Water Testing Offered
The Tewksbury Township Environmental Commission will hold its annual water testing program this fall. Water testing kits will go on sale in September at the township offices, and the actual water sampling days will be in mid-October. The Commission will provide more details in upcoming issues of The Tewksbury Times.
Tewksbury Township Environmental Commission
Pottersville Farm Market Opens
The Pottersville Farm Market will be open for business in the parking lot of the Pottersville Reformed Church on Black River Road, from 9:00AM–1:00PM, on the fourth Saturday of every month this summer and into the fall. The scheduled dates thus far are July 24^th, August 28^th, and September 25^th.

“It’s a community effort to support local farmers and artisans,” said market organizer Susan Stevenson. “We hope to create a situation where local and surrounding area residents can come and find fresh produce and meet up with friends and neighbors.”

Thus far, at least ten vendors are expected to participate. In addition to local and backyard farmers, vendors will be selling local honey, fresh cut flowers, fresh eggs, cheese, wool felted accessories and goods, fresh handmade soaps, handmade beeswax candles, oven-fresh baked goods, gourmet coffees, turkeys and jams, preserves and relishes.

“Not only will the goods and wares be wonderful, but the setting is just lovely,” said Stevenson. “I would even venture to call it bucolic.”

For more details or vendor information e-mail the Pottersville Farm Market.
Farmer's Market Re-opens
The Hunterdon Land Trust’s (HLTA) Farmers’ Market, at the historic Dvoor Farm reopened for the season, in May. The Market will be open all summer on Sundays from 9:00AM–1:00PM. Shoppers can enjoy the historic Dvoor farm setting while purchasing fresh fruits and vegetables, grass-fed beef, pork, or lamb, artisan breads and cheeses, and many other delicious items from local farmers.

Special events—films, book discussions, demonstration, and information sessions—are scheduled for each market day. The Market is held at Dvoor Farm—111 Mine Street, Flemington, at the Route 12 Circle. For more information, see the HLTA Market Web site.
URWA Urges "Be Idle Free"
Turn the key, be idle free! Tuck this catchy little phrase in the back of your mind and let it remind you to turn off the engine in your vehicle any time you are going to be stopped for more than a few moments. You’ll save fuel, protect your engine and reduce vehicle emissions which pollute our air and harm our water.

Idling gets you nowhere. While most of us are seeking ways to maximize our gas mileage for the sake of our wallets and our health, the fact that an idling vehicle gets ZERO miles per gallon has largely escaped our notice. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, if 145 million passenger vehicles idle for five minutes a day, approximately four million gallons of gasoline are consumed. That’s a lot of gas, and money, to waste!

An idling car does not perform at full capacity, which can lead to problems that require sometimes expensive repairs. The problems can include oil contamination due to residue build-up on the cylinders, corrosion caused by excessive condensation collected in the exhaust system, and decreased peak engine operating temperature due to spark plug residue.

Diesel and gasoline exhaust contain nitrogen oxides, volatile organic compounds, particulate matter, carbon monoxide, and carbon dioxide. The negative health implications of exposure to vehicle emissions are well documented and have been shown to cause significant respiratory and cardiovascular health effects. Children are particularly vulnerable to air pollution, because they inhale more air per pound of body weight – think about this the next time you see a line of vehicles idling as drivers wait to drop off or pick up students near a school, and consider the fact that the noses of the youngest children are right above the level of all those tailpipes. How can they help but breathe in toxic air?

Microscopic particles from vehicle emissions can be carried by wind and settle on the ground and on the surface of water bodies such as lakes, ponds and streams. This can make lakes and streams acidic, change the delicate balance of nutrients in coastal waters and river basins, deplete soil nutrients and damage vegetative communities from forests to farm crops.

Here in New Jersey, it is illegal to idle for more than 3 minutes. Limited exceptions to N.J.A.C. 7:27-14 (diesel vehicles) and N.J.A.C. 7:27-15 (gasoline vehicles) exist. Sleeping in trucks with sleeper berths is currently allowed, although this exemption will be eliminated in 2010, and idling of emergency vehicles operating in emergency situations is allowed. The three minute limit is quite generous, and URWA encourages drivers across the Upper Raritan watershed to limit idling to ten seconds or less unless traffic conditions make stopping and starting your engine unsafe.

For more information about vehicle idling and the damage it can do to your health and our environment, visit these sites:
NJDEP’s Diesel Risk Reduction Program,
Clean Water Action’s "Idle Free New Jersey" Campaign, or
the Consumer Energy Center of the California Energy Commission.
Dog Licensing
LICENSING
By law, all dog licenses must be obtained by January 31^st of each year. Please take a moment to send payment for your dog's license renewal today.

FEE SCHEDULE:
Altered dogs..............$8.20
Unaltered dogs..........11.20 *
Late fees.................... 5.00/month per dog
*The additional $3.00 fee is a State requirement to establish an "Animal Population Control Fund" in New Jersey. The fee will be waived upon receipt of a veterinarian's statement or a notarized personal certification by the dog owner attesting that the dog has been altered. Forms are available at the Municipal Building.

