County of Union, New Jersey

Union County, NJ – Season by season, Union County offers many unique and unusual opportunities for relaxation, enrichment, and just plain fun.

“If the winter winds chase you indoors this weekend, you can come inside and enjoy a great show at the Union County Performing Arts Center, or spend the afternoon at our Trailside Nature & Science Center,” said Freeholder Chairman Mohamed S. Jalloh. “Whatever your age or ability, the Freeholder Board is proud to support recreation programs for all to enjoy.”

The Union County Performing Arts Center (UCPAC) makes its home in the County’s historic Rahway Theatre, conveniently located in the heart of the historic Rahway Arts District.

Among the offerings this weekend, UCPAC is pleased to present DINOSAURS, a rollicking puppet show that kicks off the 2015 Sensory Friendly Theatre series supported by the Freeholder Board.

The Trailside Nature & Science Center is located in the sprawling Watchung Reservation, at 452 New Providence Road in Mountainside. Admission is free every day, seven days a week, and Trailside offers a full slate of affordable programs for all ages.

For a list of indoor and outdoor winter activities supported by Union County, visit “52 Great Things to Do in Union County This Year” at ucnj.org.

##

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

 

 

The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is pleased to announce “Donate to Educate,” a new countywide community service campaign developed entirely by a group of high school students representing all parts of Union County.

The 21 students in the group came together as participants in the second annual Union County Student Training and Enrichment Program (UC STEP) for high school students, held last December.

“UC-STEP is designed to provide our future leaders with a chance to collaborate and engage the entire Union County community in pursuit of leadership skills, personal growth and civic engagement,” said Freeholder Chairman Mohamed Jalloh. “On behalf of the Freeholder Board I’d like to thank all 192 students who participated enthusiastically in the second annual UC STEP summit.”

As a highlight of each UC STEP summit, groups of participants develop proposals for a countywide civic engagement project. The winning project is selected by popular vote on the UC STEP website, ucnj2.org/uc-step. The students then work with the Freeholder Board and other community organizations to plan, implement, and publicize the campaign.

Of the more than 3,200 votes tallied, the Light Blue team received the most. The team’s “Donate to Educate” campaign will kick off in the coming months. Donate to Educate will enlist schools all over Union County to serve as collection points for school supplies to help students in need.

UC STEP is a youth development program initiated by Freeholder Linda Carter during her term as Chairman in 2013. The program is designed to bring students together from all walks of life, and provide them with an opportunity to work with the Freeholder Board to enlist their fellow Union County residents in a common goal.

“The students involved in the first UC STEP campaign, Support 4 Soldiers, did a great job of enabling Union County residents to connect with members of the military who are serving overseas,” said Jalloh. “The Freeholder Board looks forward to helping ensure a successful campaign for Donate to Educate, too.”

Details on how to contribute to Donate to Educate will be available soon.

For more information about UC-STEP, and to view a video explaining the Donate to Educate campaign, visit ucnj2.org/uc-step or call the Union County Department of Economic Development, 908-527-4103.

##

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

 

 

Information in this press release may have expired.  Please contact your local municipality for updated information.

With freezing temperatures in Union County for a fifth day, the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders reminds residents that the Code Blue program is still in effect, and help is available for those without a warm place to stay. 

The Code Blue program is designed to coordinate municipal and County resources, to help homeless persons find a place at an organized shelter or warming center.  If you happen to witness anyone unattended to or sleeping outdoors, please contact your local police department, which will assist them with transportation. 

The following municipalities have notified the County that warming centers are available:

 

Elizabeth

January 8, 2015

Second Macedonia Baptist Church
1251 Fairmount Avenue
After 4pm

Elizabeth Police Department
After 4 pm

Linden

Union County – Union County’s Sensory Friendly Theatre series kicks off the New Year with the prehistoric adventures of DINOSAURS at the Union County Performing Arts Center in Rahway this Sunday, January 11 at 2:00 p.m.

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.

“Designed to help families with sensory, social, and learning disabilities to experience the performing arts in a safe, judgment-free environment, the Freeholder Board is proud to continue supporting this series,” said Freeholder Chairman Mohamed S. Jalloh. “This performance series enhances the County’s vision that the arts should be accessible to everyone.”

Bring your family this weekend to hang out with Stegosaurus and Tyrannosaurus Rex as Jim West brings the age of the dinosaurs to life! Enjoy prehistory as he mixes storytelling with the latest dinosaur discoveries, dino-puppet making ideas and a rich musical score of Mozart, Beethoven, Mahler, Stravinsky and Prokofiev.

