County of Union, New Jersey

Union County, NJ – From the moon landing to the Woodstock music festival, 1969 was an extraordinary year in American history. It was also the year of the “miracle” World Series win by the New York Mets baseball team. Now Union County residents can experience all of these events together from the perspective of former Mets outfielder, broadcaster and author Art Shamsky, who played a role in the Mets’ improbable march to victory.

Mr. Shamsky will give a talk on the 50^th Anniversary of the “Miracle Mets” on Tuesday, September 17, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Union County’s Warinanco Sports Center, located at 1 Park Drive in Warinanco Park, in Roselle.

The event is free but pre-registration is suggested through the Union County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs at ucnj.org/parks-recreation.

“It’s a real pleasure to host Mr. Shamsky at the Warinanco Sports Center. He brings a wealth of unique insights and observations to our understanding of this period in our nation’s history,” said Union County Freeholder Chair Bette Jane Kowalski.

“As someone who is not only an avid Mets fan, but also a baseball fan, I am looking forward to Mr. Shamsky’s talk about the unique bond between the players on the ’69 ‘Miracle’ Mets team,” said Freeholder Vice Chairman Alexander Mirabella. “This team was one of the greatest sport underdogs of all time, and it makes for a compelling story. It was certainly a unique time in New York sports history, with the Mets, the Knicks and Jets winning championships.”

The talk will focus on Shamsky’s new book, After the Miracle. The book places the incredible 1969 baseball season in the context of other major events of the time, and chronicles the brotherhood that developed among members of the 1969 team through the years.

The event includes question-and-answer period, and copies of After the Miracle will be available for purchase.

This event is sponsored by the Freeholder Board through the Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs in the Department of Parks and Recreation, and is funded in part by a grant from the New Jersey Historical Commission, a Division of Cultural Affairs in the Department of State.

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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 – Backyard composting is an easy, convenient way to transform kitchen scraps and yard waste into a beneficial addition to soil in the garden. The process can be confusing for novices, but a free seminar at Union County’s Trailside Nature and Science Center last month helped to cut through the mystery with helpful tips for home gardeners and educators.

The seminar was taught by Rutgers Union County agent Michele Bakacs, through the Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Union County. It was the first in a three-part series aimed at helping members of the public learn the basics of growing a successful vegetable garden.

“The Freeholder Board is very proud to support the public outreach programs of the Rutgers Cooperative Extension,” said Union County Freeholder Chair Bette Jane Kowalski. “Ms. Bakacs did an excellent job of leading the attendees through a complicated topic, and we are all looking forward to the next session in the series.”

Compost helps garden vegetables, flowers and other plants grow because it adds nutrient-rich organic material to soil.

Tiny organisms create compost by digesting kitchen scraps, yard waste and other plant-based material. All the gardener has to do is create an environment that helps the microorganisms thrive, and they do the rest.

One key factor in a successful compost is selecting the right ingredients.

“I tell gardeners to be very picky,” explained Ms. Bakacs. For example, the mature seed-heads of weeds should not be added to a compost bin, because the bin may not generate enough heat to neutralize the seeds.

For similar reasons, plants that show signs of disease or infestation should be kept out of the compost. Other excluded items are kitchen scraps containing meat, grease or soap residue, as well as litter or other waste from household pets.

Even with these restrictions, most gardeners have an ample supply of materials suitable for composting on hand, including chopped-up vegetable scraps and coffee grounds from the kitchen, torn-up cardboard, dried leaves, and other yard waste.

Other conditions for a good compost pile are:

• A mix of “green” material (typically consisting of moisture-rich vegetable scraps from the kitchen) and “brown” material (dried leaves, chopped-up twigs and other dry or woody waste). Gardeners can set aside a supply of leaves and other brown material in the fall to use throughout the year.
• Enough moisture to keep the microorganisms happy – but not too much moisture. “As damp as a wrung-out sponge” is a good rule of thumb.
• Enough oxygen to keep the microorganisms happy. Turning the pile once a week with a pitchfork typically provides enough aeration.
• A suitable compost bin. Upright bins are recommended because they take up relatively little space. They are “fed” from the top with fresh material continuously throughout the year. If conditions are optimal, compost will begin appearing from the bottom of the bin in a matter of weeks.

