County of Union, New Jersey

ELIZABETH, NJ–Family Fun & Flix, a free summer entertainment and film series presented by the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders and Union County Department of Parks and Recreation, continues on Tuesday, July 24 with the presentation of “Peter Rabbit” at Warinanco Park, on the border of Elizabeth and Roselle. 

As part of the evening’s events, UC Get Fit, a health initiative of the Union County Freeholder Board, will offer fitness fun for kids before the movie, beginning at 7:30 p.m.  Yoga with Gisela Teixeira-Santos will conduct the pre-movie activities.

Peter Rabbit is a live-action/computer-animated comedy film based on the stories of Peter Rabbit crated by Beatrix Potter. Released in February of this year, Peter Rabbit has grossed $350 million worldwide and received mixed reviews from the critics. 

“Family Fun & Flix gives families the opportunity to visit our parks, enjoy a free movie and also participate in activities that promote healthy habits for our children,” said Union County Freeholder Chairman Sergio Granados.

All movies will begin at dusk, with everyone encouraged to bring a blanket or beach chair to claim your spot on the lawn. Bleacher seating will also be available. Refreshments can be purchased from the Good Humor Truck, hosted by TG and Sons.

Following is a list of movies throughout the summer at Warinanco Park:

• Tuesday, July 24, Peter Rabbit
• Tuesday, July 31, Coco
• Tuesday, August 7, Cars 3 (Part of the National Night Out program at Meisel Park in Springfield)
• Tuesday, August 14, Wonder

All movies start at dusk, weather permitting. For more information, call the Union County Department of Parks and Recreation at 908-527-4900 or visit the Union County website; www.ucnj.org. In case of weather related matters, you can call 908-558-4079 after 3:30 p.m. on the day of the show.

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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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MOUNTAINSIDE, NJ–The Union County Summer Arts Festival concert series continues on Wednesday, July 25, with the Vinny’s & Katfish Lucy taking the stage at Echo Lake Park in Mountainside.

The free concert series is presented by the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders and the Department of Parks and Recreation. The Summer Arts Festival concert series is held at Echo Lake Park during the month of July and moves to Oak Ridge Park in Clark during the month of August.

“As the summer continues we look forward to seeing everyone at Echo Lake Park enjoying another season of great music,” said Union County Freeholder Chairman Sergio Granados. “And please arrive early and participate in UC Get Fit Yoga in the Park, a great way for families to stay healthy together.”

The Vinny’s are a classic rock cover band from right here in Union County. They put their own spin on the classics in a very loud, rock and roll fashion, with influences ranging from the Beatles and Bowie to Eric Clapton and Tom Petty. Katfish Lucy features the Jersey Shore Rock, Reggae, Blues and Funk with five musicians who have been playing the both locally and nationally for many years.

While enjoying the wonderful music, refreshments may be purchased from Benito’s Jersey Curbside Eats or Danny’s Soft Serve Ice Cream.  Attendees can also pack a picnic basket, bring lawn chairs or blankets and enjoy the music under the stars.

Once again UC Get Fit Yoga in the Park, a Union County Freeholder initiative will be part of the Wednesday night pre-concert schedule, with House Yoga of Kenilworth presenting a free community class from 6:30 p.m. to 7:15 p.m.  Bring a mat or beach towel and participate in healthy activities for the entire family before the music begins.

Here is a list of the upcoming concerts (all shows begin at 7:30 p.m.):

Echo Lake Park, Mountainside

• July 25 The Vinny’s & Katfish Lucy

Oak Ridge Park, Clark

• August 1  Jobonanno & the Godsons
• August 8 American Rapture
• August 15 Brother John Brown Band
• August 22 Dead on Live

Please visit www.ucnj.org/summer for more summertime fun activities.

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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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The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is pleased to announce the return of Shakespeare in the Park this weekend. The performance will be presented on Sunday, July 22 at 12:30 p.m. at Cedar Brook Park in Plainfield.

The Shrew Mechanicals Troupe from The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey will present an hour long performance of “Shakespeare Gumbo,” a stirring collection of moments and music from Shakespeare’s great canon of plays, as well as selections from some of the profound, witty, and light-hearted works his plays have inspired over the centuries.

“We are thrilled to have the Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey back in our parks this summer to offer their amazing performance to our Union County residents,” said Union County Freeholder Chairman Sergio Granados.

The performance is free and has something for every audience.

For more information on Shakespeare in the Park and other programs of the Union County Department of Parks and Recreation, visit online at ucnj.org, email parksinfo@ucnj.org or call 908-527-4900.

