County of Union
Union County Freeholders Alexander Mirabella (L) and Vernell Wright speak with Robert Jeans of the Kenilworth Veterans Center and VFW 2230 while placing American flags on the graves of veterans at the Graceland Cemetery in Kenilworth in honor of Memorial Day. The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders supplied more than 30,000 flags to mark veterans’ graves throughout Union County. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)
Union County Sheriff Ralph Froehlich leads the Westfield Memorial Day Parade as this year’s Grand Marshal. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)
Union County Freeholder Vernell Wright (R) and Union County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi (L) joined Roselle Park Clerk Doreen Cali, who also serves as the president of the Union County Municipal Clerks Association, at the County Clerk’s annual luncheon in honor of Municipal Clerks Week. This year’s luncheon was held at The Club House at the Galloping Hill Golf Course in Kenilworth. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)
Sample Ballots May Be Viewed on Clerk’s Website
Union County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi will open her offices in Elizabeth and Westfield on Saturday, June 1, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. for voters seeking last-minute mail-in ballots. The office in Elizabeth at the Union County Courthouse, 2 Broad Street, and the office in Westfield at 300 North Avenue East, will be open as a public service for those voters who choose the Vote-By-Mail option for the Primary Election to be held on Tuesday, June 4.
“Every voter should have the opportunity to cast his or her ballot in the primary election for state, county and municipal offices,” Ms. Rajoppi said. “We want to ensure that even those who have a last-minute change of plans can have a chance to vote.”
Sample ballots for the Primary Election in each Union County municipality may be viewed by going to the County Clerk’s website: https://ucnj.org/sample-ballots .
“By opening the Elizabeth office on the Saturday before the primary election, as we have done for the past 17 years, along with the Westfield office, which has regular Saturday hours throughout the year, we hope to assist those citizens whose work schedules or other commitments keep them from applying to Vote-By-Mail during the work week,” Rajoppi said. “This option makes voting more accessible, particularly for senior citizens.”
Completed ballots will be kept in a secure lockbox under the control of the Union County Board of Elections, who will collect them for counting. The Clerk’s office has processed more than 700 mail-in ballots to date for the Primary Election.
To obtain a Vote-By-Mail application, voters may download the form at the County Clerk’s website:https://ucnj.org/vote-by-mail, but they must bring the completed application to either of the County Clerk’s offices on Saturday, June 1, between 9:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m., or on Monday, June 3, before 3:00 p.m. For more information, please contact the County Clerk’s office at 908-527-4996.
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Union County Freeholders Bette Jane Kowalski (L) and Vernell Wright (R) congratulate Linda Byrd (seated) on being honored for her 10 years of volunteer service at Runnells Specialized Hospital during the 50th Annual Volunteer Awards Luncheon in Berkeley Heights. Linda is a resident at Runnells Specialized Hospital. They are joined by Patricia Scott, Director of Activities Therapy/Volunteer Services. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)
MOUNTAINSIDE, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders and the Trailside Nature and Science Center are pleased to offer an evening nature trail ride on horseback for adults, ages 18 and older, on Thursday, June 2, at Watchung Stable in Mountainside at 6 p.m. Rides are approximately 45 minutes in length and are suitable for beginner riders.
“This evening trail ride offers adults a unique opportunity to see part of the Union County park system from a different perspective – on horseback,” said Freeholder Chairwoman Deborah Scanlon. “Participants will learn about local plants and animals while enjoying a leisurely trail ride through the scenic 2,060-acre Watchung Reservation.”
Riders are encouraged to arrive at Watchung Stable approximately 15 minutes prior to their scheduled ride for a brief orientation followed by the horse assignments. After mounting their horse, riders will enjoy a meandering trail ride through the woods and fields on their way to Lake Surprise. A park naturalist from the Trailside Nature and Science Center will interpret sights and sounds and identify interesting trees, plants and wildlife along the way.
Space is limited and pre-registration is required. This program fills quickly, so register early. The fee is $35 per person for Union County residents and $45 for out-of-county riders. Participants are requested to wear sturdy shoes with a heel and a helmet if they have one. Riding experience is not necessary.
