County of Union, New Jersey

Union County Freeholder Chairman Mohamed S. Jalloh (R) and Freeholder Vice Chairman Bruce H. Bergen (L) speak with Community Access Unlimited Executive Director Sid Blanchard during the Union County Nonprofit Consortium’s Second Annual Networking Conference in Mountainside. The day-long event featured workshops designed to help non-profit organizations sustain and improve their operations while managing the bottom line. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

 

 

Union County, NJ – Union County’s Rhythm and Blues by the Brook free outdoor kicks off the summer season at historic Cedar Brook Park in Plainfield on Saturday May 30th, 12:00 noon to 6:00 p.m.

This year, Rhythm and Blues by the Brook is headlined by the high energy funk of The Family Stone and the iconic R&B super group of the ’70s, War, and features “world music on jet fuel” Safro-Rock artist Mthakathi and the RT Funk Band.

Rhythm and Blues by the Brook also includes free inflatable activity rides, a petting zoo, and pony rides for young children. The children’s area will open at 12:00 noon and close at 4:30, when the main act takes the stage.

Also returning to Cedar Brook Park on May 30 is a classic car show, located near the basketball court across the park from the concert area.

A wide variety of food vendors will be on site, and a number of picnic tables will be conveniently located under a tent in the concert “outfield.” Concert-goers are also welcome to bring blankets or lawn chairs.

A limited amount of parking is available around the perimeter of Cedar Brook Park. Visitors traveling by car should be prepared to leave their vehicle several blocks away and walk into the park.

For more travel information, schedule of performances, and visitors’ tips, visit ucnj.org.

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Union County Freeholder Chairman Mohamed S. Jalloh and Freeholders Sergio Granados, Vernell Wright, Angel G. Estrada, Christopher Hudak and Alexander Mirabella joined Robert Jeans of the Kenilworth Veterans Center and VFW Post 2230 and Jim Daly of VFW Post 355 at the Graceland Cemetery in Kenilworth where volunteers placed American flags on the graves of veterans in honor of Memorial Day. The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders supplied more than 30,000 flags to mark veterans’ graves throughout Union County. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

BERKELEY HEIGHTS, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders and the Department of Parks and Recreation would like to invite residents who enjoy the miles of hiking and bridle trails crisscrossing the Watchung Reservation to celebrate National Trails Day on Saturday, June 6, by signing up to take a guided hike or by participating in a trail work project in the Watchung Reservation. Or you could do both.

National Trails Day begins at 8:30 a.m. with a continental breakfast for all pre-registered project volunteers. From 8:45 to 10:00 a.m., a Trailside Nature & Science Center naturalist will take hikers along one of many marked trails in the Watchung Reservation in search of wildlife sights and sounds, interesting plant life and animal tracks and signs along the way.

“National Trails Day is a wonderful opportunity for those who love to hike and ride horses in the Watchung Reservation to learn even more about the 2,060 acre forest preserve while learning new skills and meeting others who enjoy the park,” said Union County Freeholder Chairman Mohamed S. Jalloh.

A trail work project from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. will offer volunteers the chance to repair the trail bed and remove invasive plants along a section of hiking trail. Volunteers will learn new skills, meet other trail users and have fun while working in the out-of-doors. Tools will be provided. The event will be held rain or shine. Trail work participants must be seven years of age or older and children must be accompanied by an adult.

Participants may use the Deserted Village Parking lot just off Cateract Hollow Road and walk down to the Church/Store Building.  For directions, go to: htt://ucnj.org/parks-recreation/deserted-village/planning-your-visit/.

CLARK, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders announces that its next mobile paper-shredding program for confidential personal documents will be available on Wednesday, June 3, at the Township of Clark DPW facility in Clark.

“Union County’s mobile document-shredding service helps residents fight identity theft and eliminate clutter in their homes,” said Freeholder Chairman Mohamed S. Jalloh. “It is a cost-effective way to assist our recycling efforts and it ties in with Union County’s other Go Green Initiatives.”

The June 3^rd shredding event will take place at the Department of Public Works facility in Clark, located at 315 Westfield Avenue. NEXCUT Shredding of Elizabeth will be shredding documents at the site from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., rain or shine. The shredding event will end before 1 p.m. if the shredding truck reaches capacity.

