County of Union, New Jersey

Union County – Union County’s Sensory Friendly Theatre series brings the adventures of the Berenstain Bears to life on stage at the Union County Performing Arts Center in Rahway on Sunday, March 29 at 2 PM.

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 offer a relaxed and safe theatre environment for children and adults with sensory sensitivity, developmental and learning disabilities,” said Freeholder Chairman Mohamed S. Jalloh. “The Freeholder board is proud to offer a performance series that helps make art accessible to everyone.”

Adapted from the classic children’s book series by Stan and Jan Berenstain, The Berenstain Bears LIVE! in Family Matters, the Musical brings everyone’s favorite bear family to life in a thrilling theatrical experience that the entire family will enjoy.

As always, Bear Country is not without its complications: Brother Bear’s grades are slipping, Sister Bear still has a few things to learn about making new friends, and Papa Bear just can’t stop eating junk food. Thankfully, we can always depend on Mama Bear and her loving patience to help set things right.

Implementing the supportive atmosphere at the performance is the organization Autism Friendly Spaces, which provides specialists to train staff and volunteers on working with children with autism and other special needs during Sensory Friendly Theatre performances, while providing comfort and help to families.

For each of the special 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. For more information on what to expect at a Sensory Friendly Theatre performance visit ucpac.org.

The Sensory Friendly Theatre series is presented by the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders. The performance of The Berenstain Bears LIVE! in Family Matters, the Musical is made possible in part by funding from the NJ Department of Community Affairs through a Recreational Opportunities for Individuals with Disabilities Grant.

The next performance in the Sensory Friendly Theatre series is New Jersey Ballet’s performance of the classic tale of Cinderella on Sunday, May 3, 2015 at 3 PM – come see why this story is one of their most popular ballets for families. In June don’t miss a rollicking family concert featuring a two-time Grammy nominees Brady Rymer and the Little Band That Could performing songs that celebrate children of all abilities on Sunday, July 31 at 10 AM and 1PM.

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 PM and is also open late on Thursdays until 8 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 908-527-4806 or visit ucnj.org.

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UNION COUNTY, NJ (March 18, 2015) – Healthcare Quality Strategies, Inc. (HQSI), a member of the Quality Insights Quality Innovation Network, is partnering with the Plainfield Senior Center as well as the Plainfield Public Library to provide free diabetes education as part of the Everyone with Diabetes Counts (EDC) program. The EDC program is a national initiative of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). The program offers free workshops that are open to people with diabetes, their family members and caregivers.

The free workshops follow the Diabetes Self-Management Program created by the Stanford School of Medicine. Workshops help individuals learn how to manage their own health and are designed to help participants take control of their diabetes and change their life. Participants will learn about diabetes and its risks, the role of diet and exercise, how to deal with pain and fatigue, managing medications, the importance of doctor exams, maintaining willpower and much more.

The first set of the free six-week workshop series will be offered at the Plainfield Senior Center on 400 East Front Street in Plainfield, NJ, each Wednesday from April 1, 2015 to May 6, 2015.

The time is 1:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. and the exact dates are: 4/1/15, 4/8/15, 4/15/15, 4/22/15, 4/29/15, and 5/6/15. *SENIORS ONLY* can receive more information or register by calling Colin Baptiste at (908) 753-3506.

The second set of the free six-week workshop series will be offered at the Plainfield Public Library on 800 Park Avenue in Plainfield, NJ, each Friday from April 10, 2015 to May 15, 2015.

The scheduled time is 1:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. and the exact dates are: 4/10/15, 4/17/15, 4/24/15, 5/1/15, 5/8/15, and 5/15/15. For more information or to register for these workshops, contact Karen Hale, M.Ed., Outreach Coordinator, at (732) 238-5570 ext: 2032 or khale@hqsi.org.

CRANFORD, NJ – The County of Union will sponsor a recycling event for electronic equipment on Saturday, March 28, so Union County residents can get rid of unwanted computers, televisions and other electronic equipment in an environmentally proper manner.

The special E-cycling event will take place from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the campus of Union County College located at 1033 Springfield Avenue in Cranford. All residents of Union County are eligible to participate at no cost. There is a limit of six electronic items per car.

“Computer monitors, old televisions and other electronic devices are the source of a considerable amount of dangerous material, including lead, mercury, cadmium and PCBs – and it is unlawful to dispose of them with the regular garbage,” said Freeholder Chairman Mohamed S. Jalloh. “Up to 95 percent of most electronic appliances can be recycled. This is a responsible way to keep hazardous heavy metals out of our environment.”

Electronic equipment that will be accepted on March 28 includes computer monitors, hard drives, modems, keyboards, CPU’s, mice, printers, scanners, speakers, televisions, tablets and e-readers, VCR’s, fax machines, telephones, circuit boards, CD’s, DVD’s and video cassettes.

All that residents need to do is drive to the site with their unwanted electronic equipment. Workers at the site will unload the vehicles.

Pre-registration is not required for this special Saturday collection.

Refrigerators, washers and dryers, microwaves, and air conditioners will not be accepted, but they are accepted at Union County’s Scrap Metal Recycling Program.

