County of Union, New JerseyUnion County Freeholder Chair Bette Jane Kowalski and Freeholders Rebecca Williams and Kimberly Palmieri-Mouded present a resolution to Dianne Spinelli congratulating her on being named the 2019 Linden Outstanding Senior Citizen of the Year during a ceremony at the John T. Gregorio Center in Linden. They were joined by Union County Surrogate James LaCorte and Assemblyman James Kennedy. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)
The Union County Freeholder Board proudly invites families and residents to the grand opening of the Wheeler Park Spray Park—the largest of its kind in the County system—in Linden on Saturday, May 25th.
Doors are open from 11 a.m-7 p.m., and admission is free to the state-of-the art facility. The Freeholders will hold a ribbon cutting marking the opening of the Spray Park at 1 p.m. All residents are invited to attend. In the event of a postponement due to weather, the ribbon cutting will be held the next day, Sunday, May 26th, at 1 p.m.
Freeholder Chair Bette Jane Kowalski stated:
“With the opening of the spray park, the Freeholder Board has completed yet another step in a process that is not only renovating our parks system, but also providing more recreational opportunities for our residents,” Kowalski said. “The Wheeler Park Spray Park is an impressive facility that generations of our residents will enjoy.”
Freeholder Christopher Hudak, a resident of Linden who championed the project, said:
“We have built what will become a countywide attraction for our families to enjoy. This Freeholder Board has continued to make upgrades to Wheeler Park, transforming it into one of the County’s best recreational facilities. We are looking forward to marking a great day for Linden and the County of Union as a whole.”
The spray park replaces the former pool, which had been built in 1931 and witnessed a physical decline over the past two decades.
The spray park, which is the largest of eight spray facilities the County maintains in its parks system, contains 33 above ground attractions, including water cannons, a full size dragon, slides, fake palm trees, dump buckets, a psychedelic spray bus and a multi-function pirate ship and surf shack.
The spray park encompasses 11,000 square feet of the total 49,000 square foot area, and also contains picnic tables, ample space for lounging, gazebos for shade, artificial turf areas, and plenty of free-play space.
A new 24,000 square foot building, which replaces the old Wheeler Pool building, contains lockers, bathrooms, changing space, vending machines and mechanical and electrical facilities.
An entrance and ticketing building near the parking lot will house nurse and lifeguard quarters. The Spray Park was designed by USA Architects, and constructed by Billy Contracting and Restoration Inc. of Pine Brook, NJ.
Wheeler Park is located at Route 1 and 9 between South Wood Avenue and South Stiles Street. Parking for the spray park is off W. Stimpson Avenue. Hours for the spray park are: Monday-Friday: 12-6 p.m., Saturday, Sunday, holidays 11a.m.-7 p.m.
As Freeholder Hudak noted, the spray park announcement is among the latest in a series of high-profile improvements at the park in recent years, including the opening of a new skate park, new softball and soccer turf fields with lights, and a new playground. The park was also enabled for Wi-Fi in 2014.
Wheeler Park was developed in 1925 by the Union County Park Commission, and was designed by the Olmsted Brothers, the noted engineering firm that designed a series of historic landmark parks in urban areas. Their list of projects includes Central Park in New York City and ten others in the Union County parks system.
The park is named after John Russell Wheeler, the first Linden man killed in action during World War I.
Union County, NJ — The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders and the United Way of Union County are pleased to announced that the 2019 Youth Employment Pathways Program Summer Initiative will begin June 2019 this year.
The program provides at-risk youth in Union County with summer jobs and work readiness training. It is funded by the Freeholder Board and the Union County Workforce Development Board, through a grant from the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development,
In 2018 YEPP provided summer jobs for 175 Union County residents, ages 16-24. This year, the program has expanded with additional funding. It is expected to provide employment for more than 200 youth in 2019.
The program provides youth with a part time summer job with additional workforce and life skills training, preparing them for employment after the summer. Positions are also available for youth seeking work over the summer, who anticipate returning to school in the fall.
“The Freeholder Board is very proud of all the young people who participated in YEPP last year. With their enthusiastic embrace of the opportunity to work and develop their skills, they demonstrated that it is an effective program that deserves to continue and engage with more youth,” said Freeholder Chair Bette Jane Kowalski.
