County of Union, New JerseyUnion County Surrogate James LaCorte, Esq. spoke about the legal aspects of the functions of notaries public at a Notary Training Seminar for New Jersey Notaries Public hoisted by Union County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi at the John H. Stamler Police Academy in Scotch Plains. For more information about Notary Public Services visit www.ucnj.org/county-clerk/notary-public-services. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)
The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is proud to partner with WellCare Health Plans to present the first Union County LGBTQ+ Community Health and Wellness Fair scheduled for Saturday, October 5, 2019 at Union County College (1033 Springfield Ave, Cranford) from 12 noon until 4PM. All are welcome. Admission and parking is free.
“The LGBTQ community is diverse with specific health needs and challenges, of which a safe and supportive environment is often a barrier to access,” said Freeholder Chair Bette Jane Kowalski. “The Freeholder Board is proud to partner with WellCare Health Plans to host the first health and wellness fair for the LGBTQ community, friends and family.”
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people often face numerous barriers in accessing health and wellness services and programs. Union County’s inclusive, educational and interactive health and wellness event for the LGBTQ community will offer a variety of medical screenings, presentations, fitness and personal care demos.
“Enhancing efforts to improve LGBTQ health and wellness is necessary to ensure that LGBTQ individuals can lead long, healthy lives,” said Freeholder Rebecca Williams, liaison to the LGBTQ Ad Hoc Committee. “The LGBTQ+ Health and Wellness Fair brings together LGBTQ-affirming health and wellness providers from throughout the State of New Jersey to offer individuals the opportunity to engage in their personal health and wellness in a safe and inclusive environment.”
Organized by the Office of LGBTQ Affairs and WellCare Health Plans, and the Union County Division of Health, with support from Union County College, the Union County LGBTQ+ Community Health & Wellness Fair represents the Freeholder Board’s commitment to supporting a strong and healthy community and is part of our ongoing effort to provide a safe space for the LGBTQ community to access basic health screenings and important information.
Health and wellness providers who offer services for the LGBTQ community and would like to register to participate with resources and information should contact Danni Newbury, Coordinator, at 908-527-4742 or dnewbury@ucnj.org.
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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The Union County Freeholder Board joined with local baseball legend Jeff Torborg, his family, municipal officials from Mountainside and Westfield, the Union County Sheriff, and two youth baseball teams in dedicating the Jeff Torborg Youth Baseball field at the County’s Echo Lake Park in Mountainside.
Jeff Torborg, a native of Westfield and former resident of Mountainside for 30 years, was with his wife, Suzie and his sons, Dale and Greg and extended family to celebrate the occasion.
“Suzie and I and our entire family are so very appreciative of all the efforts of the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders and their staff in creating this beautiful new Jeff Torborg Youth Baseball Field, which will provide a great place for kids to play for generations to come,” said Torborg. “When I first was told about this amazing tribute, I was literally speechless…this is a tremendous thrill for me and for my family. It is an honor to be recognized by my home county, which has been the site of events important to generations of my family.”
Freeholder Chair Bette Jane Kowalski who emceed the event said: “Jeff Torborg is one of the most accomplished ball players to ever come out of Union County. Jeff went on to achieve an impressive Major League baseball career, both as a player and manager, and is certainly worthy of today’s dedication.”
Freeholder Vice Chair Alexander Mirabella who introduced Torborg and presented him with a resolution honoring him with his colleagues, said: “We welcome you home today. We are pleased to name this field in your honor, and our hope is to inspire future generations of our younger county residents to follow in your path.”
The event also included tributes from Jim Iozzi, the President of the Union County Baseball Hall of Fame (whose organization previously inducted Torborg into their Hall of Fame), Jeff’s son Greg who read a letter of congratulations from Chicago White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf, and appearances by former Major League Baseball players Willie Randolph (Yankees and Mets), Al Leiter (Mets and Yankees), and Mike Lowell (Marlins, Red Sox), and Jay Horowitz, long-time Mets’ public relations guru.
Following the ribbon cutting, Torborg threw out the first pitch to his grandson, also named Jeff Torborg, and an exhibition game ensued between Clark Little League and Springfield Junior Baseball League teams. The youth players all wore uniforms from the various teams Torborg was associated with, all in Torborg’s #10 uniform number.
The Freeholder Board and the Torborg family extended their thanks to the Chicago White Sox for donating the uniforms; the New York Mets, and Major League Baseball for their donations and participation; Famous Dave’s and Wakefern for making food donations.
The Torborg family also donated memorial bench plaques to the field, and the facility also includes a plaque memorializing Torborg’s accomplishments.
