County of Union, New Jersey

Union County, NJ – February 25, 2022 — The Union County Board of County Commissioners, along with the Elizabeth Public Library will host a Virtual Sensory Friendly Bedtime Stories event via Zoom, on Tuesday, March 1^st from 7:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

“Read Across America is a great way to motivate and inspire our youngest residents to read and the Commissioner Board strong supports this initiative,” said Commissioner Chair Rebecca Williams. “We are proud to assist in the effort to make this day an inclusive and welcoming event for everyone.”

In celebration of National Read Across America Day, Commissioners, as well as other community leaders will join together and read books to children ages 12 and under. Commissioners reading will be Chair Rebecca Williams, Vice-Chair Chris Hudak, Sergio Granados, Bette Jane Kowalski, Dr. Angela R. Garretson, Lourdes Leon and Kimberly Palmieri-Mouded.

“Reading plays a vital role in shaping us into who we are and helps build a strong foundation for lifelong learning,” said Commissioner Sergio Granados, Liaison to the Human Services Advisory Board. “In a world full of ever-changing technology, it more important than ever to motivate our youth to read, and having stories that are inclusive to all backgrounds and cultures is even more important. This coincides with Union County’s efforts to ensure all of our residents feel included, respected and valued in our community.”

Nationally, Read Across America Day takes place on Wednesday, March 2^nd. The day was established by the National Education Association (NEA) in 1998 to encourage students, teachers, parents, and community members around the nation to come together to read books and celebrate the joy of reading.

“I am grateful to participate in this initiative; for the last two years, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic may have caused some stress and disruption to families with young children, including to daily routines,” said Commissioner Kowalski. “Reading is such a valuable tool for children so encouraging families to make this activity a part of their everyday lives is so important, especially to their growth and development.”

Guided by a committee of educators, Read across America is an inclusive program that embraces books in which different students can see their own experiences, as well as books that open windows to see different people and different worlds.  For more information visit nea.org.

Offered by the Union County Office for Persons with Disabilities and Special Needs, this virtual read-aloud program is free of charge, however, pre-registration is required online at ucnj.org/opdsn-reg.

The Union County Office for Persons with Disabilities and Special Needs offers social and recreational activities for individuals of all abilities and ages, provides information and referral services, and advocates for inclusion and accessibility in all aspects of community life.

For more information visit ucnj.org/special-needs online or contact Jasmine Doughty-Whithous at jwhitous@ucnj.org or 908-527-4781.

For more information about the Elizabeth Public Library, please visit elizpl.org, email elizpublib@gmail.com, or call the Main Branch at 908-354-6060.

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.

Union County, NJ – February 22, 2022 — As the winter weather changes into spring this year, everyone in Union County and throughout New Jersey will also see a big change at their favorite stores. Beginning on Wednesday May 4, a new state law called the “Bag Ban” goes into effect. When it does, stores and restaurants in New Jersey will no longer hand out free, single-use plastic bags.

The new law also has an additional provision for large grocery stores. Starting on May 4, grocery stores will not hand out any free single-use bags, whether paper or plastic. Shoppers will need to bring their own reusable bags or purchase them at the store.

“Changing from single-use bags to reusable bags is a big step for many Union County residents, and we hope to make the transition as smooth as possible by helping to raise awareness about the new law,” said Commissioner Chair Rebecca Williams. “We are all used to running out for groceries and getting bags from the store. Now we need to start a new habit, and bring our own bags when shopping.”

Union County residents and shoppers can prepare in advance by taking four simple steps:

Step 1: Start gathering enough reusable bags to accommodate your weekly grocery shopping or other large shopping trips.

Step 2: Hang your bags by your door, or put them in your car, where you are likely to remember them. Writing “BAGS” at the top of your shopping list is another effective memory trick.

Step 3: Keep a lightweight, foldable bag in your purse, backpack or pocket in case of unexpected errands.

Step 4: Don’t wait until May 4 — start shopping with reusable bags now.

The Bag Ban comes under the heading of New Jersey Public Law. 2020, c 117, a comprehensive state law intended to reduce waste, litter and pollution. The provision dealing with single-use plastic bags applies to all retail stores in New Jersey. The provision dealing with single-use paper bags applies to grocery stores larger than 2,500 square feet.

The law was enacted in 2020, providing retailers and the public with two years to prepare for the change to reusable bags.

Details about the law are available from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection at nj.gov/dep/plastic-ban-law.

Business owners and managers can find additional information at business.nj.gov/bags/plastic-ban-law.

For information about free County-sponsored recycling events and other recycling programs in Union County, visit the Union County Bureau of Recycling and Planning online at ucnj.org/recycle or call the Union County Recycling Hotline at 908-654-9889.

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.

Commission for Status on Women to honor 8 County women at free virtual event

The Union County Commission on the Status of Women is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2022 Women of Excellence Awards. This year, 8 Union County women have been selected to receive the Union County Women of Excellence Award for their outstanding contributions to their communities. The awardees will be honored at a virtual event on Friday, March 25 at 6:30 p.m.