Make checks payable to Tewksbury Township, and mail to:

Dog Registrar
Tewksbury Township
169 Old Turnpike Road
Califon, NJ 07830

RABIES CERTIFICATION
Certification of valid rabies vaccinations must be valid through October of the licensing year. If certification expires prior to October, 2002, please send proof of new vaccination with the licensing fee.

TEWKSBURY'S free clinic is usually held in October.

NEW DOGS
If your family recently moved to the Township, or has a new dog, phone the Dog Registrar for a licensing form. If your dog is deceased, please notify the Dog Registrar.

QUESTIONS ?
Any questions about dog licensing may be directed to Tewksbury's Dog Registrar, Kathy Reddy, at the Municipal Building, 8:30AM-4:00PM. Phone 439-0022, ext 729.

To contain expenses, no invoice or reminder is sent to individual dog owners. If you have any questions, please phone BEFORE mailing your check. If you have not yet renewed your dog's license, please send your check (including the $5/month late fee) today.
About URWA
The Upper Raritan Watershed Association (URWA)is a not-for-profit, membership supported organization working to ensure the protection of the Upper Raritan Watershed through education, advocacy, land preservation, and stewardship. Since 1959, the Association has been preserving and protecting natural resources throughout the watershed, a 194 square mile natural geographic region defined by the drainage basin of the North Branch of the Raritan River and its tributaries. The watershed, which includes 23 municipalities in parts of Somerset, Hunterdon and Morris Counties, is a vital link in New Jersey’s water supply system and contains large areas of undeveloped, environmentally significant land.

For More Information, contact Susan Brookman, Membership Program Director, at 908-234-1852, ext. 20.
A Garden Helpline
Hunterdon County Rutgers Master Gardener Helpline provides a service every home gardener can take advantage of throughout the growing season. Garden questions are as inevitable as weeds, and the Rutgers Master Gardeners of Hunterdon are trained by Rutgers University staff, as well as local horticulturalists, to answer questions and assist county residents in a variety of ways.

Helpline volunteers cover a myriad of home gardening issues, including providing the materials and information needed to obtain a proper soil sample for analysis by Rutgers’ labs, soil pH testing, lawn care, and plant-, tree-, and shrub identification with advice about the right plant for the right place, recommendations on deer-resistant plants, and disease diagnosis and recommendations for treatment. They can also identify pests, and give recommendations for Integrated Pest Management techniques.

You can phone the Hotline, at 788-1339, or e-mail questions. You can also take samples and questions to Building #2, at 6 Gauntt Place, Flemington, from 9:00AM-12:00PM, Monday-Friday, and 12:30-3:30PM, Wednesdays.
Hunterdon Holistic Society
The Hunterdon Holistic Society has a great variety of members who practice many healing and nutritional modalities, including:
Acupuncture & Chinese Medicine
Air & Water Purification
Ayurveda
Cancer Survival & Prevention
Chiropractic Screenings
Detox Programs
Empowerment Coaching
Foot Reflexology
Hair Analysis
Healthy Foods & Holistic Nutrition
Herbal Medicine, Vitamins & Supplements
Integrated Kabalistic Healing
Massage & Reiki
Skin Care & Cosmetics
Solar Energy & Conservation
Tai Chi & Qi Gong
Yoga & Meditation

Information about the Society is available online.
Tewksbury's Woodlands
A number of resources are available for people interested in managing and preserving our woodlands, in Tewksbury. Stop by the Municipal Offices to request these items (or see the Web links, if available):
The Community Forestry Management Plan, which applies to the Township's public lands
Tewksbury's Master Plan
Scenic Roads Ordinance (#19-96) and Tree Clearing Ordinance (#07-2002)
Building Greener Communities: Planning for Woodland Conservation, a manual available from the North Jersey Resource and Development Council Web site (click on "Woodland Conservation Manual")
Maps of trails and woodland features of the Township's Pascale Farm, or Whittemore Wildlife Sanctuary.

Other information on the Web, includes:
The NJDEP Landscape Project
GIS-based maps showing natural resources in our area
Text of the new "Highlands Water Protection and Planning Act" is available on the NJ Legislature's Web site; a quick search by date--8/10/04--will bring up links to the text.
Tewksbury Rescue Squad Welcomes Aid
USED CARS WANTED
The Squad is in need of cars to cut apart for training purposes. If you have an old car or truck you could donate for this purpose, you will get a tax deductible receipt, and you will help the Squad in its training to save lives.

CADETS WANTED The cadets of the Rescue Squad are always looking for new members! Young people age 12-17 who would like to be a part of the Rescue Squad membership can pick up an application at the Rescue Squad Building. If you would like direct contact with a member of the Squad about the application process, please phone the Rescue Squad Building, 439-9311.

SQUAD SITE
The Rescue Squad can be reached at 439-9311 for non-emergencies, and 9-1-1 for emergencies. For continuing information regarding the Squad, visit the Tewksbury Rescue Squad Web site.