The permitted youth baseball field, which sits off Mill Lane in Echo Lake Park in Mountainside, is open for all teams to use by appointment calling the Union County Department at 908-527-4900.
Jeff Torborg’s Biography
Torborg began his career as an All-State catcher for Westfield High School, and an All-American catcher at Rutgers University, where they retired his number, #10, the first-ever uniform retired for a Rutgers University baseball player.
He was drafted originally by the Los Angeles Dodgers, played for them, and later for the California Angels during his ten-year career. He caught Sandy Koufax’s perfect game and no-hitters by Bill Singer and Nolan Ryan, and was part of Don Drysdale’s record-setting streak of 58-2/3 innings of scoreless baseball.
Torborg later managed five Major League Baseball teams—the Cleveland Indians, White Sox, Mets, Montreal Expos and Florida Marlins. He also served as a coach for the Yankees for ten years as well.
After his managing career concluded, Torborg then went on to spend 12 years as an award-winning television and radio baseball broadcaster for CBS Radio and Fox (television) Sports.
Union County Freeholder Chair Bette Jane Kowalski, Freeholder Vice Chair Alexander Mirabella, Freeholder Sergio Granados, Sheriff Peter Corvelli, Westfield Mayor Shelley Brindle, Mountainside Mayor Paul Mirabelli, baseball legends Al Leiter, Willie Randolph and Mike Lowell joined with Jeff Torborg, his wife Suzi, sons Dale and Greg and his extended family in cutting the ribbon on the new Jeff Torborg Youth Baseball Field in Mountainside, NJ
Union County Freeholders presented Jeff Torborg (center) with a resolution honoring him and dedicating the Jeff Torborg Youth Baseball field in his honor. L. to R. Freeholder Sergio Granados, Freeholder Chair Bette Jane Kowalski, Suzie Torborg, Jeff Torborg, and Freeholder Vice Chair Alexander Mirabella.
Union County, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders invites residents and visitors to join the 2019 Union County Hispanic Heritage Celebration on Saturday, September 28, from 5:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. at the Union County Performing Arts Center, 1601 Irving Street in Rahway. The Freeholder Board is partnering with the City of Rahway for the event, which is free and open to the public.
The family friendly evening will feature a performance by Mexican-American comedian Steve Treviño, who is nationally known for his unique insights into the ups and downs of everyday life. Limited tickets are available. Contact Nathalie Hernandez, nahernandez@ucnj.org to reserve your tickets today!
“Now more than ever, it is important to celebrate the diversity and cultural ties that build a strong, inclusive community,” said Freeholder Chair Bette Jane Kowalski.
The Freeholder Board reflects the contributions of Hispanic citizens to civic life in Union County. Its nine members include Freeholder Angel Estrada, who was the first Cuban-American elected to the Board, and Freeholder Sergio Granados, who is of Salvadoran-American descent.
“The national Hispanic community continues to grow, and within Union County, Hispanics represent over 30% of the population. The Freeholder Board continues to work on showcasing our diversity,” said Freeholder Sergio Granados. “This event will bring together Hispanic organizations across the County of Union for a fun filled evening that will highlight Hispanic culture and acknowledge the continued success of Hispanic community leaders. We invite all residents to come out and partake in this event as our greatest strength comes from uniting residents of all backgrounds.”
Attendees are invited to explore the richness of the Hispanic culture through food, music, art and entertainment, along with local leaders who will be honored at the event.
The 2019 Hispanic Heritage Celebration is free, and free parking is available at the Hamilton Stage located nearby at 360 Hamilton Street in Rahway.
The event is being coordinated through the County’s Office of Community Engagement and Diversity. For more information please contact the Office Coordinator Nathalie Hernandez at nahernandez@ucnj.org or 908-527-4880.
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Connect with Union County on social media. 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 Chair Bette Jane Kowalski and Freeholders Kimberly Palmieri-Mouded, Rebecca Williams and Sergio Granados joined Elizabeth Mayor J. Christian Bollwage in congratulating the players and coaches of the Elmora Troopers Little League team during the “Parade of Champions” in their honor.
The Elmora Troopers beat the best teams in New Jersey to win the State Championship before heading to Connecticut to play in the Mid-Atlantic Region Championship where they won the tournament, which qualified them to participate in the Little League World Series. The Troopers were one of only eight teams from across the country to make it to the tournament and one of the final four teams in the United States bracket.
Union County, NJ — The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is pleased to announce the launch of a new video campaign that provides residents with clear, reliable instructions on how to tell which items to recycle in their community, along with other recycling tips and information. The new “Recycle Right!” video series is designed to educate residents and help municipalities in Union County make the most of opportunities to save money through recycling.
