Cory Booker: New Plan Would Incentivize Reducing Food Waste

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Two new bills, the Zero Food Waste Act and the Cultivating Organic Matter through the Promotion Of Sustainable Techniques (COMPOST) Act, were introduced to reduce the amount of food wasted in the U.S. and to redirect food waste to composting projects.

Zero Food Waste Act

In the U.S., nearly half of all food produced is lost or wasted, which means an estimated $408 billion is spent on growing, processing, transporting, storing, and disposing of food that is never consumed. Landfills are now the third-largest source of methane in the U.S., and food is the single largest input by weight in our landfills and incinerators. This bill would create a new Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) administered grant program for state, local, tribal, and territorial governments and for nonprofits, which would offer three types of grants: planning grants, measurement grants, and reduction grants. Planning grants could be used to investigate the kinds of food waste mitigation projects or policies would be most impactful within a given community. Measurement grants could be used to better understand the amount of food waste generated in the state or community.

Reduction grants could be used to fund an assortment of different types of projects. For instance, food waste prevention projects could stop the generation of food waste. Recycling projects could reuse food waste as a feedstock for other non-food products, such as composting. Rescuing projects could redirect surplus food to places like food shelters. Upcycling projects could make new food from ingredients that would otherwise go to landfills. Additionally, localities could use the grant funding to implement food waste landfill disposal or incineration restrictions designed to stop food waste. COMPOST Act

Composting is one of the most environmentally friendly means of disposing of food waste and other organic waste. Not only does composting emit a smaller quantity of greenhouse gasses compared to alternative disposal methods, it also yields a valuable soil additive that enhances soil health, which in turn makes the soil a better absorber of carbon, while also making the land more resilient to climate change-fueled disasters like wildfi res and floods. Additionally, while there is growing interest by individuals and businesses across the country to compost food scraps and compostable packaging, there is not enough composting infrastructure in the U.S. to meet this demand.

This bill would add composting as a conservation practice for U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) conservation programs. Both the act of producing compost from organic waste and using compost on a farm would qualify as a conservation practice. It also would create new USDA grant and loan guarantee programs for composting infrastructure projects, including both large-scale composting facilities as well as farm, home, or community-based projects.

The bills were introduced by U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D-N.J.) and Tina Smith (DMN), both members of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, and U.S. Representatives Julia Brownley (D-CA), Ann McLane Kuster (D-NH), and Chellie Pingree (D-ME) introduced

“The economic, environmental, and public health costs of our country’s food waste problem have become too large to ignore,” said Senator Cory Booker, a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee. “We need to invest in solutions that prevent food waste, divert it to hungry Americans, or if there’s no other option, ensure that food is composted instead of landfilled. My bills will help create such a system by funding local, state, and tribal projects to reduce food waste and encouraging the development of composting infrastructure.”

“Americans waste more than 40% of the food they purchase. More alarmingly, the food production and subsequent waste have significant impacts on greenhouse gas emissions,” said Representative Julia Brownley. “Smart policies that curb food waste and promote composting will undoubtedly lessen the impacts of climate change. The Zero Food Waste Act and COMPOST Act incentivize and encourage farmers to implement more sustainable farming practices and provide local governments with the resources to develop strategies that will reduce the amount of food waste that local communities generate. We must take bold action in the fight to protect our resources and our environment for future generations, including through the development of sustainable food systems.”

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Sunday Worship Services of Holy Communion at 10 a.m. &Wednesday spoken Holy Communion at 9 a.m. Christ Lutheran Church

The Rev. Dr. J. Francis Watson, Pastor 40 Schoolhouse Road, Whiting, NJ 08759

Phone 732.350.0900 • Fax 732.350.0343

E-mail: christlutheranchurch2@verizon.net

Website: christlutheranwhiting.com

Tax Accountant

Hands For All

A Division of HOMES FOR ALL, INC.

