County of Union, New Jersey

Summer is filled with days of family fun as we enjoy the warm weather with picnics, beach visits and vacations.

But as the temperature continues to rise I would like to remind parents and caregivers about the dangers of leaving children in a car.

You might think it’s impossible to forget there is a kid in a car. That only happens to irresponsible parents, you might say.

It can happen to anyone.

Even the greatest parents can get distracted from their routine and forget a sleeping baby in the backseat.

In 2013, 44 children died of heatstroke after being left in a car nationwide. Another 13 fatalities have been reported this year already.

As summer temperatures peak, it only takes a few minutes for a car to heat up and become deadly to children inside.

In 10 minutes, a car can heat up 20 degrees and cracking the windows does little to keep the car cool. With temperatures even in the 60s, a car can heat up to well above 110 degrees. Summer temperatures cause vehicles to heat up even faster.

That’s why it is important that all adults should always remember to “Look Before You Lock” to make sure there are no children left in the vehicle.

I urge parents and caregivers to take the following precautions to prevent heatstroke incidents from occurring:

• Never leave a child unattended in a vehicle – even if the windows are partially open or the engine is running and the air conditioning is on;
• Make a habit of looking in the vehicle – front and back – before locking the door and walking away;
• Ask the childcare provider to call if the child doesn’t show up for care as expected;
• Do things that serve as a reminder that a child is in the vehicle, such as placing a purse or briefcase in the back seat to ensure no child is accidentally left in the vehicle, or writing a note or using a stuffed animal placed in the driver’s view to indicate a child is in the car seat.

Also, heatstroke death and injuries often occur after a child gets into an unlocked vehicle to play without a parent or caregiver’s knowledge. Always keep your car locked and store keys out of a child’s reach. Teach your children that a vehicle is not a play area.

If you see a child alone in a car, call 911.

Taking these simple steps could save a life.

Have a safe and enjoyable summer.

WESTFIELD, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is pleased to announce that the 2014 Teen Arts Touring Exhibit is on display at the Northfield Bank, located at 828 South Avenue West, in Westfield. It will be on display through August 1st during regular bank hours.

The exhibit consists of 60 pieces of art selected from more than 700 visual art works shown at the 2014 Union County Teen Arts Festival held in March at Union County College. The annual event is administered by the Union County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs in the Department of Parks and Recreation.

“The artwork in this exhibit is exceptional.  The fact that the artists are teenagers makes the show even more outstanding,” said Freeholder Chairman Christopher Hudak. “I encourage everyone to get out and see this lively exhibit as it goes on tour throughout Union County.”

For information about the Teen Arts program, contact the Union County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs at 633 Pearl Street, Elizabeth 07202; telephone (908) 558-2550. NJ Relay service users should call 711 or e-mail: culturalinfo@ucnj.org.

2014 Union County TEEN ARTS EXHIBIT

The exhibiting students are:

Berkeley Heights

Columbia Middle School
Alicia Wintemberg

Governor Livingston High School
Neil Schickedanz
Sarah Illis

 

Clark

Arthur L. Johnson HS
Angelo Capobianco

Mother Seton RHS
Alyssa Ziobro

 

Cranford

Cranford High School
Rachel Quinn
Jack Shapiro
Madison Kopack

Cranford Achievement Program
Donna Colandro

Hillside Avenue School
Hatten Mullins

Orange Avenue School
Nick Garofalo

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Elizabeth
Abraham Lincoln School
Xenia Rivas

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Benjamin Franklin School
Stephen Ash

Dr. Antonia Pantoja School
Rolando Cano Perez

Elizabeth HS – Dwyer Academy
Francisco Rodriguez

Elizabeth HS – Edison Academy
Melanie Gonzalez Elizabeth HS – Halsey Academy
Savannah Seabrook 

Elizabeth HS – Jefferson Academy
Brian Maldonado
Maria Cruz

Elizabeth HS – Lower Academy
Stephanie Liscano

Elizabeth HS – Upper Academy
Ilera Blanco

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

iPrep Academy
Ashley Armstrong

Mabel G. Holmes School
Destiny Cruz

Nicholas M. Butler School
Sanzida Aktar

Nicholas S. LaCorte School
Cruz Aparicio

Ronald Reagan Academy
Caitlyn Fernandez

T.C. Reilly School
Sebastian Paredes

Victor Mravlag School
Areanna Vargas

William F. Halloran School
Camila Alvez

Woodrow Wilson School
Majeeb Ali

 

Hillside
Hillside High School
Carlos Melo

 

 

 

 

 

 

Walter O. Krumbiegel MS
Sheyeanne Powell

Kenilworth

David Brearley HS
Phil Costa
Courtney Keating

 

Linden
Linden High School
Melissa Chaquea

Myles J. McManus MS
Emily Estrada

Joseph E. Soehl MS
Pawel Sierhej

New Providence
New Providence HS
Lulu Fuchs
Elizabeth Mohan

New Providence MS
Julia Haas

 

