County of Union, New Jersey

Union County Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen, Vice Chairman Sergio Granados and Kenilworth Councilman Gerry Laudati met with Library Director Michael Maziekien at the Kenilworth Public Library where they spoke about the technology expansion and other improvements at the library funded with Union County Library Grants. Over the past three years, the County Freeholder Board has awarded nearly $19,000 in grants from golf fees administered through the Open Space Trust Fund to the library for various purchases. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

Union County, NJ – Last week a hardworking group of student volunteers from Union County College in Elizabeth pitched in to help maintain a thriving wildflower meadow along the shores of the lake at Warinanco Park in Roselle. As part of Union County’s Adopt-a-Park program, the enthusiastic group spent the day removing dried weeds, debris and old fencing. The wildflower meadow provides sustenance and shelter for birds, butterflies and other valuable pollinators. It features a colorful array of seasonal plantings throughout spring, summer and fall. Any individual or group is welcome to join Adopt-a-Park. For more information, call the Union County Department of Parks and Recreation at 908-789-3683 or visit online at ucnj.org/parks. For more Union County volunteer opportunities and environmental programs visit The Green Connection.

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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 – Just in time for the holiday shopping and travel season, the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders reminds residents and visitors that the new Union County Transit Map is available free online, and printed copies are free on request. The map displays all bus and rail routes and connections in the Union County area.

The map was developed as part of the 2016 Union County Transportation Master Plan in association with the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority, which provided funds for printing the map.

“The new Union County Transit Map enables commuters and travelers to see all of our regional bus and rail routes at a glance,” said Freeholder Angel G. Estrada, who is the First Vice Chairman of the NJTPA. “We hope that it provides County residents and visitors with a convenient way to explore all of their options for travel during this busy season.”

The map features train and bus routes along with hospitals, schools and airports in the area, including Elizabeth-Newark connections.

The Union County Transit Map is available as a free download at ucnj.org/transit.

To receive a free copy by mail, send a request to the Union County Public Office of Public Information at  info@ucnj.org.

Estrada also encouraged residents and visitors to visit Union County’s ConneXions website online at ucnj.org/connect, for quick links to transportation information including bus, rail, car, air, and bike routes.

Another transportation option is the Union County Paratransit System. Paratransit provides low cost rides to seniors, persons with disabilities and other eligible Union County residents. More information is available online at ucnj.org/departments/human-services.

 

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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 the New Jersey Department of Corrections has awarded a grant of $200,000 to Union County. The funds will go to Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) programs at the Union County Correctional Facility, for inmates with substance abuse disorders.

New Jersey committed a total of $1.7 million in MAT funding to county correctional facilities across the state. Union County was one of ten grant recipients.

“Our goal is to ensure that incarcerated individuals can make a fresh start and contribute to a stronger Union County on their release, and MAT programs are an essential part of that effort,” said Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen. “With this additional state funding, we can provide the medical support that is proven to help former inmates get back on their feet and maintain sobriety.”

Grant recipients may only use the funds to purchase MAT medications approved by the US Food and Drug Administration. The funding may apply to medications provided upon release as well as treatment during incarceration.

Introducing the MAT program during an inmate’s incarceration increases the likelihood of recovery sustainability and abstinence when they are released.

“A 2015 study shows that for opioid abusers, involvement in an MAT program during incarceration can reduce the risk of an early relapse,” said Freeholder Christopher Hudak, who is the Freeholder Board liaison to the Union County Mental Health Advisory Board. “These programs benefit the entire community by interrupting the cycle of drug abuse, crime and incarceration.”

The new MAT funding is one of Union County’s initiatives to address the opiate crisis. In 2017 Chairman Bergen also introduced an initiative to fund an additional 25 beds for in-patient treatment, and the Freeholder Board joined with the Union County Sheriff and Prosecutor to launch CLEAR, the Community Law Enforcement Addiction Recovery program. CLEAR aims to encourage eligible addicts to seek help through law enforcement agencies, by providing a “safe space” for connecting with recovery services.

Other actions in Union County include an expansion of Project Medicine Drop from two locations in in 2013 to 12 in 2017, a Drug Court program that provides nonviolent offenders with access to recovery services, and the Union County Opioid Response Initiative, which provides for the recipients of police-administered naloxone to connect with addiction recovery specialists at local hospitals.

Union County has also expanded its use of an in-house treatment program for County inmates who are housed at Delaney Hall in Newark. The program, which is funded by the New Jersey Department of Corrections, covers both alcohol and drug abuse services including counseling and life skills.

The Freeholder Board is also co-sponsoring “Knock Out Opioid Abuse,” a free town hall event at Kean University’s STEM Building auditorium, 1075 Morris Avenue in Union Township, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, December 5 (doors open at 5:00 p.m.).

The event features Freeholder Hudak, Dr. Andrew Kaufman of Atlantic Health System, Prevention Links Executive Director Pam Capaci and Ammon Foundation Executive Director Mariel Hufnagel.

More information about the Knock Out Opioid Abuse campaign and town hall series is available at knockoutopioidabuse.drugfreenj.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.

The County of Union’s Human Services Department has issued a Countywide Code Blue alert from today until Sunday evening in an effort to get the homeless population into shelter, as overnight temperatures are expected to plunge either below or around freezing  over the next few days.

The alert goes out from the county’s Department of Human Services, which notifies emergency shelters, social service workers, community organizations, and the County Police. The County Police get the word out to law enforcement personnel in all 21 municipalities. The early warning gives communities time to identify and locate people potentially in need of help. Shelters get time to arrange for extra beds using cots provided by the County. County and municipal police go on the lookout for persons needing shelter, and assist them with transportation.

If residents see a homeless person sleeping in these conditions at night, they are urged to contact their local police department to get them to shelter.

 

Union County Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen presents Union County College Head Coach Alex J. Louis with a resolution congratulating him upon his 300th win with the college’s mens soccer. The milestone came when the men’s soccer team defeated Cumberland County College 7-1 at Union County’s College’s home field site at Snyder Avenue Turf Field in Berkeley Heights. The coach has been at the helm of the men’s soccer program at Union County College for the past 21 seasons. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

Union County Freeholders Christopher Hudak and Bette Jane Kowalski present a resolution to Eric Rubinson and Arthur Hearns of the Cranford Jaycees recognizing and commending them for their efforts in the Track Friday Fundraiser that focuses on hurricane relief and to purchase new instruments for Cranford Middle Schools.

On the day after Thanksgiving, or Black Friday, people are encouraged to participate by walking or running on local tracks to raise money for different charities.

Cranford’s Track Friday is hosted by the Cranford Jaycees, who will donate the proceeds to hurricane relief in Puerto Rico and new musical instruments for Cranford Middle Schools. Participants can also create individual fundraisers.

For more information about Track Friday visit www.trackfriday.org. To learn more about the Cranford Jaycees, visit www.cranfordjaycees.org.