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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 – Union County residents who are seeking a meaningful, high-impact way to volunteer in their community can sign up as a mentor with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Essex, Hudson and Union Counties.

The organization is currently seeking volunteer mentors for its best-known program, Community Based Mentoring. The program involves individual mentoring with a local child or teen, age 6 to 18, with a commitment of just four hours per month for one year. Any resident age 20 or older can apply to become a mentor.

“I have always believed in giving back, and inspiring our youth to attain their goals with the support of those around them.” said Union County Freeholder Chairman Sergio Granados. “Only by working together can we move forward as a community, and now is the time to make a real difference.”

“Our mentors commit to just a few hours monthly, but the impact on a child’s life can ripple out for many years to come,” added Chairman Granados.

The Freeholder Board recently entered into a partnership with Big Brothers Big Sisters to build the Community Based Mentoring program in Union County.

As part of the partnership, Union County recently launched the Bigs in Blue program, aimed at enlisting mentors from the law enforcement field.

“Law enforcement officers, EMT’s, firefighters and other first responders are always on duty. They inspire our youth by living out the values of community involvement and civic responsibility every day,” said Chairman Granados.

Big Brothers Big Sisters is one of the oldest and largest youth mentoring organizations in the U.S., and it is especially active in the Union County area. Its mission is to provide children facing adversity with strong relationships and positive adult role models.  

Volunteer mentors in the Community Based Mentoring program have the flexibility to schedule their own time. No previous experience is necessary. All mentors receive training and professional support from Big Brothers Big Sisters.

The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders supports Big Brothers Big Sisters through the Office of Community Engagement and Diversity. The office was established as part of Chairman Granados’s 2018 Moving Union County Forward initiatives for community service and personal empowerment.

“Big Brothers Big Sisters has helped generations of children and teens navigate life’s challenges and grow into confident, capable adults,” said Freeholder Chairman Sergio Granados. “We are looking forward to building the program in Union County and strengthening our community.”

For more information about the Community Based Mentoring program, or to apply to become a mentor in Union County, contact office coordinator Nathalie Hernandez, 908-527-4880 or nahernandez@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 a series of programs and events throughout the summer and fall for residents with special needs and their families, coordinated through the new Office for People with Special Needs in collaboration with community partners.

“Union County is committed to providing every resident with more opportunities to enjoy activities with friends, neighbors and families,” said Freeholder Chairman Sergio Granados. “Our new Office for People with Special Needs builds on our existing programs with new activities and events that include more residents in these enriching social experiences, and help us forge more bonds with community partners.”

The Office for People with Special Needs is part of the Division of Outreach and Advocacy in the Union County Department of Human Services. Pre-registration for special needs programs is required. To access the online registration system, visit ucnj.org/opsn-reg and look for the section titled “Recreation Programs for People with Special Needs.”

The upcoming social calendar begins on Saturday, August 4 with the first Sensory Friendly movie sponsored by the Freeholder Board, a screening of the newly released movie Hotel Transylvania 3 at AMC Jersey Gardens 20, located at The Mills at Jersey Gardens, 651 Kapkowski Road in Elizabeth. Tickets are available only through ucnj.org/opsn-reg at a cost of $5 each, and a food voucher comes with each ticket. The movie begins at 10:30 a.m. and concludes at 1:00 p.m.

The Carnival for People with Special Needs takes place on Saturday, August 18 at the Warinanco Sports Center at Warinanco Park in Roselle, from 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. This is a free event designed to be a fun family outing for all, including games, music, a magician, a balloon artist and food.

Union County is also partnering with the New York Red Bulls to support the Special Olympics on Fireworks Night, August 26 at 7:00 p.m., when the team takes on D.C. United. A limited number of tickets are available for $25 each only through the online registration system at ucnj.org/opsn-reg. Each ticket comes with a $10 food voucher. Fireworks will follow the game.

The annual Barn Dance for Special Needs Individuals is scheduled for November 10 at Masker’s Barn, beginning at 3:00 p.m. The event features a live band, square dance caller, hay rides and more. Masker’s Barn is part of the Deserted Village of Feltville, located in Union County’s Watchung Reservation.

Weekly classes and programs offered through the Office for People with Special Needs include karate at the Clark Recreation Center, every Thursday evening from August 23 to September 20. Classes for two age groups are available, from 7:00 p.m. to 7:45 p.m. for participants age 7 to 15, and from 8:00 p.m. to 8:45 p.m. for participants aged 16 and older. A one-time fee of $12.00 will be charged for all five classes.

