County of Union, New Jersey

The Union County Office for Persons with Disabilities and Special Needs provided outreach and chaperone assistance for Jets Dream Express last Sunday, November 6, in partnership with State Senate President Nicholas Scutari. Jets Dream Express is a transportation and pro sports experience for children with special needs, under a collaboration between the New York Jets football team and NJ Transit. 

“The Commissioner Board established the Office for Persons with Disabilities and Special Needs to help ensure that community activities and opportunities for socialization are accessible to all residents. Forming relationships and creating inclusive environments are important parts of our work, and it was an honor to help Senate President Scutari, the Jets, and NJ Transit connect with our special needs families for the Jets Dream Experience,” said Union County Commissioner Chair Rebecca Williams.

“I want to thank all the partners for working together to create an unforgettable day for special needs children from Union County. The Jets Dream Experience is a wonderful complement to local programs that give special needs children the opportunity to engage with the whole community at sporting events and other activities. To top off this great experience, the Jets won their game,” said Senate President Scutari.

Each year, the Jets Dream Express works with a legislative sponsor to identify ten special needs children and chaperones from their district to enjoy the Jets Dream Express. Senate President Scutari represents the 22^nd Legislative District, which includes Clark, Fanwood, Linden, Plainfield, Rahway, Scotch Plains and Winfield in Union County.

Sunday’s event included a ride in a reserved front-end NJ Transit train car from Secaucus Train Station to MetLife Stadium, along with reserved seats for the game, a $15 gift card for each guest to buy refreshments at the venue, and photos with Jets personnel.

Jets Dream Express began as an annual program in 2010. Last Sunday’s game against the Buffalo Bills marked the return of the event after a three-year hiatus.

The Union County Office for Persons with Disabilities and Special Needs provides outreach services and hosts a wide variety of recreational activities, programs and classes.

For information about activities and support services offered through the Office for Persons with Disabilities and Special Needs visit ucnj.org/special-needs. To contact the office, use the online form or call 908-527-4807 or 4781.

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.

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A new amendment to the Union County Code bans firearms from County property, properties affiliated with the County, and public transportation vehicles operated by the County. An exemption for law enforcement officers is included. A final hearing and vote on the new Ordinance took place at the Commissioner Board meeting on November 10, 2022. It will be published on Wednesday, November 16.

“We take this legislative action to hold firm on gun safety in our public spaces. Our residents have the right to conduct business with the County, go to school, cast their ballot in an election and enjoy our parks without having to worry about gun violence,” said Commissioner Board Chair Rebecca L. Williams. “The U.S. Supreme Court has opened the door for a torrent of guns to enter our community, as a result of its decision on the Bruen case last July. We are resolved to shut that door.”

“Governor Murphy and our state legislators are working hard to stem the damage done by the Bruen decision, and we are proud to support their efforts with this new amendment to Article XI,” said Kimberly Palmieri-Mouded, who chairs the Commissioner Board’s Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee. “The facts are clear: easy access to guns is a recipe for violence and fear, not safety and security.”

The properties covered by the ban include, but are not limited to, all County parks, office buildings and other facilities, as well as affiliated entities including polling places in all 21 municipalities, the Union County Courthouse and Family Court in Elizabeth the Vocational-Technical Schools Campus in Scotch Plains and the three Union College campuses in Cranford, Elizabeth and Plainfield.

The U.S. Supreme Court decided the case of New York Rifle & Pistol Assn. Inc. v. Bruen last July. A 6-3 majority of the Justices determined that New York’s “proper cause” requirement for obtaining a permit to carry a handgun in public was invalid. In effect, the decision enables anyone in New York State to carry a gun anywhere, for any reason, unless countervailing state law is upheld as constitutional.

The Bruen decision only impacts gun safety laws in New York State, where the plaintiff is located. However, Bruen sets a precedent for challenges to gun laws in other states such as New Jersey, which currently requires residents to show a “justifiable need” to obtain a permit.

The new section of Article XI is intended to ensure that the Bruen decision does not enable persons to carry guns on Union County property, within the restrictions allowed by the U.S. Constitution and case law stemming from the Constitution.

