County of Union

SCOTCH PLAINS, NJ – The Union County Department of Parks and Community Renewal has released details of its Ash Brook Reservation Deer Management Program, which will begin on Monday, January 3, and continue through Saturday, February 12.

This program is intended to reduce the white-tailed deer population in the Ash Brook Reservation and Golf Course in an attempt to minimize overbrowsing of the forested parkland, reduce browse damage on the landscape plantings of surrounding homes, reduce the incidence of deer-related motor vehicle accidents, and lessen the occurrence of Lyme disease.

Eight State of New Jersey licensed hunters have volunteered to participate in this program and completed a marksmanship test and orientation program. Those hunters, using shotguns at baited sites, will remove deer from various areas of the park, including the Golf Course. The venison that is processed from some of the harvested deer will be distributed to the needy and homeless through the Community FoodBank of New Jersey.

Weather permitting, hunters may be in the Ash Brook Reservation from 5 a.m. to 8 p.m. every day except Sunday. Shooting may only occur during daylight hours.

Participation in this program is limited to the eight authorized hunters. Anyone else found hunting on this Union County park property outside the terms of this program will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Citizens observing any illegal activity at any time are urged to immediately contact the Union County Police at 908-654-9800.

The public should note that the Ash Brook Reservation and the Ash Brook Golf Course will not be closed during the deer management program. Park users and neighbors are encouraged to stay out of the wooded areas during that time period, and to keep pets restrained on a leash.

For further information, contact the Union County Department of Parks and Community Renewal at (908) 789-3682.

– end –

SCOTCH PLAINS, NJ – The Union County Department of Parks and Community Renewal has released details of its Ash Brook Reservation Deer Management Program, which will begin on Monday, January 3, and continue through Saturday, February 12.

This program is intended to reduce the white-tailed deer population in the Ash Brook Reservation and Golf Course in an attempt to minimize overbrowsing of the forested parkland, reduce browse damage on the landscape plantings of surrounding homes, reduce the incidence of deer-related motor vehicle accidents, and lessen the occurrence of Lyme disease.

Eight State of New Jersey licensed hunters have volunteered to participate in this program and completed a marksmanship test and orientation program. Those hunters, using shotguns at baited sites, will remove deer from various areas of the park, including the Golf Course. The venison that is processed from some of the harvested deer will be distributed to the needy and homeless through the Community FoodBank of New Jersey.

Weather permitting, hunters may be in the Ash Brook Reservation from 5 a.m. to 8 p.m. every day except Sunday. Shooting may only occur during daylight hours.

Participation in this program is limited to the eight authorized hunters. Anyone else found hunting on this Union County park property outside the terms of this program will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Citizens observing any illegal activity at any time are urged to immediately contact the Union County Police at 908-654-9800.

The public should note that the Ash Brook Reservation and the Ash Brook Golf Course will not be closed during the deer management program. Park users and neighbors are encouraged to stay out of the wooded areas during that time period, and to keep pets restrained on a leash.

For further information, contact the Union County Department of Parks and Community Renewal at (908) 789-3682.

– end –

SCOTCH PLAINS, NJ – The Union County Department of Parks and Community Renewal has released details of its Ash Brook Reservation Deer Management Program, which will begin on Monday, January 3, and continue through Saturday, February 12.

This program is intended to reduce the white-tailed deer population in the Ash Brook Reservation and Golf Course in an attempt to minimize overbrowsing of the forested parkland, reduce browse damage on the landscape plantings of surrounding homes, reduce the incidence of deer-related motor vehicle accidents, and lessen the occurrence of Lyme disease.

Eight State of New Jersey licensed hunters have volunteered to participate in this program and completed a marksmanship test and orientation program. Those hunters, using shotguns at baited sites, will remove deer from various areas of the park, including the Golf Course. The venison that is processed from some of the harvested deer will be distributed to the needy and homeless through the Community FoodBank of New Jersey.

Weather permitting, hunters may be in the Ash Brook Reservation from 5 a.m. to 8 p.m. every day except Sunday. Shooting may only occur during daylight hours.

Participation in this program is limited to the eight authorized hunters. Anyone else found hunting on this Union County park property outside the terms of this program will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Citizens observing any illegal activity at any time are urged to immediately contact the Union County Police at 908-654-9800.

