County of Union, New Jersey

 

Union County, NJ – Educators and afterschool program staff can add to their toolkit of hands-on science activities by attending the next Design It! Explore It! series of professional development workshops. The programs were created by the Rutgers Cooperative Extension 4-H Youth Development program and the New Jersey School-Age Care Coalition.

“This program helps educators bring high-tech subject matter down to earth with familiar materials and fun activities,” said Union County Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen. “When students can engage with important science and engineering concepts and practice teamwork at a young age, they gain a firm platform for future academic success.”

The Design It! Explore It! workshops include everything educators need to introduce science and engineering activities to students in grades 2-8, with an emphasis on working in teams.

Ongoing support from professionals with the Rutgers 4-H program is also part of the package.

• Design It! includes balls and tracks, gliders, paper bridges, rubber band-powered cars, straw Rockets and trebuchets (trebuchet refers to a mechanical device used for launching objects into the air). 
• Explore It! includes cake chemistry, heating a house and an oven, measuring ourselves, sinking and floating, siphon systems and wiring a house.

The workshops will be held during the 2016-2017 school year in October, January and March at the Cook Student Center at Rutgers University in New Brunswick.

Online enrollment and payment are due by June 17, 2016.  For information on enrollment packages visit nj4h.rutgers.edu/educators. For questions about the program contact Chad Ripberger, Rutgers 4-H, ripberger@rce.rutgers.edu (questions about enrollment and payment may be directed to  Mike MacEwan, NJ SACC, mmacewan@njsacc.org).

In Union County, the Rutgers Co-operative Extension provides many learning and volunteer opportunities for children and adults, including 4-H Clubs for students in grades 1-12, and the Master Gardener and Master Tree Stewards community service programs. For more information about programs in Union County visit ucnj.org/rce or call the Extension offices in Westfield, 908-654-9854.

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 – The volunteer members of the Union County Rape Crisis Center have provided advocacy and guidance to victims of sexual violence since 1984, and this spring there are openings for new volunteers.

“In the 32-year history of the Rape Crisis Center, our volunteers have provided thousands of people – male and female, young and old — with the support they need to face a critical period in their lives,” said Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen. “If you are looking for an opportunity to serve the Union County community, I encourage you to contact the Rape Crisis Center now.”

The Rape Crisis Center is a division of the Union County Department of Human Services. A core of professional staff coordinates and mentors the volunteer corps of trained Advocates.

All Advocates undergo a training series that enables them to provide guidance over the phone through the Rape Crisis Center hotline. Advocates may also accompany victims to medical or legal procedures.

“Tragically, in many cases of sexual violence the victim has no family or friend to go with them for medical attention or to provide statements,” said Bergen. “In such cases our volunteers fill a critical gap with empathy and emotional support as well as reliable guidance. They can make all the difference to people who are rebuilding their lives in the aftermath of a trauma.”

Prospective volunteers must be over 18, hold a valid driver’s license, and have their own vehicle.

Before becoming eligible for the training course, volunteers must also contact the Rape Crisis Center at 908-233-7273 or email rcc@ucnj.org to schedule an in-person interview.

The next training course begins on Tuesday evening, April 5, and continues twice weekly for a total of 17 sessions, from 6:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., until May 31.

All sessions take place at the Rape Crisis Center offices in Westfield at the Colleen Fraser county services building, 300 North Avenue East.

To find out more about the volunteer experience, contact the Rape Crisis Center at 908-233-7273 or rcc@ucnj.org, or visit online at unioncountyrapecrisiscenter.blogspot.com.

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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 Chairman Bruce H. Bergen and Vice Chairman Sergio Granados joined Freeholders Linda Carter, Angel G. Estrada, Christopher Hudak and Alexander Mirabella in welcoming New York Jets Head Coach Todd Bowles, an Elizabeth native, and New York Yankees great Sparky Lyle as the guest speakers at the 80th Annual Union County Baseball Association Hot Stove Awards Dinner in Clark.

The Freeholders also congratulated the five new members inducted into the Union County Baseball Hall of Fame: Joe Alvarez of Elizabeth, Ray Crepeau of Linden, Wally Engelhardt of Elizabeth, Bruce Henderson of Rahway, and Damien Kane of Roselle.

Union County Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen and Freeholder Bette Jane Kowalski present a resolution to the players and coaches of the Cranford High School Cougars football team congratulating them on completing a perfect 12-0 season and capturing the North Jersey, Section 2, Group 3 State Championship.
(Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

Union County Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen and Vice Chairman Sergio Granados joined Candice Frye and Freeholders Mohamed S. Jalloh, Bette Jane Kowalski, Linda Carter and Vernell Wright in presenting the Chester Holmes Humanitarian Award to Assemblyman Jerry Green during the 4th Annual Union County Black History Month Celebration at Union County College in Cranford. The Freeholder Board created the award in honor of the late former Freeholder Chester Holmes.