Ms. Bakacs also recommended wheel-type compost bins for school gardens, because children can help aerate the pile by turning the wheel rather than having to handle heavy tools. Gardeners are advised to choose a larger model, as smaller bins of this type may not compost efficiently.

Gardeners can also try assembling layers of brown and green material into a large (but not too large) open-air bin. This “layer cake” method requires little effort and yields a big batch of compost.

The cake process can take as little as five weeks if the pile is kept moist and aerated. Gardeners using this method are advised to set up more than one bin, to keep fresh material from combining with composted material.

Additional guidance on home composting is available from the Rutgers Agricultural Experiment Station at njaes.rutgers.edu/fs811.

The next and final seminar in the Rutgers series at Trailside will be “Harvesting and Food Safety,” scheduled for Thursday, August 15 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 pm.  Weather permitting, the seminar will include a tour of the adjacent Demonstration Garden.

The session is free but pre-registration is required at tinyurl.com/Rutgers-Vegetable-Series-2019.

The Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Union County is supported by the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders and Rutgers, the NJ Agricultural Experiment Station, with offices at the Union County Complex in Westfield at 300 North Avenue East. For more information on public outreach and volunteer programs in Union County including Environmental Stewards, Master Gardeners, Master Tree Stewards and 4-H Clubs, visit ucnj.org/rce.

Trailside is located in Union County’s Watchung Reservation at 452 New Providence Road, in Mountainside. Ample free parking is available in the main parking lot.

For directions and more information about all programs at Trailside, visit 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.

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Union County Freeholder Chair Bette Jane Kowalski, Vice Chairman Alexander Mirabella and Freeholders Sergio Granados and Rebecca Williams joined Scotch Plains Mayor Al Smith, Deputy Mayor Josh Losardo, Councilwoman Elizabeth Stamler, Deputy Township Manager Margaret Heisey, Scotch Plains Director of Parks and Recreation DJ Salvante and other township officials at the official reopening of Brookside Park in Scotch Plains after recent upgrades to the park.

The improvement project was funded by $80,000 of grants from the Union County Kids’ Recreation Trust and the Level the Playing Field grant program. (Photos by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

Please note: due to inclement weather, the Rob Paparozzi concert on August 14 has been canceled. It will not be rescheduled.

Rob Paparozzi, a New Jersey-based front man, singer, and harmonica player for over 50 years, will perform at Union County’s free, Summer Arts Concert Series at Oak Ridge Park in Clark on Wednesday, August 14. Among the legendary performers Paparozzi has worked with are B.B. King, Dr. John, Bruce Springsteen, Whitney Houston, Carole King, Roberta Flack, Culture Club, Cyndi Lauper, Randy Newman, Jimmy McGriff, and James Galway.

“Rob Paparozzi has a very impressive musical background,” said Freeholder Chair Bette Jane Kowalski. “He has a wide variety of songs that will appeal to fans of many musical genres, including blues, jazz, and pop.”

Rob Paparozzi is perhaps best known for being the lead singer for Blood, Sweat and Tears from 2004 to 2011. A veteran of many world tours, he now leads his own now leads his group, The Rob Paparozzi Band, in concerts across the United States and internationally.

The concert will take place at Oak Ridge Park in Clark. It is free and open to the public. Attendees are encouraged to bring a blanket, towel or yoga mat for UC Fit Yoga, led by AMP Yoga of Springfield, beginning at 6:30. The concert will begin promptly at 7:30. A food truck and an ice cream truck will be present.

For more details on the Summer Arts series and more summer activities in Union County Parks visit ucnj.org/calendar or call the Parks Department at 908-527-4900.

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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 announces that 75 artists, historians and local non-profit organizations will receive funding through the 2019 Union County HEART (History, Education, Arts Reaching Thousands) Grant Program. A complete list of awardees can be found below.