All Union County residents are eligible to use the paper-shredding service. In an effort to accommodate everyone, there is a limit of four, 10-pound bags or boxes per person. Documents should not be bound. Please remove plastic binders and paperclips. Paper that is wet/damp will not be accepted. Residents should continue to recycle non-confidential papers and magazines with their municipal recycling program.

Documents are put into 96-gallon containers provided by the shredding company. The items are dumped onto a conveyor belt and shredded on site. Participants are welcome to view the shredding process via a closed-circuit television. Shredded documents are then recycled, shipped to paper mills and used as pulp. The next shredding event will take place Sunday, June 28, at the Union County Vo-Tech campus in Scotch Plains.

The mobile shredding program is paid for through New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Recycling Enhancement Act Grant Funds. For more information about future events or directions please call the Union County Recycling Hotline at 908-654-9889 or visit us online at www.ucnj.org/recycle .

 

Union County Freeholders Sergio Granados (L) and Vernell Wright congratulate Dave Chango of New Providence on being named the 2014 Union County Volunteer of the Year by the Local Advisory Committee on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse (LACADA) at the group’s annual volunteer recognition dinner in Garwood. Chango was also named the 2014 Municipal Volunteer of the Year from New Providence. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

 

Union County Freeholders Sergio Granados (L) and Vernell Wright (R) congratulate Mary Datillo on being named the 2014 Municipal Volunteer of the Year from Westfield by the Local Advisory Committee on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse (LACADA) at the group’s annual volunteer recognition dinner in Garwood. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

 

Union County Freeholders Sergio Granados (L) and Vernell Wright congratulate Dr. Frank Deo on being named the 2014 Municipal Volunteer of the Year from Hillside by the Local Advisory Committee on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse (LACADA) at the group’s annual volunteer recognition dinner in Garwood. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

 

Union County Freeholders Sergio Granados (L) and Vernell Wright congratulate Ron Ferrara on being named the 2014 Municipal Volunteer of the Year from Clark by the Local Advisory Committee on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse (LACADA) at the group’s annual volunteer recognition dinner in Garwood. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

 

Union County Freeholders Sergio Granados (L) and Vernell Wright congratulate Brian Gorgoroso on being named the 2014 Municipal Volunteer of the Year from Roselle by the Local Advisory Committee on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse (LACADA) at the group’s annual volunteer recognition dinner in Garwood. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

 

Union County Freeholders Sergio Granados (L) and Vernell Wright (R) congratulate Jacquelyn Mattoon on being named the 2014 Municipal Volunteer of the Year from Springfield by the Local Advisory Committee on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse (LACADA) at the group’s annual volunteer recognition dinner in Garwood. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

 

Union County Freeholders Sergio Granados (L) and Vernell Wright congratulate Jack McGuire on being named the 2014 Municipal Volunteer of the Year from Garwood by the Local Advisory Committee on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse (LACADA) at the group’s annual volunteer recognition dinner in Garwood. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

 

Union County Freeholders Sergio Granados (L) and Vernell Wright (R) congratulate Clarissa Robles on being named the 2014 Municipal Volunteer of the Year from Elizabeth by the Local Advisory Committee on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse (LACADA) at the group’s annual volunteer recognition dinner in Garwood. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

 

Union County Freeholders Sergio Granados (L) and Vernell Wright (R) congratulate Kathy Shelus on being named the 2014 Municipal Volunteer of the Year from Scotch Plains-Fanwood by the Local Advisory Committee on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse (LACADA) at the group’s annual volunteer recognition dinner in Garwood. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders has announced the schedule for the county’s 2015 Road Resurfacing program. The project will resurface 13 County roads, over 12 miles of county roadway in 12 towns.

“Resurfacing makes travel on our roadways safer and more efficient,” said Freeholder Chairman Mohamed S. Jalloh. “We also make improvements to signage and striping to improve visibility, and to curbing to improve safety and accessibility for people with disabilities.”

 The program is scheduled to begin in late June and run through September. Work is scheduled for nighttime in all but one instance.

