May Littoral News May 1, 2022   Fabulous Weather Highlights 7th Annual Littoral Society Lobster Run Participants in our 7th Annual Lobster Run 5K Run/Walk to Care for the Coast had a great day to soak up the sun, listen to The Attic play fun tunes, drink beer from Ross Brewing, and enjoy brunch from Langosta Lounge.  Nearly 300 people came out on Saturday, April 30 to show their support for protecting the coast we all love so much. Many others stopped by to say hello and ask about the work of the Littoral Society.   Since the Lobster Run began in 2015, the work of the Littoral Society has grown exponentially. We're cleaning up more beaches, restoring more shoreline, bringing more children to the coast, and working harder than ever to ensure lawmakers protect recreational fishing and access to beaches, while reducing the pollution harming our coastal waterways.  The involvement of Society members, volunteers, sponsors, our board and countless others has helped us build oyster reefs in Delaware Bay, run educational programs on Sandy Hook, and organize wildlife excursions around Jamaica Bay. The course for the race carried runners and walkers past sites where, with volunteer help, we've planted dune grass and restored a maritime forest.  So, thank you to everyone who came out for the Lobster Run and we hope to see you at many more Littoral Society events. Click Here for More Pictures and Video COMING UP Junior Ranger Angler Program at Sandy Hook, NJ The National Park Service and the American Littoral Society are partnering to teach young children how to fish. Inspired by the thrill of catching your first fish, the Junior Ranger Angler program encourages kids to enjoy the vast recreational opportunities of our national parks.   The initial event on Sandy Hook was held Wednesday, April 20 and everything went swimmingly, except that we forgot to catch any fish. Children in attendance learned the basics of casting, knot tying, lure/bait selection, and “reading” a beach.   The program is part of the National Park Service Junior Ranger program and encourages young people - age 11 and up, with a supervising adult - to earn their Junior Ranger patch and certificate by participating in a series of fishing activities in a national park and then sharing their experience with a park ranger.   Future events will be held on May 7, June 4 and July 18, with a short introduction at Littoral Society headquarters, followed by hands-on experience on a nearby beach. For more information or to make reservations, please call 732-872-5970 or go to the Junior Ranger Angler post below. Wingin' It: Spring Migration Bird Walks Saturday, May 7 6 - 8 p.m. Tuesday, May 17 8 - 10 a.m.  Meet at American Littoral Society HQ  GPS: 18 Hartshorne Drive Highlands, NJ $10 for members, $20 for nonmembers Register for May 7 Register for May 17   Join “bird nerd” and Littoral Society Director of Development, Membership and Outreach Lindsay McNamara for a spring migration bird walk on the Hook. After meeting at Littoral Society Headquarters, we'll walk the paved multi-use pathway to Horseshoe Cove (about 1.5 miles) looking for seasonal bird visitors.   Please dress for the weather, wear closed-toe shoes, bring water and binoculars if you have them. The Society also has Nikon 8x42 binoculars for participants to borrow during the walk. Let’s get birdy!   Contact lindsay@littoralsociety.org with any questions. Jamaica Bay Task Force Meeting Tuesday, May 10 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. Via Zoom   Tune in to a Zoom meeting and hear about the various projects and proposals for Jamaica Bay from US Army Corps of Engineers, the NY Department of Environmental Protection, Jamaica Bay Ecowatchers, Jamaica Bay-Rockaway Parks Conservancy, and the American Littoral Society. For detailed agenda e-mail: don@littoralsociety.org.    Among the topics on the agenda are:  A new management plan for the Jamaica Bay Refuge (via the Littoral Society's Don Riepe); a ribbed mussel study update; discussion of a living shoreline project; and a wetland restoration update.   To join Zoom Meeting, use this link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86101641850?pwd=bkt4Undua0JrTHJSQWpjMFB5Qm9kUT09.   Or, go to https://us02web.zoom.us/join and enter meeting ID: 861 0164 1850 and password: 466509  Junior Ranger Angler Saturday May 7 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Sandy Hook Unit Gateway National Recreation Area Highlands, NJ Free, Register here   The National Park Service and the American Littoral Society are partnering to teach young children how to fish. Join us for a day of surf fishing and instruction on the beach.     