County of Union, New Jersey

Union County, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is once again partnering with the Union County Shade Tree Advisory Board to offer free trees to schools in Union County, in honor of Arbor Day.   

“Studies have shown that trees provide many civic and environmental benefits, and the Freeholder Board is very proud of the Union County teachers and students who have participated in our Arbor Day tree planting program throughout the years,” said Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen.

This year’s free Arbor Day Tree is the flowering Redbud.  They are about five feet tall and weigh about 20 pounds. When fully grown they will be about 15-20 feet tall.

The trees are available on a first come first served basis while supplies last. Requests from schools must be received by Monday, April 4, 2016. 

Schools that are interested in a tree can request one by contacting Barbara Knapp at Union County, 908-789-3653 or bknapp@ucnj.org. 

Schools that receive a tree can get a free session in tree planting and care for students, teachers, and parent volunteers through the Rutgers Cooperative Extension 4-H Master Tree Stewards, a program supported by the Freeholder Board.   

For more information about the value of trees in urban areas, visit the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forestry Service i-Tree program at itreetools.org.

Arbor Day has been a National Observance since 1872, encouraging the public to plant and care for trees.  This year it will be celebrated on Friday, April 29, 2016.

To find out more about tree care in Union County or to volunteer to be a Master Tree Steward, contact James Nichnadowicz, Union County 4-H Agent at Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Union County 908-654-9854 or jnichnadowicz@ucnj.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.

Connect with Union County on social media.

Press Release from PSE&G

During the week of March 28th, PSE&G crews will work at the following locations for the construction of the Bergen-Linden Corridor (BLC) electric transmission reliability project, www.pseg.com/blc:

• manhole excavation and installation on South Fifth Street between Fourth Ave. and Fifth Ave. unless the test pit reveals an underground conflict or obstacle
• manhole excavation and installation on South Second Street between Second Ave. and Merritt Ave.

For questions about the project, you can call PSE&G’s BLC customer service telephone number at 1-800-541-9020.

You can visit www.pseg.com/blc and a City of Elizabeth specific link is listed under the heading “What’s Happening in Your Town.”

The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders and the Department of Parks and Recreation invite families with children of all ages and adults alike to celebrate wildlife and embrace environmental conservation at an exciting daylong event at Trailside Nature and Science Center in Mountainside, New Jersey on Sunday, April 24, from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m., rain or shine.

Wild Earth Fest is an entertaining family event where attendees can learn ways to become eco-friendly and increase awareness of wildlife conservation.  Among the events taking place will be live animal demonstrations, educational displays, live music, giveaways and vendors.  This year’s children’s activities include a bounce house and slide; face painting, Recycling Olympics and Eco-Art.  In addition, the winners of the Wildlife Photography Contest and Environmental Hero Awards will be announced during the event.  To nominate an Environmental Hero in your community or participate in the Wildlife Photography Contest visit www.ucnj.org/trailside.   

“Wild Earth Fest is a very worthwhile and educational day.  We are so proud to celebrate 75 Years of Environmental Education at Trailside,” said Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen.

Laugh, learn and celebrate the wonderful world of reptiles at 11:30 a.m. with Rizzo’s Reptile Discovery, LLC.  Meet live turtles, snakes and a gator as you have fun learning about the characteristics of these cold-blooded creatures.  Eyes of the Wild will perform at 12:30 p.m. bringing live mammals with interesting adaptations and behaviors to the stage.  Prepare to laugh out loud at the life stories of each unique animal, their often humorous personality, fun facts and anecdotes.

Stop by the Wolf Visions table throughout the event to see a live wolf and find out why they are important in a balanced ecosystem.  Vinnie Reo will dispel the myths and legends of the “Big, Bad Wolf” at 2:00 & 3:30 p.m.  Master falconer Jennifer Pena from Flight of the Raptor will have live hawks, falcons and an owl on display for this daylong event. Join Ms. Pena at 4:00 p.m. to discover the importance of these airborne predators and find out how they behave in their natural habitats.  

Visit many educational table displays including:  Friends of the Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge, New Jersey Audubon, New Jersey State Parks Service, Morris County’s Great Swamp Outdoor Education Center, Native Plant Society, Toad Shade Wildflower Farm, Union County Clean Communities,

4-H Master Tree Stewards, Sierra Club and Master Gardeners of Union County.  Many vendors will be on hand selling wildlife related items, recycle art and going green themed items.

As an added attraction to celebrate Trailside’s 75^th anniversary, The Nerds will perform.  Sometimes called New Jersey’s hardest working, hardest rocking party band, The Nerds perform a blend of soul, classic rock and TV theme music.  The band is loosely based on an old skit from Saturday Night Live and have been performing together for over 20 years.  

Admission to Wild Earth Fest is $4 per person. Children 6 years of age and under will be admitted free. 

There is something for everyone at this special event.  Throughout the day food and beverages will be available.  Trailside Nature & Science Center is located at 452 New Providence Road, Mountainside, New Jersey. For more information call (908) 789-3670 or visit www.ucnj.org/trailside.

Union County Freeholders Bette Jane Kowalski and Vernell Wright spoke with artists Michael Cofield and Kevin Rodriguez from the Cranford Achievement Middle School Program at the Union County Teen Arts Festival at Union County College in Cranford. The Union County Teen Arts Festival is an annual two-day celebration of the arts sponsored by the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders through the Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs in the Department of Parks and Recreation. The event is open to all students from public, charter, private and parochial middle and high schools in Union County. 