YOU CAN HELP SAVE LIVES
The Squad is always looking for new members. To find out how you can help their efforts, please e-mail the Squad or telephone 439-9311.
Senior Gold
"Senior Gold" is a prescription drug discount program for elderly or disabled New Jersey residents who do not qualify for Pharma-ceutical Assitance to the Aged and Disabled (PAAD). The income limits to be eligible for Senior Gold are $29,239 for a single person, or $33,589 for a couple.

Program participants pay a co-payment of either $15 plus 50% of the remaining cost for each covered prescription, or the reasonable cost of the drug, whichever is less. Once a participant meets the annual out-of-pocket expenses of $2000 if single, $3000 if married, in un-reimbursed costs, prescriptions for the remainder of the year cost only the $15 co-payment.

Applications are available at the Hunterdon County Office on Aging. Phone 877-222-3737 or 788-1361 for more information, or to schedule an appointment to have a Senior Health Insurance Program (SHIP) counselor assist you with the application.
Health Screenings for Men & Women
The Hunterdon Regional Cancer Center, at the Hunterdon Medical Center, in Flemington, has an ongoing program offering free Mammograms and Pap Smears for women and Colorectal or Prostate Cancer tests for Men. These tests are available for men and women who lack adequate insurance and meet other eligibility requirements.

The program is funded in part through a grant from the State of New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services, Breast and Cervical Cancer Control Initiative. To make an appointment, or for more information, phone Marge Vellotti, Outreach Coordinator, at 237-5409.
Conservation Easements
Tewksbury residents have spoken: "We want our Township's fields and forests and cool mountain streams to be around in the years ahead." But how can we accomplish this? One way is for the Township to purchase land, but there just aren't enough dollars to buy every important piece of land. Another way is through Conservation Restrictions.

A Conservation Restriction is a way for a property owner to permanently preserve his or her land as open space, while keeping the land in private ownership. A Conservation Restriction is an interest in land which the owner grants to a government entity, such as the Tewksbury Township Environmental Commission, or to a charitable organization, such as the Tewksbury Land Trust.

A Conservation Restriction is a legally binding document, which must be duly recorded and indexed in the registry of deeds for the county where the land lies to affect its title. In the Deed of Conservation Restriction, conditions for the stewardship of a property are spelled out. The specific terms are agreed upon between the property owner and the grantee organization. The objective is to develop conditions under which a property may be managed to preserve important natural features, or farmland. For example, the Conservation Restriction may prohibit or limit future subdivision or new construction on the property, or forbid destruction of vegetation within a certain distance from a stream.

In the coming months, the Tewksbury Township Environmental Commission will contact property owners with 30 acres or more in the Township to explain the tax and estate benefits to property owners for preserving their land though Conservation Restrictions. Besides the obvious benefit of protecting land from subdivision, imposing a deed restriction/conservation easement confers significant tax advantages both for the current owners, and their heirs. Beneficiaries inherit deed restricted land at a reduced valuation (and reduced tax rate) from what the land would be worth if not restricted to development, which can be significant. Except for the specific restrictions placed in the easement, however, the owners enjoy full use and control of the land.

For further information on Conservation Restrictions, e-mail the Tewksbury Land Trust or Tewksbury Land Use Administrator Shana Crane, or telephone Ms Crane at 439-0022, x731.
Are You Ready for an Emergency?
BE PREPARED
Our part of New Jersey does not often suffer the effects of hurricanes, but the recent disasters in the Gulf states raise the question of how well we're prepared for sudden emergency situations. The American Red Cross, noted for its disaster-relief efforts, says there are four steps to be sure your family and pets are prepared for disasters.

1. Find Out What Could Happen to You by Contacting your local Red Cross chapter or municipal emergency management office before a disaster.

2. Create a Disaster Plan with your family, including what to do, where to go (in case of an evacuation), and how to contact one another. Assemble emergency supplies into a Disaster Kit before you think you'll need it.

3. Disaster-proof your home, through by making sure all appliances (especially electrical cords) are in good condition, storing hazardous chemicals securely, and knowing how to use fire extinguishers, how to turn off utilities, and how to contact emergency help and family members.

4. Keep your disaster plan updated; practice by quizzing the kids, conducting drills, checking on supplies, and testing smoke detectors and fire extinguishers, at least every six months.

Talk with neighbors, too, to plan for mutual support. Knowing people's special skills (is there a doctor on the road?) and needs (do you have elderly or disabled neighbors) can help everyone fare better in extreme conditions.

DISASTER KIT
So what goes into that Disaster Kit? The Red Cross advises every home to stock supplies in six basic categories: water, food, first aid kit, clothing and bedding, tools and emergency supplies, and special items. Keep items you would most likely need during an evacuation in an easy-to carry container, such as a large, covered trash can.
Water
Store water in plastic bottles. Store one gallon of water per person per day for drinking, cooking (but keep this to a minimum), and washing/toilet flushing. Children, nursing mothers, and ill people will need more. You can save water by using pre-moistened towelettes for hand washing and personal cleansing.
Food
Keep at least a three-day supply of food on hand. Select items that are non-perishable, compact, require no refrigeration, preparation or cooking, and little water. Keep a can of sterno as well, if there are items that you must heat. Include a selection of the following foods in your Disaster Kit:
-Ready-to-eat canned meats, fruits, vegetables
-Canned juices
-Staples (salt, sugar, pepper, spices, etc.)
-High energy foods
-Vitamins
-Food for infants
-Comfort foods (snacks are always important)

Also remember plastic or paper cups, plates, and utensils, to eliminate the need for washing, and a manual can opener.

