County of Union, New Jersey

The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders along with the Department of Parks & Recreation invites everyone to attend the 35th Annual Harvest Festival on Sunday, September 25 at Trailside Nature and Science Center, 452 New Providence Road in Mountainside from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m., rain or shine. This year’s Harvest Festival is sponsored by Whole Foods Market and ShopRite, both of Clark.

Harvest Festival is a celebration of Early American life featuring music and entertainment, storytelling, Native American cooking display, a petting zoo, pony rides, Colonial and Native American crafts, children’s games and crafts, food, a pumpkin patch and the ever popular scarecrow building.

“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 per person, with children ages 6 and younger admitted free of charge. There may be a fee charged for some of the activities.

For more information on Trailside Nature and Science Center please visit www.ucnj.org/trailside.

Union County, NJ – Representatives from Union County municipalities and local environmental organizations joined the Union County Green Infrastructure tour over the summer to learn how green infrastructure can beautify property while helping to conserve water and reduce stormwater runoff. The group visited examples of rain gardens, rainwater harvesting and permeable pavement in Clark, Cranford, Mountainside, Rahway, Springfield and Summit. The tour was conducted by experts with the Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Union County and the Rahway River Watershed Association. The Extension is supported in part by the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders. To find out more about green infrastructure, stormwater management and all other Extension programs, visit the County website at ucnj.org/rce or call the Extension offices at the Union County Colleen Fraser Building in Westfield, 908-654-9854 (ext. 2).

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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 Freeholder Alexander Mirabella joined Clark Councilman Al Barr, Capezio Vice President of Global Retail Michelle Clemack, store manager Kim Maskal, management team member Amanda Guerra and Z-100’s Greg T in cutting the ribbon officially opening the new Capezio store on Central Avenue in Clark. The store carries a full line of dance and active-wear for children and adults. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

Union County, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders invites residents to apply for the next Certified Home Health Aide Training program, to be held from October 31 to November 23. Pre-enrollment interviews required and are being conducted in September. Persons interested in the program should call now to schedule an interview, as space is limited.

“Certified home health aides help our elderly and disabled residents live in their homes and stay connected with their families, friends and neighbors,” said Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen. “They play a vital role in our communities, and this program helps to ensure that they have the training and knowledge they need to provide professional, high quality care.”

The training program is run through the Union County Department of Human Services, Division on Aging and Disability Resource Connection.

To be considered for acceptance into the program, applicants must be 18 years of age, U.S. citizens or qualified aliens, and have the ability to read, write and speak English proficiently.

Applicants must be physically capable of participating in class work such as lifting, getting patients out-of-bed, giving bed baths, aiding transfers for those with limited mobility, and other related patient care.

Training will be held at Jewish Family Services, 655 Westfield Avenue in Elizabeth, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., four days per week, Monday through Thursday.

“Union County has offered this program since 1986 to ensure that our workforce is prepared to meet the need for home health care,” said Bergen. “It is designed to provide students with the knowledge and skills required by the New Jersey State Board of Nursing to become certified home health aides.”

The $75.00 registration fee includes the cost of the textbook and workbook. There also is an $80.00 application fee payable to the New Jersey State Board of Nursing.  A passport size photo is required to be attached to the application.

More information on senior adults and their families, and all other social services programs, visit the Union County website www.ucnj.org and select the Department of 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.

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Union County, NJ – Union County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi is pleased to announce that her office recorded almost 8,200 deeds for residential and commercial properties through the first eight months of this year, putting Union County on track to record a total of more than 12,000 deeds in 2016 – the most since the global financial crisis of 2008.

“The numbers indicate that our economy has continued to recover at a strong pace,” said Ms. Rajoppi. “That’s a positive development, considering that the national rate of home ownership is still lower than it has been in the past 12 years.”

The jump in housing sales activity coincides with low interest rates and an increase in the population of Union County. The number of Union County residents was estimated at 555,786 as of July last year, up 3.6 percent since the 2010 census. By comparison, the population of New Jersey grew only 1.9 percent in that period.

