County of Union, New Jersey

Calling all hikers, joggers, dog walkers, photographers, nature lovers, environmentalists and all residents who enjoy the rustic trails in Union County parks: the Union County Board of County Commissioners is looking for new volunteers to join the Union County Trail Steward Adopt-a-Trail program.

Each Trail Steward adopts a section of trail in a Union County park of their choice. The Union County parks system covers 36 different parks in all 21 municipalities including the picturesque Watchung Reservation with miles of rustic hiking trails.

“Generations of Union County residents have worked to create, preserve, protect and expand our public parks, and today we all enjoy this incredible gift of nature right at our doorsteps,” said Union County Commissioner Chairman Sergio Granados. “We care deeply about continuing to protect this legacy, and we could not do it without the help of our Adopt a Trail volunteers. We truly appreciate their work, and we encourage everyone with an interest in our parks to help pitch in by joining the Trail Stewards.”

To learn more about becoming a Trail Steward, residents can attend an orientation session on Saturday, February 4, from 9:00 am to noon, at Union County’s Trailside Nature and Science Center, located at 452 New Providence Road in Mountainside. Current Trail Stewards are also invited to attend.

To register for the session online, visit ucnj.org/parks-recreation/stewards-meeting.

Anyone age 18 and older can sign up to become a Trail Steward. The Trails Stewards walk their adopted trail on a regular basis to look for trouble spots. They pick up litter and fallen branches, clear leaves from blocking culverts, and cut back intrusive vegetation. A minimum of four walks per year is requested.

Trail Stewards also report erosion, fallen trees and other significant obstructions to be handled by County staff or the volunteer Chain Saw Crew.   

The Adopt-A-Trail Program is administered by the Union County Department of Parks and Recreation. For more information about the Trail Steward program and other volunteer conservation activities in Union County parks, call the Division of Park Environmental Services at 908-789-3683 or email park.env.services@ucnj.org.

Quick links to all Union County environmental programs and activities are available at The Green Connection, ucnj.org/green-connection.

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.

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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.

Connect with Union County on social media.

“Langston & Beethoven: Black & Proud” is presented free to the public by the Union County Board of County Commissioners and the City of Rahway

In celebration of Black History Month, the Union County Board of County Commissioners and the City of Rahway invite residents to experience the words and music of two cultural legends whose art interweaves across centuries and continents, in a live performance of Langston & Beethoven: Black & Proud on Tuesday, January 31, at 7:00 p.m. at the Main Stage of the Union County Performing Arts Center, at 1601 Irving Street in Rahway.

Admission to this special Black History Month event is free but reservations are recommended online at ucnj.org/black-history-month.

Langston & Beethoven: Black & Proud is a rare chance for Union County audiences to preview a Lincoln Center performance in the intimate environment of the Main Stage, a beautifully restored former vaudeville theater that serves as Union County’s cultural centerpiece. The show will move to Lincoln Center in February. 

Langston & Beethoven: Black & Proud is the creation of the well-known WQXR radio host and cultural curator Terrance McKnight. He will be joined on stage at the Performing Arts Center by pianist Kyle Walker, oboist David Norville and vocalist Chauncy Packer. The Commissioner Board will also present the annual Chester Holmes Humanitarian award at this event.

 “We are very proud to welcome Mr. McKnight back to Union County, to celebrate the beginning of Black History Month 2023 with our community. Langston & Beethoven: Black & Proud is an enlightening, enriching experience that reminds us of Union County’s deep connections to the great cultural movements of our past, and informs our understanding of the present,” said Union County Commissioner Chairman Sergio Granados.

“Social justice and the arts are two major cornerstones of the Rahway community. As we enter Black History Month, Langston & Beethoven: Black & Proud flawlessly combines these elements to offer an insightful reflection of the past, and a reminder of the work we continue to do for a brighter future,” said City of Rahway Mayor Raymond A. Giacobbe.

“Black History Month is a time for rediscovering the literary voices of our nation’s past and refreshing our knowledge of the intricate cultural connections that informed their work. We thank Mr. McKnight for shining a new light on both Langston Hughes and Ludwig van Beethoven,” said Commissioner James E. Baker, Jr.

“Langston Hughes is an important voice in the cultural and social history of the Union County community, having lived in Westfield in the 1930’s,” said Commissioner Dr. Angela Garretson. “Mr. McKnight provides a unique musical perspective on the creative threads that intertwine music and poetry from different eras, and we encourage everyone to come and enjoy this very special presentation.”

 “Mr. McKnight provides an enriching experience that brings us closer to the deep cultural significance of Langston Hughes’s work, and it is a real honor to bring him to Union County in celebration of Black History Month,” said Commissioner Rebecca L. Williams.

