County of Union, New Jersey

Union County Youth Services has moved to a new location at 288 North Broad Street, Suite 3A in Elizabeth. Office hours are on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., and Wednesdays and Fridays from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

“The mission of our Youth Services Division is to help young people reach their full potential by enabling them to connect with opportunities for learning and personal growth. This new location will help us work more effectively with clients and the many stakeholders that help support this essential service,” said Freeholder Chairman Mohamed Jalloh.

Youth Services offers 24/7 family crisis intervention and referral services, delinquency prevention services and programs, weekly bi-lingual parenting support groups,  event presentations, and community service opportunities for high school students.

Individuals, businesses, nonprofits and other organizations interested in learning more about Union County Youth Services’ resources and initiatives can call 908-558-2520 or visit our website at ucnj.org/youth.

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Union County, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is pleased to announce that a free springtime training course is available for persons interested in becoming confidential Volunteer Advocates for victims of sexual violence.

The course provides volunteers with training in crisis counseling and medical/legal accompaniment in a supportive, empathetic environment.

Upon successful completion, volunteer advocates will be qualified to answer hotline calls and offer in-person support through the Union County Rape Crisis Center (UCRCC), a long-running program of the Union County Department of Human Services. The UCRCC has provided reliable, confidential guidance to victims of sexual violence since 1984.

“Sexual violence affects people from all walks of life. The Freeholder Board is extremely proud of our volunteer advocates, who provide support and help restore a sense of community and self-worth to our fellow Union County residents facing a significant life crisis,” said Freeholder Chairman Mohamed S. Jalloh. “If you are looking for a worthwhile volunteer activity, I encourage you to contact the Union County Rape Crisis Center and ask about the upcoming training program.”

Current Advocates often describe the experience as rewarding, something they would highly recommend.

Advocate Sue (Advocates use first names only) said, “Volunteering at the UCRCC is important to me. I want survivors of sexual assault to know they have total support from the advocates at the UCRCC at a very critical time in their lives. It’s important for them to know they are not alone. My advice to prospective advocates is to really commit and do it with your heart.”

Advocate Stefanie added, “Hearing the stories and being in the presence of a victim is not always easy, but knowing that we are there to help is the most rewarding feeling. I’m proud to be a part of a team that is always there for one another. The bond that we share is indescribable!”

The next training course will begin on Thursday evening, April 16, and continue for 12 more sessions on Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., until June 2. There is no session on Tuesday, May 12.

The training will take place at the Colleen Fraser County services building, at 300 North Avenue East in Westfield.

Volunteers must be Union County residents at least 18 years of age. They must hold a valid driver’s license and have their own vehicle. Prior to training, each volunteer will come to the UCRCC office for an informal interview.

To find out more about volunteering and to schedule a potential interview, call 908-233-7273.  For more information about the UCRCC, including personal stories by volunteers, visit the UCRCC blog at unioncountyrapecrisiscenter.blogspot.com.

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Image credit: Aidan Jones via flickr.com, creative commons license.

Union County Freeholder Chairman Mohamed S. Jalloh, Vice Chairman Bruce Bergen, Freeholders Bette Jane Kowalski, Christopher Hudak, Alexander Mirabella, Linda Carter, Angel G. Estrada, Sergio Granados and Vernell Wright and Union County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi march in the 19th Annual Union County St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Morris Avenue in Union.  (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

MOUNTAINSIDE, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is pleased to announce an early spring guided nature hike, for adults 18 and older, at Trailside Nature and Science Center in Mountainside on Saturday, March 28 from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m.

This program offers an opportunity to walk deeper into the reservation and experience the beauty of the woods.   A Trailside naturalist will lead a guided hike along one of the bucolic trails in the Watchung Reservation.   Participants will learn to identify some of the trees, observe signs of animal activity and learn the ways in which plants and animals adapt to the season.  Please dress appropriately for the weather.  The fee is $10 for Union County residents and $12 for out of county residents. Pre-registration is recommended. 

“This is a unique opportunity to experience nature on an interpretive hike with a professional naturalist.   It’s a great way to spend the morning before you start your Saturday activities, says Freeholder Chairman, Mohamed S. Jalloh.

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. For more information about this workshop or other activities at Trailside, please call 908-789-3670 or visit us on our website at www.ucnj.org/trailside.

Union County, NJ – Got cabin fever? Join Union County Parks, Friends of Lenape Park and birder Frank Budney tonight, March 16, for a Woodcock Watch at Lenape Park, from 6:45 p.m. to 8:15 p.m.

Woodcocks or timberdoodles are short, stocky shorebirds in the sandpiper family with long bills. They spend most of their time in shrubby forests.

The male woodcock, famous for its beautiful mating flight and courtship behavior, is often considered a harbinger of spring.

For this informal presentation, there will be a brief introduction and then participants will head to the nearby field to listen for woodcocks and observe the male’s flight.

The program starts promptly at 6:45 p.m. Dress warm and bring a flashlight.

To register, email bkelly@ucnj.org. The Woodcock Watch is free and open to adults and children ages 10 years and up with adult.

Participants will meet at the old Trap & Skeet field house, accessed via the main park entrance off Kenilworth Boulevard in Cranford (for map visit mapquest.com at  mapq.st/1M3VkhU).

For more information on programs in Union County Parks, call 908-527-4900.

(Photo credit: Courtesy of US Department of Agriculture).

Union County, NJ – In Union County, hundreds of bridges and culverts help keep the traffic flowing over railways, waterways, and other obstacles – 470 bridges and culverts, to be exact. Keeping them in good repair is an ongoing task, and this year a new group of projects to improve five bridges is getting under way.