First Aid Kit
Keep a first aid kit in your home and smaller ones in each car. Include over-the-counter and prescription medications. Ask your doctor or pharmacist about storing prescription medications.

Clothing and Bedding
Include at least one complete change of clothing and per person, including sturdy shoes, and enough warm blankets for everyone.

Tools and Emergency Supplies
-General tools (pliers, screwdrivers, utility knife).
-Battery-operated radio and extra batteries
-Flashlight and extra batteries
-Emergency preparedness manual (available from the Red Cross)
-Cash or traveler's checks, change (for phones, tolls, vending machines, in case of evacuation)

Special Items
Remember family members with special requirements, such as infants and elderly or disabled persons. Pack games and books, to keep kids occupied. The Disaster Kit is also a good place to keep important family documents, such as wills, insurance policies, passports, social security cards, immunization records, bank and credit card account numbers, an inventory of valuable household goods, birth, marriage, and death certificates. Keep everything in a waterproof, portable container, in a convenient place known to all family members.

LEARN MORE
More information can be found on the Red Cross, White House and Department of Homeland Security Web sites.
Underground Storage Tanks
A TIME BOMB IN YOUR BACK YARD?
Most homes in Tewksbury have underground storage tanks installed on their property to hold heating oil. As a homeowner, you are responsible for maintaining your underground storage tank (UST) in good condition. Failure to do so may result in leaks—a major threat to ground water. It is important to consider that most UST's have a life span of 15-30 years.

The following could be signs of a leak in your home heating oil UST:

1. Any unexpected/unexplained increase in flue oil use.
   
2. Water in your UST.
   
3. Consistent problems with your oil burner.
   
4. Changes in, or loss of vegetation in the area over and around the UST
   
5. Oil odors in areas other than around the oil burner.
   
6. Odor or other problems with your drinking water (if from a well).
   
7. Staining on basement walls adjacent to the UST.
   
8. Presence of oil, or a sheen in the basement sump or French drain.

For problems 1,2, and 3, first contact the company that services your heating system to rule out a maintenance problem. To determine whether any of the above problems are caused by a leaking UST, contact an environmental contractor. For assistance in identifying an environmental contractor, contact the Tewksbury Township Board of Health (439-0022 ext. 721) or Hunterdon County Health Department (788-1351). If it is determined that the UST is leaking, it must be reported to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (609) 292-7172.

Potential problems should be addressed at the first signs of trouble. Contamination of soil and ground water can be extremely costly to correct, and extremely detrimental to the environment and your family's health—particularly if you have a private well, as most homes in Tewksbury do. For information on dealing with underground tanks, see the NJDEP UST page.
Radon Still a Concern
The Hunterdon County Department of Health wants to remind residents that Hunterdon is positioned directly on the geological formation known as the "Reading Prong," an area rich in uranium. According to Carla Hobbs, Senior Environmental Health Specialist with the Department, "Radon is a colorless, odorless, radioactive gas which forms from the decay of uranium in soil and rocks. The gas then further decays into particles that, when inhaled, can become lodged in the lungs." She adds that, "These particles can emit radiation and damage the lung tissue, increasing the risk of developing cancer." The Surgeon General has warned that radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer, following smoking.

The County Department of Health encourages all county residents to test their homes for radon levels. The fall and winter months are a particularly important time to test, since doors and windows are more likely to be closed, resulting in more accurate readings.

Although no radon level is considered safe, four picocuries of radon per liter of air (pCi/L) or above is the level at which control actions are recommended. Here in Hunterdon County, the average radon level is six pCi/L, which is the second-highest average in New Jersey.

Radon Test kits are available in most hardware stores, or can be picked up at the Health Department on Route 12, in Flemington, for $20. In addition, the Department of Health is offering a free video that describes the risks associated with radon and what can be done to remediate high radon levels in the home. "Most elevated levels can be remediated through fairly low-cost means, usually under $1000," Ms. Hobbs explained. For more information about radon, remediation techniques, or a free video, contact Carla Hobbs at 788-1351, or see the NJDEP Radon Section.
Coping with NPS
What Is It?
NPS - Nonpoint Source Pollution - is a technical name for a very simple thing: pollution from storm water runoff. Everyday activities cause pollution: residual pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizer on our lawns, animal waste from pets and livestock, motor oils from leaking cars, litter, etc. All of this is washed across lawns, through streets, and into storm drains when it rains. The storm sewers carry it to streams and rivers, where it degrades our water resources which ultimately end up as drinking water. But we can make some very simple changes to prevent such pollution.

Steps to Prevent NPS

1. Chemical-free Lawn Care
   The average homeowner uses 10 times more chemical fertilizers and pesticides per acre than farmers use on farmland. To reduce your reliance upon, and your lawn's need for, harmful chemicals you can:
   
   1. Test your soil's pH. Grass grows best at a pH between 6 and 7. Add lime if it's below 6.0. One application will last several years.
      
