County of Union

March 7, 2018
For immediate release
Contact: Sebastian D’Elia
Communications Director
908-527-4419
Union County Freeholders Announce New Office of Community Engagement and Diversity

Union County, NJ — The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders have announced the establishment of the Office of Community Engagement and Diversity. The new office is tasked with supporting and growing volunteer activities by identifying opportunities, coordinating events, building a volunteer network and strengthening relationships with the County’s diverse communities.

Union County Freeholder Chairman Sergio Granados announced the new office as part of his “Moving Union County Forward” initiatives for 2018 in his address during the county’s 162nd Annual Reorganization.

“As someone active in the volunteer community, I know that Union County residents are passionate, energized, and eager to lend their time and their skills to make a real difference,” said Chairman Granados. “This new office will help volunteers connect with new opportunities to engage, and help all of our volunteer stakeholders – including business, non-profit and academic – coordinate their efforts for maximum impact.”

Advocates from the non-profit community thanked Granados and the Freeholder Board as a whole for creating the office:

Donna Lowe Alexander, CEO & President of Urban League of Union County, Inc. and Crystal A. Orr, President of Urban League of Union County Young Professionals, stated:

“As the new presidents of the Urban League of Union County, Inc. and Urban League of Union County Young Professionals (ULUCYP), we are happy that the Office of Community Engagement and Diversity has been established. Our mission is to empower and seek equality for people who are disadvantaged and underrepresented in Housing, Education, Employment and Healthcare. By creating this office, Union County is taking a vested interest to learn and access the needs of the diverse groups of people that we serve. We are looking forward to partnering with Nathalie and her team to continue to enhance our communities and change lives.”

Dr. Norma Bowe the founder of Be The Change NJ, a community service and activist group stated:

“Be The Change NJ Kean University is excited to partner on a variety of community based projects with the Union County Office of Community Engagement & Diversity. This weekend, we will be working with the Office and several other organizations to provide 1,000 sandwiches to 10 locations throughout the State to celebrate our 10 years of Homelessness Relief.”

Janice Lilien, Chief Executive Office of the YWCA of Union County said:

“The YWCA Union County is so pleased to work with the Office of Community Engagement and Diversity. As a leading agency addressing the empowerment of women as well as the elimination of racism, we rely on our entire community to work in partnership to address these important societal issues. Union County has led the way in improving our community and we are proud to work alongside them.”

Darwin Roman, President of the Union County Latino American Chamber of Commerce said:

“As President of the Union County Latino American Chamber of Commerce we are proud to partner with the County of Union. Union County is rich in Multicultural diversity. We feel that our chamber is in alignment with the goals and initiatives of the Office of Community Engagement and Diversity. The Latino community is poised for growth with our support in enhancing and advancing, both in education and economically. We look forward to reaching astronomical levels of success in 2018 and beyond!”

The Office operates under the Department of Economic Development, where it uses existing County staff and resources to carry out the following functions:

• Provide outreach to local community based groups and volunteer organizations to create a network and directory of same.

• Coordinate countywide community events and programs which foster and promote volunteerism in Union County.

• Reinforce strategies for building relationships with the County’s diverse communities to include culture, lifestyle, ethnicity, and race.

• Bring communities together on issues important to them and find creative & innovative solutions to ensure inclusion and collaboration on a multi-faceted vision for the County’s diverse communities.

During the past few months, the Office of Community Engagement and Diversity has completed the following projects:

 Donation Drives for Hurricane Harvey victims and YWCA Union County Domestic Violence Shelter in Elizabeth;

 Coordinated with the Urban League of Union County Young Professionals to collect business clothing for the Cinderella’s Closet at our Elizabeth & Plainfield One Stop Center;

 Coordinated with an Elizabeth resident and the Union County Department of Human Services to collect their donation of 20 cots for the County’s Code Blue Operations;

 Coordinated County Volunteer Days at the Community Food Bank of New Jersey and at Kean University to participate in Be The Change NJ’s 10th Anniversary of Operation PB & J to feed the homeless;

The office is currently working on projects with Bernice’s Place, We Are One NJ, Union County Family Success Centers, Be The Change NJ, and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Essex, Hudson, & Union Counties.

