County of Union, New Jersey

Union County, NJ – Union County 4-H is offering a new Engineering Club this year, designed for students in grades 4 and 5 who show an early interest in engineering and related technology fields.

“If your child enjoys building toy ramps, tracks, and other structures, the 4-H Engineering Club offers a fun, supportive program to help develop advanced skills and get a firm grasp on the basic concepts,” said Freeholder Chairman Christopher Hudak.

Union County 4-H is a program of the Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Union County, supported in part by the Freeholder Board. Part of the nation’s largest youth development network, 4-H helps youngsters develop leadership and organizational skills while exploring topics of their choice.

The Engineering Club explores basic engineering principles through hands-on activities using simple materials. The activities include building bridges out of paper, rockets out of straws, and ski jumps from foam noodles. It meets on the second Sunday of each month, October to June, from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. at the County’s Colleen Frasier Building, 300 North Avenue East in Westfield.

Parents and students can learn more about the Engineering Club and other 4-H clubs at the annual Open House on Friday September 19 from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the Colleen Fraser Building, or by contacting Union County 4-H Agent James Nichnadowicz at jnichnadowicz@ucnj.org or 908-654-9854.

More information about 4-H and all other Extension programs is also available at ucnj.org/rce.

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(From left) Union County Freeholder Bruce Bergen, Acting Union County Sheriff Joseph Cryan, Freeholder Vernell Wright, Freeholder Chairman Christopher Hudak spoke with Greater Elizabeth Chamber of Commerce Chief Executive Officer Gordon Haas at the Union County Means Business session titled “The Business of Staying in Business” at the Holiday Inn in Clark. For information about Union County Means Business events visit www.ucnj2.org/ucmb.  (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

Union County Freeholder Chairman Christopher Hudak speaks about the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (or SNAP, previously known as food stamps) and about taking the SNAP Challenge during a press conference in Elizabeth sponsored by the Jewish Federation of Greater MetroWest NJ and Jewish Family Service of Central NJ.

Chairman Hudak and Freeholder Sergio Granados (left) have joined more than a dozen state legislators in taking the SNAP Challenge to live on $4.20 a day the week of September 8-14 to raise awareness about hunger in New Jersey.

September is New Jersey Hunger Action Month.

(Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

 

Acting Union County Sheriff Joseph Cryan would like to remind residents that September is National Preparedness Month, a time to make sure everyone is ready in the event of an emergency or weather-related disaster.

Sponsored by FEMA, National Preparedness Month aims to educate and encourage Americans to prepare for and be able to respond to all types of emergencies.

“This is a time to prepare yourself and your family for events like Hurricanes Irene and Sandy,” Acting Sheriff Cryan said. “Emergencies can happen unexpectedly and we all need to be ready for them.”

Everyone should have an emergency plan addressing all types of potential disaster scenarios. Discuss with family, friends and neighbors in advance about how you will contact each other, where you will meet and what you will do in different situations.

Make sure that you and your family are prepared for an a disaster by making an emergency kit to ensure you can go for at least three days without electricity, water service, access to a supermarket or other local services.

Emergency kits should include at least a three to five day supply of non-perishable food and water, prescription medications, baby supplies and any additional items for special medical needs. Your kit should also include important phone numbers for doctors as well as car cell-phone chargers.

A battery-operated radio, flash lights, extra batteries as well as non-electric items likes can openers should also be included in the kit.

The needs of pets should also be taken into consideration when planning and making an emergency kit.

Staying informed and being aware of news updates is vital during a crisis.

“It is incredibly important to know what is happening before, during and after an emergency,” said Acting Sheriff Cryan. “Awareness can save lives.”

In the event of an emergency, everyone is urged to tune in, log-on, ‘like’ or ‘follow’ state, county, local and federal agencies on social media for credible disaster-relation information such as alerts and warnings, situational updates and where to find help. Emergency management officials suggest everyone should sign up for phone, e-mail and text alerts.

In New Jersey, hurricane season runs through November so following the National Weather Service and the National Hurricane Center regarding storm predictions and forecasts is essential.

Residents interested in volunteering to help their community in the event of an emergency should consider attending Community Emergency Response Team training.  Information about CERT training can be found on the New Jersey Office of Emergency Management website atwww.state.nj.us/njoem/citizen/cert or call 1-877-237-8411.

For more information about being prepared for an emergency visit www.ready.nj.gov.

Acting Union County Sheriff Joseph Cryan announced today the capture of a longtime fugitive wanted by the Sheriff’s Office since 2008.

Sheriff’s Officers arrested Charles Riccio in the early hours Thursday morning in East Rutherford.

