County of Union, New Jersey

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 6, 2014

The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders and the Department of Parks and Recreation are pleased to announce their participation in New Jersey Olympic Week activities to celebrate the 120th Anniversary of the modern Olympic Games.

“Union County’s unique archery range at Oak Ridge Park in Clark and the Watchung Stable in the Watchung Reservation will be used to showcase Olympic sports through educational programs, demonstrations and other activities,” said Freeholder Chairman Christopher Hudak. “We are happy to sponsor these events and join with other local organizations throughout the state to promote fitness, well-being and the Olympic ideals.”

On Monday, June 16, at Oak Ridge Park, there will be an Olympic archery clinic from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. This event will provide an overview into the various styles of archery by some of the top senior and junior archers in the area. Among the participants will be Junior Olympic archer Yuji Sugimoto, a student at the Union County Magnet High School in Scotch Plains; Lelia Nelson from Old Bridge, the New Jersey Senior Archery Champion; the Lightning Wheels children’s Paralympics archery group; Union County archery instructors Jon Vorob and “Doc” DeCaro; and members of the Oak Ridge Sportsmen’s Association.

On Saturday, June 21, at Watchung Stable, there will be interactive equestrian activities from 10:30 a.m. to 12 noon. The program will allow participants to tour the barn and see some of the resident horses. Then there will be a narrated demonstration of Olympic equestrian riding and jumping events. Members of the USA Equestrian Federation will be on hand to discuss USEF programs and events in the local area and to display Olympic memorabilia including uniforms, replica medals, and photographs.

Oak Ridge Park is located at 136 Oak Ridge Road in Clark, near the border with Edison. Watchung Stable is located at 1160 Summit Lane in Mountainside. Both facilities are administered by the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders. For more information about the archery range or Watchung Stable, call Margaret Heisey at 908-527-4806.

A full schedule of New Jersey Olympic Week activities, including information on how to register to attend the free events, is available online at www.olympicsnj.com .

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  June 6, 2014

Union County, NJ – Fitch has affirmed the County’s AA+ rating for its upcoming bond sale. In upgrading the County’s outlook to Stable, the just-released official Fitch rating cites the County’s return to structural balance over the past several fiscal periods, along with expectations for balanced operations in fiscal year 2014.

“Fitch noted that the County’s emphasis on building reserves and cutting costs played a significant role in the upgraded outlook, and we will continue to work along this successful, entrepreneurial management track while continuing to improve and enhance key County services,” said Freeholder Chairman Christopher Hudak.

“Over the past several years, the Freeholder Board and County Manager have worked diligently to create a prudent fiscal platform for continued stability, and it is very gratifying to see this effort reflected in the latest Fitch analysis,” said Freeholder Vice Chairman Mohamed S. Jalloh, who heads the County’s Fiscal Committee.

Fitch also credited the County’s “broad and diverse economy” for the upgraded outlook, specifically in the pharmaceutical, technology, petrochemical and health care sectors as well as the County’s transportation sector, which Fitch noted includes Newark Airport and the Port of Elizabeth, the largest seaport on the east coast.

In addition, Fitch noted that the recent sale of the County’s Runnells Specialized Hospital will “relieve pressures” related to significant annual subsidies. Under the terms of the sale, the hospital will continue to provide its services to County residents.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 6, 2014

SCOTCH PLAINS, NJ – The County of Union will sponsor a recycling event for electronic equipment on Saturday, June 21, so Union County residents can get rid of unwanted computers, televisions and other electronic equipment in an environmentally proper manner.

The special E-cycling event will take place from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the campus of Union County Vo-Tech Schools located at 1776 Raritan Road in Scotch Plains.

All residents of Union County are eligible to participate at no cost. There is a limit of six electronic items per car.

“Computer monitors, old televisions and other electronic devices are the source of a considerable amount of dangerous material, including lead, mercury, cadmium and PCBs – and it is unlawful to dispose of them with the regular garbage,” said Freeholder Chairman Christopher Hudak, liaison to the Union County Solid Waste Advisory Board. “Up to 95 percent of most electronic appliances can be recycled. This is a responsible way to keep hazardous heavy metals out of our environment.”