      
   2. Use a grass that's suited to local condi-tions–it will require less water and fewer chemical fertilizers. Rutgers Cooperative Extension can make recommendations.
      
      
   3. Mow high. A depth of 2½ - 3½ high is best for most New Jersey lawns. This will shade out weeds and provide longer roots, which absorb more water and result in less runoff. And leave the grass clippings on your lawn to return nitrogen to the soil.
      
      
   4. Water your lawn only when it needs it. Over-watering is one of the most common mistakes. Established lawns need water only during very dry periods.
      
      
   5. Use non-chemical fertilizers, such as compost and fish meal, to fortify the lawn.
   
   
   
2. Minimize Animal Waste
   A major cause of polluted runoff is animal waste — farm animals, overwintering geese and other waterfowl, and especially waste left on the ground by our domestic pets, particularly dogs. When dog waste is deposited along roadways or near waterways it can quickly find its way into nearby streams and lakes. Always be sure to pick up after your pet and dispose of the waste in the trash or toilet. If you live near a water body, do not feed ducks, geese, gulls or other water animals. Feeding encourages them to stay and overpopulate the area, thus contributing to water quality problems.
   
   
3. Septic System Management
   Your septic system is designed to break down organic human waste. It is not designed to handle chemicals (paints, thinners, solvents, pesticides, etc.) or solids (diapers, baby wipes, sanitary products, grease, fats, coffee grinds, etc.). Disposing of these materials in your septic system will cause it to malfunction, resulting in the release of chemicals and untreated human waste. Be sure to save up all unused chemicals and dispose of them on Hazardous Waste Cleanup Day. All solids should be disposed of in the trash.
   
   
4. Car Care Without NPS
   Automotive products containing toxic chemicals include motor oil, gasoline, battery acid, antifreeze, rust preventatives, and even car wax. If you do your own maintenance, be sure to collect all drips, and under no circumstances dump used oil or other fluids into storm drains or on the ground. Save these materials and dispose of them at a Service Station or on Hazardous Waste Cleanup Day.

The above information is summarized from a the brochure "What You Can Do to Prevent Nonpoint Source Pollution in the Raritan River Basin", produced by the League of Women Voters. This brochure is available from the Tewksbury Township Environmental Commission at the Municipal Building., along with "Grass: Cut It & Leave It."
NJ Highlands
On July 12, 1999, the Tewksbury Environmental Commission, passed a resolution supporting the designation of the Highlands as an "Area of Critical State Concern" in New Jersey's State Development and Redevelopment Plan. The Tewksbury Township Committee passed its own version of the resolution on July 13,1999. These resolutions urge the State Planning Commission to approve this designation.

Tewksbury Township is one of 87 municipalities located within the New Jersey Highlands, one of the state's premier regions. Included in the thousand-square-mile area are parts of seven counties: Hunterdon, Warren, Sussex, Morris, Passaic, Somerset and Bergen. A 1992 federal Forest Service study recognized the New York-New Jersey Highlands region as a "landscape of national significance." Well over four million people – over half of New Jersey's population – including some 700,000 Highlands residents, rely on Highlands reservoirs and wells for their drinking water. The region's forests, farmlands and historic sites provide outstanding wildlife habitat, recreational opportunities and scenic beauty.

The Highlands Coalition, an umbrella group representing over 80 organizations seeking to preserve the resources and landscape of the region, has called for recognition of the Highlands as an "Area of Critical State Concern" in the State Plan. This action strives to call attention to the region's importance to the state, and to ensure that proper safeguards to protect its resources are incorporated into the State Plan, through new regional policies that would supplement current statewide policies in the Plan. The proposal does not include the establishment of new layers of government.

For more information, including a colorful brochure and map of the Highlands, contact Wilma Frey at the Highlands Coalition at 908-234-1225, or the Office of State Planning at 1-800-522-0129.
Septic System Care
Most homes in Tewksbury rely on individual septic systems for the disposal of waste water. Maintaining the system in good working order is the responsibility of the homeowner. The Tewksbury Environmental Commission offers the following guidelines to help keep your system functioning properly.

Do keep a sketch of the location of your septic system and drainfield with your maintenance record, for service visits.

Do have your system inspected yearly, and pumped out regularly, by a licensed contractor.

Do keep your tank cover accessible for inspections and pumping. Install risers if necessary.

Do call a professional if you experience problems, or if there are signs of system failure.

Do keep a record of repairs, pumping, inspections, permits issued, and other maintenance.

Do conserve water to avoid overloading the system. Be sure to repair leaky faucets or toilets.

Do keep other water, from gutters, house footing drains, water softeners, sump pumps, out of the septic system. Excess water prevents the drainfield from naturally cleansing wastewater.

Don't go down into a septic tank. Gasses produced by the natural processes in septic tanks can kill in minutes. Care must be taken when inspecting a septic tank—even just looking in.

Don't drive or park over any part of the system.

Don't plant anything over or near the drainfield except grass. Roots from nearby trees or shrubs may clog and damage the drain lines.

