County of Union, New Jersey

Union County, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders reminds residents and business owners that free countywide scrap metal recycling drop-off locations are open twice a month beginning on April 4, at the service yard in Rahway River Park and at the Emergency Services Building in Cranford.  

A wide variety of metal goods, from household appliances to gutters and sheds, are included in the program.

“This countywide program helps to ensure that everyone in Union County has access to free scrap metal recycling,” said Freeholder Chair Bette Jane Kowalski. “As a community, we benefit across the board by recycling and conserving resources.”

The scrap metal recycling program is available for use by households, commercial establishments, nonprofit agencies and other organizations.

The two locations are available for drop-off on the first Thursday and third Saturday of each month, from April through November, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon.   

Scrap metal from any municipality within Union County may be brought to either of the two drop-off locations:

• Cranford: Emergency Services Building, 151 Kenilworth Boulevard.
• Rahway: County service yard in Rahway River Park, located near the Walter J. Ulrich swimming pool, off St. Georges Avenue.

Acceptable items for recycling include aluminum scrap, aluminum cans, aluminum siding, bicycles, brass, copper, dishwashers, electric fans, fencing (chain/wire), freezers, gutters, irons, lawn furniture, metal cabinets, metal sheds, microwaves, pots and pans, railings, refrigerators, stoves, tire rims, toasters, washers and dryers, window frames (no glass), and wire hangers.

In the event of extreme weather, individual recycling events may be cancelled.

For more information about Union County’s free scrap metal recycling program, including upcoming dates and directions to the drop-off locations, visit the Bureau of Recycling and Planning online at ucnj.org/recycling/scrap-metal or call the Union County Recycling Hotline at 908-654-9889.

Residents can also download the free Recycle Coach app for easy access to information about all Union County and municipal recycling events and programs.

For quick links to all Union County environmental programs 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.

Connect with Union County on social media.

Photo credit: Mark Buckawiki, flickr.

Union County, NJ – Nominations are still open for the annual Union County Environmental Hero awards. Each year, the Environmental Hero program recognizes local citizens, businesses and organizations that inspire, motivate, and act to help preserve and protect natural resources in Union County and beyond.

The Environmental Hero program is a partnership between the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders and the Trailside Museum Association, a non-profit organization that supports Union County’s Trailside Nature Museum and Science Center in the Watchung Reservation.

“Throughout Union County, people are taking the initiative to help secure a safe, healthy, and sustainable future for the next generation,” said Freeholder Chair Bette Jane Kowalski. “By celebrating their efforts, the Environmental Hero program helps to spread the word about effective actions that make a real difference in our community and in the health of our planet.”

Last year the Union County Environmental Heroes awards went to:

• Overlook Medical Center, its efforts and achievements in sustainability and green initiatives. Overlook has worked to reduce its surgical waste, implemented eco-friendly lighting and other energy conservation methods, and created recycling programs to donate medical supplies, hospital beds and office furniture to facilities in impoverished countries.
• Matthew Fichter, a 6^th grade science teacher at the Hillside Avenue School in Cranford, for leading the school’s Environmental Club.
• Linzy Rosen of Westfield, for starting Westfield High School’s Green Team.
• Jeff Hankinson of Summit, for his efforts on behalf of Union County’s Adopt-a-Trail Program and the Summit Environmental Commission.
• Todd Evans of Mountainside, for establishing the Beautiful Mountainside Committee to organize litter clean-ups, plant trees and promote recycling.
• Casey Cullen-Woods of Roselle Park, for multiple contributions throughout the area. As Sustainability Coordinator at The Willow School, she worked to attain Living Building She co-founded the Living Building Collaborative of New York and New Jersey and now works as a Sustainability Project Manager overseeing projects pursuing sustainability certifications.

Ms. Cullen-Woods has also raised thousands of dollars for environmental nonprofits by completing a 320 mile charity bike ride and lobbied for the Complete Streets alternative transportation program. 

Any Union County individual or group can be nominated for an Environmental Hero award.

All nominations must be submitted online at ucnj.org/trailside by Friday, April 12, 2019.

All awardees will receive certificates of recognition for their work and prizes courtesy of the Trailside Museum Association, and will be honored with a public event at Union County’s annual Wild Earth Fest.   

