County of Union, New Jersey

Enjoy a Pressed Flower Workshop at the Trailside Nature and Science Center

Union County, NJ –Union County residents and visitors can learn how to create their own handmade cards with pressed flowers and foliage at the upcoming Pressed Flower Workshop on Thursday, November 14 from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Union County’s Trailside Nature and Science Center, located at 452 New Providence Road in Mountainside. Ample free parking is located at the site.

Attendees must be age 18 or older. Space is limited and pre-registration is required through the Trailside Talks link on the Union County activities online registration website, secure.rec1.com/NJ/union-county-nj (scroll down for the Trailside Talks link).

A materials fee of $20 per participant ($25 for out-of-county visitors) applies.

“This workshop provides Union County residents and visitors with an opportunity to explore their creativity in the unique field of flower pressing and preservation, under the guidance of an experienced teacher,” said Freeholder Chair Bette Jane Kowalski.

The workshop will be taught by flower designer Mary Kao. Ms. Kao will discuss the best time to preserve flowers and how to press them properly. The materials fee includes all supplies, including exotic flowers not grown in the Union County area.

The Trailside Nature and Science Museum is a facility of the Union County Department of Parks and Recreation. For more information on all activities at Trailside, call 908-789-3670 or visit online ucnj.org/parks-recreation.

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

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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 Clerk Explains Vote Tabulation Process

Union County, NJ – As ballots continue to be tabulated after the the November 5 General Election, Union County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi reminds residents that all Vote-by-Mail ballots and Provisional ballots are included in the official, certified election results.

“I would like to assure all voters that every vote goes into the final count, whether it is a Vote-by-Mail ballot, a Provisional ballot, or the votes collected from voting machines at the polling place,” said Ms. Rajoppi.

A new change in State voting law required that Vote-by-Mail ballots be sent to all voters who voted by mail at least once in a New Jersey election within the last three years.

Voters who no longer wish to receive Vote-by-Mail ballots in future elections can download an opt out form through the County Clerk’s elections website, by following the instructions in the Vote-By-Mail page at unioncountyvotes.com/vote-by-mail-ballot-application.

“My office contacted nearly 13,000 eligible Union County voters in early September to advise them they would be getting a vote by mail ballot unless they opted out,” Ms. Rajoppi explained. “Voters who received a Vote-by-Mail ballot but did not use it were still entitled to come to their polling place and cast a Provisional ballot, although they could not vote on the machines by law.”

Ms. Rajoppi also reminded voters that the tallies from voting machines are posted online as “unofficial” results shortly after the polls close on Election Day, pending the addition of the tallies from Vote-by-Mail and Provisional ballots. Machine tallies are also re-checked before election certification.

State law provides for certification of the election results to be made eight days after the election. Vote-by-Mail ballots that are postmarked on Election Day are counted if they are delivered up to two days after Election Day. Provisional ballots are reviewed by the Board of Elections and also counted.

“Some voters have been led to believe that Vote-by-Mail and Provisional ballots are only counted in close elections, and that is entirely false,” said Ms. Rajoppi.

Voters with questions about Vote-by Mail or any other election procedures can call the Elections Division at 908-527-4996 or email ucvote@ucnj.org.

Additional elections information is also available online at the County Clerk’s elections website, website, UnionCountyVotes.com and on the free mobile app, Union County Votes.

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Celebrate the Holidays with the Model Railroad Club at the 2019 Annual Holiday Sound and Light Show

The annual Holiday Sound and Light Show hosted by The Model Railroad Club is back for another season at the A. Paul Mallery Model Railroad Center in Union Township. The centerpiece of the festivities is the club’s sprawling, meticulously detailed HO scale layout.

“The Holiday Sound and Light Show is a favorite activity for many people in and around Union County,” said Freeholder Chair Bette Jane Kowalski. “The Model Railroad Club does a great job of showcasing this unique exhibit, and we Freeholders are proud to support them.”

The Model Railroad Center is located in a mixed-use area of Union County’s Lenape Park, off Route 22 East behind the Home Depot at 930 South Springfield Road.

“We work hard year round to provide a wonderful experience for our visitors,” said Railroad Club President Tim McCollum. “For this show our HO scale layout is transformed into a theatre where the trains are the star of the show.”

