County of Union

Photo: Paul Rodgers Performs at MusicFest

Singer Paul Rodgers performs at MusicFest during the 2011 Union County Fair at Oak Ridge Park in Clark. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

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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Photo: Neon Trees Performs at MusicFest

The band Neon Trees performs at MusicFest during the 2011 Union County Fair at Oak Ridge Park in Clark. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

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Photo: Blondie Performs at MusicFest

Blondie performs at MusicFest during the 2011 Union County Fair at Oak Ridge Park in Clark. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

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Union County Extends Snap Food Benefit Application Process Two Additional Days For Hurricane Victims

Income eligible residents may apply in person until September 23rd at County Social Services Buildings in Elizabeth and Plainfield and temporary site in Rahway

UNION COUNTY, NJ — The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders announced they are extending the deadline two more days — until Friday September 23 — for the application process of a food benefit program aimed at assisting victims of Hurricane Irene.

Under its guidelines, County residents who suffered losses due to Hurricane Irene may be eligible for a one-time food benefit ranging from $200 to a maximum of $1202. Residents meeting the Federal Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program income guidelines can apply until September 23rd at three locations: Union County’s Social Services offices in Elizabeth and Plainfield along with a temporary site at 65 East Cherry Street that has been established specifically for this purpose.

“There are many residents who have been severely impacted by Hurricane Irene and need help to make ends meet,” Freeholder Chairwoman Deborah Scanlon said. “We certainly encourage those who are in need and may be eligible to apply for food assistance.”

The amount of the assistance varies according to gross monthly income and family size. County social services staff has received training from the State and will assist eligible residents in completing a short application. If approved, the benefit will be electronically applied to a debit/credit card and will be available within three days of completing the application.

For residents already receiving SNAP benefits, the one-time benefit will be applied to their cards. All three sites will be open to take applications until the deadline from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

LOCATIONS:

ELIZABETH: The Union County Social Services Building is located at 342 Westminster Avenue in Elizabeth.

PLAINFIELD: The Union County Social Services Building in Plainfield is located at 200 West Second Street in Plainfield. 908-757-9090

RAHWAY: 65 East Cherry Street in Rahway.

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PHOTO: Passport Fair at County Clerk’s Westfield Office

Union County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi (C) and Union County Freeholder Linda Carter (R) speak with Ilene Linda Zelkin of Westfield during a recent Passport Fair at County Clerk’s Westfield Office. Passport application forms may be obtained at the County Clerk’s main office at 2 Broad Street in Elizabeth or at the County Clerk’s office annex at 300 North Avenue East in Westfield. Applications for passports and related information also can be found online at https://ucnj.org/government/county-clerk/Passports. The phone number at the Union County Clerk’s Westfield Annex is 908-654-9859.

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Photo: “ShopRite Partners In Caring Day”

Union County Sheriff Ralph Froehlich cuts the ribbon to start “ShopRite Partners In Caring Day” at the ShopRite supermarket on West Grand Street in Elizabeth. He is joined by ShopRite employees Carlos Figueroa, Margarita Vazquez and Denise Greaves (L). The second annual “ShopRite Partners In Caring Day” puts the spotlight on the important issue of hunger in local communities by calling on officials and dignitaries to spend time in their local ShopRite stores bagging groceries, collecting donations and talking to customers about the growing need for support of local food banks. ShopRite Partners In Caring is a year-round, community-based, hunger-fighting initiative that works with 50 food industry manufacturers to provide more than $2 million annually to qualified charitable agencies in New Jersey and five other states. Since its inception in 1999, ShopRite Partners In Caring has donated $24 million to more than 1,700 charities. Sheriff Froehlich and ShopRite have been working together locally to combat hunger for more than 20 years. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

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Learn to Cook Root Vegetables with Chef Melody at Trailside, Oct. 3

MOUNTAINSIDE, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders and the Department of Parks and Community Renewal are pleased to offer a unique cooking class at Trailside Nature and Science Center in Mountainside. On Monday, October 3, adults, 18 and older, can join celebrity chef Melody McGinley Whitelaw for a class on “Cooking with Root Vegetables.”

