For several years, the Fanwood-Scotch Plains Rotary Club has raised money to buy and fill backpacks with necessities for the more than 6,500 homeless veterans in New Jersey through Operation Chillout. Each fall members of the FSP Rotary seek donations to purchase the backpacks and the items to fill them. The backpacks contain thermal underwear, hoodies, gloves, […]

A proud local veteran who was homeless in the final years of his life was laid to rest in a poignant military funeral. Army Private Walter Anthony Ledford died of liver cancer on September 29 in hospice care at Charles George VA Medical Center. Sadly, he didn’t have the luxury of loved ones by his […]

Air pollution—largely caused by the burning of fossil fuels—has been shown to cause heart and lung damage, asthma, and even increased rates of depression in kids. And, on a slightly more vain but nevertheless concerning note, it’s messing with our complexion. The pollution-skin connection. Chemicals in dirty air—organic compounds like polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) and […]

While everyone was distracted by Kanye West spouting inanities in the Oval Office, some actual work was done in the White House yesterday. Two senators showed up for the signing of a bill that garnered unanimous support in the Congress to clean up plastic pollution in the oceans. Our seas are, of course littered with […]

It is hard to believe, but it’s almost that time of year again when sugar-hyped witches, ghosts, superheroes and princesses will be ringing your doorbell and asking for candy. Halloween is a fun holiday for many of us, but the celebration can easily become expensive and far from eco-friendly, thanks to the decorations, candy and […]

Over 200 homeless veterans were able to eat hot meals, get free clothes and receive expert advice Saturday at Operation Stand Down. Operation Stand Down happens twice a year, and about 100 more veterans came out to this event than the one held last October. It continues to grow with help from plenty of volunteers. […]

Homeless veterans enjoyed a day of relief thanks to the generosity of some community members. For years, Stand Down Wisconsin has brought community-based intervention programming to homeless veterans across the country with the goal of helping them rebuild their lives and on Saturday, their program was featured in Madison. It was war Veteran Wayne D. […]

As consumers become more wary of the chemicals they’re putting into their bodies, more and more research is coming out about the potential health risks of plastic and plastic alternatives. Here, Jay Sinha and Chantal Plamondon, the couple behind the eco-friendly consumer goods marketplace Life Without Plastic, dive into the pros and cons of a common one: […]

Between the chemical-packed face-paint makeup, mass-produced polyester costumes, and jumbo-size bags of refined-sugar and gelatin-filled candy, Halloween can be a tough time for those of us trying to maintain a clean, green routine. Here are some tips to keep you from straying from your conscious values this holiday: 1. Step away from the Halloween superstore. […]

Homeless veterans were able to take advantage of different resources at the Department of Veterans Affairs’ annual Stand Down on Friday. The event, held at the VA’s Uptown location, is aimed to help these veterans by bringing together various agencies and community partners to provide services to them. Mary Cunningham, the agency’s health care for […]