County of Union, New Jersey

Union County, NJ – The Union County Board of County Commissioners would like to invite all County residents and visitors to our next drive-in concert featuring Bobby Miller, as the King of Pop. Neo-soul group, Flavuh band will be opening the event.

The drive-in concert is scheduled for Saturday, June 19 at 6:00 p.m. at Cedar Brook Park in Plainfield.

The event is free but registration is required online in advance to reserve a spot. Reservations will be available to the public beginning at 9:00 a.m. on Wednesday, June 9 on the County website at ucnj.org/reserve.

Please note that space is limited and reservations are on a first come, first served basis.

“We are very proud to welcome Bobby Miller as he showcases his King of Pop Live experience,” said Board of Commissioners Chairman Alexander Mirabella. “As one of the most beloved entertainers, we are thrilled to witness this Michael Jackson tribute and watch the young and the wise come together to enjoy it”

Inspired by the King of Pop himself, Bobby Miller has been impersonating him worldwide for decades. From the hair down to the glove, Bobby Miller pays homage to Michael Jackson with one goal: “share in the magic, the music and the energy that Michael gave us all”.

Bobby Miller and his team of musicians and dancers boast over 100 years of combined experience and have toured the US and abroad, showcasing their electric and crowd pleasing performances of Michael Jackson’s best hits.

The neo-soul and R&B cover band based out of the NY Metro area, Flavuh Band, will open this event with their captivating, unique and soulful live performance.

The free drive-in event is part of Union County’s seasonal series of outdoor concerts. The drive-in format has been adopted during the pandemic in order to help prevent the virus from spreading.

Food and drinks will not be available for purchase, but attendees may bring their own refreshments. Alcohol is strictly prohibited.

This event will run in compliance with state COVID-19 guidelines regarding social distancing and other protocols. To help promote social distancing, no walk-ups, bikes, or chairs are permitted. Vehicles will be arranged at least 6 feet apart with adequate social distancing.

Port-o-johns will be available. Masks will be required when using the port-o-johns. Attendees must stay in their vehicles (unless they need to use the port-o-johns).

Further details will be available to residents upon reserving tickets.

For information and updates on all Union County services during the COVID-19 outbreak, including the Union County COVID-19 Test Center at Kean University, the Mobile Test Unit, vaccination information, 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 – The Union County Board of Commissioners is pleased to announce the reopening of The Model Railroad Club, Inc. on Saturday, June 12. The exhibit will be open to the public every Saturday from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., at the A. Paul Mallery Model Railroad Center, located at 295 Jefferson Avenue in Union Township.

“The Board of County Commissioners is excited to bring this family tradition back,” said Commissioner Chairman Alexander Mirabella. “We invite residents of all ages who are looking for a fun and educational experience to visit the Model Railroad Club.”

Attendees will have the opportunity to experience the sights and sounds of an enormous HO scale train layout, along with other displays.

The Model Railroad Club open houses will run in compliance with current CDC guidelines as well as existing executive orders from Governor Murphy for COVID-19. For this reason, visitors are asked to wear a mask when and practice social distancing when visiting the exhibit.

The Railroad Center is run by The Model Railroad Club, a nonprofit organization dedicated to researching the history of railroads and industries in New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania while sharing the art, craft and science of model railroading.

The Model Railroad Club, Inc. was founded in 1949 by author and Master Model Railroader Paul Mallery. Today it is one of the largest model railroad clubs in North America and features HO scale and N scale layouts, as well as other model railroad and industrial exhibits.

For complete details about public events, admission prices, advance ticket sales, directions, and other information about the Railroad Center visit The Model Railroad Club online at themodelrailroadclub.org.

The Model Railroad Club, Inc. is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and is a registered charity in the State of New Jersey.

For information and updates on all Union County services during the COVID-19 outbreak, including the Union County COVID-19 Test Center at Kean University, the Mobile Test Unit, vaccination information, 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 – This summer, the Union County 4-H program is offering students the opportunity to grow their very own “Pizza Garden” and improve their gardening abilities, too.