The virtual awards ceremony is free for all to attend but pre-registration is required. Residents who wish to pre-register can do so by visiting https://ucnj.org/whm/.

“We are proud to acknowledge the contributions made by this year’s awardees towards a positive difference in the quality of life for everyone in the County,” said County Commissioner Chair Rebecca Williams. “For over 35 years, the Board of County Commissioners has recognized women among us who lead, serve, and inspire. Their work raises awareness about the influence of women in every sphere of the Union County community, from business and legal affairs to public service and education.”

55 nominations were submitted for consideration and 8 were ultimately chosen to be named 2022 Union County Women of Excellence. The Union County women being recognized for their accomplishments by the Commission on the Status of Women are:

• Kathy Arminio
• Charlotte Brown
• Sylvia Hicks
• Audry Kelly
• Amanda Parrish-Block
• Gwendolyn Ryan
• Elizabeth Stamler
• Anita Thomas

The Women of Excellence awards are sponsored by the Union County Board of County Commissioners, the Commission on the Status of Women, and the Union County Office on Women.

For any questions or to get more information about the Women of Excellence awards program, contact Jennifer Erdos, Union County Office on Women, at 908-527-4216 or jerdos@ucnj.org.

Union County, NJ – February 18, 2022 — Flood control along the Rahway River has been a focus of effort for the Union County Board of County Commissioners, local mayors and other community stakeholders for many years, and a solution is finally in sight. Federal funding has been restored to complete a feasibility study of the upper portion of the Rahway River Basin. It will serve as the blueprint for future flood control programs.

“The feasibility study is the key to resolving flood control issues with long term solutions that protect our communities,” said Commissioner Chair Rebecca Williams. “We thank the Rahway River Mayors Council and our partners in Essex and Middlesex counties for collaborating in this effort, and we thank Senator Bob Menendez, Senator Cory Booker and Representatives Tom Malinowski and Donald Payne, Jr. in Congress for working persistently and diligently to restore federal funding for the study.”

“The feasibility study is a complex undertaking that would be impossible to accomplish with state and local resources alone, so restoring this assistance from federal sources is a critical achievement. The Commissioner Board is looking forward to working with the Mayors Council and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to keep this project moving forward as quickly as possible,” said Commissioner Bette Jane Kowalski, who serves as the Commissioner Board’s liaison to the Mayors Council.

“As climate control continues to wreak havoc on our state with high winds and major flooding, this funding could not come at a better time. I was proud to work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to secure this funding for critical Army Corps projects across New Jersey and the nation. I look forward to this project’s progression which will help protect families and communities along the Rahway River Basin,” said Senator Menendez.

“It has never been a question of if the communities along the Rahway River will flood again, but when and how bad will it be. Last year, Hurricane Ida provided yet another tragic example. Despite decades of study, my constituents in Union County are still waiting for a solution, which is why I wrote legislation to bring the Army Corps of Engineers back to the table to design and construct an acceptable project. I am glad to see these efforts re-start, and I will continue to fight to ensure that these communities have the resources needed to protect their families and businesses,” said Senator Booker.

“As a member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, I worked hard to reverse the Corps’ termination the study, to increase funding for it, and to secure explicit commitments from Corps leadership to work collaboratively with our local leaders to get it done,” said Representative Malinowski. “I’ll continue to advocate for homeowners and business owners near the Rahway River who live under the near-constant threat of flooding, and who deserve the peace of mind.”

The 82-square-mile Rahway River Basin covers a large part of Union County as well as parts of Essex and Middlesex counties, including Clark, Cranford, Fanwood, Garwood, Kenilworth, Linden, Mountainside, Plainfield, Rahway, Scotch Plains, Springfield, Westfield, Winfield Park, Union Township and Summit.

Flood control has been a concern among Rahway River communities for generations. The list of most damaging storms on record includes a series of four storms between 1968 and 1975, and another four in the 1990’s. Notable storms over the past 15 years occurred in 2007 (an April Nor’easter), 2011 (Hurricane Irene), 2012 (Hurricane Sandy), and Hurricane Ida, the remnants of which caused severe flooding in eight Rahway River towns last September.

Longstanding efforts to establish a regional flood control system began to coalesce after Hurricane Floyd struck in 1999, when the Rahway River towns of Cranford, Millburn, Springfield, Maplewood, Union, Garwood, Kenilworth and Rahway formed the Mayors Council to collaborate on solutions. Progress began to accelerate in 2015, after Senators Menendez and Booker, and Representative Donald Payne, Jr., secured a total of $1 million in federal funding towards the completion of a feasibility study to assess risks and alternatives, to be administered by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

The Army Corps of Engineers produced 17 flood control options during the initial years of the study, but further work was unilaterally halted in 2019 under the previous federal administration. The new funding restarts the project, reflecting the prioritization of infrastructure and resiliency during the Biden administration with bipartisan support from members of Congress.