In Langston & Beethoven: Black & Proud, Mr. McKnight pairs the poems of Langston Hughes with music by Ludwig van Beethoven, two commanding talents separated by a hundred years’ time and vastly different worlds. Each found inspiration and the spark of creativity in the universality of the other’s art form.

Mr. McKnight regularly curates concerts and talks at Merkin Concert Hall, the Billie Holiday Theatre, the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, and the Museum of Modern Art. He is also the creator of A Langston Hughes Song Revival.

This will be Mr. McKnight’s fourth time returning to Union County to present high quality programming for Black History Month. A full orchestra version of Langston & Beethoven: Black & Proud will be presented at Lincoln Center in New York City in February.

This program is made possible by funds from the Union County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs, a partner of the New Jersey State Council on the Arts.

For more information about Langston & Beethoven: Black & Proud and other activities and programs of the Union County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs, visit ucnj.org/cultural, email culturalinfo@ucnj.org, or call 908-558-2550.

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.

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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.

Connect with Union County on social media.

The Union County Board of County Commissioners invites seniors and their caregivers to come to Union County’s ASK community events in February, and meet in person with professional staff for expert guidance on senior programs and resources. Help with filling out forms is also provided.

Bilingual staff will be present at all of these events to offer assistance in Spanish.

“Making sure our seniors and their caregivers have access to the right information about what the County of Union has to offer is important to us,” said Commissioner Chairman Sergio Granados. “I encourage all of those who can benefit from the ASK Program to attend these sessions and learn about all of the programs and resources available. In addition, there will be bilingual staff on board to ensure that our residents who communicate primarily in Spanish are included.”

ASK stands for Aging Services Kiosk, a program of the Union County Department of Human Services through the Division on Aging and Disability Resources, serving seniors age 60-plus and their caregivers.

The ASK program provides Union County residents with a friendly, convenient way to find out about helpful programs and services for seniors and caregivers. The program brings professional staff from the Division on Aging to local public libraries and other community centers.

Staff at the ASK events can help seniors and care givers connect with a variety of services including home delivered meals, respite care, home care, adult day care and support services for caregivers.

Any Union County senior or care giver can visit any ASK event, regardless of their hometown.

No appointment or pre-registration is needed. The upcoming ASK events in February all include bilingual assistance in Spanish:

Thursday, February 2, 2023

Union Public Library

1060 Stuyvesant Avenue

Union, NJ 07083

10:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Monday, February 6, 2023

Clark Public Library

303 Westfield Avenue

Clark, NJ 07066

10:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Wednesday, February 8, 2023

Garwood Public Library

411 Third Avenue

Garwood, NJ 07027

10:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Wednesday, February 15, 2023

Elizabeth Public Library – Main

11 S. Broad Street

Elizabeth, NJ 07202

12:00 PM – 2:00 PM

Thursday, February 23, 2023

Roselle Library

129 Chestnut St.

Roselle, NJ 07203

10:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Contact the Division on Aging and Disability Resource Connection for information on upcoming ASK events and any other services for seniors in Union County. Call 1-888-280-8226 toll free or visit online at ucnj.org/dhs/aging.

The goal of the Division on Aging and Disability Resource Connection is to promote wellness, independence, dignity and choice for seniors and their families, in accordance with a statewide initiative adopted by Union County in 2012. The Division is one of 622 Area Agencies on Aging nationwide established under the federal Older Americans Act.    

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.

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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.

Connect with Union County on social media.

The Union County Board of County Commissioners advises job seekers that the Union County American Job Center will hold a job fair for residents interested in careers in health care on Friday, January 27, beginning at 10:00 a.m. at the Warinanco Sports Center, located in Warinanco Park at 1 Park Drive in Roselle.

Attendance is free of charge but pre-registration is required online at ucnj.org/job-fair.

Leading health care providers in Union County will have representatives on site including Atlantic Health, Trinitas Regional Medical Center, Bayada, UCHA\MD Care, CityMD Urgent Care, NJ TRANSIT, On Time Ambulance, Jewish Family Service, Lantern Hill, RWJ Hospital Rahway, Modivcare and VisionWorks.

“Union County’s job placement programs have been successful in matching thousands of qualified candidates with new careers and good paying jobs,” said Union County Commissioner Board Chairman Sergio Granados. “As part of the Chairman’s ‘Building a Stronger Union County’ theme for 2023, we have launched the ‘Building Workforce Relationships: Closing the Gap’ initiative, featuring our first job fair dedicated to a wide range of careers in the health care field.

“We encourage our residents to come and meet with these top employers in person to explore the many opportunities in the health care field. We will also be working throughout the year to organize additional job fairs dedicated to other fields of employment,” added Chairman Granados, who is the liaison to the Union County Workforce Development Board.

Attendees are advised to bring a resume and dress appropriately for on-the-spot interviews.

