County of Union, New Jersey

Union County Freeholder Angel G. Estrada (L) presents a resolution to Sergeant Vladimir (Ricky) Calderon of the Rahway Police Auxiliary congratulating and commending the auxiliary officers for organizing the fifth annual Rahway Police Auxiliary Coat Drive to benefit local churches and families. They are joined by Rahway Mayor Rick Proctor. Reaching out to community leaders, the Mayor’s office and the County Freeholder Board, Sergeant Calderon and the Rahway Police Auxiliary have the support needed to foster local involvement from both businesses and ordinary citizens in their effort to help lighten the burden on those less fortunate families. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

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For more information on any Union County press release, please contact Sebastian D’Elia, Communications Director for the County of Union, or a designee listed at the top of this press release.   Please join the County of Union online at www.ucnj.org
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Union County – The Union County Commission on the Status of Women is pleased to announce the 2012 recipients of the Women of Excellence Awards. The honorees will be celebrated at the 20th annual Women of Excellence dinner on Friday, March 23, 2012 at The Westwood, 438 North Avenue in Garwood.

“The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is proud to support the Commission in recognizing these women for their outstanding accomplishments,” said Freeholder Chairman Alexander Mirabella. “They have been an influential and integral part of our community and are positive examples of dedication and strong leadership.”

The Women of Excellence Awards, supported by the Union County Freeholder Board, are presented to recognize and honor distinguished women who reside or work in Union County. The candidates are nominated based on their achievements and the impact of their work on the County of Union in areas like Arts and Humanities, Business, Community Service, Education, Government, Law, Medicine/Health Care and Women’s Advocacy.

The 2012 honorees and their respective categories are:

• Amy Carow of Scotch Plains- Youth Leadership
• Helen Genova, Ph.D. of Union – Health Sciences
• Elizabeth Gloeggler of Plainfield – Volunteerism
• Ruth Maloney of Westfield – Community Service
• Dr. Margaret McMenamin of Springfield – Education
• Eleanor McGovern of Fanwood – Government
• Deborah Palacio of Cranford – Entrepreneurship
• Julie Pinho of Warren- Business Owner
• Rosalind Straus of Union – Lifetime Achievement
• Captain Cynthia Weber of East Windsor- Law Enforcement

 

Tickets for the dinner are available at $45.00 per person by contacting Carol Lombardo, 908-789-0508.

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For more information on any Union County press release, please contact Sebastian D’Elia, Communications Director for the County of Union, or a designee listed at the top of this press release. Please join the County of Union online at www.ucnj.org, on Facebook at www.ucnj.org/facebook, and on Twitter athttp://twitter.com/countyofunionnj.

Residents of Union County who are 60 years of age or older are invited to participate and exhibit an original work of art – completed within the last three years – in the annual Union County Senior Citizens Art Exhibit. Sponsored by the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders and the Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs, the exhibit is open to entrants who are either amateur/non-professional or professional in status.

“While the exhibit itself is still months ahead, this invitation to participate gives artists ample time to prepare their artwork to be included in the exhibit,” said Freeholder Bette Jane Kowalski, liaison to the Cultural and Heritage Programs Advisory Board. “The artwork will be displayed in the Atrium of the Elizabethtown Gas Company, Liberty Hall Center, 1085 Morris Avenue, Union, from June 1 to July 15, with a reception scheduled for Wednesday, June 13.”

Any person who meets at least two of the following criteria is considered professional: a) sold the type of art entered in the exhibition through commercial channels; b) exhibited in a professional gallery; c) held professional membership in a guild or association.

Following are the 11 categories of eligible work: oil, acrylic, watercolor (includes gouache), pastel (including chalk, charcoal and oil pastel), print (such as etching, engraving, lithograph, woodcut, monoprint, monotype, silkscreen), drawing (including pencil, pen, ink, graphite, and markers), mixed media (combines two or more media, not one of which clearly predominates; includes collage and assemblage), sculpture (designed in three dimensions, carved or constructed in any medium, abstract or figurative, painted or unpainted), craft (one-of-a-kind creations only, no craft kits or molds), computer imagery (artwork created by computer only, using a pixel-based painting or graphics program, such as Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator or Corel Painter), andphotography. Please note: photos taken with a digital camera, digitally-altered photos, and images made using a scanner must be entered in the Photography category.