The feasibility project is part of a new $966 million allocation of federal funding for various Army Corps of Engineers projects in New Jersey, made available through passage of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment Act and the Disaster Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act last year. An allocation of $1.54 million will enable the study to be completed.

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.

On behalf of the Union County Board of County Commissioners, Commissioner Chair Rebecca L. Williams presented Resolutions to Union County Vocational-Technical Schools Superintendent Gwendolyn Ryan, along with staff and students from the Academies of the Vocational-Technical Schools District, in recognition of National Career and Technical Month and National Future Farmers of America Week.

Union County, NJ – February 17, 2022 —  The National Weather Service has issued a wind advisory for Union County, beginning late tonight and lasting into Friday morning as a strong frontal system crosses the region. Strong to damaging wind gusts are expected in parts of the New Jersey – New York – Connecticut metropolitan area along with significant rainfall.

General storm preparation guidelines include:

Secure trash cans, lightweight yard furniture and other outdoor items.

Check flashlight batteries and power up electronic devices in case of power outages.

Stay tuned to a local news station for weather updates.

Stay home or limit travel later tonight.

Strong winds are expected in Union County and the surrounding area, defined by the National Weather Service as winds 25 to 35 mph with gusts up to 55 mph.

Union County residents traveling to other parts of the metropolitan area may experience damaging winds, defined as 30 to 40 mph. Gust of up to 65 mph are anticipated for Long Island and southeastern Connecticut.

For more general guidance on storm preparation, visit FEMA online at ready.gov.

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.

More than two dozen federal, state, county and municipal law enforcement agencies will participate in a joint recruitment event on Monday, February 28 at Kean University’s main campus in Union, New Jersey.

The event is jointly hosted by Kean University and the Union County Prosecutor’s Office, with the support of the Union County Board of County Commissioners, New Jersey Senate President Nicholas Scutari, State Sen. Joseph Cryan, State Sen. Jon Bramnick, Elizabeth Branch NAACP President Shawn McClain, Rahway Branch NAACP Vice President Reverend Gary Hall, and New Jersey NOBLE President Jiles Ship.

“As we look toward the future, recruiting and cultivating the next generation of law enforcement professionals is one of the most important investments we can make in our community,” said Union County Prosecutor William Daniel. “Whether you are considering a career in law enforcement at the federal, state, county or municipal level, we encourage you to stop by the recruitment fair to learn more about this meaningful line of work.”

“At Kean, we take great pride in our robust criminal justice program that prepares students to succeed in many roles across the justice system,” said Kean President Lamont O. Repollet, Ed.D. “We are excited to host this joint event to support our students and others in our community in finding valuable and fulfilling careers in law enforcement.”

The recruitment fair is open to the public from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Liberty Hall Academic Center, 1003 Morris Ave in Union. Interested applicants are invited to bring their resumes to meet with representatives from various agencies.

The event is free, but there is a $35 fee for anyone interested in registering for the New Jersey Civil Service Exam on site.

Commissioner Chair Rebecca Williams encourages residents to attend the recruitment event.

“We recently had a joint law enforcement job fair, which was very successful, so I hope that individuals will come out to this one as well,” Williams said. “There are over 20 agencies involved, so there are many opportunities for our constituents who are looking for a career in this rewarding field to find their match; I hope you will join us and see what there is to offer.”

“This event is the perfect opportunity for any resident in Union County who is interested in a career in law enforcement to meet and interact with each department’s recruitment team,” said Scutari. “Our Legislature is committed to developing future leaders, and it is through events like this that we can provide the necessary tools our constituents need to develop a bright future and make a positive impact in their community.

“I am very proud of the outstanding work of law enforcement in our county,” said Bramnick. “I am very pleased to endorse and support the job recruitment fair.”

“Union County is home to some of the finest law enforcement professionals, who serve our communities with honor, respect and dignity,” said Cryan. “Those interested in joining their ranks or just learning more are highly encouraged to attend this event.”

Agencies slated to attend include: the Federal Bureau of Investigation (Newark), Homeland Security Investigations (Newark), New Jersey Division of Criminal Justice, New Jersey State Police, New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness, Prosecutor’s Offices of Bergen, Camden, Essex, Hudson, Morris, and Union counties, and the Police Departments of Berkeley Heights, Clark, Hillside, Irvington, Kean University, Linden, Mountainside, Newark, Orange, Plainfield, Rahway, Roselle, Scotch Plains, Stevens Institute of Technology, Union County, Union County Sheriff, Union Township and Westfield.

Everyone in attendance is expected to follow COVID-19 safety protocols. Masks are required, regardless of vaccination status, in all university buildings. Professional attire is recommended.

Parking will be available in the STEM Building lot, adjacent to the Liberty Hall Academic Center.