Don't dig in your drainfield or build anything over it; the area over the drainfield should only be covered by grass, which will prevent erosion and help remove excess water.

Don't allow repairs to your system without the required health department permit. Use licensed septic contractors when needed.

Don't use septic tank additives. These products may be harmful to your system.

Don't use your toilet as a trash can, or pour harmful chemicals down the drain. They can kill the beneficial bacteria that treat your wastewater naturally.

Don't use a garbage disposal without checking with the building department to be sure your system can handle the additional waste.

Contact Land Use Administrator Shana Crane at 439-0022, ext 731, for more information. You can also stop by the Tewksbury Municipal Building for a copy of the County's Well and Septic Care guide, or download it from their Web site.
Sewer Advisory
Just a reminder to residents of Hunters Glen‚ Oldwick‚ and Pottersville that the "health" of their sewer systems is affected by what goes down their drains. One good way to protect the system is to be aware of what household chemicals are used. A mixture of vinegar and baking soda is an effective alternative to caustic drain cleaners.

While not as toxic as drain cleaners, everyday cleaning products can have a negative effect over time. Septic and sewer-friendly cleaning solutions are available in health food stores and other outlets these can help extend the life of the sewer system (or septic system), as well as help avoid fines from the DEP.

Additionally‚ remember that sump pumps are not allowed to empty into your sanitary sewer drain. Instead, they should be piped directly outdoors, or into a dry well. Excess water pumped into the sewers can overload the system, and result in fines from the State which will be passed on to all users. The installation of low-flow shower heads and faucet adapters can reduce the amount of water that goes into the sewer system. For more ideas about water conservation, see the DEP's Drought Information page

West Nile Virus
Summer means a return of New Jersey's "state bird," the mosquito. This year it also means the possibility of contracting West Nile Virus (WNV). In times of drought, low-lying areas and flood plains, where water usually flows, can collect water which turns stagnant, just the right condition for mosquito breeding.

Although the Centers for Disease Control reports that only a small percentage of people who become infected with WNV will develop severe illness, it urges everyone to take precautions.

The most important step you can take to reduce the number of WNV-carrying mosquitoes around your home is to eliminate any standing water. This means disposing of old tires (or moving them indoors), disposing of any buckets or other water-holding containers, or turning them upside-down, changing the water in bird baths at least once a week, cleaning out roof gutters, aerating ornamental pools or stocking them with fish, and eliminating standing water from crawl spaces and basements.

In temperate zones (our area), WNV cases can occur primarily in the late summer or early fall. However, now is the time to reduce risk of infection by controlling the mosquitoes that carry the disease.

For more about WNV and what you can do to prevent it, see the CDC's Q&A page, their "Surveillance & Control" page, the Hunterdon County Dept. of Health "WNV/Mosquito Control" page, the USEPA's "DEET" Information page, or phone the Hunterdon County Department of Health at 788-1351.
About Your Health - November 2009
CONTENT TO BE A FLEXITARIAN
I’m an animal lover and a nutritionist, so vegetarianism has always appealed to me. It’s hard for me to think about the beautiful cow that supplied my dinner steak and still enjoy it. Additionally, I know that regular intakes of red meat have been linked to lifestyle diseases in the US, including heart disease, stroke, colon and prostate cancers. The third point, and the cincher for me is the effect meat production has on our environment. Globally, one-fifth of all greenhouse gases come from livestock production—more than the amount produced from transportation. If every American had one meat-free meal per week, it would be the equivalent of taking 5 million cars off our roads.

So, several times over the years I’ve attempted a vegetarian lifestyle. Each time I inevitably give in to an insatiable craving for a good steak—it’s always the steak that gets me. I’ve finally come to terms with my weakness, and instead adopted a flexitarian diet.

What exactly is a flexitarian diet? According to Wikipedia, a flexitarian is a vegetarian who occasionally eats meat. Others compare the diet to that of a semi-vegetarian. However you define it, it works for me. My regular diet consists of lots of vegetables, legumes, whole grains, dairy, and fish as the staples. I also eat some poultry, and occasionally beef. This type of diet is great for my health, yet I don’t feel deprived. I will eat a steak if I want it, but not often, and always from a local, grass-fed cow. The great thing about the flexitarian diet is that you can tweak it to suit your tastes and lifestyle. Exclude what you dislike, include what you like, just eat less meat. By choosing flexitarianism, I’m making an effort to reduce my carbon footprint on the earth while feeding my body with wholesome, nutritious foods.

A great way to try out the flexitarian diet is to make small, gradual changes. Americans eat over 200 pounds of meat, chicken and fish per year – twice the global average. If you normally eat meat at two meals per day, reduce that to once per day and then gradually to every other day, or until you find a comfort level. Try new protein-rich, non-meat foods like quinoa, legumes and soy. Why not give it a try? You might find you like your new way of eating better than your old and that, like me, you are “content to be a flexitarian”.
Ginger Hodulik, MS, CNS
Nutritionist
About Your Health - December 2009
EXERCISING YOUR OPTIONS
Before joining a gym or a health club, it’s important and practical to explore all options; especially when it comes to making a commitment to a membership.