In the event of inclement weather, call Watchung Stable at 908-789-3665 on June 2 to find out if the program has been cancelled. Trailside is located at 452 New Providence Road (at Coles Ave.) in Mountainside. Watchung Stable is located at 1160 Summit Lane in Mountainside. Trailside Nature and Science Center and Watchung Stable are services of the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders. For additional information about the Nature Trail Ride or for information on upcoming programs and special events at Trailside, please call 908-789-3670 or check us on the web at www.ucnj.org/trailside
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MOUNTAINSIDE, NJ – Adults, ages 18 and older, enjoy horseback riding while learning about the local flora and fauna on a scenic tour through the Watchung Reservation offered by Trailside Nature and Science Center and Watchung Stable. Pre-registration is required as space is limited. For information about this program or for a complete listing of adult, family or children’s workshops please call Trailside at 908-789-3670. Trailside Nature and Science Center is located at 452 New Providence Road in Mountainside. Watchung Stable is located at 1160 Summit Lane in Mountainside. Trailside and Watchung Stable are services of the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders.
Union County – Veterans and active duty military personnel are reminded to take part in Union County’s Veterans Job Fair and Resource Event on Thursday, May 30th from 9a.m. to 1p.m. at VFW Post 2230 located at 33 S. 21st St in Kenilworth.
The upcoming job fair will bring veterans together with employers like Barnabas Health, NJ Transit, Helmets to Hardhats, Trinitas Regional Medical Center, JFK Medical Center, Walmart, PSE&G, A. Duie Pyle, Maximum Quality Foods, Meadowlink, Frito Lay Inc., Joule Staffing Solutions, Inc., Shop-Rite and Renewal by Anderson in an effort to network and make connections for new employment opportunities
Sponsored by the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders, in connection with the Union County Department of Human Services, the Office of Veterans Affairs, One-Stop Career Centers and the New Jersey Department of Labor & Workforce Development the Job Fair is being offered free of charge to veterans, active duty military personnel, and their families.
Representatives will be on site with information on veterans’ benefits, the GI Bill, as well as other State and County sponsored services.
For additional information on the Veteran’s Job Fair please contact Elizabeth L. Sebring of the Union County Department of Human Services at (908) 527-4890 or via email at esebring@ucnj.org.
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ELIZABETH, NJ – Union County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi reminds registered voters that sample ballots for the Primary Election on Tuesday, June 4, may be reviewed on-line by visiting the County Clerk’s website.
The names of candidates running in the Primary Election for the Republican or Democratic nominations for Governor, State Senators, General Assembly Members, County Sheriff, County Freeholders, and Municipal Officers in the November General Election are posted at https://ucnj.org/sample-ballots. Also listed are candidates for seats on the Republican and Democratic State Committees, and the Union County Democratic Committee.
“As a former school board member, Mayor and Freeholder myself, I know the importance of an informed electorate,” Ms. Rajoppi said. “My website is designed to help voters familiarize themselves with their local candidates in all 21 Union County municipalities before Primary Election Day.”
The County Clerk’s responsibilities include administering election laws within and for the County of Union and its 21 municipalities for primary, general, school board and special elections including acceptance of nominating petitions, designing ballots, mailing “Vote By Mail” ballots and tabulating voting results for the public record.
More information about sample ballots for the Primary Election can be obtained by calling the County Clerk’s Office at 908-527-4996 or by visiting the office at 2 Broad Street, Room 113, Elizabeth NJ 07207. Office hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. For more information, email: ucvote@ucnj.org .
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CLARK, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders announces that its next mobile paper-shredding program for confidential personal documents will be available on Wednesday, June 5, at the Township of Clark DPW facility in Clark.
“Union County’s mobile document-shredding service helps residents fight identity theft and eliminate clutter in their homes,” said Freeholder Christopher Hudak, liaison to the Solid Waste Advisory Council. “It is a cost-effective way to assist our recycling efforts and it ties in with Union County’s other Go Green Initiatives.”