(Photos by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

Freeholder Vice Chairman Sergio Granados attended the Portuguese Instructive Social Club 94th Anniversary in Elizabeth, the second oldest Portuguese club in New Jersey. Pictured with the Vice Chairman is President of PISC Jose Carlos Brito, Vice President of PISC Carlos Amaral and Vice President Rui Luis.

 

Union County, NJ – Space fans are invited to the Union County Trailside Nature & Science Center this Saturday, March 26 from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. for a presentation by NASA Solar System Ambassador Paul Cirillo. Mr. Cirillo will describe how astronauts live and work on the International Space Station — and he’ll demonstrate how to see the Space Station from your own backyard!

The presentation is free and donations are welcome.

Trailside is located at 452 New Providence Road in Mountainside, in Union County’s Watchung Reservation. Call 908-789-3670 for more details or visit online at ucnj.org/trailside.

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.

As the spring weather approaches, the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders invites residents to visit the County’s popular Child Safety Seat Inspection Center in Garwood.

The proper use of child safety seats is one of the simplest and most effective methods available for protecting the lives of young children in the event of a motor vehicle accident.

“This popular program offers parents and guardians the opportunity to make sure their child’s safety seat is properly adjusted and meets the New Jersey state law requirements,” said Union County Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen. “Our trained safety technicians can help you get familiar with a new seat, or make adjustments to an older seat for a growing child.”

Union County’s popular Child Safety Seat Inspection Program is open every Wednesday and Thursday from 7:30 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. and is located at the Garwood Rescue Squad at 401 2nd Avenue in Garwood. Certified child passenger safety technicians will check the car seat for proper installation and educate parents and guardians on using the seat correctly.

New Jersey’s new child safety seat regulations took effect in September of 2015. The new State law requires parents to adhere to American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommendations for child passenger safety.

If you’re unable to visit the Child Safety Seat Inspection Center during operating hours, weather permitting, Union County’s mobile child seat inspection unit will offer child safety seat inspections at Plainfield High School (950 Park Ave) on Saturday, June 4^th from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm.

“The County’s mobile unit gives residents throughout the county a more convenient opportunity to have our experts assist with a child safety seat in their vehicle, and to be sure the seat meets the new state law regulations,” said Freeholder Linda Carter. “We are happy to bring the County’s Public Safety mobile unit to Plainfield this spring. I invite municipalities to contact our office to request a mobile inspection clinic at a community event this spring or summer.”

Residents are also invited to learn more about other traffic safety programs for children and seniors offered through the Department of Public Safety. Throughout the spring months, the Department of Public Safety’s Division of Police will be present at various community health fairs and street festivals with information about the County’s child safety seat inspection program, the CarFit program for seniors, and the bike helmet initiative. Stop by the Public Safety information table at the following events to learn more:
Thursday, April 28 – Family Fun Day / Health Fair in Plainfield
Saturday, April 30 – YMCA’s Healthy Kids Day / Health and Safety Fair in Rahway
Saturday, June 5 – ‘Garwood Rocks’ Street Festival in Garwood

The child seat inspection program is provided as a public service by the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders, Union County Police Department, New Jersey Division of Highway Traffic Safety, AAA Northeast – NJ Division, and the Garwood First Aid Squad.

For more information about the car seat inspection program, the CarFit program for seniors, or the bicycle helmet safety initiative visit ucnj.org or contact Christine Marcantonio, Traffic Safety Program Coordinator, by email at cmarcantonio@ucnj.org or by phone at 908-789-6830.

 

Union County, NJ – Hundreds of Union County students are learning all about recycling and conservation this spring thanks to “Talkin’ Trash,” a free new classroom program coordinated by Union County through a recycling grant from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.

“Talkin’ Trash is a fun way to help young students see that they can make a big difference,” said Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen. “It’s a great program that helps the next generation of Union County citizens appreciate how we can all care for and protect our environment.”

Talkin’ Trash is a 45-minute program for grades 1-5 conducted by Patricia Lynn, an experienced certified municipal recycling coordinator and former elementary school teacher.

The program is part of Chairman Bergen’s 2016 Union County Means Green initiative, which includes environmental outreach for schools, local businesses and the general public.

“Ms. Lynn an expert and she really encourages the students to think about important issues in an exciting, positive way,” said Freeholder Bette Jane Kowlaski, who visited the program at the Brunner School in Scotch Plains last week. “It was inspiring to see how the class responded as she guided them through hands-on activities and team learning.”

So far, seven school districts in Union County have experienced the program, reaching over 600 students.

Recycling is mandatory in New Jersey, and Union County has been a leader in the recycling field for nearly 30 years. In 2013, the last year for which figures are available, Union County achieved a 61% recycling rate, one of the highest among New Jersey counties.

For additional information about Talkin’ Trash or to schedule a program this spring, schools can email Patricia Lynn at plynn9021@gmail.com.

For information on all Union County recycling programs, including new scrap metal drop-off locations, visit online at ucnj.org/recycling.

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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.

Photo caption: Union County Freeholder Bette Jane Kowalski speaks about recycling with third graders at the Brunner School in Scotch Plains during a visit with the “Talkin’ Trash” program, a traveling lesson available free to schools throughout Union County. (Photo by Jim Lowney/ County of Union)

Freeholder Bette Jane Kowalski recently attended the State of New Jersey Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee Hearing that was being held at New Jersey Institute of Technology.

The Freeholder gave testimony regarding the impact of state budget cuts on critical services that Union County government provides to its most vulnerable residents.