County of Union, New Jersey

 

Union County, NJ – County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi announced that high school students in Union County who are seventeen years old can now use the Union County Votes mobile app to download a form to pre-register to vote. Ms. Rajoppi also unveiled a new Party Declaration button for the app.

“It’s important to engage young adults in the electoral process and let their voices be heard,” said Ms. Rajoppi. “With these new buttons, Union County Votes will provide a valuable service and help young adults to enhance their civics studies in high school during the excitement of a presidential election year.”

The new Are You 17? button is labeled “17” with a forward arrow to resemble a Parkway sign. It enables seventeen-year-olds to determine their eligibility to vote when they turn 18, by answering questions about their age, residency, and citizenship. They can then request a registration form. Once they return the form, they will automatically be registered to vote on their 18^th birthday.

New Jersey State Law allows a person who will be 18 on or before Election Day to register to vote before their 18^th birthday.

The Party Declaration button is designed to provide voters with a convenient way to access a Political Party Declaration Form, if they wish to change or declare their party affiliation in time to vote during a Primary election. Under New Jersey State Law, voters currently affiliated with a political party must change their affiliation 55 days before a Primary election. Unaffiliated voters may declare their affiliation at any time up to and including Primary Day.

The Union County Votes app is a free download for mobile devices. It was introduced by Ms. Rajoppi in fall 2014 to enable voters and election-watchers to access critical information, including emergency-related polling place changes and other alerts.

Any Union County resident can confirm their registration and party affiliation status by using the Am I Registered? button on the Union County Votes app.

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

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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The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders, Sheriff Joe Cryan,  Mayor J. Christian Bollwage, and a number of other elected officials, educational, clergy and non-profit leaders today joined with Senator Raymond J. Lesniak in kicking off the Senator’s pilot program which leverages private donations to assist food stamp recipients to either find a job or participate in a training or work-related program that maintains their benefits.

The pilot program comes amidst news that as many as 11,000 -20,000 New Jersey residents—and as many as 1,500 in Union County—could lose their Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits by November.  This is the result of the Christie Administration’s decision not to seek an extension (or waiver) of benefits from the Federal Government for single, able-bodied adults (18-49 years of age) without dependents who receive SNAP benefits. The announcement was also timely given that March is National Nutrition Month, a campaign that focuses on the importance of food choices.

“The pilot program is the right thing to do, not only for Union County residents who receive SNAP benefits, but for all of New Jersey’s residents who may lack the means to put food on their table,” said Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen. “We’re proud to stand with Senator Lesniak in kicking off this important initiative.”

The legislation, S-2366, entitled “the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Employment and Demonstration Project was signed into law in 2013, and was sponsored by Lesniak and Senator Joseph F. Vitale of Middlesex. The bill has the state Department of Human Services partner with local agencies, non-profits, and colleges and universities to provide food stamp recipients with job training funded by private foundations with matching funds from the federal government.

“The program is unique in that it matches private sector money to Federal  money—at no cost to the state–in funding jobs training programs for SNAP recipients,” said Senator Lesniak. “At a time when many of our residents are still struggling to pay for food and now facing the loss of benefits, we call upon the state Department of Human Services to expand the pilot program across the state.”

Mayor Bollwage noted: “This Job Training and Placement PILOT program for SNAP recipients will increase options for residents, enable them to acquire and hone skills as well as enhance their abilities. From assisting with retaining benefits to improving the overall quality of life, this initiative supports the wellness of our community.”

The state Department of Human Services selected two non-profits, Blessed Ministries Inc. and YouthBuild, Newark Inc., to run pilot programs that would help as many as 400 or so SNAP recipients in four counties—Union, Essex, Hudson and Passaic Counties—to find work or engage in a work-related activity or program that would help them retain benefits.

Blessed Ministries Inc.’s pilot program was funded in part through a $500,000 donation from the Nicholson Foundation of Newark, and matched through U.S. Department of Labor funds passed through the State Division of Family Development. YouthBuild, Newark Inc.’s programming is supported by the U.S. Department of Labor, multiple State agencies, the Victoria and Prudential Foundations, and other public and private sources.

“We’re excited to have been chosen to work with Union County among the counties in our service area,” said Sean LaCon, Chairman and Founder of Blessed Ministries. “We’ve developed a rapid advancement and employment program which will help SNAP recipients with the skills they need to find employment.” LaCon also thanked Lesniak and the Nicholson Foundation for their support.

“This pilot brings much-needed resources to work that is often overlooked in State and federal policy discussions for a population that is vital to communities and families thriving,” cited YouthBuild Newark’s Founding Executive Director Robert Clark.  “We are eager to build upon Senator Lesniak’s vision and collaborate with partners such as the Urban League of Essex County to maximize its impact.”