We will cover the basics of casting, knot tying, lure/bait selection, and “reading” a beach. All skill levels are welcome. Rods, reels, and tackle will be provided. Children ages 11 and up are welcome with a supervising adult.   Please register at the link NJDEP | NJ Saltwater Recreational Registry Program for the NJ Saltwater Fishing Registry, complete, print, and bring the form with you to the in-person program. Please bring your lunch and snacks. You can also call 732-872-5970 for more info or to make a reservation. Build a Rain Garden Webinar Create a Creek-friendly Yard   Wednesday, May 11 Sessions at Noon and 7 p.m. Virtual - Link Will Be Emailed After Registration Register for the Noon session. Register for the 7 p.m. session.   Join us for Rain Gardens 101 – a virtual workshop to learn more about rain gardens and how you can build one at home! When you attend, you’ll have the opportunity to sign up for a 30-minute consultation where you’ll work one-one one with a Rutgers landscape architect to plan a customized rain garden for your property.   Visit https://www.sjwatersavers.org/makeover/ for more information on the South Jersey Landscape Makeover Program. Rumson Environmental Commission Hosts Panel Discussion on the Benefits of Native Plants Wednesday, May 11 6 - 8 p.m. Rumson's Bingham Hall 40 Bingham Avenue Rumson, NJ Free, More Info   Join the Rumson Environmental Commission and American Littoral Society for a panel discussion on Going Native, which will focus on the benefits of bring native plants to your yard.   In addition to Littoral Society staff, the panel will include representatives from the Rumson Garden Club, NJ Audubon Society, Sickles Market, and Flower to the People. Delaware Bay Horseshoe Crab Tagging Select nights May 13-June 29 Free, Registration Required   The American Littoral Society is looking for volunteers to participate in our horseshoe crab tagging program along New Jersey’s Delaware Bayshore. Horseshoe crab tagging is a great way for volunteers of all ages to encounter these pre-historic looking creatures up close. No experience is required, beach captains will train all volunteers on site.   Interested in participating in the largest horseshoe crab tagging program in the Delaware Bay? There are limited spots and they do fill quickly, visit www.horseshoecrabtagging.org to register. Downe Township Horseshoe Crab Festival Saturday, May 14 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. Fortescue State Street Downe, NJ Free, More Info   Stop by the Downe Township Horseshoe Crab Festival and say hello to the Littoral Society. We will be discussing our horseshoe crab tagging program and habitat restoration work.   The festival will be set up at multiple outdoor sites along Fortescue’s beautiful bayshore to entertain visitors with live music, games, educational exhibitors, artists, craftsman, eco tours, food vendors and many more activities.   The festival is in honor of the annual spectacle of the horseshoe crab spawning, which brings thousands of horseshoe crabs to New Jersey’s Delaware Bayshore. Downe Township, NJ, which is a certified horseshoe crab sanctuary, has been welcoming the largest numbers of crabs in the area for many years.   Festival attendees will have the opportunity to learn about how they can help horseshoe crabs and why they are so important to the endangered bird, the red knot, and to humans, too.   Jamaica Bay Spring Migration Bird Walk Saturday, May 14 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center 175-10 Cross Bay Blvd Queens, NY Free, Registration Required   Join Don Riepe, the Littoral Society's Jamaica Bay Guardian, for a hike around the ponds and gardens during the peak spring bird migration to look for the many species of warblers, tanagers, grosbeaks, shorebirds, and many other species that are making their way through the parks and natural areas of NYC.   Learn about bird behavior, migration and how to identify them in the field. This is a partnership program with NYC Audubon, the American Littoral Society, and the Jamaica Bay-Rockaway Parks Conservancy. Kids welcome. Free. For more info contact: don@littoralsociety.org Horseshoe Crab Walk Monday, May 16 6:30 - 8 p.m. Meet at: Lot B Sandy Hook Unit Gateway National Recreation Area $10 members/ $20 non-members Register Now   Join the American Littoral Society for an evening walk at Sandy Hook to learn about some of our oldest friends, 445 million years that is!!! Watch your step as we walk along the sand and wade within the water as they will be crawling at your feet. Experience the excitement of holding one of these ancient creatures as the sun sets over the bay.   