WCAS distributed $19,000 in grants to several local and one international organization to carry out education and conservation programs. They were made possible by a generous bequest from Polly Holden. The 2010 Holden grants are as follows:

• Friends of Hopewell Valley Open Space:  $4,800 to support forest restoration at the Kulak preserve in Hopewell Township.
• D&R Greenway:  $3,000 to support the proposed propagation greenhouse at St. Michael's to provide a local source of native plants indigenous to the area. This project will support and enhance habitat restoration in our area.
• Life Net:  $5,000 to support bird monitoring efforts at Loma Alta Ecological Reserve and bird monitoring and stewardship at Reserva Las Tangaras.
• Mercer County Park Commission $3,100 to support invasive plant removal and habitat restoration at Roebling Island.
• Trees for Trenton:  $1,000 to support the Trenton Environmental Education Field Trip program.
• Friends of Lawrence Nature Center:  $1,050 to support the native plant and rain gardens development at the Lawrence Nature Center.
• Conserve Wildlife:  $1,050 to support the protection of early-spring breeding amphibians during their annual migration.

Applications for the 2011 awards are due Nov. 1. The guidelines are on the WCAS website.