A complete list of the materials that will be accepted on March 28 is available at the Union County Bureau of Recycling and Planning website: www.ucnj.org/recycle.

The electronics collection will be held rain or shine, for Union County residents only and not for businesses. Proof of Union County residency is required.

In addition to the special March 28 recycling event sponsored by the County of Union, there are local businesses as well as 14 municipalities that provide E-cycling opportunities for residents. Visit the website www.ucnj.org/recycle or call your municipal recycling coordinator for more computer and electronics recycling options.

An alternative drop-off program for recycling electronics equipment is available Monday through Friday between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. at Newtech Recycling, located at 600-A Apgar Drive, Somerset NJ 08873; 732-564-3110. Visit www.newtechrecycling.com .

For more information about recycling events, please call the Union County Recycling Hotline at 908- 654-9889.

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Image credit: Public domain/clipart.

(From left) Union County Freeholder Chairman Mohamed S. Jalloh and Freeholder Bette Jane Kowalski speak with artist Katie Gallagher from Cranford High School during the Union County Teen Arts Festival at Union County College in Cranford. The Union County Teen Arts Festival is an annual two-day celebration of the arts sponsored by the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders through the Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs in the Department of Parks and Recreation. The event is open to all students from public, charter, private and parochial middle and high schools in Union County. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

Union County, NJ – The trails are still soggy, the trees are bare, and the outlook is for snow on Friday, but witch hazel blossoms, songbirds and other signs of spring are already appearing in Union County parks.

“If your favorite hiking trail is still muddy, come and enjoy a stroll along one of our many paved pathways,” said Freeholder Chairman Mohamed S. Jalloh. “Several of the facilities in our parks are in the process of an upgrade, so if you’re planning a visit please be aware of some ongoing work.”

Among the parks where construction is still under way, Briant Park in Summit is receiving a new gazebo and other improvements, and the Lake Surprise dam in the Watchung Reservation is being replaced.

Water in the lake is low while work is going on, but Lake Surprise is still a beautiful spot for hiking and bird-watching. County residents looking for an opportunity to go fishing or boating can use other County parks such as Echo Lake Park in Mountainside.

Recently upgraded facilities include a newly turfed athletic field at Warinanco Park in Roselle, along with new seating and lights.

“The turf and lights are essential because they enable us to extend the usable period for existing fields,” Jalloh noted. “By upgrading the resources we already have, we can welcome more users to enjoy these public facilities without the costs and impacts involved in building additional fields.”

Rahway River Park is currently in the planning stages for one such upgrade. As with the field at Warinanco Park, an existing multi-purpose athletic field – which is unusable for long periods during and after wet weather – will be covered with artificial turf, and lights will be installed. The existing track around the field will also be refurbished.

In partnership with the City of Rahway, the field will also receive standard aluminum bleachers to seat up to 1200 persons, along with other amenities.

Rahway River Park was built to include nature conservation, organized sports, and passive recreation. The existing multi-purpose field is located within a developed area original to the design of the park, which dates back to the 1920’s.

Along with the field, the developed area includes five baseball diamonds, a swimming pool with related facilities, four combination tennis/pickleball courts, and a basketball court.

“When the upgrade is complete, Rahway residents and visitors will be able to enjoy a new field with modern amenities, without encroaching on the nature conservation areas of the park,” said Jalloh. “This upgrade is fully consistent with the legacy of our historic parks system, which since the 1920’s has had the twin goals of preserving open space while providing the public with ample opportunities for recreation.”

In addition to recreational activities, every year Union County parks host hundreds of community volunteers who participate in cleanup, beautification, and restoration projects. To join in, visit Union County Adopt-a-Park/Adopt-a-Trail online at ucnj.org, or call 908-789-3683.

For more information on Union County parks, including a searchable list of activities, visit ucnj.org/parks or call 908-527-4900.

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Please join the County of Union online at ucnj.org, on Facebook at ucnj.org/facebook, and on Twitter at twitter.com/countyofunionnj.

(From left) Union County Freeholder Vice Chairman Bruce Bergen and Freeholders Sergio Granados and Bette Jane Kowalski met with Meals On Wheels Executive Director Donna Sullivan at the agency’s headquarters in Linden to promote this month’s March for Meals campaign. The non-profit agency delivers up to 1,500 meals a day to homebound seniors in Union County. The program is primarily supported by a grant from the Union County Division on Aging, as well as donations from private sources and public organizations. If you would like to know more about the organization or are interested in volunteering or making a donation call 908-486–5100. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

Come out and visit the Teen Arts Festival on Thursday and Friday at Union County College’s Cranford campus from 9:30am to 2:00pm.  Featuring visual and performing art from students from around Union County. Sponsored by the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders.

Union County, NJ – Freeholder Sergio Granados joined Meals on Wheels volunteers at SAGE Eldercare earlier this week to mark the annual March for Meals campaign and National Nutrition Month. Sage Eldercare annually serve over 7,000 individuals directly and 48,000 through outreach primarily in Union, Morris, Somerset and Essex counties. They offer a comprehensive array of programs and services for older adults and caregivers, promoting independence and quality of life.