County of Union, New Jersey

New stage in bridge deck project removes temporary work zone

New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) officials today announced a traffic shift to the right-side of the bridge for the removal of a construction work zone on the Route 22 westbound over Burke Parkway bridge replacement project in Union County.

Starting at 10 p.m. tonight Friday, April 1 until 8 a.m. Saturday, April 2 and from 10 p.m. Saturday, April 2, until 8 a.m. Sunday, April 3, NJDOT’s contractor Power Concrete, Co. Inc., is scheduled to temporarily close travel lanes on Route 22 westbound to remove concrete barriers and signage. The overnight operations will shift motorists onto the right-side of the bridge, removing the temporary single-lane 11-foot cattle chute currently on either side of a center work zone on the bridge. Route 22 eastbound will not be affected.

The $2 million bridge deck replacement project is expected to be completed in the spring of 2016. The project is being constructed in stages, which began with the new deck and parapets. Each stage is re-constructing approximately one third of the bridge deck at a time. The bridge deck replacement project includes milling and paving the bridge approaches, and reconstructing the guide rail, sidewalk, and curb. As the project progresses, NJDOT will provide information before any closures or detours are implemented.

NJDOT will be using Variable Message Signs to provide advance notification to motorists of traffic pattern changes associated with the work.

The precise timing of the work is subject to change due to weather or other factors. Motorists are encouraged to check NJDOT’s traffic information website www.511nj.org for real-time travel information and for NJDOT news follow us on Twitter @NJDOT_info.

All of Union County is invited to help high school students with a new student-created civic campaign this year called “Garments & Gear – Greatness for Years.” The campaign is aimed at helping ensure that all student athletes can obtain the necessary equipment and clothing, regardless of their financial situation.

Garments & Gear was developed by high school students participating in UC STEP, the Union County Student Training and Enrichment Program, an initiative of the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders.

“This exemplary civic campaign will help ensure that finances are no obstacle to students who want to engage in school sports with their friends and classmates,” said Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen. “It’s a great way to show that the Union County community respects and supports all young people who desire to work hard and excel.”

In the Garments & Gear campaign, high school students from across Union County will collect new and gently used sports equipment and clothing, raise funds by selling Garments & Gear merchandise, and reach out to the community for additional donations.

“Garments & Gear really demonstrates the value of having students brainstorm on civic projects,” said Freeholder Linda Carter, who conceived and launched the first UC STEP during her term as Chairman in 2013. “These young people recognized a significant need among their peers, and they envisioned how we can all step up together and pitch in.”

UC STEP is an annual youth development seminar and civic engagement project for high school juniors and seniors. This year’s UC STEP seminar was held in December with the participation of 195 students from 27 public, private and charter schools throughout Union County.

Each year, the highlight of the UC STEP seminar is the creation of original civic engagement campaigns by teams of student from different schools, working together for the first time. One of the campaigns is ultimately selected as a countywide project supported by the Freeholder Board. Garments & Gear was created by “Team Red,” consisting of 15 members from 12 schools.

Participating in the Garments & Gear campaign this spring are schools that were also represented on Team Red, including Cranford High School, David Brearley High School, John E. Dwyer Academy, Linden High School, New Providence High School, Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School, St. Mary’s High School, UC Vo-Tech High School, Union High School, Roselle Catholic High School, and Plainfield High School.

Governor Livingston High School, Union County TEAMS Charter School, Rahway High School, and Jonathan Dayton are also participating in the campaign.

Union County residents, businesses, organizations and local agencies can participate in Garments & Gear by bringing donations of new or gently used clothing and equipment to drop-off sites, listed on the County website at ucnj.org/uc-step.

To find out how to participate in Garments & Gear with additional funding call UC STEP at 908-659-7412 or email ucstep@ucnj.org.

The campaign will wrap up on Saturday, April 30.

Union County Freeholder Bette Jane Kowalski and Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Union County Environmental and Resource Management Agent Michele Bakacs speak with Pedro Esteve, Lorraine MacNamara and Penny Blackmond of the Richmond Towers Garden Club in Plainfield. Freeholder Kowalski spoke with club members about Freeholder Chairman’s Bruce H. Bergen’s Union County Means Green initiative which includes a new “Community Garden Grant” program for new and existing gardens.

(Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

Union County, NJ – Union County Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen and Vice Chairman Sergio Granados will receive community service awards from the nonprofit organization Community Access Unlimited during its annual Awards Night Celebration on Tuesday, April 5 in Scotch Plains.

Chairman Bergen will receive the Excellence in Community Living Award, and Vice Chairman Granados will receive the Community Services & Partnership Award for an individual.

Chairman Bergen was born and raised in Cranford, and has been a resident of Springfield for almost 30 years. He has practiced law in New Jersey for 35 years while engaging in numerous civic projects. First elected to the Freeholder Board in 2012, Bergen has been named a Paul Harris Fellow by the Cranford Rotary Club and received an International Citizenship and Civic Award from the Springfield B’nai B’rith.

“I thank Community Access Unlimited for this award. It is a testimony to the many Union County residents with whom I have connected over the years, including those at Community Access, who have dedicated their lives to helping others,” said Bergen. “I look forward to many more years of service, working with kind and caring people who give their time generously to make our community stronger.”