The June 5th shredding event will take place at the Department of Public Works facility in Clark, located at 315 Westfield Avenue. NEXCUT Shredding of Teaneck will be shredding documents at the site from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., rain or shine. The shredding event will end before 1 p.m. if the shredding truck reaches capacity.
All Union County residents are eligible to use the paper-shredding service. In an effort to accommodate everyone, there is a limit of four, 10-pound bags or boxes per person. Documents should not be bound. Please remove plastic binders and paperclips. Paper that is wet/damp will not be accepted. Residents should continue to recycle non-confidential papers and magazines with their municipal recycling program.
Documents are put into 96-gallon containers provided by the shredding company. The items are dumped onto a conveyor belt and shredded on site. Participants are welcome to view the shredding process via a closed-circuit television. Shredded documents are then recycled, shipped to paper mills and used as pulp. The next shredding event will take place Sunday, June 23, at the Union County Vo-Tech campus in Scotch Plains.
The mobile shredding program is paid for through New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Recycling Enhancement Act Grant Funds. For more information about future events or directions please call the Union County Recycling Hotline at 908-654-9889 or visit us online at www.ucnj.org/recycle .
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4th Grade
Union County Freeholder Chairman Linda Carter (C) joined Freeholders Bette Jane Kowalski and Bruce Bergen in congratulating the 4th grade winners of the 2013 Union County Arbor Day Poetry Contest. Zanajah Wilson from the Roosevelt School in Rahway took first place; Austin Zielenbach from Harding Elementary School in Kenilworth came in 2nd place and Aydin Graves from St. Genevieve School Elizabeth placed third. Contestants, ranging from grades 4 through 8, had to prepare an original work in an effort to promote Arbor Day and creatively show the importance of trees in Union County.
5th Grade
Union County Freeholder Chairman Linda Carter (R) joined Freeholders Bette Jane Kowalski and Bruce Bergen in congratulating the 5th grade winners of the 2013 Union County Arbor Day Poetry Contest. Dianelys Garcia from School #9 in Linden took first place; Zachary Radler from Hamilton Elementary School in Union came in second place and Felicia Chislum-Campbell from Nicholas Murray Butler School #23 in Elizabeth placed third. Contestants, ranging from grades 4 through 8, had to prepare an original work in an effort to promote Arbor Day and creatively show the importance of trees in Union County.
6th Grade
Union County Freeholder Chairman Linda Carter (C) joined Freeholders Bette Jane Kowalski and Bruce Bergen in congratulating the 6th grade winners of the 2013 Union County Arbor Day Poetry Contest. Amerely Lokko from the Burnet Middle School in Union took first place; Matthew Herrada from the Burnet Middle School in Union came in second place and Sophia Iacona from Terrill Middle School in Scotch Plains placed third. Contestants, ranging from grades 4 through 8, had to prepare an original work in an effort to promote Arbor Day and creatively show the importance of trees in Union County.
7th Grade
Union County Freeholder Chairman Linda Carter (2nd R) joined Freeholders Bette Jane Kowalski and Bruce Bergen in congratulating Annie Langan from the Kawameeh Middle School in Union on winning third place for 7th graders in the 2013 Union County Arbor Day Poetry Contest. (Not pictured) Kelly Floyd took first place and Renee Barbosa came in second place. Both attend the Columbia Middle School in Berkeley Heights. Contestants, ranging from grades 4 through 8, had to prepare an original work in an effort to promote Arbor Day and creatively show the importance of trees in Union County.
8th Grade
Union County Freeholder Chairman Linda Carter (2nd R) joined Freeholders Bette Jane Kowalski and Bruce Bergen in congratulating the 8th grade winners of the 2013 Union County Arbor Day Poetry Contest. Annie Zhou from New Providence Middle School took first place; Kaanita Iyer from the Burnet Middle School in Union came in second place and Madison Law from the Lincoln School in Garwood placed third. Contestants, ranging from grades 4 through 8, had to prepare an original work in an effort to promote Arbor Day and creatively show the importance of trees in Union County.