Contact Littoral Society Education Director Nicole Haines with any questions: Nicole.Haines@littoralsociety.org. Slade Dale Volunteer Restoration Day Saturday, May 21 10 a.m. - Noon GPS: 2235 Sea Point Drive Point Pleasant, NJ Free, Registration Required   We need your help to fill the cribbings at our Slade Dale marsh restoration project with new branches and Christmas trees.   Located in New Jersey's Point Pleasant Borough, the Sanctuary’s pine-oak forest, hardwood swamp, and salt marsh provide a space of protected wilderness in an otherwise heavily developed coastal area of NJ. The salt marsh at Slade Dale helps protect uplands from flooding during storms. It also provides nursery habitat for fish, and foraging habitat for birds such as osprey, egrets, and bald eagles.   The shoreline has eroded approximately 300 feet since 1930, and almost all low marsh habitat has been lost. Our restoration project began in 2018 with the installation branchbox breakwaters and cribbing that could be packed with recycled trees in order to reduce the force of water flowing through the area and help retain sediment near the shoreline.    Please dress to get muddy and wet. We will have a limited supply of chest waders. We will also supply gloves. Please also bring water and a snack. Chincoteague / Assateague Weekend Thursday - Sunday May 19-22 Chincoteague, VA Cost: $595 person (double occupancy) $150 single supplement   Join the American Littoral Society for a Spring wildlife bonanza weekend along the Delmarva coast. Participants are likely to see nesting Bald Eagles, Osprey, migrating warblers, shorebirds, white and glossy Ibis, Herons, Egrets, Marbled Godwits, Clapper Rails, wild ponies with young of year, Delmarva fox squirrels, sika deer, red fox, and maybe an otter or two.      Cost includes three nights lodging at the lovely Refuge Inn, 3-hour boat tour of island, 2-hour Safari bus tour of backwater marshes, welcome seafood dinner at a local restaurant, evening programs and star watch, plus guided hikes at Chincoteague Refuge and Assateague National Seashore. On the way home we’ll stop at Bombay Hook Refuge to look for avocets, purple martins, bluebirds, and other wildlife.   The Inn has an indoor heated pool, jacuzzi, sauna, exercise room, conference room and sun/star observation deck. Breakfasts at Inn included in price. Chincoteague has great crab cakes, local oysters, fresh seafood, and the famous bumbleberry pie.   What to bring: Clothing for warm and cool weather including jacket (hat, gloves) for the boat ride, shorts/etc. for warm weather (it can be in 70’s), raincoat, binoculars, bathing suit, flashlight – and a sense of humor! Let me know if you need a ride or want riders. Van rental if needed, add $150 per person shared cost.   For more info and reservations call (917) 371-8577 e-mail: don@littoralsociety.org.  FROM OUR DIRECTOR NJ & NY Back Environmental Talk with Funding Committments The governors of New Jersey and New York demonstrated recently that they aren't simply talking about the environment but are willing to make significant financial commitments to address climate change and clean water issues.    With the creation of the Natural Climate Solution Grant Program, New Jersey becomes one of the first states to invest proceeds from Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) auctions into natural resource restoration and enhancement projects.   In keeping with the global theme for this year’s Earth Week (Invest in Our Planet), NJ Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) announced the launch of the Natural Climate Solutions Grant Program, a blue and green carbon grant program that is providing $15 million for projects that create, restore and enhance salt marshes, sea grass beds, forests and urban parks to sequester atmospheric carbon in the fight against climate change.    Almost simultaneously, New York announced new and strengthened protections for wetlands.   