This year, the Holiday Sound and Light show opens at noon Friday, November 29. It will run every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday until December 15.

Attendees can stay as long as they like to enjoy an elaborate N-scale layout and other displays at the Railroad Center.

A snack bar, train-themed gift shop, and toddler play-and-rest area are also available.

Tickets are available both online and in person. To purchase tickets online and see details about dates and times visit http://www.themodelrailroadclub.org/advance-show-tickets/. Children age two and under are free.

Tickets can also be purchased at the Railroad Center during regular Saturday public hours between 1:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m., and during the Sound and Light Show beginning at 12:00 p.m. on Friday, November 29.

The Model Railroad Club has been a part of Union County since its founding in 1949 by Master Model Railroader Paul Mallery. Today, it is one of the largest model railroad clubs in the region.

Members of the Railroad Club built the Railroad Center and run it through an arrangement with the Union County Department of Parks and Recreation. Work on the HO display began 40 years ago with the construction of the Railroad Center in Lenape Park. It has been enhanced and expanded since then. Work on a major expansion is under way, practically doubling the size of the original exhibit.

The Model Railroad Club is dedicated to preserving and sharing the art of model railroads while providing the public with a fascinating window on the history of the New Jersey-Pennsylvania rail corridor.

In addition to extra hours for the Holiday Sound and Light Show, the Railroad Center is open to the public every Saturday afternoon and for scheduled events throughout the year.

New members are always welcome to join the Model Railroad Club. Current members are on site during visiting hours and are happy to provide information about Club activities. Prospective members can also request information on joining by email, at info@tmrci.org.

All proceeds from the Holiday Sound and Light Show go towards funding the Railroad Club’s activities.

Directions: The A. Paul Mallery Center is conveniently situated in a mixed-use area of Union County’s Lenape Park, off Route 22 East in Union Township, behind the Home Depot at 930 South Springfield Road. Enter the Home Depot parking lot from Route 22 East or from South Springfield Road, and go to the far (west) end where the Home Depot garden center is located. Follow a small sign to find the service road behind the garden center. The Mallery Center is at the end of the road.

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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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NJ-TV: How increased demand for vote-by-mail ballots could influence the Assembly election

By Briana Vannozzi, Correspondent of NJ-TV | October 31, 2019, 5PM EST

The unprecedented increase in requests for vote-by-mail ballots could have a major influence on this year’s Assembly election outcome, especially in areas like Somerset and Union County – the battlegrounds for the state’s only competitive races.

According to the state Division of Elections, there were 596,993 vote-by-mail ballots requested as of Thursday. NJTV News has obtained data showing 275,429 of those went to Democrats, 149,540 to Republicans and another 169,247 for unaffiliated voters, not including third parties.

“We are up to 30,000 vote-by-mails that we sent out. Which is a very high number for us. I think in the highest presidential activity, we did 16,000,” said Union County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi.

Rajoppi’s office has been pilot-testing the state’s first “ballot-on-demand” technology to keep up with requests. The machine custom prints ballots on the spot for voters, using their name and district.

The uptick in interest likely stems from a bill that Gov. Murphy signed into law back in August, providing automatic vote-by-mail enrollment for anyone who used it during the last three election years, unless they opt out. If all goes smoothly, county clerks say it should cut down on the burden it created.

“I have 66 different ballot formats and pick from one of them to get your exact ballot, check it to make sure it’s the right ballot and then give it to you,” said Rajoppi. She went on to call the process “time consuming, labor intensive and very costly.”

“It was at least $3 million to implement the most recent three elections,” said executive director of the New Jersey Association of Counties, John Donnadio. “That doesn’t include the special elections, the fire district elections and municipal elections, and it doesn’t include all of the costs moving forward.”

After Murphy put the $2 million set aside by the legislature in his so-called lock box during the budget, Donnadio filed a case with the state Council on Local Mandates over the cost. While the case is still pending, the counties are feeling the pinch.

“The last time the legislature was top of the ticket, we had about 57,000 ballots cast county wide, and we’ve mailed out 29,000 vote-by-mail ballots,” said Somerset County Clerk Steve Peter.

The number of vote-by-mail ballots skyrocketed between the 2017 and 2018 general elections, when the law originally went to into effect, up from 182,744 to 400,136 residents.

