County of Union, New Jersey

The Fiscal Committee of the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders today announced a set of 3 open public hearings in March for the review of the 2020 Executive Budget.

“The Freeholder Board continues to provide the opportunity for engagement from our residents across the county, and bringing these budget hearings to different locations is a way to make sure as many people as possible can participate,” said Freeholder Sergio Granados, who is also Chair of the Fiscal Committee. “The County has worked diligently to stay below the 2% increase for the third year in a row, maintaining a stable tax rate.”

All three hearings will begin at 6 p.m. and are as follows:

 

While there are no public comments at these meetings, the public is welcome to attend and listen to the discussion. The Freeholder Board’s Fiscal Committee will conduct their review before the Freeholder Board as a whole votes to introduce the budget later this year.

Bird watchers and nature fans are invited to join Pete Axelrod of Wild Birds Unlimited and Friends of The Great Swamp for the annual Woodcock Talk and Walk events. The first will be held in Lenape Park in Cranford on Wednesday, March 18 at 6:15 p.m. and the other will be held at the Watchung Stables off of Summit Avenue in the Watchung Reservation on Wednesday, March 25 at 6:30 p.m.

 “The American Woodcock requires very specific habitats, so it’s a great source of pride that Union County’s preserved open spaces can be a home for this unusual bird,” said Freeholder Chairman Alexander Mirabella. “The annual Talk and Walk events help our residents and visitors see and hear the value of local nature conservation.”

Hosted by the Union County Department of Parks and Recreation, the annual Woodcock Talk & Walk provides seasoned birders and beginners alike with the chance to catch a glimpse of the American Woodcock and learn more about this unusual and elusive bird.

The American Woodcock is known by a variety of colorful names including Timberdoodle, Labrador twister, Night partridge, Mudbat, and Bog sucker.

The species is most commonly referred to as the woodcock due to its preference for wooded areas. American Woodcocks are drawn to moist forests and require dense woodland, providing ample cover and food.

In the spring, the bird seeks out forest clearings, abandoned fields spotted with low brush or open fields next to forest edges to serve as courtship sites.

In preparation for mating, male Woodcocks establish individual territories known as singing grounds.

Perhaps the most fascinating attribute of the American Woodcock is the acrobatic courtship displays performed by the males.

As part of their mating ritual, a displaying male on the ground will emit a nasal, buzzing call referred to as a peent, to attract females. He then takes flight and ascends 200 or 300 feet. All the while, musical twittering sounds are made by the male’s wings. Afterwards, he will spiral or zigzag back to the ground while producing a liquid chirp.

The March 18 event at Lenape Park will meet at the old Trap and Skeet field house near the main entrance off Kenilworth Boulevard/County Road 509 in Cranford (the park entrance is between Dorset Drive and Nomahegan Road).

The March 25 Woodcock Walk & Talk in the Watchung Reservation will take place at the Deserted Village. The group will meet at Masker’s Barn, which is located at the far end of Cataract Hollow Road in Berkeley Heights (GPS users: plug in 13 Cataract Hollow Road and follow road to the end).

Participants are advised to dress warm and bring a flashlight.  Both events are free and open to adults and children age 10 and up with an adult. Pre-registration is required by emailing the Union County Department of Parks and Recreation at bkelly@ucnj.org.

For more information on activities and programs in Union County parks, and to find out about volunteering with Union County Adopt-a-Park, call 908-527-4900 or visit ucnj.org/parks.

For quick links to all Union County environmental and sustainability programs visit The Green Connection online at www.ucnj.org/green-connection.

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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 Chosen Freeholders invites residents to attend a free forum and discussion session on the newly released Union County Community Needs Assessment report, on Wednesday, February 26, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. in the STEM Building Auditorium at Kean University, 1075 Morris Avenue in Union Township.

“The Needs Assessment report is a valuable resource for guidance as we continue to improve services for Union County’s growing population, while also taking on evolving challenges in homelessness, opioid abuse and other areas,” said Union County Freeholder Chairman Alexander Mirabella.

The Needs Assessment report is based on public surveys and focus groups as well as analyses conducted by public, nonprofit and private sector stakeholders. It covers the full range of Union County services, from parks, recreation, education and cultural events to social services, emergency response and more.

Pre-registration is not required but an RSVP is suggested. To RSVP and for more information, contact Stephanie Goncalves at sgoncalves@ucnj.org or 908-527-4383.

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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 Elections reminds voters who plan to change their party affiliation that they must do so by April 8, in order to participate in their new party’s Presidential Primary Election on June 2.