Dinosaurs get the puppet treatment in this engaging kid performance. The larger-than-life puppets take little ones on a prehistoric journey with the help of some catchy tunes and a surprising plot.

Before our eyes, a box turns into a Tyrannosaurus, cardboard becomes a Brachiosaurus, and newspaper transforms into an Apatosaurus. Join us in a romp through the dinosaur ages, and go on a journey to find out just exactly how old everything is!

Implementing the supportive atmosphere 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 Performing Arts Center 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 supported by the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders, through the Kids Recreation Trust Fund. The performance of DINOSAURS 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 the thrilling family adventures of The Berenstain Bears in Family Matter, the Musical on Sunday, March 29 at 2:00 p.m.

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 Friday from 11:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. and is also open late on Thursdays until 8:00 p.m.

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.

Union County is in an extended four-day period of freezing temperatures, with dips occurring as low as 4 degrees. 

A Code Blue has been put into effect for the remainder of this time, which is intended to get any homeless off the street and into shelter. If you happen to witness anyone unattended to or sleeping outdoors, please contact your local police department in getting them to the appropriate shelter. 

The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders also urge you to please take the appropriate precautions and drive safely. Report any issues on municipal roads to the respective municipality. If there are any issues on County roads, please call County Police at 908-654-9800.  

Also, to report downed power lines or outages, contact your utility company. PSE&G customers call 1-800-436-7734. JCP&L customers call 1-800-545-7738 or use the automated reporting line at 1-888-544-4877.  

For questions about your gas service, call Elizabethtown Gas at 800-492-4009.  

Please tell your friends and neighbors about First Alert, and stay informed by visiting the Union County Webpage at www.ucnj.org. Also find us on Facebook and Twitter.

ELIZABETH, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is pleased to present an exhibit of photographs by Agnieszka Solawa of Summit in the gallery space at the Union County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs, located in the historic St. John’s Parsonage at 633 Pearl Street in Elizabeth. A selection of her work entitled “Inspired” is on display at the Pearl Street Gallery through March 27. The public is invited to enjoy the exhibit during regular gallery hours, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays.

“The talent and diversity of our county artists assure an inspiring variety of exhibits at the Pearl Street Gallery,” said Freeholder Bette Jane Kowalski, liaison to the Union County Cultural and Heritage Advisory Board. “We are pleased to display Ms. Solawa’s beautiful photographs.”

Agnieszka Solawa was born in Krakow, Poland, where she grew up surrounded by art. Her mother was an artist and her father was chief architect of the city of Krakow and a professor at the School of Architecture. Agnieszka’s family immigrated to South Africa to escape from communism. She earned a Diploma of Fine Art from the Pretoria and Cape Town Universities and a BA in Architecture from the University of Cape Town. In Paris, France, she studied Graphic Arts at the “Atelier 17.” She later won a scholarship to study art and Italian language at the University of Urbino in Italy.

In 1987, Agnieszka Solawa moved to Summit, New Jersey with her husband Sam, who also is an architect and photographer. Throughout her career, Agnieszka participated in many exhibitions in Italy, France, South Africa and the United States. Her paintings and photographs are in many private collections. Her recent exhibits include: Solo Exhibition of Photography, Millburn Public Library; Solo Exhibition of Paintings, Westfield Memorial Library; Solo Exhibition of Jewelry, New Providence Memorial Library; “Holy Lives”, Juried Show, Therese A. Maloney Art Gallery, Morristown, NJ; and “Seasons”, 3rd Annual Photography Contest, The Donald B. Palmer Museum, Springfield, NJ.

Agnieszka continued her photography and painting while working as an architect/interior designer at Donghia Associates and later as an architect at the Port Authority of NY & NJ. She also is a jewelry designer and a singer. To see her work, visit her website www.solawa.com .

Union County artists (whose works can be hung on a wall) interested in exhibiting in the gallery space are welcome to apply. For more information about the Pearl Street Gallery or other programs, please contact the Union County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs, 633 Pearl Street, Elizabeth NJ 07202. Free on-site parking is available. Telephone 908-558-2550. NJ Relay users can dial 711. Send E-mail to: culturalinfo@ucnj.org.

Union County, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is pleased to announce the 2015 Union County Advancing Community Theatre (UCACT) grant program. As part of Freeholder Chairman Mohamed S. Jalloh’s “Investing in Union County” 2015 initiatives, the UCACT grant program aims to engage the creative life of our community through enriching community theatre experiences that promote economic and social well-being.

