County of Union, New Jersey

Union County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi reminds voters who wish to use the early voting process in person can bring their application to the County Clerk’s main office in Elizabeth or the annex office in Westfield up until 3:00 p.m. on November 7. Pre-printed applications are also available at these offices.

The County Clerk also encourages voters with mobile devices to download the free Union County Votes app to receive complete information for the upcoming General Election on November 8.

The County Clerk’s main office at 2 Broad Street in Elizabeth will be open from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Saturday November 5, for voters to apply for a Vote by Mail ballot in person.

The annex, at 300 North Avenue East in Westfield, is also open for Vote by Mail users on Saturday November 5 from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

For a schedule of regular weekday office hours and more information about voting in Union County use the Union Count Votes app, visit unioncountyvotes.com, or call the Elections Division at 908-527-4996.

For all other County Clerk programs and services visit online at ucnj.org/county-clerk or call 908-527-4787.

The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is pleased to announce that Union County Economic Development Corporation (UCEDC), a nonprofit economic development corporation, has received a $1.4 million grant from the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Community Development Financial Institutions Fund (CDFI Fund).

The award will support UCEDC’s Community Advantage 7a loan program, providing long-term loans of $50,000 to $250,000 to start-up (in operation less than two years) and established businesses in New Jersey. With low down payments and flexible collateral requirements, Community Advantage 7a loans can help grow small businesses that can’t qualify for conventional financing.

“Our partnership with UCEDC broadens access to working capital and training programs for small businesses in Union County,” said Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen. “The CDFI award is a testament to the commitment of UCEDC to supporting low-income and economically disadvantaged communities. On behalf of the Freeholder Board, I would like to congratulate UCEDC on this particular achievement.”

This is UCEDC’s second consecutive award from the CDFI Fund – it received $1.36 million in 2015 – and it is one of only two New Jersey organizations to receive grants this year.

The grant will enhance UCEDC’s financing outreach into communities where access to capital is often difficult to obtain. “Small business owners and entrepreneurs in these areas deserve a fair chance to succeed and we are committed to supporting their efforts through our loan products and mentoring services,” says UCEDC President, Maureen Tinen.

A partner of this year’s ‘Union County at Work and Play’ 2016 Chairman initiatives, UCEDC and the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders are committed to boosting local economies and strengthening communities through small business development and job creation.

“No matter what stage your business is in, even it’s still just an idea that you’re considering, we encourage you to contact UCEDC for more information about the unique financing options we’ve established to support small business growth,” said Chairman Bergen.

Since its inception in 1977, UCEDC has loaned over $27 million to small businesses throughout New Jersey, helping to create and retain 6,000+ jobs.  In addition to its lending programs, UCEDC provides training and technical assistance services and serves as a designated Procurement Technical Assistance Center. 

For information about UCEDC’s Community Advantage 7a loan program as well as its other small business loan programs, call 908-527-1166 or visit www.ucedc.com.

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The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is pleased to present an exhibit of paintings by Paul Federico of Scotch Plains in the gallery space at the Union County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs, located in the historic St. John’s Parsonage at 633 Pearl Street in Elizabeth. A selection of his work entitled ‘The Three Skaters’ is on display at the Pearl Street Gallery through December 30. The public is invited to enjoy the exhibit during regular gallery hours, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays.

“The talent and diversity of our county artists assure an inspiring variety of exhibits at the Pearl Street Gallery,” said Freeholder Bette Jane Kowalski, liaison to the Union County Cultural and Heritage Advisory Board. “We are pleased to display Mr. Federico’s charming illustrations from his children’s book, ‘The Three Skaters’.”

Federico studied drawing at Brookdale Community College while in high school. He earned his BFA at Parsons School of Design, NY; attended The School of Visual Arts, NY; duCret School of Art, Plainfield; and attended life drawing classed at the Arts Students League in Manhattan.

Federico said of his work, “Years ago, when I was reading bedtime stories to my daughter Kim, I came across a story called “The Three Skaters” in a book of Christmas stories from around the world. It is a story about three families who offer all they have to give to a family of young refugees. It’s about the joy you can feel when you unconditionally give a gift to someone. I thought that it would make a terrific bedtime story. So I adapted it into a 34 page, hard cover children’s book with 18 full color illustrations. The story is set in the 19th century Holland. I painted the illustrations in oil on wooden panels in a van Gogh style.”

Paul Federico is an artist and graphic designer and the Creative Director of Princeton Partners Advertising. He is a member of the Westfield Art Association and the Contemporary Art Group of Watchung and has exhibited throughout the region. To see more of Paul Federico’s artwork got to www.paulfederico.com.

Union County artists (whose works can be hung on a wall) interested in exhibiting in the gallery space are welcome to apply. For more information about the Pearl Street Gallery or other programs, please contact the Union County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs, 633 Pearl Street, Elizabeth NJ 07202. Free on-site parking is available. Telephone 908-558-2550. NJ Relay users can dial 711. Send E-mail to: culturalinfo@ucnj.org.

Union County, NJ – Union County residents who are caring for persons with Alzheimer’s Disease are invited to attend a free informational conference on Saturday, November 5, 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. at Union County College, 1033 Springfield Avenue in Cranford.

