County of Union, New Jersey

Union County, NJ – February 8, 2022 – The Union County Board of County Commissioners informs residents of the updated schedules for COVID-19 testing and vaccinations throughout the County.

“Vaccination and testing is imperative to mitigating the spread of COVID-19 and its variants,” said Commissioner Chair Rebecca Williams. “Union County will continue to work to provide residents with easy access to these important tools.”

Starting Tuesday, February 8, COVID-19 (PCR Saliva and Rapid Nasal) testing at the Plainfield Performing Arts Center will be available on:

• Tuesday through Friday – 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
• Saturdays – 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Beginning Monday, February 14^th, COVID-19 (nasal test) testing at Kean University in Union Township will take place on:

• Mondays 7:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. – (Kean will be open for testing on President’s Day on Monday February 21^st)
• Thursdays 7:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. & 3:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

Also beginning the week of February 14^th, COVID-19 (PCR Saliva and Rapid Nasal) testing at the Plainfield Performing Arts Center will take place:

• Tuesday thru Friday – 2:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
• Saturdays 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

COVID-19 testing at the Gerry B. Green Building in Plainfield (saliva test) will continue on Wednesdays from 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Beginning Monday, February 21^st, COVID-19 vaccinations will be available according to the following schedule:

• Warinanco Ice Skating Center in Roselle – Tuesdays and Thursdays 3:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. – Pfizer only (Ages 5 and up) & Pfizer boosters available.
• Kean University in Union Township – Fridays 3:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. (Kean will be open on Lincoln’s birthday, Friday, February 11^th) – Moderna, J & J, Pfizer (Ages 12 and up); no pediatric Pfizer – Boosters available

Appointments for vaccines and testing can be booked online by creating an account https://ucnj.org/covid19.  Residents looking to visit the Immunization Clinic for a free COVID-19 vaccine can walk in Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Union County’s Public Safety Department will once again begin working directly with municipalities to pivot back to mobile testing and vaccination, providing residents with as many opportunities as possible to test when needed as well as get their COVID-19 shots.

Testing at the Plainfield Performing Arts Center is done in partnership with the New Jersey Department of Health, Vault Health and the City of Plainfield

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.

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Union County officials announced today that starting Tuesday, February 8th, registration will open for a new Emergency Rescue Mortgage Assistance (ERMA) program from the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency (NJHMFA) to assist homeowners with mortgage and other housing costs that may have occurred due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“While there appear to be signs that we are starting to return to normal in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, uncertainties and financial strains created by the crisis remain,” Said Commissioner Chair Rebecca Williams. “We often see many assistance programs for renters; however, homeowners are also struggling with their mortgages, property taxes and other rising or past housing costs. This program is here to help them.”

The ERMA program provides up to $35,000 in assistance to cover mortgage arrearages and other housing cost delinquencies for eligible homeowners negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. This can help protect thousands of homeowners from foreclosures and neighborhoods from being impacted.

The ERMA application portal opens on Tuesday, February 8 at 9:00 a.m. Residents can access the application portal at https://njerma.com. To qualify for the ERMA program, homeowners must meet the following requirements:

• Be a New Jersey homeowner with a demonstrated COVID-19 related financial hardship occurring after January 20, 2020;
• Own and occupy an eligible primary residence;
• Have an income at or below 150% of their county’s Area Median Income (AMI).

Second homes and investment properties are not eligible. Eligible expenses include mortgage payments, escrow shortages, unpaid property taxes, tax liens, defaults, foreclosures and utility or home energy services. Homeowners can also receive up to four future mortgage payments, including principal, interest, taxes and homeowner’s insurance. To qualify, your mortgage or other housing costs must not have been delinquent before January 21, 2020.

Once the ERMA portal opens, residents will be able to submit an ERMA application using a personal computer, laptop, smartphone, or tablet. Housing counselors are available NOW to assist homeowners that need help understanding all available options and through the application process once it opens. Any resident who needs support or has any questions should call (855) 647-7700 or HAFservicing@njhmfa.gov.

Free webinar addressing mental wellness for families

UNION COUNTY – The Union County Board of County Commissioners Board is pleased to present a free webinar for residents focusing on mental wellness. Rest, Play, Grow: Parenting with Mindfulness will be held online via Zoom on Wednesday, February 23, starting at 6:00 p.m.

This webinar is the first in a series of Mental Health webinars designed to connect residents to community resources available to them while also providing tools to assist them and their children.

