County of Union, New Jersey

Union County, NJ – The Union County Board of County Commissioners will cut the ribbon on new Disc Golf Course at Oak Ridge Park in Clark this Thursday, June 3rd 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.

##

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.

Series of Pride Month events planned throughout the County in the month of June.

Union County, NJ – In recognition of June as LGBTQ+ Pride Month, the Union County Board of County Commissioners invites residents to participate in Pride events organized by the Union County Office of LGBTQ Affairs, as Union County joins communities across the nation in once again celebrating LGBTQ+ Pride Month 2021.

The start of Pride Month 2021 in Union County was celebrated on June 1 with the raising of the PRIDE Flag at 1:00 p.m., at the Union County Courthouse in Elizabeth.

The program of events throughout the month includes:

• Drive-In Concert featuring the 80’s tribute band Rubix Kube with Union County’s own comedian Amy Colon – Saturday, June 5 at 6:00 p.m. – Union County Vo-Tech campus, Scotch Plains

• Queer Empowerment Hour – The History of PRIDE | How Pride came to be & where we are now – Wednesday, June 9 at 7:00 p.m. – Zoom – register at org/lgbtq.

• Let Me Be Me: a youth empowerment field day for LGBTQ+ and ally youth (student ID required) – Saturday, June 19 at 11:00 a.m. – Warinanco Sports Center (turf field), Roselle

• Family Movie Night featuring How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World – Friday, June 25 (movie starts at dusk) – Union County Vo-Tech campus, Scotch Plains

• LGBTQ Trivia Night – Wednesday, June 30 at 7:00 p.m. – Ash Brook, Scotch Plains

“By celebrating the right of LGBTQ+ persons to be who they are, Pride Month events help to foster a sense of unity among all Union County residents,” said Commissioner Chairman Alexander Mirabella. “The Commissioner Board is proud to affirm our continued work for inclusion and acceptance with the celebration of LGBTQ+ Pride events in June.”

“June is an important month for LGBTQ+ residents in Union County, and this Commissioner Board is committed to ensuring that each resident feels included and supported,” said Commissioner Vice Chair Rebecca Williams, liaison to the Commissioner’s LGBTQ Ad Hoc Committee. “The Office of LGBTQ Affairs provides us with a foundation for partnership, tolerance and equality.”

Union County’s Office of LGBTQ Affairs, under the Department of Economic Development, was established in 2018 and is the first county government office of its kind in the State of New Jersey and one of four government offices in the nation to support the LGBTQ community, of which only two are county government offices.

Union County’s Office of LGBTQ Affairs offers a platform for leadership and collaboration to support equality, and serves 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 about the Office of LGBTQ Affairs, contact Danni Newbury, Coordinator, at 908-527-4742 or dnewbury@ucnj.org or visit ucnj.org/LGBTQ.

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.

##

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.

 

Please be advised that this evening’s showing of the Black Panther movie at the Union County Vocational-Technical Schools campus in Scotch Plains has been cancelled due to the weather. The movie will be rescheduled to a date in the future.

Commission for Status on Women to honor 11 County women at free virtual event

Union County, NJ – The Union County Commission on the Status of Women is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2020-2021 Women of Excellence Awards. Eleven Union County women have been selected to receive awards for their outstanding contributions. The awardees will be honored at a virtual event on Friday, June 11 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://bit.ly/uccsw2021.

“For over 25 years, the Board of County Commissioners has recognized women among us who lead, serve, and inspire. Through their work, they raise awareness about the influence of women in every sphere of the Union County community, from business and legal affairs to public service and education,” said County Commissioner Chairman Alexander Mirabella. “We are proud to acknowledge their contributions towards a positive difference in the quality of life for everyone in the County.”