Recognizing the importance of culture and the arts to the economy and quality of life in Union County, the Freeholder Board established the HEART Grant Program in 1998. This innovative program supports projects related to history, the arts and humanities, and it demonstrates a commitment to the artists and community organizations of Union County. Total funding for this year’s grants is $125,000.

“The recipients of HEART Grants are a wonderful mix of creative individuals – composers and writers, historians, visual artists, musicians and dancers – plus arts, history and other cultural organizations and civic groups,” said Freeholder Chair Bette Jane Kowalski. “The response to the program has been enthusiastic since its inception.”

“The services provided by these artists, scholars and organizations directly benefit the residents of our county and increase appreciation for the arts, our history, and the humanities,” Freeholder Kowalski added. “These cultural assets are a vital part of community life, economic development, and cultural heritage tourism in Union County.”

Artists, educators, civic and historical non-profit organizations that want information about next year’s HEART Grant Program can contact the Union County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs, 633 Pearl Street, Elizabeth, NJ 07202. Telephone: (908) 558-2550. NJ Relay users dial 711, or send E-mail: culturalinfo@ucnj.org.

Union County HEART Grants Awarded 2019 (Total $125,000)

Individuals:

• Brian Beste, Fanwood, $1,000,  presenting photography workshops
• Paula Borenstein, Elizabeth, $1,000,  providing a historic walking tour of Elizabeth
• Catherine Brennan, Westfield, $870,  presenting a film and discussion series
• Valerie Graham, Roselle, $1,000,  presenting free crafts workshops for children and seniors
• Lesl Harker, New Providence, $1,000,  presenting Irish music workshop and concert
• Richard Palmatier, Scotch plains, $330,  providing a history map game
• Lowell Schantz, Westfield, $1,000,  presenting two free jazz concerts in Union County libraries
• Dario Scholis, Elizabeth, $1,000,  presenting free painting workshops
• Renaee Smith, Roselle, $800,  providing Writers Café workshops
• Shannon Spaziani, Linden, $1,000,  providing activity books for children
• Candace Waller, Fanwood, $1,000,  providing free dance classes

Organizations/Community Groups:

• Black Women’s History Conference, Plainfield, $2,000,  providing a History Conference
• Borough of Fanwood, Fanwood, $2,000,  presenting a Cultural Arts Performance Series
• Borough of Kenilworth, $1,800,  provide a fall music and art festival
• Borough of Roselle Park, Casano Community Center, $1,000,  presenting a free St. Patrick’s Day concert
• Carolyn Dorfman Dance Company, Union, $2,200,  presenting a dance festival
• City of Rahway/Department of Recreation, $2,000, providing studio art classes for children and adults
• Community Access Unlimited, Elizabeth, $1,000,  providing a choral concert of students
• Continuo Arts Foundation, Summit, $2,000,  presenting a holiday concert
• Cranford Housing Board, Cranford, $1,000,  presenting “Three Po’ Tenors” in concert for senior residents
• Dreamcatcher Repertory Theatre, Summit, $1,800,  presenting the premiere of “The lucky Ones”
• duCret School of Art, Plainfield, $2,300,  presenting an art lecture series
• Elizabeth Avenue Partnership, Elizabeth, $1,600,  presenting Hispanic Heritage Month concerts
• Elizabeth Coalition to House the Homeless, $1,000,  providing art education for homeless
• Elizabeth Shines Foundation, Elizabeth, $2,100,  providing public murals
• Groundwork Elizabeth, Inc., Elizabeth, $2,000, presenting 17^th Annual Tour de Elizabeth bicycle tour
• Hanson Park Conservancy, Cranford, $600,  presenting a garden history lecture series
• Hillcrest Academy North, UCESC, Scotch Plains, $2,000. providing interactive music programs to students
• Historical Society of Elizabeth NJ, $1,000,  presenting a history panel discussion
• Historical Society of Plainfield, Plainfield, $2,200,  providing a lecture series and exhibit
• Institute of Music for Children, Elizabeth, $2,300,  providing arts and culture classes to young children
• Jefferson Parks Ministries, Elizabeth, $2,000,  presenting a performance and lecture series
• Jewish Community Center of Central NJ, Scotch Plains, $2,000,  presenting a cultural appreciation series for Seniors
• Jewish Family Services of Central NJ, Elizabeth, $2,000,  presenting a Memory Café Program
• Josephine’s Place, Elizabeth, $2,500,  presenting a performing arts program for immigrant women
• Kenilworth Historical Society, Kenilworth, $1,000,  presenting a Living History exhibition
• Liberty Hall Museum, Union, $1,900,  presenting a dance festival
• Life Drawing Studio Group, Fanwood, $2,000,  providing visual arts workshops
• Merchants & Drovers Tavern Museum, Rahway, $1,000,  presenting a history tour and presentation
• Mothers’ Center of Central NJ, Cranford, $1,000,  providing Books for Babies program
• Music for All Seasons, Scotch Plains, $2,500,  presenting music programs for U.C. Detention Center
• Musical Club of Westfield, Scotch Plains, $2,000, presenting a benefit concert
• National Council of Jewish Women, U.C. Section, Elizabeth, $2,300,  providing two programs: a big band swing dance and a jazz band
• New Jersey Festival Orchestra, Westfield, $1,700,  presenting live concert “Return of the Three Holiday Tenors”
• New Jersey Intergenerational Orchestra, Berkeley Heights, $2,300,  presenting a community concert
• New Jersey Workshop for the Arts, Westfield, $1,000,  provide chamber ensemble concerts
• Occupational Center of Union County, Inc., Roselle, $2,500,  presenting art education classes for people with disabilities
• Overlook Hospital Foundation, Summit, $2,000,  presenting “Healing Caregivers” healing arts program
• Peruvians for Progress, Elizabeth, $1,800,  presenting a free traditional Peruvian Christmas celebration
• Plainfield Symphony Society, Plainfield, $2,000,  presenting a free symphony concert
• Premiere Stages at Kean University, Union, $2,000,  presenting the play “Robey”
• Rahway River Watershed Association, Rahway, $2,400,  providing nature photography workshop and exhibit
• Reeves-Reed Arboretum, Summit, $2,000,  presenting concert with jazz vocalist Cyrille Aimee
• Roselle Board of Education, Roselle, $2,000,  presenting a high school performing arts program
• Roselle Park Loves Arts, Inc., Roselle Park, $1,800, provide an arts festival
• SAGE Eldercare, Inc., Summit, $2,100,  presenting free musical performances to older adults
• Second Westfield Senior Citizens Housing, Westfield, $1,000,  providing an interactive music program for Seniors
• Someone’s Daughter, Elizabeth, $2,200,  providing film making classes for youth
• Springfield Free Public Library, $600,  producing a museum exhibit
• Springfield Historical Society, Springfield, $2,000,  producing a book on the battle of Springfield
• Stony Hill Players, Summit, $2,000,  presenting children’s theatrical productions
• Temple Beth O’r/Beth Torah, Clark, $1,200,  presenting a free comedy performance
• The ARC of Union County, Springfield, $2,500  presenting an interactive concert series
• The Theater Project, Union, $2,000,  presenting theatrical performances in Union
• Town of Westfield, Westfield, $2,000,  providing a public mural
• Union County College, Cranford, $2,000,  providing a theatrical production
• Union Township Community Action Organization, Inc., Union $2,500,  presenting Senior Choral performances in nursing homes
• Union Township Dept. of Recreation, Union, $1,000,  providing art classes for young children
• Union Township Historical Society, Union, $1,000,  presenting history programs for students 
• United Youth of NJ, Elizabeth, $2,500,  presenting an historical play “New Jersey’s Only Surviving Black Wall Street”
• Visual Arts Center of NJ, Summit $2,000,  presenting a visual arts program for older adults
• Westfield Community Center, Westfield, $1,000,  providing creative writing classes for youth and seniors
• Westfield Neighborhood Council, Westfield, $2,000,  presenting dance classes
• Wharton Institute for the Performing Arts, Berkeley Heights, $1,800,  presenting an older adult choral program
• YM-YWHA of Union County, Union, $2,000,  presenting the “Y Sunday Brunch Art Series”

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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 business owners, managers and entrepreneurs to attend the 2019 Union County Means Business Expo at the Warinanco Sports Center in Warinanco Park on Wednesday, September 18 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Warinanco Park is part of the Union County parks system and is located in the Borough of Roselle, bordering Elizabeth and Linden.