Yoga classes for special needs teens and young adults will begin this fall at the Trailside Nature and Science Center in Mountainside. The program will run every Monday from September 10 to October 8, from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. A one-time fee of $8 applies upon registration.

Two ceramics classes for participants age 13 and up will be held in collaboration with the Linden Department of Recreation at 330 Helen Street in Linden, on September 18 and 25, from 7:00 p.m. to 8:15 p.m. Participants aged 13 and older are eligible to participate. A one-time fee of $8 applies.

For the first time, Union County is also offering a Sensory Friendly summer camp for people with special needs. The camp will consist of a weeklong program of outdoor and indoor activities based at the Trailside Nature and Science Center, in the Watchung Reservation in Mountainside.

Registration for the camp is limited. For information on the registration process, contact the Office for People with Special Needs at 908-527-4781.

The Office for People with Special Needs is the first such office in New Jersey. It was established as part of Chairman Granados’s 2018 Moving Union County Forward initiatives for individual empowerment, education, diversity and inclusion.

To register and to get more details on any program offered through the Office For Special Needs visit online at ucnj.org  or contact the Office Coordinator, Manuel Ramirez at mramirez@ucnj.org or call 908-527-4781. 

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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 caption: Union County Freeholder Chairman Sergio Granados (far left) joined the festivities at the annual Carnival for People with Special Needs last summer.

Union County, NJ – Union County residents who are looking for employment can get employment help and support through the Family Success Centers, all summer long. Located in Rahway and Elizabeth, the Family Success Centers are funded by the Freeholder Board and operated in partnership with the United Way of Greater Union County.

“The summer months can be tough on job seekers, but there are many opportunities, too,” said Freeholder Chairman Sergio Granados, who visited a job application help session at the James Kellogg Multicultural Family Success Center in Elizabeth earlier this week. “The Freeholder Board is proud to support the Family Success Centers, which help residents with resources that build individual empowerment and self-determination.”

“Through the Family Success Centers, we approach employment in a holistic way that strengthens and supports children and parents together,” said United Way of Greater Union County President and CEO James W. Horne, Jr. “The Family Success Centers are a ‘home away from home’ where parents and children can grow their skills in a welcoming, supportive environment that honors inclusion, diversity and compassion.”

The Family Success Centers are used mainly by residents of Rahway and Elizabeth, though any Union County resident is welcome to call or visit for assistance.

The Freeholder Board also offers employment services to all Union County residents, including teens and young adults, through the American Job Centers in Plainfield and Elizabeth, and by partnering with companies for hiring events through the Workforce Innovation Business Center at Union County College.

The Kellogg Multicultural Family Success Center is located at 1122 East Grand Street in Elizabeth. It is managed by the non-profit organization PROCEED, Inc.

Among the Kellogg Center’s programs is a series of one-on-one sessions for residents who need help filling out job applications. The next two sessions will be on Monday, July 23 and Monday, July 30 from 1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.

The Kellogg Center will also host a job fair with the major food and facilities management company Sodexo on Friday, July 20 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

For more information visit PROCEED online or call 908-351-7727 (extension 236).

The Rahway Family Success Center, located at 796 East Hazelwood Avenue in Rahway, also offers a series of job application help sessions. The next help session will be held on Monday July 30, from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

There will also be a job fair with Amazon on Wednesday July 25 at the Rahway Center, beginning at 9:30 am. 

For more information on the job fair and all other programs at the Rahway Center call 732-382-9311, email info@rcao.com.or visit online at rahwaycao.org.

The next WIB Center hiring event will partner Union County with Victoria’s Secret on Thursday August 2. The company is offering 30 full and part-time positions for sales associate, for its location at The Mills at Jersey Gardens. The hiring event will take place at UCC’s Kellogg Building in Elizabeth.

For information on the Victoria’s Secret hiring event, visit ucnj.org/jobs online or call the WIB Center at 908-965-2992.

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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 two national achievement recognitions for history projects have been presented to the Union County Office of Cultural & Heritage Affairs, a division of the Department of Parks and Recreation.

“Union County is rich in history, and this Freeholder Board is committed to engaging the public with programs and activities that provide new insights into the people, places and events that have shaped our community,” said Freeholder Chairman Sergio Granados, who has been a member of the Parks Advisory Board for several years. “I would like to thank our Parks and Recreation staff for developing these new award-winning programs, which are enjoyed by residents and visitors alike.”

