Union County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi announces that sample ballots for the November 8 General Election can now be viewed and downloaded on the County Clerk’s elections website unioncountyvotes.com, and through Union County Votes, a free app for all mobile devices.
The County Clerk’s office in Elizabeth is located in the County Courthouse, at 2 Broad Street (access via Elizabethtown Plaza entrance on Saturday, June 4).
The County Clerk’s office is also mailing sample ballots to all registered Union County voters. The sample ballot mailings will begin on October 12.
“The website and app offer a convenient way for voters to familiarize themselves with their ballot, even before they receive their copy in the mail,” said Ms. Rajoppi.
Voters with any questions about their sample ballots can call the County Clerk’s Elections Division, 908-527-4996 or email the Elections Division at ucvote@ucnj.org.
For more information about the County Clerk’s election services visit unioncountyvotes.com or contact the Elections Division at 908-527-4996 or ucvote@ucnj.org.
For information and updates on all Union County services during the COVID-19 outbreak, including free vaccination, free testing and other support services, visit ucnj.org/covid19. General information about COVID-19 is available through the New Jersey Department of Health at nj.gov/health.
Free drop-off sites available on October 6 and October 15.
Union County residents can bring their old or unwanted scrap metal to free recycling drop-off sites sponsored by the Union County Board of County Commissioners. Metal cabinets, wire hangers, appliances, gutters, kitchen ware and many other metal items are accepted at these sites.
“Recycling scrap metal is an important way to conserve resources, and we encourage every household to make use of this free service,” said Union County Commissioner Chair Rebecca L. Williams. “These drop-off sites make it easy and convenient to clear your home and yard of unwanted metal items while helping the environment, too.”
The Union County scrap metal drop-off program operates at two sites, in Cranford and Rahway. Both sites are open to all Union County residents regardless of their home town.
Scrap metal will be accepted Thursday, October 6 and Saturday, October 15 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at two free drop-off centers:
Rahway: Rahway River Park (follow Park Drive, Rahway off St. Georges Avenue to service yard across from swimming pool)
The final scrap metal drop-off events of the 2022 season will take place on Thursday, November 3 and Saturday, November 19. The scrap metal recycling program goes on hiatus over the winter and will resume in the spring of 2023.
Please note that Union County’s scrap metal recycling events are drive-up only, and contact-free.
Participants must remain in their vehicles at all times. Materials should be placed in trunk, cargo area or truck bed and be easily accessible for staff to remove.
For more information, upcoming dates and directions to all Union County recycling programs and locations, visit the Bureau of Recycling and Planning website at ucnj.org/recycle or call the Union County Recycling Hotline at 908-654-9889.
To receive schedule alerts, and to stay up to date with Union County and local recycling programs, download the free Recycle Coach mobile app.
Quick links to all Union County environmental programs and activities are available at The Green Connection, ucnj.org/green-connection.
For more information and updates on all Union County services during the COVID-19 outbreak, including free vaccination, free testing, emergency food distribution and other support services, visit ucnj.org/covid19. General information about COVID-19 is available through the New Jersey Department of Health at nj.gov/health.
# #
For all Union County programs and services visit ucnj.org, call the Public Info Line, 877-424-1234, email info@ucnj.org or use the online Contact Form.
The Union County Board of County Commissioners invites residents to the Annual Pulaski Day Flag Raising on Friday, September 30, at 5:30 p.m. in front of the Union County Court House, located at 2 Broad Street in Elizabeth. The event is free and all residents are invited to attend.
“Union County is home to many Polish-Americans,” said Commissioner Chair Rebecca L. Williams. “The Commissioner Board is proud to once again acknowledge the contributions of this very active and hard-working community to our county over the years, by flying the Polish Flag over the County Seat.”
The event is being co-sponsored by the General Pulaski Memorial Parade Committee of St. Theresa from Linden. The program will include remarks by Union County Commissioner, Bette Jane Kowalski as well former NJ State Senator, Raymond J. Lesniak and Linden City Council President, Michelle Yamakaitis. The Grand Marshall of the 2022 Linden Contingency for the local General Pulaski Memorial Parade, Chief of Police for the City of Linden, Chief David Hart will be recognized during the ceremony.