Individuals who wish to connect with a volunteer organization or initiative in Union County can register online with the Office of Community Engagement and Diversity, at ucnj.org/ office-of-community-engagement-diversity/volunteers.

“Part of the idea behind the registry is to provide our immigrant community with bilingual services and support, so I encourage individuals who speak a second language to sign up and participate,” said Granados.

Groups and organizations seeking to connect with volunteers can register at ucnj.org/office-of-community-engagement-diversity/groups.

For more information about the Office of Community Engagement and Diversity contact Nathalie Hernandez, the Office’s coordinator, at 908-527-4880 or nahernandez@ucnj.org.

 

Union County, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders reminds County residents that some County facilities and programs will be closed or suspended on Wednesday, March 7, in anticipation of another severe winter storm.

New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy has declared a state of emergency for the entire state beginning at 8:00 p.m. tonight.

County residents are strongly advised to stay off the roads, to help reduce the chance of accidents, enable emergency responders to get through, and enable snow plows to operate more effectively.

Residents should also ensure that emergency supplies are at hand including food, water, flashlights, first aid kits and any needed medicines or medical equipment. Make sure that cell phones are charged and get fresh batteries for portable radios.

Click here to view the latest service advisories.

Snow is expected to start by 10:00 p.m. on Tuesday evening and continue to about to 4:00 a.m. Thursday.

Plan on difficult travel conditions throughout the storm. Significant reductions in visibility are possible. Total accumulations are expected in the 6”-12” range, with more possible locally.

Always contact your local utility to report an outage or service interruption; do not assume that they are already aware of the problem. Following is a list of local utilities:

Electric

PSE&G
1-800-436-7734
Online Outage Reporting   Report Map

 

Jersey Central Power & Light
1-800-662-3115
Online Outage Reporting   Report Map

Gas

Elizabethtown Gas
1-800-242-5830

Website

 

PSE&G
1-800-436-7734

Website
Report gas leak: 1-800-436-7734

Water

New Jersey American Water

1-800-272-1325

Website

 

United Water — Rahway

1-877-303-2435

Website

Emergencies: 1-877-303-2435

Cable / Phone

Cablevision
1-866-575-8000

Website

 

Comcast
1-800-266-2278

Website

 

Verizon FiOS
1-888-438-3467

Website

 

Verizon
1-800-827-4966

Website

 

Time Warner
201-886-0900

Website

 

For more information about emergency preparedness in New Jersey visit ready.nj.gov.

For local updates visit the Union County website at ucnj.org or follow Union County on Facebook and Twitter.

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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.

MOUNTAINSIDE, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is pleased to announce Teacher Training programs at Trailside for teachers K-12. 

“Trailside, located on over 2,000 acres in the Watchung Reservation, is a perfect place for teachers to learn new environmentally focused lesson plans and projects,” says Freeholder Chairman Sergio Granados. 

 Project WET, a teacher training program for teachers K – 12 will be offered on Thursday March 15 from 9:00 AM. to 3:00 PM.  This workshop will provide the necessary tools, resources and lessons for teachers to utilize in the classroom to teach about the importance and value of water in everyday life. 

More than 90 interdisciplinary activities and lessons, teacher-tested and classroom ready for K-12 students, are included in the activity guide. Lessons in the guide are correlated to NJ Core Curriculum Content Standards. 

On Wednesday, May 9 from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM, Project WILD will be offered to formal and non-formal educators. This workshop assists teachers in teaching math, science, social studies, literacy and art at any grade level.

Teachers will acquire new teaching skills and practices that translate into more effective teaching through a multitude of interdisciplinary, hands-on and educational activities, teacher tested and classroom ready for K-12 students.

