County of Union, New Jersey

The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders presents special programs for families during the Presidents’ Day Holiday.  Programs are recommended for families with children ages five and up.  

“February Festivities at Trailside offers educational and imaginative programs to delight people of all ages,” said Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen. “Have fun and be entertained while learning about maple sugaring, recycling, our Earth, kindling kits and our animal neighbors of the Watchung Reservation.” 

A new online registration system designed to make access to our Parks and Recreation services easy and convenient has been adopted.  Register online at www.ucnj.org/trailside to create an account and password.

Highlighting Presidents’ Day on Monday, February 20 at 1:30 p.m. is a matinee entitled Professor W.’s Earth Science Circus presented by the Grand Falloons and sponsored by Union County Clean Communities.  Adults and children will enjoy magic, juggling and exciting circus fun with an abundance of audience participation as Professor W. takes them on a unique and lively exploration of “our earth.”   The program is recommended for children four and up.  Space is limited and tickets go on sale at 1:00 p.m. Monday, February 20 at the Visitor Service Desk.  No strollers please.  The fee is $5.00 per person and $4.00 for seniors. 

On February 20, visitors will have the opportunity to meet “Curby,” Union County’s new, fun and interactive Recycling Robot from 12:30 to 3:00 p.m. in Trailside’s lobby.  Curby is a fully animated robot that moves, speaks, listens and plays music!  Enjoy learning how you and your family can become more environmentally aware and help to prevent litter.

The Journey of Sap to Syrup meets 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on Saturday, February 18 or Monday, February 20.  Learn the process of how 100% real maple syrup is made from the sap of the sugar maple tree.   Find out what equipment is needed to collect sap and take a walk to see a tapped sugar maple tree.  Take part in a taste test to see if you can identify the real thing. 

Animal Clue Winter Walk and Campfire, is offered 3:00 to 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, February 18 or Monday, February 20.  Have fun learning to identify birds and other animals at

the Backyard Wildlife Habitat feeders.  Challenge your natural history skills on a winter walk in search of animal tracks, nibbled twigs and other signs that tell us our animal neighbors have visited.  Conclude your outdoor investigation around a warm campfire with hot chocolate and marshmallows.

Featured on Saturday, February 18 from 1:30 p.m.to 2:30 p.m. is a Kindling Kit workshop. Keeping warm by an open fire has a lot of appeal, but getting the blaze going can be tough.  Participants will learn how to start a fire blazing with tinder and kindling.  Work with your family to gather sticks, twigs, holly, evergreen sprigs and pine cones to create a kit that is both decorative and useful to get a fire started. 

The fee for The Journey of Sap to Syrup, Animal Clue Winter Walk and Kindling Kits is $5/person for residents of Union County and $6/person for out-of-county residents.  For additional information about programs offered during February Festivities, winter workshops and special events, please call 908-789-3670 or visit www.ucnj.org/trailside. Trailside Nature and Science Center is located at 452 New Providence Road in Mountainside and is a service of the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders.

The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is pleased to announce that free public Wi-Fi access is available now in 6 new parks throughout the county. There are now a total of 11 county parks and facilities that offer free Wi-Fi.

“We are committed to ensuring that our recreation facilities are up to date and welcoming to a broad range of activities.” said Chairman Bruce Bergen. “Whether it is surfing the web, mapping out the day, setting alarms at home, or posting photos of their children in action, it now becomes a reality for our residents at more locations in our parks systems.”

The WIFI program was an initiative of Freeholder Christopher Hudak when he served as Chairman in 2014.

“In today’s interconnected world, it’s important that our residents have the opportunity to stay in touch throughout the day wherever they may be,” Hudak said. “We’re pleased to be able to continue to expand this important service.”

New sites include: 

• Ponderosa Park, Scotch Plains.
• Conant Park, Hillside.
• Warinanco Park Boat House/Spray Park Area.
• Mattano Park, Elizabeth.
• Rizzuto Park, Union.
• Watchung Stables, 1160 Summit Lane, Mountainside.

Previous WIFI-enabled sites include:

• The Union County Clerk’s Office at the Colleen Fraser Building in Westfield.
• Nomahegan Park playground, Cranford.
• Trailside Nature and Science Center in Mountainside.
• Warinanco (Park) Skating facility area, Roselle.
• Walter Ulrich Memorial Pool, Rahway River Park.
• Wheeler Park Pool and Playground area, Linden.

Logging on to Union County’s service is easy for WIFI-enabled devices, such as Apple I-Phones and I-pads, Android-based phones and tablets and any other WIFI capable devices. Merely find the WIFI settings and make sure it is turned on. Select “Union County Wi-Fi” as the connection to join. Follow on screen agreements and enjoy.

Safety features are also in place, including having the users to re-login periodically to discourage downloading or streaming of large files which may cause the performance and bandwidth to decrease for other patrons who may be logged on at the same time.

To find a local outdoor area with free Wi-Fi, visit www.ucnj.org/wi-fi.

Lifeguards are needed at the Ulrich pool for the summer from mid-June through Labor Day. 

Current lifeguard certification required and weekends are mandatory.

Good starting salary.

If you are interested, please call 908-298-7849 Monday through Friday, 9am to 4pm.

Union County Freeholders Christopher Hudak and Bette Jane Kowalski presented a check from the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders to the 2017 Union County St. Patrick’s Day Parade General Chairman Harry Capko, Grand Marshal Joe Nolan and Parade Adjutant Debbie Sully during the parade committee’s Celebrity Bartenders fundraiser at the Kenilworth Veterans Center. The 2017 Union County St. Patrick’s Day Parade steps off at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 11 on Morris Avenue in Union.

