RWJ Hamilton to Celebrate Earth Day on April 19
Exhibits, Lectures & Smart Car Display Highlight Celebration of Environment

HAMILTON, NEW JERSEY – Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton (RWJ Hamilton) will observe Earth Day by hosting a free celebration on Saturday morning, April 19, from 9 a.m. to noon at the RWJ Hamilton Center for Health & Wellness, 3100 Quakerbridge Road, Hamilton, New Jersey.

RWJ Hamilton will showcase exhibits and lectures from ecologically-friendly businesses, service providers and government agencies. Hamilton Township Mayor John Bencivengo will open the day at 9 a.m. in the lobby by the 2008 Mercedes Smart car display, courtesy of Cherry Hill Mercedes.

The Smart car is an 8-foot, 8-inch two-seater with no hood or trunk. Boasting an EPA rating of about 40 miles per gallon, the car is powered by a three-cylinder engine, has a top speed of 90 miles an hour, is a dream to park and is a friend to the environment.

Attendees to the morning's celebration will enjoy light refreshments and giveaways. Register by calling 609.584.5900. Featured speakers include:

• Gary Sondermeyer from the NJ Department of Environmental Protection will discuss "New Jersey, Leading the Way to a Cleaner, Greener Environment" - a presentation on what New Jersey has been doing to make us an ecologically-sound role model for the world.
• Lin Fox, Ed.D., a speaker from the U.S. Green Building Council, will discuss "The Healthy House" - a look at how toxic the indoor environment can be and what we can do about it.
• Rosemary Wright, teacher and storyteller, will relate "Earth Stories and Animal Tales for Children."

Earth Day Celebrates 38 Years of Increased Awareness
Earth Day was first celebrated in 1970 by the federal government as a way to highlight the need to clean the air, promote land conservation and improve water quality. Now in its 38th year, Earth Day was grown into a worldwide campaign designed to make environmental conservation and concern a part of every person's lifestyle.

"The changing environment and the effects of pollution have been widely publicized in the media," says Pam Jones, RN, BS, HCN, Integrative Therapy Nurse and Reiki Master at RWJ Hamilton. "I want to present information and education to promote awareness of how individually we can make a difference. There are simple changes we can do that will have positive effects on the immediate environment and the atmosphere of our planet Earth."

RWJ Hamilton is proud to increase awareness of our environment by bringing together a large number of community partners. The Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Mercer County, Home Depot, Wegmans, Girl Scouts of Central and Southern New Jersey, Bedside Harp, West Windsor Community Farmers Market, Barnes & Noble and fitness partners from the RWJ Hamilton Center for Health & Wellness are among the many vendors that will be present. Attendees can look forward to learning about a wide variety of environment practices, products and choices.

Earth Day Tips to Help Make a Difference
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) challenges everyone to be a steward of the environment. Every day you can make an environmentally-friendly decision by following some of the EPA's helpful tips:

• Make the switch. Buy or switch to energy efficient lighting fixtures and bulbs.
• eCycle it. Take your old computer, DVD player or other electronics to a recycling center.
• Fill'er up. Run your washing machine and dishwasher only when you have full loads.
• Bag it! Take reusable bags on shopping trips and keep them in your car.
• Travel green. When you travel, stay at hotels that use less water or energy. Before you go, unplug your VCR or other electronics that use electricity even when "off."

For more information on RWJ Hamilton's Earth Day Celebration, visit rwjhamilton.org or call HealthConnection, 609.584.5900.

More About RWJ Hamilton
Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton (RWJ Hamilton) is the only New Jersey hospital to receive the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award. Located in Hamilton Township, NJ, the hospital is part of the RWJ Health System and Network and is affiliated with the University of Medicine and Dentistry New Jersey-RWJ Medical School and the Cancer Institute of New Jersey.

The RWJ Hamilton Health Care Corporation serves communities within a five-county area and includes an acute care hospital, the Cancer Institute of New Jersey Hamilton, three affiliated medical groups, seven Lakeview Child Centers, and the RWJ Hamilton Center for Health & Wellness, home of a medically-based fitness center and the hospital's extensive community education program. Over 1,900 hospital employees and 650 medical staff physicians share RWJ Hamilton's passion for Excellence Through Service. For more information, visit www.rwjhamilton.org.