Three professional artists will judge the entries. Awards will go to first, second, third place and honorable mention winners in each category. First place winners in all categories go on to compete in September at the New Jersey State Senior Citizens Art Show which will take place at the Meadow Lakes retirement community (www.meadowlakesonline.org) in East Windsor.

Guidelines require that hanging artwork, crafts and photos must be no more than 36 inches and no less than 11 inches in height and width, including matting, from outer edges of the frame. Standing sculptures or 3-D crafts may not exceed 18 inches in height, width or depth, including the base.

All works must be properly labeled and delivered “show-ready” with screw eyes and wiring ready for hanging. Where necessary, pictures must be protected with glass, Plexiglas, Mylar or other clear material. Plexiglas is strongly recommended on pieces over 24 inches.

To obtain an application, call Teya David, Senior Art Coordinator, at the Union County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs, 908-558-2550, or email culturalinfo@ucnj.org. Relay users dial 711.  Submit applications via the email address; by U.S. Mail to the Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs, 633 Pearl Street, Elizabeth, NJ 07202; or fax your application to 908-352-3513 before Wednesday, May 23, to be eligible for the exhibit.

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For more information on any Union County press release, please contact Sebastian D’Elia, Communications Director for the County of Union, or a designee listed at the top of this press release. Please join the County of Union online at www.ucnj.org, on Facebook at www.ucnj.org/facebook, and on Twitter athttp://twitter.com/countyofunionnj .

MOUNTAINSIDE, NJ – Wintertime clinics about horses, conducted by equine medical professionals, are being offered at Watchung Stable in Mountainside and everyone nine years of age and older is welcome. Sponsored by the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders and the Union County Department of Parks and Community Renewal, the clinics will be held on Wednesday, February 22, and Saturday, February 25.

“We are glad to sponsor programs that are focused on different equestrian topics,” said Freeholder Chairman Alexander Mirabella. “The sessions will help people learn about horse care and equine medicine and what it actually takes to own a horse.”

Each session will last an hour and a half. The clinics will be held in the barn or the lecture area of the stable. People interested in these clinics should note that these are classes with no actual riding.

The winter clinics about horses will be offered as follows:

• Feb. 22:    4:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.     “Meet the Dentist” – Equine dentist Dr. David Foster will discuss equine dentistry and the importance of maintaining a horse’s good oral health. Maintaining a horse’s good oral health. A question and answer period will be included.

• Feb. 25:    10:30 a.m. – 12 noon     “Meet the Vet” – Dr. Michael Aromando, Watchung Stable’s veterinarian, will talk and answer questions about general horse care, anatomy, emergencies, lameness, and some interesting cases involving Watchung’s school horses.

Space is limited and in-person pre-registration is required during regular business hours at the Watchung Stable office, located at 1160 Summit Lane in Mountainside. The cost is $25 per person for each clinic.

For further information, visit www.ucnj.org/stable; call the Watchung Stable office at 908-789-3665, or e-mail your questions to stablequestions@ucnj.org.

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For more information on any Union County press release, please contact Sebastian D’Elia, Communications Director for the County of Union, or a designee listed at the top of this press release. Please join the County of Union online at www.ucnj.org, on Facebook at www.ucnj.org/facebook, and on Twitter athttp://twitter.com/countyofunionnj .

Guest Speaker: Tommy John of the New York Yankees

 

MOUNTAINSIDE, NJ – The Union County Baseball Association will honor local student athletes and baseball coaches for their accomplishments during 2011 and will induct four new members into the Union County Baseball Hall of Fame during award ceremonies on Sunday, February 12.

The 76th Annual Hot Stove League Baseball Dinner begins at 1:00 p.m. at the L’Affaire Banquet Center, located at 1099 Route 22 East in Mountainside. The dinner is sponsored by the Union County Baseball Association, in cooperation with the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders and the Union County Department of Parks and Community Renewal.

