County of Union, New Jersey

The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is pleased to announce the 2019 Union County Library Grant awards for 20 public libraries in Union County. The grants are designed to assist public libraries with funding that enriches and supports children’s programming.

The awards will help cover the cost of STEAM and STEM programs as well as arts enrichment, new books and computer equipment, SAT prep and more.

“This grant program helps local libraries keep their programming up to date and relevant to the needs and aspirations of children in their communities,” said Freeholder Chair Bette Jane Kowalski who originated the grant program in 2016. “The Freeholder Board is proud to support public libraries in their efforts to provide children with resources that cultivate creativity and critical thinking.”

Each of the 20 municipalities with a public library applied for a 2019 Library Grant and received an award, including Berkeley Heights, Clark, Cranford, Elizabeth, Fanwood, Garwood, Hillside, Kenilworth, Linden, Mountainside, New Providence, Plainfield, Rahway, Roselle, Roselle Park, Scotch Plains, Springfield, Summit, Union and Westfield.

 

20 Public Libraries	Amount Awarded
Berkeley Heights	$5,000.00
Clark	$5,000.00
Cranford	$5,000.00
Elizabeth	$5,000.00
Fanwood	$5,000.00
Garwood	$4,934.40
Hillside	$5,000.00
Kenilworth	$5,000.00
Linden	$5,000.00
Mountainside	$5,000.00
New Providence	$5,000.00
Plainfield	$4,800.00
Rahway	$4,995.00
Roselle	$5,000.00
Roselle Park	$5,000.00
Scotch Plains	$5,208.40
Springfield	$5,000.00
Summit	$5,000.00
Union	$5,000.00
Westfield	$5,000.00
Grand Total	$99,937.80

 

The Library Grant program amount this year totaled $99,937.80. The 2019 Library Grants are funded by the Union County Kids Recreation Trust Fund.

For more information about the 2019 Union County Library Grant awards contact the Office of Open Space, Recreation and Historic Preservation Trust Fund at 908-558-2277.

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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 Joanne Rajoppi invites Vote-by-Mail users to participate in a new pilot project for voters who plan to pick up their ballot in person and cast it in the November 5th General Election. Instead of receiving a ballot printed in advance, voters can have their ballot custom-printed on the spot. The new “ballot on demand” service is available at the County Clerk’s Main Office in the County Courthouse at 2 Broad Street, Room 113 in Elizabeth.

 “We are excited to offer this new ballot management service — the first of its kind in New Jersey — to Union County voters who use Vote-by-Mail ballots,” said Ms. Rajoppi. “The new technology will enable voters to pick up their Vote-by-Mail ballots more quickly, while reducing administrative costs.”

For the November General Election, the new ballot management system covers 66 different versions of the official General Election Ballot in all 21 towns in Union County.

Visitors to the County Clerk’s Main Office can ask for a ballot on demand, which can be printed out within seconds. In contrast, Vote-by-Mail ballots are currently pulled from existing files, a labor intensive process that can much longer.

“In addition to avoiding delays, the improved technology eliminates any risk of ballot shortages. It also ensures that each voter receives the correct ballot, eliminates the need to store mass quantities of printed ballots, and frees staff for other tasks,” explained Ms. Rajoppi.

If the pilot project is successful, the ballot on demand service it will also be available at the County Clerk’s Annex Office in Westfield, beginning in 2020.

Savings in future election cycles could be considerable. In the 2020 primary, for example, Ms. Rajoppi anticipates that 550 different versions of the ballot will be needed.

Any voter planning to use a Vote-by-Mail ballot for the November 5th General Election is welcome to visit the County Clerk’s Main Office in Elizabeth to try the new system.

Voters who have not yet applied for a Vote-by-Mail ballot can obtain an application form and have their on-demand ballot printed in one visit to the County Clerk’s Main Office in Elizabeth.