Statewide, 884,937 residents—or roughly one of every ten New Jersey residents—receive SNAP benefits. In Union County, 49,578 residents, including 24,462 children—receive SNAP benefits according to a December, 2015 New Jersey Department of Human Services report. A recent study by the Food Research and Action Center, a non-profit group, indicates the number could be much higher since the State of New Jersey ranks among the 15 worst nationally in reaching SNAP-eligible people.

Union County Human Services Director Frank Guzzo explained that in order to enroll in a jobs training program such as Blessed Ministries and YouthBuild Newark, Inc., Union County SNAP clients must first be found eligible and referred through County Human Services personnel at one of the County’s One Stop Centers.

The State has sent out letters to single, able-bodied adults without dependents (known as ABAWDs) who receive SNAP benefits and who face a potential loss of benefits due to the loss of waivers, asking them to report on the following dates for an informational session and assessment:

• One Stop Elizabeth Center (921 Elizabeth Avenue): March 9, 10, 16, 17, 23, 24, 30, 31st and April 6.  Sessions will begin 1:30 pm
• One Stop Plainfield Center (200 W. Second Street):  March 18, April 1, 15th at 9 am and 1 p.m.

Anyone who has questions about their benefits should call the statewide SNAP Hotline at 855-450-3109.

A significant portion of SNAP recipients are low-income, low skill residents with limited job prospects, who are more likely to lack basic skills in reading, writing, and math, according to the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO). Many SNAP recipients are also homeless, according to Linda Flores-Tober, Executive Director of the Elizabeth Coalition to House the Homeless.

“Every year, we are seeing more and more homeless people access our services,” said Flores-Tober. “Any effort that addresses food insecurity among the homeless and poor is certainly welcome, but we certainly have a long way to go in the state.”

According to a U.S. Department of Labor study released in 2015, New Jersey’s long term jobless rate remains among the highest in the nation with more than 40 percent of its unemployed residents having been jobless at least 27 weeks. Only New Mexico and Washington D.C. posted higher rates. The impact from the state’s persistently sluggish recovery is being felt at New Jersey’s food banks, which have seen the ongoing, record demand dramatically shrink their inventory. 

The latest report from Feeding America, a nutritional advocacy group, shows more than 1.1 million people across the state face hunger, and almost 400,000 of them are children.  That puts New Jersey’s overall food insecurity rate at more than 12%, but children fare worse, with their food insecurity rate now 18%, and nearly one in five facing hunger.

“This is an ongoing crisis that many residents in New Jersey may not be aware of,” said Debra Vizzi, President and CEO of the Community FoodBank of New Jersey, which is headquartered in Hillside. “We applaud any effort to assist SNAP recipients maintain their benefits or find work, and to call attention to the hunger crisis in New Jersey.”

Pastor Carmine Pernini, of the Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church in Rahway who is representing the Union County Interfaith Coordinating Council, added: “As first responders in our congregations and communities, clergy see and know firsthand how essential SNAP is to quality of life for so many. It is our hope that the funding of SNAP remain in place in support of those most in need of help in keeping food on their table for them and their families.”

Union County College President Margaret M. McMenamin, who also joined the announcement, was recently notified by the state that at least 100 SNAP clients will be seeking the College’s services for training and placement services—in a program unrelated to Lesniak’s pilot project. The program will be funded through the State Department of Labor Workforce Development and will providing training and placement for

“These are people who need a boost: to learn a new skill or to build on the educational credentials they already have,” McMenamin said. “That’s what community colleges do. We welcome our neediest residents with open arms and give them that boost toward achieving a better life.”

The kick-off to Lesniak’s SNAP Pilot program initiative was held at the African American Cultural and Learning Center on Spring Street in Elizabeth. Scheduled speakers included Senator Lesniak, Freeholder Chairman Bergen, Mayor Bollwage, Sheriff Cryan, Sean LaCon of Blessed Ministries, YouthBuild Newark Board Member Craig Drinkard, Linda Flores-Tober of the Elizabeth Coalition to House the Homeless, Debra Vizzi of the Community FoodBank of New Jersey, Union County College President Dr. Margaret McMenamin, Pastor Carmine Pernini of the Union County Interfaith Coordinating Council, Pastor Carlos J. Torres, 7th Day Adventist Church with four branches in Elizabeth,  Frank Guzzo, Director of the Union County Department of Human Services, members of the Clergy and SNAP clients. 

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Union County, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders invites all student writers in grades 4-8 to participate in the 2016 Union County Arbor Day Poetry Contest. The contest is held each year in advance of Arbor Day in partnership with the Union County Shade Tree Advisory Board, to help foster an appreciation for the role of trees in the environment.

“The Freeholder Board is very proud of all the writers who have participated in our contest over the years,” said Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen. “Like many Union County residents I have some very special childhood memories of playing outdoors and enjoying the fresh air. That attachment gains depth when you realize how our treescape contributes to a diverse habitat and helps to sustain healthy neighborhoods.” 