Among the student athletes who will receive major honors are Westfield High School teammates Dan Kerr and A.J. Murray, who will share honors as Union County Baseball Players of the Year, and Jackie Lima of Linden High School, who will be honored as Union County Softball Player of the Year.

A special award will be presented to Ray Korn, former baseball coach at Elizabeth High School, for his overall coaching record of 653-236, the most wins in Union County history.

The four new inductees into the Union County Baseball Hall of Fame – Dennis McCaffery of Cranford, Ed Murzinski of Linden, Bob Riesener of Linden, and Jamie Shriner of Roselle Park – will be honored for their outstanding contributions to our national pastime on the baseball diamonds of Union County, New Jersey.

Former Major League pitching ace Tommy John, who played for the Yankees, Dodgers, White Sox and other teams throughout his 26-year career, will be the special guest speaker.

“We’re delighted to have former Yankees left-hander Tommy John as the guest speaker at this year’s Hot Stove League Awards Dinner,” said Freeholder Chairman Alexander Mirabella. “We hope that family members and friends of all the award recipients will enjoy the Sunday afternoon ceremonies in support of youth baseball and the new inductees into the Union County Baseball Hall of Fame.”

In addition to the new Hall of Fame inductees and student athletes, the Hot Stove League Baseball Dinner also will honor local youth league baseball players and American Legion teams for their achievements in 2011.

Tickets for the dinner are $40, with proceeds going to help fund the Union County Summer Youth Baseball League for youngsters 8 to 15 years, and the Fall Teen League.

Since 1937, the annual Hot Stove League Dinner has been the primary fund-raising effort for the Union County Baseball Association’s summer and fall programs. Over the years, the awards dinner has honored many local and national baseball luminaries – including Phil Rizzuto of Hillside, Don Newcombe of Elizabeth, Joe Collins of Union, Jeff Torborg of Mountainside, Willie Wilson of Summit, Jake Wood of Elizabeth, and Elliott Maddox of Union.

Tickets for the 76th Annual Union County Baseball Association Hot Stove League Dinner on Feb. 12th are available by mail for $40 from the Union County Baseball Association, PO Box 176, Fanwood, New Jersey 07023.

For more information, please call Jim Iozzi at 908-917-2523.

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For more information on any Union County press release, please contact Sebastian D’Elia, Communications Director for the County of Union, or a designee listed at the top of this press release. Please join the County of Union online at www.ucnj.org, on Facebook at www.ucnj.org/facebook, and on Twitter athttp://twitter.com/countyofunionnj .

By Alexander Mirabella
Chairman, Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders
February, 2012

The national economy is gradually starting to improve, and now is the time for Union County to act swiftly in order to keep those gains and build a better future. The 2012 Chairman’s Initiatives, called “Putting People First,” does just that, by helping Union County residents and business owners connect with the resources they need to do their best.

One key factor is the development of a trained workforce that enables our local businesses to grow. Over the past few years we’ve made great progress in this area with the expansion of Union County College, Kean University, and the Vo-Tech high schools.

This year we will continue to expand our partnership with Kean University, which has just reached an agreement to establish a campus in Wenzhou, China. We expect this relationship to result in new business and career opportunities for Union County.

A new academy for digital media and computer aided design will be added to our Vo-Tech campus, called the Union County Tech School of Design. Vo-Tech has partnered with Kean University to help ensure that the program leads directly to college level career development.

Another area that has shown progress over the years is the work we’ve done with major employers like Wakefern, Whole Foods and Elizabethtown Gas. We’re going to build that out with the “Union County Means Business” initiative. The program is designed to connect businesses of all sizes with the resources offered by local and state agencies, such as loans, grants, and workforce training.

We are also going to keep working to make Union County a great destination for visitors and businesses. Last week I had the pleasure of announcing that in 2016 our own Galloping Hill Golf Course in Kenilworth will be the first public golf course in the 91-year history of the New Jersey State Golf Association to host the prestigious New Jersey State Open Golf Championship. We expect that the run-up to that event will generate a whole new level of interest in Union County.

In that vein, we are going to continue to ensure that Union County is in the vanguard of the global transition to clean, renewable energy and new energy-efficient technology. This is a growth sector and businesses are seeking out communities that are leading the way.