“Voters often do not realize that the deadline to change their affiliation is set long before Primary Day,” said Board of Elections Administrator Nicole DiRado. “If you plan to change parties ahead of the June 2, 2020 Presidential Primary, please be aware that party declaration changes must be received by the Election Board by April 8.”

Ms. DiRado reminded voters that they can call the Board of Elections at 908-527-4123 to confirm their party affiliation.

In the event a voter wishes to change their party, Party Declaration Forms can be mailed to them by calling 908-527-4123, or downloaded from https://nj.gov/state/elections/assets/pdf/forms-party-affiliation/party-affiliation-form.pdf for an English form.

For Spanish, use https://nj.gov/state/elections/assets/pdf/forms-party-affiliation/party-affiliation-form-spanish.pdf.

Ms. DiRado also advised that visitors to the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission Office often may inadvertently change their party affiliation during their transition, and may not have even noticed it.

Calling the Election Board is the best way for voters ensure they are ready to vote for their party’s presidential nominee.

The April 8 deadline does not apply to voters who are currently unaffiliated. They may declare their party at the polls on June 2. 

Unaffiliated voters who vote by mail will have an opportunity to declare their affiliation when they receive their ballots. They receive a ballot for each party, and they return only the ballot for which they declare.

For all Union County Board of Elections information visit online at ucnj.org/ucboe or call 908-527-4123.

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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.

Online registration for the Women’s Yoga Event

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Union County, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is presenting a free yoga, meditation and emotional wellness program for women on Tuesday evening, March 10, at Masker’s Barn in the historic Deserted Village of Feltville, located in the Watchung Reservation in Berkeley Heights.

The March 10 event is the latest in a series of women’s yoga and wellness sessions organized through the Union County Office on Women. It is free and open to all women in Union County age 16 years and older, from beginners to experienced practitioners.

Pre-registration is required online at ucnj.org/womans-yoga.

“In addition to fostering wellness, the yoga series also provides an opportunity to connect with issues that broadly impact women and girls,” said Freeholder Chairman Alexander Mirabella.

For the March 10 event, attendees are requested to bring a donation of feminine hygiene products in support of the organization Girls Helping Girls. Period. The donations will go to help girls who struggle to afford hygiene products.

The March 10 session will begin at 6:00 p.m. and is expected to conclude at approximately 9:00 p.m. It includes a networking session, yoga and guided meditation.

Attendees should wear comfortable clothing appropriate for yoga and bring their own yoga mats. 

Masker’s Barn is a restored, ADA accessible 19th century barn located at 9 Cataract Hollow Road in the Deserted Village of Feltville, off Glenside Avenue in the Berkeley Heights section of Union County’s Watchung Reservation. Drivers are advised not to box in other cars when parking at the site.

The Office on Women was created in 2016 as the first county-based office of its kind in New Jersey, connecting women with services and programs that enable them to reach their full potential at every stage of their lives, and raising awareness of the many contributions that women make to life in Union County.

March is designated as Women’s History Month in the United States and is celebrated each year in Union County with special programs and activities. Women’s History Month corresponds with International Women’s Day, recognized around the world every year on March 8.

For more details about the yoga series and other programs of the Office on Women contact Jennifer Erdos, Coordinator, at jerdos@ucnj.org or visit online at ucnj.org/women.

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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.

On Thursday, the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders through the Office of LGBTQ Affairs and the Office for People with Disabilities and Special Needs partnered with the Union County Superintendent of Schools to host the Union County Inclusive Schools Presentation.

Interim Executive Superintendent Daryl Palmieri welcomed educators, administrators, principals, superintendents, and a few district Board of Education members to the Union County Inclusive Schools Presentation covering the importance of creating inclusive, affirming and welcoming classroom experiences for LGBTQ youth and students with disabilities with guest speakers Shannon Cuttle of New Jersey Safe Schools Coalition, Dr. Jan Kaminsky of Rainbow Health Consulting and Adrienne P. Robertiello of Children’s Specialized Hospital.

Union County Freeholder Chairman Alexander Mirabella, Freeholder Bette Jane Kowalski and Freeholder Andrea Staten present a resolution to Union County Vocational-Technical School District Superintendent Gwendolyn S. Ryan and UCVTS students and faculty designating February 2020 as National Career and Technical Education Month in Union County.

The 21st-century career and technical education programs at the Union County Vocational-Technical Schools link rigorous academics, technical knowledge and real-world experiences to help students develop workplace skills to better prepare them for college and challenging careers.

For more information about Union County Vocational-Technical Schools, visit www.ucvts.tec.nj.us.

(Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)