“I would like to thank United Way for their stewardship of the program, enabling it to grow and motivating our youth to begin pursuing their dreams. It is important to recognize the opportunities offered to these youth not only prepares them financially for college but also serves to support their families,” said Freeholder Sergio Granados, who is the liaison to the Union County Workforce Development Board.
The YEPP Summer program was part of Freeholder Granados’ initiatives in 2018, when he served as Chairman that year. The program aims to provide at-risk youth with skills that will provide a bridge from part-time summer employment to a full time job or career path.
YEPP recruits private employers in high-growth industries to provide workforce opportunities for the participants. In addition to learning new skills and exploring new career options, the participants receive life skills training including employee benefits, work readiness, resume building, financial literacy, and more.
“We are proud to continue expanding services for Union County Youth,” said James Horne, President and CEO of UWGUC. “This program will help our youth develop the skills necessary to succeed in school, training, and work.”
This summer youth will benefit from the program by working 20 to 25 hours a week at the rate of $10.50 per hour. They will also participate in four hours of work readiness training weekly. All together, approximately 200 youth are expected to enroll in the program during the summer.
Union County youth who are interested in enrolling in the YEPP Summer Initiative can get more information by visiting United Way online at uwguc.org/yepp, or contact Lina Rivas at 908.353.7171 ext. 131 or Lina.Rivas@uwguc.org.
About United Way of Greater Union County (UWGUC)
United Way of Greater Union County provides critical resources to children and families in need throughout greater Union County, North Plainfield and South Plainfield. The organization works to improve lives and build strong communities, by focusing on key areas in education, income stability, health and family strengthening. UWGUC is a pre-eminent community-based leader, partner and investment choice in these communities. More information about United Way of Greater Union County’s work in the community can be found online at uwguc.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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The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is proud to host GLAAD Media Institute’s ‘Engagement 101’ accelerating acceptance training course free for anyone who wants to build the core skills and communication techniques that influence positive cultural change toward acceptance and inclusion.
Presented in collaboration with Union County’s Office of LGBTQ Affairs, GLAAD Media Institute will bring their popular ‘Engagement 101 Telling Your Story: Messaging and Media Tools For Today’s Activists’ course to the Galloping Hill Golf Course in Kenilworth on Friday, May 24 from 9:30AM until 3:30PM. Registration is free and required online at ucnj.org/lgbtq.
“The Freeholder Board is honored to partner with GLAAD to empower equality advocates in our community to raise their voices and take the case for inclusion and acceptance to the Union County community, and beyond,” said Freeholder Chairman Bette Jane Kowalski.
Using the best practices, tools, and communications techniques they’ve perfected over the past 30 years, the GLAAD Media Institute turns education into armor for today’s culture war—transforming individuals into compelling storytellers, media-savvy navigators, and mighty ambassadors whose voices break through the noise and incite real change.
Join us on Friday, May 24 for Engagement 101. In this free course, participants will learn how to get a message of inclusion and acceptance across effectively. Equipped with GLAAD’s Accelerating Acceptance data, the GLAAD Media Institute will work with you to reach and teach the movable middle about the LGBTQ community through a personal lens, yours. Topics include LGBTQ acceptance, understanding media mentality, speaking to your audience, messaging and framing the issue, social media basics, and interview techniques.
“One of the most effective way to awareness, understanding and acceptance is by sharing personal stories and experiences,” said Freeholder Rebecca Williams, liaison to the Union County LGBTQ Ad Hoc Committee. “The GLAAD Engagement 101 course is an important opportunity for LGBTQ individuals and allies to increase the impact of their voice and influence change.”
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.
The Union County Freeholders’ Local Advisory Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse (LACADA) volunteers will be honored at the annual Volunteer Recognition Dinner, Tuesday, May 7 at 6:00 p.m. at the Galloping Hill Caterers, 325 Chestnut Street, Union, NJ.
“The Freeholders strongly support the Municipal Alliances’ LACADA citizen volunteers who work at the grass-roots level in their communities to prevent substance abuse and promote healthy lifestyles among children, teens, adults and families,” said Bette Jane Kowalski, Chair of the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders. “These residents give their time, their skills, and their hearts to help those in need. They inspire us all to keep reaching out—and away from substance dependence—to build a healthy life.”