For more information about the Environmental Hero Award and all other Trailside programs, call 908-789-3670 or visit online at ucnj.org/trailside.

Trailside Nature & Science Center is located at 452 New Providence Road in Mountainside and is a service of the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders.

For quick links to all Union County environmental programs visit The Green Connection at ucnj.org/green-connection.

Photo credit (photo attached): Wildflowers at Watchung Reservation by County of Union, NJ.

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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.

Bonus: “Mercury Bounty”$5.00 gift card for residents turning in mercury thermostats

Union County, NJ – As Earth Month approaches, the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is offering a simple, easy way for residents to pitch in and help improve the environment. Residents can safely dispose of unwanted household chemicals and other special waste, by bringing these items to the free Household Hazardous Waste recycling event on Saturday, April 6, from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Union County Vo-Tech Schools campus, 1776 Raritan Road in Scotch Plains.

As a bonus, the company Covanta is partnering with the Freeholder Board to offer $5.00 Home Depot gift cards for residents turning in old mercury thermostats. The bonus applies to thermostats only, not thermometers.

“The Household Hazardous Waste event is provides a way for the residents of Union County to make a real difference, by bringing their unwanted household chemicals to the Vo-Tech campus for environmentally safe disposal,” said Freeholder Chair Bette Jane Kowalski. “Everyone can help protect their homes, their neighborhoods, and our planet, by disposing of harmful substances safely.”

The Household Hazardous Waste Collection event provides Union County residents with a free, environmentally safe way to dispose of outdated or unwanted household chemicals, mercury thermostats, propane tanks, and automobile tires among many other items such as oil-based paint and varnish, antifreeze, aerosol cans, pool chemicals, corrosives, pesticides, herbicides, solvents, thinners, fire extinguishers, motor oil and oil filters, gasoline, batteries, thermostats, fluorescent bulbs (unbroken), and mercury switches.

Residents only need to drive to the site with their items for disposal. Once at the site, residents stay in their vehicles while workers unload the items.

Only materials in original or labeled containers will be accepted. No containers larger than five gallons will be accepted. There is a limit of eight automobile tires, without rims, per household.

Please note that latex paint is not accepted. Residents wishing to dispose of latex paint are advised to use it up, donate it or share with a neighbor. If those options are not available, the paint can be dried in the can, and/or mixed with kitty litter or newspaper, then disposed with regular household garbage.

The household hazardous waste collection will be held rain or shine, for Union County residents only, not for businesses. Proof of Union County residency is required. For more information, please call the Recycling Hotline at 908-654-9889.

For a complete list of the materials that will be accepted on April 6th as well as all Union County recycling event dates and locations, please visit ucnj.org/recycle.

April 2019 marks the 49^th annual recognition of Earth Month. For more information about the 2019 global Earth Month theme visit earth-month.org.

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.

Connect with Union County on social media.

 

 

 

Union County, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is pleased to announce that there will be two dates and locations for information sessions for supply chain management and pharmacy technician training through the Union County Workforce Innovation Business Center.

“Through the Union County Workforce Innovation Business Center, our goal is to bridge the gap between employers and residents seeking employment,” said Freeholder Chair Bette Jane Kowalski. “The supply chain and pharmaceutical fields offer many opportunities for Union County residents.”

Union County residents can attend either or both of the two information sessions. The first session will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, March 21 at the American Job Center in Plainfield, at 200 West 2^nd Street.

The second session will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, March 22 at the American Job Center in Elizabeth, at 921 Elizabeth Avenue.

At the sessions, Union County residents will learn the fundamentals of the transportation, logistics and distribution industry sector, and learn how to prepare for jobs in the allied health field under the supervision of a licensed Pharmacist.

The information sessions will be hosted by the Union County Workforce Innovation Business Center, a program of the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders in partnership with Union County College.

Pre-registration for the two sessions is required online at http://tinyurl.com/infoucc

For additional information call the WIB Center office at Union County College, 908-965-2992 or visit the Workforce Development Board online at ucnj.org/wdb.

 

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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.

