County of Union, New Jersey

Union County Freeholder Vice Chairman Bruce H. Bergen and Freeholder Alexander Mirabella presented a resolution to Coach James DeSarno, team captains Jack Curry, Brett Robertshaw and Michael O’Connor and the entire Westfield High School Blue Devils football team congratulating them on completing a perfect season and capturing the North Jersey Section 2, Group 5 Championship on December 3, 2015 at MetLife Stadium. (Photos by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

The Summit City Council revised the City’s meeting room use policy after normal business hours during their public meeting and The Surrogate, James S. LaCorte has announced that in an agreement with the City of Summit he will conduct evening hours on the 4^th Tuesday of each month at Summit City Hall in the small conference room on the second floor.  The normally scheduled 4^th Thursday of the month is no longer available.

The Surrogate would like to remind everyone that the same instructions apply.  Paperwork should be submitted to his office no later than 48 hours prior to the appointment which, would include:  the will, death certificate, and information sheet.  If there is no will the assets of the estate should be listed separately, valued and identified with an account or identification number.

If you have any questions you may call the office at 908-527-4280 between 8:30 and 4:30 Monday – Friday.

 

Union County, NJ – One and all are invited to join in the 60^th Annual Christmas Carol sing-a-long in the historic Rotunda at the Union County Courthouse at 2 Broad Street in midtown Elizabeth, beginning at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, December 24.

The event features an enormous 30-foot tall Douglas fir tree soaring up past the second story of the Rotunda. Festooned with lights in a snowy tableau populated by animated characters, it makes a colorful background for family holiday photos.

“The annual Union County Sing-A-Long is one of the year’s most enjoyable Union County traditions, bringing the community together to enjoy classic holiday favorites,” said Freeholder Vice Chairman Bruce Bergen, who will act as Master of Ceremonies. “If you’re doing some last minute gift shopping in midtown Elizabeth, please drop in and join the festivities.”

The Singalong is free and open to the public. Everyone can join in the group singing, and there will also be soloists and a live keyboardist.

The Christmas tree in the Rotunda is donated each year by a County resident. This year’s tree is thanks to the generosity of the Mignone family of Clark. It is on display throughout the holiday season and may be viewed during regular Courthouse hours, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., except for holidays.

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The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is proud to bring a sensory-friendly performance of the dynamic, highly interactive, uniquely funny and spectacular Bubble Trouble to the stage at the Union County Performing Arts Center in Rahway on Sunday, January 10 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 sensory-friendly performance series is designed to create performing arts experiences that are welcoming to all families with children and adults with autism or other sensory sensitivities,” said Freeholder Chairman Mohamed S. Jalloh. “The Freeholder Board is proud to help provide opportunities for children and families of all abilities to experience the wonders of science in a creative and entertaining live performance.”

A bubble volcano. Bubble roller coaster. A kid in a bubble? Jeff Boyer takes bubbles to the max in this one-man bubble extravaganza. It’s the craziest, most creative bubble show around. Jeff juggles bubbles, sculpts and builds with bubbles, makes fog-filled bubbles and more. Mixing comedy, music and interactive bubble-magic, he engages and delights audiences of all ages. A hit at performing arts centers, festivals…anywhere there’s air!

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.

Save the dates – mark your calendar for upcoming Sensory-Friendly Theatre series performances sponsored by the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders: Sundays – March 20, 2016, May 1, 2016 and July 31, 2016.

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 Vice Chairman Bruce H. Bergen and Freeholder Alexander Mirabella presented a resolution to Summit Councilman Richard J. Madden and his wife Paula congratulating and commending him for his many years of dedicated public service. Councilman Madden finishes his time on the council this month.  (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

Union County Freeholder Vice Chairman Bruce H. Bergen and Freeholder Angel G. Estrada presented a resolution to Art Braunschweiger of the Union County Regional Communications Center congratulating and commending him on being honored with the New Jersey Department of Health, Office of Emergency Medical Services EMS Dispatcher of the Year Award for 2015. They were joined by Union County Public Safety Director Andrew Moran.

On Saturday, August 22, 2015, Dispatcher Braunschweiger answered a 911 caller reporting a woman in labor. He quickly determined that the mother was in the process of delivering the baby and that it was a breech delivery, with a foot presenting first. Because it was a life-threatening situation, he provided instructions to the caller on how to deliver the baby. When police officers arrived on scene, Dispatcher Braunschweiger kept the caller on the phone so he could continue to relay instructions to the officers, as this was not a normal delivery; the baby was delivered but was not breathing. He continued to provide instructions on how to resuscitate the baby, and this was relayed to the officers. EMS transported mother and baby to a local hospital and they were released a few days later, healthy and with no complications. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union) 

While our last birding report from Lenape Park drew nearly 2,800 viewers, no doubt, in part, because last week’s bird walk included a sighting of a Bald Eagle, this week we turn to a smaller member of the avian family for the bird of the week: the Carolina Wren.

Avid birdwatcher Frank Budney, who leads bird hikes through Lenape on a fairly regular basis, reports that while no one could catch a glimpse of the elusive bird, its call is so distinctive that the wren made its presence known.

