County of Union, New Jersey

Earlier this week, Union County Commissioner Chair Rebecca Williams, Commissioners Sergio Granados and Kimberly Palmieri-Mouded kicked off the 2022 season of the Fresh Start Program at The Salvation Army in Elizabeth, located at 1005 East Jersey Street. This program provides shower, laundry and restroom facilities to persons who are in need, along with guidance and resources on additional services that foster self-sufficiency.

“At the time of the launch in 2021, this program was the first mobile service of its kind to be offered in New Jersey,” said Commissioner Chair Rebecca Williams. “There are many people who have fallen on hard times and don’t always have access to a hot shower or hygiene supplies, which can be detrimental to their self-confidence. This mobile unit not only provides them with access to these amenities, but can also make a positive impact on their overall wellbeing, bringing a sense of joy and self-esteem.”

The main focus of Fresh Start is a mobile trailer equipped with bathroom and shower units as well as laundry facilities. It has three non-gender specific shower and bathroom units, one of which is ADA compliant as well as two washing and dryer machines.

“Access to laundry and shower facilities on a regular basis can be a barrier for both low-income and homeless individuals.  A hot shower and clean clothes can change a person’s whole demeanor and outlook on life,” said Commissioner Sergio Granados, Liaison to the Union County Human Services Advisory Council.  “Between laundry services, and access to a hot shower, the Fresh Start Program also features community providers with resources like housing, employment opportunities and supportive services.  These services can help those in need to get back on their feet and onto a path of self-sufficiency.  I am so proud to be a part of this initiative.”

In collaboration with community partners, Fresh Start coordinates a wide variety resources within County government including the Division of Social Services, Division of Outreach & Advocacy, Division of Individual & Family Support Services, as well as local non-profit providers. It serves as a portal to a continuum of resources for Union County residents, such as emergency shelter, food, clothing, mental health, housing and employment assistance.

The program will run from now until October, visiting various agency or faith-based organizations (to be announced) throughout Union County.

If an organization is interested in hosting the Union County Fresh Start Mobile Program at their location, a request via email can be sent to freshstart@ucnj.org. For more information, please visit Union County Department of Human Services at https://ucnj.org/dhs/fresh-start.

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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.

 

Earlier this evening at the Union County Board of County Commissioners meeting, the Commissioners awarded a total of $1,500,000.00 to the County’s twenty-one municipalities for the 2022 Union County Infrastructure and Municipal Aid grant program.

“As one of the largest counties in the state, keeping the vitality and safety of certain projects such as road or pavement repairs to municipal building improvements are something that is critical to keep up-to-date,” said Commissioner Chair Rebecca Williams. “I am pleased that we are able to assist our cities and towns with the funding they need to make these improvements – continuing to make Union County a great place to live, work or visit.”

Several Mayors and representatives from the municipalities in Union County were present to accept the check. A variety of revitalization projects are expected to be used with the funds – however, road improvements are on the top of the list as most requested for funding.

“Investing in our communities is a key part of our plan to accelerate long-lasting improvements across Union County,” said Commissioner Sergio Granados, who is the 2022 Fiscal Chair. “This grant program continues to have wide-ranging impacts as we emerge from the pandemic, therefore improving the vibrancy and quality of life in our neighborhoods, and making all corners of the County even more attractive and sustainable for investment and opportunity.”

The Infrastructure grant program is aimed to provide assistance that will stimulate the development of public projects of economic, social, transportation and governmental importance to local municipalities. The Infrastructure and Municipal Aid grant is a matching grant and will assist municipalities with projects being undertaken in the 2022 calendar year.

The program was created by Commissioner Christopher Hudak in 2015, developed by the County Commissioner’s Fiscal Committee and administered by the Department of Economic Development.  This year’s Commissioner Fiscal Committee included: Commissioner Sergio Granados, Chair, Commissioner Lourdes Leon

Commissioner Alexander Mirabella and Commissioner Kimberly Palmieri-Mouded.

Funding for the grant is provided through the proceeds from the sale of Runnells Specialized Hospital in 2014.

To learn more about this grant or about any other program, please visit www.ucnj.org.

• Township of Berkeley Heights – Miscellaneous Drainage Improvements – $60,000.00
• Township of Clark – Capital Road Improvement Program – $65,000.00
• Township of Cranford – Resurfacing Project – $90,000.00
• City of Elizabeth – Emergency Response Facility Exterior Canopy Project – $145,000.00
• Borough of Fanwood – Glenwood Road Improvements Project – $40,000.00
• Borough of Garwood – Curb Replacements on Sections of South Avenue – $35,000.00
• Township of Hillside – Replacing Gate for Township DPW Yard – $23,650.00
• Borough of Kenilworth – Records Management Scanning, Meeting Streaming Project and Repair & Replacement of Borough Sidewalks – $50,000.00
• City of Linden – Resurfacing of Various Parking Lots – $90,000.00
• Borough of Mountainside – Road Work-Resurfacing of Fernwood Rd & Fox Trail – $40,000.00
• Borough of New Providence – Municipal Roadway Paving Project – $50,000.00
• City of Plainfield – West End Ave/Grant Ave Roadway Improvement Project – $135,000.00
• City of Rahway – Rahway Resurfacing Project – $95,000.00
• Borough of Roselle – Roselle Resurfacing Project – $70,000.00
• Borough of Roselle Park – Improvements to Little League Field Parking Lot – $63,000.00
• Township of Scotch Plains – Roadway Assistance Program 2022 – $100,000.00
• Township of Springfield – Paving Improvements on Various Streets – $60,000.00
• City of Summit – Tulip Street Improvement Project & City Hall Records Storage Improvement Project – $75,000.00
• Township of Union – Reconstruction of Kirkland Place – $98,000.00
• Town of Westfield – Improvement to Elmer Street & Improvement to Barchester Way – $100,000.00
• Township of Winfield – Various Improvements: Municipal Complex Roof, Police Door, Police Computers/Battery Backups/Printers & Fire Department Sign – $15,350.00
• Total Award Amount – $1,500,000.00

The Union County Board of Elections reminds Union County residents who are not registered to vote that they have until Tuesday, May 17 to register in time to vote in the upcoming Primary Election on Tuesday, June 7.

