County of Union, New Jersey

 

Union County, NJ – A limited number of vendor tables are still available for the 2017 Union County Means Business Expo, coming up on Tuesday, September 12 at Union County’s new Warinanco Park Sports Center in Roselle, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

The Expo is designed to help local businesses and entrepreneurs build their networks and grow their brands in a stylish, contemporary environment.

All vendors receive a color ad in the Expo program and 10 VIP tickets to enter an exclusive raffle.

The Expo also offers a complimentary food tasting featuring the event menu available at the Warinanco Sports Center.

Vendor registration is available online at ucnj.org/union-county-means-business/expo. Admission for attendees is free.

Vendors and exhibitors tables are available for a fee of $100.00 and must be registered by September 5.

For links to the program, video and photos of the 2016 Union County Means Business Expo visit the “2016 Expo” tab at  ucnj.org/union-county-means-business/previous-events/#2016.

Union County Means Business is an economic development initiative of the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders with the support of community partners including the New Jersey Small Business Development Center, the Union County Economic Development Corporation, the Greater Elizabeth Chamber of Commerce, the Suburban Chamber of Commerce, Kean University, Union County College, Union Township Chamber of Commerce, the Greater Westfield Chamber of Commerce, and the Cranford Area Chamber of Commerce.

For 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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The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is pleased to announce children’s music band Michael & The Rockness Monsters will perform at the Family PRIDE CommUNITY Picnic on Saturday, September 16, 2017 at Rahway River Park, in Rahway.

“Celebrating the strength of our diversity, the Family PRIDE CommUNITY Picnic offers LGBTQ allies, parents and children a space to connect, support and celebrate together,” said Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen. “The Freeholder Board is proud to feature children’s funk inspired rock band Michael & The Rockness Monsters with their playful and honest music the entire family will enjoy.”

Head out to the park for a full day of free family fun celebrating LGBTQ family Pride starting at 12:00 Noon, and stay for the children’s music concert featuring Michael & The Rockness Monsters, an interactive, super galactic – funk inspired, rock-n-roll experience for families at 2:30 p.m.

“As a band our goal is to spread love and write music that celebrates diversity and equality,” said Michael Napolitano of Michael & the Rockness Monsters. “We support one reoccurring message: Be yourself, be good to others and most of all, have fun!  We cannot wait to rock at the Family PRIDE CommUNITY Picnic!!”

A celebration of all families, the free Family PRIDE CommUNITY Picnic will include arts and crafts (featuring a “LOVE Makes a Family” poster making station), inflatable bounce houses for all ages, face painting, music, family-friendly field day games (register online to be on a team) and much more.

A Family Equality Rally will kick off at 1:00 P.M. with special guest speakers and performances. Parents and children are encouraged to show family Pride with a sign or banner.

More than a dozen LGBTQ family and marriage equality advocacy and ally organizations will be on site all day with general information, as well as support and networking resources.

In the event of inclement weather the Family PRIDE CommUNITY Picnic will be held at the Warinanco Sports Center, Warinanco Park in Elizabeth/Roselle.

For more information visit ucnj.org/Pride, or find the UC Family PRIDE CommUNITY Picnic event page at Facebook.com/CountyOfUnion, or call the Union County Office of Parks and Recreation at 908-527-4900.

ELIZABETH, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is pleased to present an exhibit of paper sculptures by Elizabeth artist Barbara Wallace in the gallery space at the Union County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs, located in the historic St. John’s Parsonage at 633 Pearl Street in Elizabeth.

A selection of Ms. Wallace’s work entitled “Barbara Wallace: Sculptural Relief” is on display at the Pearl Street Gallery through October 20. The public is invited to enjoy the exhibit during gallery hours, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays.

“The talent and diversity of our county artists assure an inspiring and interesting variety of exhibitions at the Pearl Street Gallery,” said Freeholder Bette Jane Kowalski, liaison to the Union County Cultural and Heritage Advisory Board. “We are pleased to display an exhibit of Ms. Wallace’s impressive figurative sculptures.”

Barbara Wallace began her artistic training at the Art Students’ League of New York. She earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Painting from Pratt Institute and her Master of Fine Arts in Sculpture from the University of Pennsylvania.

Wallace is an Adjunct Professor at Kean University and Passaic County Community College. She currently works with various mixed media materials including recycled paper, wire, and acrylic paint.

Recent exhibitions include the Westfield Art Association Jubilee Exhibit at the Masker’s Barn in the Deserted Village of the Watchung Reservation, Fire in Her Eyes at the Newark School of the Arts, and Wreath Interpretations at the Arsenal Gallery in Manhattan.