Also slated to be present and recognized at the flag raising ceremony are: the President of the Linden Contigency, Agnieszka Czajkowska, as well as Sophie Kotulski (Miss Polonia 2022/2023), Marcelina Somaradzka (Junior Miss Polonia 2022/2023) and Milena Glab (Little Miss Polonia 2022/2023). Marcelina Domaradzka will perform the national anthems of the United States and Poland.
“We have a diverse fabric of ethnicities and the Polish-American community has a long history of maintaining and honoring their roots within Union County,” said Commissioner Vice-Chair, Christopher Hudak. “I invite all residents from the County of Union to attend the Union County Pulaski Flag Raising. As a Commissioner of Polish descent, I am especially proud of the accomplishments of the Polish-American community across the country and especially within Union County.”
“It is with great happiness that we can again be together in person to recognize and celebrate the Polish-American Community here in Union County,” said Commissioner Bette Jane Kowalski. “The Commissioner Board extended its warmest wishes to all Polish-Americans as they celebrate Pulaski Day in the coming days at various events.”
The Polish-American Community will be celebrating what has come to be known as “Pulaski Day” throughout late September and early October. With various celebrations in several municipalities, the festivities culminate in a parade down 5th Avenue in Manhattan. The Pulaski Day parade was first held in 1937 and is one of the oldest ethnic parades in New York.
The flag-raising will include refreshments and food.
–30–
For all Union County programs and services visit ucnj.org, call the Public Info Line, 877-424-1234, email info@ucnj.org or use the online Contact Form.
The County Clerk’s office in Elizabeth is located in the County Courthouse, at 2 Broad Street (access via Elizabethtown Plaza entrance on Saturday, June 4).
Ballots will be mailed to voters in bright yellow envelopes.
Union County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi announces that Vote by Mail Ballots are being mailed to registered voters in Union County in stages, according to Congressional District. The ballots are being sent in bright yellow envelopes to help voters avoid misplacing their ballot.
The first stage included Berkeley Heights, Clark, Fanwood, parts of Linden, Mountainside, New Providence, Scotch Plains, Springfield, Summit, Westfield and Winfield, all of which are in CD 7, along with the balance of Linden and the Township of Union, both of which are in CD 10. Vote-by-Mail voters in these municipalities can expect to receive their ballots this week.
As a reminder, voters should look for their ballot in a bright yellow envelope.
“My office is sending the ballots out in stages to help ensure that the U.S. Postal Service can handle the increased volume in an orderly manner and deliver all of them on time, to voters in every Union County municipality,” said Ms. Rajoppi. “I strongly encourage voters to fill out and return their Vote-by-Mail ballot as soon as they receive it, to account for any unforeseen delays.”
Voters can view the updated schedule of mailings on the County Clerk’s elections website, at UnionCountyVotes.com. The schedule is also available on the County Clerk’s free mobile app, UC Votes.
Voters can choose several ways to return their Vote-by-Mail ballot as early as possible before Election Day: by Postal Service (postage is pre-paid), secure drop-off box, or hand delivery to the County Clerk’s offices or Board of Elections office.
The drop-off boxes are available on a 24/7 basis until 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 8, when the polls close.
The Board of Elections office will be open for voters to hand deliver their vote by mail ballots until 8:00 p.m. on November 8. Voters who hand deliver their ballots to this office must sign a registry and present a valid New Jersey driver’s license or other New Jersey identification.
For more details, including the location of offices, drop-off boxes, and polling places, visit unioncountyvotes.com.
For more information about the County Clerk’s election services visit unioncountyvotes.com or contact the Elections Division at 908-527-4996 or ucvote@ucnj.org.
For more information about all County Clerk programs and services, visit online at ucnj.org/county-clerk or call 908-527-4787.
For information and updates on all Union County services during the COVID-19 outbreak, including free vaccination, free testing and other support services, visit ucnj.org/covid19. General information about COVID-19 is available through the New Jersey Department of Health at nj.gov/health.
New Locations of Fanwood & Roselle Drop Boxes Announced
Union County Board of Elections Administrator Nicole DiRado informs voters that the polling place list and drop box locations for the 2022 General Election are available on the UCBOE website at www.ucnj.org/ucboe. The 2022 General Election will be held on Tuesday, November 8.