 

(Roselle, NJ) Mar 12, 2019 — Residents of Union County will soon be able to enjoy family-friendly programs and events at the KemperSports-managed Warinanco Sports Center, located within Warinanco Park. From holiday-driven activities to weekly recurring events for the local community, Warinanco Sports Center is excited to begin offering a robust events calendar for residents to enjoy.

Guests are invited to participate in a wide range of activities throughout the Spring and Summer seasons both inside the beautiful air-conditioned facility and outside on the newly-laid turf field. A multitude of programs for kids and adults will take place on the new, state-of-the-art Astroturf field, which will temporarily replace the historic ice rink during the warmer months. The Warinanco Sports Center staff are pleased to showcase this fantastic community resource to as many local residents as possible during the coming months.

The ‘Turf Grand Opening & Family Fun Day’  on April 13 will kick off the events calendar by offering family-friendly sports activities, arts and crafts, and door prizes. The following week on April 20, Warinanco Sports Center will offer an ‘Spring Extravaganza’ including an Community Egg hunt, cookie and card decorating and exciting games for the entire family! For those wishing to continue the fun during Spring Break, a sports & activities camp is offered for children age 4-12 and runs weekdays from 8am-4pm for 2 weeks beginning April 15. Summer Camp is also open for registrations which will begin June 24 and run for 10 weeks.

“Our team put a lot of thought about the types of events we want to offer, and one of the most important things was to be able to host events for all members of our community” says Leon Grebla, General Manager of the sports facility.

Additionally, the Park’s lake and boathouse will open the week of May 25^th and the first 20 groups attending will be given a free 30 minute boat ride! The boathouse has been renovated and stocked with modern, brightly colored boats that can seat up to four people, a new snack bar menu, and delicious icy treats to keep guests cool during the heat. The boathouse and snack bar will be open weekdays from 12-8pm and weekends or holidays from 11am-8pm.

“When the Freeholder Board decided to expand the former Warinanco Skating Center, we envisioned a venue that would attract people of all ages to Warinanco Park every season of the year. It is wonderful to see that vision become a reality, with a full slate of activities for all to enjoy this spring,” said Freeholder Chair Bette Jane Kowalski.

Throughout the remainder of the summer months, Warinanco Sports Center will host events such as two Food Truck Festivals (May 18 and Aug 24), Mothers’ Day and Fathers’ Day events including a Dads and Kids Soccer Tournament, Pet Parade, sports-centric challenges with prizes, and free camp taster days.  Most events do not have an entry fee, and food or beverages will be available for purchase from Warinanco Café.

Warinanco Sports Center is open daily to the public from 9am-8pm with the full-service Warinanco Café open daily starting at 11:30am. For a full list of upcoming events, please visit our Facebook page and website. Both platforms will contain event updates and additional events as they are added throughout the season.

For event booking inquiries please contact Rebecca Bird at rbird@kempersports.com. The Warinanco Sports Center is managed by KemperSports.

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About KemperSports
Northbrook, Ill.-based KemperSports builds, owns and manages golf courses, resorts, athletic clubs and lodging venues across the U.S., Caribbean and Central America. The company’s award-winning portfolio includes nationally-ranked courses and tournament venues such as Bandon Dunes Golf Resort, named the No. 1 Golf Resort in North America by Golf Digest and GOLF Magazine; The Glen Club; Desert Willow Golf Resort; and Chambers Bay, host of the 2010 U.S. Amateur and the 2015 U.S. Open. For more information about KemperSports, please visit https://www.kempersports.com.

Join the KemperSports social media conversation at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.

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Media contacts:

B.R. Koehnemann

KemperSports

847.480.4844

brkoehnemann@kempersports.com

UNION COUNTY, NJ—The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders tonight honored William Dunscombe, Head Coach of the Union County College Golf  Team  upon receiving the Augie Eosso Award this past October for his committed service and dedication in Region XIX.

Dunscombe is an Associate Professor of Biology and Head  Coach for the Union County College golf team. He was chosen for this distinguished honor due to the many achievements he has accomplished since he began working at Union County College in 1971.

Photo: (l. to r.),  Freeholder Chair Bette Jane Kowalski, UCC Coach William Dunscombe, and Freeholder Sergio Granados.

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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.