County of Union, New Jersey

By Alexander Mirabella

Chairman, Union County Board of Commissioners

June is PRIDE month, and Union County is presenting a series of inclusive events that help build awareness, alliances, and action on LGBTQ+ equality in our community, and beyond.

We kicked off the month with the raising of the PRIDE flag on June 1, at the Union County Courthouse in Elizabeth. The flag-raising ceremony program included a Pride Month Proclamation and an inspiring original writing by local student Jeremiah LaPorte.

In celebration of PRIDE month, the band Rubix Kube, accompanied by comedian Amy Colon, will be the next performers at our free drive-in concert in Scotch Plains on June 5. Rubix Kube is known as the ultimate 80s tribute band and will perform some of the most celebrated anthems of the LGBTQ+ community. Reserve your free admission now before all the spots are taken, at ucnj.org/reserve.

On June 9, join host Micayla Mirabella for Queer Empowerment Hour, our series of online virtual conversations with some of New Jersey’s most dedicated LGBTQ+ advocates, community leaders, and allies. We will be discussing how PRIDE came to be and where it is now, here in 2021. To learn more about the program and to get a Zoom link, please visit the Office of LGBTQ Affairs at ucnj.org/lgbtq.

For high school LGBTQ youth, as well as allies, on June 19 we are offering Let Me Be Me, an LGBTQ+ youth empowerment field day. Let Me Be Me will take place on the turf field at the Warinanco Sports Center in Warinanco Park, in Roselle. Student ID will be required. Pre-registration is also required by emailing Danni Newbury at DNewbury@ucnj.org.

How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World will be the featured movie for our free Family Movie Night series on June 25 at the Union County Vo-tech campus in Scotch Plains. Registration for the event will begin shortly, at ucnj.org/reserve.

To close off PRIDE month, on June 30 we will host a fun LGBTQ+ trivia night at the Clubhouse, at Union County’s Ash Brook Golf in Scotch Plains. To register yourself or your team, please visit the Office of LGBTQ Affairs at ucnj.org/lgbtq

The Commissioner Board established the Union County Office of LGBTQ Affairs to provide a platform for leadership and collaboration to support equality, and to serve as a catalyst for advocacy, awareness and action on current and emerging issues that impact the lives of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer individuals. For more information, please contact Danni Newbury, Office Coordinator, at dnewbury@ucnj.org or visit online at ucnj.org/lgbtq.

Let us all continue to reach out, connect with one another, and support equality and inclusion throughout the Union County community.

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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 invites all residents and members of the public to attend a series of virtual public meetings and provide commentary on the County’s ongoing plans for retrofitting County buildings and parking lots in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

The meetings will be held on Wednesday, June 9 at 2:00 p.m., on Wednesday, June 9 at 6:30 p.m., and on Thursday, June 10 at 10:30 a.m.

All three meetings will be conducted on Zoom. Each session will last 75 minutes and can accommodate 100 attendees.

“Input from the public is a significant contributor to Union County’s ongoing efforts to improve access and inclusion across all facilities,” said Commissioner Board Chairman Alexander Mirabella. “We encourage everyone to participate and help identify obstacles and opportunities as we continue to make progress on ADA compliance in our community.”

The meetings will cover a transition plan for Union County developed by the consulting firm WT Group Accessibility Practice. The scope of work includes buildings and parking lots, including the County Courthouse, the Administration Building, the Warinanco Sports Center, and the Trailside Museum and Science Center among others. Please note that recreation programs are not included in the scope of work.

During the meetings, WTG will:

• Review key ADA requirements for parks facilities
• Discuss the importance of community feedback in establishing retrofit priorities
• Share observations of common access barriers viewed at County of Union facilities
• Ask for the access preferences and priorities of the members of the public in attendance, regarding facilities
• Close with a discussion about next steps for the County of Union

To register for a meeting, use the following Zoom links:

• June 9, 2021 @ 2:00 p.m. Registration: (http://bit.ly/adasession1)
• June 9, 2021 @ 6:30 p.m. Registration: (http://bit.ly/adasession2)
• June 10, 2021 @ 10:30 a.m. Registration: (http://bit.ly/adasession3)

For additional information contact Manny Ramirez, Director, Union County Office for Persons with Disabilities and Special Needs at 908-527-4807 or mramirez@ucnj.org., or visit online at ucnj.org/departments/human-services/opdsn.

