Keep Your Tree from Becoming a Fire Hazard

Without proper care, a Christmas tree can turn into the perfect kindling. Borough and township fire chiefs offer tips to stay safe.

Fire safety is important all year long, but during the holidays, a dry tree, lights or other decorations can become a real fire danger. Jim Pignatello, Jr., the chief of the Chatham Township Fire Department, said, "A real tree can pose a fire hazard if not properly placed or cared for. Each year, more than 400 residential fires involve Christmas trees, and approximately 40 people die and 100 people are injured nationwide from these fires." Pignatello offered the following tips to residents to keep your family's Christmas trees from going up in flames: With a dry tree, just using the wrong set of lights can make a difference in staying safe. Here are some safety tips when it comes to your Christmas lights: The U.S. Fire Administration has …

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Where to Pick Up a Christmas Tree

Look for the perfect fir for your living room at one of these locations, and suggest your own favorite places to pick up a Christmas tree.

With Florham Park's Christmas Tree lighting only hours away, area families may start wondering: Where can we get our own Christmas tree this year? Several civic organizations in Florham Park, East Hanover, Madison and Chatham sell Christmas trees each year as fundraisers. The Florham Park Jaycees, for example, have their Christmas tree sale on now on Ridgedale Avenue, in the parking lot of the Chase Bank. Dave Forbes, the head of the Florham Park Jaycees, said, "The proceeds go towards scholarships for local high school seniors and to help local organizations," such as youth sports in the borough. In Chatham also the Jaycees open up their Christmas tree stand each year at the corner of Main Street and Brooklake Road. Funds go toward the …

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Chatham Disposal to Collect Township Trees

Residents should have their trees on the curb by Saturday morning.

Chatham Township residents don't have to cart their Christmas trees down to the Tanglewood Recycling Center. Chatham Township will collect Christmas trees left at the curb from township residences on Saturday. Township residents also recently started single-stream recycling through the Morris County Municipal Utilities Authority (MUA). Glass, paper, cans and plastics Nos. 1 through 7, except for 3 and 6, may be placed in the same container for recycling. The MUA requires all items to be loose (so don't tie those newspapers together anymore.) Also, cardboard boxes must be flattened. The MUA collects recycling every other Friday, except for the Friday after Thanksgiving. Recycling and mulch materials, including Christmas trees, can also be …

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Chatham Township Environmental Commission

10:30 am on Friday, January 13, 2012

Hello from the Chatham Township Environmental Commission ( ctec@chathamtownship.org ) We will contact Chatham Patch about this, and copy the Chat Twp Recycling Coordinator, but in the meantime please note: Yes, Ken D is correct -- Chatham TOWNSHIP is NOT every Friday. The Twp contracted with "MCMUA Recycling" to do curbside recycling pick up approx* every other Friday (we list the dates at the …   more ›

A Chathamite's Guide to Recycling in 2012

From trees to computers, how to dispose of your recyclables.

The holidays generate a lot of recyclables. This includes wrapping paper from gifts, boxes and bottles—not to mention the Christmas tree. Here are some tips on how to dispose of your recyclables after the latest holiday season. Recycling In Chatham Township Township residents now have single-stream recycling available, thanks to the Morris County Municipal Utilities Authority (MUA). Paper, plastics Nos. 1 through 7, except for 3 and 6, glass and cans may be placed in the same container, and the MUA requires all items to be loose (so don't tie those newspapers together anymore.) Also, cardboard boxes must be flattened. Place your recycling on the curb by 6 a.m. every other Friday, excluding the Friday after Thanksgiving, to be included in …

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Parents Talk Q&A

Where Do You Find The Best Christmas Trees?

Whether looking for a Charlie Brown- or a Rockefeller Center-caliber tree, there are many options.

On Wednesday evening, the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree will be lit in New York City, ringing in the beginning of holiday season celebrations across the country. So where will your family be getting your tree? Every year Chatham and Madison families set out on a journey to find the "right" Christmas tree. Are you a family that likes a tall, perfectly symetrical tree or do you prefer a more rustic tree with its own special character? Which variety should you choose? A Norway Spruce like the traditional Rockefeller Tree or a popular Fraser Fir? With the bulb at the bottom to replant in your yard at a later date or fresh cut? Do you like to head out into the fields and chop down your own tree or do you prefer to pick it out and have …

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Colleen Bohensky

8:25 pm on Wednesday, November 30, 2011

I'm afraid we're absolutely no help with this... we're an artificial tree kinda family.   more ›

Borough Denied Bonfire Permit

Christmas trees in the borough will be disposed of in a chipper instead of the traditional bonfire.

There will be no Christmas tree bonfire this year, or likely ever again, according to Borough Mayor Nelson Vaughan. The governor’s office confirmed to Vaughan that New Jersey Forest Fire Service Division will not give the borough a permit for the traditional bonfire, which in past years has been held to destroy Christmas trees. “Permits for these things have been extremely difficult to get since they had some trouble in Vineland a couple of years ago,” Vaughan said. A Vineland High School pep rally bonfire that utilized accelerants in November 2009. One fireman sustained minor injuries when putting out the fire. The Chatham Borough Volunteer Fire Department will not collect the trees. Instead, the Department of Public Works will collect …

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R. Swanson

1:10 pm on Monday, January 10, 2011

Another example of interference from big brother government, telling us what's in our best interest. Our lives are driven by permits nowadays. Ridiculous.   more ›