January 15, 2021

1. REMINDER: No Township Curbside Garbage Collection Will Occur on Monday, January 18 and All Township Offices Will Be CLOSED due to the holiday. Garbage Collection for Area #1 residents, normally on Monday, January 18, will be on the next scheduled collection date of Thursday, January 21. Visit the Township website (CLICK HERE) for additional garbage collection information.
2. National Tree Company Opens New Operations in the Existing 608,443 Square Foot Facility at 150 Milford Road. National Tree Company, a national leader in the seasonal décor industry, is consolidating their statewide operations from three smaller locations to the new East Windsor location. National Tree Company, a family owned business, has for sixty years been a leading importer and wholesaler of artificial Christmas trees, wreaths, garlands, holiday decorations and fiber optic products. Their product line recently has been expanded to include a seasonal category featuring indoor and outdoor decorative pieces for display during all seasons, holidays and celebrations. National Tree Company's facility fulfills e-commerce orders selling their products directly to major retailers including Wayfair, Target, Macy’s, Home Depot and Lowes. This new facility is anticipated to generate up to 150 to 200 jobs. The 608,443 square foot building, purchased by national real estate management company Dermody Properties, has been enhanced with system upgrades to be ready for National Tree Companying occupying the property. For information on National Tree Company, visit their website at nationaltree.com.
   
   
   Mayor Janice S. Mironov and Council Members join National Tree Company and Dermody Property Executives for the announcement of National Tree Company opening new operations in the 608,443 square foot facility at 150 Milford Road. Pictured (from left to right): Nicole Howard, Real Estate Manager, Dermody Properties; James Mascaro, Senior Vice President, Dermody Properties; Council Member John Zoller; Mayor Janice S. Mironov; Council Member Denise Daniels; Don Kelley, CEO, National Tree Company; Craig Carragan, CFO, National Tree Company, and Council Member Alan Rosenberg.
   
3. Mayor Mironov and Council Members Recognized and Honored "East Windsor Heroes of 2020" at the Reorganization Meeting. Several local residents, groups and businesses were recognized and honored for stepping up and doing exceptional work for their community, through grocery deliveries, food distributions and donations of protective equipment and supplies. These local heroes helped our East Windsor community keep safe and healthy by being lifelines during these trying times. CLICK HERE to view video.
   • GREGORY DAILEY: Gregory Dailey, recognized by CNN and TIME Magazine as a Hero of 2020, turned his morning paper route into a lifeline for those who did not have a means of getting their groceries. Realizing that many of his customers might not be able to get to the store, he left a note with the newspapers for customers to call him if they needed anything, and began receiving calls before he arrived home. Greg Dailey, with his family, has been picking up and delivering groceries to people confined to their homes, making over 1,000 grocery runs aiding more than 140 homes, since mid-March.
   • N.J. RISE: (Executive Director Leslie Koppel and Board of Directors President Nancy Walker Laudenberger): N.J. Rise, based in Hightstown, has supplied food support for families in East Windsor and Hightstown via the food pantry and several major drive-thru food distributions, with pro-active grant support. N.J. Rise, also recognized by NJ Governor Phil Murphy, has assisted 325 families a week at their food pantry and 7,122 families at ten major drive-thru food distribution events this year.
   • SAM KATZ: Sam Katz, in cooperation with the U. S. Department of Agriculture Summer Food Service Program, organized the weekly free food distribution of 7 day food boxes for people under the age of 18 on Sundays at Ethel McKnight Elementary School (58 Twin Rivers Drive) . Since the start of this program, over 21,000 meals have been distributed.
   • HOVIONE: (General Manager Filipe Tomas), an international pharmaceutical company located on Lake Drive, reached out at the outset of the pandemic, donating scarce and much needed Township protective equipment and supplies, including 3,500 surgical masks, gallons of disinfectant, large quantities of hand sanitizer bottles, goggles and no touch thermometers for municipal use.
   • GLORIA HANSEN: Gloria Hansen pioneered SewtoStopCovid19 website and Facebook page when the pandemic hit and there was a severe mask shortage. She established it as a way to connect people who sew and are willing to help places in need by enlisting individuals from throughout the region and even nationwide to sew and distribute masks. Since its inception, over 35,000 masks have been made and donated.
4. East Windsor Receives Check for Maximum Township Award Allotment of $567,200 by New Jersey Department of Community Affairs from the New Jersey Local Government Emergency Fund. These funds are part of the $60 million in relief funds announced by Governor Murphy to towns and counties from an allocation of the state's federal CARES Act Coronavirus Relief Fund, to provide direct relief to local governments who have continued to support their community needs throughout this pandemic. This funding will support COVID related costs incurred for essential government services, including health associated expenses, public safety, COVID-19-related overtime, remote working equipment and technology, meeting support platforms and technology.
5. East Windsor Township Mayor and Council Encourage Citizens to Volunteer for Township Boards and Committees in the New Year. Citizens can apply to serve on the Clean Communities Advisory Committee, Commission on Aging, Economic Development Committee, Environmental Commission, Health Advisory Board, Planning Board, Recreation Commission, Zoning Board of Adjustment and the East Windsor Municipal Alliance for the Prevention of Substance Abuse. Residents interested in volunteering can obtain an application form from the municipal clerk or can fill out this form (CLICK HERE) and return by email to clerk@east-windsor.nj.us, by fax to (609) 443-8303, or by drop off or mail to Mayor Janice S. Mironov and Council, East Windsor Municipal Building, 16 Lanning Boulevard, East Windsor, New Jersey 08520. For further information, call the Municipal Clerk's Office at (609) 443-4000, ext. 238.
6. High School Students Are Invited to Serve as Student Members of East Windsor Township Boards and Commissions. The boards and commissions included in the student program are Commission on Aging, Clean Communities Committee, Economic Development Commission, Environmental Commission, Health Advisory Committee and Recreation Commission, as well as the East Windsor Green Team and the East Windsor Municipal Alliance for the Prevention of Substance Abuse. High school students who wish to be considered can obtain a volunteer application form from the municipal clerk (CLICK HERE) or submit a letter indicating their area of interest and reasons or related background by email to clerk@east-windsor.nj.us, by fax to (609) 443-8303 or by drop off or mail to Mayor Janice S. Mironov and Council Members, East Windsor Municipal Building, 16 Lanning Boulevard, East Windsor, New Jersey 08520.
7. Applications for "The Property Tax Freeze" for Seniors Deadline Extended to February 1, 2021. Homeowners who were 65 or older or 100% disabled in 2018 and received Federal Social Security Disability benefits may be eligible for this program that establishes a base year for property taxes and reimburses the homeowner for any increase in the future tax years. To qualify, a senior must live in New Jersey continuously for at least 10 years, owned or lived in his/her home or mobile home for at least the last 3 years, paid the full amount of property taxes or site fees due for the base year and each succeeding year for which the reimbursement is claimed, and had gross income for 2019 of $91,505 or less and for 2018 of $89,013 or less. For information, contact Township Tax Collector at (609) 443-4000, ext. 230.
8. CALENDAR: East Windsor Township Recycling Days on Saturday, April 17 from 10 am to 2 pm, Wednesday, July 14 from 4 pm to 8 pm, and Saturday, October 2 from 10 am to 2 pm, at the East Windsor Senior Center. Free Document Shredding and other drop-off recycling (electronics, computers, televisions, cell phones, fluorescent bulbs, toner cartridges and shoes, clothing, blankets, working appliances and housewares) will be offered to residents. These event dates will also be posted on the Township Website at www.east-windsor.nj.us. For further information, call (609) 443-4000, ext. 215.