When the wrong items are placed in the curbside bin, the recycling stream is contaminated. A contaminated recycling stream can result in thousands of dollars in added costs for Union County municipalities.
“A well-run recycling program can contain costs for governments. Every resident can lend a hand simply by choosing only the right items for recycling,” said Freeholder Chair Bette Jane Kowalski.
The new Recycle Right! campaign includes three 45-second videos, available through the free Recycle Coach app for mobile devices.
Free Recycle Coach downloads are available now at online app stores, through the Union County website at ucnj.org/recycling, and through the websites for each of the 21 municipalities in Union County.
The three videos will provide information about recycling rules in a concise, easy-to-understand format. Users can then test their knowledge with interactive questions on the Recycle Coach app.
“We strongly encourage residents to download and use the Recycle Coach app. In addition to the new instructional videos, the app provides reliable, up-to-date information on all residential recycling programs in Union County,” said Freeholder Chair Kowalski.
Existing Recycle Coach users will receive the videos automatically beginning September 30. New users will also receive the videos once they download the app.
The Recycle Coach app provides personalized collection schedules based on the user’s place of residence. Once a resident downloads the app, their Recycle Coach calendar will list their local curbside garbage and recycling schedules. The app will advise if there are changes in local collection due to holidays or weather.
Recycle Coach users can also set up recycling reminders and improve their recycling rates through a “What Goes Where?” search tool.
In addition to information on local recycling programs, the Recycle Coach calendar provides details on countywide recycling events run by Union County, including free personal paper shredding, scrap metal, and household special wastes. These events are available for all Union County residents, regardless of where they live, on a drop-off basis only (no curbside collection).
The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection is the first state agency in the US to purchase the Recycle Coach app and make it available for the use of all residents, free of charge.
Union County began promoting the app in 2018, and it is the first county in New Jersey to add the new Recycle Right! video campaign.
For information on all Union County recycling events and programs visit ucnj.org/recycling.
Visit The Green Connection at ucnj.org/green-connection for quick links to all Union County environmental programs and resources, including educational and community service activities.
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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 students in grades K-12 are invited to join a 4-H Club this fall and explore popular fields ranging from archery, cooking and fashion to Lego robotics and Dungeons and Dragons. Youth in their first year after graduating from high school can also join.
“4-H Clubs provide students in Union County with unique opportunities to practice teamwork, organization, leadership and other important life skills,” said Freeholder Chair Bette Jane Kowalski. “The Freeholder Board is very proud to support the 4-H program in our community.”
4-H Clubs are organized by age and topic. The members meet with an adult club leader on a monthly basis during the school year to plan activities and programs.
Each club emphasizes the ability of students to learn, organize, and communicate with activities appropriate for their age. For the school year 2019 – 2020, the clubs are:
Union County 4-H is run by the Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Union County and supported in part by the Freeholder Board, with offices at the Union County Complex at 300 North Avenue East in Westfield.
The national 4-H youth program is the largest youth development program in the U.S. As a program of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, 4-H encourages students to develop expertise in a subject of their own choosing, and share their knowledge to benefit their community.
Participation in 4-H is associated with better grades at school, and a stronger interest in taking science classes, attending college, and contributing to the community. A recent Tufts University study found that as a group, girls who join 4-H clubs are especially likely to demonstrate positive behaviors.
To sign up for a club, meet the club leaders and find out more about 4-H activities, students must attend this year’s annual 4-H Open House on Friday evening, September 13, from 7:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the Union County Magnet High School. The school is located at Mancuso Hall in the Union County Vocational-Technical Schools campus, 1776 Raritan Road in Scotch Plains.
For more information about the September 13 Open House, contact Union County 4-H Agent James Nichnadowicz at 908-654-9854 or jnichnadowicz@ucnj.org.
For more information about all Union County Extension programs, including 4-H, Master Tree Stewards and Master Gardeners, visit 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.
La Junta de Legisladores del Condado de Union anuncia que el programa de entrenamiento para veteranos está abierto. “Bootcamp to the Boardroom” es una iniciativa del 2019 de la Legisladora Presidente del Condado de Union, Bette Jane Kowalski.
Organizado por el Comité de Desarrollo Económico del Condado de Union el “Bootcamp to the Boardroom” tendrá una duración de seis semanas consecutives los martes de 6:00 p.m. a 9:00 p.m. comenzando el 10 de septiembre. El programa se llevará a cabo en las oficinas del UCEDC, situadas en el 75 Chestnut Street en Cranford.