Gov. Kathy Hochul released her first Executive Budget, and the biggest wins were for the inclusion of reforms to the Freshwater Wetlands Regulatory Program and a proposal to raise the Environmental Protect Fund to $400 million — which is a $100 million increase from the current appropriation.    "We have long been advocates for protecting and restoring tidal wetlands, as well as restoring the capacity of habitats to sequester carbon in the fight against climate change," said Tim Dillingham, Executive Director of the American Littoral Society.   Read More Littoral Society Director Talks Coastal Conservation at Long Branch Library On April 7, the Long Branch Library's hosted American Littoral Society Executive Director Tim Dillingham for a discussion of coastal conservation projects. The evening was presented by Art for Sea.  MARINE NEWS Learn about the destructive nature of lionfish and their effect on the underwater marine world through a flipbook from Lionfish Divers. Click here to read more JOBS     2022 Summer Internship Opportunities The Littoral Society has two paid, part-time internships available to college students with environmental science, marine science, ecology, education or similar background may apply. Informal and/or formal education teaching experience preferred and a qualified individual must enjoy sharing their enthusiasm for the littoral zone with people from all age groups and walks of life. The internships will require the use of personal vehicle and laptop.   There are two positions available: one for Coastal Education and the other for the Fish Tagging Program.   The Littoral Society offers compensation based upon experience and education and seeks someone who can begin work in mid-May 2022.   Click here for more information on the positions and how to apply. Summer Work Experience in NJ and NY The American Littoral Society is hiring high school and college students to participate in Restoration Corps, a summer work experience.   The R-Corps' mission is to provide training, education, and job skills for the next generation of environmental stewards, working outdoors and hands on in our local communities.   We have two programs, one at our Delaware Bay office (which primarily works in Cumberland County, NJ) and another at our Jamaica Bay office in New York.   This is a summer program which starts in late-May and goes to August. High school students have the option of starting later or joining after school if their schedules allow. Please begin your application via this online form.    Delaware Bay applicants can also send cover letter and resume to: z.nickerson@littoralsociety.org   Jamaica Bay applicants can also send cover letter and resume to: alexandra@littoralsociety.org NORTHEAST CHAPTER NEWS Volunteers Return to Jamaica Bay for Earth Day Cleanup On Sunday, April 24, 2022, the WeLoveU Foundation revisited Jamaica Bay in Queens, NY, in honor of Earth Day. The group partnered with the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge and the American Littoral Society to fulfill Earth Day’s theme, “Invest in Our Planet.” The theme fits WeLoveU’s efforts at Jamaica Bay as the group has been cleaning the bay for more than ten years with longtime partner Don Riepe, Littoral Society Jamaica Bay Guardian.   About 60 volunteers took time out of their day to make a difference. To clean the bay efficiently, they focused on collecting plastic and glass bottles, broken chairs, and other debris along the beach. In total, the WeLoveU volunteers collected 50 bags of trash weighing 1,150 pounds. While cleaning, Assemblywoman Stacey Pheffer Amato stopped by to show her support. She said, “I think that’s what your group is about; I think your kindness matters.”   Click Here to Read More DELAWARE BAY NEWS Delaware Bay Team Celebrates Arbor Day On April 29, the 150th Anniversary of Arbor Day, the Littoral Society's Delaware Bay staff celebrated with 6th and 8th grade students from Indian Ave School by helping take care of some young trees in a riparian buffer and install new plants in the rain gardens on the school campus.   A riparian buffer is an area adjacent to a stream, lake, or wetland that contains a combination of trees, shrubs, and/or other perennial plants. Riparian buffers deliver many benefits including filtering nutrients, pesticides, animal waste, and sediment from runoff before it enters the waterway. They also help to stabilize eroding banks, provide shade, shelter, and food for wildlife.   Click here for more pictures Vineland 4th Graders Plant Rain Gardens Fourth grade students from Anthony Rossi Elementary School in Vineland joined our Delaware Bayshore team for a Spring clean-up and planting in the two rain gardens in front of their school.   