County of Union, New Jersey

Union County, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is proud to host the second annual LGBTQ Pride Flag Raising Ceremony event on Friday, June 7 at 1:00 p.m. on the steps of the Union County Courthouse located at 2 Broad Street in Elizabeth. The event is free and all residents are invited to attend.

“Raising the rainbow flag at the County Courthouse is a significant symbol of inclusion and support for the equal rights of LGBTQ people in Union County,” said Freeholder Chair Bette Jane Kowalski. “This year’s ceremony will honor the legacy of activists who transformed the gay rights movement into a widespread protest for equal rights and acceptance.”

2019 is a historic year for the LGBTQ community as it marks the 50^th anniversary of the Stonewall uprising. The Freeholder Board honors Stonewall’s 50th anniversary while recognizing that the milestones achieved in the LGBTQ rights and equality movement were made possible by trailblazers who first stood up for their rights.

The flag raising ceremony will feature a tribute to the early transgender, gay rights and AIDS activist, Marsha P. Johnson, a 1963 graduate of Elizabeth High School, highlighting her insistence on the urgency of resistance to advance civil rights protections for LGBTQ people. As Ms. Johnson said, “You never completely have your rights, one person, until you have all your rights.”

The ceremony will also feature a performance by students of Elizabeth’s Thomas Jefferson Arts Academy Acapella Chorus, coordinated by counselors of the Youth Enrichment Services Program.

“In the face of the sinister and systematic attacks by the current administration in Washington on the civil rights of LGBTQ people in key areas of life, the unity found through Pride events is essential to increasing awareness and advancing civil rights protections for LGBTQ individuals,” said Freeholder Rebecca Williams, liaison to the Freeholder’s LGBTQ Ad Hoc Committee.

The “Pride Flag” was popularized as a symbol of the gay community by San Francisco artist Gilbert Baker in 1978 at the request of LGBT rights activist Harvey Milk, who challenged Baker to create “an insignia of pride capable of affirming social independence.”

In the late 1980’s Baker noted the meaning the Pride Flag has come to signify when he said, “The flag is an action – it’s more than just the cloth and the stripes. When a person puts the Rainbow Flag on his car or his house, they’re not just flying a flag. They’re taking action.”

Today, the Pride Flag is globally used to further the movement towards equal rights.

In recognition of June as LGBTQ Pride month, the Freeholder Board is also proud to host a series of events to foster inclusion and accelerate acceptance in the Union County community, including TEEN PRIDE (June 14), UC PRIDE in the Park (June 15), Union County SAGE Table (June 23) and PRIDE Night with the Red Bulls (June 28).

The Freeholder Board is proud to support all 21 Union County municipalities hosting a community LGBTQ PRIDE flag raising event with a free “PRIDE in a Box” kit in support of pride, inclusion and acceptance throughout Union County.

Each kit includes a sample PRIDE Month Proclamation, Union County PRIDE posters, Union County Office of LGBTQ Affairs brochures, a 3’ x 5’ LGBTQ PRIDE Flag, 4” x 6” mini LGBTQ PRIDE Flags, Rainbow lapel ribbons, and Rainbow UC PRIDE Temporary Tattoos.

To request a free PRIDE in a Box, complete the registration form online at ucnj.org/pride.

For more information about all PRIDE events and activities hosted by the Freeholder Board visit ucnj.org/pride.

Union County’s Pride month events are organized by the Office of LGBTQ Affairs, and presented in partnership with WellCare Health Plans, Xfinity and Atlantic Health System.

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.

Connect with Union County on social media.

 

 

Union County Freeholder Chair Bette Jane Kowalski joined Union County Department of Human Services Director Debbie-Ann Anderson, Division on Aging Director Frances Benson and Division on Aging Assistant Director Natalie Zarillo as the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders announced that it has declared May as “Older Americans Month,” joining communities across the nation to celebrate its older residents.

“Union County’s seniors, about 20 percent of the total population, have raised families and worked while serving as volunteers with the PTA, scouts, church and community groups, or in the military,” stated Freeholder Chair Kowalski. “For all the contributions they have made, and continue to make, our seniors deserve this special recognition.”

(Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

Union County, NJ – Union County residents can learn about the local impacts of the national opioid crisis first-hand from representatives of the Union County Prosecutor, Sheriff, Police Division and other professionals by attending a free public meeting hosted by the Public Safety Committee of the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders titled, The Opioid Epidemic: Silently Affecting Our Community.