“By combining hands-on learning with remote instruction, this gardening project provides Union County students with an enriching experience all summer long, said Board of Commissioners Chairman Alexander Mirabella. “We are very proud to support the 4-H program here in our community.”

The Union County 4-H program is part of a national initiative aimed at providing youth with opportunities to learn, lead, and share their knowledge. Union County 4-H is run through the Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Union County, with support from the Commissioner Board.

Each participant in the Pizza Garden project will receive a starter kit consisting of a container stocked with oregano and basil seedlings to plant at home, along with a marigold seedling for decoration.

The program also includes a series of free, optional biweekly virtual meetings. Participants will learn how to care for their seedlings, hone their hone their gardening skills, improve their presentation skills, and complete community service.

The series of meetings will begin on June 18 and conclude in August with a harvest contest among the participants.

• Students in grades k-3 will meet for one hour on the second and fourth Wednesday of each month, from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
• Students in grades 4 and up will meet for one hour on the first Monday and third Friday of each month, from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

A limited number of pizza garden starter kits are available free of charge. To request a pizza garden, contact Union County 4-H Agent James Nichnadowicz at jnichnadowicz@ucnj.org.

Union County students who are interested in joining 4-H can choose from a wide variety of clubs, from archery, Lego robotics, and anime to cooking, coding, and gardening. Students can also explore a topic of their own choosing.

During the school year, 4-H clubs meet approximately once each month from October to June. In-person clubs were suspended for the 2020-2021 school year due to COVID-19 safety rules, and new online activities are available. To find out more, visit the 4-H at Home program, nj4h.rutgers.edu/4h-from-home.

The Union County 4-H offices are located at the Cooperative Extension of Union County, in the Colleen Frasier Building at the Union County Complex, at 300 North Avenue East in Westfield. For more information on how to join Union County 4-H, contact Union County 4-H Agent James Nichnadowicz at 908-654-9854 or jnichnadowicz@ucnj.org.

For more information about all Extension programs in Union County, including the popular Master Gardeners and Master Tree Stewards volunteer programs, visit the Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Union County online at ucnj.org/rce.

For information and updates on all Union County services during the COVID-19 outbreak, including the Union County COVID-19 Test Center at Kean University, the Mobile Test Unit, vaccination information, 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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First 100% recyclable baseball turf in the state of New Jersey now open at Snyder Avenue Park

Union County, NJ – The Union County Board of County Commissioners held a ribbon cutting ceremony yesterday for the new turf baseball field at Snyder Avenue Park in Berkeley Heights.

The ceremony was attended by County and local officials as well as residents and the baseball teams from Governor Livingston High School and Bayonne High School. Immediately following the ceremony, Governor Livingston played Bayonne in a scheduled regular season match.

“The Board of Commissioners is proud of all the work done here at the Snyder Avenue Park Baseball field. This the first baseball field of its kind in the State of New Jersey and in the tri-state area,” said County Commissioner Chairman Alexander Mirabella. “The Board of County Commissioners is proud to provide high quality, state of the art facilities such as this one to our athletes across Union County.”

The new turf baseball field is comprised of sustainable turf that can be 100% recycled. Components of the organic turf system, which include walnut shells and coconut, are of the same type currently being used in 4 major league baseball stadiums. The turf system has specific turf for each performance area of the field.

Performance levels for the new turf field have been tested and provide levels very close to natural grass, similar to the best synthetic turf fields that are currently available. The shock pad and infill can be reused in the next field.

The design, materials and installation of the turf field cost approximately $2.8 million. The design was engineered by Neglia Engineering Associates of Mountainside. The LandTek Group coordinated the construction and Shaw Sports Turf supplied the turf material. Installation was done by Athletic Fields of America.

For information about the baseball field at Snyder Avenue Park and other offerings within the Union County Parks system, residents can visit https://ucnj.org/parks-recreation/ or call 908-527-4900.

For more information and updates on all Union County services during the COVID-19 outbreak, including the Drive-Through Test Center at Kean University, the Mobile Test Unit walk-up sites, vaccination information, 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 – The Union County Board of County Commissioners is pleased to announce that a Fleetwood Mac tribute band, Rumours, will headline the next drive-in concert in the County’s free music series.

