County of Union, New Jersey

Union County, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is pleased to recognize Women’s History Month with a series of event highlighting both history and health issues impacting women and girls in Union County.

“This year marks the first time that five women have seats on the Freeholder Board, making it the first female-majority Freeholder Board in Union County history,” said Freeholder Chair Bette Jane Kowalski. “In recognition of this historical milestone, we are sponsoring additional Women’s History Month events that raise awareness about HIV/AIDS, an important health issues affecting the lives of women and girls today.”

Women’s History Month takes place throughout the month of March, including a day reserved for recognizing National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day on March 10.

The Freeholder Board has partnered with Iris House of Plainfield to offer three free Women’s HIV/AIDS Awareness events at the three Union County College campuses in Plainfield, Cranford and Elizabeth.

Each event includes a brief educational presentation followed by Q&A with expert staff from Iris House. Rapid, confidential HIV/AIDS testing will be offered separately at each campus. To ensure privacy, testing will take place in the Iris House mobile unit parked at each UCC campus during the educational presentation event times.

Iris House, named for early HIV Activist Iris De La Cruz, was the nation’s first HIV/AIDS agency to provide family focused services to women of color infected and affected by HIV. It offers comprehensive support, prevention and education services for women, families, and underserved populations affected by HIV/AIDS and other health disparities in a safe, family-centered environment by passionate, professional and culturally competent staff.

For more information about Iris House and its comprehensive services visit irishouse.org.

All three events are open to the public.

The educational presentations will begin at 2:00 p.m. on each day. Testing at the mobile units also be available on a walk-in basis for individuals ages 18 and older from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. each day.

Dates and locations:

Monday, March 18: Union County College Cranford Campus, in Room SD229 in the new Student Development Building. The main entrance to the campus is located at 1033 Springfield Avenue in Cranford.

Tuesday, March 19: Union County College Plainfield Campus, in Room LG119 in the Logos Building located at 232 East Second Street in Plainfield.

Thursday, March 21: Union County College, Elizabeth Campus, in Room K517 at the UCC Kellogg Building located at 40 West Jersey Street, Elizabeth.

The Iris House presentations are designed to cover basic facts about HIV and AIDS including:

• What is HIV
• What is the difference between HIV and AIDS
• How is HIV transmitted: fact vs. myth
• How to protect against HIV includes: condoms, abstinence, and other methods

Union County’s recognition of Women’s History Month also includes an exhibition of notable women in Union County history in the Freeholder’s Gallery, located on the 6^th Floor of the Union County Administration Building, at 10 Elizabeth Plaza in Elizabeth. The gallery is open to the public during regular weekday business hours.

Also scheduled for the month of March are:

Friday, March 29th, 2019:  Women of Excellence Awards presentation, sponsored by the Freeholder Board through the Office on Women and Union County Commission on the Status of Women, will take place at Gran Centurions, 440 Madison Hill Road, Clark, beginning at 6:00 p.m. For ticket information contact the Office on Women, Jennifer Erdos at 908-527-4216.

Saturday, March 30th, 2019:  The Office on Women presents the play “In Their Footsteps” at the Hamilton Stage, 360 Hamilton Street in Rahway at 1:30 p.m. The event includes a screening of the Union County Women Making History video, a Q-and-A session, and a reception.

For more information about these or additional Union County Women’s History month events, visit ucnj.org/women or contact the Office on Women at jerdos@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, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is pleased to announce the 2019 “Union County Kids Dig In” garden grant program for schools in Union County. The program is designed to help schools provide enriching educational experiences while encouraging students to give back to the Union County community through donations of fresh produce.

Schools with students in grades pre-K through 12 are eligible to apply for a Union County Kids Dig In grant. The grants are funded through the Union County Open Space, Recreation and Historic Preservation Trust Fund.

“Union County Kids Dig In gives young people a chance at hands-on learning and service,” said Freeholder Chair Bette Jane Kowalski. “They learn about organic gardening, soil health, water conservation, and pollinators. Kids Dig In helps kids see how their actions really do make a difference.”

UC Kids Dig In began in 2017 as an initiative of Freeholder Sergio Granados, Chairman of the Trust Fund. Over the past two years, the program has provided funding for 92 school gardens.

“When children are introduced to gardening in the schools, it helps them begin to think holistically about their food, their schools, their larger communities and the health of the planet,” said Freeholder Granados. “UC Kids Dig In teaches kids about growing their own healthy food options and empowers them to help those in need, by donating 30% of their harvest to benefit local food pantries and shelters.” 

Grant application forms have been sent to school superintendents in all Union County school districts. The deadline for submissions is Monday, April 1 at 5:00 p.m.

Principals and educators who are interested in having their school apply for a grant can contact Victoria Durbin-Drake, Administrator, Office of the Union County Open Space, Recreation and Historic Preservation Trust Fund at vdurbin@ucnj.org or 908-558-2277.

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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 is pleased to announce that the next History Paint Night Social event will be held on Tuesday, March 26, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the historic Shady Rest Clubhouse at Scotch Hills Country Club, 820 Jerusalem Road in Scotch Plains.

The program is funded in part by a grant from the New Jersey Historical Commission, a Division of Cultural Affairs in the Department of State.

Participants will be provided with painting materials, and artistic instruction on a historical scene from the Union County area. Individuals and groups are invited to attend. No experience is necessary.

“We introduced History Paint Night Social as way for beginners and practiced artists alike to enjoy learning about Union County history in a relaxed, creative setting,” said Freeholder Chair Kowalski. “The response was very enthusiastic and we are happy to bring it back this year.”

“The Shady Rest Clubhouse has unique historical significance for Union County and our nation. It provides an enriching venue for an event that blends art and history,” Freeholder Chair Kowalski added.

The Shady Rest Golf and Country Club opened in 1921 as the first African American owned Country Club in the U.S. It operated as a private club from 1921 to 1938 during which time many iconic American musical artists including Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Sarah Vaughn and Ella Fitzgerald performed there.

The Club also hosted such notables as W.E.B. Du Bois, Althea Gibson and Joe Louis. It recently underwent a restoration as a center for the arts, education, history and social development in Scotch Plains.

The instructor for History Paint Night Social will be Elizabeth-based artist Dario Solis.

Pre-registration is encouraged due to limited space. The fee of $10.00 includes all materials. Participants may bring wine and snacks for their enjoyment.

To register or receive more information about History Paint Night, contact the Union County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs at 908-436-2912, or email jprescott@ucnj.org.

For information on all Cultural and Heritage Affairs programs and events, visit online at 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.

Union County Freeholder Chair Bette Jane Kowalski and Freeholders Christopher Hudak and Andrea Staten present a resolution to Union County Vocational-Technical School District Interim Superintendent Gwendolyn S. Ryan, FFA Advisor and UCVTS Instructor Bonnie Baldasare and FFA student members Beatriz Cruz and David Tohon designating the week of February 16, 2019 through February 23, 2019 as FFA Week in Union County. The National FFA Organization is an American 501 youth organization, specifically a career and technical student organization, based on middle and high school classes that promote and support agricultural education. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

Union County Freeholder Chair Bette Jane Kowalski and Freeholders Christopher Hudak and Andrea Staten present a resolution to Union County Vocational-Technical School District Interim Superintendent Gwendolyn S. Ryan and UCVTS students and faculty designating February 2019 as National Career and Technical Education Month in Union County.

The 21st-century career and technical education programs at the Union County Vocational-Technical Schools link rigorous academics, technical knowledge and real-world experiences to help students develop workplace skills to better prepare them for college and challenging careers.

For more information about Union County Vocational-Technical Schools, visit www.ucvts.tec.nj.us.

Union County Freeholder Chair Bette Jane Kowalski, Vice Chairman Alexander Mirabella and Freeholder Rebecca Williams present resolutions to the 2019 Union County St. Patrick’s Day Parade Grand Marshal Sister Percylee Hart, RSM, General Chairwoman Jessica Cunningham and Parade Adjutant Kerry Ricci congratulating them on the 23^rd annual parade. The 2019 Union County St. Patrick’s Day Parade steps off at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 16 on Morris Avenue in Union.

For more information please visit www.unioncountystpatricksdayparade.com.