The meeting will be held on Tuesday, May 21, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the McManus School auditorium, at 300 Edgewood Road in Linden. Admission is free and no pre-registration is required.

“Opioid abuse impacts the entire community, and that is why we are providing the public with an open discussion about the scope and nature of opioid abuse in Union County, and an assessment of the tools that are available to fight it,” said Freeholder Chair Bette Jane Kowalski. “I encourage all concerned citizens to come and learn how public resources are deployed to fight this epidemic.”

“Although the most recent numbers are encouraging, now is the time to bear down and get to the root of the crisis,” said Freeholder Christopher Hudak, who is the Chairman of the Public Safety Committee. “We are looking forward to hearing from professionals on the front lines of the battle against opioid abuse, and sharing this information with the public.”

The Opioid Epidemic: Silently Affecting Our Community will include:

• Overview of facts and trends about the opioid epidemic in Union County
• Details about the County Prosecutor’s Operation Helping Hands program and CLEAR, a collaborative program including the Union County Department of Public Safety, the Office of the Union County Sheriff, the nonprofit organization Prevention Links, and the Union County Department of Human Services
• Prevention Links presentation on prevention, treatment and recovery featuring personal stories and Recovery Coaches
• Information on Naloxone lifesaving assistance presented by First Responders
• Office of the Union County Sheriff K-9 demonstration and discussion about the impact of fentanyl on drug detection
• Discussion of statewide efforts to combat the opioid epidemic by representatives from the New Jersey Department of Health and Department of Human Services

A question and answer period will follow the presentations.

For more information contact Karen Dinsmore, Assistant Director, Union County Department of Human Services, kdinsmore@ucnj.org or 908-527-4809.

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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.

Public Demonstrations on the new ExpressVote XL Voting Machine to be used in Berkeley Heights, Elizabeth, Fanwood, Garwood, Kenilworth, Mountainside, Union, Westfield, and Winfield for the June 4 Primary Election.

 

May 14 – Union Township Munic Bldg. – Public Demo

3:00pm – 7:00pm

Municipal Building – 1976 Morris Avenue

 

May 16 – ExpressVote XL Voting Machine Public Demonstration

Mountainside Demo – Public Library – 1 Constitution Plaza

3:00 – 7:30

 

May 19 – ExpressVote XL Voting Machine Public Demonstration

Kenilworth Street Fair

10:00am – 4:00pm

 

May 21 – ExpressVote XL Voting Machine Public Demonstration

9:00 -5:00pm

Winfield Municipal Building

 

May 22 – ExpressVote XL Voting Machine Public Demonstration

Union County Women Mean Business

8:00 – 2:00pm

The Clubhouse at Galloping Hill, Kenilworth

 

May 22 – ExpressVote XL Voting Machine Public Demonstration

Union Municipal Building – 1976 Morris Avenue

3:00 – 7:00

 

May 23 – ExpressVote XL Voting Machine Public Demonstration

Berkeley Heights Public Library, 110 Roosevelt Avenue

12:00pm – 8:00pm

 

May 24 – ExpressVote XL Voting Machine Public Demonstration

Garwood Public Library, 411 Third Avenue

9:00am – 4:00pm

 

May 30 – ExpressVote XL Voting Machine Public Demonstration

Elizabeth Public Library, Elizabethport Branch, 101-110 3^rd Street

12:00 – 4:00

 

June 1 – ExpressVote XL Voting Machine Public Demonstration

Rhythm & Blues by the Brook, Cedar Brook Park, Plainfield      

12 – 7pm

 

June 2 – Garwood Rocks through the Greater Westfield Chamber of Commerce

TIME: 10:00 – 6:00pm

Center Street, Garwood

 

Fraser Building, 300 North Avenue East, Westfield – Every Saturday – 9-1

May 18, May 25 and June 1

 

Union County Court House, 2 Broad Street, 1^st Floor Elizabeth, Every Tuesday – 11-3

May 14, May 21 and May 28

The Union County Board of Elections Reminds Union County Residents deadline to Register to Vote in the June 4 Primary is Today, Tuesday, May 14. The following offices have evening hours for your convenience.