As amended, section 115-57 of Title XI reads:

• No person shall be permitted to carry any firearm concealed or otherwise, in any Sensitive Area within Union County, New Jersey.
•  This restriction shall not apply to law enforcement officers, on or off duty, in the course of their lawful and official duties.
•  A person who violates or causes to be violated a provision of this article shall be subject to a penalty of imprisonment for a term not exceeding 90 days, or to a fine, or both, of $500.00, for the first offense and $1,000.00 for each subsequent offense.

Section 115-58 reads:

            “Sensitive Area” shall be defined as:

• All buildings or portion thereof, owned, controlled, leased or otherwise under the jurisdiction of the County, whether open to the public or not;
• Any Courthouse or building containing judicial functions of the state or County;
• Any building or portion thereof, which is the location of any program operated or funded by the County; including but not limited to Union County Vocational-Technical Schools and Union College;
• All recreational facilities and parks owned or operated by the County;
•  Any vehicle owned or operated by or on behalf of the County while used for public transportation;
•  Any polling place or location while open and operating for purposes of voting; and
• Any location, building or function of a similar nature to the above, owned or occupied by the County.

The New Jersey state legislature has also enacted additional common sense gun safety laws. In July, Governor Phil Murphy signed a suite of seven new state laws that enhance gun safety by requiring firearm training to obtain a gun permit, banning .50 caliber weapons, making it easier to sue gun manufacturers and dealers over gun crimes, requiring new residents to register firearms, requiring micro-stamping technology, regulating handgun ammunition, and cracking down on ghost guns.

Earlier this month, state lawmakers also introduced a new bill that bans non-permitted guns from 25 categories of buildings and facilities including government buildings, health care facilities, airports and more.

The bill also requires gun owners to purchase liability insurance. If the measure passes into law, it will be the first statewide mandate of its kind in the nation.

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.

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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 informs residents of an upcoming emergency food distribution event for Union County residents on Saturday, November 19^th.

Details are as follows:

• Saturday, November 19, 2022 at 8:00 a.m.
• KEAN University in Union Township, located at 1000 Morris Avenue
• Drive-Thru

The food distribution is open to all Union County residents. Food will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis and no registration is required. The events will take place rain or shine.

“Union County recognizes that with recent inflation and residual effects of the pandemic, many residents continue to experience food insecurity,” said Commissioner Chair Rebecca Williams. “Tens of thousands of households within Union County have benefitted from our food distribution programs over the past two and a half years.”

Residents wishing to pick up food at the drive-up distribution event at Kean University must arrive in a vehicle. Walk-ups will not be accommodated.

“The Commissioner Board is holding this food distribution as we recognize that the holiday season is upon us and food distributions are a continuous lifeline for many who are still struggling financially. This helps ease some of the costs associated with the holiday season for our residents,” said Commissioner Sergio Granados who also serves as Liaison to the Human Services Advisory Board. “We thank Village Super Market, Gargiulo Produce and all volunteers for their continued collaboration.”

All drive-up recipients must remain in their cars. Food boxes will be placed in the trunk or truck bed of the vehicle by volunteers.

Upon arrival, proof of New Jersey residency and indication of how many people reside in their household will have to be provided. Recipients will receive a special holiday food box and produce with all the trimmings. Please note that only one box of food will be provided per recipient.

To learn more about Village Super Market, visit: https://www.myvillagesupermarket.com. To learn more about Gargiulo Produce, visit: http://www.gargiuloproduce.com.

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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 and the City of Plainfield are proud to sponsor a free screening of the 2021 film, “The Tragedy of Macbeth” at the Plainfield Performing Arts Center, located at 724 Park Avenue in Plainfield on Saturday, November 19, 2022 at 7:00 p.m.

Pre-registration is encouraged. To register, visit: ucnj.org/reserve.

 “The 2021 version of ‘The Tragedy of Macbeth’ is a wonderful film adaptation of a William Shakespeare work,” Commissioner Chair Rebecca Williams. “Union County is proud to sponsor this free cultural event in conjunction with the City of Plainfield for our residents.”

A powerful adaptation of Shakespeare’s play, the film stars Denzel Washington and Frances McDormand as the iconic married couple, who are willing to go to any means to take power over 11th-century Scotland. Nominated for three Academy Awards, including Best Actor for Denzel Washington, this is a compelling and unique vision of a timeless work.