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 County Commissioners is pleased to invite residents of Union County, age 60 or older, to enter the Union County 2021 Senior Citizens Virtual Art Exhibit. Amateurs, non-professionals and working professional artists alike may enter one original artwork completed within the past three years.

The deadline to enter is August 23. Artists must enter online at ucnj.org/senior-art and submit a digital image of their artwork by the deadline. The virtual exhibit opens on September 30.

“The Commissioner Board is very proud to provide this opportunity for senior artists to connect with the Union County community and share their creativity and vision of the world,” said Board of Commissioners Chairman Alexander Mirabella.

The media categories for entries are: acrylic painting, craft, digital art, mixed media, oil painting, pastel, printmaking, photography, sculpture, watercolor painting, and works on paper (drawing).

The Senior Art Exhibit is an annual program presented and coordinated by the Union County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs. All artworks entered will be judged by an independent panel of professional artists. Separate awards are given to professionals and non-professionals in each media category.

First-place entries will go on to the state level, in the New Jersey Senior Citizens Art Show, also being held online this fall.

For complete information and instructions for submitting work, and to register, please visit the Union County website at ucnj.org/senior-art.

To receive instructions by email or U.S. Postal Service, call 908-558-2550, email msturm@ucnj.org, or write to:

Martha Sturm

Union County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs

633 Pearl Street

Elizabeth, NJ 07202

Seniors who do not have Internet access can have a relative or friend with an email address assist and register them.

Staff at the Office of Cultural & Heritage Affairs is also available to provide assistance to seniors without email access. For assistance, call 908-527-2550 or visit ucnj.org/parks-recreation/cultural-heritage-affairs.

The Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs is a division of the Union County Department of Parks and Recreation. For information on all Parks and Recreation programs and events, visit ucnj.org/parks-recreation or call 908-527-4900.

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 recognizes the contributions of small businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Union County, NJ – The Union County Board of Commissioners is pleased to announce that nominations are now open for the Union County Small Business Community Champion recognition program. Businesses that are nominated for the program will receive a certificate of achievement and will be featured on the Union County Means Business website, ucnj.org/union-county-means-business.

“Small businesses have faced extraordinary challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but many have managed to survive, to continue serving the Union County community, and even to thrive,” said Union County Commissioner Chairman Alexander Mirabella. “These resilient small businesses deserve to be acknowledged and celebrated.”

Any member of the Union County community can nominate an eligible small business in their community to be recognized as a Union County Small Business Community Champion, by filling out the online form at ucnj.org/union-county-means-business.

To be eligible, nominees must have a small business located within Union County that is currently open for business. In addition, they must demonstrate resilience during the pandemic, either by adapting and evolving their business model or giving back to the community, or both.

Supporting documentation must include:

• A photograph of the nominated business for publication.
• A paragraph describing the nominee’s resiliency story, including changes to their business model and/or community service activities

The deadline to submit a nomination is July 31, and the recognized businesses will be posted at ucnj.org/union-county-means-business in August.

For additional information, contact Deana Mesaros, Coordinator, Office of Business Development in the Union County Department of Economic Development, at 908-659-7412 or dmesaros@ucnj.org, or visit online at ucnj.org/office-of-business-development.

To see all programs and activities of the Union County Department of Economic Development, visit ucnj.org/department-of-economic-development.

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 County Commissioners advises residents that due to forecasted inclement weather, the ribbon cutting ceremony for the new Disc Golf Course at Oak Ridge Park in Clark has been rescheduled. The ribbon cutting will now take place on Monday, June 7 at 12:00 p.m. Oak Ridge Park is located at 136 Oak Ridge Road.

