County of Union, New Jersey

Union County, NJ — In recognition of Arbor Day 2017, the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is again partnering with the Union County Shade Tree Advisory Board to sponsor the annual Arbor Day Tree Planting Program for schools.

This year, one free hundred trees will be given away to schools on request.  

“Union County is proud to support Arbor Day, a great American tradition that celebrates the many contributions that trees make to our quality of life, including economic development as well as a more diverse and healthy environment,” said Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen.

Studies have shown that trees improve property values and provide many other civic and health benefits. They airborne pollutants, provide a cooling effect in summer, prevent soil erosion, and help to alleviate flooding.

“Our Arbor Day planting program is a hands-on exercise that helps our Union County students see themselves as stewards of the environment, one tree at a time,” said Bergen.

The annual giveaway is one of several Union County tree initiatives. The Freeholder Board’s longstanding policy calls for a one-to-one replacement of any tree lost on Union County property.

The Board also supports the Rutgers Cooperative Extension Master Tree Steward and Arbor Day Poetry Contest educational programs, and provides annual grants to plant trees on municipal property through the Greening Union County program, which launched as an initiative of Freeholder Angel T. Estrada when he was Chairman in 2004.

“Since its inception, Greening Union County has helped to plant more than 9,700 trees in our urban and suburban communities,” Bergen noted.

This year’s free Arbor Day tree is the flowering Dogwood.  Each tree is about five feet tall and weighs about 20 pounds. When fully grown they will be about 15-20 feet tall.

The trees are available on a first come first served basis while supplies last. Requests from schools must be received by Thursday, April 13, 2017. 

Schools that receive a tree can also participate in a free training session in tree planting and care.

The sessions are available to students, teachers, and parent volunteers through Union County and the Master Tree Steward Program.

The tree care training session will be held at Williams Nursery in Westfield on Thursday, April 20, from 10:00 a.m. to noon. Registration is required.

To request a tree and register for a training a training session, contact Barbara Knapp at Union County, 908-789-3653 or bknapp@ucnj.org. 

For quick links to all Union County environmental programs and activities visit The Green Connection online at ucnj.org/green-connection.

Photo credit: Flowering Dogwood by Robert H. Mohlenbrock, hosted by the USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database / USDA NRCS. 1995. Northeast wetland flora: Field office guide to plant species. Northeast National Technical Center, Chester.

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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 Freeholders Vernell Wright, Linda Carter, Bette Jane Kowalski and Alexander Mirabella congratulate the 10 recipients of the 2017 Women of Excellence Awards. They were joined by Union County Sheriff Joe Cryan, Union County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi and Assemblywoman Annette Quijano.

The Union County Commission on the Status of Women honored the awardees at the 25th annual Women of Excellence dinner at the Clubhouse at Union County’s Galloping Hill Golf Course in Kenilworth.

The honorees for 2017 are: Arielle Cassidy of Garwood ( Health and Wellness), Sally Curci of Cranford (Special Needs Advocate), Maria C. Del Cid of Union (Government), Terri L. Freeman, Esq. of Westfield (Law), Amy B. Herber of Westfield (Lifetime/Education), Marianne Kranz of Fanwood (Volunteerism), Dr. Nell Maloney-Patel of Westfield (Medicine), Kelly Rieder of Rahway (Law Enforcement), Nakera Sherman of Plainfield (Children’s Advocacy) and Ruth Yablonsky of Cranford (Environmentalist).

The Commission on the Status of Women is sponsored by The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders. Each year, awards are given in different fields including education, health care, the arts, government, business, law, community service, technology, humanitarianism, public service, women’s advocacy, and lifetime achievement.

 

(Photos by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

 

Bring the entire family this Sunday, April 2 at 1:00 P.M. to the Union County Performing Arts Center in Rahway to experience the majestic ballet performance of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Presented as part of Union County’s Sensory Friendly Theatre series, this this abridged, one-hour sensory-friendly ballet performance by American Repertory Ballet is adapted especially for children and adults with sensory sensitivities and other special needs.

Available now, all tickets are $8 per person and can be purchased through the Union County Performing Arts Center at ucpac.org or by calling the Box Office at 732-499-8226.

“Adapting productions to help reduce disturbances at live performances, the sensory-friendly series seeks to increase access to the arts for children and adults with sensory sensitivities,” said Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen. “The Freeholder Board is proud to help make this Shakespeare classic accessible to families with children and adults of all abilities and needs.”

