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Madison applies for Drew Forest purchase grant funding, calls on university to cooperate
By Graciella Dressler | Madison Eagle
“The borough has submitted its application to the Morris County Open Space Fund for $10 million in grant funding to contribute to a purchase of the Drew Forest from Drew University.
Mayor Robert Conley and Madison community members hoping to preserve the forest from development continued to implore the university to come forward and partner in the effort at a Monday, June 12 Borough Council meeting. The university has sought to have much of the forest rezoned for multi-family housing and sold to a developer to mitigate its financial troubles.”
Harmonium sings for the mother ship, in Morristown
By Marion Filler | Morristown Green
“Planet earth was a star this weekend.
The Harmonium Choral Society called its stellar show Earthsongs, and the sanctuary at the Morristown United Methodist Church provided the perfect space and acoustics for a hundred singers to raise their voices with a message:
The earth is in trouble and we need to fix it.”
Madison has an offer on the table to buy the Drew Forest. Now it needs to find the money
By William Westhoven | Daily Record
“Madison has taken another step in its efforts to acquire 53 acres of woodlands from Drew University and prevent development on the environmentally sensitive site.“
The Land Conservancy of New Jersey Supports Saving the Drew Forest
The Land Conservancy of New Jersey, an environmental nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving land and water resources to empower individuals and communities to protect open space, has passed a resolution in support of saving the Drew Forest!
Madison votes to apply for county grant funding to acquire, preserve Drew Forest
An overflow crowd turned out Monday evening to support a Borough Council vote to apply for Morris County grant funding to acquire the Drew Forest and preserve it into the future.
6/3 and 6/4 - Earthsongs
Join us for Earthsongs, a Harmonium Society concert that will feature images of the Drew Forest during the performance of a choral composition called Peace of the Wild Things. We’ll be tabling during both performances, June 3 and 4. Come say hello!
Toads a-Mating, Events to Attend, Help Needed
Can you join us on May 22 to demonstrate community-wide support for Morris County funds to purchase the Forest? Wear your tee and see you at Madison Borough Hall, Monday, May 22, 8-8:45pm. RSVP below.
5/22 - Photo Op at Madison Town Council, 8-8:45pm
On Monday, May 22, 2023, the Madison Borough Council has an important Forest vote: a resolution to apply for a $10 million grant from Morris County Open Space to purchase the Drew Forest. Join the Friends and show your support for the Forest!
5/22 - Nature’s Temples: The Complex World of Old Growth Forests with Joan Maloof
Meet Joan (and your FODF friends) a virtual/in-person talk celebrating Nature’s Temples: The Complex World of Old Growth Forests. It’s at the Princeton Public Library, 6:00 - 7:15pm. And we’re a co-sponsor!
The book makes a powerful case for protecting old forests, as well as for letting younger forests grow old. It packs lots of scientific information into an easy, fun read (as do her other books). A top pick on our Forest reading list.
It’s Toad Time in the Drew Forest!
Don’t miss the high-pitched chorus of male American Toads emanating from the two ponds in the Drew Forest. The sound is extraordinary—the Forest’s toad population is one of the largest in the region. Naturalist, environmental consultant and photographer Blaine Rothauser knew what the trilling portended, so late one May night, he brought his camera equipment, ventured into the dark forest and sat beside Long Pond. We are so glad he did! He captured Forest’s mating toads, including the pair shown here.
Wildlife Preserves, Inc. Supports Saving the Drew Forest!
Wildlife Preserves, a private, nonprofit land conservation corporation dedicated to the preservation of natural areas, open space, wildlife, and wildlife habitats for conservation, education, and research., has written a letter in support of saving the Drew Forest!
Wildflowers in the Forest: A Story in 3 Acts
What’s blooming now—and later. You won’t want to miss a blossom.
Sherrill to seek $5M in federal funding for Drew Forest preservation in Madison
MADISON - Rep. Mikie Sherrill, D-11, has submitted a Community Project Funding (CPF) request of $5 million to the House Appropriations Committee to support the preservation of the Drew University Forest Preserve.
Sherrill submitted the request along with 14 other CPF requests for the 11th Congressional District for Fiscal Year 2024, according to a Monday, April 17 statement from the congresswoman’s office. The requests may be included in the text of the 2024 appropriations bill and marked up by the House Appropriations Committee later this year.
4/29 - Madison Green & Clean
The Downtown Development Commission (DDC) is sponsoring "Madison Green & Clean" (formerly known as May Day), a town-wide beautification day with a new focus on Eco-Friendly Initiatives! We hope you will join the fun and help us celebrate this on Saturday,April 29, 2023.
4/19 - EV Expo at Sunday Motor Co.
Come meet the Friends of the Drew Forest!
The EV Expo is returning to Madison on Wednesday, April 19. This event is sponsored by the Environmental Commissions of Madison, Chatham Borough, Chatham Township.
4/16 - Daffodil Day at Reeves Reed Arboretum
Daffodil Day is a decades-old tradition in Summit, when visitors to the Arboretum have an opportunity to enjoy one of the largest daffodil collections in New Jersey – over 50,000 bulbs in bloom in the Arboretum's glacially carved Daffodil Bowl!
The day’s activities include spring-themed games and crafts, a story trail, music, food, market vendors, our current art exhibit, and of course, the Green Goats will be there.
Where does your water come from? Under your feet.
The Drew Forest purifies 71.5 million gallons of water for the Buried Valley Aquifer, which services 31 towns.
Protect Our Water on World Water Day
It’s World Water Day! Have you wondered where YOUR drinking water comes from?
The answer may be —from under your feet— if you live in Madison or one of the 30 other towns that drink water from wells drilled into the Buried Valley Aquifer. These wells produce high-quality inexpensive water from porous glacial sediments that were deposited in valleys that extend like tentacles across parts of Morris, Essex, Somerset, and Union Counties.
With all these towns pumping water out of this aquifer, why hasn’t it been used up?
Have You Heard About Our Herons?
The Drew Forest provides vital habitat to many water bird species in its two large freshwater ponds, but one of the most recognizable is the heron. Herons are large, majestic wading birds that can be found in various habitats throughout New Jersey, but mainly stick close to bodies of freshwater with areas for wading. Four of the more common and recognizable heron species in the state are the Great Blue Heron, the Great Egret, the Green Heron, and the Tricolored Heron, each of which find perfect hunting ground in the Drew Forest.