Students first learned all about how rain gardens filled with native plants filter stormwater and provide habitat for pollinators and other wildlife. Next, students got their hands dirty removing leaves, weeding, and planting.   Click here for more pictures Shorebird Stewards Needed for NJ's Delaware Bay Beaches During the month of May, shorebirds make an incredible trek from South America to the Canadian Arctic with one critical stop – the Delaware Bay. Shorebirds, including the federally-listed endangered Red Knot, will spend just a few short weeks on bay beaches, where they will feast on horseshoe crab eggs that will give them enough energy to continue their migration.   These remote beaches are not only loved by wildlife, but humans too. Human presence and activity on these beaches can scare the birds, causing them to flee and spend less time foraging and gaining weight.  From May 7 to June 7, several beaches along the New Jersey side of the Delaware Bay will be the focus of efforts to help the birds forage with minimal disturbance. Volunteer stewards will be on hand to explain the importance of giving the resting and feeding birds some space during their stopover, free from dogs, Frisbees and even curious people like us.   Click here to read more EDUCATION NEWS Volunteers Plant Dune Grass on Asbury Park's New Dog Beach Dozens of volunteers came out on Saturday, April 23 to help plant dune grass at the north end of Asbury Park, NJ as part of the Littoral Society's celebration of Earth Month.   The planting will help improve the area on the beach side of the town's recently installed parking area for Bradley Cove and the dog beach. OPERATION OYSTER NEWS Volunteers Needed For Littoral Society Shell Recycling Program Want to get involved with an awesome non-profit organization in order to defend the coast we love and promote the community you live in? Then volunteer with the Littoral Society’s “Shuck It, Don’t Chuck It!” shell recycling program.   Volunteers not only ensure the continuation and success of conservation efforts, but also represent the Society and these efforts, educate and empower others, and help spread the reach of our programs to new audiences.   Volunteers are also advocates for the coast and its inhabitants that can't speak for themselves. The shell recycling program promotes local aquaculture and local small businesses, while also restoring coastal environments and creating habitat for marine organisms.   Volunteer Qualifications Possess a driver's license Have access to a vehicle you're comfortable using to transport shells (in buckets with lids) Be able to lift 25lbs Have good communication skills Be responsible & reliable No prior volunteer or job experience required.   Sign up now to volunteer. Be On the Lookout for the Operation Oyster Truck While it doesn't yet look the part, the Operation Oyster truck has arrived. Soon it will be tricked out with a yellow wrap and program logos, so that it will be recognizable as it helps expand our "Shuck It, Don't Chuck It!" shell recycling efforts to additional restaurants in the Two Rivers Area.   The "Shuck It Don't Chuck It!" Shell Recycling Program is a win-win for oyster lovers, businesses and the bay's waters. It recycles oyster shell from local restaurants and returns to the water where it provides a foundation for new oysters.    Oyster reefs also provide homes for other marine life and protect sensitive shorelines.  Historically, they populated our coastal waters, but pollution, disease and over-harvesting have destroyed these essential creatures of the marine ecosystem. Our program returns the shell to the bays for cleaner water, a healthier environment and more oysters on our plates. The Oyster shell recycling program is supported through grants from the Marta Heflin Foundation and NOAA Fisheries.   Learn more about the Shell Recycling Program and Participating Restaurants  RESTORATION PROGRAM NEWS Slade Dale Restoration Project Gets Spruced Up with Recycled Christmas Trees Volunteers and Littoral Society staff came together on Saturday, April 23 to do routine maintenance on the restoration project at Slade Dale Nature Sanctuary in Point Pleasant, NJ by adding recycled Christmas trees to the existing branchbox breakwaters. If you missed this opportunity but would still like to lend a hand, we will be adding around 200 more trees to three other breakwaters this year, and are currently coordinating with Point Pleasant and Lacey Township for tree delivery. The next Slade Dale volunteer day is set for Saturday, May 21 from 10 a.m. to Noon. Click here for more information. On future work days we will also add coir logs and do some plantings along the shoreline. Later this year, a community science monitoring program will be launched.   