b'RediscoveringOur RiverJoin the celebration ofSouth Oranges annual River DayBY ADRIANNA AHERN DONATI ts easy to overlook the quiet presence of the Rahway River as it winds its way through our communities, but each year on the first Sunday in May, South Or-ange comes together to honor this vital waterway. River Day on May 4 is a cel-ebration of environmental awareness, science and community spirit. Families, students and volunteers will roll up their sleeves, scour the riverbank and pull out a years worth of litter while learning firsthand how our actions affect not only our local ecosystem but also the larger environment.The Rahway River, spanning approximately 24 miles from its mouth on the Arthur Kill in Carteret to the headwaters in West Orange, has been a constant companion to our communities for centuries. SOMA is home to a stretch of the East Branch, part of the 83-square-mile Rahway River watershed, which includes 25 towns in Essex, Union and Middlesex counties. Despite being surrounded by one of the most densely populated regions in the coun-try, the river still nurtures pockets of remarkable biodiversity. Herons, snowy egrets and even large fish make their homes in the water, signs of a healthy ecosystem.The reason our towns exist is because the river is there, says James McGowan, who is a United Nations environmental expert and a former chairman of the South Orange Environmental Commission. He came up with the idea for River Day. Its convenient and gives us everything we need. Yet, many residents remain unaware of the rivers sig-nificance. When McGowan and his fellow volunteers began organizing cleanups more than a decade ago, one neighbor even asked, What river? Is there a river in town?River Day began in 2011 when Walter Clarke, then a member of the South Orange En-vironmental Commission, saw an opportunity to start an annual event. Ive worn a lot of small hats, most of them are green, Clarke jokes. That first year, up to 300 people gathered to clean the river. The most memorable aspect was the debut of student scientist projects. South Orange Middle School science teacher Nicole Chirlo continues the yearly seventh grade student science projects with her students today. Instead of just reading about watersheds and ecosystems, they get to step into the river, test water quality and observe living organisms first hand, says Chirlo.Working with a local watershed ambassador and participating in River Day 2025 connects them to their community and shows them how their actions can make a real impact. Most importantly, it fosters a sense of environmental responsibility, inspiring them to care for and protect the world around them, says Chirlo.The tradition of blending science and hands-on community service continues today, with new generations of young environmentalists presenting their findings to the public. Some of the original student scientists are now in college, and many come back to River Day to cheer on the next generation, Clarke says.24/ matters magazine / spring 2025'