Studies have shown that trees improve property values and provide many other civic benefits while providing a cooling effect in summer, absorbing airborne pollutants, preventing soil erosion, and helping to alleviate flooding.

Students who are interested in entering the contest can enter through their school, which then submits the completed poems to the Shade Tree Advisory Board.

The poems can be written in any style or structure on the theme of the role that trees play in our natural environment and constructed landscapes.

“The poetry contest provides younger students with a creative, positive experience that can encourage them to focus on environmental studies as they progress through school,” said Bergen.

One winner will be chosen for first, second, and third place at each grade level.  The winners will be invited to attend an awards ceremony at the Union County Administration Building in Elizabeth at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 28, where they will be publicly recognized by Union County and presented with a monetary reward and a certificate. 

The deadline for schools to return the student entry forms and poems is Thursday, March 24.

For details contact Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Union County 4-H Agent and Chair of the Union County Shade Tree Advisory Board James Nichnadowicz, (908) 654-9854 or jnichnadowicz@ucnj.org.

(Illustration by Libby Reid/County of Union, NJ)

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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 Freeholder Bette Jane Kowalski joined Elizabeth Mayor. J. Christian Bollwage, North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority (NJTPA) Chairman and Somerset County Freeholder Peter S. Palmer, Passaic County Freeholder John Bartlett, NJTPA Executive Director Mary K. Murphy, Elizabeth Police Officer Brian Clancy, Dr. John D’Angelo, Chair of Emergency Medicine at Trinitas Regional Medical Center and Sulisnet Jimenez, Principal of Elizabeth Public School No. 28, at the launch of the latest round of the pedestrian safety campaign called Street Smart NJ at Union County College in Elizabeth.

The Street Smart NJ pedestrian safety education campaign is a collaborative effort between public, private and non-profit organizations urging motorists and pedestrians to “check your vital signs” to improve safety on the road.

The safety campaign that has proven success in changing motorist and pedestrian behaviors, it has been expanded from six communities in 2013 to 12 in 2016, including Elizabeth.

For additional information on Street Smart NJ, visit bestreetsmartnj.org.

(Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is proud to bring a sensory-friendly rootsy rock ‘n’ roll family concert featuring Brady Rymer and the Little Band That Could to the Union County Performing Arts Center in Rahway on Sunday, March 20 at 2:00 p.m.

Available now, all tickets are $8 per person and can be purchased through the Union County Performing Arts Center at ucpac.org or by calling the Box Office at 732-499-8226.

“The Freeholder Board is proud to offer a sensory-friendly performance series for children and families of all abilities,” said Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen. “Inspired by children, Brady Rymer and his band deliver songs that engage audiences of all ages. The Freeholder board is proud to offer an opportunity for families to experience a music concert that celebrates, motivates, and empowers all families and children.”

Join two-time Grammy Award nominee Brady Rymer and his band for a rockin’ and rollin’ show featuring songs that celebrate children of all abilities. Dance and sing along with the group that NPR has called “the best-sounding band in children’s music.” This upbeat concert will include music from Love Me for Who I Am, Brady’s joyful album inspired by and dedicated to students on the autism spectrum.

 

For each of the performances in the Sensory Friendly Theatre series the theatre environment at the Union County PAC will be adjusted to provide a sensory-friendly, comfortable and judgment-free space that is welcoming for all families. Autism Friendly Spaces implements the supportive atmosphere at each of the Sensory-friendly performances. For more information on what to expect at a Sensory Friendly Theatre performance visit ucpac.org/sensory-friendly-theatre.

Save the date – mark your calendar for the next Sensory-Friendly Theatre series performances sponsored by the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders, on Sundays, May 1, 2016 New Jersey Ballet will present Sleeping Beauty.

Union County’s Sensory Friendly Theatre series is made possible, in part, by funding from the NJ Department of Community Affairs through a Recreational Opportunities for Individuals with Disabilities Grant.

For more information or to purchase tickets call the Union County Performing Arts Center, 732-499-8226 or visit ucpac.org. The UCPAC Box Office, located at 1601 Irving Street, Rahway, NJ, is open Tuesday through Saturday from 11:00 AM until 5:00 PM and is also open late on Thursdays until 8:00 PM.

 

For information on additional Union County recreational programs for people with disabilities age five and up, call the Union County Department of Parks and Recreation at 908-527-4781 or visit ucnj.org.

Union County Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen joined Freeholders Vernell Wright, Christopher Hudak and Alexander Mirabella at the “Union County Means Green” breakfast networking session and seminar this morning at Kean University in Union.

The event featured leading companies designed to share new green strategies for attracting customers and boosting the bottom line.