“We are always looking for ways to provide County residents with new opportunities to engage in outdoor activities,” said County Commissioner Chairman Alexander Mirabella. “Disc golf is becoming a popular all-ages sport and we are happy provide our community with this facility right here in Union County.”

The concept for a disc golf course was presented to the Commissioner Board by the Union County Disc Golf Club. The disc golf equipment cost just over $6,500. Installation was performed by the Union County Parks Department with assistance on design and coordination done by the UCDGC. The new disc golf course is comprised of 18 holes as well as one practice basket.

The course is free to use. No reservations are required for use but players should consult the County website and the kiosk located at the course for information regarding closures due to events in the park.

Disc golf is played much like golf. Instead of a ball and clubs, though, players use a flying disc. The sport was formalized in the 1970s and shares with golf the object of completing each hole in the fewest strokes (or, in the case of disc golf, fewest throws).

The Professional Disc Golf Association (PDGA) is a membership-based organization boasting more than 120,000 lifetime members across 54 countries. The PDGA is also the governing body for the sport and sanctions competitive events for players of every skill level. There are more than 8,000 disc golf courses worldwide, with more being installed every day.

For more information on disc golf, residents can visit: https://www.pdga.com/.

For information about the disc golf facility at Oak Ridge 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.

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COVID-19 safety rules apply; event is open to all Union County residents.

Union County, NJ – The Union County Board of County Commissioners reminds residents that the next mobile paper shredding event of 2021 will be held in Cranford on Saturday, June 12 for free, secure shredding of personal and confidential documents.

“Union County’s free mobile document shredding service helps residents fight identity theft by providing a convenient way to shred confidential documents,” said Board of Commissioners Chairman Al Mirabella “It also promotes our County recycling efforts and ties in with other green initiatives in Union County.”

At Union County’s paper shredding events, documents are put into 96-gallon containers provided by the shredding company, lifted into the truck and shredded on site. The shredded documents are then taken to a licensed recycling facility.

The June 12 shredding event will take place at Union County College, located at 1033 Springfield Avenue in Cranford. The event will run from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. rain or shine. The event will close prior to 1:00 p.m. if the trucks reach capacity.

For everyone’s safety, residents must wear face coverings, keep their windows closed and remain in their vehicles at all times.  Materials should be placed in trunk, cargo area or truck bed, easily accessible to staff, for safe no-contact removal from vehicle.

All Union County residents are eligible to use the free paper-shredding service. In an effort to accommodate everyone, there is a limit of four, 10-pound bags or boxes per vehicle. Preferably, documents should be brought in paper bags.

Documents should be removed from any bindings. Plastic or metal clips and other non-paper items should also be removed.

Participants are reminded that pre-shredded paper will not be accepted. Wet or damp paper is also not accepted.

Union County’s free shedding events are intended for personal, sensitive documents only. Residents should recycle magazines, junk mail and other waste paper with their municipal recycling program.

For more information on recycling programs hosted by Union County, visit ucnj.org/recycle or call the Union County Recycling Hotline at 908-654-9889.

For the latest news and updates on all municipal and countywide recycling programs in Union County, download the free Recycle Coach app. More information is available at ucnj.org/recycling/recycle-coach-app.

Quick links to all Union County environmental programs and activities are available at ucnj.org/green-connection.

The mobile paper shredding program is paid for through Recycling Enhancement Act Grant funds, which are applied for by Union County and received from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.

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 – Union County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi announces that the County Clerk’s Elections Offices in Elizabeth and Westfield will be open for extended hours on Saturday, June 5 from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., for anyone seeking to obtain a Vote-By-Mail ballot for the 2021 Primary Election. No appointments for Elections are needed.

The Primary Election will be held on Tuesday, June 8.