Read More Introducing Toni Rose Explores the Delaware Bayshore Hello everyone! It’s Toni Rose and I am the American Littoral Society’s new Habitat Restoration Technician for the Delaware Bayshore. I thought it might be fun to share my adventures with you as I explore the Bayshore and learn more about the area, so here it goes. To start off with a little bit about me – even at a young age, growing up in North Jersey, I always knew I wanted to pursue a profession that would get me closer to the coast and experience more of New Jersey’s environment and wildlife. So, I went to Rutgers and got a degree in Marine Science. Shortly after graduating, I started working for New Logic Marine Science Camp and later as a fisheries technician for the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection while interning for the Marine Mammal Stranding Center in Brigantine, NJ. These awesome experiences have led me to my new adventure: joining the American Littoral Society to rebuild habitats for horseshoe crabs and shorebirds and help educate the community. I plan to make this a recurring segment on our blog, so follow me as I start this new position and write about what I’m up to!   Read More FISH TAGGING PROGRAM NEWS The Tagger Spotlight is Lou Bleiler! Check out his tagging stats! If you’re interested in being our next Spotlight, please let us know!   Click here to learn more about the Littoral Society Fish Tagging Program. SANDY HOOK NEWS Local Brewer Makes Oyster Beer to Benefit Littoral Society John Ross Cocozza of Ross Brewing is making Oystout, a beer made with oysters, with part of the proceeds to go to the American Littoral Society, which is trying to reintroduce oysters to the Sandy Hook bayshore's waters.    "Through generations of farming and all of us enjoying the oysters, those have really been brought down. Their project, restoring oyster beds -- we knew we had to get involved." SAVE THE DATE Save the Date for Members Day Please join us for the annual Members Day celebration, Annual Meeting, and Board of Trustees election on Sandy Hook on Saturday, June 25!   Members Day is a members-only event, please make sure your membership is up to date in order to attend! If you’re not sure of your membership status, please email info@littoralsociety.org and we will let you know. Click here if you know you need to renew or would like to become a member.   If you are a current member, you will receive an email with a link to register online. You will also receive a notice in the mail that will include a ballot for you to vote in the annual Board of Trustees election. Jamaica Bay Horseshoe Crab festival Saturday, June 4 (rain date Sunday June 5) 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center 175-10 Cross Bay Blvd Queens, NY Free, Donation Appreciated   Meet at the refuge visitor center for a special event – the annual Horseshoe Crab mating ritual. We’ll visit the shoreline at the American Ballfield beach (W. 22nd Street) and get to meet the ancient crabs in person. Kids welcome.   This is a partnership program with NYC Audubon, the National Park Service, Jamaica Bay-Rockaway Parks Conservancy, and the American Littoral Society. For more info contact: don@littoralsociety.org.  Women Only! Surf Fishing Clinic DATE CHANGE: Sunday, June 5 8 a.m. - 1 pm Meet at Littoral Society Headquarters GPS: 18 Hartshorne Drive Highlands NJ $30 Members $75 Non-members Registration Required   Do you want to learn to fish with a group of like-minded rockstar women?! Join Emily McGuckin, Fish-Tagging Director for the Littoral Society, for a day of surf fishing and instruction on the beach. She'll cover the basics of casting, knot tying, lure/bait selection, and “reading” a beach.   All skill levels are welcomed. Rods, reels and tackle will be provided, but bring your own if you have it. Children under 18 are welcome with a supervising adult. Coffee and doughnuts will be provided for the early morning gathering but please bring your lunch.   