County of Union, New Jersey

Freeholder Chairman Bruce Bergen and Freeholders Alexander Mirabella and Angel Estrada joined Fanwood Mayor Colleen Mahr and other local officials at a groundbreaking of a housing development in downtown Fanwood.

Left to right: Freeholder Chairman Bruce Bergen; Former Fanwood Planning Board member Greg Cummings; Freeholder Al Mirabella; Fanwood Councilman Jack Molenaar; Freeholder Angel Estrada; Fanwood Mayor Colleen Mahr; Mark Gottlieb, Landmark Companies Owner; Matt Leshetz, Landmark Companies VP of Construction; Jeff Weinflash, Landmark Companies Senior VP; Benjamin Harvitt, Landmark Property Manager.

Union County, NJ — It began with a ruse to draw Gen. Washington’s troops to the lowlands and from there it became one long-running battle back to the safety of the Watchungs.

So, interested in walking a portion of it, with a local historian to explain some of the significant sites along the way?

Then join up with the FreeWalkers Saturday morning for an experience not to be forgotten, as the inveterate group, and veterans of the Battle of the Short Hills Historic Trail, take off from Metuchen, where the first confrontation between Colonial and Crown forces took place.

For details on where to meet up, go to meetup.com/FreeWalkers/events/239904779.

The event is free, with organizers asking that anyone interested get to the Metuchen train station by 8:30 am.  Registration is on line and at Metuchen that morning.

“Join us for our 3rd annual historic walk where we mark the 240th anniversary of the Battle of Short Hills,” said Paul Kiczek, FreeWalker founder and organizer.

“Our walk to the memorial monument at Ashbrook is about 6 miles and we will follow the route of Lord Sterling. We then continue with our historian guide another 3 miles around the Ashbrook Reservation to Oak Ridge, where we will see the re-enactment of the battle fought by General Sterling against Cornwallis’ troops on June 26, 1777.”

Union County Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen said he was thrilled to see the Freewalkers on board for the event, which is drawing re-enactors from across the country.

“The FreeWalkers are always welcome in Union County,” Bergen said, noting the group’s frequent hikes along the East Coast Greenway, which runs through Union County parks, and their fall hike during Four Centuries in a Weekend in October.

For those who rely on mass transit, the hike begins at NJ Transit’s Metuchen train station. For train times, go to njtransit.com.

Because the FreeWalkers begin their Battle of the Short Hills hike at the station, over the years it has attracted participants from New York City to New Brunswick because the station is on the Northeast Corridor line.

“We are truly looking forward to this,” Kiczek said. “When we get to Oak Ridge, we will follow a group of re-enactors and learn what the strategy of war and what life was like for soldiers in those days.”

FreeWalkers is a non-profit organization with a mission of educating the public on the benefits of walking. For more information visit freewalkers.org.

The 240^th Anniversary re-enactment of the Battle of Short Hills is a free public event sponsored by the Freeholder Board on Saturday and Sunday, June 24 and 25. It is a project of the premier non-profit living history organization, The Brigade of the American Revolution.

For a schedule of public activities and more information visit The Brigade on Facebook or the County website at ucnj.org.

To get an early start on the weekend’s activity, visit Oak Ridge Park on Friday evening, June 23 for a free concert by the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra. The performance kicks off the Freeholder Board’s annual Summer Arts series of free outdoor music and yoga sessions.

More information on the Summer Arts series and the 240^th Battle of Short Hills re-enactment is available on the Special Events Calendar at ucnj.org/calendar.

Photo: Courtesy of the Brigade of the American Revolution.

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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 Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders presents Union County College Executive Director of College Relations and Secretary of the Boards of Governors and Trustees Ellen Dotto of Berkeley Heights with a resolution congratulating her upon her retirement. They were joined by Ellen’s husband Peter. The Freeholders Board recognizes the significant professional achievements of Ellen Dotto, and expresses its sincere gratitude for the invaluable contributions she has made to Union County College and the County of Union. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

Union County Freeholder Vernell Wright presents Chief Recreation Therapist Patricia Scott of Union with a resolution congratulating her upon her retirement from the County of Union- Runnells Specialized Hospital/Cornerstone Unit after 34 dedicated years. They were joined by Patricia’s husband David. The Freeholders Board recognizes the significant professional achievements of Patricia Scott, and expresses its sincere gratitude for the invaluable contributions she has made to the residents of Runnells Specialized Hospital/Cornerstone Unit-County of Union. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

Union County Freeholders Linda Carter, Bette Jane Kowalski, Vernell Wright and Alexander Mirabella present Marilyn D. Davis with a resolution congratulating her on receiving the Barbara Boggs Sigmund Award from the Women’s Political Caucus of New Jersey (WPCNJ) at the group’s 2017 Women of Achievement PAC Reception.

The Barbara Boggs Sigmund Award is presented to a Democratic woman who has had a successful career, is a leader who has promoted policies in support of women and families, and has made progressive and effective efforts to advance the careers of and to create opportunities for other women. WPCNJ is a multi-partisan organization dedicated to increasing women’s participation in the political process and increasing the number of women in elected and appointed office.

(Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

Note: Due to inclement weather, the June 24 fishing derby has been canceled. The next fishing derby will take place this fall.

The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders invite people with special needs to participate in the first Summer Fishing Derby for People with Special Needs this coming Saturday, June 24, at Echo Lake Park in Mountainside, New Jersey. The event is free of charge and will run from 10 AM until 1 PM.

The fishing derby is open to all ages and fishing poles will be provided. The Eastern Central District Elks are co-sponsoring the fishing derby and will be on hand to serve hots dogs and cold drinks to attendees. Prizes will also be awarded to participants.

“This is a wonderful way to kick off the summer season in our parks and provide a safe and fun venue for both young and old to fish and enjoy the outdoors,” said Union County Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen.

Those who wish to attend the fishing derby can register on line by visiting www.ucnj.org/parks-reg or call (908) 527-4781. You can also get more details and learn about other events planned by the Office of the Disabled.

Echo Lake Park is located between Springfield Avenue and Mountain Avenue in Mountainside and Westfield New Jersey.

Union County Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen and Freeholder Vernell Wright joined Union County Sheriff Joseph Cryan and Union Township Mayor Suzette Cavadas in congratulating Guy Francis from Kawameeh Middle School in Union on being named the Grand Prize winner of the 14th annual PNC Bank “American Patriot Essay Contest,” and fellow student Judd Espejo on winning second place in the statewide competition sponsored by the QuickChek New Jersey Festival of Ballooning in association with PNC Bank. They were joined by family members and representatives from PNC and the balloon festival. It was the first time in the contest’s history that the first and second place finishers are from the same school.

The QuickChek New Jersey Festival of Ballooning in association with PNC Bank congratulated the winners at an event in Union County’s Kawameeh Park that included a tethered ride in 75-foot-tall hot air balloon for the Grand Prize winner in front of his family, hundreds of classmates, township and county officials and dignitaries.