County of Union, New Jersey

Please be advised, Union County Mosquito Control will be spraying for Mosquitoes tonight, Thursday, July 28, 2022, between the hours of 7:00 P.M. and 12:00 A.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: 908-654-9873

• Berkeley Heights – Roger’s Ave., Ralph Pl., Apple tree Row, Hilltop Av., Emerson La., Brookside La.
  Cedar La., Water La. Beechwood La. Janet La. Area
• Clark – Lefferts Ln., Terhune Rd., Whitley Ter., Carolina St., Georgia St., Emerald Pl., Kennedy Dr., Ridge Rd., Hilltop Av., Oak Ridge RD.,
• Cranford – Wadsworth Ter.
• Hillside – Harvard Ave., Cornell Pl., John St.
• Kenilworth – Dorset Dr., Water Co. Rd., Blvd (County Yard). Epping Dr.
• Linden – Tremley Point Area, Range Rd., Minor Ter. E. Henry St., Harrison Pl., E. Elm St.,
• New Providence – Mountain Ave., Gail’s Dr., Charmwood Rd., Union Ave.
• Rahway – Central Ave., Milton Blvd., Lakeside Dr., Crescent Dr. Area
• Roselle – Chandler Ave., E. 1st Ave., E.2nd Ave., Poplar St.
• Roselle Park – Maplewood Ave., W. Webster Ave., Amsterdam Ave., Seaton Ave.
• Scotch Plains – Frank St., Martine Extension, Jacobs La.
• Springfield – Waverly Ave., Oakland Ave., S. Springfield Ave., Evergreen Ave., Brown Ave.,
  Bernadette Ct., Smithfield Dr.
• Summit – New Providence Rd., Water Co. Rd.
• Westfield – Lamberts mill Rd.

County Parks

• Clark – Oak Ridge Pk.
• Cranford – Nomahegan Pk.
• Hillside – Rutgers Pk.
• Plainfield – Cedar Brook Pk., Green Brook Pk.

Municipality Parks

• Plainfield – Milt Campbell Pk.
• Westfield – Tamaques Pk.

The Union County Board of Commissioners is pleased to present the 2022 Union County Teen Arts Touring Exhibit, now on display at the Commissioners Gallery located on the 6^th floor of the Union County Administration Building at 10 Elizabethtown Plaza in Elizabeth.

The exhibit is a selection of 36 works from the 2022 Union County Teen Arts Festival, an annual two-day event celebrating youth creativity in the literary, performing, and visual arts.

“The Touring Exhibit reflects the rich imagination, artistry and experiences of students all across Union County, and we are very proud to host these works at the Administration Building,” said Commissioner Chair Rebecca Williams.

Works by students from the following municipalities are included in the Touring Exhibit: Berkeley Heights, Clark, Cranford, Elizabeth, Garwood, Kenilworth, Linden, Mountainside, Plainfield, Roselle, Roselle Park, Springfield.

The Union County Teen Arts Touring Exhibit is currently on display at the Commissioners Gallery at the Union County Administration Building located at 10 Elizabethtown Plaza, Elizabeth.

On August 1, the exhibit will move to the Union County Courthouse at 2 Broad Street in Elizabeth.

Additional tour locations through next year include Springfield, Linden, Cranford, and Plainfield. For a complete schedule visit ucnj.org/art-shows.

The Union County Teen Arts Festival and Touring Exhibits are coordinated each year by the Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs in the Department of Parks and Recreation, with offices at 633 Pearl Street in Elizabeth.

For information about all Cultural and Heritage Affairs programs and services visit ucnj.org/cultural, email culturalinfo@ucnj.org or call 908-558-2550 (NJ Relay users dial 711).

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.

Photo captions: The 2022 Teen Arts Touring Exhibit includes 36 works of art by students throughout Union County, including:

Beyond the Garden by Keyla Flores, Pencil and Acrylic, Nicholas S. LaCorte-Peterstown No.3 (Elizabeth)

Untitled by Sophia Castrovinci, Acrylic, Columbia Middle School (Berkeley Heights)

Nature’s Seeing Eyes by Carolina Ucros, Acrylic, William F. Halloran No. 22 (Elizabeth)

La Femenina by Camila Conza, Quilling and Watercolor, Thomas Jefferson Arts Academy (Elizabeth

Union County’s “ASK” program will visit two locations in August.

Union County seniors and their caregivers can come to Union County’s Aging Services Kiosk events and meet in person with professional staff for expert guidance on senior programs and resources, including help with filling out applications and forms.

“The ASK program brings our professional staff out to local neighborhoods, to help ensure that we reach everyone in search of assistance. It’s a friendly, convenient way to find out about helpful programs and services,” said Union County Commissioner Chair Rebecca L. Williams. 

ASK is 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.

