Lacey's Barnegat Bay Blitz Postponed Until Thursday

Due to poor weather conditions, the inaugural Barnegat Bay Blitz in Lacey Township was postponed until Thursday, Oct. 20 from 7 to 1 p.m.

Approximately 150 environmental science students will cleanup the grounds of Lacey Township high school and middle school as part of a multi-county effort run by the state Department of Environmental Protection.

“I’m going to try to really drive home to the students their place in the environment and give them an idea that the things they throw on the ground ultimately ends up in the bay,” said Adriana Caldarelli of the NJDEP who is serving as Lacey’s team captain.

Before mobilizing the students on school grounds, Caldarelli plans to talk about pollution and the watershed and provide safety tips, she said.

“My idea is as we’re cleaning up, to mingle with the students and talk about what we pick up and if it gets in the bay, the harmful things it can do,” Caldarelli said.

Businesses, volunteer groups, community organizations and others were also encouraged to help organize teams to pick up trash at locations on the bayfront and along streams within watershed, which stretches from Little Egg Harbor north into Howell and Freehold Townships.

Unfortunately, Lacey was limited because the event is being held during work hours, Caldarelli said. Next year, they will consider holding the Blitz on a weekend and make the event community-wide.

“After you clean your own property, you’re supposed to branch out so you do the schools, the township, the waterways, the parks,” high school Principal William Zylinski said.

Lacey's clean-up effort was also coordinated by high school biology teacher Karen Hopson, who is attuned to the subject, he said.

“There’s no better place to start than your backyard. It’s not just your house. Everywhere feeds into the bay,” Zylinski said.

For more information on Lacey’s Barnegat Bay Blitz, call 609-984-3660.