If you’re interested in going on one of these morning walks, write to: birding@ucnj.org (This week’s photo was taken by Dan Pancamo of Houston, TX )

One more thing, whether or not you’re scouting for birds, Lenape Park marks the intersection of Union County Parks’ two major greenways, the East Coast Greenway on the western half of the park and the Frederick Law Olmsted Greenway on the western side of the park. The greenways are paved and open to walkers and cyclists…Enjoy…

• Frank’s report:
• Location: Lenape Park, Cranford, Union County, NJ
• Day/Date: Wednesday, 16-December-15
• Time: 0800 to 1000
• Official Counter: Frank V. Budney
• Weather: Clear Blue Sky
• Temperature Range: 43º F to 48º F
• Wind: Calm, WSW

Walking Route: Parking Lot to Westfield Ponds

Bright sunny morning with lots of bird activity. my favorite bird (The Bird of the Day) seemed to be calling from every corner of the forest. A Great Blue Heron was hunting in the pond at the park entrance but was not having any apparent success. A small flock of female Red-wing Blackbirds was perched high in several trees at Woodpecker Woods along with a few American Robins.

Song and White-throated Sparrow numbers seemed low and only found in the heavy brush areas around the back of the Westfield pond. The lone Pied-billed Grebe is still staking out its territory in the middle of the outside pond next to a thin branch sticking out of the pond. Apparently it doesn’t care to mix it up with the local Canada Geese.

The Bird of the Day, while not seen, could be heard echoing throughout the park by several members of its species. It was one of my all time favorite, Carolina Wren. I introduced several park walkers to its haunting melody, as described by David Allen Sibley in his field guide, “The Sibely Guide to Birds”, as a “Song of rolling chant of rich phrased, pidaro pidaro or TWEE pudo TWEE pudo TWEEP.” Now I know this verbal description is almost meaningless to the untrained ear but once you here this call in the wild it will remain with you for a long time.

Field Notes: Saturday, December 19, is the Christmas Bird Count (CBC) and members of the Friends of Lenape Park will be out and about counting numbers and species of birds for the National Audubon Society’s annual program. A special note for any of you looking for a “Life Bird” (it was for me), one has been spotted and photographed in Lenape Park and at Echo Lake. A rare sighting indeed and first time for this bird at Lenape Park. A Lesser Scaup duck has been hanging around with several Mallards for about a week and we hope it appears on Saturday to ad to our count. Scaup are normally found in bay area so it was a real treat to se one up close in our area.

• Area Birds of Interest
• Carolina Wren 5
• Northern Mocking Bird 1
• Blue Jay 10
• American Crow 5
• American Robin 15
• House Finch 3
• Red-winged Blackbird 15
• White-breasted Nuthatch 4
• Song Sparrow 3
• White-throated Sparrow 5
• Red-bellied Woodpecker 2
• Downy Woodpecker 2
• Belted Kingfisher 1
• Canada Goose 65
• Great Blue Heron 1
• Pied-billed Grebe 1

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced it has reopened the filing period for survivors in all states affected by Superstorm Sandy on December 2, 2015 to apply for low-interest disaster loans. The new filing deadline for physical damage and economic injury losses is December 1, 2016.

“The additional time for businesses, homeowners and renters to request federal disaster loans will go a long way in continuing to support the rebuilding efforts of the communities affected by Superstorm Sandy,” said SBA Administrator Maria Contreras-Sweet. “I want to thank the chairmen and ranking members of the Senate and House Small Business Committees for their leadership on this issue. We look forward to working with them to make sure the needs of small businesses are met.”

The recently approved Recovery Improvements for Small Entities (RISE) After Disaster Act of 2015 gives the SBA Administrator the authority to make disaster loans for Superstorm Sandy for a period of one year. The bill authorizes SBA to revise the disaster deadline for major Presidential declarations for Superstorm Sandy in Connecticut, Maryland, New Jersey, New York and Rhode Island. Additionally, SBA will be accepting applications under its related agency declarations for North Carolina, Puerto Rico, Virginia, West Virginia and certain counties in Maryland.

SBA will open disaster centers across select counties in the affected areas and review activity levels on a continuous basis.
Businesses and private nonprofit organizations may borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace disaster damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory, and other business assets.

For small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture and most private non-profit organizations, the SBA offers Economic Injury Disaster Loans to help meet working capital needs caused by the disaster. Economic Injury Disaster Loan assistance is available regardless of whether the business suffered any physical property damage.

Disaster loans up to $200,000 are available to homeowners to repair or replace disaster damaged or destroyed real estate. Homeowners and renters are eligible up to $40,000 to repair or replace disaster damaged or destroyed personal property

Interest rates are as low as 1.688 percent for homeowners and renters, 3 percent for non-profit organizations and 4 percent for businesses with terms up to 30 years. Loan amounts and terms are set by the SBA and are based on each applicant’s financial condition.

Survivors may apply online using the Electronic Loan Application (ELA) via SBA’s secure website at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela.

Additional details on the locations of recovery centers and the loan application process can be obtained by calling the SBA Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955 (800-877-8339 for the deaf and hard-of-hearing) or by sending an email to disastercustomerservice@sba.gov. The filing deadline to return applications for physical property damage is December 1, 2016. The deadline to return economic injury applications is December 1, 2016.