County of Union, New Jersey

Union County, NJ — As the seasonal holidays draw near, the hectic rush of shopping, traveling and preparing for visitors can put consumers at greater risk for scams, fraud and theft. The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders reminds residents that they can take a few simple steps to protect themselves.

“During the holiday season fraud increases by 20 percent,” said Freeholder Chairman Sergio Granados. “It is crucial that residents are informed of the different precautions that they can take to avoid becoming victims of fraud and theft.”

Union County residents should be aware that telephones are still a weapon of choice for scammers.

Phone scammers can take advantage of the holiday rush and catch residents off guard with a phone call. It is important to know that a legitimate government office, such as Social Security or the IRS, will never ask for personal information by phone.

Never give out Social Security numbers or other personal information over the telephone unless the caller’s identity can be verified.

Law enforcement and consumer professionals recommend that in-store shoppers prepare a list ahead of time, only carry the credit cards and ID that they need, and plan their excursions to avoid carrying too many bags at once.

When checking out of a store, shoppers should remain at the register long enough to get their receipt, put their change or credit card back in place, organize their shopping bags and ensure that their wallet or purse is secured on their person.

Shoppers are advised to never leave a purse or wallet in a shopping cart, or in an easily accessible pocket.

Thieves are known to scout parking lots, looking for vehicles with open trunks or visible packages. Shoppers should use caution when loading goods into their vehicle. Packages left in a parked car should be covered or kept in the trunk, and all doors should be checked to ensure they are locked.

Another area of risk has emerged with the growing popularity of online shopping. Theft of unattended packages from doorways and porches is becoming more common.

Online shoppers who are not home for long periods should make alternate plans for package delivery. For example, depending on the sender some packages can be directed for pickup at a local post office or delivery service.

Online scammers can also do a great amount of damage if shoppers are not careful. Home computer users should ensure that their security settings are up to date, and be on the lookout for any alerts or messages regarding possible compromises.

To help consumers avoid scams and frauds, the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs has developed an Anti-Fraud Toolkit.

To view the Toolkit online or to download the Toolkit in English or Spanish, visit fightingfraud.nj.gov.

Consumers in need of assistance in Union County can call the Union County Office of Consumer Affairs at 908-654-9840 or use the online fraud reporting form on the County website, 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 that the Union County Regional Dispatch Center will now handle fire and emergency medical service calls for the City of Rahway.

“The Union County Dispatch Center is a shared services success story. It enables county and local governments to come together and manage their resources more efficiently, for the greater good of the communities we serve,” said Freeholder Chairman Sergio Granados. “We are excited that the City of Rahway has joined the growing list of municipalities taking part in this County service.”

The Union County Regional Dispatch Center is a state-of-the-art emergency dispatch facility located in the County’s Ralph J. Froehlich Public Safety Building in Westfield. It opened in October 2012.

The $1.2 million facility replaced the County’s previous operation located at the same site, which only managed county public safety operations.

“We are very happy to be entering into this partnership with the County of Union.  This will provide for both improved delivery of critical services as well as cost savings for our residents.  In Rahway we always welcome these types of relationships that help protect our community and we thank the Freeholders for their support,” said Rahway Mayor Raymond Giacobbe.

In addition to providing emergency dispatch services for the Union County Police and other countywide first responders, the Dispatch Center serves a growing number of municipalities and other entities in the region including police, fire and 911 calls as well as EMS.

With the addition of Rahway, the Dispatch Center now serves 12 of Union County’s 21 municipalities and handles a total list of 24 first responder agencies.

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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 – With dozens of happy dogs—and their owners—on hand, the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders officially cut the ribbon and opened the Warinanco Dog Park in Roselle this past Saturday.

The new dog park is located behind the Warinanco Sports Center located at 1 Park Drive in Warinanco Park, Roselle. The opening was attended by local elected officials, county freeholders and dozens of county residents and their dogs.

“This new dog park in the eastern end of the County will complement the existing dog park in western Union County,” said Freeholder Chairman Sergio Granados, who attended with his dog, Bingo. “The Freeholder Board is proud to provide this more local option for dog lovers and owners. As a dog lover myself, I am personally excited to see the county continue to flourish and offer residents diverse resources to accommodate their dogs, which like them, are part of Union County.”

Freeholder Alexander Mirabella and other municipal dignitaries from Elizabeth and Roselle, and County directors were on also on hand. The ribbon-cutting was also attended by dozens of County residents and their dogs of all sizes, ranging from St. Bernards to Chihuahuas.

Hot chocolate, coffee and donuts were on hand for dog-lovers to combat the chill in in the air as the county’s furriest residents became acquainted with the newest dog park. Gift bags filled with treats and other goodies provided by Kong and Earth Rated were given to each canine attendee.

“When Freeholder Sergio Granados became Chairman, I asked to meet with him in January to discuss the option on building a dog park in my hometown,” said Ruby Contreras from the Elizabeth Public Information Office. “We then decided that Warinanco Park was the perfect location as it allows other dog owners from the surrounding towns to come together as well. As a dog mom, I am proud to say that I helped make this happen not only for dogs, but for dog parents everywhere.”

The Warinanco Dog Park is a newly constructed public facility. It features separate large and small dog areas. Each area is equipped with agility equipment, dog-waste stations, pet-friendly water fountains and seating for dog owners.  The Warinanco Dog Park will operate on the same schedule as all Union County parks, with access available year-round from dawn to dusk on a daily basis.

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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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