“We continue to present a diverse lineup of arts and cultural events at the Plainfield Performing Arts Center (PPAC).  The County of Union is a great partner and supporter of the arts here in Plainfield and we’re proud to have their support and collaboration as we present this film screening of a beloved and acclaimed play.  We hope to see our residents as well as friends from neighboring municipalities come out and enjoy this theatrical treat,” said Plainfield Mayor Adrian O. Mapp.

To attend this special showing, please register at ucnj.org/reserve, as space is limited. “The Tragedy of Macbeth” is rated R and is for mature audiences. The screening is open to Union County residents. 

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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.

Union County residents have a new opportunity to help conserve resources and keep plastic out of the waste stream. The Union County Board of County Commissioners has launched a new drop-off plastic film recycling program, in partnership with participating municipalities. The service is free of charge.

The new plastic film recycling program is the first countywide plastic film recycling effort to launch in New Jersey.

“We are all very proud to bring this new recycling program to Union County. It will enable our residents to help conserve valuable resources and hold back the tide of plastic waste. We encourage everyone in the participating municipalities to join in,” said Union County Commissioner Chair Rebecca L. Williams.

The Commissioner Board is partnering with the firm Trex Company, Inc., to bring the new recycling program to Union County. Trex is the world’s largest manufacturer of high-performance, low-maintenance composite decking and other outdoor living products made from recycled materials.

The program launched with an initial cohort of 12 municipalities: Berkeley Heights, Fanwood, Cranford, Elizabeth, Hillside, New Providence, Roselle Park, Scotch Plains, Springfield, Summit, Westfield and Union.

Information about locations and scheduling is available on the Union County website at ucnj.org/recycling/plastic-film and on the free Recycle Coach app for mobile devices.

Most of the participating municipalities will accept clean, dry plastic film from any Union County resident, regardless of their home town. Please note that the drop-off locations in Fanwood and Summit are not accessible to non-residents at this time.

In order to protect the recycling stream from contamination, only the following items are accepted:

From the store: produce bags, store bags, and ice bags

From the pantry: Ziploc and other re-closable bags, cereal box liners, case overwrap (for example a case of bottled water), and bread bags

From the front door: newspaper sleeves, bubble wrap, and plastic e-commerce mailers

As a reminder, only flexible plastic film may be recycled through this program. No clamshells, casings, containers or other hard plastic items are accepted.

The company Direct Waste will accept the recyclable film material from the program and consolidate it for shipping to Trex. The County is also providing municipalities with oversized bags for storing and transporting the film.

For information about the Recycle Coach app and all recycling programs hosted by Union County, visit ucnj.org/recycling.

Quick links to all environmental programs and activities hosted or supported by the Commissioner Board 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, 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 and the Union County Department of Parks and Recreation are happy to announce a kickoff to the holiday season in Warinanco Park at the Warinanco Sports Center, with skating with Santa and more.

“This is one of my favorite times of the year, where all of the annual holiday events begin. It’s a chance to bring everyone from family, friends and neighbors together to kick off a great season,” said Commissioner Chair Rebecca Williams. “I look forward to seeing everyone there!”

The event will take place on Sunday, December 4, 2022 from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and will feature skating with Santa and a visit from his elves, holiday carols and more. Tickets go on sale for purchase for $5.00 on Saturday, November 5, 2022. Tickets include 2-hour entry, skate rentals, hot chocolate and a cookie. Tickets must be purchased in advance online at warinancopark.com.

Children under 2 are FREE of charge. Everyone entering the building will need a ticket, whether or not they will skate. Tickets will NOT be available at the event, so residents should ensure everyone in their group is accounted for when purchasing tickets, including spectators. Space limited to 250 people per session.

The Warinanco Ice Skating Center is conveniently located in Warinanco Park, off St. Georges Avenue on the Roselle/Elizabeth border.

For more information, please visit the Union County website, www.ucnj.org or call 908-298-7850.

The Union County Department of Human Services will again institute the Countywide Code Blue (CB) Initiative in an effort to prevent death and injury among homeless and housing insecure persons during periods of extreme weather conditions with temperatures at or below 32 degrees Fahrenheit with precipitation.