“We encourage all eligible residents to register to vote. Registered Democrats and Republicans are eligible to vote in a Primary Election. Also, unaffiliated voters will chose their party affiliation on Election Day,” explained Nicole DiRado, Administrator, Union County Board of Elections.

To register, a voter must be a citizen of the United States and at least 18 years old by Election Day, and they must be a resident of New Jersey and Union County for at least 30 days.

Under a new state law enacted last year, persons currently on parole or probation are eligible to vote. However, persons currently serving a sentence due to a felony conviction are not eligible.

Eligible residents can download a registration application by visiting the Union County Board of Elections website, ucnj.org/ucboe.

Residents who wish to receive an application by mail can use the online form at unioncountyvotes.com, or call the Board of Elections at 908-527-4123.

Residents can apply to register in person at the Union County Board of Elections offices, located at 271 North Broad Street in Elizabeth during regular business hours. On May 17 the office hours will be extended through 9:00 p.m.

Residents can also visit the office of their Municipal Clerk to register.

Additionally, a new statewide online voter registration system was introduced by the New Jersey Division of Elections in 2020. Eligible residents who wish to register to vote online can visit the Division of Elections online at voter.svrs.nj.gov/register.

For all Union County Board of Elections information visit online at ucnj.org/ucboe, email ucboe@ucnj.org, or call 908-527-4123.

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 Senior Citizens’ Art Exhibit, featuring 108 original works in various media, is now on display at the Trailside Nature & Science Center, located in Watchung Reservation at 452 New Providence Road, in Mountainside.

Trailside is open daily from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. except for Mondays and holidays, and admission is free of charge.

“We are very proud of our senior artists, both professional and non-professional. The exhibit at Trailside is a wonderful opportunity to enjoy a view of the world from their unique perspective,” said Union County Commissioner Chair Rebecca L. Williams.

The public is invited to visit the exhibit from Thursday, April 28 through Wednesday, May 11. Please note, the exhibit will not be available for view this Sunday, May 1.

The Senior Citizens’ Art Exhibit is an annual event that showcases artworks created by Union County residents, age 60 and above – both professional and non-professional artists. Artworks include a variety of media categories including acrylic painting, oil painting, watercolor, pastel, drawing, photography, digital art, mixed media, sculpture and crafts.

Awards for outstanding entries in each media category for the 2022 Senior Citizens’ Art Exhibit were selected by professional artists Kortez Artise, Joseph Borzotta, and Michael Donato.

The Best in Show by a Professional Artist was awarded to Lynda Dubois-Jackson of Plainfield for her craft titled “Grandma & Friends.” Best in Show by a Non-professional Artist was awarded to Elizabeth Gillin of Westfield for her oil painting titled “Amanda Gorman, My Favorite Poet.”

All first-place artworks will go on to compete at the state level in the 2022 New Jersey Senior Citizens’ Art Show in East Windsor this fall.

The Senior Citizens’ Art Exhibit is presented and coordinated by the Union County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs, a division of the Department of Parks and Recreation. For more information, email msturm@ucnj.org, or call 908-558-2550 weekdays (relay users dial 711).

For more information about the Office, visit ucnj.org/cultural.

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 caption: The mixed media artwork Finding Beauty in a World of Chaos by Michelle Thompson of Union Township is one of 108 works included in the 2022 Union County Senior Citizens’ Art Exhibit.

Union County voters are advised that the ballots for Democratic voters who have applied for Vote-by-Mail ballots for the June 7, 2022 Primary Election are being mailed beginning today. Due to the large volume of ballots, the mailing will be conducted over the next several days in batches by town, in alphabetical order.

This year, the Vote-by-Mail ballots for Republican voters were mailed on schedule, while the mailing for Democratic voters was delayed by a court order prohibiting the printing of Democratic ballots due to a challenge. The Appellate Division of the Superior Court of New Jersey vacated the order earlier this week, enabling the County Clerk to proceed with the mailing.

The mailings for Democratic voters will be concluded by May 6. Unaffiliated Vote-by-Mail ballots will be mailed the following week.

County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi advises all Vote-by-Mail users that their ballot will arrive in a bright yellow envelope, to help ensure that the ballot is not mistaken for junk mail. The words “OFFICIAL MAIL-IN BALLOT/BOLETA OFICIAL POR CORREO” are also printed in bold, black lettering to the right of the addressee window.

“Each ballot comes with pre-paid return postage and detailed instructions. We advise Vote-by-Mail voters to read the instructions carefully before filling out their ballot. Voters should also mail back their ballot as soon as possible, to avoid accidentally misplacing or discarding it,” said Ms. Rajoppi.

After filling out the ballot, voters should place it in the return envelope and check to see that their home address appears in the see-through window. 

Approximately 45,000 voters in Union County will automatically receive their Vote-by-Mail ballots.

Other Union County voters can request a Vote-By-Mail ballot by using the downloadable application form on the County Clerk’s elections website, unioncountyvotes.com, or by contacting the Elections Division at 908-527-4996 or ucvote@ucnj.org.

Polling places will also be available on Election Day, June 7, for voters who prefer to cast their ballot in person.  In-person voters also have the option of casting their ballot early, on June 3, 4, or 5.

To find the polling locations for Election Day and early in-person voting, 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, 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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Connect with Union County on social media.