“Voters who apply for a Vote-by-Mail ballot in person at the Elections Offices in Elizabeth or Westfield can fill out their ballot and cast it in a secure lock box at the site,” said Ms. Rajoppi. “This ‘One-Stop’ service is a convenient and user friendly way to ensure your voice is heard on Election Day.”

To cast a Vote-by-Mail ballot in person at the Elizabeth and Westfield offices, a 2015 state law requires voters to provide a New Jersey driver’s license or New Jersey identification card with their photo, name, address and signature if they wish to leave their ballot with staff at the Elections offices.

Voters have until Monday, June 7 at 3:00 p.m. to obtain a Vote-by-Ballot in person at the County Clerk’s offices.

The Elizabeth and Westfield offices will be open on Saturday, June 5 for voters who intend to use a Vote-by-Mail ballot.

The Elizabeth office is located in the Union County Courthouse at 2 Broad Street in midtown Elizabeth. To access the Elections Office during special Saturday Vote-by-Mail hours, voters must use the rear entrance of the Courthouse on Elizabethtown Plaza. The Election Office is located in Room 113.

The Westfield office is located in the Colleen Frasier Building at the Union County complex, at 300 North Avenue East in Westfield. Street and lot parking are available, and mass transit is nearby.

For more information about all County Clerk programs and services, visit online at ucnj.org/county-clerk or call 908-527-4787.

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Union County, NJ — The Union County Board of County Commissioners informs residents of the emergency food distribution events in June to aid those affected by COVID-19.

These will include:

Saturday, June 5, 2021 at 8:00 a.m.

• Kean University in Union
• Drive-up only
• Coordinated by the County of Union with support from Village Super Market, Gargiulo Produce and CMC Foods

Tuesday, June 8, 2021 at 10:00 a.m.

• Immaculate Conception Church in Elizabeth
• Walk-up only
• Coordinated by the County of Union with support from Village Super Market and Gargiulo Produce

Wednesday, June 23, 2021 at 2:30 p.m.

• Gerald B. Green Plaza in Plainfield
• Walk-up only
• Coordinated by the County of Union with support from Village Super Market and Gargiulo Produce

Saturday, June 26, 2021 at 8:00 a.m.

• Kean University in Union
• Drive-up only
• Coordinated by the County of Union with support from Village Super Market and Gargiulo Produce.

The food distributions are open to all Union County residents. Food will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis and no registration is required. The events will take place rain or shine.

“Food distributions have become a lifeline for our residents throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and we are proud to continue to provide this valuable resource to our residents,” said Commissioner Chairman Alexander Mirabella.

“Despite the gradual re-opening and lifting of COVID-19 restrictions, residents continue to deal with unemployment, housing issues and food insecurity, we are working hard to help everyone put food on their tables,” said Commissioner Sergio Granados who also serves as Liaison to the Human Services Advisory Board. “We thank Village Super Market, Gargiulo Produce and CMC Foods for their continued partnership.”

It is recommended that residents picking up food at the walk-up events in Elizabeth and Plainfield wear masks or maintain social distance. Walk-up recipients should bring a cart or be able to carry several food bags at the walk-up area.

Residents wishing to pick up food at the drive-up distribution events at Kean University must arrive in a vehicle. Walk-ups will not be accommodated in Union.

All drive-up recipients must remain in their cars with windows rolled up when possible. Food boxes will be placed in the trunk or truck bed of the vehicle by volunteers.

Upon arrival, proof of New Jersey residency and indication of how many people reside in their household will have to be provided. Recipients will receive an emergency box of produce, dairy, and shelf stable food, with enough to sustain a family for several days. Please note that only one box of food will be provided per recipient at each event.

These events will run in compliance with current state COVID-19 executive orders regarding safety protocols.

For questions and more information, residents may call the UCDHS Director’s Action Line at 888-845-3434 or 908-558-2288.

To learn more about Village Super Market, visit: https://www.myvillagesupermarket.com.

To learn more about Gargiulo Produce, visit: http://www.gargiuloproduce.com.

To learn more about CMC Foods, visit: https://cmcfoodsus.com/.

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.