Union County, NJ – The Union County Board of Elections has added additional dates to the schedule of hands-on public demonstrations for Union County’s new ExpressVote XL voting machines this summer. Demonstrations will be held at several National Night Out Events across the County in the month of August.
“Union County was among the first three counties in New Jersey to introduce the new voting machines last year, and we are looking forward to having this new technology available in all 21 of our municipalities,” said Freeholder Chair Bette Jane Kowalski. “We encourage all residents to attend one of the upcoming demonstration sessions while enjoying these National Night Out events in their hometowns.”
All demonstrations are open to all Union County residents, voters and non-voters alike. Attendees are advised that photographing and/or video recording of voting machines used by Union County is prohibited. Demonstrations are scheduled at the following events:
August 6 – ExpressVote XL Voting Machine Public Demonstration
Meisel Park, Springfield – National Night Out
Time: 6:00 – 9:00pm
August 6 – ExpressVote XL Voting Machine Public Demonstration
Summit National Night Out – 356 Broad Street, Summit
Time: 6:00 – 9:00pm
August 6 – ExpressVote XL Voting Machine Public Demonstration
Plainfield National Night Out- 515 Watchung Avenue
5:30 – 8:30pm
August 6 – ExpressVote XL Voting Machine Public Demonstration
Roselle Park National Night Out, Chestnut Street (Gazebo)
5:00 – 9:00pm
August 6 – ExpressVote XL Voting Machine Public Demonstration
Linden National Night Out, in front of city hall, Wood Avenue
Time: 5:00 – 7:00pm
August 6 – ExpressVote XL Voting Machine Public Demonstration
Clark National Night Out – Parking lot next to the Recreation Center
430 Westfield Avenue
Time: 6:00 – 9:00pm
August 6 – ExpressVote XL Voting Machine Public Demonstration
Roselle National Night Out –210 Chestnut Street (Between 1ST and 3rd Ave)
5:00 – 8:00pm
August 6 – ExpressVote XL Voting Machine Public Demonstration
Cranford National Night Out – In front of Municipal Building – 8 Springfield Ave
Time: 6:00 – 9:00pm
August 6 – ExpressVote XL Voting Machine Public Demonstration
Scotch Plains National Night Out –430 Park Ave – grass area on Stage House side
6:00 – 9:00pm
Voters in Westfield piloted the new machines in the 2018 General Elections. Eight additional municipalities started using the new machines starting with the Primary Election on June 4, and the remaining 12 county municipalities will use them starting with the General Election in November.
For those interested, weekly demonstrations are being held every Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Colleen Fraser Building in the Union County Complex at 300 North Avenue East in Westfield. For additional outreach events, visit the Board of Elections’ website at www.ucnj.org/ucboe.
The schedule will be updated on the Elections Board website at ucnj.org/ucboe as events are added. A video demonstration of the new machines is also available in English and Spanish, online at ucnj.org/ucboe.
Please contact the Union County Election Board to schedule a demonstration for your community group by calling 908-527-4123 or emailing ndirado@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.
Connect with Union County on social media.
A team of 25 carefully trained volunteers from Rutgers Cooperative Extension (RCE) of Union County have been inspecting hundreds of ash trees in several Union County Parks for signs of Emerald Ash Borer (EAB), a non-native insect pest that infests and kills all species of Ash trees. As of yet, EAB has not been detected in Union County although it is anticipated to be discovered soon.
“A huge thank you goes out to all of the volunteers who are helping to inventory and map Ash trees across Union County,” said Freeholder Chair Bette Jane Kowalski. “Creating an Ash tree inventory is the first step in developing an EAB response plan to ensure the county is ready for this new insect if it emerges.”
Infestations throughout the U.S. and Canada have killed tens of millions of ash trees since 2002. Currently it is known to be in 14 of 21 New Jersey counties.
Volunteers meet weekly at different parks throughout the county. The Ash tree inventory has been completed for 9 parks including Warinanco, Lenape, Echo Lake, Cedar Brook, Rahway River, Nomahegan, Meisel Ave., Green Brook, and Oak Ridge Parks. Close to 800 Ash trees have been inventoried in these parks.
The information collected is being used to make recommendations on the value of treating and saving Ash trees, verses removing them. This process will help take action to develop long range budgets for Ash tree management.
Ash trees can be identified by their compound leaves meaning the leaf is divided into smaller leaflets. Another distinguishing characteristic includes the arrangement of branches and buds which are in pairs across from each other, known as opposite branching.
The first sign that an Ash tree has been infested by the EAB is usually damage to the bark. Woodpeckers flake off the bark with their beaks to get at the EAB larvae. The distinctive white stripes left from this flaking are called “blonding”. The adult female EAB creates characteristic D-shaped exit holes, 3-4mm in size, when they emerge in May or early June. As the infestation worsens the crown will begin to die back starting at the top.
EAB infestations are fatal to trees not treated properly with insecticides. Ash trees killed by EAB become brittle very quickly, making them a greater safety hazard to pedestrians and arborists removing trees.
Homeowners looking for assistance protecting their Ash tree should contact a certified licensed tree expert. More information for homeowners and communities on EAB in New Jersey can be found at http://emeraldashborer.nj.gov. For more information on this project contact RCE of Union County at 908-654-9854.
The Rutgers Master Gardener program in 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.
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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.
American Rapture, a Rock and Soul revue band and, will be once again returning to perform in Union County at the August 7th, Summer Arts Concert Series at Oak Ridge Park.
“This concert is great for all ages,” said Freeholder Chair Bette Jane Kowalski. “American Rapture’s performances run the gamut, with hits from the 50s through the 70s, and they have a wide audience appeal.”