A good workforce is a healthy workforce, and Union County has a stellar tradition of promoting public health through recreation. This year in particular we are focusing on innovative new programs, sports and social activities for children and adults with disabilities.

We are also reaching out to Union County veterans of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq with a small token of appreciation consisting of a complimentary use of our fee-based recreation offerings such as golf or swimming, and we are going to use our free outdoor concert series as a platform for recognizing all Union County veterans.

The month of February began with a good jobs report from the federal government, pointing the way to an optimistic outlook. However, we will take nothing for granted and we are more determined than ever to chart a course for long term economic stability by focusing on the people who live, work and do business in Union County.

MOUNTAINSIDE, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is pleased to announce a special program at Trailside Nature & Science Center in Mountainside to celebrate Presidents’ Day weekend. “The Wit and Wisdom of Abraham Lincoln,” a dramatization and lecture, will be presented on Friday, Feb. 17, at 7 p.m. for adults, 18 and older. This hour-long program is made possible in part by a grant from the New Jersey Council for the Humanities.   Admission is free; donations are appreciated. Pre-registration is preferred, but walk-ins are welcome as space permits.

“We are pleased to offer such premier talent for this dramatic portrayal of Abraham Lincoln, as part of the 2012 Winter Adult Program Series at Trailside,” said Freeholder Chairman Alexander Mirabella. “We hope that many people will take advantage of this opportunity to enjoy an engaging and enlightening historical presentation.”

Christian Johnson, a dramatist with the American Historical Theater since 1989, portrays Lincoln with impressive resonance, giving insight into his strength of character. Mr. Johnson is a natural showman who trained as an actor with the prestigious Neighborhood Playhouse of New York. In 2008, he was chosen to portray Abraham Lincoln in Paris for the United Nations (UNESCO).  Mr. Johnson is in great demand for events that combine entertainment and education. He is a favorite performer at venues that include the White House Visitors Center, Independence Hall, National Archives, Freedoms Foundation of Valley Forge, and the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

Abraham Lincoln, our 16th President, was a revered leader and team builder, who created a cabinet of rivals and then tested them. Christian Johnson will bring the depth of Lincoln’s character to light during this fascinating program.

For additional information about the lecture/dramatization: The Wit and Wisdom of Abraham Lincoln, or other adult programs or upcoming events at Trailside, call 908-789-3670 or visit www.ucnj.org/trailside.  Trailside Nature & Science Center is located at 452 New Providence Road in Mountainside and is a service of the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders.

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For more information on any Union County press release, please contact Sebastian D’Elia, Communications Director for the County of Union, or a designee listed at the top of this press release. Please join the County of Union online at www.ucnj.org, on Facebook at www.ucnj.org/facebook, and on Twitter athttp://twitter.com/countyofunionnj .

Nicole DiRado of Union is sworn in as Deputy Clerk of Union County by Superior Court Judge Karen Cassidy on February 1 at the Union County Courthouse in Elizabeth. Holding the Bible is her husband Matthew and their son Matty. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

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For more information on any Union County press release, please contact Sebastian D’Elia, Communications Director for the County of Union, or a designee listed at the top of this press release. Please join the County of Union online at www.ucnj.org
On Facebook at www.ucnj.org/facebook
On Twitter at http://twitter.com/countyofunionnj

MOUNTAINSIDE, NJ – Children in the 1stthrough 5th grades are welcome to join magician Joe Fischer for a behind-the-scenes look at how professionals perform their magic at a six-week “Secrets of Magic” After School Workshop at Trailside Nature & Science Center. The workshop will run on six consecutive Wednesdays from 3:45-4:45 p.m. from Feb. 22 – March 28. Pre-registration is required. For information about this Magic Workshop, call 908-789-3670 or visit www.ucnj.org/trailside.  Trailside Nature & Science Center is located at 452 New Providence Road in Mountainside and is a service of the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders.

MOUNTAINSIDE, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is pleased to announce that Joe Fischer, Magician Extraordinaire, will conduct an after school workshop series, “The Secrets of Magic,” at Trailside Nature & Science Center in Mountainside on Wednesday afternoons, beginning February 22. The after school “Secrets of Magic” Workshop Series is for students in grades 1 through 5. It will run on six consecutive Wednesdays, beginning on Feb. 22 and ending on March 28. Each class will run from 3:45 – 4:45 p.m. and the cost for the six classes is $108 per child. Pre-registration is required.

