Did you know that animal waste from pets can pollute our waters? When left on the ground, pet waste is washed by rain into storm drains that carry it to our rivers, lakes, and drinking water.

Animal waste contains a high concentration of nutrients as well as bacteria and disease-causing microorganisms that can cause problems.

WHAT YOU CAN DO
Anyone who takes pets for walks must properly dispose of the waste by picking it up, wrapping it, and either placing it in the trash or flushing it (unwrapped) down the toilet. Mendham Borough enforces pet-waste laws. Anyone walking a pet must immediately and properly dispose of the pet's solid waste deposited on any public or private property not owned by that person. People with assistance animals, such as Seeing Eye dogs, are exempt.

For more information, contact the NJ Department of Environmental Protection, Division of Water Quality, Bureau of Nonpoint Pollution Control, Municipal Stormwater Regulation Program, at (609) 633-7021, OR visit one of these Web sites:
www. njstormwater.org OR
www.nonpointsource.org OR
www.epa.gov/npdes/stormwater OR
www.epa.gov/nps

The Borough Garage on Ironia Road is again open for disposal of residential vegetation. Mendham Borough residents may drop off leaves, grass clippings, and brush at the Garage, on Saturday mornings. This year, in response to residents' requests, the hours for drop-off have been expanded to 8:OOAM-3:OOPM. Please note, professional landscapers are prohibited from using this facility. Borough residents should be prepared to show proof of residency.

Have a little bit of leftover paint, pesticide, or other chemicals that you'd just as soon get rid of? Unsure about how to handle them? Fortunately, there is an easy solution. The Morris County MUA holds a series of Household Hazardous Waste Drop-Off Events to give residents a convenient way to dispose of hazardous materials in an environmentally safe way. The next Drop-Off will be held on Saturday, June 18th, from 9:OOAM-2:OOPM, at the Morris County Fire Fighters & Police Training Academy, in Parsippany. Materials accepted include:
Computers/Monitors, Televisions, Printers, Scanners, Phones, Fax Machines ($3/item, or $5/computer & monitor);
Computer Peripherals (mouse, drive, keyboard, etc-free)
Aerosol Cans (not empty);
Asbestos—in Small Quantities;
Automotive fluids: Antifreeze, Motor Oil, Gasoline, Transmission, Steering, Brake Fluids; Batteries,
Household or Automotive;
Fluorescent Light Bulbs & Ballasts; Household Cleaning Products; Mercury Devices; Non-Latex-based Driveway Sealer / Roofing Tar; Oil-based paints, stains, varnishes, thinners; Pesticides and Herbicides; Pool and Darkroom Chemicals; Propane & Helium Cylinders (up to BBQ-size).

In addition to the Drop-Off Days, the MUA operates a permanent Household Hazardous Waste Facility in Mount Olive Township, which is open year-round by appointment only. To make an appointment, phone 973-829-8006. For more information, see the MUA Web site:www.MCMUA.com

The Morris County Municipal Utilities Authority (MUA) and Pedals For Progress will hold a bicycle collection on Saturday, June 11th, from 9:OOAM-12:OOPM, in Parking Lot #1 of the County College of Morris, on Center Grove Road, in Randolph. The non-profit organization Pedals for Progress (P4P) collects the many used bicycles that have been gathering dust in garages and basements, repairs them as necessary, and ships them to partner charities in developing countries, where millions of people have no transportation other than their feet.

In addition to bicycles, P4P welcomes donations of bike helmets; baseball bats, mitts, and balls; soccer balls; cleats, and sewing machines in working order. To defray shipping costs, a tax-deductible $ 10 donation is required for each bicycle donated (but not for other items).

For more information about the collection, see the MUA Web site, at www.mcmua.com. For information about Pedals for Progress, see their Web site, at www.p4p.org

An art show to benefit Family Service of Morris County will be held at St. Mark's Episcopal Church, 9 E. Main Street, on Saturday, June 4th, and Sunday, June 5th. The hours are Saturday 10:OOAM-5:OOPM, and Sunday 11:OOAM-5:OOPM. Oils and acrylics, watercolors, mixed media: sculpture and photography by area artists will be for sale in St. Mark's parish hall. The judged art show has two divisions: judged and small-price sale. The small-price division includes unframed, matted portfolio pieces, many of which feature local scenes.