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 August dates and locations will be:

Thursday, August 4

Union Public Library

1060 Stuyvesant Avenue

Union, 07083

10:00 – 12:00

Monday, August 8

Clark Public Library

303 Westfield Avenue

Clark, 07066

10:00 – 12:00

To check for other upcoming ASK events call the Division on Aging and Disability Resource Connection 1-888-280-8226 toll free or visit the Division online at ucnj.org/dhs/aging.

ASK updates are also posted on Union County’s social media channels and are frequently carried by local media, both print and digital.

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. It 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.

Spotted lanternfly nymphs look like small beetles, but they will soon grow into destructive pests.

Union County, NJ – July 26, 2022 — Union County residents can help fight back against the spotted lanternfly by destroying the destructive pest while it is still in the early stages of growth. The spotted lanternfly is an invasive species that can weaken trees, damage ornamental plants and destroy fruit trees, hops, grape vines and other crops. They also excrete a whitish “honeydew” that can grow moldy and foul outdoor spaces including patios and yard furniture.

Each fall the adult spotted lanternfly lays eggs on outdoor surfaces including tree trunks, lawn furniture and vehicles. In early summer, the eggs hatch into nymphs that look like small black or bright red beetles speckled with white spots.

Residents who spot the nymphs can use a variety of approved pesticides to kill them. Crushing or swatting them is another option, though they are quick to hop away.

“Union County residents and property managers can take action against this destructive pest now, by inspecting yards, gardens and landscaping for the nymphs, and destroying them before they mature,” said Commissioner Chair Rebecca Williams.

The nymphs can be seen on many different kinds of plants and trees. They are especially likely to be found clustering on the stems of the common ailanthus tree, or “tree of heaven.”

The nymphs mature into large, moth-like adults that can be easily identified by their papery white wings and brightly colored red, black and white underwings and body.

Adults are already beginning to emerge. Union County residents who see a spotted lanternfly should kill it immediately, by stomping it under foot. If it hops away, follow it and try again when it settles.

The spotted lanternfly belongs to a group of insects called “planthoppers.” They do not bite or sting, and they do not seem toxic to humans or pets.  Native to parts of Southeast Asia, they were first seen in Pennsylvania in six years ago. They are believed to have arrived in shipments of stone. They were first found in New Jersey in 2018 has also been found in other nearby states.

For more information, including photos of the spotted lanternfly and its eggs at various stages, visit the New Jersey Division of Agriculture at nj.gov/agriculture.

Additional information is available from Rutgers University at njaes.rutgers.edu/spotted-lanternfly.

Sightings of the insect can also be reported to Rutgers University through the online reporting tool.

Union County is one of three counties in New Jersey participating in a U.S. Department of Agriculture research project to assess various methods of mitigating the spotted lanternfly invasion. For more information from the USDA visit aphis.usda.gov/hungrypests/slf.

For quick links to all Union County environmental programs and activities visit 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.

Residents advised to take precautions to prevent heat related illness

The Union County Board of County Commissioners advises residents that a heat advisory remains in effect for Union County through Sunday, July 24 at 8:00 p.m., with temperatures expected to reach up to 100 degrees, according to the National Weather Service. Heat index values are expected to be in the upper 90s and lower 100s.

Hot temperatures and high humidity may cause heat illnesses to occur.  The heat index, also known as the apparent temperature, is what the temperature feels like to the human body when relative humidity is combined with the air temperature. Homes without air conditioning can be much hotter than outdoor temperatures.

“We encourage all residents to be as safe as possible during this latest heatwave. There are several designated cooling places in Union County residents can visit to stay cool, as well as other steps to take in order to prevent heat-related illness,” said Commissioner Chair Rebecca Williams.

Residents are advised to stay hydrated, limit outdoor activity and check on any neighbors in need. They are also reminded to not leave children or pets unattended in a car.

Residents without air conditioning can call 211 or visit https://www.nj211.org/nj-cooling-centers for a county-by-county list of cooling centers in New Jersey. Residents can also cool off by visiting local libraries, indoor malls and other public places with air conditioning.

A Heat Advisory is issued when the combination of heat and humidity is expected to make it feel like it is 95 to 99 degrees for two or more consecutive days, or 100 to 104 degrees for any length of time.

Seniors and those with chronic health problems or mental health conditions are at an increased risk. Vulnerable friends, family members and neighbors should be checked on.

To reduce risk during outdoor work, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration recommends scheduling frequent rest breaks in shaded or air conditioned environments.

Anyone overcome by heat should be moved to a cool and shaded location. In cases of suspected heat stroke call 911 immediately.

For more heat safety tips from the National Weather Service, visit weather.gov/safety/heat.

For more information and updates on all Union County services during the COVID-19 outbreak, 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.