The Union County women being recognized for their accomplishments by the Commission on the Status of Women are:

Women’s Advocacy – Margot Baruch – Mountainside

Mental Health Advocacy – Joyce Benz – Springfield

Volunteerism – Joan Crout – Westfield

Environmental/Activism – Marian Glenn – Summit

Education – Monica Goncalves – Elizabeth

Lifetime Achievement – Sister Percylee Hart, RSM – Scotch Plains

Healthcare – Pamela Palmieri – Fanwood

Special Education Advocacy – Diana Pinto-Gomez – Fanwood

Entrepreneurial/Medical – Nancy Polow, PhD. – Scotch Plains

Government – Clara Fernandez – Elizabeth

Special Service Award – Judy Jenkins-Gaudino – Summit

Each awardee will receive an engraved Women of Excellence plaque and a County Commissioner Resolution in their honor recognizing their impact on the Union County community.

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

For any questions or to get more information about the Women of Excellence awards program, contact Nancy Malta, Commissioner Administrative Liaison at 908-527-4298 or nmalta@ucnj.org or Jen Erdos, Secretary to the Commission on the Status of Women, at 908-527-4216 or jerdos@ucnj.org.

##

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 reminds residents that Union County’s free scrap metal recycling drop-off program continues in June. A wide variety of metal goods, from household appliances to gutters and sheds, will be accepted at two countywide collection sites in Cranford and Rahway every month until November.

“This countywide program helps to fill a service gap in some Union County municipalities that currently have no outlet for scrap metal recycling,” said Board of Commissioners Chairman Al Mirabella. “As a community, we benefit across the board by recycling more and throwing away less waste – and we also stand to gain some revenue from the program.”

Scrap metal drop-off will be accepted on Thursday, June 3 and Saturday, June 19 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at two drop-off centers:

• Cranford: Emergency Services Building, 151 Kenilworth Boulevard

• Rahway: Rahway River Park (follow Park Drive Rahway off St. Georges to service yard across from swimming pool)

Scrap metal from residents in any Union County municipality may be brought to either of these sites.

The drop-off sites are available on the first Thursday and third Saturday of each month, from April through November.

To receive schedule alerts, and to stay up to date with Union County and local recycling programs, download the free Recycle Coach mobile app.

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.

Acceptable items for recycling include air conditioners, aluminum scrap, aluminum siding, bicycles, brass, copper, dishwashers, electric fans, fencing (chain/wire), freezers, gutters, irons, lawn furniture, metal cabinets, metal sheds, microwaves, pots and pans, railings, refrigerators, stoves, tire rims, toasters, washers and dryers, window frames (no glass), and wire hangers.

Please note that plastic-encased dehumidifiers are not accepted.
For more information, upcoming dates and directions to all Union County recycling programs and locations, visit the Bureau of Recycling and Planning website at ucnj.org/recycle or call the Union County Recycling Hotline at 908-654-9889.

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

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.
# #
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.

Union County, NJ – The Union County Board of Commissioners announces that repair work planned for the Lenape Dam has been postponed until September, due to the large scale of the project and statewide regulations that govern the protection of nesting birds during the breeding season.

The dam project was initially scheduled to begin in June, requiring closure of the eastern portion of the park. Signs to that effect been removed, and the park will remain open to the public until September of this year.

On or about September 1, the eastern part of Lenape Park, from the Rahway River to the Kenilworth border, will be closed to all visitors, including hikers, fishermen and cyclists. Additionally, the eastern bike path, from the Boulevard to 14^th Street, will be closed. The closures will be in effect until the work is completed, which will take approximately four months.

The western section of the park, from the Rahway River to the Westfield border, will remain open to all activities throughout the work period. The western bike path, which runs from the Boulevard to Springfield Avenue in Westfield, will also remain open during the repair work.

The Lenape Dam repairs will bring the dam into compliance with the regulations of the State of New Jersey’s Bureau of Dam Safety, the N.J. Department of Environmental Protection and to ensure the safety of County residents.

The County regrets any inconvenience to the public cause by these mandatory repairs.

For 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.

##

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.

This event will observe COVID-19 prevention guidelines.

Union County, NJ – The Union County Board of Commissioners reminds residents that the next free Household Hazardous Waste event will be held on Saturday, June 5, at Union County College, located at 1033 Springfield Avenue in Cranford, from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Any Union County resident may participate, regardless of their home town.