Union County Means Green is a service of the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders, sponsored by Covanta as part of the Freeholder Board’s ongoing Union County Means Business series. For more information visit ucnj.org/ucmb or email the Union County Office of Public Information, info@ucnj.org. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is pleased to announce the availability of a below-prime, no collateral working capital loan program for the county’s established small businesses.  This special program provides easy access to up to $25,000 in working capital to allow local businesses to pay off more expensive debt, take advantage of new opportunities, or cover expenses during slow periods.

The program is administered by UCEDC, a nonprofit economic development corporation, and is made available through the support of a grant from Investors Bank.

“Small businesses contribute to the county’s local employment and neighborhood vitality and we’re committed to offering solutions to ensure their success,” said Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen. “That’s why we’re working so closely with UCEDC to make sure that Union County businesses take full advantage of this low-interest loan program.”

Offered as part of Freeholder Chairman Bergen’s “Union County: At Work and Play” initiative, this program was created to spur economic growth with incentives and loans. Thanks in part to a match from the County, the UCEDC was recently awarded a $1.3 million grant from the federal government to make loans to small businesses.

The program offers up to $25,000 in working capital at just 3% – a half-point below Prime – at five years fixed, with no collateral requirements.  There are no fees or prepayment penalties.

To be eligible, applicants must be in operation for at least three years, have a profitable business, and show a personal credit score of at least 680.  UCEDC offers an online “Rapid Pre-Qual Application” process, which offers potential borrowers an initial assessment of their application within two business days.

“Too often, sound small businesses can’t get the working capital they need from their bank and are forced to borrow elsewhere at very high interest rates,” said Chairman Bergen. “Our partnership with UCEDC provides an extraordinary alternative – very low fixed interest from a well-respected non-profit New Jersey lender.”

For information about UCEDC’s 3% Working Capital Loan Program as well as its other small business loan programs, call 908-527-1166 or visit www.ucedc.com.

With the spring home repair and renovation season just around the corner, the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders reminds Union County residents and businesses to learn more about avoiding scams and understanding consumer rights during the 16^th Annual National Consumer Protection Week, March 6-12.

Consumer Protection Week is a coordinated campaign that encourages consumers nationwide to learn how to protect themselves from fraud and scams.

This year the Union County Office of Consumer Affairs is focusing on the process of hiring a home improvement contractor and the importance of research before doing so. 

“National Consumer Protection Week is the perfect time to learn ways to protect yourself and your family assets,” said Freeholder Chairman Bruce Bergen. “We invite residents to call our Office of Consumer Affairs for information on guidelines to follow before signing a contract, so you can avoid fraud and take your business to a reliable, reputable contractor.”

The Union County Office of Consumer Affairs invites Union County municipalities to help inform residents of signs of possible scams and tips for choosing and working with contractors. A new Consumer Advice on Hiring a Home Improvement Contractor poster is now available to Union County municipalities. The new poster details helpful information and tips including; contractors are required to be registered by the state; registration numbers must be displayed prominently on all advertising, their vehicles and contracts; start and completion dates must be on their contracts; and they must have commercial general liability insurance. Municipalities interested in receiving copies of the poster to post in public buildings should contact the Consumer Affairs Office at 908-654-9840.

Complaints against home improvement contractors continue to be the number one issue investigated by the Union County Office.  Residents may contact the Consumer Affairs Office at 908-654-9840 to check for any possible complaints filed against a contractor, and if they are registered with the state as required by the law. Residents may also call for information on all aspects of the NJ Consumer Fraud Act and its regulations. More information about the Union County Office of Consumer Affairs online at ucnj.org/public-safety/office-of-consumer-affairs.

 

Union County Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen, Freeholder Vernell Wright and Union County Sheriff Joe Cryan joined Monsignor Hugh O’Donnell, the 2016 Union County St. Patrick’s Day Parade Grand Marshal Frank McGovern, General Chairwoman Kerry Ricci, Parade Adjutant Jessica Cunningham and members of the Elizabeth Division of the Ladies of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, the Ancient Order of Hibernians and the Union County St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee at the Irish flag raising at the Union County Courthouse in Elizabeth in honor of St. Patrick’s Day and Irish Culture and Heritage.

The Union County St. Patrick’s Day Parade steps off at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 12 on Morris Avenue in Union. For more information visit www.unioncountystpatricksdayparade.com.

(Photos by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

 

Union County Freeholder Linda Carter joined Assemblyman Jerry Green and Plainfield Mayor Adrian O. Mapp in a meeting with senior citizens at the Richmond Towers in Plainfield to kick off the 14th Annual March for Meals, a month-long celebration of Meals on Wheels designed to rally communities around the seniors who rely on its vital service to remain healthier and independent in their own homes.

Meals on Wheels delivers meals every day to homebound seniors in Union County. The program is primarily supported by a grant from the Union County Division on Aging, as well as donations from private sources and public organizations.

(Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)