“El Condado de Union se esfuerza por reconocer el sacrificio hecho por nuestros veteranos,” dijo la Legisladora Presidente Bette Jane Kowalski. “La Junta de Legisladores se enorgullece en patrocinar este programa y alentamos a todos los veteranos que aprovechen esta oportunidad de el curso de seis semanas que los ayudará a tener éxitos en sus negocios después de haber servido a nuestra nación.”
“Bootcamp to the Boardroom” es un programa de entrenamiento para veteranos y está coordinado por la Corporación de Desarrollo Económico del Condado de Union.El curso de seis semanas incluye información en entender auntos como crédito y estados financieros personales y como preparar un plan de mercadeo a la vez que otras habilidades útiles.
UCEDC es una corporación sin fines de lucro, dedicada a impulsar las economías locales y al fortalecimiento de las comunidades a través del desarrollo de empresas y la creación de empleos. Desde el 1977 han estado ayudando a pequeños comerciantes a obtener préstamos, entrenando a dueños de negocios a obtener contratos del gobierno, y proporcionando información comercial precisa y relevante.
Se require que los participantes se inscriban para este programa de “Bootcamp to the Boardroom.” Para más información por favor ponerse en contacto con Janna Williams Oficial del Servicio de Veteranos al teléfono 908-527-4918 o a jwilliams@ucnj.org.
La Junta de Legisladores del Condado de Union se complace en anunciar que el Centro Regional de Ejecución del Condado de Union ahora se encargará delas llamadas a los bomberos y servicio de emergencias (EMS) para el Municipio de Cranford, bajo un contrato aprobado por la Junta de Legisladores durante su reunión del pasado 22 de agosto.
“El Centro de Ejecucíón del Condado de Union es un programa de servicios compartidosque beneficia a los municipios y sus residentes mejorando la eficiencia de los servicios de ejecución y proporcionando ahorros sustanciales,” comentó la Legisladora Presidente Chair Bette Jane Kowalski. “Cranford se una a una lista de municipios y agencias tomando parte en este servicio.”
Este Centro del Condado de Union esta situado en el Edificio de Seguridad Pública del Condado Ralph Froehlich en el 400 North Avenue East en Westfield.
La instalación de $1.2 millones abrió en el 2012 y reemplazó la operación que se encontraba en el mismo sitio, que solamente se dedicada a llamadas para el Condado de Union. El Nuevo Centro de Ejecución permite a los gobiernos locales y otras entidades a actualizar su respuesta de emergencia compartido con el servicio del Condado de Union.
“Esta colaboración proporciona mejor servicio para nuestros residentes a un reducido costo, y es un exelente ejemplo de lo que se puede lograr al Condado de Union trabajar unido a Cranford,” expresó el Alcade de Cranford Patrick Giblin.
Con la nueva adición de Cranford el Centro de Ejecución ahora sirve 13 de los municipios de los 21 del Condado de Union.
La Junta de Legisladores del Condado de Union invita a los miembros de la comunidad a honrar la memoria de los 60 residentes del Condado de Union que fallecieron durante el ataque al World Trade Center en el 2001, visitando el Monumento Conmemorativo el miércoles 11 de septiembre, en el Echo Lake Park en Mountainside.
El Monumento está abierto desde la mañana hasta las 9:00 p.m. el 11 de septiembre. Miembros de la Oficina del Aguacil estarán en Guardia de Honor de 6:00 a 9:00 p.m. Se invita al público a que enciendan velas en memoria de los caídos.
“En esta fecha, honramos aquellos que perdieron sus vidas, y recordamos los muchos actos de valentía que ocurrieron ese día, y reafirmamos que la comunidad del Condado de Union como una que se une, a través de los tiempos de paz y crisis,” expresó la Legisladora Presidente Bette Jane Kowalski.
El Monumento Conmemorativo del 11 de septiembre incorpora elementos de diseños que include los tres lugares donde se perdieron vidas. Dos vigas recuperadas de las ruinas del World Trade Center están puestas en un área de cinco lados que representa el Pentágono, y una Llama Eterna que representa aquellos que fallecieron en Pennsylvania junto con los miembros de las Fuerzas Armadas y los Servicios de Emergencia.
Además de estos elementos, los nombres de los 60 residentes del Condado de Union que perecieron el 9/11 están grabados en el Monumento.
El Condado de Union trabajó con residentes de Cranford, Elizabeth, Kenilworth, Linden, Mountainside, Rahway, Scotch Plains, Summit, Union y Westfield para planear y edificar el Monumento.
Dedicado el 13 de septiembre del 2003, el Monumento fue construído a través de donaciones privadas e incluyó trabajo donado por las uniones.
El Monumento Conmemorativo está situado en la loma al borde de Mountainside y Springfield en el Echo Lake Park, cerca de la entrada de Springfield Avenue.