A Not-For-Pro t A ordable Housing Developer 309 Hooper Ave. • Toms River, NJ 08753 Tel: 732.286.7929 • Fax: 732.286.9698

Manchester Accounting Services – Whiting, NJ 08759

Are you a CPA wanting to be your own boss versus a larger firm environment? Set your own schedule! CPA Owner is seeking other CPAs to responsibly team up and get the work done. There are fulltime, part-time or seasonal positions with a business that is 35+ years in the same established location.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Bachelor's Degree

Tax preparation experience: 5-7 years

CPA preferred

ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE:

• Primarily responsible for preparation of 1040 tax returns

• Additionally responsible for preparation of tax returns for S corporations, C corporations, partnerships, estates, trusts and not-for-profits

• Preparation of federal and state quarterly estimated income tax payments and annual extension payments

• Tax planning

• Respond to inquiries from the IRS and other tax authorities

• Solid knowledge of and ability to interpret tax rules and regulations

• Research and consultation on various tax matters

• Ability to work independently and in a team environment

• Ability to handle simultaneous projects, prioritize tasks and meet deadlines

PREFERRED SKILLS INCLUDE:

• Working knowledge of ProSeries (or comparable) and Microsoft Office applications

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Please submit resumes including salary requirements –INFO@ManchesterAccountingServices.com

No calls please. EOE

Potential candidates will be contacted to interview.

Job Types: Part-time, Seasonal, Full-time

Salary: $30.00 - $45.00 per hour based on experience

Benefits: Flexible schedule

COVID-19 considerations: All clients are asked to wear a mask. Lobby seating was removed. Client appointments are limited. All staff in the office are vaccinated/boosted.

DEP: Continued

From Page 1 public comment period on the settlement has been extended another two months.

The purpose of the meeting is to provide information to the public and to take questions, the DEP said.

“We hope that this extension of the comment period and opportunity for direct engagement with DEP officials will provide members of the public with additional opportunities to learn more about the assessment and proposed restoration of injured natural resources, and to ask questions about the proposed settlement,” said DEP Deputy Commissioner Sean D. Moriarty.

Ciba-Geigy opened in 1952 and closed in 1990. It manufactured dyes and other chemicals, dumping the waste into the river and the ground. Many people attribute the area’s cancer cluster to its operation. It became an Environmental Protection Agency Superfund Site in 1983. The settlement with the State DEP will not impact the situation with the federal EPA.

The former Ciba land is 1,255 acres between Route 37 and Oak Ridge Parkway, west of the Garden State Parkway. According to a settlement announced on December 5 by the State Department of Environmental Protection, about 1,000 acres would be preserved. Of this, approximately 790 acres will be maintained as open space and will include restoration projects. The remaining

210 acres will be set aside for pollinator habitat and solar energy production. There would be trails, a boardwalk, and an environmental education center. The project could break ground as soon as spring of 2023 and be open to the public in phases over the next five years.

The portion that won’t be part of the preservation project is about 255 acres that are currently zoned as light industrial with an entrance onto Route 37.

German company BASF assumed responsibility for the site in 2010 through corporate acquisitions. When BASF acquired Ciba, the property was undergoing remediation efforts such as excavation and capping of contaminated areas and the pumping and treatment of contaminated groundwater, the DEP said.

How To Comment

Comments about the settlement may be submitted electronically at onrr@dep. nj.gov. Comments will be accepted until April 5.

There is a way to comment on the settlement on the DEP’s site as well. The proposed settlement agreement between BASF and the DEP can be found here: nj.gov/dep/ nrr/settlements/index.html

For more information on the site and the EPA’s remediation process, visit cumulis.epa.gov/supercpad/SiteProfiles/ index.cfm?fuseaction=second.cleanup&id=0200078#Status

Ragtimers Lunch And Show

WHITING – The Women’s Club of Deerfield Hall is again presenting the Ragtimers on April 22 at the clubhouse 6 Congasia Rd. Whiting. Lunch is from 12 to 1 p.m. and show from 2 to 3 p.m. Cost is $17. Includes sandwich of your choice (five to pick from), Dessert and beverage. Reservations for tables of eight or more taken. Tickets on sale now call Rosie at 732-503-3043.