The following locations are scheduled for resurfacing:

• East Broad Street in Westfield will be resurfaced from South Chestnut Street to Springfield Avenue, a distance of about 1.2 miles. Work is scheduled to begin around June 25.
• Hillside Avenue in Springfield will be resurfaced from Route 22 to South Springfield Avenue, a distance of about .3 miles. Work is scheduled to begin around July 1.
• Mountain Avenue in Springfield will be resurfaced from  Morris Avenue to Clinton Avenue, a distance of about .3 miles. Work is scheduled to begin around July 6.
• South Avenue in Cranford will be resurfaced from Centennial Avenue to the Roselle Borough line, a distance of about .9 miles. Work is scheduled to begin around July 20.
• Galloping Hill Road in Kenilworth and Union will be resurfaced from Kenilworth Boulevard to Kimberly Road, a distance of about .5 miles. Work is scheduled to begin around July 24.
• West 3rd Avenue in Roselle will be resurfaced from Amsterdam Avenue to Chestnut Street, a distance of about .8 miles. Work is scheduled to begin around August 3.
• South Broad Street in Elizabeth will be resurfaced from Bayway Avenue to Rahway Avenue, a one-mile stretch. Work is scheduled to begin around August 5.
• Morris Avenue in Summit will be resurfaced from Springfield Avenue to Route 24, a two-mile stretch. Work is scheduled to begin around August 10.
• Raritan Road in Cranford and Linden will be resurfaced from Wood Avenue to Centennial Avenue, a distance of .9 miles. Work is scheduled to begin around August 24.
• Amsterdam Avenue in Roselle will be resurfaced from Wood Avenue to West First Avenue, a distance of .6 miles. Work is scheduled to begin around September 1.
• La Grande Avenue in Fanwood will be resurfaced from Terrill Road to South Avenue, a 1.3 mile stretch. Work on this roadway will be conducted during the day and is expected to begin around September 7.
• Front Street in Scotch Plains will be resurfaced from Park Avenue to Terrill Road, a distance of .7 miles. Work is expected to begin around September 21.
• Scott Avenue in Rahway will be resurfaced from Route 27 to Routes 1&9, a distance of 1.4 miles. Work is expected to begin around September 28.

Paving will be done by Schifano Construction Corporation of Middlesex. The project is expected to cost $5,075,586.

Resurfacing removes the 2-inch riding surface of the roadway and replace it with fresh asphalt using a milling machine and paving machine. In addition, street signs are replaced and roads are restriped for better visibility. curbs cuts are installed to ensure that intersections are ADA compliant.

Stay up-to-date on paving and road related closures by visiting https://ucnj.org/traffic.

ELIZABETH, NJ–Four chicks were hatched by a pair of Peregrine Falcons nesting above the Union County Courthouse. State and County naturalists banded one of the chicks, and County officials visited the nesting location on the rooftop of what is highest building in the City of Elizabeth.

Peregrine falcons have been living on the courthouse tower for ten years  They are crow-sized predatory birds and only 2,000-3,000 breeding pairs exist in Canada, Mexico and the United states, according to state wildlife officials.  These falcons are known to be formidable hunters that prey on other birds (and bats) in mid-flight. Peregrines hunt from above and, after sighting their prey, drop into a steep, swift dive that can top 200 miles an hour (320 kilometers an hour).

Twenty-six pairs of peregrines now occupy appropriate nesting habitat in New Jersey. Peregrines can be found nesting on bridge towers, water towers, and high buildings. Some peregrine falcons relocated from New Jersey have even been used to help rebuild populations in West Virginia. Peregrines relocated from New Jersey between 2006 and 2011 have been confirmed inhabiting the mountain areas of West Virginia and western Maryland.

The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders today cut the ribbon on a new playground/sprayground in Warinanco Park in Elizabeth. The new facilities are located across from the Boat House and include the playground, sprayground (which has more than 100 spray jets) and is the seventh sprayground to open in the County parks system; new basketball and volleyball courts and renovated restroom/concession buildings.  

1. to r. Anibal Sedano, of Elizabeth, with his grandson, Adam Sedano; Freeholder Sergio Granados; Freeholder Vice Chairman Bruce Bergen cutting ribbon; Freeholder Chris Hudak; Freeholder Bette Jane Kowalski; Elizabeth Third Ward Councilman Kevin Kiniery; Parks Director Ron Zuber; Ellie Wilson-Newbury; and County Manager Al Faella.