“We are eager to find great candidates to join Atlantic Health as we strive to be on the Fortune 100 best companies to work for, for the 15th year in a row,” said Atlantic Health Talent Acquisition Consultant David Fischer.

Open positions include the following, and more:

Emergency Dispatcher

Air/Ground Transport RN

Patient Access Representative

Emergency Medical Technician

Mobility Vehicle Operator

Clinical Lab Assistants

Medical Laboratory Scientists

Phlebotomists

Security Officers

Emergency Dispatcher

Air/Ground Transport RN

Patient Access Representative

Emergency Medical Technician

Clinical Lab Assistants,

Medical Laboratory Scientists

Phlebotomists,

Security Officers

LPN (home care)

Home Health Aide

Monitor Technician

Cardiovascular Technician

Unit Associate

Nurse Manager

Dietician

Recreational Aide

Employers who are interested registering to participate in the job fair can email Carolina Marin, Senior Manager Business Development at Astrid.marin@ucnj.org or Pamela Mata, Business Development Manager, Union County American Job Center at pamela.mata@ucnj.org.

The Union County American Job Center is s division of the Union County Department of Human Services, providing in-person career services. Counselors on staff work with job seekers to identify their interests, assess their skills and abilities, and advise them on in-demand jobs and potential training opportunities. The Union County American Job Center also organizes recruiting events and workshops on resume writing, interviewing skills, and more.

To learn more about employment services offered by the Union County American Job Center, visit ucajc.org and use the “Job Seekers” link. Searchable job-finding tools are also available at the “Search Jobs” and “Find a Job” links.

An orientation video about the services provided by Union County American Job Center is available on the Union County website at ucnj.org/dhs/workforce-development.

To contact the American Job Center by phone, call the Elizabeth office at 908-558-8000, or call the Plainfield office at 908-757-9090.

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.

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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.

Connect with Union County on social media.

In celebration of Black History Month 2023, the Union County Board of County Commissioners is pleased to present Langston & Beethoven: Black & Proud, a free evening of poetry and music exploring the life and times of the poet, social activist, novelist, playwright, and columnist Langston Hughes featuring WQXR Radio host Terrance McKnight on Tuesday, January 31, at 7:00 p.m. at the Union County Performing Arts Center, 1601 Irving Street in Rahway.

The annual Chester Holmes Humanitarian Award will also be presented at the event.

Langston & Beethoven: Black & Proud is free of charge but seats must be reserved in advance. To reserve online visit ucnj.org/black-history-month.

“We are very proud to welcome Mr. McKnight back to Union County, to celebrate the beginning of Black History Month 2023 with our community. Langston & Beethoven: Black & Proud is an enlightening, enriching experience that reminds us of Union County’s deep connections to the great cultural movements of our past, and informs our understanding of the present,” said Union County Commissioner Chairman Sergio Granados.

“Black History Month is a time for rediscovering the literary voices of our nation’s past and refreshing our knowledge of the intricate cultural connections that informed their work. We thank Mr. McKnight for shining a new light on both Langston Hughes and Ludwig van Beethoven,” said Commissioner James E. Baker, Jr.

“Langston Hughes is an important voice in the cultural and social history of the Union County community, having lived in Westfield in the 1930’s,” said Commissioner Dr. Angela Garretson. “Mr. McKnight provides a unique musical perspective on the creative threads that intertwine music and poetry from different eras, and we encourage everyone to come and enjoy this very special presentation.”

 “Mr. McKnight provides an enriching experience that brings us closer to the deep cultural significance of Langston Hughes’s work, and it is a real honor to bring him to Union County in celebration of Black History Month,” said Commissioner Rebecca L. Williams.

Langston & Beethoven: Black & Proud was created by Mr. McKnight, who is the speaker and narrator for the performance. He has paired the poems of Langston Hughes with music by Beethoven, two commanding talents separated by a hundred years’ time and vastly different worlds. Each found inspiration and the spark of creativity in the universality of the other’s art form. The evening will also include works by other composers.

Joining Mr. McKnight on stage forLangston & Beethoven: Black & Proud are pianist Kyle Walker, oboist David Norville and vocalist Chauncy Packer.

Mr. McKnight regularly curates concerts and talks at Merkin Concert Hall, the Billie Holiday Theatre, the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, and the Museum of Modern Art. He is also the creator of A Langston Hughes Song Revival.

This will be Mr. McKnight’s fourth time returning to Union County to present high quality programming for Black History Month. A full orchestra version of Langston & Beethoven: Black & Proud will be presented at Lincoln Center in New York City in February.

This program is made possible by funds from the Union County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs, a partner of the New Jersey State Council on the Arts.

For more information about Langston & Beethoven: Black & Proud and other activities and programs of the Union County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs, visit ucnj.org/cultural, email culturalinfo@ucnj.org, or call 908-558-2550.

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.

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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.

Connect with Union County on social media.