Madison Councilwoman Ehrlich and Friends of the Drew Forest win environmental awards
Jennifer Coffey, left, executive director of the Association of New Jersey Environmental Commissions, presents an award to Kate Ransom-Silliman of Madison, a member of the steering committee of Friends of the Drew Forest.
MADISON - For the fifth year in a row, Madison has been singled out among New Jersey’s 564 towns for its environmental leadership.
The Association of New Jersey Environmental Commissions (ANJEC) has honored Borough Councilwoman Rachel Ehrlich with its Municipal Leadership Award, following in the footsteps of Mayor Robert H. Conley, who won in 2021.
In addition, Friends of the Drew Forest is the recipient in the nonprofit category, a result of its “exceptional educational awareness campaign,” according to ANJEC Executive Director Jennifer Coffey.
In honoring Ehrlich for her climate work, ANJEC highlighted the councilwoman’s forward-looking strategy of embedding climate action into borough planning.
“This is work that involves goals, measurements and collaboration,” notes Ehrlich. “By working with department heads and experienced borough staff, green teams in towns like Madison can help plan for cost and energy savings while cutting carbon pollution.”
ANJEC lauded Friends of the Drew Forest, a team of local volunteers, for “establishing the conservation value of a local forest.”
The Friends’ efforts have involved hosting booths at farmers markets, a Thanksgiving parade float and the commissioning of third-party environmental reports, including one filed as part of the group’s amicus brief in the ongoing legal dispute between Drew University and the Borough of Madison.
“We’re lucky to live in a town that values environmental stewardship,” says Claire Whitcomb, Madison Environmental Commission Chair, whose committee has won four previous ANJEC awards—for its Green Vision Forum event, Facebook Swap, Eco House & Garden Tour and plastic-free outreach.
“We’re also lucky to live in a part of Morris County that understands water and wildlife protection doesn’t end at municipal boundaries. Five neighboring towns have passed resolutions to conserve the Drew Forest. And multiple towns collaborated on plastic bag ordinances. Environmental work needs all of us.”
