Mascots Race, ‘Tree-Hugger Award’ Given at County’s Earth Day

SWAINTON — Cape May County’s Earth Day 2011 got a running start Sat., May 7 when a 5K race began at 9 a.m.
At 10 a.m., Zoo veterinarian Dr. Hubert Paluch and Park Director Mike Laffey raised the flag and county employee Mark Huff sang the national anthem to begin the official part of the day-long event.
Awards were presented to runners by Freeholder Director Daniel Beyel and Barbara Cresse, new president of Middle Township Taxpayers Association.
Something new to the festivities took place as a lineup of furry mascots raced. They included Mr. O. Edification, a tall polar bear representative Upper Township, Lucille the seal representing Marine Mammal Stranding Center, Zoobie, the County Park Zoo’s lion, Canny, the county MUA’s personable recycling can, Eddie the Eagle and McGruff the Crime-Fighting Dog from the County Sheriff’s Department.
Bridgette O’Connor, a county Municipal Utilities Authority quarter-century employee, was honored for her tireless recycling efforts by John Baron, deputy MUA director. Her gift was a hand-crafted tree-hugging doll and a hand-painted rain barrel by co-worker Lynn Crumbock.
O’Connor joined the MUA in 1986 and has attended each Earth Day event since 1990. She has worked to promote recycling through a wide variety of programs and contests.
Throughout the day, many youngsters were fascinated by Andi Fellows, zoo educator, who showed off Unami the corn snake.
The Middle Township Council on the Arts encouraged children to participate in an recycling effort by tying empty plastic bottle onto a huge bug-like creature that will appear in parades and other events.
Ginna Fellows, a zoo volunteer walked about the tents and grounds with Sheila, the zoo’s bearded dragon.