Vote-By-Mail application forms can also be picked up at any municipal office or downloaded from the County Clerk’s election website at unioncountyvotes.com and the free Union County Votes mobile app. To request an application form by phone or email, contact the County Clerk’s election division at 908-527-4996 or ucvote@ucnj.org.

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Union County, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders invites the public to attend a free Women’s Health Fair on Wednesday, October 23, from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., in the Atrium at Liberty Hall Center, 1085 Morris Avenue, in Union Township. The event is sponsored in partnership with Atlantic Health System/Overlook Medical Center.

The event includes free health screenings and giveaways, and a panel discussion featuring leading female physicians in breast surgery, neurology, OBGYN, cardiology, primary care, colorectal surgery, and gynecological oncology.

“This is a good opportunity to hear from the experts, get the facts about women’s health issues, and update two important screenings,” said Freeholder Chair Bette Jane Kowalski. “On behalf of the Freeholder Board, I would like to thank Atlantic Health and all of the panelists for contributing their knowledge and experience to this event.”

Free glucose and blood pressure screenings available at the Women’s Health Fair. Attendees can also schedule an appointment for a mammogram 

The event is free but pre-registration is suggested at ucnj.org/women. Walk-ins are also welcome.

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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 residents seeking information about services for adults age 60 and older can come to convenient locations throughout the County and speak in person with experienced staff from the Union County Aging and Disability Resource Connection, a division of the Department of Human Services.

The community visits are scheduled every month through Union County’s ASK (Aging Services Kiosk) program. In November, the ASK program will come to public libraries in Elizabeth, Cranford, Clark, Garwood, Mountainside, Summit, Union, and the Rahway Senior Center.

“Our goal is to help senior residents access the resources they need to stay connected with their communities,” said Freeholder Chair Bette Jane Kowalski. “The ASK program helps seniors, their families, and their caregivers get expert guidance in person, in a comfortable setting close to home.”

Guidance offered through the ASK program includes home delivered meals, respite care, home care, adult day care, and support services for caregivers.

Assistance with completing applications and forms is also provided.

All Union County residents are welcome to attend any ASK event. The dates and locations for November are:

 

Monday, November 4

Elizabeth Library – LaCorte Branch

418 Palmer Street

Elizabeth, NJ 07202

10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon

 

Wednesday, November 13

Cranford Public Library

224 Walnut Street

Cranford, NJ 07016

10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon

 

Thursday, November 14

Rahway Senior Center

1306 Esterbrook Avenue

Rahway, NJ  07065

10:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon

 

Monday, November 18

Clark Public Library

303 Westfield Avenue

Clark, NJ 07066

10:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon

 

Thursday, November 21

Garwood Public Library

411 Third Avenue

Garwood, NJ 07027

10:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon

 

Friday, November 22

Mountainside Public Library

Constitution Plaza

Mountainside, NJ 07092

10:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon

 

Monday, November 25

Summit Public Library

75 Maple Street

Summit, NJ 07901

10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

 

Tuesday, November 26

Union Public Library

1980 Morris Avenue

Union, NJ 07083

11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

 

The Union County Division on Aging and Disability Resource Connection is modeled on a national program aimed at of promoting wellness, independence, dignity and choice for seniors and their families, and for people with disabilities. In addition to ASK and other outreach events, printed information is available in English and Spanish.

For more information about the Union County Division on Aging and Disability Resource Connection, visit the Department of Human Services online at ucnj.org/departments/human-services or call 888-280-8226 (toll free), 908-527-4870, or 908-527-4858. Spanish speakers may call 908-527-4863. 