The public should note that the Ash Brook Reservation and the Ash Brook Golf Course will not be closed during the deer management program. Park users and neighbors are encouraged to stay out of the wooded areas during that time period, and to keep pets restrained on a leash.

For further information, contact the Union County Department of Parks and Community Renewal at (908) 789-3682.

– end –

ELIZABETH—Due to the inclement weather, the County of Union will
have a two-hour work delay on Monday.

Union County Paratransit services for Monday have also been suspended.

Christopher Hudak of Linden is sworn in as a Union County Freeholder by New Jersey State Senator Nicholas Scutari on December 22 in Elizabeth. Freeholder Hudak’s wife Terri holds the Bible. (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

On Facebook at www.ucnj.org/facebook

On Twitter at http://twitter.com/countyofunionnj

 

The Union County Baseball Association will induct three new members into the Union County Baseball Hall of Fame during award ceremonies on Sunday afternoon, February 13. The three inductees will be honored for their outstanding contributions to our national pastime on the baseball diamonds of Union County, New Jersey.

Robert Brewster of Westfield High School, Jack Byrnes of Union Catholic High School and American Legion Baseball, and Brian Sheekey of Roselle Catholic High School will be honored with induction into the Union County Baseball Hall of Fame at the 75th Annual Hot Stove League Baseball Dinner on Feb. 13, which begins at 1:00 p.m. at the L’Affaire Banquet Center, 1099 Route 22 East, 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 Community Renewal.

The special honoree at this year’s awards dinner will be James L. Iozzi of Scotch Plains, the long-time president of the Union County Baseball Association.

“We’re delighted to welcome three extremely deserving new members into the Union County Baseball Hall of Fame and honor Jim Iozzi for his many years of dedication to the UCBA and the young ballplayers of Union County,” said Freeholder Chairman Daniel Sullivan. “We hope that family members and friends of all the honorees will enjoy the Sunday afternoon ceremonies and support youth baseball in Union County.”

In addition to the new Hall of Fame inductees, the Hot Stove League Baseball Dinner also will honor young athletes from local baseball leagues for their achievements in 2010.

Tickets for the dinner are $40.00, with proceeds going to 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, Jake Wood of Elizabeth, and Elliott Maddox of Union.

Tickets for the 75th Annual Union County Baseball Association Hot Stove League Dinner on Feb. 13th are available for $40 and may be obtained by calling (908) 789-3686.

– end –

 

Officers from the Union County Sheriff’s warrant squad apprehended a West Orange man wanted on several charges including kidnapping and carjacking stemming from an incident in Plainfield.

The Sheriff’s Officers spotted Derek Diaz near his Kingsley Street home in West Orange Wednesday. After alerting the Union County Prosecutor’s Office and West Orange Police, the officers force entry into the residence after requests to open the door went unanswered. Diaz was taken into custody without further incident.

Diaz, 21, was arrested on charges of first degree kidnapping, first degree robbery, second degree possession of a weapon, second degree aggravated assault, first degree carjacking, second degree burglary and second degree unlawful possession of a weapon. He is currently in the Union County Jail.

The officers from the Union County Sheriff’s Office involved in the arrest were Sgt. Darryl Warner, Sgt. Carlo Caparruva, Det. Anthony Gialanella, Officer Michael Schultz, Officer Kenneth Randazza, Officer Keith Medvedich and Officer Eric Finne. Trooper Jeovanny Rodriguez of the New Jersey State Police and several members of the West Orange Police Department also were involved in the apprehension of Diaz.

Union County, NJ – The season of giving is upon us and Union County is pitching in to help ensure that local families have a happy holiday, by coordinating donations to be distributed to various social service agencies and individual households in need. So far, an estimated 3,000 households received assistance and the total may top 3,200.

“This is a countywide effort that began many years ago, and it just keeps getting bigger,” said Freeholder Chairman Daniel P. Sullivan. “Understandably enough we lost some sponsors due to the tough economy, but many others stepped in to fill the breach. When you see community spirit this strong, you know that we will all pull through together.”

In addition to donating money and gifts, Union County employees contribute many hours of volunteer time in collecting, organizing and distributing donations.

“Originally the county’s holiday drives focused on toys, to help children in need enjoy a cheerful season,” said Sullivan. “But especially since the 2008 economic crisis we have grown to include food, clothing and other necessities.”