Registration for Rest, Play, Grow: Parenting with Mindfulness is free and all residents are encouraged to attend. To register, visit: bit.ly/3rnaYSM

“‘Connecting our Community’ is the theme for our 2022 initiatives and part of that involves reaching out to residents and addressing mental health and well-being,” said Commissioner Chair Rebecca L. Williams. “Mental health is health. This series of free webinars will work to establish an open dialogue among residents when discussing a topic that is sometimes omitted when we talk about our well-being.”

The presenter for this event will be Alyssa Reiner, MPA, MSW, LCSW, RYT200. Ms. Reiner is a Social Worker for Jewish Family Services of Central New Jersey. The format for this webinar will be a blend of educational and experiential and Ms. Reiner will incorporate mindfulness exercises throughout the event.

The webinar series is being coordinated by in partnership with the Office on Behavioral Health and Substance Abuse (OBHSA), the Division of Individual and Family Support Services, the Union County Department of Human Services and Jewish Family Services of Central New Jersey.

For information about all services and programs by the Union County Division of Human Services, visit: https://ucnj.org/dhs/

For more information and updates on all Union County services during the COVID-19 outbreak, including guidance for the free Drive-Through Test Center at Kean University, visit ucnj.org/coronavirus-update.

For general information about COVID-19 and phone contacts for 24/7 assistance with questions, visit the New Jersey Department of Health at nj.gov/health.

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Presented by the Union County Board of Commissioners and the City of Rahway

Union County, NJ – February 7, 2022 – The Union County Board of County Commissioners, in partnership with the City of Rahway, is pleased to present a live performance of the award-winning Broadway play Fences at the Union County Performing Arts Center in Rahway on Friday, February 18^th at 7:00 p.m. The performance is part of a series hosted by the Commissioner Board in recognition of Black History Month.

“For almost 30 years, Fences has had a widespread impact for its intense portrayal of a family struggling against time, place and boundaries, while offering us new pathways for affirming our own hopes, dreams and expectations. We are very pleased to bring this groundbreaking theatrical experience to live audiences here in Union County, in partnership with the City of Rahway,” said Commissioner Chair Rebecca Williams.

The event will also include the presentation of the annual Chester Holmes Humanitarian award, which was established by the Freeholder Board, now Commissioner Board, in 2012, as a highlight of Black History Month honoring the former County Freeholder and Rahway resident Chester Holmes, who passed away later that year in 2012. An accomplished civic leader who loved the Union County community, Mr. Holmes was a former police officer, community volunteer and member of the Army National Guard.  He was the owner of his own company, Holmes Security, and a former Rahway Councilman.

The 2022 awardee is Dr. Inez Phillips Durham. Dr. Durham has made advocacy for children and families her life’s work as a practicing psychologist, a public school administrator, a local office holder, a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., and member of the Board of Trustees of Plainfield Public Library. She has received recognition for her many contributions to the community as a volunteer from elected officials and local governments as well as from the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, the NJ Coalition of Black Trade Unions, and the Board of Trustees of United Family and Children’s Society of Plainfield among other organizations. Always active and engaged, Dr. Durham is currently working with the Plainfield Division of Parks and Recreation on the Plainfield Plays Tennis project, highlighting tennis as an intergenerational activity to bring the entire community together.

The performance is free of charge but tickets must be reserved in advance. The UCPAC operates under the following COVID guidelines:

• No one is allowed in the theater without either proof of COVID vaccine, or a negative COVID test within 72 hours of showtime.
• Masks are required for all attendees.

Fences is a 1983 play by American playwright August Wilson, exploring a range of themes focusing on race relations and the evolving African-American experience. It premiered on Broadway in 1987, winning the 1987 Pulitzer Prize for Drama and the 1987 Tony Award for Best Play. The production, featuring James Earl Jones, Mary Alice and Courtney B. Vance, also won the Tony Awards for Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Play, Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Play, and Best Direction of a Play, as well as the Drama Desk Awards for Outstanding New Play, Outstanding Actor in a Play, and Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play. It also received two Tony Award nominations for Best Featured Actor in a Play.

“The Rahway City Council and I are proud to once again partner with the Union County Commissioners to present this special Black History Month event at the beautiful Union County Performing Arts Center, and to welcome the Rahway Social Justice Commission as an additional partner,” said Raymond Giacobbe, Mayor of Rahway. We look forward to welcoming the community to enjoy a landmark work such as ‘Fences’ right in downtown Rahway.”

This year the Commissioner Board’s series of Black History Month events kicked off with a flag raising ceremony at the Union County Courthouse on Tuesday, February 1^st. The series also includes a virtual Lunch and Learn session titled, “Maintaining Our Mental Health: Wellness Strategies for Coping during the Pandemic” on Wednesday, February 9^th, from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.