“Community theatre is a collaborative art with important economic, cultural, and social benefits,” said Freeholder Chairman Mohamed S. Jalloh. “Investment in community theatre is an investment in Union County.”

The UCACT grant program was created in response to the remarkable success of RENT at the Union County Performing Arts Center in Rahway last November. The production was staged by the Linden-based community theatre organization Mystic Vision Players in partnership with the Union County Performing Arts Center, and sponsored by the Freeholder Board.

“The overwhelming audience response to the production is proof that community theatre has a place in Union County,” said Freeholder Chairman Jalloh.

The mission of the UCACT grant program is to support and encourage the performing arts in Union County.  Recognizing the importance of the arts in society, UCACT seeks to fund Union County-based community theater companies that contribute to the advancement or preservation of theater as an art form.

“Public support is crucial to ensuring accessibility of the arts to all people,” said Chairman Jalloh. “UCACT aims to provide a venue that draws people together to participate in collaborative community theatre experiences that enrich and engage the greater Union County community.”

The UCACT grant program seeks to assist the artistic community in the County of Union by providing support that will promote high quality theatre productions, encourage new programming, set a high bar for artistic challenges, and help make live theater more accessible to all.

The application deadline for the UCACT grant program is March 1, 2015. Early submissions will be evaluated upon receipt. Applications submitted after the deadline will be considered based on funding availability.

Grant applications can be downloaded online at ucnj.org/ucact. For additional information or to receive a grant application by mail contact Victoria Durbin Drake, chief of staff, Freeholder Board at 908-558-2278.

##

County Surrogate James S. LaCorte, Sheriff Joseph Cryan, Freeholders Christopher Hudak, Angel G. Estrada and Vernell Wright Begin New Terms

[Youtube_Channel_Gallery feed=”playlist” user=”PLU6s5v7T7_JRQIv54PVegOemniLENT-dD” videowidth=”580″ ratio=”16×9″ theme=”light” color=”white” autoplay=”0″ rel=”0″ showinfo=”0″ maxitems=”20″ thumbwidth=”125″ thumbratio=”16×9″ thumbcolumns=”4″ title=”1″ description=”0″ thumbnail_alignment=”top” descriptionwordsnumber=”6″]

UNION COUNTY COURTHOUSE, ELIZABETH—Freeholder Chairman Mohamed S. Jalloh today announced a comprehensive series of initiatives for 2015, entitled “Investing in Union County” that includes new announcements in economic development, arts, education, quality of life improvements and public safety.

Jalloh, a resident of Union, was selected as Chairman of the Union County Freeholder Board at the 158th annual reorganization meeting held in the Union County Courthouse in Elizabeth. He began serving as Freeholder in 2010. This is his first term as Chairman of the Freeholder Board.

County Surrogate James S. LaCorte and Freeholders Christopher Hudak (last year’s Chairman), Angel G. Estrada and Vernell Wright were sworn in to new terms. Sheriff Joseph Cryan was sworn into his first full term. Freeholder Bruce H. Bergen was appointed as Freeholder Vice Chairman. Freeholders also voted to fill numerous positions on County advisory boards and to adopt the Board’s 2015 schedule and procedural rules.

In reflecting upon a number of tough governmental decisions made by the Freeholder Board over the past several years necessitated by the global recession, Jalloh noted the County is rebounding and must continue to “play offense” through a series of strategic initiatives for the New Year.

“Those steps proved very effective and we have emerged a stronger County government because of it,” Jalloh said. “It is time again for the County to focus on making the investments in our future that will help boost the economy and enhance the quality of life for our residents.”

Jalloh went on to outline his “Investing in Union County” initiatives:

