Save the Drew Forest

Beautiful Virginia bluebells are a fan favorite at the Zuck Arboretum in the Drew Forest

Birds can change your world! Just ask Drew grad RJ Curcio and the speakers at our Feb 23 event. Details below, register here--it's going to be great: https://www.thenatureofreading.com/howbirdingcanchangetheworld

POSTPONED. We will reschedule this for March.

Inspired by the memoir, "Birding to Change the World" by Trish O'Kane, we've invited local nature experts to talk about how birding changes your relationship to plants, wildlife—and people Join us on Feb 23 at 7pm at the Madison Community Arts Center, 10 Kings Rd. Register: www.thenatureofreading.com/howbirdingcanchangetheworld

Bridget Daley will share her tips on how to turn your yard into a year-round bird feeder by using native perennial plants, trees and shrubs. Bridget is a native plants garden coach and a Rutgers Environmental Steward.

Tedor Whitman, director of the Cora Hartshorn Arboretum and Bird Sanctuary in Milburn, will talk about migratory birds and how an ecologically friendly suburban landscape helps them survive their long journeys by providing food and habitat.

Finally R.J. Curcio, a Drew 2017 grad and an ecologist for the Monmouth County Park System, will discuss how preserving and managing diverse natural habitats for birds builds community. Off-duty, he is a passionate wildlife photographer.

Wild Birds Unlimited in Denville will be on hand to answer bird feeder questions. The Nature of Reading Bookshop will have a pop shop with birding and native plant books.

Cora Hartshorn Arboretum Biddy Bebop New Jersey Audubon Drew University DEAL Drew University Drew Alumni

We're thrilled, exhausted and (almost) ready to launch a campaign to raise $2.5 million in private funding, all of which will be matched by a generous philanthropist. This $5 million figure is a critical part of the settlement agreement. Thanks for all you've done to get us to this very exciting moment. We'll need your support to get this deal over the finish line after 5 long years. With endless gratitude and thanks from all of us at Friends of the Drew Forest!

Love the pollinator plants in the Forest? Grow your own with free seeds from the Madison Environmental Commission, Sat, 1-3pm at the Methodist Church adjacent to Drew University. Let's share the lessons of a healthy forest habitat. Details below.

Yes, we're STILL advocating in song for a conservation sale of the Drew Forest. Our Fifth annual holiday tune is "We the Friends" set to "We Three Kings" and you can sing along here: https://youtu.be/0FvOO3e4G0E?si=jSfmQ6KadDssqbua.

We're grateful for the help of The Spotlight Kids Company and guitarist David Thomson, a Drew University grad.

SING AONG: https://youtu.be/0FvOO3e4G0E?si=jSfmQ6KadDssqbua.

Madison Eagle TAPinto Madison Madison, NJ Patch

For those concerned about overdevelopment, this affordable housing article a must-read. It explains how a new senate bill "could force even more density, height, and development into local neighborhoods" including the Drew Forest. Conservation areas are not exempted and PILOT payments for schools not included. We all need to pay attention and take action: https://www.friendsofthedrewforest.com/s4736-nj-bill
Green Madison NJ Senate President Nick ScutariJohn F. McKeon Benjie E. WimberlyMikie SherrillGreen Madison NJSenator Anthony M. BuccoDrew University

🏘️Just After Fourth-Round Obligations, Towns Face a New Affordable Housing Curveball and Towns are Unaware NJ affordable housing Bill S-4736 forces taller, denser mixed-use developments on nonprofit/religious land, sparking local control fights. Click for details.

This is a good article on the housing bill that could threaten the Drew Forest. It quotes Chatham council President Jocelyn Mathiasen as saying that she believes in affordable housing and "in good land-use planning and thoughtful, deliberate consideration of projects with local input.” S4736, she says, "overrides the state, county, and local planning process and uses a sledgehammer approach to force more market-rate (typically 'luxury') apartments without regard to local impacts. It is a twist of the knife. No wonder they are trying to sneak it through in lame duck."

Read more and take action: https://www.friendsofthedrewforest.com/s4736-nj-bill

Chatham Borough, NJ - Community Forum Senator Anthony M. Bucco Green Madison NJ Senate President Nick Scutari John F. McKeon Mikie Sherrill ANJEC Benjie E. Wimberly Drew University Drew Alumni

NJ affordable housing bill would allow nonprofits, churches to bypass zoning restrictions

Have you made your calls to Trenton? S4736 in the lame duck session is a bill that will allow tall, dense apartment buildings on properties owned by nonprofits (such as Drew) without local oversight. It requires a low percentage of affordable units (20%); 80% can be market rate. There are no exemptions for environmentally sensitive lands like the Drew Forest. Help us fight this bill by calling:
* Sen. Troy Singleton (D), bill sponsor 856-234-2790.
* Sen. Benjie E. Wimberly (D), co-sponsor (973) 925-7061
* Senate President Nick Scutari (D)—(732) 827-7480
Details: https://www.friendsofthedrewforest.com/s4736-nj-bill

Benjie E. Wimberly Senate President Nick Scutari Mikie Sherrill Senator Anthony M. Bucco Pinelands Preservation Alliance City of Burlington, NJ Moorestown Township - Government

Thank you Mikie Sherrill and Senator Anthony M. Bucco!! We’re not stopping until we . We couldn’t do it without your support.

From flooding to workforce development to saving the Drew Forest, when I worked to deliver for Morris County in Congress I knew I could count on Senator Anthony M. Bucco as a state partner.

Dr. Dale Caldwell and I were grateful to meet with him this morning in Trenton as we build on our strong bipartisan working relationship to deliver for the people of New Jersey.

A new bill introduced by Senator Troy Singleton would allow Drew University to cut down its 53-acre forest and build high density housing without regard for municipal zoning. Protect the forest and your community by sharing this post and calling these members of the Community and Urban Affairs Committee:
Sen. Troy Singleton, Chair—856-234-2790.
Sen. Brian P. Stack (D)—(201) 721-5263
Sen. Benjie E. Wimberly (D)—(973) 925-7061
Contact these key voices:
Sen. John McKeon (D)—(862) 930-7071
Sen. Gordon Johnson (D)—(201) 308-7060
Sen. Linda Greenstein (D)—(609) 395-9911
Sen. President Nick Scutari (D)—(732) 827-7480
Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin (D)—(732) 855-7441
🦚. 🌲 🌳.
TOOL KIT AND MORE INFO: www.Friendsofthedrewforest.com

John F. McKeonBenjie E. Wimberly Senator Gordon Johnson Speaker Craig J. Coughlin Senate President Nick Scutari Senator Anthony M. Bucco