Project WILD lessons are correlated to NJ Core Curriculum Content Standards.   Because this program will have some outdoor time, it is recommended that participants dress appropriately for the weather.

Participants receive six ( 6 )NJDOE professional development credits for each workshop. The fee is $20 for each workshop and includes light morning refreshments, along with the curriculum guide.  It is suggested that participants bring their lunch.

Pre-registration is required for each workshop. Registration is now available online, at ucnj.org/trailside.  Walk-ins will be welcomed as space is limited.

For more information about these programs or other activities at Trailside, please call 908-789-3670 or visit ucnj.org/trailside. Trailside Nature and Science Center is located at 452 New Providence Road in Mountainside and is a facility of the Union County Department of Parks and Recreation.                                                                   

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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 Chosen Freeholders reminds residents who are interested in a unique and meaningful volunteer experience that applications are still open for the next volunteer training program of the Union County Rape Crisis Center.

The Rape Crisis Center is a program of the Union County Department of Human Services. Since its inception in 1984, volunteer advocates from the Rape Crisis Center have helped hundreds of Union County residents with emotional support and guidance through the aftermath of sexual violence.

No previous experience in counseling is necessary. All volunteers are trained and mentored by professional staff.

Due to inclement weather the initial start date for the spring training program has been rescheduled from March 22 to April 10, so there is still time to register. Space is limited so call the Rape Crisis Center now at 908-233-7273 to schedule a pre-training interview.

Additional information about the volunteer experience can be found at the Rape Crisis Center’s blog, unioncountyrapecrisiscenter.blogspot.com.

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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 11,000 Union County residents and JCP&L customers are still suffering without power after this week’s storm, including children, seniors, and people with disabilities. Some of our residents have not had power since the previous storm hit last Friday, a full eight days ago. Our schools and businesses are also impacted. And yet, days after offering false hope of a quick resolution, this morning JCP&L informed us that they do not expect most power to be restored in Union County until next Wednesday.

JCP&L’s failure to respond effectively to this storm borders on criminality. It is an absolute break of faith with the company’s status as a power monopoly, and it is inexcusable. It is plain that leadership at the company is unprepared and unqualified to meet the demands of a modern, resilient power grid. This debacle goes to the highest levels of JCP&L’s parent company, FirstEnergy and its CEO Charles E. Jones. I join with Governor Murphy in calling for a full investigation of JCP&L’s planning and emergency response systems and I urge that this investigation include FirstEnergy’s management and oversight. This must never happen again.

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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 – With more than 11,000 JCP&L customers facing a continued power outage in Union County through the weekend, the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is urging residents to exercise extreme caution when using generators, candles and other alternative power sources.

According to the New Jersey Poison Information and Educational System, several New Jersey residents were recently hospitalized for carbon monoxide exposure from gas generators used after the storm of March 2.

“Gas is portrayed as a cleaner fuel, but it is important to recognize that both gas and diesel generators can cause carbon monoxide poisoning when used improperly, resulting in serious illness or death,” said Freeholder Chairman Sergio Granados.

Earlier today Chairman Granados issued a statement supporting Governor Murphy’s call for an investigation into JCP&L for its slow response to the storms of March 2 and March 7. Granados also urged that the investigation include the company’s parent, FirstEnergy.

As of Friday morning, March 9, 11,888 JCP&L customers in Union County were still without power, including some who lost power during the March 2 storm.

“The latest word we have from JCP&L is that power will not be fully restored until next Wednesday, and that is completely unacceptable,” said Granados. “Every day this outage lasts, thousands of JCP&L customers in Union County are exposed to increased risks as they seek light and heat for their homes.”

Carbon monoxide is a gas that gives no warning. It cannot be seen, smelled or tasted. The symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning can easily be confused with symptoms of common colds or the flu.

“If you suspect CO poisoning, handle it as a medical emergency,” said Granados. “Call 911 immediately and let the responders know about any generators or alternative fuel sources in or near your home.”

County residents and businesses using generators are urged to review the manufacturer’s warnings and safety instruction. These include:

• Never place generators indoors. That includes basements, garages and sheds as well as homes and other buildings.
• Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for positioning your generator outdoors. Generally that means at least 20 feet away from your building and any adjacent building.

Residents are also urged to exercise extreme caution when using candles and fireplaces, and never use gas stovetops for heat.

Residents using fireplaces should obtain firewood from a reliable source. Burning painted wood, treated lumber or certain types of wood can result in poisonous fumes.

Additional safety tips from the US Centers for Disease Control: cdc.gov/co/guidelines.

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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 Chosen Freeholders is pleased to announce the award of “Level the Playing Field” grants to all 21 municipalities in the County. Level The Playing Field is a new grant program designed to help every municipality provide inclusive playgrounds to children with disabilities, as part of Freeholder Chairman Sergio Granados’s 2018 Union County HEART initiative for community outreach and advocacy.

“Every child should be able to enjoy a playground in or near their neighborhood, and participate in enriching sensory experiences with friends, family and neighbors from all walks of life,” said Chairman Granados, who launched Level the Playing Field in 2017 while serving as Vice Chairman. “We would like this program to become a statewide model for counties and local governments, showing how we can work together and help all families make healthy outdoor play a lifetime habit.”

“Once all of the projects are completed, Union County will be the first county in New Jersey to have an inclusive playground for every municipality within its borders,” added Granados. “Based on our research, we may also be the first county in the U.S. with inclusive playgrounds for every municipality.”

“Through Level the Playing Field, the Freeholder Board continues to deliver on the Trust Fund’s promise of expanding and improving recreational opportunities for all County residents,” said Freeholder Alexander Mirabella, who is Chairman of the Trust Fund. “The benefits of inclusive playgrounds ripple out to include families and caregivers, helping to forge closer bonds within the whole community.”

Letters to all 21 municipalities announcing the availability of Level the Playing Field funding were mailed last fall, and all 21 responded.

A total of $500,000 in Level the Playing Field awards was funded through the Union County Open Space, Recreation and Historic Preservation Trust Fund. The following amounts were awarded to each municipality:

Berkeley Heights        $25,470.00     

Clark                          $25,470.00     

Cranford                     $25,470.00     

Elizabeth                    $25,470.00     

Fanwood                    $15,000.00     

Garwood                    $25,470.00     

Hillside                        $20,000.00     

Kenilworth                 $25,470.00     

Linden                         $25,470.00     

Mountainside             $25,470.00     

New Providence         $25,470.00     

Plainfield                     $25,470.00     

Rahway                      $25,470.00     

Roselle                        $25,470.00     

Roselle Park               $25,470.00     

Scotch Plains              $25,470.00     

Springfield                 $25,470.00     

Summit                       $25,470.00     

Union                         $17,010.00     

Westfield                   $15,000.00     

Winfield Park              $25,470.00     

Total:                          $500,000.00   

 

Many Union County parks already feature playgrounds with inclusive features. In 2016 the County also opened its first fully accessible playground, located in Mattano Park in Elizabeth.

In another recent project focusing on people with disabilities, last fall the Freeholder Board broke ground on Union County’s first all-inclusive Sensory Trial. The new 0.3 mile loop in the Watchung Reservation includes a Braille trail with rope guides and nature-themed play structures, designed to be enjoyed by all ages and abilities.

Other Union County programs for people with disabilities include the Sensory Friendly Theatre series sponsored by the Freeholder Board at the Union County Performing Arts Center, and programs at the County’s Ulrich Swimming Pool, Watchung Stables and Trailside Nature and Science Center.

The Freeholder Board also provides funding for special events such as annual fishing derbies, an ice skating social, summer carnival and barn dance, as well as programs for popular activities including golf, karate, yoga and volleyball.

UC HEART stands for “Empowering, Advocating for, Reaching and Teaching others.” In addition to the new Level the Playing field grant program, UC HEART includes creation of the first Office for People with Special Needs in New Jersey.

The new office is charged with improving recreational and social opportunities, reaching out to community groups and other stakeholders, and identifying new opportunities for engaging people with special needs.

More information about the Office for People with Special Needs is available on the County website, ucnj.org.

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Photo caption: At an opening ceremony last year, members of the Freeholder Board gathered with the Elizabeth community to celebrate the County’s first all-inclusive playground, located in Mattano Park. This year the Freeholders are providing a total of $500,000 in funding for all 21 municipalities to improve their local playgrounds for children with disabilities. Pictured here, last year’s celebration included current Union County Freeholder Chairman Sergio Granados, Vice Chairman Bette Jane Kowalski, Freeholders Linda Carter and Christopher Hudak, Elizabeth Mayor J. Christian Bollwage, former Union County Manager Alfred Faella, and members of the Elizabeth City Council and Board of Education. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

 

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 Freeholder Chairman Sergio Granados and Freeholder Angel G. Estrada joined Jen Erdos of the Union County Office on Women in thanking Elise Joy of Girls Helping Girls Period as she delivered a donation of a year’s worth of feminine hygiene products to YWCA of Union County Director of Residential Programs Candyce Mayers at the YWCA in Elizabeth.

The donation, coordinated by the Union County Office on Women and YWCA Union County Executive Director Janice C. Lilien, was in honor of International Women’s Day.

Girls Helping Girls Period collects unopened boxes of products and distributes them to people in need, through food pantries, schools systems and outreach programs. For more information about the organization, visit www.girlshelpinggirlsperiod.org.

 

Union County, NJ – Student members of the Union County 4-H Variety Club reached across local and state borders to help displaced pets earlier this year. Through their “4-H for our 4 Pawed Friends” community service project, they collected donations to help St. Hubert’s Animal Welfare Center in Madison after the organization sheltered more than 700 pets in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria.

A representative of St. Hubert’s recently visited the Variety Club to honor the students with a St. Hubert’s Humane Hero award in recognition of their work.

“The Freeholder Board congratulates our 4-H students on earning the Humane Hero award,” said Freeholder Chairman Sergio Granados. “They demonstrated exemplary leadership by identifying a community in need, and developing a plan that involved their peers and neighbors in making a real difference.”

The 4-H for our 4 Pawed Friends project included making handmade catnip toys and collecting donations from schools, family and friends.

PetSmart in Watchung Square Mall also provided donations.

In all, the 4-H students collected over 500 food items, 150 dog and cat toys, 100 miscellaneous animal care items. A total of $363.00 in donations was used to purchase PetSmart gift cards for the shelter.

“The Freeholder Board is proud to support the 4-H mission of developing the youth leaders of tomorrow, and enabling young people to envision how the whole person — ‘Head, Heart, Hands and Health’ – can contribute to make our community stronger,” said Granados.

Union County 4-H is a program of the Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Union County, supported in part by the Freeholder Board, and headquartered at the Extension offices in Westfield. The program develops teamwork, organization, public speaking and other leadership skills by providing students in grades 1-12 with opportunities to explore their passions and interests.

For information on joining a 4-H club or volunteering as an adult club leader email Union County 4-H agent Jim Nichnadowicz at  jnichnadowicz@ucnj.org or visit online at ucnj.org/rce.

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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.

Photo caption (photo attached): Students in the Union County 4-H 4^th and 5^th Grade Variety Club collected donations to help St. Hubert’s Animal Welfare Center care of hundreds of pets displaced by Hurricane Maria. (photo credit: Union County 4-H Clubs).

Union County Freeholder Chairman Sergio Granados and Freeholder Bette Jane Kowalski attend the 2018 Union County Teen Arts Festival at Union County College in Cranford. The Union County Teen Arts Festival is an annual two-day celebration of the arts sponsored by the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders through the Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs in the Department of Parks and Recreation. The event is open to all students from public, charter, private and parochial middle and high schools in Union County.