MyEnglewood December 2019 | Page 3

Blue Moon Mexican Café leads Styrofoam Free Initiative Englewood Mayor Michael Wildes’ Environmental Commission has proposed legislation to the City Council for the banning of Expanded Polystyrene Foam (EPS), otherwise known as “Styrofoam,” for restaurants within the City of Englewood Business District. Blue Moon Mexican Café has led the Styrofoam Free Initiative as the City Council considers the proposed legislation on the ban of EPS material. Other restaurants that have joined Blue Moon Mexican Café include: Syros, Playa Bowls, Manhattan Bagel, Poke Crew, Bennies, BurgerIM, Biddy O’Malleys, Aylwards II Health Food and Palisades News & Food. The Environmental Commission chaired by Chelsea Gleis has already partnered with Sustainable Bergen County Hub and Sustainable Jersey on the Styrofoam Free Initiative for Englewood. While EPS food containers are not recyclable, block packaging Styrofoam is accepted at Englewood’s DPW Facility on S. Van Brunt Street. EPS is not biodegradable, thus it presents a risk to the environment. It has been noted that Styrofoam takes up to 30 percent of all space in landfills and 20 percent of all Styrofoam ends up in our waterways. With the risks to both human and animal health from toxins, the importance of getting rid of EPS material cannot be stressed enough. PHOTO/CITY OF ENGLEWOOD Flat Rock Brook Nature Center announces public programs for winter The following are available public programs at Flat Rock Brook Nature Center during winter and spring. Project FeederWatch *Every Monday and Tues- day, January through March, 10 a.m. to noon, all ages. Project FeederWatch is a cit- izen science program through the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and a great way to learn to identify the birds in your own backyard. Join Flat Rock Brook Nature Center staff to observe the birds at our feeders as often as you like, at any time in the morning, and help us collect valuable data for this North American project. Free to all. No Registration required. *No Project FeederWatch on Jan. 20-21 and Feb. 17-18. Suet Sunday Sunday, Jan. 12, 2 to 3 p.m., for adults and children ages 6 and older. During the coldest months, food can be scarce for our feathered friends! Help them out and have fun while making suet cakes to hang in your yard! Choose the ingredients to mix into your cake to attract differ- ent bird species. Each partici- pant will get to make and take home a cake. Free to members; $5 for non-members. Registra- tion required. Great Backyard Bird Count Sunday, Feb. 16, 10 a.m. Join Flat Rock Brook and the Bergen County Audubon Society for a citizen science project designed to take count of bird populations all over the world! After the hike experi- ence an up-close encounter with our resident birds of prey. Free to all. Registration required. Family Winter Hike Sunday, Jan. 19, and Feb. 9, 2 to 3 p.m., for families. Gather up the family and come over to Flat Rock to enjoy an afternoon on our trails with our Naturalist. This guided hike will be a relaxing and informative journey to appre- ciate the winter wonders of nature. Dress warmly. Finish off the hike with a cup of hot cocoa. Free to all. Registration required. Tiny Tyke Times Every Thursday, February through April, 10 to 11 a.m., for families with children ages 4 and under. Enjoy the changing seasons with an enriching experience for your child and your family. Snuggle up for a story time, an animal meet and greet, and work together on a special craft! Free to members; $10 per child per class or $100 per child for all 13 classes for non-mem- bers. Registration required. Englewood Health Dept. to hold annual rabies clinic, Feb. 29 The Englewood Health Depart- ment will hold its annual rabies clinic at the Municipal Court on Saturday, Feb. 29. Dr. Ezik owner of the Englewood Veterinary Center, will be on site to vaccinate cats and dogs free of charge. Additionally, you will be able to license your pet that day as required under state and local law. A vaccinated pet is the most effective step in protecting the com- munity against the spread of rabies, which is a 100 percent fatal disease for both pet and owner. If your pet needs a rabies shot and you miss this clinic, contact the Englewood Veterinary Center at 25 S. Van Brunt St. to make an appoint- ment for a free rabies shot. The phone number is 201-266-5558. Protect your pet, your family and your community by vaccinating and licensing your pet! MYENGLEWOOD DECEMBER 2019 3