By: Najla Alexander
Hi there, RLS Metro Media friends and family, it’s your girl Najla here! Spring has clearly shown her face, and that means Summer is not far behind! What better way to celebrate Spring than to give back to the Earth!
To celebrate our Mother Earth on her Day, the Borough once again gathered with families and friends for a fun eco-friendly event held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 18, in Carteret Park on Carteret Avenue at Cypress Street.
It was much cooler this weekend than the soaring temperatures earlier this week, and even more enjoyable. Seeing my neighbors and community take this chance not only to be out but also to give back to the Earth is amazing!
The Fifth Annual Carteret Earth Day Celebration included a wellness expo that featured vendors such as a Zumba class with RWJ Rahway Fitness & Wellness Center at Carteret, a yoga class with Zentimacy Yoga Studio, and a karate demonstration with Jones Martial Arts.
One of my favorite parts of these events is seeing the kids' excitement, especially as they play on the bouncy houses and are included in the very fun karate demonstrations.
Vendors were selling all sorts of things from holistic & organic products to providing wellness services, including massage, physical therapy, chiropractic care, and health screenings.
“The best way to take care of the planet is to take care of ourselves,” the Honorable Mayor Daniel J. Reiman said.
“For that reason, the Annual Carteret Earth Day Celebration includes a wellness expo that will offer a variety of vendors who have Carteret residents’ best interests in mind.”
Wellness Expo participants included:
-Garden State Therapy, a multi-disciplined practice based in downtown Carteret, that will offer physical and occupational therapy
-Central Jersey Medical Center, a Federally Qualified Health Center that provides primary care, dental, and preventive health services in Carteret, Perth Amboy, and Newark
-Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, Rahway Community Outreach, a local medical center that will provide free health screenings, such as blood pressure and blood sugar, as well as mental health resources.
“Couldn’t have imagined a nicer day to celebrate Earth Day than this!” a parent exclaimed.
With the kids laughing and playing on the bouncy houses, there was a chance to be part of a community art project led by the Central Jersey Arts Council. In contrast, live DJ music by DJ Irwin T of Nyghtvizion Entertainment played in the background.
Not to mention the food trucks that had people lining up were one of my favorites, the smells truly made your mouth water. They included ChefDeluxeMe, whose menu features Chimi Sliders, Street Tacos, Empanadas, Crispy Shrimp, DeluxeMe Wings, Mac & Cheese, Churros, Tres Leches, and Fried Oreos. In contrast, The Mexi Boys features many Mexican favorites with vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free alternatives.
According to officials, more than 60 volunteers have pledged to clean up not only Carteret Park but also Waterfront, Bishop Andrews, Civic Center, and Noe Street parks. Cleanup volunteers gathered at 10 a.m. in Carteret Park, an hour before the event opened to the public, who were then disbursed throughout that park and the others.
“If every day were Earth Day, we wouldn’t be in the mess we’re in,” Neil deGrasse Tyson stated. This quote I think about often because it’s amazing what we do for the Earth on this day, but if we put that same effort into every day, we wouldn’t have to worry about our Earth so much.
All such amazing efforts from the Carteret community will help our Earth, but we should also make the same efforts every day, individually, to achieve those same goals.
“What better way to give back to the Earth than by helping clean her up?” a volunteer stated.
The season is only getting warmer, and that means more festivals to look forward to, and I know Carteret will have us covered. RLS Metro Media looks forward to all of these exciting events! Remember to get outside and enjoy the sun when you can!