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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 Freeholder Chair Bette Jane Kowalski, Vice Chairman Alexander Mirabella and Freeholders Rebecca Williams and Andrea Staten joined Union County Deputy County Manager Amy Wagner, Scotch Plains Mayor Al Smith, Township officials and student athletes at the opening of the new turf fields at Union County’s Ponderosa Park in Scotch Plains. The two multi-use fields will serve local lacrosse, soccer, field hockey and football teams. Other improvements include tree planting, repaving the entrance and a general “sprucing up” of the 23-acre park that opened in 2012. (Photos by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

Union County, NJ — The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders invites business owners, managers and entrepreneurs to participate in the first Open for Business – Open for Everyone: Diversity and Inclusion Symposium scheduled for Monday, October 28 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Hamilton Stage, 360 Hamilton Street in Rahway.

Seating is limited for the free symposium, and registration is required online at ucnj.org/lgbtq.

“The Freeholder Board is proud to offer programs that increase job creation and support business development for all people,” said, Freeholder Chair Bette Jane Kowalski. “The culture of equality creates trust, innovation and results in business growth.”

The free full-day symposium will focus on internal policies and practices to create an inclusive working environment for employees, LGBTQ+ 101 cultural competency training, understanding New Jersey’s Law Against Discrimination (LAD), and best practices for being open for business to serve all people.

The scheduled panelists and speakers represent New Jersey government, corporate sector, small business, and workplace diversity.  Guests will have an opportunity to engage in important discussions with experts in their respective fields to foster a diverse, inclusive, accepting, welcoming space for employees and customers.

“The Diversity and Inclusion Symposium empowers business owners, managers and entrepreneurs to learn strategies that attract LGBTQ employees and customers to help meet their business goals,” said Freeholder Rebecca Williams, liaison to the Union County LGBTQ Ad Hoc Committee. “There is a cost to businesses when employees have to hide in plain sight. There is also a realized loss when customers are uncertain if they’ll be served by a business. This symposium offers participants an opportunity to join the equality movement and empowers you to be visibly open for business for all people.”

Organized by the Office of LGBTQ Affairs in partnership with Union County Means Business, the Office of Business Development, and UCEDC, the mission of the symposium is to realize the value of being open for business and open for everyone.

UCEDC is a private, non-profit economic development corporation, dedicated to boosting local economies and strengthening communities through business development and job creation.

Union County Means Business, administered by the Office of Business Development under the Department of Economic Development, is an economic development initiative of the Freeholder Board with the support of community partners.

Union County’s Office of LGBTQ Affairs, under the Department of Economic Development, was established by the Freeholder Board in 2018 and is the first and only county government office of its kind in the State of New Jersey.

The Office of LGBTQ Affairs provides 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.

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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 the public to enjoy a free class on wild edibles with Debbie Naha-Koretzky – known as The Wild Edibles Lady – on Sunday, October 27, from 1:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., at the Deserted Village of Feltville in the Watchung Reservation, at 13 Cataract Hollow Road in Berkeley Heights.

The program is free but preregistration is required by emailing bkelly@ucnj.org.

“We hope that participants will gain a new appreciation for biodiversity in our public parks, and learn how to help maintain a healthy habitat for native species,” said Freeholder Chair Bette Jane Kowalski.

The program includes a slide show, a short walk to identify edible plants in the Watchung Reservation, and a habitat conservation exercise in which attendees can help remove an excess growth of wild watercress from nearby Hermit’s Pond.

Removing some of the excess growth will enable other species to populate the pond.

Participants who volunteer to help are invited to taste recipes made with wild edibles including watercress soup, wild salad, and sumac “lemonade.”

Ms. Naha-Koretzky received her master’s degree in Clinical Nutrition from New York University. She is a Licensed Dietitian Nutritionist, Certified Rutgers Master Gardener, certified science teacher, and Pennsylvania Master Naturalist. With her advanced training in nutrition, she provides unique insights into the field of edible foraging. For more information about Ms. Naha-Koretzky visit wildediblesnjpa.com.

To find out more about volunteering in Union County parks, visit the Adopt-a-Park/Adopt-a-Trail program online at ucnj.org/parks-recreation.

Quick links to all Union County environmental programs and activities are available at The Green Connection, 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.

Connect with Union County on social media.