“Since first becoming elected to the Freeholder Board, I have sought to champion the cause of people with special needs, worked to create more opportunities in the community for employment and recreation, and to help ensure that their voices are heard,” said Granados. “I am profoundly grateful to Community Access for its very fruitful partnership with Union County, which has enabled us to have a positive, lifelong impact on people with special needs.”

Chairman Bergen’s 2016  Initiatives, “One County, One Community,” include enhancing services for the County’s seniors and veterans, and programs for transportation and economic development, and the environment. As a Freeholder, Bergen’s areas of focus have also included open space preservation and funding for local recreation projects, improvements to commuter rail service on the Raritan Valley line, and long term solutions to flooding along the Raritan River.

Vice Chairman Granados was elected to his first term as a Freeholder in 2013, becoming one of the youngest Freeholders in the state of New Jersey. A native of Elizabeth, he has a long record of volunteerism and activism in the community that encompasses many cultural and civic organizations.

Among his the main initiatives, Granados has concentrating on strengthening and expanding County services that improve the quality of life for people with special needs. As the liaison to the Workforce Development Board he has overseen efforts to create hundreds of new jobs, including new job opportunities for people with special needs through such initiatives such as work-from-home employment.

As the liaison to the Department of Parks and Recreation, Granados has also worked to expand the County’s recreation resources for people with special needs, such as the County’s first  fully wheelchair accessible and spectrum-friendly playground, slated to open in the summer of 2016 at Mattano Park in Elizabeth. He was also instrumental in bringing the 2015 National Junior Disability Championships to Union County parks.

Community Access Unlimited is a non-profit agency based in Elizabeth that provides support services for youth and adults with disabilities. For more information visit online at caunj.org, call 908-354-3040 or email info@caunj.org.

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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 Sheriff Joseph Cryan, Union County Freeholder Vice Chairman Sergio Granados and Elizabeth Councilman Manny Grova congratulate newly promoted Sheriff’s Captain Mark Banek of Clark, Lieutenant Carlo Caparruva of Elizabeth and Sergeant David Pepe of Clark during a ceremony at the Union County Courthouse in Elizabeth.

(Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

For Public Commentary April 13, 2016 to May 13, 2016.

On or about June 6, 2016, the County of Union will submit to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the Consolidated Action Plan for Fiscal Year 2016, which includes applications for preliminary funding for the following grants:

The Consolidated Plan is intended to serve the following purpose/function:

(1)It is a planning document for the County which builds upon citizen participation process; (2) it is an application for federal funds under the above mentioned grant process; (3) it is a strategy to be followed in carrying out HUD programs; and (4) it is an action plan that provides a basis for assessing performance. This Consolidated Plan – Action Plan constitutes the Federal Fiscal Year 2016 Annual Plan for the Five Year (2015-2019) Consolidated Plan. It sets forth a description of the activities for use of HUD funds that are expected to become available during the coming years, determines goals for individuals and households to be served, and describes the implementation plan and location of the activities to be undertaken.

The funds are intended to provide very low, low, and moderate income households with viable communities, including decent housing, a suitable living environment, and expanded economic opportunities. Eligible activities include rehabilitation of community facilities, public improvements, housing rehabilitation, public services, economic development, planning and administration.

The Action Plan is available for public review at the following location: Office of the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders, Union County Administration Building, 6^th floor, Elizabeth, New Jersey 07207.

A resolution authorizing the submission of the 2016 Action Plan has been scheduled by the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders on May 26, 2016 in the Freeholder’s Meeting Room.

Public hearings on the Consolidated Plan will be held on the following dates and locations to solicit citizen comment and participation:

• April 6, 2016 – 1:00 P.M. County Administration Building, 2^nd floor Conference Room, 10 Elizabethtown Plaza, Elizabeth, NJ 07207
• April 6, 2016 – 7:30 P.M. Cranford Community Center, 220 Walnut Avenue, Cranford, NJ 07016
• May 11, 2016 – 9:30 A.M. Cranford Community Center, 220 Walnut Avenue, Cranford, NJ 07016
• May 18, 2016 – 7:30 P.M. Cranford Community Center, 220 Walnut Avenue, Cranford, NJ 07016

Union County Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen and Freeholders Christopher Hudak, Vernell Wright, Linda Carter and Bette Jane Kowalski presented a resolution to Sage Eldercare Executive Director Fred Jenny, Deputy Director Angela Sullivan, Sage Meals on Wheels Director Marianne Kranz and the Sage Eldercare Board of Trustees congratulating the organization in Summit on 50 years of serving Meals on Wheels.

(Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

The Urban League of Union County Young Professionals has selected Union County Freeholder Vice Chairman Sergio Granados to receive the Outstanding Work in Government and Civil Service award for his commitment to the Union County community and his continued efforts to achieve social and economic equality among all residents. The award will be formally presented to Vice Chairman Granados at the organization’s 3^rd annual Young Professional Honors event on Saturday, April 2 at 7:00 p.m. at the Clinton Manor in Union.