The awards were announced by the National Association of Counties (NACo) in the category of Arts, Culture and Historic Preservation for new interpretive signage at the Deserted Village of Feltville, and in the Civic Education and Public Information category for a group of projects including history trading cards, the County’s inclusion in the Crossroads of the American Revolution National Heritage Area, and its sponsorship of the National Parks passport program, which has brought visitors from out of state to visit local historic sites.

“I am always inspired and impressed by the dedication of our employees to make a national mark, and have our collective work supported by our Freeholder Board recognized.  Our county delegation was truly in good company and we benefited from the NACo experience,” said Freeholder Angela Garretson.

“Union County’s place in the Revolutionary War is well known, and these new programs help inform the public about the many other sites and personalities who have made an impact on our history and, in some cases, on the world,” said Freeholder Rebecca Williams. “I know that historic preservation is very important to my hometown of Plainfield, and we want all Union County residents to have the enriching experience of history right in their own backyards.”

The national recognition is especially significant because New Jersey has not been represented in the NACo awards program in the Arts, Culture & Historic Preservation category since 2007. In addition, 2010 was the last year that a New Jersey county won the  

The awards were announced in May and were officially presented to Union County Freeholders Angela Garretson and Rebecca Williams in an awards ceremony earlier this week in Nashville, Tennessee.

These award-winning history projects support the goals of Chairman Granados’s Moving Union County Forward “Plant a Seed” goals for empowering adults and children through education.

Nationally, NACo provides awards in 18 different categories that reflect the comprehensive array of services provided by county government.

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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 caption: Union County Freeholders Rebecca Williams (left) and Angela Garretson (right) accept two National Association of Counties achievement awards with Union County Director of Parks and Recreation Ron Zuber (far right) and Gabriel Gluck (far right).

 

Union County, NJ – In the movement to reform national policies on incarceration, Union County is providing a valuable model for success. The local Reconnections prisoner re-entry program, funded in part by the Freeholder Board, has helped hundreds of formerly incarcerated individuals adjust back to life in the community.

Reconnections provides guidance and resources to help clients navigate housing, job placement, education, health care and other foundational needs.

The program is administered by the Urban League of Union County with support from the Freeholder Board and the United Way of Greater Union County.

“It is often said that individuals who have paid their debt to society deserve a second chance, but these are empty words unless we also provide guidance and access to opportunities for them to establish a solid footing as engaged, productive citizens,” said Freeholder Chairman Sergio Granados. “Reconnections is a thriving, effective program that offers those who have been incarcerated the resources to regain control of their lives and avoid a cycle of recidivism. The Freeholder Board is proud to continue its support.” 

Developed through a partnership between Urban League of Union County, United Way of Greater Union County and the Union County Department of Human Services, Reconnections provides services in the areas of employment, education, social services, legal, mentoring and healthcare, drug and mental health treatment.

Clients are referred to the Reconnections program by County or State agencies, or by community organizations. Clients are then guided by a trained case manager to develop a personalized strategy to achieve specific goals, such as education and job training. They are connected with resources to help these goals come to fruition and can attend various workshops on life skills.

Union County’s American Job Centers, located in Plainfield and Elizabeth, are key to the success of the Reconnections program. The American Job Centers are available to all County residents for assistance in connecting with employment and job training opportunities.

The Freeholder Board began providing funding for the Reconnections program in 2015. Since then, the program has assisted more than 300 individuals. In that three year period, only 2 percent have returned to prison.

Without a comprehensive re-entry program, re-incarceration rates can be exponentially higher. According to a recent report by New Jersey correctional agencies, 31.3 percent of inmates released from New Jersey facilities were re-incarcerated within three years.

In addition to the Freeholder Board, United Way and Urban League, other affiliates of the Reconnection program include the New Jersey State Parole Board, Union County Vicinage of Probation, Federal Probation, New Jersey Department of Corrections, Neighborhood Health Services and Legal Services of Central Jersey, Union County Re-entry Task Force, and community and faith-based organizations. 

Reconnections supports the goals of Chairman Granados’s Moving Union County Forward initiatives, including the expansion of prisoner re-entry programs as well as partnering with the organization Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in NJ and partnering with school districts and local law enforcement agencies on public safety programs.

Reconnections staff is located in the Union County American Job Centers in Elizabeth and Plainfield.

For more information about Reconnections or to find out more about employment services in Union County contact the Elizabeth Center at 908-558-8000 (ext. 3272) or the Plainfield Center at 908-757-9090 (ext. 7311).

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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.