“There’s no question that the automatic vote-by-mail ballot measure that we have now … is benefiting the Democrats and that’s because the Democrats saw this coming, worked with the governor to get this done and were preparing for it in a way that Republicans were not,” said Patrick Murray of the Monmouth University Polling Institute.

Democrats say the effort expands the process to more residents, despite their nearly one million voter edge over Republicans in the state. Even for a low turnout year, the vote-by-mail numbers are expected to reach new heights.

Residents planning to vote by mail have until 3 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 4 to come in person, fill out an application and receive a ballot. The deadline to submit it in person is 8 p.m. on election night. Ballots postmarked by Election Day will still be accepted up to 48 hours after.

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Senior Residents Can Get a Warm Nutritious Meal at Any Union County Senior Cafe

As the winter season rapidly approaches Union County senior residents age 60 and older are reminded that they can receive a warm nutritious meal at any Senior Café of their choice.

“The Senior Café provides an opportunity for our senior residents to get out and enjoy a nutritious meal as well as educational and social programs,” said Freeholder Chair Bette Jane Kowalski. “The Freeholder Board is proud to support this program.”

All Senior Café lunches include juice or soup, meat, fish, or poultry, potatoes, pasta, or rice, vegetables, a choice of a hot or cold beverage, and is complete with desert.

The Senior Café has delicious meals designed by a registered dietitian. Each meal is nutritionally balanced to meet the dietary and health needs of mature men and women.

The suggested donation is $1.75 per meal, but for those under age 60 there is a $4.00 fee. All donations collected go directly back to the program to help provide more meals to those in need.

To reserve lunch residents are asked to contact the café of their choice at least two days in advance. Lunch is served every Monday through Friday unless otherwise noted.

The Union County Senior Nutrition Program is made possible by a grant from the United States government under the Older American’s Act. The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders also provides support for the senior Nutrition Program.

For more information and a list of Senior Café locations visit https://wp.me/P4sLwl-cZH or call the Division on Aging toll free at 1-888-820-8226.

For further information about nutrition programs offered by the Division on Aging, contact Kathleen Malkiewicz by phone at 908-527-4877 or by email at kmalkiewicz@ucnj.org.

For information about all services and programs for seniors and their families visit ucnj.org/aging.

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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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Upcoming Public Employment Job Fair Series from the New Jersey Civil Service Commission

Upcoming Public Employment Job Fair Series from the New Jersey Civil Service Commission. For more information, please visit https://www.state.nj.us/csc/

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Union County Clerk Extends Hours for General Election Vote-By-Mail

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, November 2 from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., for anyone seeking to obtain a Vote-By-Mail ballot for the General Election.

Voters have until Monday, November 4 at 3:00 p.m. to obtain a Vote-by-Ballot in person at the County Clerk’s offices.

“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, all in one visit,” said Ms. Rajoppi. “My office provides this ‘One-Stop’ service to help ensure that the Vote-by-Mail process is user friendly and convenient.”

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.

Voters who choose not to leave their ballot in the secure lock box may deliver it in person to the Union County Board of Elections by Election Day, or mail it in time to be postmarked by Election Day.

Applications for Vote-by-Mail are also available by download through the County Clerk’s unioncountyvotes.com elections website and Union County Votes app. Voters can also request an application by mail by calling the Elections Office at 908-527-4996 or email ucvote@ucnj.org.

The Election Office is located at the County Clerk’s Main Office in the Union County Courthouse at 2 Broad Street in midtown Elizabeth. To access the Election 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 Annex Office in Westfield is located in the Colleen Fraser Building at the Union County complex, at 300 North Avenue East. 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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Make a Difference by Joining the Rutgers Environmental Stewards of Union County

Union County residents who are interested in improving environmental health in their communities are encouraged to join the Rutgers Environmental Stewards of Union County. The Environmental Stewards program helps residents learn to take specific steps leading to effective action.

“The Environmental Stewards program empowers residents who are passionate about making a difference. It equips residents with an understanding of the issues that impact our area, enabling them to work effectively for environmental progress in their communities,” said Freeholder Chair Bette Jane Kowalski.

The Environmental Stewards of Union County is an all-volunteer program of the Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Union County. The Extension also runs the popular Master Gardeners and Master Tree Steward’s programs for adults and 4-H clubs for youth in Union County.