“Voting drop boxes provide easier means for residents to cast their votes early while still ensuring the voter’s right to a secret ballot,” said Ms. DiRado. “These drop boxes were introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and have proven to be highly popular with residents looking to cast a Vote-by-Mail ballot.”
All 24 secure ballot drop boxes will open on September 23, 2022 for the 2022 General Election and will remain open through the close of the polls on November 8, 2021 at 8:00 pm. Drop boxes are under camera surveillance 24/7, available to voters 24/7 and ADA accessible.
There are two drop box location changes ahead of the General Election:
The Fanwood drop box is now located at the Historic Train Station at 230 North Avenue; and
The Roselle drop box is now located at 108 & 109 W. Third Street (corner of W. Third Street and Chestnut Avenue).
For a complete list of polling locations and ballot drop boxes in Union County, please visit the Board of Election website online at ucnj.org/boe/where-do-i-vote. For all Union County Board of Elections information visit online at ucnj.org/ucboe, email ucboe@ucnj.org, or call 908-527-4123.
Please be advised, Union County Mosquito Control will be spraying for mosquitoes tonight, Thursday, September 15, 2022, between the hours of 5:00 P.M. to 10:00 P.M. (Weather Permitting). Check below and see if your Town is on the list. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Mosquito Control.
Clark – Lefferts Ln., Terhune Rd., Whitley Ter., Shetland Dr.,
Available for Union County residents starting September 24th
The Union County Board of County Commissioners encourages all residents to get their seasonal flu shot as soon as possible this year. Free flu shots will be dispensed at clinics run by the Office of Health Management at locations throughout Union County beginning on Saturday, September 24th. Persons with health insurance are advised to visit their local pharmacy or doctor’s office to receive their flu shot.
“Please protect yourself and your family, and help prevent unnecessary trips to a doctor or hospital emergency room by getting a free flu shot,” said Commissioner Chair Rebecca Williams. “Protection against seasonal flu is more important than ever before, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Public health experts are concerned that medical resources could be overwhelmed if a seasonal flu outbreak combines with the COVID-19 crisis.”
The free flu shot clinics are open to all Union County residents ages 9 and up. Children ages 4 through 8 can also use Union County’s free flu shot clinics if they have previously received 2 flu shots, in accordance with guidance from the CDC. Appointments are strongly encouraged, and residents can schedule an appointment online by visiting www.ucnj.org/flu or calling 908-613-7829. Walk-ups will be seen on a time-allowing basis.
This year, the free flu shot clinics will also be offering all formulations of the COVID-19 vaccine. As per the CDC, it is safe to receive both shots on the same day, if needed.
The following clinic dates have been scheduled:
Saturday, September 24 at Plainfield High School
Plainfield
9am-12pm
Thursday, September 29 at Warinanco Sports Center
Roselle
3-7pm
Monday, October 3 at Shady Rest Golf Course
Scotch Plains
3-6pm
Saturday, October 15 at Linden Health Fair
Linden
10am-1pm
Monday, October 17 at Roselle Borough Hall
Roselle
Council Chambers
4-7pm
Any Union County resident may visit any of these clinics, regardless of their town of residence. To prepare for a visit to Union County’s flu shot clinics, residents are advised to review the fact sheet issued by the CDC in English, Spanish, and other languages at https://www.immunize.org/vis/ (select “Influenza, inactivated” from the vaccine index).
Masks are required when visiting one of Union County’s clinics. Persons who have a fever, coughing, sneezing, or other signs of illness will not be admitted to a clinic site.
For additional updates, visit the “Upcoming Flu Drives” page on the County website, at ucnj.org/flu.
Children and adults in need of a variety of standard immunizations can visit Union County’s Immunization Center at 40 Parker Road in Elizabeth. Please note that there is no income eligibility requirement for the COVID-19 or seasonal flu vaccines. Other immunizations are available on an income-eligible basis. For more information, call the Immunization Center at (908) 965-3627 or (908)965-3868.
For all Union County programs and services, visit ucnj.org, call the Public Info Line, (877) 424-1234, email info@ucnj.org, or use the online Contact Form.
In recognition of September as National Suicide Prevention Month, the Union County Board of County Commissioners encourages residents to share messages of hope and raise awareness about resources for those in need of help.