Available for County Residents through the Workforce Innovation Business Center

The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is pleased to announce 100 new full-time ‘work at home’ customer service and tech support jobs available for county residents through the Workforce Innovation Business Center.

The job fair and information sessions will be held at the Union County Workforce Innovation Business Center, at The Mills at Jersey Gardens, 651 Kapkowski Road in Elizabeth on Tuesday, March 1 starting at 10:00 a.m. Pre-registration is required online at ucnj.org/wdb/100-job-positions-available/.

“The Workforce Innovation Business Center continues to be an economic engine for Union County, helping to match high quality local employers with qualified job seekers,” said Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen. “If you are an employer, I encourage you to get in touch with us, and let our experienced staff help you find the right people for the right jobs.”

Candidates interested in the “work at home” customer service and tech support opportunity must bring an electronic copy of their resume, and have at least one of the following qualifications: 60 college credits, technology certificate, and/or 2 years of military service. Veterans will be given hiring preference.

“The Freeholder Board is proud to offer another round of job recruitment for Union County residents in back to back months. We are aware that many residents face different living situations – some individuals can’t leave their home as easily as others due to a disability, while some are taking care of loved ones, and others face different circumstances for whom this could be a perfect job opportunity,” said Freeholder Vice Chairman Sergio Granados, who is in his third year as the Freeholder liaison to the Union County Workforce Advisory Board. “The Freeholder Board is proud to be able to present job opportunities for different segments of our residents and their family lifestyles to meet some of the workforce challenges they face.”

The Workforce Innovation Business Center was established by the Freeholder Board with Union County College through a $2.4 million investment in 2014, leveraging the employment services and education experience of both partners.

The WIB Center has offered more than 1,200 job opportunities in little over a year for Union County residents. This year, as Liaison, Freeholder Vice Chairman Granados has requested the WIB Center to prioritize the hiring of Veterans in support of Chairman Bergen’s 2016 “UC HERO” initiative, which encourages local employers to offer hiring preferences to military veterans.

Previous Workforce Innovation Center hiring rounds have matched Union County job seekers with top employers including Whole Foods, Doctor Martens and AirServ, among others.

For more details about the new round of hiring and other information about the WIB center visit online at ucnj.org, call 908-355-4444 or email Isaias Rivera, isaias.rivera@ucc.edu.

 

Union County, NJ – Union County business owners and managers are invited to attend “Union County Means Green,” a free breakfast networking session and seminar with leading companies designed to share new green strategies for attracting customers and boosting the bottom line. The event is scheduled for Monday, March 7, 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon at the Donald R. Conklin Conference Center at the Kean University STEM building, 1000 Morris Avenue in Union Township.

Union County Means Business is free but pre-registration is required online at ucnj.org/ucmb.

“The Union County economy is growing, and part of that growth is being fueled by a commitment to sustainability, including waste reduction, renewable energy and smart growth,” said Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen. “If you own or manage a business in Union County, I encourage you to come to the seminar and learn how you can engage with this new trend while helping your business grow.”

Union County Means Green provides an opportunity to meet and hear from representatives with leading companies in the sustainability field including Covanta Energy, which is sponsoring the event in partnership with the Freeholder Board, Office Depot, Cox Printers of Linden, state-based community partners such as the New Jersey Sustainable Business Registry and Rutgers University, and other experts in waste management, stormwater management, green purchasing, and more.

Municipal agencies, non-profits and other civic groups are also encouraged to attend.

“Leading employers in Union County and beyond have been deploying green strategies to improve their operations and appeal to today’s customers,” said Bergen. “This is a great opportunity to learn from experienced members of the business community and other stakeholders.”

Union County Means Green includes an informal breakfast networking session, two panel discussions, and time for more networking after the panels. Informational displays by businesses and community partners are also included.

Union County Means Green is a service of the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders, sponsored by Covanta Energy 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.

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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 Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen spoke at a news conference held by Senate President Steve Sweeney and Senator Nicholas Scutari in Linden to call attention to the importance of a renewed Transportation Trust Fund to support critical infrastructure projects such as a new interchange in Linden that would provide a direct connection to Tremley Point, directing traffic out of residential communities. They were joined by Assemblyman Jerry Green, Assemblyman Jim Kennedy, Linden Mayor Derek Armstead, Freeholders Christopher Hudak and Bette Jane Kowalski and Linden Councilman Ralph Strano. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

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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 Chairman Bruce H. Bergen and Freeholders Linda Carter and Alexander Mirabella presented a resolution to Union County Vocational-Technical Schools Superintendent Peter Capodice, National Future Farmers of America (FFA) advisor and horticulture instructor Bonnie Baldasare, FFA member Aaron Etienne and FFA president Emiliano Chirigliano designating the week of February 20, 2016 through February 27, 2016 as National Future Farmers of America Week in Union County. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)