Plainfield
Frederic W. Cook School
Jarred Harris

Frank J. Hubbard MS
Evelyn Duran

Plainfield Academy of Arts
Lillian Holt
Alejandra Rivera

Union County TEAMS Charter School
Bryce Moore
Stephany Vargas

Roselle

 

Abraham Clark HS
Agape Delion
Adrian Ramirez-Perez

 

 

 

 

Grace Wilday Jr. HS
Jennifer Huilotl

Scotch Plains

Union County Vo-Tech HS

Towana Weekes
Leslie Vargas
Christian Cabatu
John Alton

 

Springfield

FM Gaudineer MS
Adam Gelo

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jonathan Dayton HS
Tim Golden
Brian Martin
Vivian Nguyen

 

Summit
Oratory Preparatory School
Brian Moretti

 

Union
Union High School
Wislet Dazilme
Adriana Oliveria
Nicholas Chow

 

Westfield

Hillcrest Academy
Kamil Brown

Lamberts Mill Academy
Alexus Flemming

Winfield

Winfield School
Rosie Brown

 

 

 

Union County Freeholder Bruce Bergen looks on as the first of a series of signs officially designating the Washington-Rochambeau National Historic Trail is installed in Springfield, his hometown.  One of the newest historic trails in the National Parks System, the Washington-Rochambeau trail runs from Rhode Island to Virginia. Union County is the first county in New Jersey to mark the trail, which runs through Scotch Plains, Westfield, Mountainside, Springfield and Summit.  The trail marks the contribution of the French in enabling the defeat of the British in the Revolutionary War.  The Union County portion of the trail will be formally dedicated in Echo Lake Park on Monday, which is also Bastille Day.  To learn more about the trail, go to:http://www.nps.gov/waro/index.htm

MOUNTAINSIDE, NJ – Mark your calendars for the summer Wednesday Matinee Series at Trailside Nature & Science Center in Mountainside. This family entertainment series begins at 1:30 p.m. each week and runs approximately 45 minutes. All shows are recommended for children ages 4 and older. Admission is $5 per person, or $4 per senior citizen (62 & older with ID). Tickets go on sale at 1:00 p.m. on the day of the program. No strollers, please.

“The Wednesday Matinee Series at Trailside is a fun way for families to share a summer afternoon together,” said Union County Freeholder Chairman Christopher Hudak. “These air-conditioned programs will teach, engage and delight both children and adults.”

On Wednesday, July 16, magician Joe Fischer will astound, baffle, delight, thrill and entertain the audience with his “Fantasy, Illusion and Magic” performance. Mr. Fischer has an outstanding rapport with children. His ability to communicate on their level makes this a show of real magic!

On July 23rd, you won’t want to miss “Rizzo’s Reptiles.” Blending nature, environment and conservation, this program features live snakes, turtles and an alligator as you learn about the wonders of reptiles.

 

“Kids Going Green,” the July 30 program, will teach the audience how small things that we do can add up to big change! Delight in a fast-paced puppet show where Goldilocks is searching for a planet to live on that is Just Right!

On August 6th, a Mad Science Show called “Up, Up and Away” will amaze you while it teaches about earth’s atmospheric pressure. Watch a hovercraft in action and observe a vortex generator create giant smoke rings. This show is visually exciting with lots of audience participation.

On August 13th, “The Science of Magic” with Lisa Lou will reveal the secrets of magic, using magnetism, light, air, condensation, optical illusion and more.

The last matinee of the summer, on August 20, will be “Mammal Mania.” Back by popular demand, Travis Gale of Wallaby Tales will present an interactive show that allows families to get an up-close and personal look at live animals from around the world. This last matinee is sponsored by The Trailside Museum Association, an organization dedicated to assisting Trailside staff in their ongoing efforts to educate people in all aspects of nature, science and conservation by assisting with funding, volunteering and advocacy.

For more information about the Wednesday Matinee Series or other upcoming programs and special events, please call 908-789-3670 or visit the Trailside website at www.ucnj.org/trailside. Trailside Nature & Science Center is located at 452 New Providence Road in Mountainside and is a facility of the Union County Department of Parks and Recreation.

 

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Union County Freeholder Chairman Christopher Hudak (2nd R), Vice Chairman Mohamed Jalloh (2nd L) and Freeholders (from L) Linda Carter, Alexander Mirabella, Angel Estrada, and Vernell Wright joined Assemblyman Jerry Green (3rd L) at the annual Central Jersey Fourth of July Parade in Plainfield. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

Linden’s Wheeler Park first of six installations Countywide as part of
Freeholder Chairman Hudak’s initiatives

WHEELER PARK, LINDEN, NJ—-The  County of Union today activated the first of a series of Countywide WIFI installations at the park’s John Russell Wheeler Pool and the nearby playground as part of Freeholder Chairman Christopher Hudak’s initiatives for 2014.

“Pool and playground users at Wheeler Park now are able to access the web-based information and services they need when they need it—for free,” Freeholder Chairman Christopher Hudak said. “Whether it is surfing the web poolside, mapping out the day, setting alarms at home, or posting photos of their children in action, it now becomes a reality for our residents.”