On February 24^th at 6:30 p.m., the Commissioner Board will also host a free lecture on Zoom by Professor Keith E. Walcott of Union County College titled, “African American Survival: from Jim Crow to Civil Rights and beyond.” Professor Walcott will trace the capacity of African Americans to survive and achieve against great odds.

During Black History Month, the Commissioner Board also engages with various programs and activities throughout Union County, including an event featuring the 19 Black County-Elected officials in New Jersey on Wednesday, February 2^nd at Kean University in Union Township. Union County’s social media channels will also feature Black History Month messages in recognition of the “Divine Nine” historically Black sororities and fraternities.

For more information and updates on Union County’s Black History Month series, including links for the virtual events and ticketing information for Fences, visit ucnj.org/black-history-month. In addition, if you would like to learn more about Black History Month programs, please contact Judith Guest of the Union County Office of Community Engagement and Diversity at Judith.Guest@ucnj.org or 908-527-4388.

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.

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Union County, NJ – February 4, 2022 — Union County residents are invited to a free Lunch-and-Learn session on wellness titled, “Maintaining Our Mental Health: Wellness Strategies for Coping during the Pandemic,” on Wednesday, February 9^th, from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. The event will feature special guest Lynette Sheard, Community Education Coordinator at the Mental Health Association in New Jersey and Director of the New Jersey Mental Health Players. The virtual event is part of the Black History Month series hosted by the Union County Board of County Commissioners.

“We are very excited to provide Union County residents with the opportunity to connect with Lynette Sheard during our Black History Month series. We share her passion for breaking down the barriers of stigma, raising awareness, and connecting the community with knowledge and insights. I encourage everyone to attend this important session,” said Commissioner Chair Rebecca Williams.

Residents can register and find the Zoom information by visiting ucnj.org/black-history-month.

Lynette Sheard is an award-winning professional in the field of mental health as well as a powerful presence in the field of performing arts. She is well known as a vocalist across multiple genres including pop, rock, soul, gospel, jazz and R&B, and as a theatrical performer, director, producer, and vocal coach.

The series of Black History Month events hosted by the Commissioner Board started this year on February 1st with the 4^th Annual Black History Month Flag Raising Ceremony at the Union County Courthouse in Elizabeth.

Additional events in the series include:

• February 18^th at 7:00 p.m.: In partnership with the City of Rahway, a live production of the award-winning play Fences at the Union County Performing Arts Center in Rahway. The event includes the presentation of the annual Chester Holmes Humanitarian Award. Please note that COVID -19 safety measure apply to this venue.
• February 24^th at 6:30 p.m.: A free lecture on Zoom by Professor Keith E. Walcott of Union County College titled, “African American Survival: from Jim Crow to Civil Rights and beyond.” Professor Walcott will trace the capacity of African Americans to survive and achieve against great odds.

During Black History Month, the Commissioner Board also engages with various programs and activities throughout Union County, including an event featuring the 19 Black County-Elected officials in New Jersey that was held on February 2nd at Kean University. Union County’s social media channels will also feature Black History Month messages in recognition of the “Divine Nine” historically Black sororities and fraternities.

For more information and updates on Union County’s Black History Month series, including links for the virtual events, visit ucnj.org/black-history-month. In addition, if you would like to learn more about Black History Month programs, please contact Judith Guest of the Union County Office of Community Engagement and Diversity at Judith.Guest@ucnj.org or 908-527-4388.

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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.

New this year: Kean University added to countywide drop-off locations for household hazardous waste.

Union County, NJ – February 3, 2022 —  The 2022 Union County recycling schedule is now available to view online at ucnj.org/recycling. The free, annual program covers secure paper shredding for personal documents, safe disposal of hazardous chemicals and other wastes commonly found in and around the home, and scrap metal recycling.

“Union County’s free recycling events are among our most popular programs, and we encourage everyone to make use of these opportunities to conserve resources, prevent identity theft, and protect the environment,” said Commissioner Board Chair Rebecca Williams.

Open to all Union County residents, the first event begins in March and the schedule runs through the summer and fall.

For the safety of all participants and staff, all Union County recycling events are drive-through only and contact-free. Residents must remain in their vehicles at all times. Items for recycling should be loaded in a trunk or cargo area easily accessible for staff to remove.

The first paper shredding event of 2022 will take place on Saturday, March 26^th, at the Union County Vocational-Technical Schools campus at 1776 Raritan Road in Scotch Plains. The program provides residents with a free service that helps prevent identity theft. As a reminder, business documents are not accepted at these events, it is for personal documents only. All papers are securely shredded on site by a licensed recycler. The program will visit additional sites each month in 2022, including Plainfield, New Providence, Clark, Cranford, Rahway, Union Township, Westfield and New Providence. To view the full schedule visit ucnj.org/recycling/mobile-paper-shredding.