Set to an enchanting score by Felix Mendelssohn, the ballet brings to life the wit and splendor of one of William Shakespeare’s most popular comedies. Featuring colorful choreography, costumes and sets, the story portrays the weaving tales of cunning fairies, quarreling lovers and a hilariously amateur acting group as their paths cross in a magical forest.

For each of the performances in Union County’s Sensory Friendly Theatre series the theatre environment at the Union County Performing Arts Center is adjusted to provide a sensory-friendly, comfortable and judgment-free space that is welcoming for all families.

Autism Friendly Spaces implements the supportive atmosphere at each of the sensory-friendly performances. For more information on what to expect at a Sensory Friendly Theatre performance visit ucpac.org/sensory-friendly-theatre.

For more information or to purchase tickets call the Union County Performing Arts Center, 732-499-8226 or visit ucpac.org. The UCPAC Box Office, located at 1601 Irving Street, Rahway, NJ, is open Tuesday through Saturday from 11:00 AM until 5:00 PM and is also open late on Thursdays until 8:00 PM.

For information on additional Union County recreational programs for people with disabilities age five and up, call the Union County Department of Parks and Recreation at 908-527-4781 or visit ucnj.org.

 

Union County, NJ – Union County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi advises travelers that the U.S. Department of State has increased its processing time for passports. Persons seeking routine passport services should now anticipate a wait of approximately six to eight weeks.

“This extended processing time makes it all the more important for Union County residents to ensure that their passports are in order well in advance of their travel dates,” said Ms. Rajoppi.

The County Clerk’s office is authorized to receive passport documents and transmit them to the State Department for processing.

“Even if a trip is not coming up, getting a passport and keeping it current is always a good idea,” said Ms. Rajoppi. “Planning ahead is especially important for the spring and summer travel seasons when the State Department receives a high volume of documents to process.”

Ms. Rajoppi also advised County residents to check their country of entry to ensure that their passport expiration date is consistent with the requirements.

“Some countries will not allow entry if a passport is going to expire in less than six months, regardless of how long the traveler plans to stay,” said Ms. Rajoppi.

Passport services are available at the County Clerk’s Main Office in the County Courthouse at 2 Broad Street in Elizabeth, and in the Colleen Frasier Building at 300 North Avenue East in Westfield.

For more details about passport processing times, visit the State Department online at travel.state.gov.

More information about all County Clerk services is available on line at ucnj.org/county-clerk or call 908-527-4787.

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

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SCOTCH PLAINS, NJ – The County of Union will sponsor a recycling event for electronic equipment on Saturday, April 29, so Union County residents can get rid of unwanted computers, televisions and other electronic equipment in an environmentally proper manner.

The special E-cycling event will take place from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the campus of Union County Vo-Tech Schools located at 1776 Raritan Road in Scotch Plains. All residents of Union County are eligible to participate at no cost. There is a limit of six electronic items per car.

“Old televisions, computer monitors, and other electronic devices are the source of a considerable amount of dangerous material, including lead, mercury, and cadmium – and it is unlawful to dispose of them with the regular garbage,” said Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen.  “Up to 95 percent of most electronic appliances can be recycled and this is a responsible way to keep hazardous heavy metals out of our environment.”

Electronic equipment that will be accepted on April 29^th includes televisions, computers, monitors, hard drives, modems, keyboards, printers, fax machines, DVD/VCR players, telephones, tablets and e-readers.

All that residents need to do is drive to the site with their unwanted electronic equipment. Workers at the site will unload the vehicles.  The electronics collection will be held rain or shine, for Union County residents only and not for businesses. Proof of Union County residency is required and pre-registration is not required.

Additional event information as well as future event dates and locations are available at the Union County Bureau of Recycling and Planning website: ucnj.org/recycle.  Refrigerators, washers and dryers, microwaves, and air conditioners will not be accepted, but they are accepted at Union County’s Scrap Metal Recycling Program. 

In addition to the April 29^th recycling event, the County of Union also sponsors E-cycling opportunities for residents at 15 participating municipal collection locations. Visit the website ucnj.org/recycle or call your municipal recycling coordinator for more details.

For more information about recycling events, please call the Union County Recycling Hotline at 908- 654-9889.

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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.