 (RAHWAY) – New
Jersey Secretary of Agriculture Charles
M. Kuperus and Department of Environmental
Protection Commissioner Bradley M. Campbell
joined Rahway Mayor James Kennedy and
others at the Grover Cleveland Elementary
School at noon on Thursday, April 28,
to commemorate Arbor Day with the planting
of trees that are resistant to the Asian
longhorned beetle (ALB). Arbor Day is
officially on Friday, April 29.
Secretary Kuperus spoke about the importance of cooperation among public and
private partners in the fight against the beetle, giving special mention to Public
Service Electric and Gas (PSE&G) for their help with trees around power lines
and Covanta Union, the company running the Rahway incinerator, for their help
in burning wood chips from trees cut down due to ALB infestation.
“The surest way for us to eradicate the Asian longhorned beetle is to work
cooperatively,” said Secretary Kuperus. “Mayor Kennedy and the officials
of Rahway are a great example of that spirit of cooperation. The section of their
city’s web site dealing with the ALB is packed with information, and they
have been very helpful as the contractors have moved through the city to remove
trees. In addition, private-sector partners like PSE&G and Covanta Union
have shown great public-mindedness in going out of their way to help this eradication
effort.”
 “We are very fortunate to have
formed a great partnership with the city of Rahway and the State and US Departments
of Agriculture to act swiftly in eradicating this invasive insect,” said
Commissioner Campbell. “As we begin to reforest these cities, we look forward
to working with the residents and for their support in ensuring the survival
and longevity of these new trees.”
Students from the Cleveland School planted trees that are not susceptible to
the Asian longhorned beetle. The trees were donated by the New Jersey Landscape
Contractors Association, which was represented at the event by Jason Sponzilli,
Joe Morrison, Don Anderson and the group’s president, Brian Phiefer. An
infestation of the beetle was discovered in Rahway, Linden, Woodbridge and Carteret
in 2004. Because of that, 8,600 trees either infested or at high risk of being
infested with the beetle are being removed from the four towns and will be replaced
with varieties that do not attract the beetle.
 Secretary Kuperus also acknowledged two people who were instrumental
in finding the infestation, saving months or even years worth of further damage
by the beetle. Don Base of Carteret was the first person to contact the NJDA
about a beetle on a tree in his yard. Several days later, Joan Karaczkiewicz
of Carteret saw a television report about the beetle and called to alert the
NJDA about a large infestation of beetles on the Rahway-Carteret border.
“It is incredibly important, especially as we head into the warmer months,
that we have people like Don and Joan keeping an eye out for this invasive pest,” said
Secretary Kuperus. “Anyone who even suspects that an insect they’re
seeing might possibly be the Asian longhorned beetle should call 1-866-BEETLE-1
and report what they’ve seen. We take every one of these sightings very
seriously.”
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