“It’s no surprise that Union County is a desirable area to live and have a business,” said Ms. Rajoppi. “Our walkable neighborhoods and award-winning school districts are major attractions, as is our convenient and accessible rail and bus service to New York City and other points in the metro area, including Washington, D.C.”

Ms. Rajoppi also cited the recent expansions of Union County College and Kean University, Union County’s proximity to Newark-Liberty International Airport, and its expansive recreation facilities including the highly regarded Galloping Hill golf course, the region’s only outdoor Olympic scale archery range, historic park system and a public riding stable that features a new all-weather indoor ring.

The increase in recordings also translates into greater revenues for the County.  All recording fees go into the County’s general fund and are used to offset the County tax rate. The annual recording revenues total over $25.6 million dollars, up over $1.4 million over 2015.   To date, the County’s portion of the recording fees and Realty Transfer Fee total $5,647,929.18, over $440,000 more than 2015.

The last year in which deed activity in Union County topped 12,000 was 2007, when the County Clerk recorded 12,153 deeds.

The number dropped to 10,359 in 2008, the year of the financial crash. Deed recordings continued to fall in the aftermath, hitting a low of 8,262 in 2011 before beginning a steady upward trend.

In 2015, the most recent full year of recordkeeping, the County Clerk’s office recorded 11,492 deeds. From January through August 2016, 8,283 deeds have been recorded.

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Union County Freeholder Chairman Sergio Granados, Freeholder Bette Jane Kowalski and Union Township Mayor Manuel Figueiredo present resolutions to volunteers Michael Boll, Brandon Holiday and David Tyms of the Challenged Athletes Foundation’s (CAF) Operation Rebound New Jersey Racing Team commending and congratulating them before the team begins a bicycle ride from Echo Lake Park’s 9/11 Memorial in Mountainside to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, MD. They are joined by Leo Graf and Bob Johnson of VFW Post 2433 in Union.

(CAF) Operation Rebound is the premier sports and fitness program for American military personnel, veterans and first responders with physical challenges. It provides unparalleled opportunities to pursue active, athletic lifestyles by offering access to funding for equipment, training, competition expenses and sports clinics.

At Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, the team will deliver competitive wheel chairs and hand-cycles to disabled combat veterans.

(Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

Union County Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen, Vice Chairman Sergio Granados and Freeholder Bette Jane Kowalski joined State Senator Raymond Lesniak, dozens of veterans and members of the public at the screening of “Thank You for Your Service,” an award-winning documentary that explores the nation’s superficial understanding of war trauma, including PTSD, and the flawed policies surrounding it, at the Hamilton Stage Theatre in Rahway.

The film’s Director Tom Donahue and Producers Ilan Arboleda and Matt Tyson attended the special screening that was co-sponsored by The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders.

The film was presented as part of Chairman Bergen’s UC HERO initiative for 2016, which assists Veterans. For more information, please go to: https://ucnj.org/uc-hero/

Union County Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen is pleased to announce that the Farmers Market program has been extended through the month of September. Income eligible adults age 60 and above may obtain free $25 vouchers (five $5.00 checks) to purchase “Jersey Fresh” fruits, vegetables and herbs at several Farmers Markets displaying the yellow and black WIC Farmers’ Market poster throughout Union County. 

Union County residents who meet age and income eligibility may apply for the Farmers Market program through the county’s Department of Human Services, Division on Aging and Disability Resource Connection (ADRC), at the two September distribution sites listed below.  Checks will be limited at each distribution site and will be given on a “first-come first-served” basis.

A single person’s annual income cannot exceed $21,978 and a married couple’s combined income may not exceed $29,637. Proof of age, residency and income are required at time of application.

Union County Senior Farmer’s Market Voucher Distribution Schedule for September 2016:

For more information about the Farmer Market nutrition program, or any services provided by the Union County Department of Human Services, Division of Aging and Disability Resource (ADRC), call 1-888-280-8226 or 877-222-3737 or visit the county’s website, www.ucnj.org.