For more information contact emily.mcguckin@littoralsociety.org. Volunteer Event - Remove Invasive Plants Wednesday, June 8 1 - 3 p.m. Giampietro Park 3231 E. Landis Avenue Vineland, NJ Free, Register Now   Join us to help us remove invasive vines from the riparian buffer, an area of young trees planted along the edge of the neighboring stream that filters stormwater runoff. Without proper maintenance and control, these vines can have devastating impacts on our native trees and shrubs!   Participants will also meet macro-invertebrates up close! These tiny insects live in the stream and help us monitor stream health. Two Rivers Eco-fest Saturday, June 4 9 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Victory Park 1 Lafayette Street Rumson, NJ Free, More Info    Join the Littoral Society at the Two Rivers Eco-fest. Hosted by Clean Ocean Action and the Rumson Environmental Commission, this free, family-friendly event is an environmental celebration of the Navesink and Shrewsbury Rivers.   Fun and engaging activities at the Eco-Fest, provided by Rally for the Two Rivers partners, include seining, eco-friendly crafts, hands-on educational demonstrations, face painting, music, and more! Participate in as many activities as possible to complete the Passport Challenge and unlock special rewards from local businesses, including free treats and big discounts! Volunteer Event - Remove Invasive Plants Wednesday, June 8 1 - 3 p.m. Giampietro Park 3231 E. Landis Avenue Vineland, NJ Free, Register Now   Join us to help us remove invasive vines from the riparian buffer, an area of young trees planted along the edge of the neighboring stream that filters stormwater runoff. Without proper maintenance and control, these vines can have devastating impacts on our native trees and shrubs!   Participants will also meet macro-invertebrates up close! These tiny insects live in the stream and help us monitor stream health. Littoral Society in the News NJ Oysters And Beer, Perfect Together? Brewer Thinks So Ross Brewing's Oystout, brewed with oysters, supports the American Littoral Society's oyster restoration. No, it doesn't taste like oysters.   MIDDLETOWN, NJ — In John Ross Coccozza's world, water is central to much of what he does. He and his family live on the Shrewsbury River and love to spend time swimming, boating and sailing.   Water also is critical to his hobby-turned-business of brewing beer, as the main ingredient needed to produce each brew. So it only seemed natural for his company, Ross Brewing, to collaborate with the American Littoral Society to support Operation Oyster, the society's efforts to rebuild oyster reefs in the Navesink and Shrewsbury rivers.   The idea arose at an event at Sandy Hook, when he mentioned to a couple of Littoral Society staff members that he was planning to open a brewery.   "We like craft beer," they told him. As they talked about the oyster restoration project, he realized he wanted to be involved.   Click here to read more at Patch Clean Water, Healthy Families, Good Jobs Commissioner LaTourette’s Testimony to the Senate Budget Committee Trenton, NJ – The Clean Water, Healthy Families, Good Jobs Campaign released the following statement on DEP Commissioner Shawn LaTourette’s testimony to the Senate Budget Committee.   “DEP Commissioner LaTourette testified yesterday to New Jersey’s significant water infrastructure needs–$30 billion in total–in front of the Senate Budget Committee. We thank the Commissioner for his eyes-wide-open assessment of New Jersey’s total need and agree that sustained investment is needed.   We also applaud Commissioner LaTourette for recognizing that funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law isn’t enough. We, in the Commissioner’s words, “have an overwhelming need” when it comes to drinking water infrastructure. Clearly recognizing New Jersey’s water infrastructure needs is a crucial first step.   Looking at the next five years, New Jersey is facing a $6 billion clean water funding gap. That’s why we’re calling on Governor Murphy and the State Legislature to use $1.2 billion from remaining American Rescue Plan funds to expand water infrastructure funding.    Click here to read more at Insider NJ Members of the Clean Water, Healthy Families, Good Jobs Campaign call for expanded water infrastructure funding during Senate budget hearing Trenton, NJ – Members of the Clean Water, Healthy Families, Good Jobs Campaign testified in front of the Senate Budget Committee urging the State Legislature and the Murphy Administration to prioritize expanded investment in water infrastructure using remaining American Rescue Plan funds.   