By definition, a “gym” (the word dates back to the 1870s) is “a place where sports or exercise takes place.”

A “health club” (a term from the early 1960s) is “a usually private club that offers its members facilities and classes for exercising and physical conditioning.”

As a longtime professional trainer, I can offer -- from experience -- my own definitions: both gyms and health clubs are places where we sign up to exercise, and sooner or later drop out because we are bored or don’t quite fit in. If we do go, we usually do the same thing over and over again, and ask ourselves, “Why are we not seeing any results?”

I have come to believe that a third option – a “studio” – has a much higher success rate for getting and staying healthy.

Like a gym, a studio is a place where exercise takes place. And like a health club, a studio offers its members facilities and classes for exercising and physical conditioning. However, a studio includes the guidance, support and supervision of health professionals, instructors and personal trainers as part of its membership at no extra charge.

At Healthy U Fitness Studio in Whitehouse Station, we focus on the client by providing Group Personal Training in our membership. Our classes are small and change with the clients, depending on the needs of our clients; our facilities include the latest and most up to date equipment – including Pilates Reformers; and the atmosphere is one of camaraderie and encouragement.

Healthy U offers Pilates, Yoga, Zumba and Strength Training classes as well as traditional exercise classes throughout the day and evening for members and drop-ins/non-members.

For seniors, we have one hour balance and strength training exercise classes that offer the option to sit or stand, every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 10:30AM for $3 per class. No membership required.

For more information, phone us, at 534-1961.
Janet Rollero, Personal Trainer

About Your Health - January 2010
WATERS YOU DRINK ARE NOT THE SAME
Whenever you enter a convenience store or restaurant you will be offered many types of waters: spring water, mineral water, purified water, flavored water, Vita-water, and more.

In our homes we have hard water, soft water and well water. With all these different kinds of water one can easily be confused. To simplify, here are a few different kinds of water we come across most often:
• Well water – Comes from a hole that is bored or drilled
• Spring water – Comes from underground formation and flows naturally to the surface
• Purified water – Produced by distillation, de-ionization, reverse osmosis or other means to meet the legal definition of “purified”
• Flavored water – Contains some type of added flavoring, coloring, sugar, or sugar substitute.
• Vita-water – Added vitamin supplements that can range from Vitamin A to B12 plus a blend of herbs and minerals

Recent studies have shown that individuals leading sedentary lives do not require eight 8 oz glasses of water as previous thought. What they fail to tell you is… lack of hydration causes:
• More demands on organs
• Limiting Weight Loss
• Increased Toxins left in the body
• Fatigue
• Increased heart rate
• Poor Circulation
• Poor absorption of medications

Older adults will suffer greatly from this report. As adults get older, they tend to ignore natural body cues. One body cue is thirst. What most people do not know is thirst is past the point of proper hydration. If you are thirsty, you are already dehydrated. It is said that a person should drink ½ oz of water per pound of body weight. As a Personal Trainer, it is my experience that water plays a vital role in your overall health. For more information see www.water.com.
Janet Rollero, Personal Trainer

Janet Rollero, a certified personal trainer and health professional for more than 17 years, is owner of Healthy U Fitness Center, located behind Bishop’s Market at 431 Route 22 East, Whitehouse Station. You can reach her at 534-1961.
About Your Health - February 2010
WATCH YOUR BACK
Sitting at a desk causes back pain. We hear this day in and day out. Many of us know this to be true from personal experience. But why? The best and most simple explanation I have come across is a diagram from a journal copy of EFTS Participant in Dayton Beach, FL (figure A).


Figure A

In Figure A, the graph shows the pressure – or load – in the third lumbar disc, which varies in daily living positions. As you can see, the sitting position causes compression, as does poor posture. Compression on discs will cause nerves to be affected, which can lead to numbness, pain, poor circulation, sciatica and other ailments. To combat compression, what needs to be addressed is correct posture, muscle balance, and proper exercising techniques.


Figure B

Finding the proper and most beneficial manner to exercise or exercise class can be challenging. Figure B shows various muscle-strengthening exercises and the pressure – or load – on the third lumbar disc. Exercising in a supine position – lying on your back – is most beneficial. Many exercises can be performed at home. However, Pilates classes on “reformers” are becoming very popular and highly in demand to assist individuals with lower back pain.

Joseph Pilates – the founder of Pilates – originated his program to help injured veterans in the hospital by addressing their needs, from stretching to strengthening. His equipment – now known as Pilates reformers and towers – assisted many bed-ridden people to recovery. Whether you suffer from chronic back problems or just occasional backaches, Pilates reformers and towers classes may be a helpful tool to a healthy back.
Janet Rollero, Personal Trainer

Janet Rollero, a certified personal trainer and health professional for more than 17 years, is owner of Healthy U Fitness Center, located behind Bishop’s Market at 431 Route 22 East, Whitehouse Station. You can reach her at 534-1961, or by e-mail.

