June 20, 2012 THE VILLADOM TIMES III • Page 7 Ho-Ho-Kus Borough mulls use of Clean Communities Grant by Jennifer Crusco Ho-Ho-Kus officials and volunteers are now making plans to use the $7,057 Clean Communities Grant the borough recently received from the State of New Jersey. Councilwoman Maryellen Lennon, who coordinates the use of this annual grant, indicated that the funds would again be used for a general cleanup and for litter abatement. The amount of the grant, she said, is based on the size of the borough in terms of both area and population. “Each fall, the Girl Scouts usually do a cleanup day the week of the Teachers’ Convention in November,” Lennon explained. She said a similar cleanup event is again being eyed for this fall. “The Girls Scouts, Daisies, and Brownies usually tidy up the Ho-Ho-Kus Town Green and area outside borough hall, and some older volunteers have worked by the train station,” Lennon commented. “Last year, we held a fall cleanup for seniors and shutins,” the councilwoman said of the overall cleanup effort. “It worked out very well. It was well perceived by the residents, and the Scouts seemed to enjoy it.” The Girl Scouts held the 2011 fall cleanup in partnership with the Clean Communities program and the Borough of Ho-Ho-Kus. Borough seniors and shut-ins who needed assistance with fall cleanups were invited to contact borough hall. Volunteers then assisted the seniors and shut-ins by collecting and bagging leaves, trash, debris, and recyclables. Tools and bags were provided to the volunteers. This year, resident Jennifer Zilenziger is working with Lennon on ideas to keep the entire borough tidier. Zilenziger said she has been picking up litter on her own street and on other roadways in the borough. The resident said she supports public garbage receptacles that are more animal safe, better signs for the local parks, and better containers in the gazebo area. She is also looking into options to allow people to dispose of pizza boxes without blocking off the majority of space in the garbage receptacle. “It’s not just the downtown,” Zilenziger emphasized. “The whole community should look as good as possible.” She added that she is planning to contact the Ho-HoKus Chamber of Commerce to discuss projects. Zilenziger welcomes residents who are interested in volunteering to contact her at (201) 612-1485. According to the state’s Clean Communities website, the program was created in 1986 with funds garnered from taxes levied on the sale of products considered to be littergenerating items. Municipalities that receive Clean Communities funding may use the money for litter pickup and removal programs, educational programs that promote clean communities, enforcement of local anti-littering laws, and for graffiti abatement. Grant funding may also be used to cover the fees for proper disposal of collected items, the purchase or rental of equipment used solely for litter cleanup and removal, and items including trash bags, gloves, and other protective clothing. Clean Communities Grants may not be used to purchase trash receptacles for private property, park benches, or playground equipment, and cannot be used to fund physical inventories of storm drains, catch basins, or inlets. Grants may not be used to pay for recycling services, unless those services are performed in conjunction with an organized litter collection effort. Lightning detection system (continued from page 6) the original project were retained for system maintenance. The recent donation from the Hamms allowed the purchase of the two new devices without depleting the existing maintenance budget. The borough’s detection system includes an audible alarm that is used during the day, and turned off with a timer at an appropriate hour in the evening. The strobe warning system remains in operation every hour of every day. The system provides warnings as electrical storms approach, including alarms when these storms are 15, 10, and five miles away, so anyone on the local fields has ample time to leave the area. Lightning can be present at any time of year. The National Center for Atmospheric Research’s website states that there are over three million lightning flashes worldwide each day. NCAR also states that lightning kills more people than tornadoes, floods, and other natural occurrences. J. CRUSCO The article June 13 article concerning the Borough of Ho-Ho-Kus awaiting fines from the New Jersey Environmental Protection should have stated that outdoor regulations permit outdoor lawn and garden watering on Thursday and Sunday. Area I includes the portion of the borough west of West Saddle River Road and south of Hollywood Avenue. Correction