County of Union, New Jersey

(From left) Union County Sheriff Joseph Cryan congratulates Mansfield Township Police Officer Gregory Zytko and K9 Jax, New Jersey Park Police Officer Rolando Rodriguez and K9 Cabo, Union County Sheriff’s Officer Ashley Current and K9 Sam, New Jersey Park Police Officer Karl Mott and K9 Kelly, and New Jersey Park Police Officer Kenneth Kriete and K9 Zico on graduating the Union County’s Sheriff’s Office K9 Training Academy during the graduation ceremony for Class 16-01 in Summit. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

Merck employees and interns cleaned up Michael S. Bezega Park in Rahway recently for an Adopt-a-Park project. The volunteers used the event to pick up trash, clear trails, and cut away invasive vegetation in the park.

If you, your organization, or company would like to take part in Union County’s Adopt-a-Park Program, call Parks & Recreation at 908-789-3683. An Adopt-a-Park coordinator will help you and your group select an area to maintain.

This summer, Union County Department of Parks & Recreation is fortunate to have two interns from Kean University and one from Fordham University who are volunteering their time while gaining experience in the environmental field. The students are working to complete a study of a deer exclosure in the Watchung Reservation. The exclosure is a fenced area meant to keep deer out so native plants can thrive.

Hopefully, the exclosure will act as a natural nursery for the areas outside the fencing. Other duties as an intern include preparing for this year’s Bio-Blitz, entering data collected during the event, and assisting with Saturday Trail Work and Adopt-a-Park projects.

The Freeholders and the Parks & Recreation Department would like to thank Marionela Gavriliuc and Bethania Rocha of Roselle Park and Noah Stiles of Westfield for helping out with the projects. Kean University Professor Dr. Daniela Shebitz and Rutgers University student Jason Hafstad were also on-hand to assist with the project.

Union County Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen congratulates Tyler Hall on winning the 96th New Jersey State Golf Association Open Championship at Union County’s Galloping Hill Golf Course in Kenilworth. The tournament marks the first time in its history that it was played at a county-owned golf course. Hall won the NJSGA Open Championship for the second year in a row, the first repeat winner in about 20 years. He also did something no one has ever had the opportunity to do in the 95-year history of the state championship—win it on a public golf course. (Photo by Jim Lowney/ County of Union)

Union County Freeholder Christopher Hudak presents a resolution to Linden Fire Chief Joseph Dooley congratulating the Linden Fire Department on celebrating its 100^th anniversary. They were joined by Linden Mayor Derek Armstead, Councilwoman Michele Yamakaitis, Councilman Monty Brooks, Councilman Robert J. Sadowski and Deputy Chief Kevin Brady.

The Linden Fire Department will celebrate 100 years of service Saturday with a 1 p.m. parade down Wood Avenue. After the parade the department will host a anniversary party at the Robert Wood Bauer Promenade at 400 N. Wood Avenue, across the street from City Hall. The public is invited to attend.

The Union County Summer Arts Festival concert series continues this coming Wednesday evening July 20, with Ed Palermo’s British Invasion taking the stage at 7:30 p.m. The free concert series, presented by the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholder, and sponsored at Echo Lake Park by ConnectOne Bank will take place at Echo Lake Park in Mountainside during the month of July and move to Oak Ridge Park in Clark during the month of August.

“We hope everyone can head out on Wednesday evening and experience the wonderful musical entertainment offered during our Summer Arts Festival” said Union County Freeholder Chairman Bruce Bergen. “And be sure to arrive early to participate in UC Get Fit Yoga in the Park, a great way for families to stay healthy together.”

Ed Palermo’s Big Band has been together since 1980 and has been playing and honing the music of Frank Zappa (among other composers) for over 20 years. Ed and his band often play a show he called Zodd Zundred, combining the music of Frank Zappa and Todd Rudgren. With the Ed Palermo Big Band, the key element is unpredictability!

While enjoying the wonderful music, concertgoers can visit Tony’s Traveling Trattoria which will treat your palate to excellent Italian comfort food. Also the Good Humor Truck will be on site hosted by TG and Sons serving ice cream and snacks. Attendees can also pack a picnic basket, bring lawn chairs or blankets and enjoy the music under the stars.

Once again UC Get Fit Yoga in the Park, a Union County Freeholder initiative will be part of the Wednesday night pre-concert schedule, with Satsang Young of Westfield presenting a free community class from 6:30 p.m. to 7:15 p.m.  Bring a mat or beach towel and participate in healthy activities for the entire family before the music begins.

Throughout the summer at each concert one Union County Department will be featured, distributing handouts and highlighting their own unique services. On this evening the Union County Department of Economic Development will be on hand.