“Last winter, over 5,000 placements were made in safe and secure shelter during a total of 91 Code Blue nights,” said Commissioner Chair Rebecca Williams. “Union County is proud to once again provide emergency shelter assistance to individuals and families in need during the coldest nights of winter.”

When extreme weather conditions are predicted, Union County Department of Human Services will implement a Countywide Code Blue.  During the Code Blue period, emergency shelters will be asked to increase their bed capacity.  Once shelters are filled to capacity, alternate arrangements will be coordinated by the Division of Human Services within the Department of Human Services and the State of New Jersey’s Homeless Hotline (NJ 211) outside of Division of Social Services business hours.

“The purpose of the Code Blue initiative is to keep our most vulnerable individuals out of harsh environments for their own health and safety,” said Commissioner Sergio Granados, Liaison to the Human Services Advisory. “It is so important to keep people off the streets, but it becomes even more imperative in the brutal winter months. Our top priority is the safety of our residents and this service helps those most at-risk stay safe and warm.”

“Due to the adverse living situations experienced by homeless persons, the U.S. Census and other broad counts of the homeless are often underestimated,” said Director of Human Services, Debbie-Ann Anderson. “The support of community organizations, local police and social service providers is necessary to ensure that our most vulnerable residents seeking shelter are afforded an opportunity to come in from the cold during dangerous and severe weather conditions.”

Notification will be provided to municipal police departments via the County Police hotline by 10:00 a.m., when a Code Blue is called. Code Blue referrals will be accepted during daytime hours only between 8:30 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. During these hours, homeless individuals and families should be referred to the Union County Division of Social Services, located at 342 Westminster Avenue in Elizabeth or 200 West 2nd Street in Plainfield.

For outside of the Division of Social Services business hours (8:30 am – 3:00 pm) and overnight assistance, the State of New Jersey’s Homeless Hotline (NJ 211) is available and can be reached by dialing 211 or 877-746-5211.  Municipalities are asked to accommodate homeless individuals locally overnight whenever possible.

All Code Blue alerts will be sent via the Union County First Alert system. For those wishing to register to receive First Alerts, should email codeblue@ucnj.org with the following information: first & last name, email address, and a request to be added to the distribution list. An email response containing a registration link allowing modification to account information will be sent.

For more details about the Countywide Code Blue Initiative, contact Agnes Oboz at (908) 527-4842 or via email at codeblue@ucnj.org.

To contact the Union County Department of Human Services, residents can use the online contact form at ucnj.org/dhs, email the DHS Action Line at DHSaction@ucnj.org, or call 908-527-4847.

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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 are pleased to announce that the County of Union has officially closed on the purchase of the Emergency Medical Services Building (EMS) in Roselle Park.

“We have been using the Roselle Park EMS building for a number of years as a base for one of our ambulances,” said Commissioner Chair Rebecca Williams. “However, we are now purchasing the building for our permanent use, which will continue to strengthen the services provided by our Union County EMS team.”

Union County EMS was created in 2011 to provide mutual aid in pre-hospital care throughout the county.  The program, was then staffed by thirteen (13) part time EMTs, operating Monday through Friday, however, this quickly evolved into a full time organization with multiple ambulances on duty 24/7. 

On August 1, 2015, Union County EMS entered into an Agreement to cover daytime medical calls in in Roselle Park.  That agreement expanded in August 2017, when Union County became the exclusive provider of Roselle Park’s Emergency Medical Services. It was the first town to become a part of the Union County EMS program.

Union County EMS now employees sixty (60) EMTs, using a combination of per diem and full time employees.  To date, Union County EMS has responded to over 58,000 calls spanning all 21 municipalities.  From August 1, 2015 through October 31, 2022, the UC EMS have been dispatched to 5,678 calls in Roselle Park. 

“We’re thrilled to deepen our ties to the County of Union with this sale. Small municipalities are reliant on county services, and this ensures the residents of Roselle Park will be supported for generations to come and allows the County to make much-needed improvements to the building to serve all of Union County,” said Roselle Park Mayor Joseph Signorello.

The Laurel Avenue property, was purchased for $750,000 and is Union County’s second operating EMS Center. The other locations is in Westfield, where it is headquartered. 

For more information, please call Union County Emergency Services at 908-654-9881.