Free adult day care is available, so that attendees can focus on the conference while their loved ones are looked after by experienced staff.

The conference is designed to provide expert, reliable guidance for caregivers. Topics include medication and behavioral management as well as legal and financial considerations.

The conference is hosted by the Union County Department of Human Services, Division on Aging in partnership with Alzheimer’s New Jersey.

The adult day care will be provided free of charge by the Gateway Family YMCA’s W.I.S.E. Adult Day Center, 2095B Berwyn Street in Union.

Seating is limited and pre-registration is required by calling Alzheimer’s New Jersey, 973-586-4300 or 1-888-280-6055. Attendees planning to use the free adult day care must also request that service in advance.

For additional information, contact the Division on Aging at 908-527-4872.

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 encourages voters with mobile devices to download the free Union County Votes app to receive complete information for the upcoming General Election on November 8.

“Interest in early voting has been growing, so we have added a new “Early Voting” button this year to help voters access all the information they need through the convenience of their mobile phones and tablets,” said Ms. Rajoppi.

Early voting applications are available for download from the County Clerk’s new Elections website, unioncountyvotes.com. They can also be obtained by calling the Elections Division, 908-527-4996.

The deadline for mailing the application is past. However, voters who did not mail their applications still have ample time to submit them in person.

Voters who wish to use the early voting process in person can bring their application to the County Clerk’s main office in Elizabeth or the annex office in Westfield up until 3:00 p.m. on November 7. Pre-printed applications are also available at these offices.

In-person applicants can use the County Clerk’s convenient “One Stop” service to have their application processed while they wait, receive their early voting ballot, and cast it in a secure box. 

The County Clerk is also offering special extended hours this week to accommodate in-person early voters.

Early voting is also known as vote-by-mail, and early voting ballots are still sometimes still called absentee ballots. Since 2009, every registered voter in New Jersey has the option to vote early by mailing in their ballot, or dropping it off in advance of Election Day.

The County Clerk’s main office at 2 Broad Street in Elizabeth will be open from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Saturday November 5, for voters to apply for a Vote by Mail ballot in person.

The annex, at 300 North Avenue East in Westfield, is also open for Vote by Mail users on Saturday November 5 from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

For a schedule of regular weekday office hours and more information about voting in Union County use the Union Count Votes app, visit unioncountyvotes.com, or call the Elections Division at 908-527-4996.

For all other County Clerk programs and services visit online at ucnj.org/county-clerk or call 908-527-4787.

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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.

Union County’s new mobile Aging Service Kiosk (ASK) program is scheduled to visit six communities throughout Union County in November. The free ASK information sessions are designed to provide residents with a convenient, friendly way to find out about services for seniors, and for their families and caregivers.

“The ASK program brings our experienced staff to different locations throughout the county where seniors can come for expert, reliable guidance about county support programs and services that are available to them,” said Freeholder Bette Jane Kowalski, liaison to the Human Services Advisory Council. “If you or someone you know is in need of assistance, I encourage you to stop by at any one of the six upcoming events.”

The new Aging Services Kiosk (ASK) free outreach program is designed to provide residents with information about aging services and programs such as home delivered meals, respite care, home care, and adult day care, as well as support services for caregivers. Assistance with completing applications and forms will also be available.

Open to all Union County residents, the ASK outreach program is scheduled to visit the following six municipalities in November:

Wednesday, November 9
Linden Public Library
31 E. Henry Street
Linden, NJ 07036
10:00am to 12:00pm

Thursday, November 10
Westfield Community Center
558 West Broad Street
Westfield, NJ 07090
10:30am to 12:30pm

Monday, November 14
Clark Public Library
303 Westfield Avenue
Clark, NJ 07066
10:00 am to 12:00pm

Wednesday, November 16
Fanwood Public Library
5 Forest Road
Fanwood, NJ 07023
10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon

Thursday, November 17
Berkeley Heights Public Library
290 Plainfield Avenue
Berkeley Heights, NJ 07922
10:00 a.m. to 12 noon

Friday, November 18
Mountainside Municipal Building
1385 Route 22 East
Mountainside, NJ 07092
11:30 am to 1:30pm

ASK is a program of the Division on Aging and Disability Resource Connection under the Union County Department of Human Services. The Division on Aging is an Area Agency on Aging established under the Older Americans Act as part of a national initiative to improve services for older adults since 1965. The division offers informational resources printed in both English and Spanish.

For more information about ASK and other programs and services of the Union County Division on Aging and Disability Resource Connection, call the division’s toll-free number: 1-888-280-8226, or visit the Union County government website at ucnj.org.

Union County Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen and Freeholders Bette Jane Kowalski and Alexander Mirabella speak with Scotch Plains Recreation Director Matt Mercurio, driver Lynn Barattucci and resident Sylvia Lovell about the new passenger van awarded to the township as part of Chairman Bergen’s “Seniors in Motion” initiative for 2016. The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders awarded vans to 18 municipalities in Union County to provide transportation for the seniors in each town. For more information on the “Seniors in Motion” initiative and other senior programs, call the Office of the Director, Department of Human Services at 908-527-4808 or visit ucnj.org. (Photo by Jim Lowney/ County of Union)