Tim Dillingham of the American Littoral Society highlighted the broad-based coalition that is a part of the Clean Water, Healthy Families, Good Jobs Campaign. “The Clean Water, Healthy Families, Good Jobs campaign includes labor, environmental organizations and business groups, all calling for expanding investment in water infrastructure. So, I think it’s a really strong indicator of the rightness of an issue when all these different sectors come together around a common agenda. Clean water is crucial in New Jersey’s economy, its health and its quality of life.” Dillingham went on, “We’d like to urge the legislature to prioritize the funding for the remediation of combined sewer overflows and flooding in environmental justice communities, particularly along the Delaware–cities such as Camden, Gloucester City and Trenton. Making these investments has the benefit of good jobs, contributing to the economy and making New Jersey healthier.”   Click here to read more at Insider NJ JOIN US   Membership, Renew or Join Today! Your loyalty and support enable us to continue to protect and care for the coast. Your membership supports marine science education programs for thousands of students, protecting and restoring marine life and habitat, and our efforts to defend the coast from harm. You are vitally important to this work; coastal conservation is a group effort. Your membership in the Society adds your voice to many others in support of marine life and the coast. Seniors can join or renew for $30, and Individuals for $40, or Families for $50. Click here to join, renew or give the gift of membership   Show Your Support with Littoral Society Gear There are more ways than ever to show your support for the American Littoral Society. Now available at the Society online store are short-sleeve t-shirts in multiple designs/colors, as well as long-sleeve t's and baseball caps with the Society's name and/or logo. The long-sleeve shirts have the definition of littoral on the back. The baseball caps are focused on the Society's Fish Tagging Program and feature a tagged black seabass. Purchase proceeds cover the cost of the item and contribute to the Society's operating budget. Click here to find Littoral Society wearable gear in the online store.   More Littoral Merch Available at Bonfire You can support the Littoral Society by purchasing our official merchandise through our store on Bonfire.com. All proceeds support coastal conservation! In addition to shirts in a variety of designs, our Bonfire merchandise now includes Coastal Canine Doggie Tees, a beach tote, and a women's racerback style bearing the Knots for Crabs design.   Bonfire is a free online platform where anyone can design, sell, and buy custom products. We handle payment processing, order fulfillment, and customer service so you can focus on connecting with your community. Find our swag at: https://www.bonfire.com/store/american-littoral-society/ Remember the Coast Make sure that our coast remains a home  for the coastal wildlife you love. A bequest to the American Littoral Society is a generous and straightforward way to care for the coast. This can be expressed in a will as simply as, “I bequeath [a sum of money, a percentage of my estate, or an IRA, life insurance policy, or investment/bank account] to the American Littoral Society, 18 Hartshorne Drive, Suite 1, Highlands, NJ 07732.”   Consult with your attorney to determine what is best for your situation.   To learn more about planning a gift for the Society, contact Director of Development Lindsay McNamara at 732-291-0055 or info@littoralsociety.com.  Other Ways to Support the Society Your membership donation helps the Society reach its fundraising goals to keep our coast safe and healthy. It also helps our staff create new and exciting ways to connect you with the coast even if we can't be there physically together. If you would like to go above and beyond membership, please explore these other ways you can help the Littoral Society continue to care for the coast. Tribute Gifts Donor Advised Fund Planned Giving Corporate Matching Gifts AmazonSmile Facebook/Instagram Fundraisers Official Merchandise from Bonfire Our Contact Information *{{Organization Name}}* *{{Organization Address}}* *{{Organization Phone}}* *{{Organization Website}}* *{{Unsubscribe}}*

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