Riverboat St. Charles 4/21/16 *Photos by Katherine Massopust

The Green Panthers pose for a photo with Mayor Wilda Diaz, Geri Barcheski and Councilman Joel Pabon.
*Photo by Katherine Massopust

PERTH AMBOY – There was press conference on the Riverboat St. Charles on 4/21/16 in celebration of Earth Week. The event was listed as an Environmental Collaborative Initiative. The Master of Ceremonies was William Kurzenberger (Program Coordinator, the Office of Economic Development).

Some of the speakers included: Geri Barcheski of the DPW and Mayor Wilda Diaz. Keynote Speaker David Glass (Dep. Comm. of NJDEP) was impressed with Perth Amboy’s Green Initiative’s.  He stated, “I look forward to continue our partnership. This is a historical city with a strong economy and was in environmental distress. He then went on to explain that the Green Collaborative Pilot Program first started in Camden. All 2800 of our employees went for customer training. Some of the problems that we were dealing with in Perth Amboy were local flooding and environmental stress. $2.9 million remedial was spent for brown fields and other monies were spent on Willow Pond. This year $3.2 million will be given to Perth Amboy. We’ve met with Mayor Diaz to discuss a Green Infrastructure Plan for the Raritan River Park. A clear vision and a strong leadership is important. You have access to the Waterfront which is important to economic development, transportation and you have the Second Street Park. Earth Day is about clean water, air, land and using natural resources.”

He gave a brief overview of the Green Initiative Programs in the State, “We were the 3rd State to protect these entities. We have low carbon dioxide pollution which is much cleaner than 46 years ago. 99.9% of our beaches were open last year. 15 Million acres are open farmland. There was a high rates of sites cleaned up. 150 bald eagles are scattered throughout the State. There are 4 nesting bald eagles within 10 minutes of Perth Amboy.”

Carole Tolmachewich came up to speak. She praised DPW Recycling Coordinator Geri Barcheski and the City for their fantastic recycling programs. “We met with Geri and others the Department on how they implemented their recycling program. Geri was able to increase the amount of recycling tonnage in Perth Amboy.”

The next speaker, Sandra Huber said, “There are 558 towns in 21 Counties involved in the Green Initiative. The State will be honoring Mayor Wilda Diaz and Geri Barcheski at a luncheon in Atlantic City in May for their part in making Perth Amboy a success in the Environmental Initiative Program.”

There will be more information on the recycling programs and water infrastructure improvements in upcoming issues of the Amboy Guardian.

David Glass
Deputy Commissioner NJDEP

William Kurzenberger
Program Coordinator
Office of Economic Development

Sandra Huber
Executive Director NJDEP
Clean Communities

Geri Barcheski
Coordinator Recycling and
Clean Communities, DPW

Carole Tolmachewich
Principle Planner,
County of Middlesex

Mayor Wilda Diaz

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