The first household hazardous waste event of 2022 will take place on Saturday, April 9^th at Union County College, located at 1033 Springfield Avenue in Cranford. This program provides residents with an opportunity to remove potentially dangerous items and supplies from their homes and yards, and dispose of them safely. Residents can bring their old or unwanted household cleansers, pool supplies, pesticides and other household chemicals to these events, among many other items. To see a list of accepted and prohibited items visit ucnj.org/recycling/household-special-waste.

For the first time ever, Kean University will co-sponsor a household hazardous waste event with Union County on its campus in Union Township on June 4^th. The program will also visit the Vocational-Technical Schools campus in Scotch Plains this year.

Union County’s scrap metal recycling sites are located in Cranford and Kenilworth. Visit ucnj.org/recycling/scrap-metal for hours and locations.

To help local curbside recycling programs run as efficiently as possible, residents are reminded to keep plastic bags out of their recycling bins. Vendors will reject cans and bottles mixed with plastic bags, raising the cost of recycling for local municipalities. Residents seeking to recycle electronic items, block-type Styrofoam or used motor oil can contact their municipal recycling coordinator or visit ucnj.org/recycling for information on these items.

To request a printed copy of Union County’s paper recycling programs by mail, call the Bureau of Recycling and Planning at 908-654-9890. To keep up to date with all local and County-sponsored recycling programs, residents can download the free Recycle Coach app for mobile devices.

For more details about all free County-sponsored recycling programs and other recycling opportunities, including contact information for local recycling coordinators and instructions for downloading the Recycle Coach app, 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 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 3, 2022 —  The Union County Board of County Commissioners invites resident to attend a free lecture by Professor Keith E. Walcott of Union County College titled,  “African American Survival: from Jim Crow to Civil Rights and Beyond.” The lecture will be held on Zoom on Thursday, February 24^th at 6:30 p.m.

The program is free of charge, but advance registration is required. To register online visit ucnj.org/black-history-month.

“African Americans have withstood daunting obstacles to make their mark upon on our nation, and Professor Walcott offers new insights into this compelling story of survival and achievement. We encourage everyone to join with us in this exploration of Black history, and the power of the human spirit to prevail over adversity,” said Commissioner Board Chair Rebecca Williams, who will serve as host for the event.

“My generation has seen many changes in Union County, and beyond, and there are many more to come. We are very proud to provide our residents with a series of enriching, thought provoking experiences during Black History Month, and we hope this lecture helps to inform and guide the continuing work of ensuring equal justice and dignity for all,” said Commissioner James E. Baker, Jr.

Professor Walcott will begin his presentation after the abolition of slavery in the 19^th century, as the cruelties of segregationist “Jim Crow” laws took hold in the south and elsewhere. The discussion will continue through 20^th century manifestations of racism including discrimination through Great Depression programs and the notorious Tuskegee Study, as well as the explosion of the civil rights movement in the 1950’s and the passage of the landmark Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Fair Housing Act of 1968.

A longtime resident of Plainfield, Professor Walcott was born in the West Indian Island of Barbados and came to the United States 40 years ago. He received undergraduate and graduate degrees in history from Rutgers University, and holds ministerial credentials with the assemblies of God. He is currently an Adjunct Professor at Union County College specializing in African American History.

This lecture is funded in part by a grant from the New Jersey Historical Commission, a Division of Cultural Affairs in the Department of State.

For more information and updates on Union County’s Black History Month series, including links for the virtual events, visit ucnj.org/black-history-month. In addition, if you would like to learn more about Black History Month programs, please contact Judith Guest of the Union County Office of Community Engagement and Diversity at Judith.Guest@ucnj.org or 908-527-4388.

For information about the Union County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs visit ucnj.org/cultural, email culturalinfo@ucnj.org, or call 908-527-2550.

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.

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 Commissioner Chair Rebecca Williams, Vice Chair Christopher Hudak, Commissioners James E. Baker, Jr., Dr. Angela R. Garretson, Sergio Granados and Lourdes M. Leon, County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi and Sheriff Peter Corvelli participated in Union County’s 4th annual flag raising ceremony to mark the beginning of Black History Month in front of the Union County Courthouse.

The ceremony included an invocation from Pastor Edwin Brown of the Progressive Baptist Church of Rahway.

Visit ucnj.org/black-history-month for upcoming events for Union County’s Black History Month series.