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Raritan Valley Community College is joining with Somerset County Business Partnership's (SCBP) Sustainable Somerset Committee and NJ Higher Education Partnership for Sustainability to present a series of events celebrating Earth Week, April 16-23. The public is invited to attend the following events, at no charge, at the College’s Branchburg campus:

"The Evolution of a Local Organic Farm," Monday, April 16, 11:30 a.m.-12:50 p.m., Whitman Science Center (Lecture Hall 100-101): Jon Knox, co-owner of Dogwood Farms in Hillsborough, will speak about his five-year-old farm, including how it was incubated by Duke Farms, its organic certification process, its use of rotational grazing, and its community-supported agriculture program. The event is co-sponsored by the SCBP’s Sustainable Somerset Committee and RVCC’s Environmental Sustainability Committee.

"Green Jobs Panel,” Tuesday April 17, 1-2:20 p.m., Conference Center (Room C): Local professionals will describe their organizations and career paths in their fields and give advice for those seeking environment-related jobs. The event is co-sponsored by the SCBP’s Sustainable Somerset Committee and the Environmental Sustainability Committee. Lunch will be provided. Speakers will include:

• Ky Asral, Manager, Operations and Coordination, NJ Department of Environmental Protection Air Quality, Energy, & Sustainability
• Bill Kibler, Director of Policy, Raritan Headwaters Association
• Walter Lane, Director, Planning Division, Somerset County
• Jon Wagar, Deputy Executive Director, Duke Farms Foundation
• Victoria Zelin, Director of Development, Possible Planet

“Sustainable Food Conference,” Friday, April 20, 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m., Conference Center: Experts from Duke Farms, Profeta Farms, Farmers Against Hunger, US Environmental Protection Agency, Rutgers and RVCC will offer information about such topics as food security, food waste and agro-ecology. Various organizations and businesses, including NJ Department of Environmental Protection, Whole Foods, America's Grow-a-Row, FOR Solutions, LocalShare and Citizens' Climate Lobby, will display their information at exhibition tables. The conference is co-sponsored by the NJ Higher Education Partnership for Sustainability and the Environmental Sustainability Committee. Those interested in attending the conference, which includes lunch, should register online at http://www.raritanval.edu/foodconf.

“RVCC Sustainability Student Intern Projects,” Monday, April 23, 11:30 a.m.-12:50 p.m., Science Center Lecture Hall: RVCC hires environmentally minded students each year to work as campus sustainability interns. The interns apply what they have learned in their classes to make RVCC a more sustainable and environmentally friendly campus. During the event, the interns will present some of the campus sustainability projects they have designed and implemented over the past two years. Learn how intern Deidre Supple boosted campus recycling and intern Abi Schmid investigated a ridesharing app for RVCC students. The event is co-sponsored by the SCBP’s Sustainable Somerset Committee and the Environmental Sustainability Committee.

For additional information about RVCC’s Earth Week events, contact Sustainability & Energy Coordinator Sue Dorward at susan.dorward@raritanval.edu or 908-526-1200, ext. 8612.

The Somerset County Business Partnership creates vibrant connections as Central Jersey's regional Chamber of Commerce.

NJ Higher Education Partnership for Sustainability challenges the higher education community to practice sustainability and contribute to the state, region and world’s emerging understanding of sustainability.

Raritan Valley Community College’s main campus is located at 118 Lamington Road in Branchburg, NJ. Serving Somerset and Hunterdon County residents for close to 50 years, RVCC is an educational and cultural center that is nationally recognized for its innovative programming, service to the community and environmental leadership. The College offers more than 90 associate degrees and certificates, as well as career training, professional development, and adult and youth personal enrichment courses. The College also has a performing arts center and planetarium. RVCC is committed to offering a quality and affordable education through effective teaching, liaisons with the community’s businesses, and state-of-the-art technology. For further information, visit www.raritanval.edu.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 3, 2018

Media contact: Donna Stolzer, 908-526-1200, ext. 8383

PR #127