Electronic equipment that will be accepted on June 21 includes computer monitors, hard drives, modems, keyboards, CPU’s, mice, printers, scanners, speakers, televisions, tablets and e-readers, VCR’s, fax machines, telephones, circuit boards, CD’s, DVD’s and video cassettes.

All that residents need to do is drive to the site with their unwanted electronic equipment. Workers at the site will unload the vehicles.

Pre-registration is not required for this special Saturday collection.

Refrigerators, washers and dryers, microwaves, and air conditioners will not be accepted, but they are accepted at Union County’s Scrap Metal Recycling Program.

A complete list of the materials that will be accepted on June 21 is available at the Union County Bureau of Recycling and Planning website: www.ucnj.org/recycle.

The electronics collection will be held rain or shine, for Union County residents only and not for businesses. Proof of Union County residency is required.

In addition to the special June 21 recycling event sponsored by the County of Union, there are local businesses as well as 14 municipalities that provide E-cycling opportunities for residents. Visit the website www.ucnj.org/recycle or call your municipal recycling coordinator for more computer and electronics recycling options.

Goodwill and Dell have teamed up to recycle computers. Goodwill in Union County is located at 126 Route 22 West, Springfield 07081, next to Macy’s Furniture. Call Goodwill at 973-912-0156 for more details or visit their web site: www.reconnectpartnership.com.

Best Buy stores now offer electronics recycling, including TVs, computer monitors, DVD players and other consumer electronics. Visit their website (www.bestbuy.com/) for store locations, or call toll-free for information about electronics recycling: 1-888-237-8289.

Staples also offers a computer recycling program seven days a week. For more information, visit the Staples web site for store locations: www.staples.com.

Waste Management accepts “covered electronics” (televisions, monitors, computers, etc.) at  629-647 Amboy Ave., Elizabeth 07201, Monday-Saturday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.; 908-629-9270.

An alternative drop-off program for recycling electronics equipment is available Monday through Friday between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. at Newtech Recycling, located at 600-A Apgar Drive, Somerset NJ 08873; 732-564-3110. Visit www.newtechrecycling.com .

For more information about recycling events, please call the Union County Recycling Hotline at 908- 654-9889.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 5, 2014

The sprayground of the Ponderosa Farm Park is expected to be closed from Monday, June 9th to Friday, June 13th, pending the weather, for minor repair work. While the spray portion of the playground will be closed, the remainder of the playground and the park itself will remain open for usage during this time. The Ponderosa Farm Park is located at 1600 Cooper Road in Scotch Plains.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 5, 2014

(From left) Union County Freeholders Sergio Granados and Alexander Mirabella congratulate Joseph Cowper of the Kenilworth Fire Department on graduating from the Union County Fire Training Academy as part of the Fall 2013 Class during a graduation ceremony at Union County College in Cranford.

Firefighter Cowper earned the Chief Anthony Schepis Award for Excellence in Firefighter 1, the Battalion Chief Ken Nocera Memorial Award for Outstanding Excellence in Firefighter 1 and the Ben Laganga Leadership Award.

They are joined by Kenilworth Fire Chief Louis Giordino and Hillside Deputy Chief Steve Ruhl (Ret.), Dean of the Union County Fire Training Academy.

(Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 4, 2014

As Flag Day approaches on Saturday, June 14, Union County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi reminds residents that torn or tattered American flags may be dropped off at her offices in Elizabeth and Westfield for their proper, respectful retirement.

“We honor the symbol of our country on Flag Day; certainly we also want to honor the proper disposal of retired flags,” said Ms. Rajoppi. “According to the U.S. Flag Code, when a flag is in such condition that it is no longer a fitting emblem for display, it should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by burning. My office assists Union County residents by collecting unserviceable flags and making sure that they are destroyed in a correct manner by a local veterans group.”

Flags for retirement may be left with staff at the County Clerk’s main office in the Union County Courthouse, 2 Broad Street, Room 115, in Elizabeth; and at the County Clerk’s Annex in the Colleen Fraser Building, 300 North Avenue East, in Westfield.

The Elizabeth office is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. The Westfield office is open from 8:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays; 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays; and 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Saturdays.

For more information about the Union County Clerk’s flag retirement collection program, please call 908-527-4787.