This year the Freeholders, through the County’s Department of Human Services, Division of Individual and Family Support Services, are proud to pay special tribute to the following 10 volunteers:
By state law members of the Municipal Alliance are appointed by the governing body (Board of Chosen Freeholders) from a variety of community stakeholders including representation from education, health, law enforcement, faith-based entities, business, civic groups, non-profit organizations, and government officials. Municipal Alliance members develop alcohol and drug addiction prevention and treatment plans to address local priorities. These plans are reviewed by the LACADA and the Freeholder Board. Funding comes from the state’s Governor’s Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse (GCADA) and the Board of Chosen Freeholders.
Last year in Union County nearly 300 citizen volunteers from 19 municipalities participated in their Municipal Alliance alcohol and drug abuse education and prevention activities presented countywide, including presentations to parents through public school events such as Back-to-School nights. In 2019 Union County will receive $536,201 from the state for Municipal Alliance activities.
For more information about Union County’s substance abuse services, call the Union County Department of Human Services, Division of Individual and Family Support Services, 908-527-4844. The link to the Alliance webpage is https://ucnj.org/departments/human-services/alliance-to-prevent-alcoholism-and-drug-abuse/.
UNION COUNTY, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is pleased to announce that the mobile paper-shredding program is on the move and coming to a town near you. Warinanco Park will host a paper shredding event on Friday, May 3rd in the parking lot across from the Warinanco Sports Complex. Then on Saturday, May 11th paper shredding will take place at Nokia-Bell Labs, located at 600 Mountain Avenue in New Providence. Union County College in Cranford will host a shredding event on Saturday, June 1st.
“Union County’s mobile document-shredding service helps residents fight identity theft by providing a convenient and secure way to dispose of your confidential documents,” said Freeholder Chair Bette Jane Kowalski. “The paper shredding events are part of Union County’s Green Initiatives and the Freeholder Board is pleased to offer this service to our residents.”
All events will be held from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., rain or shine. The events will end before 1:00 p.m. if the shredding trucks reach capacity.
All Union County residents are eligible to take advantage of the paper-shredding service. In an effort to accommodate everyone, there is a limit of four, 10-pound bags or boxes per person. It is preferred that you bring your material in paper bags. Documents should not be bound. Please remove plastic binders and paperclips. Paper that is wet/damp will not be accepted. Residents should continue to recycle non-confidential papers and magazines with their municipal recycling program.
Documents are put into 96-gallon containers provided by the shredding company. The items are then dumped onto a conveyor belt and shredded on site. Participants are welcome to view the shredding process via a closed-circuit television. The shredded documents are then recycled, shipped to paper mills and used as pulp.
The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders also wants to remind residents to download the free Recycle Coach app for easy access to all 2019 Municipal Recycling Dates and Events.
The mobile shredding program is paid for through New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Recycling Enhancement Act Grant Funds. For more information about future events or directions please call the Union County Recycling Hotline at 908-654-9889 or visit https://ucnj.org/recycling/. For quick links to all Union County environmental programs and activities visit The Green Connection, ucnj.org/green-connect.”
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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 women who own or manage a business or nonprofit organization in Union County to attend the Freeholder Board’s seventh annual Union County Women Mean Business skill building seminar and networking event on Wednesday, May 22 at the Clubhouse at Union County’s Galloping Hill Golf Course in Kenilworth.
This year’s keynote speaker is Linda Wellbrock, CEO and Founder of Leading Women Entrepreneurs. Breakout sessions will cover resilience, beating bad habits, personal branding, and more.
“We have seen interest in the Union County Women Means Business grow over the years, and last year more than 260 accomplished, ambitious women attended,” said Freeholder Chair Bette Jane Kowalski. “Our goal is to help build the next generation of women leaders in our community by facilitating peer networking, skill building and personal development.”
Ms. Wellbrock has a lifetime of experience in advocating for women entrepreneurs, including work with non-profits and other organizations focused on the environment, education, health care, youth and family services, as well as the arts and trans-Atlantic relations.
She created Leading Women Entrepreneurs as a platform for recognizing women’s leadership, and she is currently Secretary and charter member of The Climate Reality Action Fund founded by former Vice President Al Gore.