Formed in 1999, American Rapture consists of 9 vocalists and 11 musicians. Performances showcase a variety of musical styles that include Doo Wop, Motown, Blues, Rock, R&B, and Funk. Find us online at americanraptureband.com.
The concert will take place at Oak Ridge Park in Clark. Attendees are encouraged to bring a blanket or towel for UC Fit Yoga, led by Alluem Yoga of Cranford, 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.
The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders present a resolution to Freeholder Vice Chairman Alexander Mirabella congratulating him on being inducted into the New Jersey Association of Counties’ inaugural Freeholder Hall of Fame in recognition of his 20 years of service as a Union County Freeholder.
They were joined by Assemblywoman Linda Carter. Freeholder Vice Chairman Mirabella of Fanwood, who was first elected in 1997, has led initiatives to preserve hundreds of acres of open space, expand park space, create new recreational facilities for youth, grow the County’s various educational institutions, create the state’s first Office on LGBTQ Affairs, expand services to those with special needs, and create new workforce and economic development initiatives. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)
Union County Freeholder Chair Bette Jane Kowalski and Freeholder Christopher Hudak present a resolution to County of Union 911 Telecommunicator Joy Allen of Plainfield commending her for her efforts to assist in the delivery of a baby over the phone on June 28, 2019. They were join by Union County Director of Public Safety Andrew Moran.
Allen’s efforts proved to be successful in the end, the newborn child was delivered safely and first responders were able to bring the baby and the mother to the hospital. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)
Categories
Paratransit Public Hearing Notice
Union County Paratransit System will be accepting comments regarding service and other issues. The public is welcome to attend and participate.
Tuesday, September 10, 2019
7:00 PM to 8:30 PM
Union County
Administration Building
10 Elizabethtown Plaza, Elizabeth, Nj 07207
6Th Fl. Freeholders Meeting Room
Union County Freeholders Angel G. Estrada and Sergio Granados present a resolution to Cónsul Ana Lorena Siria de Lara commending her for her outstanding leadership and community involvement as the El Salvadorian Consul of New Jersey and Delaware. She is leaving the post after four years of service. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)
Union County, NJ- The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders invites residents to celebrate National Night Out with “Family Fun & Flix,” the free outdoor film series, and an interactive display of police and emergency vehicles with free activities for children. The event will take place on Tuesday, August 6 at Meisel Park, off Meisel Avenue in Springfield.
“National Night Out provides a festive environment for children to enjoy while helping residents connect with local law enforcement to promote safety in the community,” said Freeholder Chair Bette Jane Kowalski.
National Night Out activities kick off at 6:00 p.m. and last until 8:00 p.m. The Union County Prosecutor’s Office, the Union County Sheriff’s Department, and the Union County Police Department will be on hand among other law enforcement agencies.
Many police and emergency vehicles will be on display, along with live demonstrations by the Union County Police, S.W.A.T., the bomb squad, sheriff’s K-9 officers and much more. There will also be inflatables for children to enjoy. Free hot dogs will be available for those attending National Night Out.
Following the National Night Out activities, those in attendance can enjoy the animated comedy “Ralph Breaks the Internet,” which tells the story of video game bad guy Ralph and his best friend Vanellope von Schweetz as they travel through the World Wide Web to save Vanellope’s video game, “Sugar Rush.” The movie will begin at dusk.
Attendees at the movie will receive free popcorn during the showing.
This summer’s free Family Fun and Flix series will continue on Monday, August 12, at Tamaques Park in Westfield for “Incredibles 2.” The final movie of the summer will be at Warinanco Park, Also showing “Incredibles 2” on Tuesday, August 13.
All Family Fun and Flix movies start at dusk, weather permitting. For more information, call the Union County Department of Parks and Recreation at 908-527-4900 or visit the Union County website: ucnj.org. For program and rain information call 908-558-4079 after 3:30 p.m. the date of the show.
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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 residents of all ages with special needs are invited to participate in Paint by the Pond, on Sunday, August 4, at Mindowaskin Park, located at 385 E. Broad Street in Westfield. This event is free and sponsored by the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders, the Union County Office for Persons with Disabilities and Special Needs and the Town of Westfield.
“Union County has hosted Paint by the Pond for the last few years at other County parks and it has received an enthusiastic response from the public,” said Union County Freeholder Chair Bette Jane Kowalski. “The Freeholder Board is proud to offer our special needs residents the opportunity to participate in this program that encourages their creativity while enjoying yet another beautiful park within our County.”
The Paint by the Pond project encourages participants to express themselves and create art by s painting cardboard model houses. The cardboard houses will be floated on the pond and participants will be allowed to take their creations home with them.
“I am thrilled to see the Paint by the Pond event come to my hometown,” said Freeholder Kimberly Palmieri-Mouded. “This collaboration with the Town of Westfield helps our special needs residents explore their artistic side.”
Paint by the Pond will have two sessions available for participants to choose from. The morning session runs from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and the afternoon session runs from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. The event is free to attend and is open to special needs residents of all ages, but pre-registration is required. To pre-register, residents should visit ucnj.org/opdsn-reg.
“We are thrilled to host Paint by the Pond in Westfield for the special needs community,” said Westfield Mayor Shelley Brindle. “This is a terrific initiative that supports one of my administration’s key priorities to ensure that Westfield is accessible and inclusive for all. I am grateful to the County for providing programs like this for the benefit of our residents and taxpayers.”
For more information on the Paint by the Pond program, please contact Manny Ramirez at the Union County Office for Persons with Disabilities and Special Needs by phone at (908) 527-4781 or email at mramirez@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.
Connect with Union County on social media.