About Your Health - May 2010
GOT ARTHRITIS?
How do you know when a sore hand, hip, knee, back, neck—or any joint in the body—is more than a simple ache or pain, but is arthritis? Some simple indicators that the root of the pain may be arthritis include: the joint is warm to the touch, painful, and has a limited range of motion.

In the word “arthritis,” “itis” means inflammation, and inflammation is what prompts the symptoms. The causes are too many and too complicated to cover in this article, but the effects are simple to understand. Every day we face challenges and limitations with our body: strategic maneuvering leads to avoidance of some body movements, overuse of opposing limbs, spinal misalignments, and then more pain. An anti-inflammatory medication, such as Ibuprofen, will help with some of the discomfort, however it will not heal or limit the progression of the disease.

Through proper exercise, it is possible to manage arthritic imbalances and work within your functional range of motion, strengthen weak muscles, stretch tight muscles, and increase proper circulation for the body to heal. Exercise stimulates blood circulation, it supplies oxygen necessary for muscles to move, removes waste, and brings healing nutrients. Exercise, with proper nutrition and hydration, combats the symptoms of arthritis. A bonus to a proper exercise program is serotin—a natural endorphin released in the brain that helps minimize some pain sensors.

Check out your local area for Arthritis classes and get started living by “Moving!”
Janet Rollero, Personal Trainer

Janet Rollero, a certified personal trainer and health professional for more than 17 years, is owner of Healthy U Fitness Center, located behind Bishop’s Market, at 431 Route 22 East, Whitehouse Station. You can reach her at 534-1961, or janet@healthyufitness.com.
About Your Health - June 2010
BEING BUSY IS NOT ALWAYS HEALTHY
The lazy days of summer are just around the corner, but for many they will be anything but relaxing. More and more, children as well as adults, are increasingly overstressed due to schedules with school, camps, sports, classes, competition events, and even religious classes.

Overloading our children to fill their time does not allow enough down time—or proper rest—for their growing bodies and minds to heal and rejuvenate. When we fill our children’s time, it also adds more demands to our schedules, as we drive them from camp, to appointment, to class, to game, in addition to our daily responsibilities, and we have to be punctual and have them prepared for each activity. This may seem admirable, but what are we teaching our children?

We must look and develop a calendar according to the season. This is called Periodization Training. Our children’s schedules must be balanced with off-season training. Here is an example of a mother’s explanation as to why she had no time to exercise (which resulted in her gaining 1-2 lbs. per month, in addition to wearing herself out): Her child plays soccer in the fall, then does in-door soccer during the winter, then does spring soccer, then goes to soccer camp and special soccer training clinics during the summer. This is overtraining. More and more athletically talented children are injured before they get to a competitive enough level to earn money or secure scholarships these days. Many children simply just burn out before they ever reach their potential.

Rather than signing up your young ball players for summer teams, consider giving your child (and yourself) the summer off. Rest and relax, but still move with recreational activities, such as bike riding, hiking, swimming or casual pickup games with the neighborhood kids in the front yard. Maybe just give your kids and yourself a couple of months off like the Pros! They do it, why can’t you and your child? Summer is just around the corner. Seize the lazy days!
Janet Rollero, Personal Trainer

Janet Rollero, a certified personal trainer and health professional for more than 17 years, is owner of Healthy U Fitness Center, located behind Bishop’s Market, at 431 Route 22 East, Whitehouse Station. You can reach her by phone, at 534-1961, or e-mail.

About Your Health - July 2010
EXERCISE: THE BASIC INGREDIENT FOR A HEALTHY, ACTIVE LIFE
You’ve heard it all before, and even more so lately: exercise plus a healthy diet will help you live a healthier, more active life.

You’ve heard that exercise will help improve your weight, strength, and balance for starters. It will help to fight off diseases such as heart disease, cardiovascular disease, cancer, and diabetes. It helps with high blood pressure and cholesterol, and helps build bone density to keep osteoporosis at bay. You get it – exercise helps pretty much everything.

But what you might not know is what your exercise program must consist of to achieve and maintain good health. It needs these 5 components:
1) WARM-UP gets blood flowing to the extremities to prepare the body and prevent injury.

2) CARDIOVASCULAR TRAINING gets your heart rate up. Sustaining that higher level for 20 minutes or more helps burn stored fat.

3) STRENGTH TRAINING builds muscles, which help burn fat and keep it off. It also promotes building bone density to minimize the risk of developing osteoporosis and can even help reverse it.

4) COOL DOWN brings the heart and body back down to normal levels safely.

5) STRETCHING helps maintain range of motion, integrity of the joints, and balance, and keeps soreness away.

Recommended frequency for the aspects of a complete exercise plan include: Strength training, at least 3 times a week; Cardiovascular, or aerobics, everyday. Choose an exercise program that includes all these components and commit to do that program at least three times a week. The exception is cardio daily. Remember, your heart is a muscle that needs to be exercised every day.

Experience shows that the more convenient it is to exercise, the longer and more successfully people will stick with the program.

Now, find a good exercise program that suits your needs and schedule and start living healthier!
Suzanne Wyss
Suzanne Wyss is a circuit coach at “Curves For Women,” local at Victorian Square, Califon. You can reach her at 832-1200.