“Union County is one of the most important transportation hubs on the eastern seaboard, and we take that responsibility very seriously,” said Union County Freeholder Chairman Mohamed S. Jalloh. “With this upcoming group of projects, we aim to ensure that our bridges and culverts are compliant with modern standards.”

Many of the bridges and culverts in Union County were designed and constructed generations ago, when vehicular traffic was lighter and safety standards were not fully developed. The County prioritizes upgrades in consultation with state and federal transportation agencies.

At its regular meeting on February 19, the Freeholder Board approved the award of contracts for design, construction administration, and inspection services for the replacement of the following five bridges:

• Netherwood Avenue and Wells Road (Plainfield/North Plainfield, over Green Brook), construction expected to begin in spring 2017.
• East Hazelwood Avenue and Main Street (Rahway, over the Rahway River), construction expected in summer 2016.
• Mountain Avenue and Sherbrook Drive (Berkeley Heights, over a stream), construction expected in summer 2016.
• Martine Avenue and Mary Ellen Lane (Scotch Plains, over a stream), construction expected in summer 2016.
• Central Avenue and Clover Street (Westfield, over a stream), construction expected in summer 2016.

This year, work will also start on a total of six previously approved bridge and culvert projects in Summit, Plainfield, Scotch Plains, Springfield, and Rahway. Road resurfacing this year is scheduled for County roads in Elizabeth, Berkeley Heights, Cranford, Fanwood, Kenilworth, Rahway, Roselle, Plainfield, Scotch Plains, Springfield, Summit and Westfield.

At the February 19 meeting the Freeholder Board also approved resolutions that formally close out contracts for three recently completed projects. One for was replacement of the deck on the Summer Street Bridge in Elizabeth. The other two were for replacement of two culverts, one at Valley Road and Glenside in Berkeley Heights, and the other at First Avenue and Locust in Roselle.

In addition, the Board approved three intersection improvements in Summit that will begin work this spring. That brings the total number slated for this year to 11. The other eight intersections are in Hillside, Union, Westfield, Garwood, Elizabeth and Roselle Park.

Mass transit services are also getting a boost from the Freeholder Board, which authorized an agreement between the County, New Jersey Transit, and the Township of Springfield to install two new bus shelters. The new shelters will complement a third new shelter to be installed by Springfield on the northbound side of Mountain Avenue, near Morris Avenue.

To keep up to date on any major changes in traffic patterns resulting from bridge replacement or other roadwork, visit the Union County Road Construction Update page at ucnj.org/traffic.

To report a pothole or any other issue with a County road, use an online form available through the Union County Department of Public Works and Facilities Management at ucnj.org, or call 908-789-3660.

For all mass transit information, visit Union County ConneXions at ucnj.org/connect.

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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.

Investigators are seeking assistance from the public in locating an autistic Elizabeth boy who was reported missing overnight.

David Isaac Bardales, 12, was last seen shortly before 9 p.m. Thursday, March 12 on the 400 block of Rosehill Place in Elizabeth.

Bardales, who also answers to the name Jamie Fernandez, is approximately 5-foot-4, 150 pounds, with brown eyes, a medium skin tone, and short black hair. He last was seen carrying a black backpack containing an  Xbox game console and wearing a green hooded sweatshirt, black pants, and gray sneakers.  

Possible destinations Bardales is believed to have had in mind include School No. 23 on Union Avenue in Elizabeth, Carteret Park, or the Murray Street or South Elmora Avenue corridors.

Investigators with the Elizabeth Police Department, the Union County Prosecutor’s Office, and the New Jersey State Police are actively involved in the search for Bardales. Anyone with information about his whereabouts is being urged to contact the Elizabeth Police Department at 908-558-2000.

MOUNTAINSIDE, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders and the Department of Parks and Recreation are pleased to announce the 2015 Wildlife Photography Contest at Trailside Nature & Science Center.  Amateur photographers, ages six through adult, are invited to enter their original photographs of wild animals in their natural habitat.

“Wild animals are challenging photographic subjects and the Wildlife Photography Contest is a great opportunity for people of all ages to put their skills to the test and attempt to capture animals in their natural habitat,” stated Freeholder Chairman Mohamed S. Jalloh.

Last year the winners of the Wildlife Photography Contested included Jim Duffy of Linden in the adult category for ages 18 and older for his photo of a snowy owl, Danielle Mandile of Berkeley Heights in the 12 – 17 year old category for her spiny orb weaver spider photo and Clemente Brogca in the 6 – 11 year old category for his photo of a Canada goose.

Only images of wildlife species native to the United States are eligible for submission.  Images of exotic wildlife, pets or domestic animals will not be considered.  Individuals may enter a maximum of two photographs.   Entries must be un-matted, un-framed 5” X 7” black and white or color prints.  Entries must be received or postmarked no later than Friday, April 10, 2015. 

Photographs entered into the Wildlife Photography Contest will be judged by local professional photographers for originality, composition, technical excellence and artistic merit.  Participants can enter one of three age groups; 6 – 11, 12 – 17 or 18 and older.  Four winners in each age group will have their photographs published in Trailside’s 2016 calendar.  Winners will be announced on Sunday, April 26, 2015 during Trailside’s Wild Earth Fest event.  All photographs will be displayed at Trailside’s Visitor Center through May 29, 2015.

            To obtain a brochure with the complete list of rules and entry form for the Wildlife Photography contest, call Trailside at 908-789-3670 or visit www.ucnj.org/trailside.   Trailside Nature & Science Center is located at 452 New Providence Road and is a service of the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders.