County of Union, New Jersey

Try colorful native plants for low maintenance, eco-friendly gardening.

Union County, NJ – Gardeners who are interested in eco-friendly yard care are invited to a free Native Plant Swap and Shop event on Thursday evening, June 25, at the Scout Camping Area in Union County’s Watchung Reservation, in Mountainside. The event will be conducted under no-contact guidelines to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

“Gardening with native plants is an effective way to save time, reduce yard care costs, and contribute to the health of the local ecosystem. Native species thrive naturally their home environment, so gardeners can avoid potentially harmful herbicides, pesticides and other treatments,” said Freeholder Chairman Alexander Mirabella.

Native plants support local populations of butterflies, birds, and other beneficial pollinators. They can also help reduce ponding and runoff.

The Native Plant Swap and Shop is a partner project of the statewide Watershed Ambassador program and Union County. The event is free but pre-registration is required by filling out the Survey Monkey form at surveymonkey.com/r/FQZM7G9

Gardeners who come to the Plant Swap and Shop can bring up to three non-native plants from their yard, and receive up to three free native plants in return.

Under the contactless procedure, attendees will bring their non-native plants by car to the site, and open their trunk or door. Staff at the site will remove those plants and replace them with colorful native varieties.

Attendees must bring the entire plant, roots and all. The plants should be tied or taped as needed to prevent any seeds from escaping.

No appointment is needed but the Survey Monkey form must be completed in order to participate. Attendees can arrive any time between 5:30 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. on June 25. Masks must be worn at all times.

Invasive plants accepted for trade include but are not limited to: Japanese barberry, pachysandra, butterfly bush, Chinese silvergrass, English Ivy, garlic mustard, oriental bittersweet, autumn olive, Japanese maple, vinca (periwinkle), porcelain berry, and burning bush.

Native plants available for swap include: wild bergamot, dense blazing star, swamp milkweed, and hummingbird-friendly foxglove beardtongue and cardinal flower. Attendees can indicate their first, second, and third choice of native plants on the Survey Monkey form when they register.

Attendees can also buy additional native plants from Toadshade Wildflower Farm at the site. Pre-ordering is available and is strongly encouraged. To pre-order, visit the company’s website at toadshade.com and choose the “pick up” option for shipping.

The access road to the Scout Camping Area is adjacent to the parking lot at Union County’s Trailside Nature and Science Center in the Watchung Reservation, located at 452 New Providence Road in Mountainside. 

For additional eco-friendly gardening resources view Union County’s free, downloadable Plant This, Not That guide to replacing invasive species with colorful native plants. More free advice on gardening with native plants is also available through the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station of Rutgers University. 

The Watershed Ambassador program is supported in Union County by the Freeholder Board through the Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Union County. For a list of free online Extension learn-from-home programs and activities visit ucnj.org/rce.

For more information about activities of the Watershed Ambassador in Union County, and more details about the Native Plant Swap and Shop event, email watershedma7@gmail.com.

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

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.

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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 Freeholders Kimberly Palmieri-Mouded and Sergio Granados, Union County Department of Human Services Director Debbie-Ann Anderson and Community FoodBank of  New Jersey President & CEO Carlos Rodriguez joined volunteers from the United Way and County of Union employees in the distribution of 320 bags of food and fresh produce in Elizabeth to families in need. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

Union County, NJ – Union County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi advises voters that accurate, up-to-date information on the upcoming July 7 Primary Election is available on the County Clerk’s elections website, unioncountyvotes.com, and on the free Union County Votes mobile app.

The County Clerk has begun sending Vote-by-Mail ballots to all registered, active Democratic and Republican voters. Due to the volume of mail involved, the process is expected continue into next week.

“Some voters will receive their ballots within the next several days, while others will receive theirs next week,” explained Ms. Rajoppi.

Under statewide orders designed to prevent the spread of COVID-19, the Primary Election will be conducted primarily by Vote-by-Mail ballots.

In addition, the County Clerk is mailing Vote-by-Mail applications to registered voters who are inactive or unaffiliated.

Residents who have not registered to vote still have time to register, but must do so by June 16.

The following deadlines apply to the July 7 Primary Election:

• Final day to register to vote in time for the Primary Election: June 16
• Deadline to apply by Mail for Primary Election Vote By Mail ballot/unaffiliated voters to declare a party: June 30
• Deadline for a walk-in to obtain a vote-by-mail ballot: July 7 before 8:00 p.m.
• Primary Election Day: July 7, polls close at 8:00 p.m.
• Deadline to mail/postmark or drop off a VBM ballot July 7 at 8:00 p.m. (drop off locations will be announced prior to Election Day)

For more information about the County Clerk’s election services visit unioncountyvotes.com or contact the Elections Division at 908-527-4996 or ucvote@ucnj.org.

For more information and updates on all Union County services during the COVID-19 outbreak, including guidance on 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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COVID-19 prevention still applies to all Union County parks and facilities.

Union County, NJ – Effective at dawn on Saturday, June 13, dog parks and tennis courts will be reopened to Union County residents and visitors who observe precautions against spreading or contracting COVID-19. All Union County parks are open from dawn to dusk. Masks are strongly recommended in all areas, and visitors must maintain social distance of at least six feet.

“I’ve said it before and it bears repeating: COVID-19 does not disappear outdoors,” said Freeholder Chairman Alexander Mirabella. “We are carefully and gradually reopening facilities in County parks and following the guidance of public health experts, and we continue to urge visitors to exercise precautions that are proven to reduce the risk of infection.”