Qigong:

Continued

From Page 1 helped individuals learn about qigong and how to incorporate it into their daily routine and to enhance their quality of life.

“I went to Georgian Court University for a program with a friend who introduced me to it. I wanted to learn more,” Whiting resident Jeanne Kineyko said. She was one of the more than 20 people who attended the program.

Komagata stressed that, “Qigong is for everyone. No matter your mobility and fitness level or age. Anyone can learn. It is something you can initiate on your own and at your own pace.”

“Qigong has a long history and therefore and if you learned it from someone you could learn it totally different from another person. That is one disclaimer I wanted to share with you. If you learn something different today, great,” she added.

“That doesn’t mean that something you learned before is wrong or right. There are just so many ways to practice,” Komagata said. She presented a short background on the practice before imitating some practice sessions.

Komagata said there were some key concepts that she wished to share with the audience. “The Qi part meaning air, a life force and energy that goes through your system or body, the gong part, means cultivating as self-practice.”

She further explained that the technique helps individuals “work with the chi energy that is already within you. Someone in Canada said it was cultivating a relationship with energy and becoming aware of energy and how it circulates and flows through your body. I like that defi nition best.”

“Qigong originated in China over 1,000 years ago. It can be practiced wherever you are and you may not need physical movement at all. There are many ways people practice,” she said.

One question from the audience was whether the practice was aimed at adults only. “Children can practice. I have a child and when she was young, she was taught the practice,” Komagata replied.

She also urged those involved with it to continue with regular practice of at least every week. “Continuous practice seems to give individuals the most health benefit. Some of the research shows there is a psychological benefit with a reduction of anxiety or a reduction of depressive episodes which is a positive for everybody. We want to feel better and mental is just as important as physical health.”

Komagata told The Manchester Times after the program, “so many people have anxiety and depression today. Those that come to Tai Chi or Qigong classes are able to capture a little piece of peacefulness and even that little bit, I think is helpful.”

Komagata added that professionally, “I was working as a physical therapist at an acute care hospital in Philadelphia suburb for over a decade. As a physical therapist, I used Tai Chi and Qigong principles in some of the movement therapies. Then after completing my PhD at Temple University, I took the Assistant Professor position at GCU in 2004. I have learned and practiced Tai Chi and Qigong for on and off over 30 years, but for the past four years or so, I am practicing regularly almost daily. I have been searching for an organization and instructors all this time and I fi nally found Tai Chi for Health Institute which helped me practice more consistently.”

The Manchester Times welcomes your special announcements! Engagements, Weddings, Births, Birthday Wishes, etc. Please call 732-657-7344 for more details!

JCM HOME SERVICES, LLC

Annual Installation Dinner

Whiting Fire Company Sta. 33

– Photo courtesy Whiting Fire Company Sta. 33 years)

WHITING – The annual installation dinner for Whiting Fire Company Sta. 33 was recently held. 2023 administrative and fi rematic officers were officially sworn into office by Mayor Robert Arace. In addition, the following awards were presented:

Jeffrey Sloan Member of the Year Award: Jack Coleman

Length of Service: Jim Sodon (41 years)

Length of Service: Rodney Sloan Sr (43

Length of Service: David Romans (47 years)

They would like to thank all who celebrated including our mayor and council members in attendance. Lastly, they would like to thank our mutual aid partner, Joint Base MDL FD for covering calls for the station. They look forward to serving the community in 2023.

Girl Scouts Visit Town Hall

–Photo courtesy Manchester Township MANCHESTER – Mayor Robert Arace, Councilman Joseph Hankins, and Chief Robert Dolan were pleased to welcome Girl Scout Troop 342 to the Municipal Complex, where they received a tour of Town Hall including the Mayor’s Office, Police Department, and Municipal Court. It was a pleasure to host these scouts and explain how our local government and police department work. Thank you for visiting!

MAR. 9 PHILADELPHIA FLOWER SHOW AT THE CONVENTION CENTER $149/pp

Includes Lunch On The iconic Moshulu.

MAR.19 IRISH CABARET STARRING ANDY COONEY @ HUNTERDON HILLS PLAYHOUSE $136/pp

Hampton, NJ. 2pm dinner show.