While the pool opens and closes seasonally, WIFI service will be available year-round at the park’s playground, Hudak noted.

Other scheduled installations that will occur throughout the year include:

• The Union County Clerk’s Office at the Colleen Fraser Building at the Public Safety Complex on North Avenue in Westfield. WIFI service will be up and functioning tomorrow.
• Nomahegan Park playground, Cranford. WIFI service will be available tomorrow.
• Trailside Nature and Science Center in Mountainside: WIFI service is anticipated to begin by the end of July, and will include classrooms.
• Warinanco (Park) Skating facility, Roselle—WIFI service will be installed and ready in September.
• Walter Ulrich Memorial Pool at Rahway River Park: installation will be completed by the end of the Summer season.

Logging on to Union County’s service is easy for WIFI-enabled devices, such as Apple I-Phones and I-pads, Android-based phones and tablets and any other WIFI capable devices. Merely find the WIFI settings and make sure it is turned on. Select “Union County Wi-Fi” as the connection to join. Follow on screen agreements and enjoy.

WIFI service will be free. Safety features are also in place, including having the users to re-login periodically to discourage downloading or streaming of large files which may cause the performance and bandwidth to decrease for other patrons who may be logged on at the same time.

Wi-Fi Access Instructions

W-Fi Signs

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Union County, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders reminds residents to prepare for rainy weather, as the Atlantic hurricane season has officially begun and the first tropical storm of the season is working its way up the eastern seaboard.

“Union County will experience some heavy rain and wind in advance of the holiday weekend,” said Freeholder Chairman Christopher Hudak. “This is a good opportunity to check how prepared you are for more severe weather events as the hurricane season picks up.”

Since being impacted by Hurricane Irene in August 2010, Union County has experienced a string of damaging weather events including Hurricane Sandy in 2012.

“We have learned to expect the unexpected when it comes to the unusual weather patterns associated with climate change,” said Hudak. “That means it’s more important now than ever to plan ahead for weather-related emergencies.”

Standard emergency preparedness includes maintaining a supply of non-perishable food, fresh water, and basic first aid supplies.

To help County residents prepare, the Union County home page features a new “Plan Ahead for Weather Emergencies” link at ucnj.org. It enables handy access to guidance from the federal emergency website,ready.gov, along with links to websites and social media for Union County and the 21 municipalities.

Additional guidance relating to health and safety before, during, and after a weather emergency is also available from the Centers for Disease Control at cdc.gov.

As part of their emergency preparedness measures, residents and businesses are asked to check their property and secure lightweight yard furniture, trash cans, toys, and other items that could create windblown hazards.

“The most crucial thing to do is to stay informed in the lead-up to an extreme weather event, and follow the guidance of local emergency officials,” Hudak noted. “Your preparedness will enable first responders to focus on helping those in immediate need.”

During emergencies, residents automatically receive warnings on land lines at home, through the reverse-911 system. To receive alerts on cell phones and other mobile devices, residents can join the Union County First Alert system by signing up online at ucfirstalert.org.

“When you receive an alert, follow up by tuning in to your local news reports. You can also bookmark the home page of the Union County website, ucnj.org, where information and updates will be posted,” said Hudak.

Information on the progress of Tropical Storm Arthur is available from the National Hurricane Center atnhc.noaa.gov.

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

 

Union County, NJ – Four students shared the energetic diversity of Union County with their peers from across New Jersey last month, as they participated in the annual 4-H Public Presentation Contest at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey.

The four were selected for the statewide contest from a pool of 41 participants in the Union County 4-H public speaking event held earlier this year.

“Union County 4-H encourages young people to explore their interests while building communication and leadership skills,” said Freeholder Chairman Christopher Hudak. “On behalf of the Freeholder Board, I would like to thank Kyle, Adrian, Vivek, and Angela for their very spirited and capable representation of our Union County community in this statewide event.”

A total of 180 New Jersey 4-H members participated in the statewide contest.  The members from Union County were:

• Kyle Grant, Basketball, 9th grade, Union.
• Adrian Lam, The Art of Juggling, 9th grade, Westfield. Adrian was awarded the medal for Outstanding Presenter in his group.
• Vivek Sreenivasan, Robotics for Fun, 9th grade, Westfield.
• Angela Waldmann, Vocal Performance of “Let it Go” and History of Song, 8th grade, Roselle.

4-H Public Presentations is a youth development program of the statewide Rutgers Cooperative Extension, designed to provide students with experience in creating and delivering a public talk. 4-H members from grades 8-12 who received a score of excellent on their county presentation were eligible to attend the statewide event.

Union County 4-H is run by the Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Union County, supported in part by the Freeholder Board.

The clubs are open to all Union County students in grades one through 12. Popular clubs include archery, Lego robotics, anime, cooking, horticulture, and living history.

The 4-H activity season runs concurrently with the school year and an Open House is held each September to help students match their interests with a club. For more details and an Open House invitation, visitucnj.org/rce.

For additional information contact 4-H Agent James Nichnadowicz at 908-654-9854 orNichnadowicz@njaes.rutgers.edu, or visit the Extension online at ucnj.org/rce.

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