The drive-in concert event is scheduled for Saturday, June 12 at 6:00 pm at the Union County Vo-Tech campus, 1776 Raritan Road in Scotch Plains.

The event is free but registration is required online in advance to reserve a spot. Registration opens up at 9:00 a.m. on Friday, June 4, online at ucnj.org/reserve.

Please note that space is limited and reservations are on a first come, first served basis.

“Rumours is known for their exciting stage show, finely crafted sound and attention to detail. We are very happy to welcome them to Union County,” said Board of Commissioners Chairman Alexander Mirabella.

Originally from Atlanta, Georgia, Rumours is known worldwide for their live reenactments of the legendary Fleetwood Mac band. Coined as the “best Fleetwood Mac cover band,” Rumours has sold out some of the top venues in the United States.

The free drive-in event is part of Union County’s seasonal series of outdoor concerts. The drive-in format has been adopted during the pandemic in order to help prevent the virus from spreading.

Food and drinks will not be available for purchase, but attendees may bring their own refreshments. Alcohol is strictly prohibited.

This event will run in compliance with state COVID-19 guidelines regarding social distancing and other protocols. To help promote social distancing, no walk-ups, bikes, or chairs are permitted. Vehicles will be arranged at least 6 feet apart with adequate social distancing.

Port-o-johns will be available. Masks will be required when using the port-o-johns. Attendees must stay in their vehicles (unless they need to use the port-o-johns).

Further details will be available to residents upon reserving tickets.

For information and updates on all Union County services during the COVID-19 outbreak, including the Union County COVID-19 Test Center at Kean University, the Mobile Test Unit, vaccination information, 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 – One-of-a-kind, dynamic, and electric are all accurate when describing the 80’s tribute band, Rubix Kube. Union County residents can see Rubix Kube perform live at the Union County Vo-tech Schools campus in Scotch Plains on Saturday, June 5. The special Pride Month event includes free “PRIDE in a Box” giveaways to share as Rubix Kube channels the energy of the 80’s through the icons of pop music.

The show begins at 6:00 with an opening performance by the hilarious Amy Colon, a Union County native. Get ready to laugh your socks off!

Admission is free but attendees must register to reserve a spot by visiting ucnj.org/reserve.

The show is part of Union County’s series of free drive-in concerts presented by the Commissioner Board, specially arranged for residents to enjoy live music in a community setting while preventing the spread of the COVID-19 virus. More details are available at the registration link, ucnj.org/reserve.

More information: https://wp.me/p4sLwl-nkF

For information and updates on all Union County services during the COVID-19 outbreak, including the Union County COVID-19 Test Center at Kean University, the Mobile Test Unit, vaccination information, 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 – In a world-spanning career, Esperanza Spalding has created a musical and artistic identity like none other. Union County residents will have the opportunity to experience Spalding’s unique vision in a free, live, drive-in concert this Friday evening, June 4, at the Union County Vocational-Technical Schools campus in Scotch Plains.

Mentored by the legendary jazz trumpeter Thara Memory, Spalding cites jazz bassists Ron Carter and Dave Holland, Wayne Shorter, Milton Nascimento, Madonna, Ornette Coleman, and Joni Mitchell among the influences that have shaped her richly mesmerizing style.

Admission is free but registration online is required in order to reserve a spot, at ucnj.org/reserve.

The show is part of Union County’s series of free drive-in concerts presented by the Commissioner Board, specially arranged for residents to enjoy live music in a community setting while preventing the spread of the COVID-19 virus. More details are available at the registration link, ucnj.org/reserve.

Spalding’s current project is the forthcoming opera Iphigenia in collaboration with Wayne Shorter, directed by Lileana Blain-Cruz with sets by the architect and scenic designer Frank Gehry. For more information visit http://igg.me/at/iphigenia.

For information and updates on all Union County services during the COVID-19 outbreak, including the Union County COVID-19 Test Center at Kean University, the Mobile Test Unit, vaccination information, 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.