County/Municipality	Date	Office	Times
Union County Election Board	May 14, 2019	Union County Election Board, 271 No. Broad St., Elizabeth	8:00am – 9:00pm
Union County Clerk’s Office	Tuesday & Thursday evenings Saturdays	Union County Clerk’s Satellite Office, 300 North Avenue East, Westfield	8:00am – 7:30pm   9:00am – 1:00pm
Township of Cranford	May 14, 2019	Municipal Clerk’s Office, 8 Springfield Avenue	8:00am – 7:00pm
Borough of Fanwood	May 14, 2019	Municipal Clerk’s Office 75 No. Martine Avenue	8:00am – 7:00pm
Borough of Garwood	2nd & 4th Thursdays of every month	Municipal Clerk’s Office, 403 South Avenue	9:00am – 6:30pm
Borough of Kenilworth	May 14, 2019	Municipal Clerk’s Office, 567 Boulevard	8:30am – 7:00pm
City of Rahway	May 14, 2019	Municipal Clerk’s Office, 1 City Hall Plaza	8:30am – 7:30pm
Borough of Roselle	May 14, 2019	Municipal Clerk’s Office, 210 Chestnut Street	9:00am – 9:00pm
Borough of Roselle Park	May 14, 2019	Municipal Clerk’s Office, 110 E. Westfield Avenue	8:30am – 9:00pm
Township of Springfield	May 14, 2019	Municipal Clerk’s Office, 100 Mountain Avenue	8:00am – 8:00pm
City of Summit	May 14, 2019	Municipal Clerk’s Office, 512 Springfield Avenue	8:30am – 9:00pm
Township of Union	May 14, 2019	Municipal Clerk’s Office, 1976 Morris Avenue	8:30am – 9:00pm

Raritan Valley Rail Coalition co-sponsors presentation, open to the public at County Freeholder Chambers in Elizabeth

UNION COUNTY, NJ—The Regional Plan Association, a non-profit public policy agency that examines various issues, will present its report: “A Preventable Crisis, The Economic and Human Costs of a Hudson River Rail Tunnel Shutdown,” on Thursday, May 23rd at 7 p.m. to the Freeholder Board prior to its public meeting.

All residents are invited to the free presentation, which will be held on the 6^th floor in the Freeholder chambers at the Union County Administration Building, 10 Elizabethtown Plaza in Elizabeth.  Residents are also allowed the opportunity to comment on the plan during the general comments portion of the regular meeting that night. Parking is available nearby at the J. Christian Bollwage parking deck.

“Union County is a rail hub, and the stakes of not investing in train service improvements are high: if the tunnels fail, Union County could suffer as much as a $1.8 billion revenue loss,” said Freeholder Chair Bette Jane Kowalski, citing the Regional Plan Association’s report. “As elected officials, it is urgent that we make our voices heard for supporting the Gateway Tunnels Project and continue to work with organizations such as the Raritan Valley Rail Coalition and the Regional Plan Association toward that end.”

The Regional Plan Association’s report details the devastating impact that any extended closures of the rapidly, deteriorating 108-year-old Hudson River train tunnels would have on the regional economy, including Union County. 

From reduced home values to gridlocked roads,  the report  portrays a grim picture of what New Jersey and the region could look like if the proposed Gateway Hudson River rail-tunnel project remains unfunded.

Bruce Bergen, the Chair of the Raritan Valley Rail Coalition, will also be on hand to introduce the Regional Plan Association.

“The Gateway Tunnels project is a regional emergency that demands the immediate attention of the White House, and the proper funding to move forward,” said Bergen, a former Union County Freeholder. “We are thankful to partner with an agency such as the Regional Plan Association that is able to present such a concise picture of the  project and the impact of the failure to act.”

As part of her initiatives entitled “Empowering Union County” on behalf of the Freeholder Board for 2019, Chair Kowalski announced the County would take the lead on the Raritan Valley Rail Coalition, a group of concerned citizens which represents 1.7 million residents along the Raritan Valley Rail line in four counties— Union, Somerset, Middlesex and Hunterdon Counties. 

The Raritan Valley Rail Coalition was created more than two decades ago to campaign for a one-seat ride on the Raritan Valley Rail line. It also strongly lobbies for the creation of the Gateway Tunnels Project, a $13 billion proposal that would rebuild the Hudson Tunnels, the Portal Bridge over the Hackensack River, and add other significant improvements along the rails leading into New York.

