Page 12 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • July 21, 2010 Wyckoff Members of the New Jersey Landscape Contractors Association; Wyckoff dignitaries; Eisenhower Middle School staff, teachers, and parents; and the Friends of Wyckoff recently gathered to celebrate the grand opening of two outdoor classrooms at the middle school created during the 2010 PLANET Day of Service. PLANET projects focus on lawn care, landscape maintenance, tree care, irrigation, or interior plantscaping that benefit the community. This year, the NJLCA called upon its membership for submissions of projects to be considered the official PLANET Day of Service Project. Construction completed two years ago at the school created two enclosed courtyards of concrete, gravel, and weeds. Over the past two years, students in seventh and eighth grade science classes have tracked the path of the sun, researched plants, measured the NJLCA, volunteers donate landscape project to school heat island effect of the two areas, and brainstormed mitigation strategies that would use vegetation to cool the classrooms adjacent to the courtyards. Jody Shilan, president of the NJLCA, who designed the project, said, “The Eisenhower Middle School outdoor classrooms were a terrific opportunity for our members to work together, create a landscape that is both beautiful and meaningful, and raise awareness to the public as to the value of working with a professional NJLCA landscape Volunteers, dignitaries, and members of the community gather for the ribbon-cutting. contractor.” This spring, the NJCLA began turning students’ ideas to be. This project has truly touched the future through the into a reality, transforming the two enclosed courtyards children who will grow and blossom in the garden.” Project contributors included: Al D. Landscaping & into outdoor science classrooms. As part of a student-submitted proposal, the NJLCA recruited members to assist Tree Service of Fairview, All Season Services, LLC of on the nationwide PLANET Day of Service in creating a Saddle Brook, All Service Contractors Equipment of sustainable green education courtyard which will be used Pompton Plains, Aquarius Supply of Hawthorne, Benks for outdoor science education exploratoriums and investi- Land Services of Mine Hill, Borst Landscape & Design of gations related to sustainable development. The winning Allendale, Cal, Liam and Eilish Donnell, Camberly Garidea addresses sustainable agriculture, xeriscaping, water- dens of Tenafly, Cedar Hill Nursery of Mahwah, Chris shed management, and the use of landscaping to reduce the Hricik, Chris James Landscaping of Waldwick, Christourban heat island effect. pher Muller, Dan Como & Sons of Towaco, DC Freeman of Project volunteers included company owners and Millburn, Downes Forest Products of Hawthorne, Frank’s employees, NJLCA staff, and Eisenhower School faculty, Truck Center of Lyndhurst, Friends of Wyckoff, Gail Woolparents, and students. Virtually all of the materials were cott, Garrett Planten (Bergen Community College) of Paraprovided as donations by industry vendors, and the project mus, Green Meadows Landscaping of Oakland, Horizon is estimated to be valued at approximately $100,000, with Landscape Co. of Wyckoff, Jake Shilan, Jennifer Salmon, over 1600 man hours used. Jody Shilan Designs of Wyckoff, Joe Bolognese (Impact “We are indebted to the NJ Landscape Contractors Asso- Irrigation Consulting), John Deere Landscapes of Franklin ciation for choosing the Eisenhower Middle School sustain- Lakes, Kathy and Mike Bowers, Kindergan Landscaping ability education outdoor classrooms as their Planet Day of of Bergenfield, Kodiak Landscape and Design of Haskell, Service/Arbor Day project,” said Eisenhower teacher Lori Kodiak Tree Experts of Teaneck, Lori and Jim Chen, Nancy Chen. “The volunteers and contributors have transformed Maphis (Christian Health Care Center) of Wyckoff, Plant two unused weed-filled courtyards into vibrant, exciting Health Care, Inc. of Old Westbury (New York), Premium spaces for the study of plant ecology and sustainable agri- Aquascapes of New Milford, Ramsey Building & Paver culture. Students can’t wait to plant the first crops for next Supply of Ramsey, Rob and Alex Shean, Roberto Guitiyear’s home economics classes. Language arts teachers are errez, Shemin Nurseries of Mahwah, SnapEdge of Saint already planning to use the serenity of the water feature and Charles (Illinois), Steve and Alexander Raimo, Tech Terra beauty of the butterfly garden to inspire poetry and reflec- Organics of Mount Laurel, United Rentals, The Weglarz tive journaling. The courtyards have been transformed Family, Wilson Horticultural Group, Wyckoff Department from places no one wanted to be to places everyone wants of Public Works, and Wyckoff Education Foundation. Break the Highway Trend! ...not your community’s back. Local businesses are the backbone of your community and the trend to shop the big guys on the highway hurts us all.Your local businesses have what you want... at the right price... and close to home. So, why hassle with the highways? Save Time! Save Gas! Save Money! SAVE YOUR COMMUNITY! We Need You SHOP LOCALLY. IT’S SMART. ...and besides, it’s so convenient!