“We are pleased to offer this unique opportunity for children to get a behind-the-scenes look at how professionals perform their magic tricks,” said Freeholder Chairman Alexander Mirabella.

“It’s especially interesting to have such a talented and highly regarded performer as Joe Fischer to teach these classes.”

This exciting workshop will give students a rare glimpse at how magicians perform their magic and offer participants an opportunity to learn from a professional magician. Students will be taught various magic tricks each week that they can take home and practice on their friends and family. Participants can expect to learn how to make things appear and disappear, read a friend’s mind, perform rope tricks, card tricks and much more.

Joe Fischer has been fascinated by magic since the age of 10. Upon finishing college, he decided to make it his full-time career. He has created various educational programs that use magic to teach lessons on topics such as substance abuse, reading, cultural diversity and the environment.  Joe is in great demand as a performer and teacher throughout New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. He created the “Secrets of Magic” program to teach children the basics of magic; hoping to instill in his students the same love of the art that he has.

For information about this after school “Secrets of Magic” workshop series, or about any other programs or upcoming events at Trailside, please call 908-789-3670 or visit us on the web at www.ucnj.org/trailside. Trailside Nature & Science Center is located at 452 New Providence Road in Mountainside and is a service of the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders.

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For more information on any Union County press release, please contact Sebastian D’Elia, Communications Director for the County of Union, or a designee listed at the top of this press release. Please join the County of Union online at www.ucnj.org, on Facebook at www.ucnj.org/facebook, and on Twitter athttp://twitter.com/countyofunionnj

WESTFIELD, NJ – Union County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi reminds any veteran living in Union County that they can receive their free military honorable discharge card at the County Clerk’s offices in Westfield and Elizabeth. The wallet-size card is honored as proof of service in the United States Armed Forces.

“Beginning Wednesday, February 1, veterans will be able to bring their Certificate of Honorable Discharge and DD 214 forms to either one of my offices in Westfield or Elizabeth to have their information recorded in the Union County Veterans Index so they can receive their discharge card,” Rajoppi said. “This honorable discharge card service is just one way to say thank you and make veterans’ lives a little easier.”

The honorable discharge cards are available to veterans whose Certificate of Honorable Discharge and DD 214 forms are recorded at the Union County Clerk’s office. It can assist veterans in receiving educational benefits, death benefits, licenses, local property tax rebates and discounts at big retailer box stores when presented with other identification.

“The distinctive red, white and blue cards have a raised seal certifying proof of recording from the Clerk’s office,” Rajoppi added.

If a veteran’s discharge papers have never been recorded, the original documents must be presented at either one the Union County Clerk’s offices. Documents will be recorded in the Union County Veterans’ Index and the original documents will be returned to the veteran. Photocopies of Honorable Discharge or DD 214 documents cannot be accepted for recording.

If the original discharge documents are lost, veterans can write to the National Personnel Records Center, Military Personnel Records, 1 Archives Drive, St. Louis, Missouri 63138. Those who have already recorded their documents with the Union County Clerk can call her office at 908-659-7403 for additional information.

“All veterans can be assured that access to their discharge papers is available only to the veteran, his/her mother, father, wife/husband, brother, sister, child, heir or personal representative,” Rajoppi said. “Veterans’ documents are archived in a secure area and they are not accessible to the public.”

The County Clerk’s Office in Westfield, located at 300 North Avenue East, is open from 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday and Friday; 8 a.m. – 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday and Thursday; and 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. on Saturday. The County Clerk’s Office in Elizabeth, located in the Union County Courthouse at 2 Broad Street, is open from 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. If additional information is needed, please call 908-659-7403.

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For more information on any Union County press release, please contact Sebastian D’Elia, Communications Director for the County of Union, or a designee listed at the top of this press release. Please join the County of Union online at www.ucnj.org, on Facebook at www.ucnj.org/facebook, and on Twitter athttp://twitter.com/countyofunionnj .