The Environmental Stewards program is designed to help non-scientists learn more about the science behind the environmental issues impacting their communities.

The Environmental Stewards will hold weekly classroom training sessions on Thursdays from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. beginning January 30 through early June. Classes are held at the Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Union County office located at 300 North Ave. East in Westfield.

The training sessions include weekly classes on environmental issues including habitat conservation in public parks, pollinator preservation, climate change and its impacts on the Union County region, soil health, protection of the Rahway River watershed, solid waste and recycling issues, and environmentally sound practices for yards and gardens.

Field trips are a part of an interactive experience. Previous trainees have visited the Union County’s Warinanco Park to learn about invasive plant species and pond restoration, the Hawk Rise sanctuary in Linden to learn about wetland restoration, and to the Pinelands in southern New Jersey to learn about threatened and endangered species.

The training will also include sessions on making environmental policy at the local level, including guidance on reading Master Plans and site plans for new developments.

As part of the Environmental Steward training, participants will spend the summer working on internship projects of their choice.

In addition to experts from Rutgers University, instructors are drawn from the Association of Environmental Commissions and the nonprofit organization Sustainable New Jersey. Experts from the Union County Department of Parks and Recreation and the Bureau of Planning and Recycling were also part of the instructional team.

The Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Union County is part of the national Extension system, established more than 100 years ago under the U.S. Department of Agriculture. From its initial aim of assisting rural communities, the Extension has grown to embrace urban and suburban life, youth development and family health. In New Jersey, Rutgers University runs Extension programs in each county through the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station and is supported in Union County by the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders.

The Freeholder Board provides administrative support and office space in Westfield, land for the Demonstration Garden in the Watchung Reservation in Mountainside, and funding for special projects among other support for the Extension.

For more information about the Rutgers Environmental Stewards program, visit envirostewards.rutgers.edu or contact Michele Bakacs, County Agent and Associate Professor for the Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Union County at bakacs@njaes.rutgers.edu or 732-398-5274.

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

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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 WIB Center Connects Employers With Job Seekers

Union County, NJ – Union County Freeholder Sergio Granados joined with local officials and members of the public for the grand opening of the new 2^nd Avenue Value Store in Union Township at 2661 Morris Avenue, on Thursday morning. The Union County Workforce Innovation Business Center helped find qualified applicants to fill many of 200 positions created at the new store. The Freeholder Board and Union County Workforce Development Board created the WIB Center in 2014, in partnership with Union County College, to help new businesses come into Union County and connect with employment-ready job seekers. “We continue to build upon public and private partnerships to create the employment opportunities for Union County residents,” said Granados, who is liaison to the Workforce Development Board. For more information about the WIB center contact Isaias Rivera, Director, at Isaias.rivera@ucc.edu. For information about upcoming job fairs and hiring events, visit the Workforce Development Board online at ucnj.org/wdb/job-fairs-and-opportunities. Photo: Jim Lowney, County of Union.

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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 Award Grants for Kids Recreation, Trees, and Historic Preservation

The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is pleased to announce that grants have been awarded to 20 municipalities in Union County for improvements to recreation resources for children, and to 18 municipalities for new trees to be planted on municipal property. In addition, the Freeholder Board has awarded grants to nine municipalities and non-profit organizations for preserving and improving local historic sites.

The awards were funded through the Union County Open Space, Recreation, and Historic Preservation Trust Fund.

“Since first established in 2000, the Open Space Trust Fund has enabled the people of Union County to enjoy continued improvements in public recreation resources, along with aesthetic and environmental improvements related to trees,” said Freeholder Chair Bette Jane Kowalski. “The Freeholder Board is very proud to carry on this mission as the Trust Fund approaches its 20^th year of service.”

The Open Space Trust Fund was established by popular referendum in 2000, with an initial focus on expanding and improving Union County parks.

In 2004 the mission of the Trust Fund was broadened to include Kids Recreation annual matching grants to municipalities for improving local children’s recreation resources, as well as annual Greening Union County “tree for tree” matching grants to plant trees on municipal properties.

The Trust Fund also includes grants from the Preserve Union County program, which provides funding to municipalities and non-profit organizations for historic preservation projects.

The following municipalities received 2019 Kids Recreation Trust Fund grants totaling $999,697.25: