County of Union, New Jersey

Union County’s Free Mobile Document-Shredding Program Will Visit Scotch Plains and Kenilworth in October

Union County, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is pleased to announce two free mobile paper-shredding events for confidential, personal documents in October.

“Our free document-shredding service provides Union County residents with a convenient way to ensure that sensitive papers are securely disposed, while also contributing to our countywide recycling efforts,” said Freeholder Chairman Sergio Granados.

The first shredding event of the month takes place on Saturday, October 6 at the Union County Vocational-Technical Schools campus, located at 1776 Raritan Road in Scotch Plains.

The second shredding event will place on Thursday, October 18 at Union County’s Galloping Hill Golf Course, located at 3 Golf Drive in Kenilworth.

Both events will run from 9:00 a.m. to approximately 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 use 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 documents be brought to the event in paper bags. All bindings and paper clips must be removed. Paper that is wet or damp will not be accepted.

Documents are put into 96-gallon containers provided by the shredding company. The items are then placed onto a conveyer 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.

Residents should continue to recycle non-confidential papers and magazines with their municipal recycling program.

For a list of all municipal recycling coordinators in Union County, and for more details about Union County’s free countywide recycling programs, call the Union County Recycling Hotline at 908-654-9889 or visit ucnj.org/recycling.

Union County residents can also sign up for Recycle Coach, a free app that makes it easy to stay up to date with countywide recycling information and municipal recycling schedules. For more information, visit ucnj.org/recycling/recycle-coach-app.

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

The mobile shredding program is funded through New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Recycling Enhancement Act Grand Funds.

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 Announces Grant Program Promoting STEM-Based Education for County Students

The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is proud to announce the offering of a new grant program aimed at promoting STEM-based education for county students. The STEM Scholars Grant, which was developed by Freeholder Christopher Hudak, is part of Chairman Sergio Granados’ “Moving Union County Forward-Plant A Seed” initiative.

“The Board of Chosen Freeholders is proud to offer county schools the opportunity to apply for STEM Scholars Grant for the first time,” said Freeholder Chairman Sergio Granados. “This program aims to foster understanding, deepen students’ knowledge, and provide educational opportunities to expand awareness of STEM programming at all levels.”

Funding for the STEM Scholars Grant is intended to assist in developing in-class and extra-curricular programs that improve student learning in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Only applications submitted by educators within Union County schools at the Pre-K through 12^th grade levels will be considered. The STEM Scholarship Grant requires no match.

“We encourage participation from all school districts in the county,” said Freeholder Christopher Hudak. “The STEM Scholars Grant was created to promote more grassroots approaches to learning in our county schools.”

The inspiration for the grant program comes from the Freeholder Hudak’s mother, Susan L. Hudak. Ms. Hudak was a dedicated member of the educational community of Union County. For 19 years she was a member of the Linden Board of Education. She also volunteered regularly and was president of several PTA associations.

Ms. Hudak’s dedicated work involved the establishment of a Monthly Friday Family Science Night. This program ran for 25 years at School No. 6 in Linden and exposed students and their families to STEM topics through a series of visiting guest speakers in STEM-related fields and hands-on experiments.

The Freeholder Board requests that grant applications focus on STEM education in the following areas of concentration:

Project Based Learning: Creative, STEM-integrated, educational programming;
Afterschool STEM: Projects and programming that focus on extra-curricular learning, including science fairs, STEM clubs, monthly labs and workshop;
Out-of-School STEM: Creative STEM experiences out of the classroom, to better prepare students for STEM work in the classroom, and in the workforce.

Application deadline is October 15, 2018. For more information or to obtain an application, please contact Victoria Durbin Drake, Open Space Trust Fund Administrator, via email at vdurbin@ucnj.org or call 908-558-2277.

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Union County Offers “Memory Switch” Workshop for Business Owners and Managers

Union County, NJ – Honing business skills, improving confidence and reducing stress are all on tap at Union County’s second annual Lunch & Learn event for local business owners and managers, featuring the popular Memory Switch workshop created by Matthew Goerke.

The Memory Switch program enhances cognitive skills that are fundamental to a successful business, including the ability to recall names, faces, and key information. The program also aims to boost confidence and improve sales skills as well as managerial and networking skills, while helping to reduce stress.

“With events like Lunch & Learn, we aim to open up new opportunities for our local entrepreneurs to access the resources they need to compete in today’s economy,” said Freeholder Chairman Sergio Granados. “Mr. Goerke has a unique approach that leads to personal enrichment as well as success in business, and it is a real pleasure to welcome him to our Lunch & Learn series.”

The Lunch & Learn Memory Switch workshop take place at 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, October 17 at Hamilton Stage, 360 Hamilton Street in Rahway.

Pre-registration is required. The registration fee of $10.00 includes admission to the workshop and a free boxed lunch.

To register online, visit ucnj.org/union-county-means-business/#memoryreg.

Lunch & Learn is sponsored through the Freeholder Board’s Union County Means Business initiative in support of local businesses.

For more information about Lunch & Learn, and more information about Union County Means Business, visit ucnj.org/ucmb or contact Deana Mesaros at 908-659-7412 or dmesaros@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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Free Union County Recycling Events in October

Union County, NJ – As the fall cleanup season begins, the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is offering several free recycling events throughout October. These events are open to all Union County residents.

“The fall months are a good time to clear unwanted items from basements, attics, yards and garages, and our free events in October offer residents a convenient way to recycle any scrap metal they come across at home,” said Freeholder Chairman Sergio Granados. “Residents can also securely shred their personal papers, and dispose of household chemicals and other potentially harmful materials in an environmentally responsible manner, at our October events.”

Union County’s scrap metal recycling program is held on the first Thursday and third Saturday of each month. The next upcoming dates are Thursday, October 4 and Saturday, October 20.

Residents can use either of two drop-off locations for scrap metal: the Emergency Services Building at 151 Kenilworth Boulevard in Cranford and Rahway River Park off St. Georges Avenue in Rahway. Both locations are open for scrap metal drop-off from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on October 4 and October 20.

Metal appliances, bicycles, air conditioners, and metal lawn furniture are among the many kinds of scrap metal items that are accepted.

Union County will also host two mobile document-shredding events in October. The first will be held on Saturday, October 6 at the Union County Vocational-Technical Schools campus, located at 1776 Raritan Road in Scotch Plains.

A second event paper shredding event will be offered on Thursday, October 18 at Galloping Hill Golf Course, located at 3 Golf Drive in Kenilworth.

Both events will run from 9:00 a.m. to approximately 1:00 p.m., rain or shine. The events will end early if the shredding trucks reach capacity.

Residents can bring up to four bags of confidential documents for shredding weighing less than 10 pounds each.

The final Household Hazardous Waste recycling program of 2018 will take place on Saturday, October 27 at Nokia, located at 600 Mountain Avenue in New Providence. The event will run from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Accepted items at the Household Hazardous Waste event include old pesticides and herbicides, pool chemicals, gasoline, oil-based paints, propane tanks, deck stain, automobile tires and more.

As part of Union County’s recycling programs, these events support the goals of Freeholder Chairman Sergio Granados’s Moving Union County Forward “Plant a Seed” initiative for building countywide participation in recycling, and engaging the public in conservation and environmental education.

The Freeholder Board is also encouraging residents to sign up for “Recycle Coach,” a free app that makes it easier to stay up to date about countywide recycling information and municipal recycling schedules. More information can be found at ucnj.org/recycling/recycle-coach-app.

For more details on all Union County recycling events and programs, visit ucnj.org/recycling or call the Union County Recycling Hotline at 908-654-9889.

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

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.

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Union County Honors Jefferson Award Recipients

Union County Freeholder Chairman Sergio Granados and Freeholder Angel G. Estrada present resolutions to recipients of the Jefferson Award by the Jefferson Awards Foundation congratulating them on receiving the honor.

The Jefferson Awards Foundation is a nonprofit organization that recognizes, inspires and activates volunteerism and public service in communities, work places, and schools across America. The institute was founded in 1972 by Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, U.S. Senator Robert Taft Jr., and Sam Beard; and

The Jefferson Awards are a prestigious national recognition system honoring community and public volunteerism in America. Among the many past recipients are Oprah Winfrey, Bill and Melinda Gates, Lance Armstrong and Steve Jobs. The Jefferson Awards Foundation is a nonprofit organization that recognizes, inspires and activates volunteerism and public service in communities, work places, and schools across America. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

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UNION COUNTY ANNOUNCES AGREEMENT TO HOUSE JUVENILE DETAINEES IN ESSEX COUNTY SAVING $24.6 MILLION OVER NEXT THREE YEARS

Five year agreement ensures continued care of Union County Juvenile detainees with Essex County; Union County Detention Center to close on February 28^th, 2019

UNION COUNTY, NJ—In a cost-savings measure that will save millions, while ensuring the continued care of its youth offenders, the County of Union today announced it has finalized a five-year agreement with Essex County to provide juvenile detention services. The agreement has an option for renewal.

County officials decided to seek a shared services agreement as the number of County juvenile detainees at the facility have continued to show a long-term dramatic decline. The average daily population of County juveniles has declined from a high of more than 43 residents in January, 2012 to an average of just about ten this past year—a decline of more than 77 percent.

“While it is no longer feasible to continue to maintain a facility due to the declining numbers, we sought a solution that is aimed at preserving the rights, safety and dignity of incarcerated youth while minimizing the impact on any affected employees,” said Union County Manager Edward T. Oatman. “We believe this is the best possible course, and one that will realize substantial savings for the County.”

The Union County Juvenile Detention Facility in Linden will close effective Feb. 28th, 2019, and Union County detainees will be transferred to the Essex County Juvenile Detention facility in Newark.

“We have been carefully reviewing the possibility of the juvenile detention center closure for months, and this decision has not been made lightly,” said Freeholder Chairman Sergio Granados. “This is a financially responsible agreement that provides benefits to our County’s taxpayers, realizes efficiencies and provides proper facilities for our juveniles with comparable services. This closure will bring a 24.6 million dollar savings to the County of Union within the first three years alone.”

Chairman Granados added the County had considered other facilities during the process: “The Essex County facility is nationally accredited, offers an all-day school, recreation programs including a swimming pool, and we will provide transportation for the youth and their families.”

In all, 82 County employees are impacted by the measure including: 56 juvenile detention officers, 12 senior juvenile detention officers, seven supervisors, and seven civilian employees.

The civilian employees may be eligible to be rehired by Union County. Additionally, Essex County has agreed to interview qualified Union County Juvenile Center employees in good standing, including Juvenile Detention Officers and Supervisors for any openings that may occur in their facility. To the extent possible, the Essex County Juvenile Detention facility will hire these employees to fill any vacancies they have available.

Additional resources will be provided to remaining laid-off workers. The County’s Workforce Development Board will be made available and separated workers can take advantage of job training, resume assistance, and other employment programs. Finally, the County of Union will contact other counties throughout New Jersey to attempt to place separated workers.

Overall, officials attribute the decline in detainees at the Union County facility in large part to the effectiveness of the state’s Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative. This is a comprehensive approach that provides mechanisms to detain fewer youth and relies on proven, family-focused interventions, education, mental health treatment and opportunities for positive youth development.

In order to provide convenience to affected families of the detainees, the County of Union is planning to offer transportation to the Essex County facility. It should be noted that the Essex County facility is in close proximity, only an additional five (5.8) miles from the Union County Courthouse.

While no immediate determination has been made for the re-use of the Union County Detention Center once it is closed, the County will explore the most effective and efficient repurposing of the facility, added County Manager Oatman.

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Union County Recognizes Caring Contact during Suicide Prevention Month

Union County Freeholder Chairman Sergio Granados and Freeholder Alexander Mirabella present a resolution to Caring Contact Director of Community Engagement Marie Clair Givelber recognizing Caring Contact during Suicide Prevention Week from September 9th through September 15^th. September is National Suicide Prevention Month. Caring Contact is an award winning, volunteer-staffed caring and crisis hotline and listening community. They provide active listening support and education to the Central and Northern New Jersey community. For more information about Suicide Prevention and Caring Contact, call 908-232-2880 or visit www.caringcontact.org. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

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Union County Honors USMCR Col. Zoganas Upon His Retirement

Union County Freeholders Alexander Mirabella and Rebecca Williams present a resolution to Colonel Konstantine E. Zoganas of Scotch Plains congratulating him on his well-deserved retirement from U.S. Marine Corps Reserves. They are joined by the Colonel’s son Niko. The Freeholder Board extends its gratitude and appreciation for his many years of dedicated service to our country. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

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2018 Linden Junior Miss Polonia

Union County Freeholders Alexander Mirabella and Freeholder Christopher Hudak present resolutions to Hailey Birch for being crowned 2018 Linden Junior Miss Polonia, and the General Pulaski Memorial Parade Committee of St. Theresa’s Church of Linden President Sue Lukenda and Grand Marshal Joseph Birch, congratulating them on participating in the 81stAnnual Pulaski Day Parade. The St. Theresa contingent will be marching down 5th Ave in N.Y.C. from 29th St. to 53rd St. on Sunday October 7th, 2018. Earlier in the evening, the entire Freeholder Board joined the parade committee in raising the Polish flag outside the Union County Courthouse in Elizabeth. (Photos by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

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Union County Teacher of the Year

Union County Freeholder Vice Chairman Bette Jane Kowalski and Freeholders Christopher Hudak and Mohamed Jalloh present a resolution to Linden High School Teacher Barbara Brady congratulating her upon being selected as Union County Teacher of the Year. The dance and physical education teacher has been teaching in Linden for 20 years. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union) — with Mohamed Jalloh,Bette Jane Kowalski and Freeholder Chris Hudak.