For more information please visit www.unioncountystpatricksdayparade.com

The U.S Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) New York District (District), in partnership with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) announces the extension of the review period for the Draft Integrated Feasibility Report/Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Rahway River Flood Risk Management Study for an additional 15 days. A notice of availability for the Draft Integrated Feasibility Report and Environmental Impact Statement was published in the December 9, 2016 issue of the Federal Register.

Comments on the Draft Integrated Feasibility Report/EIS are due 7 February 2017. Comments received by the due date will assist in the agency’s evaluation of the project changes and will be reflected in the project record.

The Draft Integrated Feasibility Report and EIS, and instructions for submitting written and email comments are available on the New York Districts website at:

www.nan.usace.army.mil/Rahway

General questions regarding the Rahway River Basin Flood Risk Management Feasibility Study can be directed to Ms. Rifat Salim, Project Manager, Rifat.Salim@usace.army.mil, 917-790-8215.

All written comments, including contact information, will be made a part of the administrative record, available to the public under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). The Administrative Record, or portions thereof, may also be posted on a Corps of Engineers’ Internet website. Due to resource limitations, this office generally cannot acknowledge receipt of comments or respond to individual letters of comments.

Union County Freeholder Bette Jane Kowalski (right) issues a proclamation honoring Cranford resident Catherine Felegi, the recipient of the Clergy Council of Cranford’s 2017 Martin Luther King, Jr. Service Award. Freeholder Kowalski is joined by (from left) Cranford Mayor Tom Hannen; Cindy Hannen, chairwoman of the Clergy Council and Catherine Felegi.

Ms Felegi created and organizes Operation Warm Heart at Cranford’s First Presbyterian Church. The program provides overnight shelter and a wide array of services to homeless Union County residents.

The award was presented at Cranford’s 30th annual Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration and Recognition, which was held at the First Baptist Church of Cranford. Leaders from Cranford’s many religious denominations participated in the event.

Union County, NJ – Union County Freeholder Angel Estrada was recognized for his ongoing service on the Board of Trustees of the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority (NJTPA) at the agency’s annual meeting in Newark on Monday.

“I’d like to thank the NJTPA for this recognition,” said Freeholder Estrada, who joined the NJTPA Board in 2012. “I will continue my efforts to put federal transportation dollars to work for the people of Union County.”

“Freeholder Estrada has proven to be a capable steward of the transportation infrastructure in Union County, which has regional and national significance,” said Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen. “He has shouldered an important responsibility, and this award is well deserved.”

 “Under Freeholder Estrada’s leadership, Union County has advanced almost $3 million in safety improvements and nearly $38 million in local roadway and bridge projects,” NJTPA Executive Director Mary K. Murphy said. These federally funded, County-led projects include the Gordon Street Bridge in Roselle and Roselle Park, which is slated for construction this year.

Freeholder Estrada serves as the Board’s First Vice Chair and is Chair of the Project Prioritization Committee.

In addition, with Freeholder Estrada’s support, the City of Elizabeth participated in the NJTPA’s Street Smart NJ pedestrian safety campaign for the first time in 2016 and the County and City hosted the campaign’s March 2016 kickoff event at Union County College in Elizabeth.

“Freeholder Estrada has made significant contributions not just to Union County, but to the entire NJTPA region,” Executive Director Murphy said.

NJTPA Chairman Peter Palmer, Somerset County Freeholder Director, joined Executive Director Murphy in presenting Freeholder Estrada with his service award.

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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 credit: Stuart Ramson for NJTPA.

Union County, NJ – Notaries Public are invited to attend the next session of New Jersey Notary Training, an educational seminar for Notaries Public hosted by Union County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi, together with Union County Surrogate James LaCorte, Esq., who will present the legal aspects of the functions of notaries public.

Ms. Rajoppi will open the seminar and review the application process for Notaries.

“This series of seminars has proved to be helpful for current Notaries Public who wish to refresh their skills and stay up to date on their profession, as well as for new Notaries,” said Ms. Rajoppi.

The seminar series is an ongoing service of the County Clerk.

“The response has been very enthusiastic, so if you are interested in attending please sign up now because space is limited,” said Ms. Rajoppi.

The next session is scheduled for Friday, March 3, from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at the John H. Stamler Police Academy, 1776 Raritan Road in Scotch Plains.

Dress code at the Police Academy is strictly enforced: business casual is required and men must wear collared shirts. No jeans or sneakers are permitted.

To register, use the downloadable registration form on the County Clerk’s website, ucnj.org/county-clerk or contact Donna Connell, at 908-527-4999 or dconnell@ucnj.org.

The course is limited to 50 attendees and the registration fee of $5.00 is required in advance.

The deadline for registration is Friday, February 24.

 

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Visit the County Clerk’s new elections website, unioncountyvotes.com.

Connect with Union County on social media.

 

 

Emergency construction will require the closure of the Goethals Bridge westbound lanes from 10 p.m. Thursday, January 12 to 5 a.m. Friday, January 13. 

The emergency construction is required to repair drainage issues along part of the roadway along the westbound approach to the Goethals Bridge.

To provide an alternate route for drivers, the Bayonne Bridge will cancel its scheduled Thursday night closure, and will remain open from 3 p.m. Thursday through 9 a.m. Friday.  The Outerbridge Crossing will also be open.  

The overnight Goethals Bridge closure is not expected to result in significant delays.

To receive real time traffic updates, travelers should register for the Port Authority’s Bridge and Tunnel Alerts at http://www.paalerts.com/, call 511 or visit www.511NY.org or www.511NJ.org.