Community agencies have come to rely on the County’s holiday drives in order to meet the needs of those seeking help. The effort is coordinated by the Department of Human Services, spearheaded by longtime employee Mary Krech on a volunteer basis. Along with donations from Union County employees, the contributions from other individuals, businesses, Cub Scout groups, and school groups also play an important part.

“Private citizens and organizations often reach out to the County for ways to help or volunteer,” said Frank Guzzo, Department Director of Human Services. “We have the resources to collect their donations or direct them to specific organizations they would like to help.”

The County made giving a contest at its Tree/Menorah Lighting and Charity Drive at the Trailside Nature and Science Center in Mountainside on December 5. Thirteen hundred residents flocked to the Nature Craft Show to vote on the prettiest tree, decorated with toys, winter hats, supermarket gift cards and other items donated from various county departments and staff.

The Runnels Specialized Hospital tree, themed “Toy Land,” was voted the winner. The trees were donated to ten Union County families along with lights and ornaments, and the toys, clothing and other donations were distributed to various service agencies.

The Sheriff’s Officer’s Tree of Hope is another long-running Union County holiday project that collects and distributes toys and other donations. Since 1997, Tree of Hope has helped hundreds of children affected by illness, domestic violence, neglect and abuse, to have a brighter holiday.

This year, the National Tree Company of Cranford donated trees for Tree of Hope.

“The Courthouse community supplies Tree of Hope with a lot of contributions,” said Marianne Hopko, project coordinator, “But we also accept quite a bit in private donations all year long.”

For more information on ways to give in Union County visit https://ucnj.org/government/Human-Services.

 

# #

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, on Facebook at www.ucnj.org/facebook, and on Twitter athttp://twitter.com/countyofunionnj

Photo Caption: The youth members of the Union County 4-H Photography club celebrated the holiday season with a photo challenge, and the winning picture was snapped by second-year member Lynda Rule featuring her dog Buddy. The Union County 4-H clubs are a program of the Rutgers Cooperative Extension, sponsored in part by the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders. For more information on 4-H programs, contact 4-H Agent James Nichnadowicz, 908-654-9854 or jnichnadowicz@ucnj.org Photo credit: Lynda Rule.

 

 

 

The 4-H Youth Development Program is part of Rutgers New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station Cooperative Extension. 4-H educational programs are offered to all youth, K-13, on an age-appropriate basis, without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, or disability. Rutgers Cooperative Extension programs are open and accessible to all. If special accommodations are needed, please contact the 4-H office.

 

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 on Facebook at www.ucnj.org/facebook and on Twitter athttp://twitter.com/countyofunionnj

Nine Union County residents have just earned their Master Tree Steward certificate, qualifying them to teach fourth-grade students about the role of trees in the environment: (rear, l-r) Mary Lou Mayfield, Karen Kotvas (class instructor), Mary Krauss; (middle, l-r) Ann Cusack, Kathleen McMahon, Peggy Dendinger, Pat Hudson, Kenneth Ilgavizis; (front, l-r) Tina Helmsetter, Althea Llewellyn. Not pictured: Rebecca Rose of Chatham. Photo Credit:Master Tree Stewards

 

Union County, NJ – The nine graduates of the 2010 class of Union County Master Tree Stewards will fan out across Union County this winter and spring, visiting fourth-grade classrooms to teach youngsters how trees help reduce air pollution, prevent soil erosion, and contribute to community health.

“Trees play an important role in holiday celebrations, and throughout the year they play a crucial role in keeping our environment safe and healthy,” said Freeholder Chairman Daniel P. Sullivan. “The Master Tree Stewards perform a wonderful service by sharing their appreciation of trees with schoolchildren throughout Union County, and we are very proud of them.”

Master Tree Stewards are volunteers who are trained certified by the Rutgers Cooperative Extension 4-H Youth Development Program of Union County, supported in part by the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders. The Freeholder Board also supports tree conservation programs in County parks and roadways, assists the 21 municipalities in planting thousands of local street trees through the “Greening Union County” program, and donates hundreds trees to schools for Arbor Day activities.

To become a Master Tree Steward or to find out more about the program, contact 4-H agent James Nichnadowicz at the Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Union County, 908-654-9854 ext. 7562, or jnichnadowicz@ucnj.org.

# #
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 on Facebook at www.ucnj.org/facebook and on Twitter at http://twitter.com/countyofunionnj