“The autumn harvest provides us with a bounty of healthy and delicious vegetables that can be creatively utilized in numerous dishes,” said Freeholder Daniel P. Sullivan, liaison to the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board. “This class offers food lovers a great opportunity to learn how to make healthy dishes with the guidance of a renowned chef.”

This two-hour class will run from 7:00-9:00 p.m. and the fee is $20 for Union County residents and $25 for out-of-county participants. Pre-registration is required.

Chef Melody McGinley Whitelaw, owner of the catering company “The Main Event by Melody” and guest chef on WOR Radio for 22 years, will demonstrate the preparation of healthful, savory recipes using autumn root vegetables. Participants will learn how to make delicious, seasonal meals utilizing the garden’s best fall root vegetables and then feast on the recipes prepared during class.

A resident of Morristown, Chef Melody grew up in southern California and was a chef for over 35 years for the movie industry, alongside her father, a movie shoot caterer and Big Band singer. In addition to being a guest chef on WOR Radio for many years, Chef Melody also cooks for Scott and Todd in the Morning on WPLJ. She also is passionate about teaching kids to cook healthy and green and does so with her “Kids’ Green Kitchen,” a program designed to teach children how to cook healthy meals and snacks.

To pre-register for this cooking class or for information about other upcoming programs or events at Trailside, call 908-789-3670 or visit www.ucnj.org/trailside. Trailside Nature and 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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Public Info

PHOTO: Union County Department of Human Service’s “Care for Neighbors”

Tom Lamparter, a Cranford native who now lives in Louisiana, donates personal care items for the Union County Department of Human Service’s “Care for Neighbors” drive during the Union County Fair at Oak Ridge Park in Clark. The items will help replenish Union County’s emergency shelters, which were depleted in the aftermath of Hurricane Irene. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

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PHOTO: Harvest Contest at the Union County Fair

Union County Freeholder Bette Jane Kowalski (R) congratulates Maryanne Matteo of Scotch Plains on winning first place in funniest looking undecorated vegetable category at the second annual Harvest Contest at the Union County Fair at Oak Ridge Park in Clark. The Harvest Contest is sponsored by the Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Union County and supported in part by the Union County Freeholder Board. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

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Union County Clerk Offers New Service for “Vote By Mail” Ballot Applicants at Westfield Office for Nov. 8 General Election

WESTFIELD, NJ – Union County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi announces that a new service for Union County voters will soon be available at the Westfield Annex of the Clerk’s Office.

“Beginning on Monday, October 3, eligible voters will be able to apply for a Vote By Mail ballot in person at the Westfield Annex, receive their ballot and cast the ballot at the same time,” Ms. Rajoppi said. “This is the first time this one-stop voting service will be available at my Westfield office as well as at the main office in Elizabeth.”

“The new service in Westfield makes voting more accessible, particularly with convenient Saturday office hours and evening hours during the week,” Ms. Rajoppi added. “With the Nov. 8 General Election just a few weeks away, my office is working to make the voting process as fast and convenient as we can for everyone who is registered to vote.”

The opportunity to Vote By Mail in Westfield is another service available at the County Clerk’s new facility, along with passport application and renewal services, registration of Trade Names, and the application and swearing in of Notaries Public.

The Westfield Annex of the County Clerk is located at 300 North Avenue East, Westfield 07090. Office hours are 8:00 a.m. – 7:30 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays; 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays; and 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. on Saturdays.

The Main Office of the County Clerk is located at the Union County Courthouse, 2 Broad Street, Room 113, Elizabeth, NJ 07207. Regular office hours in Elizabeth are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Vote By Mail is an easy, secure process that has replaced the Absentee Ballot. Voters do not need to give a reason why they wish to Vote By Mail. To obtain an application form, voters also may pick up the form at their local municipal building; they can download the form at the Union County Clerk’s website:www.ucnj.org/government/county-clerk/vote-by-mail or they can contact the Union County Clerk at 908-527-4996. The Clerk’s website also includes a video that explains how to fill out the Vote By Mail application form.

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