BARNEGAT – The local streets have a new generation of champions – and they’re some very important people. Forget seasoned environmentalists or veteran community leaders – thinking green starts early in Barnegat.
The future of Barnegat’s cleanliness rests on the energetic shoulders of Lexi O’Halloran, Ava Redline, and Julia McHale – three high school freshmen making a big impact.
The three are all Barnegat residents and take great pride in the concept of keeping Barnegat’s environment clean and green. Lexi and Ava are freshmen at MATES (Marine Academy of Technology and Environmental Science), while Julia is a freshman at Barnegat High School.
The Adopt a Street program became a reality in 2019, not with a grant proposal or a hefty budget, but with a simple idea and two passionate students – Nora Hansen and Jenna Marcy.
Back then, Nora and Jenna were incoming Barnegat High School freshmen themselves. Along with their advisor Michele Cucinotta, the two approached the Township Committee with a bold proposition for a program that would empower Barnegat residents to become active participants in keeping their streets clean.
Their vision? A community united in a shared responsibility for the environment. The idea resonated, and with Sklar Dasti joining the leadership team, the “Adopt a Street” program was born.
Fast forward to 2024, and the program is thriving. The baton has been passed to a new generation of leaders, and Lexi, Ava, and Julia are determined to not only maintain the momentum but also take it to the next level. Their dedication was evident at the November Township Committee meeting, where they introduced themselves and received the committee’s full support, just as their predecessors had.
Cucinotta has remained as an advisor to the program despite her recent resignation from Barnegat Schools.
The originators of the program have since graduated from Barnegat High School. However, Nora and her mother, Wendy were both present to support the townwide cleanup for the 2024 event.
“We were thrilled to see a turnout of 24 enthusiastic participants, including both a Girl Scout and Boy Scout club, who worked hard to help us with our cause,” said Lexi. “Together, we collected an impressive total of 25 bags of litter and cleaned over 30 streets.”
Rather than restrict their community involvement to just clean up events, the new leaders have decided to further engage with the community through various other initiatives.
“For instance, we had the pleasure of attending Dunfee School’s Polar Express event this past December,” Lexi shared. “We interacted with families, distributed temporary tattoos, and introduced new families of Barnegat to our club’s mission.”
The energy and enthusiasm of Lexi, Ava, and Julia are infectious and was evident at the 2024 clean-up event. They’re not just picking up trash; they’re picking up the torch of environmental responsibility, inspiring a sense of ownership and pride in their community.
