Page 10 THE VILLADOM TIMES IV • August 14, 2013 Mahwah MEVO hosts ‘Tired of Tires’ cleanup in township The Mahwah Environmental Volunteers Organization, Inc., otherwise known as MEVO, held the largest trash cleanup event in its history this month. The cleanup took place at Stag Hill in Mahwah, where the land has been heavily polluted with illegal dumping for over 50 years. “We had about 50 volunteers and worked for six hours removing 600 tires along with two dumpsters full of scrap metal and garbage,” said MEVO Summer Crew Member Katherine Hansen. “We had a lot of help from the Mahwah Department of Public Works who brought dumpsters, pickup trucks, tractors, and workers and supplied lunch for everyone.” Left: Tim Jeffers, Eric Fuchs-Stengel, Peter Haunestein, and Eric Haunestein on top of the tires MEVO members collected. Above: Group photo. Bottom left: Prize winners Keith Shance, Nico Edwards, Mike Salaterski, Patricia Hernandez, and Brenda Griepenburg. Bottom right: Tim Jeffers and Jin Choi carrying tires. Volunteers were also given the chance to enter into a contest to win prizes based on who collected the most trash. “If you entered the contest as a team, you competed to win a TV donated by Sharp Electronics,” Hansen said. “People who entered as singles competed to win a portable boombox and a plasmacluster ion generator, which serves as an air freshener for a car, also donated by Sharp.” The members of the winning team were Tyler Brooke, Nico Edwards, Keith Shane, and Mike Salaterski. The Patricia Hernandez won the boombox and Brenda Griepen- burg won the plasma ion generator. “We got a lot of work done, but there is always more work to do,” Hansen added. “MEVO is always seeking the help of new volunteers and the involvement of community members.” Mahwah Environmental Volunteers Organization, Inc. is a grassroots, environmental not-for-profit organization based in Mahwah that was organized around the goals of service, sustainability, and environment. Started by the enthusiastic Mahwah High School student Eric J. Fuchs- Stengel in 2008, MEVO engages local youth and adults to carry out environmental sustainability volunteer work throughout the northern New Jersey area. MEVO’s Earth Crew program carries out service events such as trash cleanups and tree plantings that aim to heal the natural environment and engage people in stopping environmental degradation. MEVO’s Farm to Live program empowers and educates local communities about sustainable, healthy food systems by establishing community gardens on unused space, offering educational programs at the established gardens, and donating the grown food to local hunger orga- nizations. More information about both the Earth Crew and Farm to Live programs and the MEVO organization can be found at www.mevoearth.org.201-316-7606.