Here is a list of the upcoming concerts:

• Echo Lake Park, Mountainside (Concerts sponsored by ConnectOne Bank)
  • July 27th Pat Dinizio of The Smithereens – Confessions of a Rock Star
• Oak Ridge Park, Clark
  • August 3rd Black Dog – Tribute to Led Zeppelin
  • August 10th Dead On Live – Grateful Dead Tribute Band (With special guest appearance by Sam Cutler, tour manager for the Rolling Stones and the Grateful Dead)
  • August 17th Hey Bulldog – Music of The Beatles (Sponsored by Union Co. Education Association)
  • August 24th NY. State of Mind – Billy Joel Tribute

 

 

Family Fun & Flix, a free summer entertainment and film series presented by the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders, continues Tuesday, July 19 with the presentation of “Hotel Transylvania 2” at Warinanco Park, on the border of Elizabeth and Roselle.  This year’s Family Fun & Flix series is being sponsored by Investors Bank.

The Drac pack is back for this monster comedy adventure produced by Sony Pictures Animation Division. Drac is worried that his adorable half-human, half-vampire grandson isn’t showing signs of being a vampire, so along with his friends he arranges for a ‘monster-in-training” boot camp. Combine that with a visit from Drac’s grumpy old dad and things are going to get batty at Hotel Transylvania.

As part of the evening’s events, UC Get Fit, a health initiative of the Union County Freeholder Board, will offer fitness fun for kids before the movie, beginning at 7:30 p.m.  Kid’s Yoga with Michelle Suarez will kick off the pre-movie activities.

“Last Tuesday’s opening night crowd for Family Fun & Flix enjoyed a fun evening in the park and we look forward to even more this coming Tuesday as families enjoy an entertaining movie and participate in activities that promote healthy habits for our children,” said Union County Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen.

All movies will begin at dusk, with everyone encouraged to bring a blanket or beach chair to claim your spot on the lawn. There will also be bleacher seats available. Also the Good Humor Truck will be on site hosted by TG and Sons serving ice cream and snacks.

The following is a list of movies throughout the summer at Warinanco Park:

• Tuesday, July 26, The Good Dinosaur
• Tuesday, August 2, Zootopia (Part of the National Night Out program at Meisel Park in Springfield)
• Tuesday, August 9, Inside Out

All movies start at dusk, weather permitting. For more information, call the Union County Department of Parks and Recreation at 908-527-4900 or visit the Union County website; www.ucnj.org. In case of weather related matters, you can call 908-558-4079 after 3:30 p.m. on the day of the show.

 

 

The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders invites residents to participate in the 2016 “Choose Your Cover” program, a statewide skin cancer screening, awareness and educational initiative, on Saturday, August 6 in Clark.

To promote sun safety and help reduce the risk of skin cancer, the Chronic Disease Coalition of Middlesex and Union Counties and the Clark Health Department will once again provide free skin cancer screenings along with their “Choose Your Cover” message of prevention.

In Union County, the “Choose Your Cover” event will take place at the Gran Centurions Pool, 440 Madison Hill Road, Clark, on Saturday, August 6, 2016 from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.  The first 40 attendees will receive a special gift bag with skin cancer promotional materials. All attendees will also qualify to enter a drawing for a gift basket. All specials gifts are provided courtesy of the Clark Township Health Department. Pre-registration is recommended by calling the UC Office of Health Management at 908-518-5620. Walk-ins will also be accepted.

“Whether it’s enjoying our parks, playgrounds and pools, working in the garden, or simply going for a walk, summer is a great time to be outdoors. It’s important to take smart precautions to prevent overexposure to the sun,” said Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen. “I’d like to thank the Chronic Disease Coalition and the Township of Clark for raising public awareness about reducing skin cancer risks.”

Overexposure to the sun is a health risk for people of all ages and races. Before you head outdoors this summer, representatives from the Chronic Disease Coalition of Middlesex and Union Counties urge you to take sun safe precautions to protect your skin from the damaging rays of the sun.

People who work or play outdoors, fair skinned people who sunburn easily, and those with a family history of melanoma are at an increased risk of developing skin cancer – the most common form of cancer in the United States.

Overexposure to the sun’s UV rays is one of the most preventable risk factors for melanoma and all types of skin cancer. This is why it is so important to ‘choose your cover’ and reduce your risk accordingly.

Covering up your skin with long sleeve shirts and long pants in tightly woven fabrics can offer a great means of protection for your skin. Opt for a wide-brimmed hat over a baseball cap for better protection of your head, ears and neck, and wear sunglasses with 100 percent UVA and UVB absorption to protect the eyes from sun damage.

Look for shady areas or avoid the sun, if possible, during the middle of the day when UV rays are the strongest. Remember to liberally apply a broad spectrum sunscreen of SPF 15 or higher and reapply frequently, and steer clear of indoor tanning beds which are proven to increase your risk for skin cancer.

For more information about “Choose Your Cover” 2016, please call the Union County Office of Health Management at 908-518-5620.