For more information on the Regional Plan Association, please go to: http://www.rpa.org/

For more information on the Raritan Valley Rail Coalition, please go to www.raritanvalleyrail.com

Or Social media— Facebook: www.facebook.com/raritanvalleyrail/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/rvrailcoalition

Union County, NJ – The 30th annual Master Gardeners of Union County Spring Garden Fair and Plant Sale will be held this Sunday, May 19, from noon to 4:00 p.m., in the Union County Demonstration Garden at the Trailside Nature and Science Center. Trailside is located in the Watchung Reservation at 452 New Providence Road in Mountainside.

The yearly event is a popular community tradition featuring native plants for sale along with hundreds of other flowering plants and shrubs, vegetable seedlings, garden crafts, baked goods, children’s activities, educational displays and a chance to explore the many unique and unusual beds of the sprawling Demonstration Garden.

“Everyone who loves to garden can help ensure that our native New Jersey plant species survive and thrive for the next generation to enjoy,” said Freeholder Chair Bette Jane Kowalski. “The Garden Fair is a wonderful opportunity to collect native species and other plants for your yard and garden, while contributing to a good cause.”

All proceeds from sales at the Garden Fair go to support community service projects of Master Gardener volunteers, including donations of fresh produce to local food pantries, educational events for youth and adults, programs for people with special needs, neighborhood projects, and more.

Admission is free and parking is free. Please note that credit cards are not accepted, and pets are not permitted.

Gardeners who are interested in cultivating native plants can also attend the free “Good Plants and Bad Plants” seminar at the Trailside Nature & Science Center on May 18, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Pre-registration is required by emailing watershed7@ucnj.org.

Another free native plant event will take place in the Demonstration Garden on Thursday evening, June 6, from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Attendees can bring an invasive plant from their property and trade it for a native plant free of charge, purchase additional native plants on site, and tour the garden. Pre-registration is required by emailing watershed7@ucnj.org.

A free, illustrated guide on ornamental natives titled “Plant This, Not That” is also available for free download through the Trailside Nature and Science Center.

For quick links to all Union County programs related to gardening, sustainability and nature conservation visit 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.

Union County, NJ – The Union County Freeholder Board is pleased to celebrate the diversity of its residents by offering ethnic non-profits the opportunity to hold a flag raising at the County complex in Elizabeth.

“New Jersey is one of the most diverse states in the country and Union County in particular is among the top most diverse counties in the state,” said Bette Jane Kowalski, Chair of the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders. “Ethnic diversity adds to the culture, education and quality of life of our residents and the Freeholder Board is proud to celebrate the contribution that ethnic groups make to our County.”

Flag Raising Ceremonies will be coordinated by the Union County Office of Community Engagement and Diversity and flag raisings will be held in front of the Union County Court House, located at 2 Broad Street, in Elizabeth.

 “I pride myself on promoting diversity and inclusion of all within Union County which led to me work with Chair Kowalski on this initiative,” said Freeholder Sergio Granados. “Union County is made stronger and more progressive by our residents that come from different walks of life and a multitude of ethnicities coming together as one. Hosting these Flag raisings will showcase our diversity as well as our support of one another.”

For questions, information or rules and regulations on hosting a Flag Raising at the Union County Court House please reach out to Nathalie Hernandez, Coordinator of the Office of Community Engagement & Diversity at nahernandez@ucnj.org or 908-527-4880.

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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:

Free music festival kicks off summer schedule of free outdoor concerts, movies and live theater in Union County parks

Union County, NJ – The phenomenal Sheila E. tops this year’s Rhythm and Blues by the Brook free outdoor music festival presented by the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders. Music fans of all ages are invited to bring their dancing shoes and enjoy a full afternoon of music, movement and family activities at Cedar Brook Park in Plainfield, rain or shine, on Saturday, June 1.

Also appearing on the bill are:

• Thomas McClary and the Commodores Experience
• Dean Shot and the Solidsenders tribute to Howlin’Wolf
• Plainfield’s own Bindi Liebowitz of NBC’s The Voice, Season 11

“Rhythm and Blues by the Brook signals the start of free outdoor concerts and movies that everyone in Union County can enjoy together,” said Freeholder Chair Bette Jane Kowalski. “In this time of history-making events for women, we are also very proud to present Sheila E, one of the most-recognized artists in American music, whose work has had a global impact.”