Riccio, 37, had been on the run since failing to appear for an arraignment 6 years ago after he was charged with computer theft by access in Elizabeth. He is accused of manipulating purchase receipts while he was the store manage at Value Furniture Mattress Warehouse during 2007 and 2008 and pocketing $36,000 in cash payments.

Sheriff’s Officers located Riccio by acting on a tip he had recently returned to New Jersey from Las Vegas. He was taken into custody without incident.

Acting Sheriff Cryan noted that Riccio has other New Jersey warrants in Hudson and Ocean Counties. He was booked into the Union County Jail without bail.

The Acting Sheriff credited Officers Richard Hugelmeyer and George Gyure and Sgt. Carlo Caparruva with making the arrest.

The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders would like to invite members of the community to honor the memory of the 60 Union County residents who perished in the 9/11 attacks by visiting the Union County September 11th Memorial next Thursday, Sept. 11th from the morning hours until 9 p.m. at Echo Lake Park in Mountainside.

Members of the Union County Prosecutor’s Office and Union County Sheriff’s Office, in conjunction with other law enforcement members throughout the County will provide a uniformed Honor Guard standing watch at the memorial and the public will be able to light candles in memory of those lost in the attacks.

“The Union County September 11th Memorial serves as a place of reverence for those who tragically perished and where we can bring the community together in a reflective setting to mark this day,” said Freeholder Chairman Christopher Hudak.

The Union County memorial honors those lost in the attacks using design elements that include two girders from the World Trade Center arranged within a five sided area representing the Pentagon, and an Eternal Flame representing those who died in Pennsylvania. The Flame also honors members of the Armed Services and emergency responders.

In addition to these elements, the names of the 60 deceased Union County residents are etched into the memorial.

Dedicated on Sept. 13, 2003 the memorial was constructed through private donations including in-kind work by labor unions and materials at cost.

The Freeholder Board worked with residents of Cranford, Elizabeth, Kenilworth, Linden, Mountainside, Rahway, Scotch Plains, Summit, Union and Westfield in planning and building the Memorial.

It is located near the Springfield Avenue entrance of Echo Lake Park on the border of Mountainside and Springfield.

For additional information on the Union County September 11th Memorial, or information on visitation hours, contact the Union County Office of Public Information at 877-424-1234 or visit online atucnj.org/9-11-memorial

The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders would like to invite members of the community to honor the memory of the 60 Union County residents who perished in the 9/11 attacks by visiting the Union County September 11th Memorial next Thursday, Sept. 11th from the morning hours until 9 p.m. at Echo Lake Park in Mountainside.

Members of the Union County Prosecutor’s Office and Union County Sheriff’s Office, in conjunction with other law enforcement members throughout the County will provide a uniformed Honor Guard standing watch at the memorial and the public will be able to light candles in memory of those lost in the attacks.

“The Union County September 11th Memorial serves as a place of reverence for those who tragically perished and where we can bring the community together in a reflective setting to mark this day,” said Freeholder Chairman Christopher Hudak.

The Union County memorial honors those lost in the attacks using design elements that include two girders from the World Trade Center arranged within a five sided area representing the Pentagon, and an Eternal Flame representing those who died in Pennsylvania. The Flame also honors members of the Armed Services and emergency responders.

In addition to these elements, the names of the 60 deceased Union County residents are etched into the memorial.

Dedicated on Sept. 13, 2003 the memorial was constructed through private donations including in-kind work by labor unions and materials at cost.

The Freeholder Board worked with residents of Cranford, Elizabeth, Kenilworth, Linden, Mountainside, Rahway, Scotch Plains, Summit, Union and Westfield in planning and building the Memorial.

It is located near the Springfield Avenue entrance of Echo Lake Park on the border of Mountainside and Springfield.

For additional information on the Union County September 11th Memorial, or information on visitation hours, contact the Union County Office of Public Information at 877-424-1234 or visit online atucnj.org/9-11-memorial

Acting Union County Sheriff Joseph Cryan announced today the capture of a longtime fugitive wanted by the Sheriff’s Office since 2008.

Sheriff’s Officers arrested Charles Riccio in the early hours Thursday morning in East Rutherford.

Riccio, 37, had been on the run since failing to appear for an arraignment 6 years ago after he was charged with computer theft by access in Elizabeth. He is accused of manipulating purchase receipts while he was the store manage at Value Furniture Mattress Warehouse during 2007 and 2008 and pocketing $36,000 in cash payments.

Sheriff’s Officers located Riccio by acting on a tip he had recently returned to New Jersey from Las Vegas. He was taken into custody without incident.

Acting Sheriff Cryan noted that Riccio has other New Jersey warrants in Hudson and Ocean Counties. He was booked into the Union County Jail without bail.

The Acting Sheriff credited Officers Richard Hugelmeyer and George Gyure and Sgt. Carlo Caparruva with making the arrest.