“Last year the Business Expo hosted 80 vendors and 300 attendees, providing a valuable opportunity for networking and meeting peers in the business community,” said Freeholder Chair Bette Jane Kowalski. “We are looking forward to another successful event this year.”

Now in its fourth year, the Business Expo provides a showcase for local businesses as well as an opportunity to network and grow contacts within the Union County community and beyond.

Since its inception in 2016, the Expo has grown to include a wide variety of businesses and entrepreneurs including service providers, retailers, banks, insurance, real estate, technology, consulting, marketing, legal, accounting, health, education, nonprofits and government agencies. The event is also popular with chambers of commerce and representatives from municipal and county government offices.

This year the Expo once again will feature raffle prizes at every table along with a grand prize of a Visa gift card. The popular “passport/autograph” contest will also return with additional prizes for attendees who collect signatures from every vendor.

Rounding out the event will be food tastings featuring the menus from Ashbrook Golf Course, Galloping Hill Golf Course and the Warinanco Sports Center.

As a service this year, the Business Expo is offering free onsite child care. The service is available for children ages 4-12 and will be provided by the professional staff of the Warinanco Sports Center Summer Camp. It must be requested in advance (walk-ins strictly prohibited) by filling out the online form at ucnj.org/ucmb when registering as an attendee or vendor.

Admission for individual attendees is free. Preregistration for all attendees is suggested but not required, except for those requesting child care. To register as an attendee, fill out the online Attendee Registration form at ucnj.org/ucmb.

The vendor table fee of $100 includes a half-page ad in the program along with 10 VIP tickets for preferred clients. To register a vendor table, fill out the online Vendor Registration form at ucnj.org/ucmb.  

Union County Means Business is an economic development initiative of the Freeholder Board with the support of community partners including the New Jersey Small Business Development Center, the Union County Economic Development Corporation, the Greater Elizabeth Chamber of Commerce, the Suburban Chamber of Commerce, Kean University, Union County College, Union Township Chamber of Commerce, the Greater Westfield Chamber of Commerce, Cranford Area Chamber of Commerce, and the New Jersey LGBT Chamber of Commerce.

For more information about Union County Means Business, visit ucnj.org/ucmb or contact Deana Mesaros at 908-659-7412 or dmesaros@ucnj.org.

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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 will host a Notary Training Seminar for New Jersey Notaries Public at the John H. Stamler Police Academy, Second Floor Multipurpose Room, at 1776 Raritan Road in Scotch Plains on Friday, September 6, from 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

Union County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi will make opening remarks and review the application process.  Union County Surrogate James LaCorte, Esq. will speak about the legal aspects of the functions of notaries public.

 “The notary training seminar is designed to provide notaries with insight and information from experienced, knowledgeable professionals in the community,” said Ms. Rajoppi. “The course covers all aspects of being a notary.”

The seminar will cover the steps for proper notarization and other topics, including how to complete a notary journal and how to examine identification documents. Coffee and a light breakfast will be served.

“The seminar is also popular with current notaries who wish to ensure that they are up to date on issues affecting notaries,” said Ms. Rajoppi. “We offer this opportunity as a professional course that benefits the whole community, and all are welcome.”

To register, use the downloadable form on the County Clerk website, ucnj.org/county-clerk. If you have any questions, contact Donna Connell, 908-527-4999 or dconnell@ucnj.org.

Space is limited to the first 50 registrants.

A registration fee of $10.00 includes a light breakfast and is required in advance to secure registration.

Attendees should note that the Business Casual dress code at the John J. Stamler Police Academy is strictly enforced. Jeans and sneakers are not permitted, and men must wear shirts with collars.

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