MAR.30 MOSES AT SIGHT & SOUND THEATRE LANCASTER, PA $144/pp

Includes Lunch at Shady Maple & Center Orch Seat.

MAR.30 MY MOTHER’S ITALIAN, MY FATHERS IS JEWISH I’M IN THERAPY $99/pp

Includes $25 Slot Play, $15 Food Voucher, and Show.

APR. 4 MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET AT HUNTERDON HILLS PLAYHOUSE $125/pp

Includes Lunch Before Show.

APR.11 FOUR BY FOUR AT WIND CREEK CASINO BETHLEHEM, PA $99/pp

Includes $25 Slot Play & Show.

APR.27 THE KENNY ROGERS BAND PRESENTS THOUGH THE YEARS FT.DON GATLIN TROPICANA $99/pp

Includes $25 Slot Play, $15 Food Voucher, Show Ticket.

APR. 27 MOSES AT SIGHT & SOUND THEATRE LANCASTER, PA $144/pp

Includes Lunch at Shady Maple & Center Orch Seat.

MAY 23-27 5 DAY GREAT SMOKEY MOUNTAINS ADVENTURE $1098/pp Dbl. Occ.

Package Includes 2 Nights stay Dolly Parton Resort, 1 night in each direction,2 Live Shows, 4 Breakfasts, 4 Dinners, Step on Guide, Moonshine Distillery Tour, Hollywood Car Museum and more.

MAY 24 FUNNY GIRL MUSICAL STARING LEA MICHELE AS FANNY BRICE $254/pp

Includes Orchestra Seat & Lunch.

MAY 24 A BEAUTIFUL NOISE THE NEIL DIAMOND MUSICAL $224/pp

Includes Orchestra Seat & Lunch.

MAY 30-31 2 DAY TRIBUTE TO FRANKIE VALLI & FOUR SEASONS @ RESORTS WORLD CATSKILLS $232/pp Dbl.Occ. Join us at the Resorts Catskills Resort in the Beautiful Catskill mountain region for one night and see A Tribute To Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons. Package Includes Day 1-$25 Slot Play & $20 Food Voucher. DAY 2-$25 Slot Play, Lunch and Show Ticket.

MAY 31 MJ THE MICHEAL JACKSON MUSICAL $226/pp

Includes Orchestra Seat & Lunch.

MAY 31 SWEENEY TODD STARING JOSH GROBAN $224/pp

Includes Orchestra Seat & Lunch.

JUNE 4-6 3 DAY 1000 ISLAND & BOLDT CASTLE $739/pp Dbl.Occ.

Package Includes 2 Nights Lodging at 1000 Island Hotel, Boldt Castle, Boat Tour

2 Breakfasts, 2 Dinners, Antique Boat Musuem, Local Winery for Tasting.

JUNE 11-14 4 DAY NIAGARA FALLS & SAFARI $939/pp Dbl.Occ.

Package Includes 3 nights stay at the 5 star Hilton Fallsview Hotel with a Falls View Room, 3 Breakfasts, 3 Dinners, Step on Guided Tours, Safari, Hornblower ‘’ride to the falls” & more

JUNE 21 CAMELOT AT THE LINCOLN CENTER $295/pp

Includes Orchestra Seat & Lunch.

JUNE 25-28 4 DAY CAPE COD & MARTHA’S VINEYARD $817/pp Dbl.Occ.

Package Includes 3 Nights Lodging Fairfield Inn & Suites, Step on Guide Tours, Martha’s Vineyard, 3 Dinners, 3 Breakfasts. Whale Watching Cruise and more.

JULY 5-13 8 NIGHT EASTERN CARIBBEAN CRUISE $2016/pp Dbl.Occ. Departs from New York City on the beautiful Carnival Venezia. Includes: Roundtrip Transportation,Mid ship Balcony, All Gratuities, Port fees, Travel Insurance. $50 cabin credit.

AUG. 28-30 3 DAY LAKE GEORGE & SARATOGA SPRINGS