County of Union

The U. S. Small Business Administration announced today that due to a steady decrease of activity, the Recovery Centers located in Bergen, Essex, Hudson and Union counties will cease operations on Feb.  11.  The Centers located in Atlantic, Monmouth and Ocean counties will remain open until further notice.  However, in observance of Presidents’ Day, the Centers located in Atlantic and Ocean counties will be closed on Friday, Feb. 12 and Monday, Feb. 15; the Monmouth County Center will be closed on Feb. 15 for the holiday. 

SBA’s Customer Service Representatives are available at the Centers to answer questions from businesses and residents affected by Superstorm Sandy about the disaster loan program and help survivors complete their applications. 

The following Union County location and hours of operation are as indicated below: 

Union County
Union County Administration Building
2nd Floor, Department of Human Services Suite
10 Elizabethtown Plaza
Elizabeth, NJ 07207
Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday – Friday
Closing Thursday, Feb. 11

Anyone unable to visit a Center may apply online using the Electronic Loan Application (ELA) via SBA’s secure website at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela.

Businesses and individuals may also obtain disaster loan information and application forms by calling the SBA’s Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955 (800-877-8339 for the deaf and hard-of-hearing) or by sending an email to disastercustomerservice@sba.gov.  Loan applications can be downloaded from www.sba.gov/disaster.  Completed applications can be returned to a center or mailed to: U.S. Small Business Administration, Processing and Disbursement Center, 14925 Kingsport Road,
Fort Worth, TX 76155.

The filing deadline to return applications for physical property damage is Dec. 1, 2016.  The deadline to return economic injury applications is Dec. 1, 2016.

Union County, NJ – It’s never too early to start planning ahead for the gardening season, and you can get a head start on a successful harvest by attending the fourth annual, “Get Your Vegetable Garden Growing” workshop on Saturday, February 27, 9:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. at the Union County Vo-Tech Schools campus, 1776 Raritan Road in Scotch Plains.

All gardeners are welcome, with or without experience, including backyard gardeners and persons interested in starting a school or community garden.

A nominal fee of $25.00 includes lunch, materials, and a full day of workshops and seminars conducted by Rutgers agriculture experts.

More details and a brochure with a registration form are available at the Union County website, ucnj.org.

To register online, visit tinyurl.com/schoolgardenconference by February 17. Registrations are also accepted by mail. To request a brochure and registration form by mail, call the Extension office in Westfield at 908-654-9854.

The Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Union County is a program of the Rutgers New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station, supported in part by the Freeholder Board. For more information other Extension programs including 4-H, Master Gardeners and Master Tree Stewards, visit ucnj.org/rce.

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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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Photo credit: Ali Eminov via flickr.com, creative commons license.

 

Union County, NJ – On Tuesday, February 9, 2016 at 8:30 a.m. Union County Sheriff Joe Cryan presided over a ceremony at the Union County Courthouse in Elizabeth, promoting Sergeant Nakera Sherman from the rank of Sheriff’s Officer to Sheriff’s Officer Sergeant.

Sergeant Sherman is a 13 year veteran of the Sheriff’s Office.  She resides in Plainfield with her two daughters, Kayla and Jada, both of whom were present at their mother’s side for the ceremony.

Sheriff Cryan administered the oath and addressed the crowded courtroom afterwards.

“It is my honor and pleasure to promote Sergeant Sherman.  She is quite deserving of this promotion.  She has been a consistent performer and professional wherever she has been assigned for her entire career.  I have the utmost confidence in her going forward, and I congratulate her and her family on this milestone,” said Cryan.

Sergeant Sherman briefly addressed the crowd. “I want to thank Sheriff Cryan for his confidence in me,” she said, “And I want to thank my family and God for this opportunity and this challenge.”

Sergeant Sherman will be assigned to the Complex Security Division.

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For information about the programs and services of the Sheriff’s Office, visit online at ucnj.org/sheriff.

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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Photo caption (photo attached): Veteran Sheriff’s Officer Nakera Sherman is sworn in to her new rank of Sergeant by Union County Sheriff Joe Cryan with the help of her daughters Kayla (far l.) and Jada. Photo: Jim Lowney/County of Union.

 

Through the NYU Langone Medical Center, the Cohen Veterans Center is currently conducting a research study to determine how to better diagnose PTSD, TBI and depression in veterans and active service members.

They are looking for participants who:

• Served in Iraq or Afghanistan in Operation
• Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and/or Operation New Dawn
• Are veterans or active duty service members.

All information is confidential and will not be shared In addition to travel expenses, participants may receive up to $550 compensation for their time and effort

For more information or to participate in the study, please contact 877-698-3299.

 

 

Union County, NJ – Union County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi advises Union County residents that a valid U.S. passport is still the most reliable and secure form of identification for traveling by air.

“Getting a U.S. passport and keeping it up to date is the best way to ensure that your travel plans are worry-free, whether you are flying domestically in the U.S. or boarding an international flight,” said Ms. Rajoppi.

Ms. Rajoppi noted that currently, air travelers can still use their driver’s licenses to board domestic flights. However, New Jersey has not yet attained compliance with new national security standards for driver’s licenses.

The new standards were established under the 2005 federal “REAL ID” law. The law, which is being implemented by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, requires each state to update its driver’s license procedures to comply with tighter security measures at airports, federal buildings, and other sensitive facilities.

Most states now issue driver’s licenses that meet the new standards. New Jersey missed the compliance deadline of January 10^th, 2016 but the Department of Homeland Security provided a new, extended deadline of October 10^th, 2016.

“The good news is that for now you can still use your New Jersey driver’s license to board a domestic flight,” said Ms. Rajoppi. “However, we don’t know what will happen when the grace period ends on October 10^th, so if you are a U.S. citizen and don’t have a passport yet, I encourage you to contact my office and apply for one before the busy spring and summer travel seasons begin.”

Union County residents can process their U.S. passport applications and renewals through the County Clerk, at the main office in Elizabeth or the satellite office in Westfield. Passport photos are offered at both locations for a nominal fee. The Westfield office also features evening and weekend hours:

Elizabeth – Union County Courthouse
2 Broad Street, Elizabeth, NJ 07207
908-527-4787
Open Monday through Friday
Business  and Passport Office: 7:30 am – 4:30 pm 
Recording Office: 8:30 am – 4:30 pm 

Westfield – Union County Colleen Fraser Building
300 North Avenue East, Westfield, NJ 07090
908-654-9859
Open Monday, Wednesday, and Friday: 8:00 am – 4:00 pm
Open Tuesday and Thursday: 8:00 am – 7:30 pm
Open Saturday: 9:00 am – 1:00 pm

Both offices are easily accessible by mass transit.

For more details about the County Clerk’s passport services, including downloadable forms, visit online at ucnj.org/county-clerk.

Information about the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s implementation of REAL ID standards is available at dhs.gov. The agency has not yet enforced the new standards at airports, and the New Jersey Motor Vehicles Commission is still working on upgrading the standards for New Jersey driver’s licenses.

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The Raritan Valley Rail Coalition (RVRC) launched a video and petition regarding the ‘One Seat’ direct ride into NYC in an effort to get local legislators to encourage NJ TRANSIT to make it a priority to lay out a plan of action.

In March of 2014 NJ TRANSIT established direct service (no change in Newark) for midday trains on weekdays and in January of 2015 direct trains after 8 pm on weekdays.  However, there has been no more plans for expanding the direct service.

 “We’re only halfway toward our goal of full mid-town direct service,” said Peter Palmer, RVRC Chairman and Somerset County Freeholder.  “This is not just about convenience for commuters.  Direct service in all time slots would have a major impact in terms of economic development, improved property values and the productivity of our commuting workforce.”

The ultimate goal of the RVRC, which has championed the one-seat direct train service to NYC since 1998, is complete direct service from the Raritan Line into NYC.  Currently, riders on peak hour trains still have to transfer in Newark.

Members of the RVRC continue to meet regularly with NJ Transit officials to accomplish this goal. “We understand the complex nature of implementing these changes,” said Fanwood Mayor Colleen Mahr, who heads the RVRC Mayor’s Coalition. “However, our first responsibility is to the residents of every town on the RVL and making sure they are treated fairly in the transit system.”

To view the video and sign the petition or for more information and articles about the efforts to get one-seat service go to www.raritanvalleyrail.com or contact info@raritanvalleyrail.com

Union County Freeholders Linda Carter and Bette Jane Kowalski joined Union County College President Dr. Margaret M. McMenamin in welcoming the Linden High School Madrigals to the presentation of “Music in the Life of Langston Hughes” at Union County College in Cranford.

Sponsored by the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders and the Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs in the Department of Parks and Recreation, the performance celebrated the birth of James Mercer Langston Hughes on Feb. 1, 1902, in Joplin, Missouri. Host Terrance McKnight presented a live adaptation of his radio documentary, “I, Too, Sing America: Music in the Life of Langston Hughes,” which was produced for WQXR, New York Public Radio.

Langston Hughes (1902-1967) was a poet, novelist, playwright and social activist. He was one of the earliest innovators of the then-new literary art form known as jazz poetry. Hughes loved music. He wrote songs, opera librettos and gospel plays, and traveled with his record collection. A longtime resident of Harlem in New York City, Langston Hughes also lived in Westfield, New Jersey in the early 1930’s.

The Linden High School Madrigals performed during event.

(Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

Union County, NJ – Union County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi is pleased to announce that the latest in a series of special training sessions for Notaries Public will be held on Friday, March 18, from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at the John H. Stamler Police Academy, 1776 Raritan Road in Scotch Plains.

Attendance is by pre-registration only, with a nominal registration fee of $5.00. Attendance is limited to the first 50 persons to register by Friday, March 11.

“As impartial offices of the State of New Jersey, Notaries Public play a vital role in the affairs of our community,” said Ms. Rajoppi. “All are welcome to attend the training session, which will include all aspects of the functioning of Notaries Public, including the application process for new notaries.”

The new session is open to persons interested in becoming a Notary Public, as well as current Notaries who would like to refresh and update their skills.

The session will begin with opening remarks and a review of the application process by Ms. Rajoppi. Union County Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen, who is a partner at the law firm of Krevsky, Silber & Bergen, will present the legal aspects of the functions of Notaries Public.

Registration forms are available online at ucnj.org/county-clerk/new-jersey-notary-training. To register, send the form and a check of $5.00 payable to “Union County Clerk” to:

Office of the Union County Clerk

2 Broad Street, Room 115

Elizabeth, New Jersey 07207

For more information, or to obtain a registration form by mail, contact Donna Connell at the County Clerk’s office by Friday, March 11, at 908-527-4999 or dconnell@ucnj.org. Inquiries are also accepted by fax at 908-558-2589.

Details on all Union County Clerk programs and services are available online at ucnj.org/county-clerk.

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Union County Freeholder Vice Chairman Sergio Granados (far r.) watched the installation of a web camera at the peregrine falcon nest site atop the Union County Courthouse in Elizabeth this morning. The same falcon pair – one of only nesting 26 couples in New Jersey — has been raising chicks at the Courthouse since 2006, making their home in a round doghouse that provides stability in the windy environment. The in-nest “pinhole” camera will be online at the County website, ucnj.org, once the final adjustments are completed. An audio feed and a controllable outer camera will also be installed this summer, enabling bird fans and researchers to follow the action in and around the nest.  (Photos by Jim Lowney/County of Union)