The Family Service of Morris County has operated in the county for 192 years. Today, Family Service serves more than 5,000 children, families, seniors and individuals through more than 20 programs. Proceeds from the art show will specifically be used to fund a therapeutic arts program at Daytop, in Mendham, a treatment facility for adolescents with drug or alcohol problems.

St. Mark's Country Art Show has been a popular tradition in Mendham for more than 30 years. For more information, phone 973-543-4471.

The Mendham Garden Club would like to thank everybody who supported our Annual Plant Sale. Whether you donated perennials from your garden to be sold or purchased plants for your garden, your contribution is very much appreciated. As President of the Mendham Garden Club, I would like to say "thank you" to all our members who diligently worked for weeks to make our sale a success. The proceeds of this year's sale will help us with the restoration of the Phoenix House garden. Projects like our Annual Plant Sale are just one of the many ways our Garden Club works together to serve our community.

Over the summer months we will meet weekly to maintain the Oak Tree Triangle and Phoenix House gardens. New members ware always welcome. For further information about the Mendham Garden Club, please telephone 973-543-3445.

The Mendham Messenger is a well-read, publication that supports community organizations and community connections'. Are you willing to help support this publication?

While we do receive some funding from the Borough of Mendham ($7000.), that amount pays for official news from governmental offices. The community news we publish is paid for by advertisements, which are our lifeblood. Although there has been a small increase in advertising, lately, it is barely enough to cover the cost of providing the ever increased number of notices from community groups. We're delighted that so many local organizations have found their way to our pages. Now we're trying to connect with the business community.

Each month, The Mendham Messenger reaches every household in Mendham Borough. Advertising rates are pennies per household per month. If you would like to take advantage of this cost-effective advertising outlet, please contact us today. In addition to reaching our to potential customers, you'll be sending the message that your business supports community news and events in Mendham Borough.

Full contact information is included with our deadline reminder, on the back page. We look forward to helping you grow your business as we work together to support community news in Mendham.

In recognition of National Hunger Awareness Day, on June 7th, Kings Super Markets in Morris County, will collaborate with the Interfaith Food Pantry to fight hunger in Morris County.

From June 5th-18th, Kings Super Markets customers will be able to purchase paper "Pantry Apples" at each checkout counter. The $ 1 red or $5 golden "Pantry Apples", which are being provided by Refined Sight in New York City, will be posted throughout the store with the customer's name on the front. The goal is to educate the public on hunger issues in Morris County, to raise funds, to raise awareness about the Interfaith Food Pantry, and to provide a means for neighbors to help neighbors. The Interfaith Food Pantry has provided groceries to Morris County families in need since 1994. Clients are primarily low-income working families and senior citizens living on fixed incomes. For more information, visit the Interfaith Food Pantry website at www.mcifp.org. To help or apply for assistance, call 973-538-8049 or e-mail foodpantry@optonline.net

The Mendhams' Senior Citizens club meets on the second and fourth Mondays of each month, at 11 :OOAM, in the Garabrandt Center. Each month's meeting offers members a chance to visit and enjoy their own bag lunches (beverages and desserts are provided), as they observe informative and informational programs on a wide variety of topics. In addition to the monthly gatherings, the club sponsors a number of day-long and multi-day trips.

Membership in the club is open to Mendham Borough or Township residents over age 55. Annual dues are $12. (Bus transportation for day trips is subsidized by the local governments.)

The next trip planned will be: THURSDAY, AUGUST 4™, CIA Travel to Hyde Park, NY, for a tour of the Culinary Institute of America, and enjoy a wonderfully prepared meal in the American Bounty Restaurant. The lunch will consist of Wisconsin cheddar and beer soup, stuffed flank steak, noodles, seasonal vegetables, and pineapple upside-down cake with pineapple sorbet and coconut & guava sauce.

The cost is $40/members, $45/non-members. The bus will leave from the parking lot behind the King's Market/Chinese Restaurant, at 9:30AM, and return at 5:30-6:OOPM. The last day for sign-up and payment in full is July 12th.

All trips are offered on a first-come basis; members are given priority. For more information, or registration, please phone Trip Planner, Anne Schmidt, at 543-4787.