“Cedar Brook Park is a jewel in the crown for Union County, and it is a real pleasure to see residents and visitors alike gather here in Plainfield with friends and family for an afternoon of music, community, and healthy outdoor fun,” said Plainfield resident and Freeholder Rebecca Williams.

Sheila E. is best known for her legendary collaborations with Prince as well as several stints with Ringo Starr’s All-Star Band, her work on Cyndi Lauper’s At Last album, numerous solo projects, live performances, and television appearances, and her memoir, Beat of My Own Drum.

Her latest album, Message 4 America, reflects her connection with the past, present, and future of American music and the global community, featuring cameos with Ringo Starr, George Clinton, and Candy Dulfer.

“This album is a call for us to rise up and stand for something that is greater than our self-interest. In this album I use the most incredible music from the past to speak to this confusing time that we live in. The tracks on this album are some of the greatest protest and revolution songs and are reinvented to fit current times,” she explains.

This year’s Rhythm and Blues by the Brook festival will run from 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., with DJ Bookeem serving as the MC throughout the day.

As always, Rhythm and Blues by the Brook will feature free children’s activities including inflatables, pony rides and a petting zoo, from 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

The event also includes a marketplace featuring food vendors, a free car show presented by G-Wiz, and a health and wellness fair by Zeta Phi Beta Sorority.

Also included in Union County’s schedule of free outdoor events:

Summer Arts Festival: Bring a towel or yoga mat for free UC Fit Yoga sessions beginning at 6:30. The concerts begin at 7:30.

 

Echo Lake Park, Mountainside – Friday, June 21

New Jersey Symphony Orchestra

 

Echo Lake Park – Wednesdays beginning July 10

July 10 – Radio Petty (The Best of Tom Petty)

July 17 – Verdict

July 24 – Black Dog (The Led Zeppelin Tribute)

July 31 – Marc Muller’s Grateful Jamband (Grateful Dead)

 

Oak Ridge Park, Clark – Wednesdays beginning August 7

Aug 7 – American Rapture

Aug 14 – Rob Paparozzi’s Juke Joint

Aug 21 – Hey Bulldog (Tribute to the Beatles)

Aug 28 – We May Be Right (The Billy Joel Experience)

 

Family Fun and Flix: Bring your best moves to the movies! Enjoy a family fun DJ dance party beginning at 7:30 p.m. each evening, followed by a movie at dusk.

 

July 9 – “A Dog’s Way Home,” Wheeler Park, Linden

July 16 – “Hotel Transylvania 3,” Warinanco Park, Elizabeth

July 23 – “Lego Movie 2,” Warinanco Park, Elizabeth

July 29 – “Hotel Transylvania 3,” Rutgers Ave. Park, Hillside

July 30 – “Spiderman-Into the Spider-Verse,” Warinanco Park, Elizabeth

August 6 – “Ralph Breaks the Internet,” Meisel Park, Springfield (a National Night Out event)

August 12 – “Incredibles 2,” Tamaques Park, Westfield

August 13 – “Incredibles 2,” Warinanco Park, Elizabeth

 

Shakespeare in the Park: Performances by The Shakespeare Theatre Company of New Jersey

 

July 19 – Trailside Nature & Science Center, Mountainside – 6:30pm

July 28 – The Shakespeare Garden at Cedar Brook Park, Plainfield – 12:30pm

 

Other summer fun in Union County includes the Walter E. Ulrich Memorial Pool in Rahway and playgrounds with spray features at Cedar Brook Park in Plainfield, Mattano Park in Elizabeth, Warinanco Park in Roselle, Rizzuto Park in Union, Ponderosa Farm Park in Scotch Plains, Snyder Avenue Park in Berkeley Heights, and the newly opened Wheeler Park in Linden. The Loop Playground in the Watchung Reservation includes a cooling mist feature.

For rainy day activities, visit Union County’s Trailside Nature and Science Center. Admission is free seven days a week. A modest fee applies to special events and activities including the Wednesday afternoon matinee series.

For hours, locations, and more details about all Union County parks and activities visit ucnj.org/parks-activities or call the Department of Parks and Recreation 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.

Connect with Union County on social media.