• “Road map to success” – The County will commission a report, conducted through the Bloustein School at Rutgers, that will examine trends in Union County’s overall economy, find strengths and synergies to focus its resources upon, and effectuate positive outcomes.
• “Build a Community of The Arts” – this set of initiatives would build a County-wide arts ecosystem that will grow and stimulate Union County’s economy, including:
  • An Arts Master plan, with assistance from former Rahway Mayor Jim Kennedy, which would catalogue the County’s Arts resources and determine how to best utilize them, market them and move forward with a plan for advancing the arts;
  • The Union County Advancing Community Theatre initiative (UCACT), through which the County would sponsor and promote five or more theatre events at the Union County Performing Arts Center (UCPAC). This program builds on the recent success of RENT – a pilot of this program that the County initiated in November through a partnership with UCPAC;
  • A new partnership with Union County College to offer classes in acting, dance, and public speaking at UCPAC that will be open to all residents;
  • A “creative placemaking initiative,” which will involve covering traffic control boxes with the artistic expressions of local Artists, aimed at enhancing community arts and revitalization.
• “College Readiness Now” – Develop a partnership with Union County College to expand this pilot program which tests juniors near the end of the academic year to ensure they are prepared for college and help avoid costly remediation courses.
• “Families First initiative” – which includes a partnership involving the United Way of Greater Union County, the Workforce Investment Board, and our Department of Human Services, that would lead to additional after school programs, workforce investment training and support for families;
  • A pilot program with Community Coordinated Child Care (also known as “four C’s”) to serve those who don’t meet eligibility for State subsidized child care;
  • Work with various partners including the Court Administration, the Sheriff’s office, Human Service agencies and the Prosecutors Office, to ensure safety and better services for families affected by domestic violence.
• A series of economic development and workforce initiatives meant to boost the economy and create new opportunities, including:
  • A $2.3 million expansion of the Union County Workforce Investment Board (WIB) program at the Jersey Gardens Mall in Elizabeth to boost job training, job creation and employment programs for County residents;
  • The Entrepreneurship Training Program, which just began through the WIB, is aimed at assisting individuals who want to start and manage their own business; and a partnership with the New Jersey State AFL-CIO (community services agency) to screen and assist qualified, legal, permanent residents who live in Union County with their naturalization;
  • The creation of a Union County economic development response team to approach each Union County municipality about their needs. This would open a dialogue on sharing services, identifying opportunities and maximizing our resources in spurring economic growth;
• Public safety and recreational announcements aimed at improving the quality of life, including:
  • The creation of a new street crimes unit through the Sheriff’s Department that would focus on emerging public safety concerns;
  • Action on a recently completed assessment of our parks, public works and motor vehicle locations to install safety cameras as a deterrent to crime in those locations;
  • Continuing the successful Union County Gun Buyback program with another round coming later this summer;
  • Enhanced development of our parks, such as continuing the “turf and build” program and bike path improvements, as well as roads and infrastructure measures with the goal of increasing recreational opportunities in the County;

Finally, in discussing last year’s developments in Ferguson, Missouri, and Staten Island, Jalloh added that it is “is incumbent upon all of us as government leaders to assist in the effort to maintain or restore the bond of trust between our different communities and our police departments.”

Jalloh has initiated conversations with Assemblyman Green, the Prosecutors office, the Sheriff’s office, and the County’s Public Safety Director regarding programs that could be offered at our Police Academy and through County Police.

“We want to raise the bar of tolerance and professionalism for those in the line of duty, and in turn we hope to create an atmosphere of renewed respect that our officers deserve to making the ultimate sacrifice of putting their own lives on the line,” Jalloh stated.

The Freeholder Chairman closed his speech by quoting President Obama:

Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we’ve been waiting for. We are the change that we seek.

“I look forward to working with my colleagues, County staff and members of the community to effect this change,” Jalloh said.

(All photos: James Lowney/County of Union)

Guest Speaker: Roy White, Former New York Yankees Outfielder and Coach           

The Union County Baseball Association will induct four new members into the Union County Baseball Hall of Fame and honor local student athletes for their achievements in 2014 during award ceremonies on Sunday afternoon, February 8.

The 79^th Annual Hot Stove League Baseball Dinner on Feb. 8^th begins at 1:00 p.m. at the L’Affaire Banquet Center, 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 Recreation.

During the afternoon awards ceremonies, the UCBA will induct four new members into the Union County Baseball Hall of Fame: Jorge Comas of Elizabeth, Barry Kaverick of Kenilworth, Richard McCormack of Elizabeth, and Jack Shaw of Roselle Park.

Roy White, former New York Yankees All-Star outfielder and two-time World Series champion, will be the special guest speaker. White played his entire Major League career with the Yankees from 1965 through 1979, compiling a .271 career batting average and a .360 on-base percentage. An excellent defensive player, he led American League left fielders in fielding percentage for four consecutive seasons.

Tickets for the dinner are $45 each. Proceeds will help fund the Union County Summer Youth Baseball League for youngsters 8 to 15 years, and the Fall Teen League.

Since 1937, the 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, and Elliott Maddox of Union.

Tickets for the 79^th Annual Union County Baseball Association Hot Stove League Dinner on Feb. 8^th are available from the Union County Baseball Association by visiting www.UCBA-NJ.org. For more information, please call Jim Iozzi at 908-917-2523.