally (here in Marlboro) from participating merchants, they receive credits against their residential tax bills. Obviously this incentivizes folks like me to frequent local businesses. I’ve got three letters that come to mind right now as I’m learning more. “Wow.”

In my headline, I alluded to the notion of Marlboro, New Jersey (population 40,000) being (probably) the very first place, town on Earth (therefore the United States as well) offering a reduction of (Marlboro) township property taxes based on a percentage of purchases during the year.

It’s not within the scope of this article to talk specifics, but certainly to applaud and praise Mayor Jonathan Hornik and the entire Township Council and their Economic Development Committee(David Faust) Jonathan Capp, Business Administrator and Investors Bank for visions and courage way beyond a central Jersey township’s limited reach and place in the universe; a refreshing and uplifting civic prideful thought for our 40,000 residents.

Speaking about refreshing: I love crisp lettuce. I’m enthused about dining in Marlboro so much more often now. You see, I’ve got this theory that lettuce is lettuce no matter where ever you go. I might as well eat lettuce close to home and pay less property taxes. It may be that simple.

NJ Discover at 2^nd Annual Dog Day Afternoon. Marlboro NJ   by Calvin Schwartz

Saturday early afternoon was cool and overcast with rain threatening. Back in October, The 2nd Annual Dog Day Afternoon
was scheduled but a rainout and winter shifted the date. Canine and people support today was impressive; the event was held at Marlboro Township Recreation Center Dog Park and all for a wonderful cause: in honor of the late Mark Eric Levine who always wanted a dog. Donations received benefits the Ashley Lauren Foundation; ‘Hope and Help for Children with Cancer.’ For more information: http://ashleylaurenfoundation.org/events

Marlboro Mayor Jonathan Hornik officially welcomed the assembled and then segues to the first event of the day, a dog trick contest. Several human booths were operated by animal related vendors. A representative of ‘Rose’s Fund’ illuminated us. “No one should ever have to choose between medical care and euthanizing their pet.” Rose’s Fund was created so this painful decision never has to be made. The fund reaches out to families of pets with medical problems that they can’t afford to pay for and provides funding. In their four years, they’ve helped 200 families.  Please check their website: www.rosesfund.org

We were able to get several photo-ops with the canine contingents who were mostly in motion or hanging out the water bar. It was a major fun event and no rain.

Calvin Schwartz  5-5-12

An intermittent rain added to the solemnity of the occasion and the history of the soil we were standing on. EPA Regional Administrator Judith Enck along with project Manager Farnaz Saghafi, Marlboro Mayor Jonathan Hornik, Congressman Frank Pallone and Monmouth County Freeholder Lillian Burry assembled under a small white tent with mostly media present to announce the completion of a $50 million contaminated soil cleanup. This Superfund site at Imperial Oil in Morganville (Marlboro) was one of the most polluted in all of America. – On arriving, I did mention to several EPA officials that I attended the very first Earth Day on April 22nd 1970. So these events mean something personal. I wasn’t surprised to learn that New Jersey has the most Superfund sites in all of America.http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=wV_-A8Ue3EU

Industrial operations began in 1912 on this site, so I pointed out to the assembled this is the 100th anniversary. I can only wonder why, in the most densely populated state, they allowed an oil reclamation facility to operate from 1950 to 1969 removing metals and PCBs from waste oil. Another company operated on this site and made arsenic pesticides. The poor soil and underground water; an awful lot of it was excavated and disposed of in the cleanup beginning in 2004.

Superfund was established in 1980 to address the country’s most hazardous waste sites. The program was enacted in the wake of Love Canal and its toxic waste dumps back in the 1970’s. Tara-Jean Vitale and I represented NJ Discover TV. At the conclusion, as dignitaries sought car shelter from a hard rain, Farnaz Saghafi accompanied us on a tour of the grounds; the new top soil brought in, a myriad of varieties of newly planted grasses and trees, a pond fed by a nearby stream, sand pits where the newest residents of the site now live; turtles (not teenage nor mutant as the site is clean and constantly monitored by the EPA), a couple of geese surveying new digs and in the distance just beyond a fence, a new bike path( for humans) just beyond the “No Trespassing” sign. I asked Farnaz about the pond, pretending I was in the desert and it was the only water around. “Could I drink that water now?” “If you like muddy water, you can,” she answered scientifically, with an advanced degree in chemical engineering.

Earlier I asked Mayor Hornik about his recollections of this toxic site. “I was 13 and here with my father who was mayor and this place really scared me.” He smiled broadly and proudly throughout the press conference. When I greeted Congressman Pallone, I reminded him about our past meetings at the environmental Clearwater Festival in Asbury Park the last few summers. Consistency is a desired quality for a Congressman; he is a great supporter of environmental causes. During his comments, he mentioned Superfund losing dollars to the causes of funding jobs for Americans during this recession. Eloquently he said, “Superfund cleanup actually provides a lot of jobs, so it’s a misconception.”

Finally it was announced that the land here is for sale. Part of the sale proceeds goes back to the federal government and Marlboro Township. I stared at the landscape and wondered if I could get a good deal on the property with all I know now.                                        –           Calvin Schwartz  May 2nd 2012

Japan visits Marlboro, NJ

Malboro Mayor Jonathan Hornik and Mayor of Nanto City Japan Mikio Tanaka shared their enthusiasm and commitment to a tremendous program that has developed into a friendship and bond between 2 cities going back to the 1990’s.
The Marlboro-Nanto Youth Exchange Program gives Japanese and American students an opportunity to experience and appreciate their different cultures.

Students travel from Japan to spend time with host families living in Marlboro. For one week they enjoy typical daily activities in New Jersey and some sight-seeing in New York and Philadelphia.

 This non for profit organization is funded entirely by community donations. For more information go to www.marlboro-nanto.org.