Sponsors of Union County Women Mean Business this year are JCT Solutions, KemperSports, Winning Strategies Washington, Suplee, Clooney & Company, Tropic Tinting and Southwest. Union County Women Mean Business has also partnered with the nonprofit organization Period, which works nationally to ensure that menstrual products are available to those who need them.
“Period has sparked a much-needed national conversation about a fundamental issue of gender inequality and economic justice,” said Freeholder Chair Kowalski. “Their efforts include advocating for change in federal regulations that currently prohibit the use of public assistance funds for purchasing menstrual products, and we are very proud to support them.”
In support of Period, Union County Women Mean Business attendees are requested to bring a sanitary item for donation during registration the day of the event. Those who bring an item for donation will receive an additional raffle ticket.
Pre-registration for Union County Women Means Business is required, by visiting ucnj.org/ucmb. The $40.00 cost per person includes a networking breakfast, two breakout sessions, lunch and a chance to win prizes.
When registering, attendees can also indicate their interest in participating in an interactive golf clinic following the event. The clinic is designed to enable more women to engage with the social and networking opportunities that take place on the golf course.
Pre-registration for the clinic is required and a separate fee of $20.00 applies.
For full details about the Union County Means Business event, including schedules and speaker biographies, visit ucnj.org/ucmb.
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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 and Freeholders Rebecca Williams, Christopher Hudak and Sergio Granados joined Union County Deputy County Manager Amy Wagner in congratulating the winners of the 18th Annual Art Contest for County of Union Employees and their families during the awards reception at Liberty Hall Center in Union. Presented in partnership with the National Arts Program, the exhibit will be open to the public weekdays until May 21; from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Liberty Hall Center is located at 1085 Morris Avenue in Union Township. (Photos by Jim Lowney/County of Union)
Union County, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is pleased to announce a free workshop on Thursday evening, May 16, to explain the application process for the 2019 Union County HEART (History, Education, Arts Reaching Thousands) Grant Program and the 2020 Local Arts Grant Program. Representatives of nonprofit organizations in Union County as well as individual professional artists and scholars are invited to attend.
The workshop will begin at 7:00 p.m. at the Liberty Hall Museum, Wagon Shed Building, 1003 Morris Avenue in Union Township. It is free of charge, but pre-registration is recommended.
“These grant programs serve as a catalyst to strengthen Union County’s non-profit organizations, artists and scholars, enhancing their capacity to provide enriching projects relating to history, the arts and humanities,” said Freeholder Chair Bette Jane Kowalski. “Our grant recipients share their creative energy with our community, and the Freeholder Board is proud to support them.”
The HEART workshop will provide guidelines for completing applications for funding in 2019. The Local Arts Grant Program will cover guidelines for funding activities that take place between January 1 and December 31, 2020 and will cover the components of a successful application, from the description of a project, all the way to the budget and marketing plan.
Funding for the Local Arts Grant comes from the New Jersey Council on the Arts, Department of State, a partner of the national Endowment for the Arts.
For additional information visit: https://ucnj.org/parks-recreation/cultural-heritage-affairs/funding-opportunities/. To register contact the Union County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs at 908-558-2550. NJ Relay users dial 711, or E-mail: culturalinfo@ucnj.org.
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For more information on any Union County press release, please contact Sebastian D’Elia, Communications Director for the County of Union, or a designee listed at the top of this press release. Please join the County of Union online at www.ucnj.org, on Facebook at www.ucnj.org/facebook, and on Twitter at http://twitter.com/countyofunionnj .
Union County, NJ- The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is pleased to announce that 31 Union County libraries, schools, and arts organizations will receive a total of $67,000 in funding through the 2019 Union County Local Arts Grant Program. The grant program is funded by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts.
“On behalf of the Freeholder Board, I would like to thank our 2019 awardees for their contributions to the quality of life in Union County, by increasing and diversifying public participation and access to the arts, as well as fostering the growth and development of our local artists,” said Freeholder Chair Bette Jane Kowalski.
Funding for the Local Arts Grant program is part of a block grant of $144,813 awarded to the Union County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts. The remainder of the block grant is used for a technical assistance workshops and a variety of public programs organized by the Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs including Teen Arts and the Senior Citizen Art Show.
For information about all programs of the Union County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs, visit ucnj.org/parks-recreation, call 908-558-2550 or e-mail culturalinfo@ucnj.org. NJ relay users dial 711.