She is a previous Union County Honoree in the Arts for Women’s History Month, awarded by the New Jersey Senate and General Assembly in Trenton. For more details visit Ms. Wallace online at blw105.wix.com/barbarawallace.

“My training is in traditional sculptural materials of clay, metal, stone, and wood. I have adapted techniques ordinarily reserved for clay and sheet metal for recycled paper and cardboard,” Ms. Wallace said. “The process for creating the works usually begins with a recycled metal clothes hanger. Layers of newspaper, magazine pages and cardboard are applied to this minimal armature with an adhesive of boiled wheat paste glue. Other sculptures combine the paper core technique with a layer of wax. Creating long-lasting sculpture from unlikely and somewhat ephemeral materials of yesterday’s news and this afternoon’s lunch is the crux of my artwork.”

Union County artists interested in exhibiting in the gallery space are welcome to apply (works must be hung on a wall). For more information about the Pearl Street Gallery or other programs, contact the Union County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs at culturalinfo@ucnj.org or call (908)-558-2550. NJ Relay users dial 711.

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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 and the Department of Parks and Recreation invites everyone to attend the 36^th Annual Harvest Festival on Sunday, September 24 at Trailside Nature and Science Center in Mountainside from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m., rain or shine. 

Harvest Festival is a celebration of Early American life featuring ongoing music and entertainment, storytelling, Native American cooking display, petting zoo, pony rides, Colonial and Native American crafts, children’s games and crafts, food and a pumpkin patch.  The always popular Scarecrow Building will again take place.

“This event gives those in attendance an opportunity to see early American culture and history come to life while walking through the festival grounds in the picturesque Watchung Reservation,” said Union County Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen. “Visitors of all ages will enjoy this fascinating, fun-filled event.”

Admission to the Harvest Festival is $4.00 per person, with children ages 6 and younger admitted free of charge. There may be a fee charged for some of the activities.

Trailside Nature & Science Center is located at 452 New Providence Road in Mountainside. For more information on Trailside Nature and Science Center please visit www.ucnj.org/trailside.

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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, NU — Tickets for the Hayrides and Campfires event presented by the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders and the Union County Department of Parks & Recreation will be available for purchase beginning Tuesday, September 5th at 8:30 a.m.

Beginning this year, tickets will be sold online in addition to three locations throughout the county. All tickets must be purchased in advance, there will be no tickets sold on site.

All ticket sales will be final, with no refunds or exchanges. The event includes the hayride, entertainment, and hot chocolate and marshmallows to toast over a campfire.

The first Hayride and Campfire will be on Friday, September 29 at Trailside Nature & Science Center in Mountainside from 6:30 p.m. until 9:30 p.m. On Sunday afternoon, October 1, Hayrides will be offered from 3:30 pm until 6:30 pm. Hayrides and Campfires will also be offered on Friday October 13 and Friday, October 20 at Trailside from 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm.

On Friday, October 6, Hayrides and Campfires will take place at Warinanco Park in Roselle from 6:30 p.m. until 9:30 p.m.

“The hayrides and campfire events are always among the most popular events in our parks, so those interested in participating should get their tickets early, either online or in person, and plan for a fun filled evening to begin the fall,” said Union County Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen.

Tickets are priced at $6.00 for Union County Residents, $12.00 for Non-Residents. Group sales are limited to 15 tickets. To purchase tickets online visit ucnj/ticket.

Tickets will be on sale at the following locations and times beginning September 5.

• Westfield Office, Colleen Fraser Building, 300 North Avenue East in Westfield, Monday through Wednesday from 8:30 am to 4:00 pm; Thursday from 8:30 am to 7:00 pm; Friday from 8:30 am to 4:00 pm.
• Elizabeth Office, Union County Administration Building, 10 Elizabethtown Plaza, Monday through Friday 8:30 am to 4:00 pm.
• Trailside Nature & Science Center, 452 New Providence Road, Mountainside from 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm, Sunday through Saturday.

For further information call the Union County Department of Parks and Recreation at 908-527-4900; or Trailside Nature and Science Center at 908-789-3670; or visit the Union County website at 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.

Connect with Union County on social media.

Union County Freeholder Vice Chairman Sergio Granados and Freeholder Vernell Wright joined Brigadier General Ed Chrystal and Lieutenant Colonel Bill Morris at the UC HERO networking mixer at the Clubhouse at Union County’s Galloping Hill Golf Course in Kenilworth.

UC HERO launched in 2016 as an initiative of Chairman Bruce H. Bergen, with the mission of enhancing opportunities for education, employment and well-being for eligible veterans and active duty service members and their families in Union County.

For more information about all UC HERO programs and activities, and the Union County Office of Veterans’ Affairs visit online at ucnj.org/uc-hero.