National Suicide Prevention Month supports a global awareness-raising effort that impacts all communities. The International Association for Suicide Prevention states that “suicide ranks consistently among the top 20 causes of death globally across all age groups. One in every 100 deaths worldwide is the result of suicide.”
“As a community, we can all take part in suicide prevention, by helping to remove the stigma around suicide, being there for a family member or friend through their darkest moments, and taking actions that show we care,” said Union County Commissioner Chair Rebecca L. Williams.
September 10 is National Suicide Prevention Day. At 8:00 p.m. local time, individuals from all over the world are invited to light a candle near a window as an act of remembrance demonstrating support for suicide prevention, to remember a lost loved one, and for the survivors of suicide.
The International Association for Suicide Prevention has endorsed the theme of “Creating Hope through Action,” an optimistic approach that emphasizes sharing knowledge and taking simple, ordinary actions to help make a difference.
One important way to help is to raise awareness about the national 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. This free 24/7 hotline can be reached by dialing, texting or chatting 988. The Lifeline connects callers with trained counselors and a network of more than 200 local crisis centers.
Numerous studies have shown that callers feel less suicidal, less depressed, less overwhelmed and more hopeful after speaking with a Lifeline counselor.
Lifeline is a federal program run by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. It has been in operation since 2005 as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. The program is now called the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline to emphasize a renewed focus on accessibility. The three-digit 988 code is much easier to remember and dial, but callers can also continue to use the existing 10-digit number, 1-800-273-8255, to connect with Lifeline.
Please note that veterans can dial “1” after dialing 988 to connect directly with the Veterans Crisis Line. The Veterans Crisis Line can also be accessed by calling 1-800-273-8255 (then press 1), texting 1838255, or chatting at www.VeteransCrisisLine.net/Chat
The Union County Board of Elections advises Kenilworth residents that Thursday, September 15th is the deadline for voter registration for the October 6th Kenilworth Special School Board Election.
“We encourage all eligible Kenilworth residents to register to vote for the upcoming special election,” said Nicole DiRado, Administrator of the Union County Board of Elections. “Special Elections are just as important as a primary or general election, so it is important that anyone who can, exercises their right to vote.”
Election Day voting will take place from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. The poll location for the election is the David Brearley High School, 401 Monroe Avenue (Back Gym).
In addition to Election Day voting, the following secure ballot drop boxes are open for Kenilworth voters who wish to return their mail in ballot in the drop box:
Kenilworth Recreation Center, 575 Boulevard
The Colleen Fraser Building, 300 North Avenue East, Westfield
Union County Administration Building Complex, Corner of Rahway Avenue and Elizabethtown Plaza, Elizabeth
Union County Board of Elections, 271 North Broad Street, Elizabeth
For all Union County Board of Elections information visit online at ucnj.org/ucboe, email ucboe@ucnj.org, or call 908-527-4123.
Please be advised, Union County Mosquito Control will be spraying for mosquitoes tonight, Thursday, September 1, 2022, between the hours of 5:00 P.M. to 10:00 P.M. (Weather Permitting). Check below and see if your city is on the list. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Mosquito Control at 908-654-9873
Clark – Featherbed Ln., Frances Dr., Lefferts Ln., Terhune Rd., Whitley Ter., Shetland Dr., Wendell Pl.
Linden – Tremley Point Area, Range Rd., Bradford Ave., Lexington Ave., Marion Ave.
New Providence – Gales Dr., Fairmont Rd., Maple Ave.,
Plainfield – Jefferson Ave., First St., Berkley Ter., Reeves Ter., Wiley Ave.
Rahway – Elston St., Leesville Ave. Area, Donald Ave. Price St., Allen St., Jones Pl., Scott Ave., Whitter St., Elizabeth Ave., Randolph Ave., New Brunswick Ave.
Roselle – 3rd. Ave., 4th Ave., Pine St., Woodland Ave.
Springfield – Oakland Ave., Waverly Ave., S. Springfield Ave., Cottage Ln.
Summit – New Providence Rd., Summit recycling center
Union – Dean Ter., Whitewood Rd., Livingston Ave., Lehigh Ave., Cranbury Rd.