The 2019 Union County Local Arts Grant Program award recipients are:
CDC Community Theatre: General operating support for affordable, family-friendly, live theatre, with several productions annually. $3,500
Celebration Singers: General operating support for popular music programs by a large adult chorus, children’s chorus and a young adult chorus, performed at various venues in the county. $2,800
Community Access Unlimited: Multi-disciplinary arts program for adults and youth with developmental or other disabilities. $2,600
Elizabeth Public Library: A series of free fall concerts, featuring performances by local and regional artists, held primarily at the main Broad St. branch. $2,800
United Way of Greater Union County: The “Learning Mi Way” program brings music, stories and activities to childcare-center preschoolers. $1,400
YWCA of Eastern Union County: Art classes for women and children recovering from domestic violence are held in a local shelter. $2,400
Life Drawing Studio Group: A series of life-drawing classes for adults (with live model); and portfolio development workshops for people applying to art school. $1,500
Kenilworth Public Library: Presenting “The Bard on the Boulevard,” a series of free performances by Hudson Shakespeare Company; plus an art program for children presented as part of a reading program. $1,000
Linden Public Library: Presenting a multi-disciplinary series of family and child-oriented events. $1600
Community Educational & Cultural Association, Inc.: Crescent Concerts presents concerts of primarily classical music, including vocal and instrumental artists, both professional and amateur. $3,100
City of Plainfield Senior Citizens Center: The Center offers classes and activities for senior citizens including drama, photography and crafts. $2,300
duCret School of Art: General operating support for high-quality visual art classes for adults, teens and children, offered in studios within a historic building. $3,100
Ivy Visions Charitable Arm / Alpha Kappa Alpha: A free showcase for Black History Month, featuring dynamic African-American artists, such as singers, dancers, musicians and storytellers. $1,700
King’s Daughter’s Day School: Supporting the work of a music teacher to conduct music sessions for children attending summer-camp and daycare sessions. $1,600
Plainfield Symphony Society: Operating for nearly a century, the Plainfield Symphony presents four concerts and two family concerts for diverse audiences. $3,300
Rahway Valley Jerseyaires: General operating support for singers to learn, rehearse, and perform barbershop-style choral music for the public in varied settings. $1,800
Chinese American Music Ensemble: Enables adult and youth choruses to practice a variety of vocal music, with emphasis on Chinese-language songs, and to perform an annual concert in Westfield. $1,500
Jewish Community Center of Central NJ: An annual Jewish Film Festival of award-winning movies, shown at the Rialto Theatre in Westfield. $1,700
Friends of Springfield Library: A film series for the general public, including high-quality foreign films, classic films, and selections for children and teens. $1,100
Afternoon Music, Inc.: Classical and jazz chamber music concerts, featuring vocal and instrumental professionals; free admission for seniors and students. $1,500
Concord Singers: General operating support for a women’s community chorus – an ensemble of novices and experienced singers performing two concerts annually. $1,900
Connection for Women and Families: Free dance workshops for the public; and visual art activities during an after-school program held at Summit public schools. $2,500
Continuo Arts Foundation: Supporting the inter-generational singing group, Seniors Sing! $2,400
Summit Chorale: General operating support for the Summit Chorale’s annual season of four concerts. $2,800
Summit Public Library: A series of music concerts and theater performances for all ages, with special emphasis on senior citizens and families. $1,700
Summit Symphony Orchestra: The Young Artist Competition provides young musicians the opportunity to perform in concert with a full symphony. $1,900
Choral Art Society of New Jersey, Inc.: General operating support to enable vocational singers to study classical choral music and perform several concerts annually. $2600
Community Players of Westfield: General operating support for four theatre productions, presented by volunteers and amateurs at Community Players’ own playhouse. $3,300
New Jersey Workshop for the Arts: The Music Connection program provides free instrumental music lessons to families with a disabled child, including use of instruments. The program fosters creative partnership between parents and children. – $2,000
Oratorio Singers: General operating support for a volunteer chorus that performs an annual concert of significant choral literature, along with professional orchestra and professional soloists. $2,100
The August Symphony Orchestra: Presenting a free summer concert of classical music performed by a full orchestra composed of local musicians (including students) and professional soloists. $1,500
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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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