Union County parks closed in April in accordance with statewide orders to prevent the spread of COVID-19. They began opening in May for individual activities such as walking, hiking, and bike riding.

In addition to the dog parks and tennis courts, the County’s golf courses and archery range are have also opened on a modified basis.

All other facilities and equipment in County parks remain closed. Gatherings and group activities are still prohibited.

Union County has two dog parks, located at Echo Lake Park in Mountainside, and Warinanco Park in Roselle.

The County’s tennis courts are located at Cedar Brook Park in Plainfield,

services visit unioncountyvotes.com or contact the Elections Division at 908-527-4996 or ucvote@ucnj.org.

, Rahway River Park in Rahway, Unami Park in Cranford/Westfield, and Warinanco Park in Roselle.

Please note that the dog parks and tennis courts are not reserve-able. These facilities are open on a first come, first served basis.

For maps, directions, and more information about County trails, including multi-use paved paths and walking/hiking trails, visit ucnj.org/parks-recreation, email parksinfo@ucnj.org, or call 908-527-4900.

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.

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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 – Union County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi reminds residents that her office has begun mailing Vote-by-Mail ballots to all registered Democratic and Republican voters in Union County.

Unaffiliated voters who wish to vote in the July 7 Primary Election will be mailed Vote-by-Mail applications, and must declare a party in order to receive a ballot.

“When you receive your Vote-by-Mail ballot, read the instructions carefully and fill it out right away using black ink,” said Ms. Rajoppi. “Then, do one of the following:”

• Mail it via U.S. Postal Service — postage is prepaid.
• Drop it off at Ballot Drop locations (locations will be announced prior to Election Day).
• Drop it off at the County Clerk’s main office at the County Courthouse at 2 Broad Street in Elizabeth, or at the annex office in the Colleen Fraser Building at 300 North Avenue East in Westfield.
• Drop it off at the Union County Board of Elections at 271 North Broad Street.

No sample ballots will be sent for the July 7 Primary. Voters can view their sample ballot online at the County Clerk’s elections website, unioncountyvotes.com. 

A video explaining how to vote by mail can be viewed at unioncountyvotes.com. Please note the following:

1. Don’t detach anything
2. Use black ink to fill in ovals completely (no check marks or X’s)
3. Place your ballot in the certification envelope and sign the certification envelope
4. Place the certification envelope into the return envelope.
5. Mail or drop off your ballot as noted above.
6. Practice putting your completed ballot together before you seal the envelopes.

Pursuant to Governor Murphy’s Executive Order, the July 7 Primary Election will be conducted primarily by Vote-by-Mail ballots. A limited number of polling locations will be open on Election Day for those who need to vote in person. A list of polling locations is available from the Union County Board of Elections, ucnj.org/boe.

Please note that Vote-by-Mail ballots cannot be used or dropped off at polling locations. In-person voters will use provisional ballots, which will be provided to them at the polling locations.

The following deadlines apply for the July 7 Primary Election:

• Final day to register to vote in time for the Primary Election: June 16
• Deadline to APPLY by Mail for Primary Election Vote By Mail ballot/unaffiliated voters to declare a party: June 30
• Deadline for a walk-in to obtain a vote-by-mail ballot: July 7 before 8:00 p.m.
• Primary Election Day: July 7, polls close at 8:00 p.m.
• Deadline to mail/postmark or drop off a VBM ballot- July 7 at 8:00 p.m.

For more information about the County Clerk’s election services visit unioncountyvotes.com or contact the Elections Division at 908-527-4996 or ucvote@ucnj.org.

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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Connect with Union County on social media.

Union County, NJ – Union County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi reminds notaries who have a time restriction for swearing-in that they can make an appointment to visit the County Clerk’s offices in person to be sworn in. Individuals seeking to register trade names, tax waivers and clerk’s certificates can also make an appointment for in-person services.

Everyone seeking these services in person is required to make an appointment in advance and wear a face mask at all times, in order to prevent the spread of COVID-19. No other in-person services are available at this time.

“We have very carefully resumed a limited number of in-person services in accordance with statewide guidance on preventing the spread of COVID-19,” said Ms. Rajoppi. “As we have throughout the outbreak, my staff will continue to provide assistance with other services by phone, email, fax, or postal and delivery services.”

The following in-person appointments can be made for the County Clerk’s main office in Elizabeth, by calling the Business Division at 908-527-4966 (office hours are 7:30 am – 4:00 pm, Monday through Friday):

Notary swearing-in

Tax waivers

Clerk’s certificates

Trade names

The following in-person appointments can be made for the County Clerks’ annex office in Westfield, by calling 908-654-9859 (office hours are 8:00 am – 4:00 pm, Monday through Friday):

Notary swearing-in

Clerk’s certificates

Trade names

Please note that the County Clerk’s passport services have been suspended except for life-or-death emergencies within three days of travel, in accordance with U.S. State Department guidelines.

For information about the County Clerk’s election services visit unioncountyvotes.com or contact the Elections Division at 908-527-4996 or ucvote@ucnj.org.

For office locations, and for assistance with other Union County Clerk services visit online at ucnj.org/county-clerk or call 908-527-4787.

Information and updates on all Union County services during the COVID-19 outbreak, including guidance on the free Drive-Through Test Center at Kean University, is available at 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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Connect with Union County on social media.