“It is truly an honor to be recognized among this year’s award recipients, and those from years past – all of whom are breaking glass ceilings in their respective fields,” said Vice Chairman Sergio Granados. “Making a difference begins with empowering the community. When we lift ourselves up, we need to bring others up with us. I am proud of the work of all of those who have been recognized by Urban League of Union County Young Professionals who strive to put the community first. Only in that form and that manner can we better our society and have a productive community.”

As an auxiliary of the Urban League of Union County, a nonprofit 501c3 organization, the goal of the Young Professionals organization is to promote and support the Urban League’s mission of achieving social and economic equality by empowering communities and changing lives in Union County. The core initiatives are focused on jobs, health, education, and housing.

Freeholder Vice Chairman Sergio Granados, a native of Elizabeth and community activist who has experience working with non-profits and volunteer organizations, was elected to his first full term to the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholder in 2013 – becoming one of the youngest ever elected Freeholders in the State of New Jersey.

Through his work on the Freeholder Board, Granados has emphasized community outreach and fiscal reform, workforce initiatives that have created over 1,000 job opportunities in 2015 alone,  parks and educational improvements, and additional initiatives to benefit veterans and individuals with disabilities.

In 2015, Granados founded Moving New Jersey Forward, a community-based non-profit, whose mission is to raise awareness and education efforts at the local and national level about social justice issues.

In addition, Granados has a long record of activism, he has served with many organizations, including Hispanos Unidos, the Elizabeth Lions Club, the Portuguese Instructive Social Club, the Elizabeth Portugal Day Committee, Union County Latino-American Chamber of Commerce, New Leaders Council-New Jersey & Shaping Elizabeth.

“I look forward to celebrating the work of the Urban League of Union County Young Professionals who strive to serve our county and empower our community,” said Vice Chairman Granados. “I also look forward to working with them to continue the mission of Urban League of Union County to promote and support social and economic equality.”

YP Honors will take place on Saturday, April 2 at 7:00 p.m. at the Clinton Manor in Union. For more information about the Urban League of Union County Young Professionals (ULUCYP), visit ulucyp.org.

The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is proud to support the first annual Drama Festival next month in Rahway. Produced by American Theater Group (ATG), a nonprofit professional theatre company located at UCPAC’s Hamilton Stage in Rahway, registration is now open for the day-long Drama Festival for high school students that will take place April 28.

“Union County has a rich pool of young talent in the performing arts, and the new Drama Festival will provide a unique opportunity for our students to develop their craft, learn from trained theatre professionals and educators, and perform on a professional stage,” said Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen.

During the day-long event, students will have the opportunity to present a scene from whatever play or musical that they have performed during the course of the year, or one they have prepared specially for the competition.  These excerpts will then be given an in-depth critique by working members of the Broadway theater industry.

ATG will also offer at least one workshop for the participants, in areas such as improvisation, audition techniques, stage combat, etc..  In addition, after the day’s events, students will attend a performance of ATG’s production of Crossing Swords.  This world premiere musical is about a group of high school students who attempt to put on a play, and end up seeing life imitate art as passions ignite and jealousies fly.  The day’s events culminate with a post-performance Q&A with the cast and creative team of Crossing Swords.

“The entire experience is a great opportunity to enhance student learning and creative thinking, explore imagination, and promote teamwork and collaboration,” said Bergen.

American Theater Group is New Jersey’s newest professional theater company.  Founded by New Jersey natives Jim Vagias, Joe Mancuso and Rick Sordelet, and under the Board leadership of Tony-Award winning actress Michel Pawk, ATG’s mission is to produce works by American Playwrights, with an emphasis on the development of new works and undeservedly neglected classics, and to nurture the audiences and artists of tomorrow by strong arts-in-education programming.  Now in its fourth season, ATG’ produces in the new state of the art facility, Hamilton Stage, an intimate 199 seat theater that is operated by the Union County Performing Arts Center.

Registrations are open now through April 7, 2016. For more information, call (732) 238-9982 or visit www.americantheatergroup.org.

SCOTCH PLAINS, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders announces the 2016 mobile paper-shredding program for personal, confidential documents will begin with a visit to Scotch Plains on Saturday, April 2.

“Union County’s mobile document-shredding service helps residents fight identity theft by providing a convenient way to shred your confidential documents,” said Freeholder Chairman Bruce Bergen. “It promotes our County recycling efforts and ties in with Union County’s other Green Initiatives.”

The April 2^nd shredding event will take place at the Union County Vocational-Technical Schools campus located at 1776 Raritan Road in Scotch Plains. NEXCUT Shredding of Elizabeth will be shredding personal documents from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., rain or shine. The 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.

This is a garbage-free event so please bring your documents in paper bags if at all possible. Plastic bags and boxes will be returned. 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 then dumped onto a conveyor belt and shredded on site. Participants are welcome to view the shredding process via a closed-circuit television. The shredded documents are then recycled, shipped to paper mills and used as pulp. The next shredding event will take place Friday, April 22^nd (Earth Day), at Warinanco Park in Roselle, near the Ice Skating Rink.

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 Recycling Hotline at 908-654-9889 or visit us online at www.ucnj.org/recycle.