“The Household Hazardous Waste events provide a free, convenient opportunity for residents to remove unwanted chemicals and other potentially hazardous items from their homes and yards, and dispose of them safely,” said Commissioner Chairman Alexander Mirabella. “It’s a great way to make a real difference and help keep harmful substances out of the environment.”

The Household Hazardous Waste events provide Union County residents with a free, environmentally safe way to dispose of outdated or unwanted household chemicals, mercury thermostats and thermometers, propane tanks, and automobile tires among many other items such as oil-based paint (no latex paint) and varnish, antifreeze, aerosol cans, pool chemicals, corrosives, pesticides, herbicides, solvents, thinners, fire extinguishers, motor oil and oil filters, gasoline, batteries, thermostats, fluorescent bulbs (unbroken), mercury switches, and more.

Union County’s Household Hazardous Waste events are contact-free. Participants must remain in their vehicles while personnel at the site unload their waste items.

Only materials in original or labeled containers will be accepted. No containers larger than five gallons will be accepted.

Participants must be Union County residents and must observe the following rules for preventing the spread of the COVID-19 virus:

• Arrive by vehicle only. No walk-ins accepted.
• Driver and all passengers must wear face coverings at all times.
• Driver and all passengers must stay in vehicle at all times.
• Car windows must be kept closed at all times.
• Materials should be placed in trunk, cargo area or truck bed where they can be easily identified and accessed by staff, who will remove them.

Car tires are accepted at these events. There is a limit of eight automobile tires, without rims, per household.

For a complete list of the materials that will be accepted on June 5, and information about all Union County recycling programs, visit ucnj.org/recycle.

Please note that latex paint (water-based) wall paint is NOT accepted.  Residents wishing to dispose of latex paint are advised to use it, donate it, or dry the paint in the can and discard it in regular household garbage with the lid off. To help dry out paint, add kitty litter, newspaper or a product called waste paint hardener.

The Household Hazardous Waste collection event will be held rain or shine, for Union County residents only, not for businesses. Proof of Union County residency is required. For more information, please call the Recycling Hotline at 908-654-9889.

For quick links to all environmental programs and activities in Union County visit The Green Connection, ucnj.org/green-connection.

For more information and updates on all Union County services during the COVID-19 outbreak, including guidance for the Test Center, 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.

#  #

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 reminds students and youth ages 14-24 that help is available with job placements, internships, tutoring, GED services, career and college counseling, and training and certification courses through the Union County Youth Forward program.

“As a group, Union County residents ages 14-24 have unique needs, circumstances and opportunities to find their footing in the economic life of our community, and the Youth Forward program is designed to connect them with useful, age-appropriate resources,” said Commissioner Board Chairman Alexander Mirabella.

Youth Forward is a job readiness, employment, and youth empowerment program that focuses on paid and unpaid work experiences, comprehensive guidance, counseling and tutoring among other elements, with the goal of enabling Union County youth to develop work-ready skills and  compete in today’s employment environment.

This first-of-its-kind program in Union County launched in December last year. It draws on the resources, networks, and experiences of the County’s existing American Job Center employment services program and the Division of Youth Services, both housed in the Department of Human Services.

During the COVID-19 outbreak, the American Job Center has developed new online resources to assist job seekers and employers while limiting in-person contact. The Youth Forward service follows the creation of the new Union County Works online portal last summer.

Youth Forward is funded by a grant under the federal Workforce Innovation Opportunity Act, administered by the Union County Workforce Development Board through the  American Job Center.

Union County residents ages 14-24 can connect with Youth Forward by calling 908-558-2520 or by emailing info.youthforward@ucnj.org, or by filling out the online contact form at ucnj.org/human-services.

For more information, visit online at ucnj.org/youth-forward.

For more information and updates on all Union County services during the COVID-19 outbreak, including the Drive-Through Test Center at Kean University and the Mobile Test Unit walk-up sites, visit ucnj.org/covid19. General information about COVID-19 and updates on statewide vaccine planning are 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.